It’s impossible not to like animals at my house. I’m married to a veterinarian, have two young daughters, two dogs, and two cats. My house is a zoo. So when we get a chance to learn something about animals in other parts of the country, in the wild, or in some of our nations’ best zoos, we tend to take advantage of it.
Loose at the Zoo is a collection of three episodes from the series by Smithsonian Networks and the Infinity Entertainment Group. Infinity has been doing a great job of distributing Smithsonian programs on DVD and this is no exception.
At Washington D.C.’s National Zoo, they have a number of very successful breeding programs, including those for the Golden Lion Tamarin, the Sumatran Tiger, and the Kori Bustard. These animals (both parents and any offspring) are well taken care of by the zoo staff who feed, clean, and care for them 24/7.
In “Baby New at the Zoo,” we get a tour around the zoo to see some of its newest inhabitants. We see the Golden Lion Tamarins, swinging from the trees with nary a cage or fence in sight. We see three Sumatran Tiger cubs being fed and trained in preparation for their big public debut. We see a cute little Kori Bustard chick recently hatched and running around in the nursery. And we see a baby sloth bear learning to use his uniquely designed nose to get mealworms out of a log in his habitat.
In “Loose at the Zoo: Golden Lion Tamarins” we learn much more about these cute creatures who roam freely in a large area of trees at the center of the zoo. The keepers aren’t afraid they’ll go too far, for the Tamarins are very territorial and like to keep together, but that doesn’t keep them from exploring other nearby areas of the zoo or chasing the occasional squirrel invader.
It was quite interesting to see this family of four Tamarins skillfully moving from tree to tree, and how the zoo staff were keeping them entertained. From the use of a modified cooler for a nest to mop heads laced with mealworms, it’s obvious that the keepers (and many volunteers) are taking great care to keep these monkeys as wild as they can to eventually release them in their native habitat in South America.
And in “Tiger Tales,” we learn how the zoo is preparing three Sumatran Tiger cubs for their grand introduction to the public in their habitat. Through the use of training and gentle help to make sure that the cubs were safe in the lagoon in their enclosure, the keepers were keeping a close eye on the three big kitties before their big day. And mom was never too far away either.
Though we enjoyed the three episodes, it was quite apparent, watching them back to back, that there was a lot of footage duplicated between them. It was especially noticeable for the Tamarin and Tiger segments. And, like on some other Infinity/Smithsonian projects, there were no extras on the DVD beyond a promotion for some of the other Smithsonian series available.
Other than that, each episode was well constructed, with many facts to take away about each of the animals and tons of great footage. I know that my two girls enjoyed seeing these zoo babies and would have liked to have seen more.
If you’re a fan of cute zoo babies, and especially if you have kids, Loose at the Zoo should be right up your alley. Check it out!
–Fitz
p.s. Be sure to check out Loose at the Zoo at your local video store or online.
How do you define the term “culture” when it applies to a people? It is so much more than a set of traditions or language. It also is the embodiment of a way of life by a group of people. In a time where change to the environment and societal perceptions at large affect us at a monumental rate, we stand to lose many of these other ways of life at an alarming pace.
In Light at the Edge of the World, host Wade Davis introduces us to four disparate cultures separated not only by physical distance, but philosophical differences as well, and how they are affected by these changes. Davis’ main warning is that once a culture is gone, it will never return. But in some instances, groups of indigenous people are rising to the challenge and embracing their beliefs and traditions even in the face of such long odds of survival.
The Light at the Edge of the World series explores these cultures in four parts: “Arctic: Hunters of the Northern Ice,” “Himalayas: The Science of the Mind,” “Peru: Sacred Geography,” and “Polynesia: The Wayfinders.” The series was the winner of the 2008 New York Festival Silver Award, Magazine Format; and the 2008 Telluride Mountain Film Festival “Spirit Place” Award. I think it deserved both and so much more. In a world where some people doubt the effects of global warning, how can we let these fascinating cultures simply fade into the past?
In the early 1950s, there were 6,000 languages spoken by the world’s people. Now more than half of those are not being taught to the next generation, which means that in a single generation, we’re losing the cultural legacy of more than half of the world’s people.
In “Arctic: Hunters of the Northern Ice,” Davis joins a band of Inuits as they hunt for polar bears in the frozen northeast between Canada and Greenland. Igloolik, Nunavut is the home, and serves as the start of a hunting trip on the shores of Baffin Bay, more than 100km into the ice. They must travel further and further from home to find the polar bears that used to be plentiful.
