Quantcast
Channel: Small Screen Scoop » PBS
Viewing all 18 articles
Browse latest View live

The Yoga DVD Even my Mom Could Do (Yoga For the Rest of Us with Peggy Cappy)

0
0
Yoga for the Rest of Us: Heart Healthy Yoga (2008)

Yoga for the Rest of Us: Heart Healthy Yoga (2008)

Yoga has often seemed like a mysterious world to me. I’ve tried a few instructional yoga DVDs but I was always worried that I was doing it wrong (because it’s hard to know – if you’re doing it alone!). That’s where Peggy Cappy comes in with her Yoga for the Rest of Us videos. I was sent a copy of Yoga for the Rest of Us: Heart Healthy Yoga with Peggy Cappy (which aired on PBS) and put the DVD in the same day. Yoga is the sort of activity I get excited to do – unlike laundry or plucking my eyebrows. I do yoga to feel more calm (something I really always need to feel more of). It really helps you focus on your breathing and the muscles in your body as you stretch them. I say ‘yay’ to that.

Because this is yoga centered on helping your heart, you might ask “Why is exercise for my heart important?” Surprisingly, it’s heart disease (not cancer) that is the leading cause of death for adult men and women. Before you start feeling simultaneously defeated and worried (yikes!), take a breath. This video is targeted to help the health of your heart.You can make a positive change.

And I doubt you’ll complain if it also helps shape your legs.

If you want to learn some yoga (whether you plan to go farther with it or not) this is a wonderful beginner video. All you need is a chair, and a yoga mat (the mat helps you keep to your poses and reduces the risk of sliding and getting injured). The DVD has two versions of sun salutations for you to follow – one being a modified version that even my Mom with an achy back could do. Not only that, but I the yoga would help her back (and you better believe I’m going to be insisting she try this DVD – because it’s not like the other’s she’s done – hear me, Mom?). There is no one who can’t do the yoga in this video. Yoga with Peggy Cappy isn’t an exclusive club, it’s come as you are. The intimidation factor is zero.

The first part before any Yoga Flow Class where you learn the postures is something you will only need to watch the first time, then you can practice your heart healthy sun salutations with a guide and get into a daily practice of them. Luckily, the DVD has a menu and you can skip right to the chapter you want. (Oh man, I am so glad we no longer have to deal with VHS tapes!)

I wasn't in Malayasia but I felt like it when I closed my eyes. Photo by lululemon athletica on Flickr. Used via a

I wasn't in Malaysia but I felt like it when I closed my eyes. Photo by lululemon athletica on Flickr. Used via a creative commons license.

The DVD menu for Yoga For the Rest of Us – Heart Healthy Yoga is as follows:

Introduction
Learning the postures: Chair (This is the easiest level.)
> > Chair Yoga Flow Class
Learning the postures: Floor (Once you get the hang of it, you might only do this.)
> > Traditional Yoga Flow Class
Heart Centered Breathing Exercise (Don’t worry, relaxation stretches follow each Yoga Flow Class segment, as well)
More About Peggy Cappy

Cappy is neither pretentious (like many yoga guru’s) nor condescending. Yoga is something everyone can experience. In fact, this video shows people of all various levels to show you that everyone can do these Sun Salutations.

Something I liked a lot was that Cappy has a constant soothing presence in your ear, always reassuring you as to what movement to be doing. The pace is slow enough that I never felt like I was falling too far behind at any point.

Photo by lululemon athletica on Flickr. Used via a creative commons license.

Even if you can't stretch just like this, you can do yoga. Photo by lululemon athletica on Flickr. Used via a creative commons license.

What I didn’t like was having to be so patient and going slow. But this is what yoga does – it asks you to slow down and pay attention your body and breathing. So really, I think I really need to learn how to give in and slow down when I decide to do yoga. The payoff works, because when you finish yoga you feel revitalized with a sense of (that all too rare) inner-calm. Because of this DVD I’m going to make it a point to do yoga several times a week. If I decide I want to change things up or have different DVDs, I know that I can always give this DVD to someone else who is interested in yoga, but afraid to try. The plunge is worth it.


PBS says ‘Give Us Your Money When You Die!’

0
0
Rick Bayless from "Mexico One Plate at a Time"

Rick Bayless from "Mexico One Plate at a Time"

It’s a questions of taste, and to be sure – the PBS promos that urge you to support their station by donating to them in your will – are very tastefully made. The first time you see one of them, you might even think it’s sweet. But if you watch more than one hour of a PBS station per day you’ll see that promo (and variations with other people) enough times to feel unsettlingly. You might wonder why you’d see it so much if PBS stations have no commercials – after all – that’s why they ask for the money from viewers. But the truth is, each show has the same basic runtime of any other show you’d see on ABC, NBC, or CBS.

So how do they fill the deadspace between the six or so minutes that are between the end and start of every single show? They do two things. They show commercials for the sponsors of each show, but they’re not “commercials”, and then they show promos for the network. And there is hardly any variation, since the sponsors are the same for each show. If I had to pick between watching two hours of shows on ABC vs two hours of shows on PBS I would say the ABC shows would be less irritating to watch because at least the commercials are fast, varied, and the network doesn’t then ask for my money. The way PBS is operating, they might as well change to using commercials in a more transparent way.

One also has to wonder how they got such specific coverage of these deceased people, talking to the camera about what they love and why they donated money in their will to PBS. Obviously, this was planned ahead of time – and they were aware this would air. Could the incentive to be memorialized like this encourage people to donate? When you realize that PBS doesn’t need the money more than any other network, it starts to feel really hinky.

Does this mean that if you were a loyal devotee to LOST you should donate money to ABC? See, this is where something like LOST does it better – this is why the creators, writers and actors of the show promote their different charities. They don’t ask for you to donate money to their show or their network – they say ‘if you love us and want to donate money in our direction, please give it to these charities that we support’.

Does PBS only support itself? Is your will money really better spent going to them than a charity? They may provide some great TV shows, but they’re not feeding the homeless, giving shoes to kids in third world countries, or funding anything but their own pockets. For as much as you may like a show on a PBS station, would you ever consider donating to them in your will? Why or why not?

This is just my opinion. If you’d like to share yours, please keep it civil.

Great Performances on PBS tonight! Hugh Jackman in ‘Oklahoma’

0
0

There’s no good reason to miss out on seeing Hugh Jackman tonight.

hugh jackman oklahoma pbs great performances

Hugh Jackman stars in Oklahoma. Photo Credit: PBS

Great news for Hollywood and Broadway fans: Hugh Jackman–who recently starred in the worldwide hit film version of “Les Miserables”– can be seen again in his breakout musical role as cowpoke Curly in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, Friday, November 15 at 9 p.m. on THIRTEEN’s Great Performances as part of the PBS Arts Fall Festival (check local listings). Retransferred from the original film print, the special encore telecast is presented for the first time in high definition.

Jackman originated the role in Trevor Nunn’s acclaimed Royal National Theatre (RNT) production in 1998. The production was filmed at Shepperton Studios in London just before its move from the RNT to the West End. – Via Press Release

Watch a preview! Oklahoma – Oh What a Beautiful Morning (Hugh Jackman)

Catch the performance tonight on PBS.

The ‘Secrets of Scotland Yard’ revealed – Everybody wants to be Sherlock Holmes | PBS

0
0

Make sure to carve out an hour this Sunday night for a bit o’ education about modern day Sherlock Holmes.

elementary show

Elementary! Sherlock and Watson: Stateside. Photo Credit: CBS

As for why this series of “Secrets” from PBS has been so popular, it seems pretty obvious. “Viewers love exploring the real stories of sites made familiar by so many of our fictional series,” says Beth Hoppe, Chief Programming Executive and General Manager of General Audience Programming for PBS. We love learning, as long as we feel entetained at the same time. (Why else do you think so many of us know how to identify a Flounder fish, if not for “The Little Mermaid”?*)

SECRETS OF SCOTLAND YARD

Premiere Date – Sunday, November 17, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET
From Dickens to Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie to James Bond – no police institution in the world has caught the public imagination in quite the same way as Scotland Yard. The name has become synonymous with the police force itself – but actually derives from the location of the original London Metropolitan Police HQ. Its officers and ‘Bobbies’ can be seen not only as characters in fiction but also on the news, standing beside the Royal Family or other officials in their role as protectors. Above all else however, Scotland Yard is associated with a particular type of professional police officer–the Detective. By meeting with some modern-day sleuths we’ll uncover the secrets of what it takes to become a contemporary Sherlock as well as finding out all the grim and grisly details of detectives who have gone before.

*They lied. I Googled and real Flounder’s look almost nothing like our cartoon Flounder. Damn. And, they have two eyes on one side of their face, officially making them one of the freakiest fish I’ve ever seen.

‘Nashville 2.0 – The Rise of Americana’ on PBS shows what the musical stew of the south looks like

0
0

If America itself is a melting pot, the music of our nation is more like a musical…stew. With dumplings? Sure, why not with dumplings.

nashville 2.0 the rise of americana pbs

Photo: Ace Pictures

Nashville 2.0: The Rose of Americana premiers November 22, 2013 at 9 pm ET. The program is part of the PBS Art Fall Festival for 2013. It is an hour-long documentary, and will include musical performances and interview spotlights.

This list of artists who will be performing in Nashville 2.0 was just released today, and includes many winners from the 2013 Americana Music Awards.

Artists appearing in NASHVILLE 2.0 are listed here in alphabetical order (* indicates a 2013 Americana Music Award winner; italics indicates a Grammy Award winner): Alabama Shakes, The Avett Brothers, Billy Bragg, Laura Cantrell, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Rosanne Cash*, The Civil Wars, Elizabeth Cook, Rodney Crowell*, Dawes, Jerry Douglas, John Fullbright, Shakey Graves, Emmylou Harris*, The James Hunter Six, Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires, Jim Lauderdale, The Lone Bellow, The Mavericks, The Milk Carton Kids, Buddy Miller, Mumford & Sons, Shovels and Rope*, Richard Thompson, and Dwight Yoakam*.

NASHVILLE 2.0: The Rise of Americana captures Nashville, known around the world as “music city,” in its role as the historic home of music icons and institutions, as well as rising stars and young musicians who arrive with new sounds and dreams of making it big. Creating the musical landscape of tomorrow, Nashville is home to Americana music, the 21st century version of country, roots-rock, folk, bluegrass, R&B, gospel and blues. This special explores the American musical melting pot, looking to the future while embracing the breadth and genius of roots music artists. NASHVILLE 2.0 tells the story, sings the songs, and celebrates the vibrancy of the Americana music scene.

“It’s astonishing how much vibrant, soul-shaking and exciting music is coming out right now from the Americana movement which both welcomes and blends the best of this country’s musical traditions,” says Donald Thoms, PBS Vice President of General Audience Programming and Talent Management. “It’s doubly exciting to present NASHVILLE 2.0’s fast-paced and comprehensive primer on Americana music, paired with Austin City Limits’ annual concert that gives viewers a closer look at these performers and the songs that are constantly redefining the genre.”

Like all 2013 PBS Arts Fall Festival programs, NASHVILLE 2.0 will be hosted by award-winning television, film and stage star Anna Deavere Smith (“Nurse Jackie,” “The West Wing”).  - Via Press Release

Don’t miss this exciting offering from PBS.

Class up your night with PBS Great Performances –“Pavarotti: A Voice for the Ages”

0
0

Opera doesn’t have to feel inaccesible.

luciano pavarotti

Pavarotti at Madison Square Garden. Photo Credit: Don Perdue/WNET

Great Performances on PBS is celebrating Luciano Pavarotti’s career this December.

Like Enrico Caruso before him, Luciano Pavarotti extended his presence far beyond the limits of Italian opera. Quickly establishing his trademark rich sound as the great male operatic voice of the 20th century, he expanded his reach to stadium concerts and pop collaborations which brought him fame beyond measure. The 50th anniversary of the launch of Pavarotti’s of meteoric international career is celebrated in Pavarotti: A Voice for the Ages, airing in December on THIRTEEN’s Great Performances (check local listings). In New York, THIRTEEN will air the special Saturday, November 30 at 6:30 p.m.

This one-hour program includes “Nessun Dorma” and other beloved arias from La Boheme, Rigoletto and Aida; Neapolitan songs in arrangements by Henry Mancini including “Mamma” and “La mia canzone al vento,” and audience favorites “O Sole Mio” and “Torna a surriento”; as well as popular duets with Bono, Sting, and Eric Clapton.

luciano pavarotti

Luciano Pavarotti Illustration

The program will include a segment from an historic recording of Rodolfo’s aria from La Bohème, ‘Che gelida manina’ (‘Your tiny hand is frozen’), that had been lying dormant in the archives for 50 years, only now to be unearthed by Pavarotti’s widow, Nicoletta Mantovani. This significant track will also appear on Pavarotti: The 50 Greatest Tracks, released by Decca in the U.S. on October 22 celebrating his 50 years recording for the label. Already released in the U.K., the career-spanning collection has catapulted the world’s most beloved tenor back to the top of the charts in England six years after his passing.

 Press Release

Songs on Luciano Paravotti: A Voice for the Ages (Song Listing)

“Che gelida manina” (La Boheme first recording, 1965 Modena performance and first “Live From the Met” broadcast)

“La donna e mobile” Rigoletto film

“Celeste Aida” (Aida) (performed in concert at the Metropolitan Opera)

“Mamma” (Madison Square Garden – 1984)

“Donna non vidi mai” (Manon Lescaut) (Hyde Park)

“Nessun Dorma” (Turandot) (Central Park)

“Miss Sarajevo” (with Bono/Pavarotti & Friends)

“Holy Mother” (with Eric Clapton/Pavarotti & Friends)

“A Vucchella” (Barcelona recital)

“O Sole Mio” (Three Tenors in Rome)

“Non ti scordar di me”

“La mia canzone al vento”

“Panis Angelicus” (Sting)

“Torna a surriento” (Three Tenors/Naples)

“la Danza”

Did you know Black Friday is also “National Day of Listening”? StoryCorps explains

0
0

If you don’t feel like trampling your fellow humans to save 20% on a light-up turtle toy, then relax into the idea that tomorrow isn’t just Black Friday. The Friday after Thanksgiving is also known as the “National Day of Listening.”

The concept may seem foreign, so I’ll walk you through the finer points.