Even though the Inuit adapted to the rapid change in the area since missionaries appeared in the 1950s and now use snowmobiles instead of dogs, adaptation is rarely easy. But even with the societal change, it’s impossible to miss the effects of global warming when the ice they once counted on is not where it should be. They do the best they can and try to keep their traditions alive, but fewer and fewer of the younger generations want to learn the old ways, and eventually they may disappear forever.
My favorite episode of the series was definitely “Himalayas: The Science of the Mind.” I have always been fascinated by Buddhist philosophies and to explore not only their philosophy, but their way of life, even as displaced as they are from their monasteries in Tibet. Buddhism spread from India to China and its goal is simple: help reduce the suffering in the world. To do this, practitioners encourage people to stay on the path to enlightenment (Dharma) to rise beyond the suffering in the world.
Buddhism is also under investigation in the scientific world as a way to literally change the shape of the mind. Devout practitioners focus on compassion and kindness to spread true happiness to themselves and those around them. It is a philosophy but also a spiritual practice grounded in contemplation. They have measured the minds of practicing monks and have seen the difference between a mind schooled in meditation and serenity and a western mind and quite literally the brain patterns are totally different.
Davis himself explored the realm of meditation as well during his stay in Nepal, visiting with a number of Rinpoche (spiritual leaders). You can see that he was truly affected by simply being in the presence of these calm, spiritually aware people who have achieved enlightenment. In one part of the documentary, his tears seem quite genuine as he deals with trying to still his mind. I have read other accounts of people meeting with Rinpoche or the Dalai Lama who have felt overwhelmed in a similar way.
In “Peru: Sacred Geography” Davis travels to the Andes in South America where he introduces us to a culture influenced not only by the beliefs of their Incan ancestors, but by the Spanish culture and Catholic religion that infused their society when they were invaded in the 1500s. Their current culture is an interesting mix of the two. Even in the modern age, they still honor the spirits of the mountains around them (known as Apu), and hold religious ceremonies to not only celebrate the gods in hopes of encouraging good seasons of planting, happy marriages, and so on, but also to spread their cultural heritage with the other groups in the area from Bolivia and Ecuador as well.
The last segment, “Polynesia: The Wayfinders,” focused on a group in Hawaii trying to reengage with their Polynesian ability to understand the ocean. “Wayfinding” is an ancient skill used to understand the ocean and weather to navigate without a compass or sextant. Nainoa Thompson, a Hawaiian native, learned the skill from his grandfather Mau Piailug and built a double-hulled voyaging canoe, the Hokule’a. Nainoa and his crew have sailed as far as Easter Island (3,000km from Hawaii) using these ancient “Wayfinding” techniques and are teaching others how to do the same in an attempt to keep their culture from disappearing completely.
Davis has a way of letting the cultures themselves speak to the audience using amazing photography, maps, history, and first-hand accounts, but he also injects some of his own understanding of anthropology, archaeology, and ethnobotany, to help pull these various sources together in a meaningful way. I wish this series was required viewing in high schools across the country to try and make the next generation(s) understand what is at stake if we do nothing.
To quote Edmund Burke, “It is necessary only for the good man to do nothing for evil to triumph.” Perhaps it’s time for the good people of the world to step up before we lose more of the human resources to global changes.
Unfortunately, there were no extras on the DVD, just some previews for other Smithsonian television series: Stories from the Vaults, Women in Science, America’s War Stories, and Nick Baker’s Weird Creatures.
That said, I have to say this has to be one of the best anthropology-themed series I have seen to date. If you are interested in some of the world’s disappearing cultures, be sure to check out Light at the Edge of the World.
–Fitz
p.s. Pick this up at Amazon! Here is the DVD and here’s the book:
Do you like bugs? Creepy crawly slugs? How about frogs? When you were a kid, you probably either gravitated towards these things (I know I did) or ran away from them screaming. And a joint project between Smithsonian Networks and Infinity Entertainment Group wants to remind you of those days.
Critter Quest! introduces us to host Peter Schriemer as he explores nature in three episodes of this series from the Smithsonian Channel. Peter lives in a much wetter climate than I do (in Michigan) and you could tell from all the entertaining critters he found just strolling around the yard. But he goes beyond his yard to explore the broader scope of nature a bit of a time, gradually introducing concepts in a kid-friendly way.
This series is definitely aimed at kids. Not only do you learn about various species and bugs (such as the pill bug or rolly poly, which was one of my favorite bugs to find as a kid), but different concepts such as echolocation and migration are explained. In one episode, you are even shown how to create indoor habitats for these critters so you can bring them inside if you are so inclined. My daughters were riveted to each of the episodes included.