- Stories are good.
- Listening shows caring.
- Love is good.
- Black Friday and mass consumerism are not as good.
- StoryCorps created this holiday.
- Why? Because we needed it.
- People have stories worth sharing. … They also have stories worth hearing.

 

storycorps

What was it like to grow up poor in Chicago where $2 was a big deal? Watch “Making It” on PBS. Credit: StoryCorps.

POV’s Thanksgiving Broadcast, ‘Listening Is an Act of Love: A StoryCorps Special,’ Reveals the Power of Conversation, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2013 at 9 p.m. on PBS

StoryCorps’ First Animated Television Special, Drawn from Its Oral History Archives, Unveils Dramatic Stories from Everyday People. All You Have to Do Is Ask—And Listen.

The first-ever animated television special from StoryCorps celebrates the transformative power of listening. Directed by the award-winning animation team the Rauch Brothers, Listening Is an Act of Love: A StoryCorps Special features six stories drawn from StoryCorps’ 10 years of asking everyday people to share their conversations with family and friends. These oral histories are a never-ending testament to how much can be revealed in the closest of relationships and how readily, as StoryCorps founder Dave Isay says, “you find wisdom and poetry” in the words of regular folks. An interview between Dave and his inquisitive 9-year-old nephew, Benji, frames the program’s intimate conversations.

Listening Is an Act of Love: A StoryCorps Special premieres on Thanksgiving Day (also the first day of Hanukkah), Thursday, Nov. 28, 2013, at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings). It is a special presentation of POV (Point of View), American television’s longest-running independent documentary series.

This broadcast takes place the day before the National Day of Listening, a holiday created by StoryCorps to encourage people take the time to record conversations with loved ones the day after Thanksgiving, traditionally known as Black Friday. To coincide with the POV broadcast, The Penguin Press has released a new book, Ties That Bind: Stories of Love and Gratitude from the First Ten Years of StoryCorps, and re-released Listening Is an Act of Love: A Celebration of American Life from the StoryCorps Project, read a special excerpt online.

New animated stories in POV’s Listening Is an Act of Love: A StoryCorps Special:

Making It: Noe Rueda grew up poor on Chicago’s West Side. At the young age of 8, he already relied on his entrepreneurial talents to help his mom and three siblings make ends meet; even $20 would make his mother cry with gratitude. Noe tells his high school teacher Alex Fernandez about his childhood, and Alex shares his dreams for Noe’s future.

Marking the Distance: When Gweneviere Mann, a San Francisco native living in New York, lost her short-term memory following surgery to remove a brain tumor, she was forced to navigate life in a new way. But she wasn’t alone. With the support of her boyfriend, Yasir Salem, she found she could tackle the challenges her condition threw her way—and a few more.

The Road Home: Eddie Lanier ignored his father’s warning about the family’s disposition to alcoholism and struggled for over 40 years, until his 28th stint in rehab finally led to sobriety. Homeless and hungry, he roamed the streets of his native Chapel Hill, N.C., and found a friend in David Wright, a passerby whose frequent donations stood out. The two friends discuss Eddie’s remarkable journey.

Me & You: In New York, 73-year-old Jackie Miller talks to her adopted son, Scott, revealing something about her early life that puts his adoption in a new and dramatic light. As they express their profound love for one another, Scott touchingly recalls how he came out to her and expresses his trepidation about the future.

The StoryCorps special includes two favorites from previous POV seasons:

Miss Devine: In Bradenton, Fla., cousins James Ransom and Cherie Johnson hilariously recall their fearsome Sunday school teacher, Miss Lizzie Devine, the only woman who scared them more than their grandmother. There was no earthly excuse to miss Sunday school, even if it meant arriving in your pajamas and tennis shoes.

No More Questions! Kay Wang was a strong-willed grandmother who was reluctantly taken to a StoryCorps booth in San Francisco by her son Cheng and granddaughter Chen. Though Kay resisted, she still had stories to tell—from disobeying her mother and rebuffing suitors in China to her adventures as a Bloomingdale’s store detective. Kay passed away just weeks later.

Check it out tonight on PBS.

React: What story of yours is worth sharing with others, even strangers, that should be told?

My story for Small Screen Scoop readers is that even though it’s been years…when my parents moved us to a different town I was really upset to lose all my friends, start over, etc. I survived, and school was school. School is always just school in the end. But I think that unconsciously I have never forgiven them for that betrayal. Additionally, I probably always resented my brother because he was so young it didn’t affect him, and he thrived in that new school (the nerve of him). I have no moral to this story, but I think it’s important for us to acknowledge things in our past. Once you recognize them, you can flush them out of your system. Now, if only I could workout my issues with koala bears…

Wunderbar! Julie Andrews invites you to Vienna for New Year’s 2014

0
0

Travel to Vienna for New Years 2014, and enjoy the legendary Julie Andrews as your tour guide for the celebration.

from vienna new year 2014 2015 2013

From Vienna: The New Years’s Celebration 2014

Julie Andrews returns to host “From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2014″ with The Vienna Philharmonic (conducted by Daniel Barenboim) and the Vienna State Ballet.

From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2014, featuring the infectious melodies of the Strauss Family and their contemporaries, will air live on Great Performances, Wednesday, January 1 at 2:30 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings) with an encore performance that evening at 8 p.m.

Andrews celebrating New Years in Vienna continues to be a cherished tradition for viewers and the beloved singer, actress, and author herself. “As often as I’ve come to this simply gorgeous city, its beauty and charms enchant me as they did the very first time. Each year, I find myself quite swept away by Vienna’s extraordinary beauty, and the luscious melodies of the Strauss family and their contemporaries.”

As is customary with these broadcasts, Ms. Andrews will travel from her home base in the Musikverein hall itself to visit multiple picturesque Vienna landmarks: the Sigmund Freud Museum, the Porcelain Museum in the Augarten, the 900-year-old Klosterneuburg Abbey, and the Liechtenstein City Palace.

On January 10, Sony Classical will release the live recording via digital download, followed by a nationwide CD release on January 21, and DVD and Blu-ray on February 4.- Via Press Release

Visit Great Performances Online at www.pbs.org/gperf for additional information about this and other programs.

REACT: Have you watched this event previously?


Was Sherlock Holmes real? ‘How Sherlock Changed the World’ with forensic science | PBS

0
0

Sherlock Holmes is a popular character, although sometimes the line between fact and fiction seems blurred.

HOW SHERLOCK CHANGED THE WORLD
Explores the Impact of the Legendary Detective on
Criminal Investigation and Forensic Techniques

- “The Walking Dead” Star Andrew Lincoln Narrates
Two-Hour Special Assessing the Influence of the Fictional Detective
Premiering Tuesday, December 17 on PBS -

The truth of the matter is that Sherlock Holmes was a fictional character written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Though, of course, there are theories that the character was based on someone Doyle knew in real life. Some even say it was Doyle’s teacher (Dr. Joseph Bell) in Medical school. Either way, people have long though Holmes was real, and have gone as far as to send mail to him at 21 Baker Street, likely hoping for a response.

sherlock movie pbs how sherlock changed the world

How Sherlock Changed the World DVD
List Price: $24.99
Our Price: $19.99

About “How Sherlock Changed the World”

HOW SHERLOCK CHANGED THE WORLD, a new two-hour special about the world’s most legendary fictional detective, reveals the astonishing impact Holmes has had on the development of real criminal investigation and forensic techniques. From blood to ballistics, from fingerprints to footprints, Sherlock Holmes was 120 years ahead of his time, protecting crime scenes from contamination, looking for minute traces of evidence and searching for what the eye couldn’t see. Featuring interviews with forensic scientists, toxicologists, crime scene investigators and criminal profilers, HOW SHERLOCK CHANGED THE WORLD premieres on PBS on Tuesday, December 17, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings).

About Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Embraced by the public from his very first appearance in 1887, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s literary creation is more popular than ever, with multiple contemporary film and television series introducing new generations to the detective’s keen observations and lightning powers of deduction. Narrated by Andrew Lincoln, HOW SHERLOCK CHANGED THE WORLD features dramatized excerpts from several of Doyle’s stories, along with scenes from “Sherlock,” the wildly popular MASTERPIECE series starring Benedict Cumberbatch, which returns with a new season on Sunday, January 19, 2014 on PBS.

Why Sherlock Holmes was so Great

In an era when eyewitness testimony and “smoking gun” evidence were needed to convict and police incompetence meant that Jack the Ripper stalked the streets freely, Sherlock Holmes used chemistry, bloodstains and fingerprints to catch offenders. In many ways, the modern detective can be seen as a direct extension of Conan Doyle’s literary genius. Using interviews and archival materials, HOW SHERLOCK CHANGED THE WORLD explores real crimes that were solved thanks to techniques, equipment or methods of reasoning Holmes used.

Forensic scientist Dr. Henry Lee shows how he used blood evidence to free a woman charged with the murder of her husband in a mysterious case in Florida, and Karen Smith demonstrates how blood splatter patterns exonerated Dr. Sam Sheppard of his wife’s murder years after his conviction. The history of Sherlock’s techniques from the 1880s to the present is explored, showing how the scientific methods he introduced to the world have evolved into the stunning CSI-style forensic labs of Scotland Yard and the FBI.

Sherlock Homes IQ

Holmes was the first to use ballistics, including bullet trajectory, as evidence in criminal cases. “Sherlock anticipates the abilities that modern forensic science has, that we can actually now convict criminals on the basis of scientific evidence,” says Jonathan Ferguson, Curator of Firearms, Royal Armouries. “And Sherlock was there at the beginning, doing that in fiction.”

Long before modern toxicologists developed sophisticated tests for chemical analysis, Holmes was using scientific methods to detect the presence of poisons, which for centuries had been used as an undetectable means for murder. Dr. Michael Rieders reveals how modern toxicology tests were used to unmask the true killer of Robert Curley, a Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania man who died of thallium poisoning.

Sherlock Holmes Forensics Science

One of the best known forensic scientists in history and an avid reader of Sherlock Holmes stories, Frenchman Edmond Locard built the first real forensics lab in 1910, 23 years after Sir Arthur Conan Doyle dreamed up a fictional one. Like Sherlock, Locard kept meticulous collections of soil, mineral, fiber and hair samples and used a microscope to identify trace evidence. Locard eventually formulated one of the important breakthroughs of modern forensic science, the exchange principle, which states that when two things come into contact, they each leave a trace on the other.

“That is something right out of a Sherlock Holmes novel, that whenever two things come into contact, they leave a trace,” explains forensic scientist Kimberlee Sue Moran. “And as forensic scientists we play that out on every crime scene that we come across.”

Sherlock Holmes Shoe Prints

Sherlock’s obsession with shoe print evidence inspired one of the most recent advances in solving crimes – gait analysis. “Forensic gait analysis was only used for the first time in 2001, so Sherlock Holmes was 120 years ahead of practice,” says Professor Wesley Vernon, a forensic podiatrist who used the technique to convict a killer.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Detective Attempts

As Sherlock’s fame grew, so did that of his creator, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle frequently received letters appealing for help with crimes. One such letter led Doyle to turn detective himself, and in 1903 his shrewd observations and experience as an eye doctor helped exonerate a man accused of brutally killing animals in a Staffordshire village. Even though Doyle proved the accused innocent, the police refused to believe it. The experience propelled Doyle to become an influential voice in setting up the first official British Court of Appeal two years later.

“Because of this character that he created, he now has this tremendous opportunity to have an impact and influence on real-life cases,” Brent Turvey says. “One of the most exciting things about the Holmes series is that it not only inspired generations of forensic scientists, but changed the life of the author to make him more of an advocate for the forensic sciences and for competent, adequate criminal and scientific investigation.” – Via Press Release

HOW SHERLOCK CHANGED THE WORLD demonstrates that the legacy of Holmes, the first crime scene investigator, is not solely as a reservoir of brilliant stories and wonderfully drawn characters, but can be found in the development of modern scientific criminal investigation techniques and improved methods for capturing today’s criminals.

HOW SHERLOCK CHANGED THE WORLD will be available for viewing on the PBS Video Portal after its national broadcast and is currently available for sale on ShopPBS.org.

‘How to Survive a Plague’ showcases superheroes from the 80′s and 90′s

0
0

“How to Survive a Plague” examines the actions of ACT UP and TAG (Treatment Action Group) and their important impact on AIDS during the 80′s and 90′s.

how to survive a plague

“Even if you lived through this era, went to protests, wept over the AIDS quilt and believed yourself aware, director David France’s assured, seamless directorial debut, rich with archival footage, will teach you something about courage, dedication and the power of well-directed anger.” – Mary Pols, Time Magazine

What is ‘How to Survive a Plague’ about?

How to Survive a Plague tells the story of two coalitions, ACT UP and TAG (Treatment Action Group), whose fearless activism and innovation turned AIDS from a death sentence into a manageable condition. Despite having no scientific training, these self-made activists infiltrated the pharmaceutical industry and helped identify promising new drugs, moving them from experimental trials to patients in record time.

In the dark days of 1987, the country was six years into the AIDS epidemic, a crisis that was still being largely ignored by government officials and health organizations — until the sudden emergence of the activist group ACT UP in Greenwich Village.

Their efforts would see them seize the reins of federal policy from the FDA and NIH, force the AIDS conversation into the 1992 presidential election, and lead the way to the discovery of effective AIDS drugs that saved countless lives.

How to Survive a Plague Premiere Date

“How to Survive a Plague” premieres on Monday, December 30th, 2013 on (Independent Lens) PBS.

About David France

First-time director and award-winning journalist David France, who has been covering the AIDS crisis for 30 years, culls from a huge amount of archival footage — most of it shot by the protestors themselves. Interspersed with contemporary interviews, the film is not just a historical document, but also an intimate and visceral recreation of the period through the personal stories of some of ACT UP and TAG’s leading participants. Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary, How to Survive a Plague captures both the joy and terror of those days, and the epic day-by-day battles that finally made AIDS survival possible.

How to Survive a Plague Details

Visit the How to Survive a Plague companion website (http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/) which features information about the film, including an interview with the filmmaker, and links and resources pertaining to the film’s subject matter.

“How to Survive a Plague” premieres on Monday, December 30th, 2013 on (Independent Lens) PBS.

‘Christmas at Belmont 2013′ tonight on PBS!

0
0

Tonight on PBS, people of Nashville will raise their voices to sing classic Christmas carols and seasonal songs.