In “Creepy Crawlers Everywhere,” Peter introduces himself and explores his back yard looking for various creepy crawlies. During the episode, we learn about the click beetle, slugs, a tree frog, and a jumping spider. I learned that slugs make their own slime, which is what enables them to glide over surfaces (and requires that you wash your hands after handling them).
“Season of Change” explains the many ways animals get ready for the winter. Some creatures forage, such as squirrels, spending the ever shorter days before winter stashing food where they can get to it during the colder months. Some go into hibernation, such as frogs and turtles, choosing to go into a deep sleep when food is scarce. And then Peter talks about the many birds who migrate to warmer climates to find more food. He had a chance to interact closely with a Red Tailed Hawk, which is great because they’re one of the raptors we have even around my house in Colorado.
And then in “The Wild Side of D.C.,” we’re introduced to the many animals who live in Washington D.C. (beyond the political animals that migrate there several times a year). Peter was able to explore a part of the Smithsonian Institution and show us a huge millipede they have in a collection there, as well as the many Canadian Geese, squirrels, ducks, and other animals who live in the urban landscape.
Critter Quest! is an award-winning series on the Smithsonian Network, including a Silver Parent’s Choice Foundation Award, the 2008 Cine Golden Eagle Award, and an American Conservation Film Festival Award for “Children’s Programming.” I think it’s definitely earned those awards and we would love to see additional episodes in the series.
That said, the lack of extras my only disappointment with the DVD. It only includes three short episodes of the series and no additional material. There are previews for other series, such as Stories from the Vaults, but I would have liked to have seen some additional resources for parents or children about the many topics covered.
However, I know I found Peter an engaging young host and the series worked well for my kids, keeping them interested for all three episodes.
If you like nature programs and are looking for some new options for your own children or a school, I think Critter Quest! is a great addition to your DVD library.
On December 21, 2012, the Mayan calendar ends, according to anthropologists and archaeologists. A new cycle will begin at that point. And, whether you’re a skeptic or believer, scientist or historian, there are some interesting facts in the new documentary – 2012: Science or Superstition.
Several authors and scientists discuss the many aspects of the end of the Mayan calendar. Astronomers discuss the rise in frequency of sunspot activity. Anthropologists discuss the techniques the ancients used to predict star patterns across lifetimes and how they traveled various planes of consciousness. And the viewer is exposed to multiple points of view, facts, and conjecture.
Ultimately it’s up to the viewer to decide what they believe. I find myself squarely in the skeptics camp for this one.
It’s interesting to go to the bookstore and see all the titles published around the topic of 2012. Doing a quick search of the term “2012″ on Amazon brought up 50 different books and DVDs from a variety of authors and sources, including a Complete Idiot’s Guide to 2012 published in October 2008.
Hollywood has jumped on the bandwagon as well. There’s an upcoming movie based on Whitley Strieber’s latest novel – 2012: The War for Souls is rumored to be in the works with Michael Bay involved as producer or director. And Roland Emmerich has a movie called 2012 slated to come out in November 2009 starring John Cusack as a researcher trying to counteract the events foretold by the end of the Mayan calendar.
Disinformation, the company producing the documentary, attempted to highlight multiple views of the subject matter and interview experts from a variety of disciplines – often conflicting ones – to provide as balanced a view as possible about what 2012 means. The documentary discusses a number of possibilities for what may occur, but doesn’t come out and say that they will happen. The fact that the producers came at the topic from a multitude of viewpoints and scientific pursuits is very helpful to the viewer who becomes hooked by the idea. The documentary provides a jumping off place for viewers to do their own research and come up with their own conclusions.
Some of the people interviewed for the documentary have very interesting backgrounds as well.
Dr. Anthony F. Aveni is a professor of astronomy and anthropology at Colgate University. He helped create the field of archaeoastronomy, and is one of the founders of Mesoamerican Archaeoastronomy. In particular, his research focuses on the astronomical history of the Maya Indians.
Robert Bauval is the author of a number of books discussing the relationship of the stars and ancient cultures, especially in ancient Egypt. His first book, The Orion Mystery, proposed that the layout of the three Giza Pyramids was intended to mirror the layout of three stars in Orion’s Belt. Other books by Bauval include The Message of the Sphinx, Secret Chamber, and The Egypt Code.
Walter Cruttenden is the Director of the Binary Research Institute and proposed an alternate view of history where the sun is one of two stars affecting the orbit of our solar system. This binary orbit theory may in fact be the reason for the repeating cycles of Golden and Dark Ages in mankind’s long history.
Many others were interviewed, including:
Archaeologist Benito Venegas Duran, working to preserve and research the historical and anthropological heritage of Mexico.
Graham Hancock, another author of such bestsellers as The Sign and The Seal, Fingerprints of the Gods, and other books.