For lovely music, children and beautiful decorations, there’s likely nothing else you could watch that will give you more Christmas glow.

christmas at belmont 2013

Christmas at Belmont 2013. Photo: PBS

Nashville shows why it’s called Music City as acclaimed American mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves hosts this annual production of traditional carols, classical masterworks, world music and light-hearted seasonal favorites taped at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. Nearly 700 Belmont University student musicians join Graves, the Belmont School of Music faculty and the Nashville Children’s Choir to present the seasonal celebration. The program also features the University Symphony Orchestra, Belmont Chorale, Percussion Ensemble, Musical Theatre, Jazz and Bluegrass Ensembles.

CHRISTMAS AT BELMONT 2013 Friday, December 20, 2013, 10:00-11:00 p.m. ET

‘Craft in America – Holiday’ tonight on PBS! Highlights Harley Refsal

0
0

Every Christmas needs a few gingerbread houses and gnomes.

craft in america holiday harley refsal

Harley Refsal, Photo: PBS

Enjoy those gingerbread houses, and more, tonight when PBS airs ‘Craft in America: Holiday’ following ‘Christmas in Belmont 2013.’

“Holiday” celebrates some of our most important traditions. Nordic folk woodcarver Harley Refsal brings to life the rich history of winter solstice. Clay artist Susan Garson creates fanciful Chanukah menorahs. George Vanderbilt’s opulent turn-of-the-century Christmas is recreated at the Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina. Daring chefs make lavish gingerbread houses for the competition at Grove Park Inn. Navidad is celebrated in San Antonio with religious processions, tamales and Kathleen Trenchard’s sparkling luminarias. Garcia Art Glass makes colorful ornaments, and Veronica Castillo creates a traditional Mexican Tree of Life.

Airs Friday, December 20, 2013, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET

‘Downton Abbey’ Recap – Season 4, Episode 1 – Six months later…

0
0

No, it’s not a horror movie. It’s the same Abbey you know and love.

pbs, downton abbey season 4, downton abbey season 4 premiere, downton abbey episode 4.1, downton abbey, downton abbey season 4 quotes, downton abbey quotes, downton abbey season 4 episode 1, downton abbey season 4 quotes violet, downton abbey quotes season 4

Downton Abbey Recap – Season 4, Episode 1

First, a promo of a sponsor by Ralph Lauren. Which, hey, I enjoy – because his dresses are very Audrey Hepburn-meets-American Classics. We learn that Masterpiece is something about …it helps our minds and hearts. Come on, come on! READY FOR THE SHOW NOW. I thought my DVR didn’t catch this, and nearly threw a fit. So, okay, here we go.

A GLOOMY, DARK Abbey with one room aglow. Honestly, this looks like a horror movie. Purposefully, though. Everything is dark and eerie. A baby cries, a fat nurse walks the halls, Lady Mary blinks. It’s a sad world we’re entering. (Remember: Matthew is dead. …That’s a joke, because who could forget it.)

It’s 1922.

And O’Brien has left. Who knows why, it seems she left no clues or told anyone she was thinking of it. Everyone flocks together to talk about this mystery. OH, right – O’Brien went off with Susan. BETRAYAL. I feel so bad for Cora. She was basically..intimate with O’Brien.

 SUGGESTED FOR YOU: ‘Downton Abbey’ Season 4 Quotes | PBS | Episode 1

AND WE SEE THAT COUSIN ROSE DID KNOW OF HER MOTHER’S PLANS. She’s …trouble. But we learned that she was trouble, last season.

Baby, er, Master George, is adorable and plump. Mary calls him a, “poor little orphan.” Anna reminds Mary that he’s not an orphan, and Mary snips back that he’s not exactly poor, either.

Finally, the Countess Dowager! Even in a graveyard, Violet is a chipper sight.

We learn that it’s six months since Matthew died.

The babies are walked, together, in prams! Adorable.

Tom doesn’t like Nanny West. And Robert is none-too-pleased about Edith going into London to see her older, married, paramour. Her Facebook status would be, “It’s Complicated,” that’s for sure.

Rose hitches along to the village and posts an ad for a Lady’s Maid.

Isobel…she’s pale and tired. Her spirit has died down. Violet tries to talk with Isobel (oh, how far they’ve come!) But Isobel is going to be reluctant about anything, right now.

Mr. Carson gets mail that he doesn’t like, and gets grumpy about everything. Tapestry!

We also learn that everything belongs to George, instead of Mary. Basically. So, she’s back where she started.

Thomas hates Nanny West, and it seems like it’s kind of because he wants to be the nanny. …But then it appears that he just hates how Nanny West thinks she’s an “upstairs” person who can boss him around. Naturally, he sabotages her.

It’s Saint Valentine’s Day! Cards for everyone! Little love notes. …But none for Daisy…WAIT, there is one. Bates and Anna share a cute moment, because their cute, though their love will always be doomed. Lady Edith has a Valentine, too. There is so much tension in a stairway scene between Edith and Mary that I kind of want to …punch Mary. She wants to make everyone as miserable as her, and she’s bitter that anyone else has love. Especially Edith, because Mary was always better than Edith. Mary’s attitude seems especially self-damaging and hateful towards her sister, and to her own self.

Mrs. Hughes is like Veronica Mars, so she investigated and found the guy Carson got mail from. And Hughes is good about learning what it’s all about. The guy (Mr. Grig) is in a workhouse, but at least he’s “in the dry” and sober. He used to sing/dance with Carson! Mrs. Hughes goes to Mrs. Crawley with the situation, because Isobel is the liberal one who helps people. But Isobel doesn’t want that responsibility anymore than Carson wants.

Edith’s beau has found out he can marry Edith, in another country. But would living in Germany be …ideal? Have they gone into FULL FLAPPER FASHION there? Because Edith is ROCKING a red frock and headscarf that Rachel Zoe would say she’d, “die for.” But then Edith would say death is nothing to joke about, and then Zoe would roll her eyes and later say how ugly Edith is. SO, anyway. Just letting you know how that situation would play out.

The ladies are surprised to receive a mixer from Edith. Mrs. Patmore isn’t happy about it. She doesn’t like toasters, either. I happen to dislike my toaster, because I can never clean it properly. There’s crumbs all over the bottom. AND, it’s impossible to pull the tray out, it always sticks. Who knew finding a good toaster would ever be so hard? I’ve never owned a single toaster that worked right.

Tom appeals to Carson, so that Carson will appeal to Mary about getting her shizz together. Mary will listen to Carson, but not anyone else. I almost want Mary and Carson to get married, because…at least he makes her smile. But I think maybe she smiles because he really respects the old traditions, and she loves them, too. She loves that he’s a fully committed servant who knows his place. (And it’ll never be in her arms/bed/etc.) WAIT WAIT. Okay. I know what you’re about to say. Yes. I wrote all of that before we were at 37 minutes into the program and Mary nailed Carson (wrong use of words…) for being so presumptuous. I GUESS SHE’S GONNA BE A TOUGH NUT TO CRACK. Cue: intense stare into the mirror.

Violet is also in on the game of trying to get Mary to live again. There’s a moment after Vilet says, “I love you” where she goes from looking down to lifting her eyes – as though it broke through to her. Loved that moment.

The smooth mousse has paved the way by winning over Violet: KITCHEN AID MIXERS HERE WE COME. Then, Violet talks with Mary (who has stormed upstairs) and they have the sweetest moment of honesty.

“You have a straightforward choice before you. You can either choose either death, or life.” – The Dowager Countess
“And you think I should choose life -?” – Lady Mary

I LOVE THAT ENTIRE SCENE. (And the next.) Robert doesn’t understand, sometimes there’s a family member who means well but just doesn’t understand.

“She is broken and bruised. And it is our job to wrap her up and keep her safe from the world.” – Robert
“No, Robert. It is our job to bring her back to the world!” – Violet

Nanny West didn’t think it was a good time for HIS GRANDMOTHER TO SEE GEORGE? SLAP THE EVIL WITCH OF THE WEST!

Ivey gets drunk, and is then hungover.

Former housemaid has turned to a lady’s maid, and wants to work for Cora. That’s Jane Moorsum, the maid who had a tryst with Robert. DRAMA. Mrs. Hughes is in a tough spot, because she can’t tell Cora why Jane was let go… WAIT. Okay. It was EDNA who is hired, and it’s because her and TOM had a thing.

Edith gets to go out with a man, drinking and dining in public. And she looks fantastic in a green and gold dress, with white gloves and her hair waved up like they did in those days. But she’d better hold onto her drink, because her beau (can you tell I’ve forgotten his name) is going to move and become a German citizen. And they’re going to get married. And they have the most beautiful kiss with glowy golden light.

Daisy wants to know if Alfred likes her, finally. Oh, Dais. But Alfred …doesn’t. Not romantically. Mrs. Patmore cannot take over Patti Stanger’s job. (This just in: I’ve been watching a lot of ‘The Millionaire Matchmaker.’)

Meanwhile, Nanny West is seen being truly evil to Sybil’s daughter, because she’s the son of a former Chauffeur. She really WAS evil. Cora lets her go, immediately, like a Mama Lion. (Or Mama Tiger? I forget which it is. But, any big, angry cat, works.)

Lady Mary apologizes to Carson, which means order is restored. Carson is kind of like Lady Mary’s Grandfather, and he’s very supportive of her. She’s come to the realization that it’s time to start living. Of course, this comes with a crying breakdown…a healing sort. Grief comes in waves. Carson is able to hug Mary through it.

“You cry m’lady. you have a good cry. That’s what’s needed now. and when you’re ready, you can get to work. Because you are strong enough. You’re strong enough for the task.” – Carson

Mrs. Patmore broke the mixer bowl…and she’s worried she’s stuck in the past and isn’t relevant anymore. Poor, dear, soul. Who doesn’t love Mrs. Patmore?

It’s a new day. There’s sun out, flowers, and the music is back! Thomas is thanked by Cora, and beams with pride. At a meeting of all men for the land (or whatever), Mary arrives in a purple dress, instead of her usual black. She’s here to work. Daddy isn’t so happy, but psh.

Gwen is married! That’s Gwen Dawson, with the red hair, from season 1. She left to become a secretary. The actress, Rose Leslie, has been on ‘Game of Thrones’ recently. But it seems we’ll see her for ‘Downton Abbey’ season four.

A box arrives of Matthew’s effects. And in a book, Matthew has said that Mary should be the heiress. Even if it’s not legal, it’s important for Mary to know that. But Robert doesn’t want to show it to Mary. He’d prefer to be in sole charge of the estate, not share with his daughter. Robert is firm about how the letter isn’t a will, no matter what Matthew said he wanted, or that there were witnesses. He’s the only one who feels that way, though.

Robert decides to throw very hard questions at Mary, trying “to show a woman’s place is in the home,” says Cora. Is Mary qualified? Robert makes it clear he hopes the letter is not verified to be legal. Luckily,Violet has a plan. She wants Branson to “explain the crops” to Mary, so she can GET qualified.

Mr. Mosely is in dire straits, and has no money or job. Anna offers to give him money, but he refuses. It’s a sad sight. But in securing his signature, Mr. Bates is able to forge it and get him some money anyway. YAY BRANSON. It was in the guise of, “you owed me some money anad now I’m paying you back.” Thirty pounds! Mr. Bates and Anna have hearts of gold. Much higher than 14k.

Rose invites Anna to some sort of dance. But she has to watch out, because Edna and Thomas are framing her for ruining a scarf (or something) of Cora’s.  For now, she’s got to go to the dance with Rose at the Jubilee Dance Hall. They’re sneaky little minx’s. Rose is just wild for the One Step. And for boys.  And now she’s…”Rose Smith.” What’s a creative girl like her using such a boring last name? Or maybe the writer’s did so because they knew we’d never remember if it was her real last name. James stops by (the snoop), and everyone dances. When two boys fight over Rose, it’s James to the rescue…and he’s taken a fancy to Rose after all. THE POLICE ARE COMING. AAAAH. THERE ARE POLICE WHISTLES.

The man that Rose was dancing with has come back to make sure she’s okay. And here’s Rose, all dressed up in a rose dress, looking nothing like a maid. Therefore, Anna puts her in a maid’s outfit so she can go speak to the boy. But Rose is able to put him off by saying she’s engaged. Thomas witnesses this, so now he’s got blackmail material. (We know he loves it.) Though, we needn’t worry that Thomas will fall for Rose, as he’s falling for Edna.

AND HERE’S A SCENE WHERE WE SEE THE DOG. Robert has arranged everyone to hear that Matthew’s request that Mary should own half the estate stands. Carson and everyone is pleased, except Papa.

And, in his good mood, Carson sees to it to see Grigg before he leaves for good. There was a woman, Alice, who’d come between them. But they talk, and things are instantly better between the two. It’s sad and bittersweet, because Carson was too prideful to come around earlier and he could have learned the truth about Alice. Carson doesn’t have many friends.

Carson insists on paying for Mr. Griggs’ stay, though Isobel tries to resist. But it is a sign that Carson really has forgiven his friend, and now considers him enough of a friend to take on any of his burdens. It’s sweet. And with that sweetness, we say goodbye to this premiere of Downton Abbey season four…for now.

Keep reading Small Screen Scoop for more Downton Abbey recaps.

And don’t forget about visiting our Downton Abbey Season 4 Quotes portal for the latest witty lines from the Dowager Countess.

REACT: Do you think it was important that Lady Mary got herself together before reading that letter Matthew had written?

‘Downton Abbey’ Season 4 Quotes | PBS | Episode 1

0
0

The best quotes from ‘Downton Abbey’ season 4, inside.

downton abbey, downton abbey season 4, pictures, downton abbey cast, downton abbey season 4 cast

Downton Abbey Season 4 Quotes – Episode 1

SUGGESTED FOR YOU: ‘Downton Abbey’ Recap – Season 4, Episode 1 – Six months later…

“She mistook you for a servant?”
“Isn’t he?”
“Don’t tell him that, he’ll never get over the shock.” – Mr. Bates

“Can I help you?” – Thomas Barrow
“I doubt you would if you could.” – Nanny West

“Nothing’s as changeable as a young man’s heart. Take hope, and a warning from that.” Mrs. Patmore

“It’s not for me to have an opinion. But I will say this…” – Mrs. Hughes

“Prison was an education.” – Mr. Bates

“Now the room’s going to smell like a tart’s boudoir.” – Lady Mary

“I’m a very hard worker, and I’ve practiced what I’ve learned.”

“I just had a hunch that she wasn’t quite up to garment.” – Thomas Barrow

“When you talk like that i’m tempted to ring for Nanny and have you put to bed with no supper.” – The Dowager Countess

“I’d become an Eskimo if it meant I could marry you.”

“You cry m’lady. you have a good cry. That’s what’s needed now. and when you’re ready, you can get to work. Because you are strong enough. You’re strong enough for the task.” – Carson

“You see, Carson, I’d almost forgotten I’d had either energy or kindness in me. So that’s something, isn’t it?” – Isobel

“My husband is dead. Can’t you understand what that means.” – Lady Mary

“Matthew is dead 50 years before his time. Isn’t that enough for me to deal with?” – Lady Mary

“I suppose we were all young once.” – Anna
“Yes, but you stayed young. And that’s the difference.” – Mr. Bates

“She is living a nightmare. And we must all step back and allow her to come through it in her own time.” – Robert Crawley

“I doubt you would if you could.” – Nanny West

“My dear, I’m not really very interested in whether you behaved badly or well.” – Violet

“You’re letting yourself be defeated. M’lady. I’m sorry if it’s a lapse to say so. But someone has to.” – Carson

“His lordship has made a decision, and I do not feel that his butler should criticize him for it.” – Lady Mary to Carson

“The price of great love is great misery when one of you dies.” – Robert Crawley, the Earl of Grantham

“You see, when your only child dies, then you’re not a mother anymore. You’re not anything really. That that’s what I’m trying to get used to.” – Isobel
“You’re a grandmother. And I know you’re going to be a wonderful one.” – Lady Edith

“It’s the job of Grandmother’s to interfere.” – Violet

“Just because you’re an old widow, that’s no excuse to eat off a tray.” – Violet

“He’s not beyond a decent life, if he could find it.” – Mrs. Hughes

“You have a straightforward choice before you. You can either choose either death, or life.” – The Dowager Countess
“And you think I should choose life -?” – Lady Mary

“…all the softness that he found in me seems to have dried up and drained away. Maybe it was only ever there in his imagination.” – Lady Mary

“We are selling Mosely to Mrs. Shackleton.” – Violet
“You mean as a servant?” – Cora
“No, as a Chinese laundryman.” – Violet

“What about Mr. Bates, won’t he be missing ya?”
“Mr. Bates will have to wait his turn.” – Anna

“She is broken and bruised. And it is our job to wrap her up and keep her safe from the world.” – Robert
“No, Robert. It is our job to bring her back to the world.” – Violet

“There’s more than one type of good mother.” – Violet

“I don’t think I’m strong enough-” – Isobel
“You are, ma’m. If you could just set aside that grief and used that strength for another’s good.” – Mrs. Hughes

“Isn’t that a bit underhand?” – Lady Mary
“There can be truth in any relationship.” – Violet

Keep reading Small Screen Scoop for our Downton Abbey Season 4 Quotes portal so you can stay up-to-date with the wit of Downton.

And don’t forget about visiting weekly to read our Downton Abbey recaps.

REACT: Which is your favorite quote from Downton Abbey Season 4, Episode 1?

Provacative questions raised in ‘American Promise’ on PBS | February showtimes listed

0
0

Read on for information and showtimes for the ‘American Promise’ documentary that will air on PBS.

Joe Brewster, Idris Brewster, Miles Brewster, Michele Stepehnson, american promise

Joe Brewster, Idris Brewster, Miles Brewster and Michèle Stepehnson. Credit: Orrie King.

How Can We Help Black Boys Succeed in America Today?
POV’s ‘American Promise’ Explores Race, Class and Opportunity, Showtimes: Monday, Feb. 3, 2014 During Black History Month

Groundbreaking Film Follows Two African-American Boys on a 13-Year Journey

American Promise spans 13 years as Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson, middle-class African-American parents in Brooklyn, N.Y., turn their cameras on their son, Idris, and his best friend, Seun, who make their way through Dalton, one of the most prestigious private schools in the country. Chronicling the boys’ divergent paths from kindergarten through high school graduation, this provocative, intimate documentary presents complicated truths about America’s struggle to come of age on issues of race, class and opportunity.

‘American Promise’ Awards

American Promise, winner of a Special Jury Award at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, has its national broadcast premiere on Monday, Feb. 3, 2014 at 10 p.m. on the award-winning POV (Point of View) documentary series on PBS. (Check local listings.) Watch the film on POV’s website, www.pbs.org/pov/americanpromise, from Feb. 4- March 6, 2014.
Coinciding with the documentary, Spiegel & Grau has published PROMISES KEPT: Raising Black Boys to Succeed in School and in Life, by Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson with Hilary Beard. Where American Promise raises provocative questions, Promises Kept delivers answers, combining insights Joe and Michèle derived from their own experiences with the latest research on closing the black male achievement gap.

Why to watch ‘American Promise’

“All American families want to give their children the opportunity to succeed. But the truth is, opportunity is just the first step, particularly for families raising black boys. We hope American Promise shines a light on these issues, ” says Stephenson. Adds Brewster, “Our goal is to empower boys, their parents and educators to pursue educational opportunities, especially to help close the black male achievement gap.”

About ‘American Graduate: Let’s Make it Happen’

American Promise is part of American Graduate: Let’s Make It Happen, a public media initiative made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to help communities identify and implement solutions to improve high school graduation rates. Public television stations around the country are planning events to engage their communities in dialogue around key issues and solutions raised in the film.

Visit: American Graduate

American Promise is a co-production of Rada Film Group, ITVS and POV’s Diverse Voices Project (DVP). ITVS and DVP receive funding from CPB. – Via Press Release

‘American Promise’ showtimes include Feb 4th-March 6th on PBS’s website. It will also air on Feb 3rd at 10 pm.

We hope you enjoyed this information! If so, take a second to give Small Screen Scoop your free support by following us on Twitter, Subscribing via e-mail, or liking us on Facebook.


What is a Coywolf? ‘Meet the Coywolf’ explains the facts on PBS

0
0

Learn about an intimidating new hybrid species roaming the streets of New York City.

coywolf, coywolf facts, coywolf size, meet the coywolf

Photo Credit: PBS

What is a coywolf? It’s what happens when a coyote and wolf mate, and this topic will be explored on Wednesday, January 22nd on PBS.

The show, ‘Meet the Coywolf’ will explain why you haven’t seen (or heard) much about this hybrid species.  Despite what you might assume, the Coywolf is

The film explains how this fairly recent mixture of western coyote and eastern wolf came about, how it has been making its way south into our eastern cities (Toronto, Montreal, New York City etc.) and how coyotes have been settling into places like Chicago.

THIRTEEN’s Nature Introduces A New Addition To The Neighborhood When Meet the Coywolf Airs Wednesday, January 22, 2014 on PBS

coywolf, coywolf facts, coywolf size, meet the coywolf

Photo Credit: PBS

Living in our midst and thriving, these intelligent wild animals have figured out how to move through our communities often undetected

What is a Coywolf?

There is a new hybrid species that has been spreading across North America at a startling pace and slipping unnoticed into cities such as Toronto, Montreal, Boston and even New York. It is called a coywolf, a mixture of western coyote and eastern wolf, whose first known birth occurred less than a century ago. Because these animals originated in the east, they are also known as eastern coyotes.

Colfwolf Facts

Scientists say it is one of the most adaptable mammals on the planet, but what surprises them most is how this wild carnivore manages to live right alongside us while remaining just out of view. Many of us now share our yards, parks and streets with these elusive new predators even though we may hardly ever get a glimpse of one.

So how are the coywolves making their way from the Northern Ontario wilderness to our cities? John Pisapio says his GPS tracking data shows they use railway tracks. “When those tracks intersect a park or a ravine or a gold course,” Pisapio says, “that then provides a new opportunity for territory and residing in the urban landscape as opposed to just moving through. Most wildlife doesn’t do well in the presence of people, in the presence of development, but here we have one that is not only persisting, but thriving.” Raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, rats, mice, waterfowl and even handouts from humans provide ample food for these intelligent predators.

What is the Coywolf Size?

To get an idea of a coywolf’s size, Roland Kays, Curator of Mammals at the New York State Museum in Albany, explains “it’s much larger than the western coyote, but still quite a bit smaller than the wolf …. One of my students likes to say it’s a coyote-like skull with wolf-like teeth.” Biologist John Pisapio at the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources adds “They have long legs, they have thick fur, they look very wolf-like.”

The Coywolf in New York City

ildlife biologists Mark Weckel and Chris Nagy are trying to determine whether the coywolf is just passing through or settling down in the big city. They set up camera traps in various wooded park areas to capture images of these adaptive animals. There have been sightings in Queens and the Bronx and one captured in Central Park in 1999 resides at the Queens Zoo, but Weckel and Nagy say only time will tell where else in the city the coywolf will call home. – Via Press Release

“Meet the Coywolf” premieres Wed., Jan. 22 from 8-9pm ET on PBS (check local listings).

Visit: PBS.org/nature

7 Amish Shunning Stories explored in PBS special, ‘The Amish – Shunned’

0
0

As part of American Experience, ‘The Amish: Shunned’ premieres on PBS on Tuesday, February 4, 2014
9:00-11:00 p.m. ET.

amish shunned pbs, pbs, american experience, amish shunning, amish shunning stories

The Amish: Shunned Synopsis

Shunned follows seven people who have chosen to leave their closed and tightly knit communities for the outside world, knowing that they can never return. Each has paid deeply for their decision. Estranged from loved ones, these former Amish find themselves struggling to make their way in modern America. Interwoven with their stories are the voices of staunchly loyal Amish men and women who explain the importance of obedience, the strong ties and traditions that bind them together, and the heartbreak they feel when a loved one falls away. Through its sympathetic portrayal of both sides, the film explores what is gained and what is lost when community and tradition are exchanged for individuality and freedom. Produced, directed and written by Callie T. Wiser.

What is Amish Shunning?

“This is one of the faith’s defining practices in which members of the community cut ties with those who choose to leave,” says Wiser. “We touched on it in the first film, but I was interested in delving further into the practice, and finding individuals whose stories would portray the breadth and variety of shunning.”

Revealing the pain of those who leave and the suffering of those left behind, the film is the story of people confronted with difficult choices. To the Amish, shunning is an essential tenet of their faith and a way to maintain the strength and viability of a tight-knit community. While the practice has helped protect them from the onslaught of modern culture, it is an agonizing decision for parents, relatives and friends to sever ties with loved ones whom they believe to be eternally condemned for their decision to leave.

The shunned, who leave the Amish way of life, are often asking themselves that if they leave the Amish lifestyle, will they still go to heaven. It makes the decision of their lifestyle even more difficult than usual. These same shunned people enter the world with no birth certificate, social security number, help, or friends in the modern world. It’s a difficult choice to make.

amish shunned pbs, pbs, american experience, amish shunning, amish shunning stories

 

‘The Mind of a Chef’ season 3 premiere date, new chefs, recipes

0
0

The PBS series returns this fall with two new chefs.

the mind of a chef, the mind of a chef season 3, the mind of a chef 2014, anthony bourdain, the mind of a chef season 3 premiere, the mind of a chef season 3 premiere date, mind of a chef new chefs, edward lee, magnus nilsson, pbs, joe caterini, david chang, sean brock, april bloomfield

The Mind of a Chef Season 3 Premiere Date

Anthony Bourdain Narrates Season Three Beginning Saturday September 6 on PBS

The Mind of a Chef Season 3 Press Release

NEW YORK CITY – April 7, 2014 – Narrated by Executive Producer Anthony Bourdain, THE MIND OF A CHEF is that rare and beautiful thing: an intelligent television show about cooking. Season Three of the James Beard Award-winning series from Zero Point Zero Production and presented by WGBH Boston on PBS goes into the minds of chefs Edward Lee and Magnus Nilsson, and will follow these two great culinary figures from the kitchens they call home to their travels around the world in search of ingredients, inspiration, and the perfect meal.

The Mind of a Chef New Chefs

“Season Three of The Mind of a Chef gives us yet another opportunity to push the boundaries of food television even further,” said Executive Producer Joe Caterini. “We’ve got two great minds this year. Ed Lee blends big city and international experience with small town heart and focus in his food. On the other hand, Magnus Nilsson takes us in a completely different direction – we head to the northern reaches of Sweden for a rare all-access look at what it takes to maintain his extremely high standards at what could be the most creative and surprising restaurant on the planet. It’s going to be an extremely exciting season.”

subscribe now: small screen scoop

follow the tv blog on twitter: @ssscoop

facebook more your style? small screen scoop on FB

The Mind of a Chef Returning Chefs

As in Seasons One and Two, which featured chefs David Chang, Sean Brock, and April Bloomfield, THE MIND OF A CHEF Season Three will continue to combine cooking, travel, history, humor, art, and science into a cinematic-style journey, each episode going deep into inspirations and the creative drive behind the culinary industries greatest minds.

The Mind of a Chef Season 3 Synopsis

Season Three will be comprised of 16 half-hour episodes featuring on what it truly means to cook, think, create and live in the food-obsessed world that is THE MIND OF A CHEF. Alongside domestic locations like New York, Kentucky, and the Gulf Coast, Season Three will feature far-flung destinations such as France, Argentina, Northern Sweden, and the remote and pristine Faroe Islands. In their respective travels, Ed Lee and Magnus Nilsson meet up with their friends and colleagues such as Ramen master Ivan Orkin, Pok Pok’s Andy Ricker, Top Chef Paul Qui, Actress and Comedienne Aisha Tyler, legendary Parisian chef Pascal Barbot of Astrance, and more.

“This season we are especially privileged to have the two incredible chefs who open their minds and their kitchens to us,” said Laurie Donnelly, WGBH Executive Producer of Lifestyle Productions. “Ed Lee brings history and heritage to the table in unexpected new ways, and Magnus Nilsson grants our cameras unprecedented access to film at his world-ranked Fäviken, which will give American viewers a rare dining experience of this remote Swedish gem and the unusual experience he has created there.”

The Mind of a Chef on Twitter, Facebook

For more information on THE MIND OF A CHEF go to http://mindofachef.tumblr.com
Like on Facebook at http://facebook.com/MindOfAChef
See photos at http://instagram.com/themindofachef
Follow on Twitter at @MindOfAChef

The Mind of a Chef Recipes

To view recipes featured in the series go to PBS Food: http://www.pbs.org/food/shows/the-mind-of-a-chef/

Viewing all 18 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images