John Major Jenkins, a researcher dedicated to reconstructing Mayan cosmology and philosophy.
Lawrence E. Joseph, a physicist and writer who has written many books and magazine articles.
Jim Marrs, a conspiracy author of such bestsellers as Alien Agenda, Rule by Secrecy, and Crossfire: the Plot that Killed Kennedy. Crossfire was used as the basis for Oliver Stone’s movie JFK.
And many others
I found 2012: Science or Superstition to be interesting and engaging, but I’m still a skeptic. In 2012, I’ll be 42 years old — as Douglas Adams said, 42 is the ultimate answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything. Perhaps the Mayans knew something we don’t? Perhaps we’ll find out on December 21, 2012.
If you’re interested in the Mayan calendar and the phenomenon of 2012, I’d recommend you take a look at 2012: Science or Superstition. It’s good to get information from a number of sources before Hollywood gets a hold of it!
Check out 2012DVD.com for additional information about the documentary and a trailer.
–Fitz
p.s. Check out some of the books on 2012 at Amazon!
Once again, the Smithsonian Channel has created an amazing series filled by documenting some of the amazing efforts being investigated around the world in the field of biomimetics. NatureTech explores “biomimetics” – the science of looking to nature for answers to modern problems. Scientists investigating biomimetics are exploring some truly innovative areas to improve our lives in cool and interesting ways. And the Smithsonian Channel has done an incredible job of sharing the work of these scientists with the world through a mix of well written documentary techniques and glorious cinematography.
Speaking of cinematography, NatureTech won an Emmy Award for Cinematography in the Nature Documentaries/Dramatic Recreations category for “Magic of Motion”, one of the episodes included on this DVD. The series has also won a Gold Parent’s Choice Foundation Award, the Best Limited Series Award at the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival, and been nominated for other awards as well.
The DVD includes three episodes of NatureTech, which focus on three key areas of investigation: Energy, Motion, and Materials. All episodes are presented in widescreen and include subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired.
The first epsiode on the DVD, “Energy is the Key” focuses on how nature has already mastered the laws of energy conservation and gathering while allowing some truly stunning things to be done with that energy. Mankind is only now starting to see some of the efficient designs used by nature and adapting them for our own technology. For instance, using the sun-following properties of certain plants led engineers to develop solar panels that also follow the sun for a more efficient gathering of energy throughout the day.
The next episode, the “Magic of Motion” proves how much nature has to show us in aerodynamic designs for walking, swimming, and flying. A car company designed a more energy efficient car by looking at a fish. People are swimming wearing suits made out of materials mimicking shark skin to glide more smoothly through the water. And engineers are looking at designing planes with more flexible wings, similar to how a bird’s wing changes shape based on what they’re trying to do. All of these will eventually give rise to much more efficient cars, clothes, and planes to help us during these energy conscious times we live in.
And lastly, “The Material World” showed some ground breaking work being done in new material creation. Imagine a fabric that wouldn’t soak through, or a paint that repelled dirt and dust? Or using silk and chitin and other raw materials available in nature to create light, super-strong materials to be used in a variety of amazing ways.
I know from experience that some people don’t appreciate the amazing work that goes into producing documentaries, whether historical, about nature, or the arts. But the Smithsonian Channel has done an amazing job not only explaining some of the many mysteries readily available in nature, but sharing some of the work being done to reproduce natural properties to improve our lives.
If you’re a science geek like myself or merely interested in the closing gap between science and nature, definitely check out NatureTech on DVD. It’s worth every minute!
I was doing my daily blog browse and came across this story at Cromely’s World. I knew that SpaceX had been trying for a successful launch for a while and had suffered three setbacks in the prior three attempts. Evidently they had a spectacular success on Sunday, becoming the first privately held company to get a rocket into Earth orbit. Unbelievable. Falcon 1 success on Flight 4.
They’re readying additional flights for January and beyond as well as a new rocket to test in the future (Falcon 9). Their goal of course is to facilitate much cheaper satellite launches and even manned trips.
Excuse me while I geek out.
Congratulations to Elon Musk and his team for their spectacular success!
You can watch the launch and success on YouTube below… And more about the historic flight at Wired.
Thanks to Cromely for bringing this to my attention this morning!!!
I’m not sure how many of you are aware of the Very Short List e-mail list (if you’re not aware of them, check them out — it’s worth the look), but it’s brought some very interesting topics, sites, and images to my attention in the last few weeks.
This cool video is called “Brilliant Noise” from two British artists (Ruth Jarman and Joe Gerhardt) working with the brainiacs at the NASASpace Science lab at UC Berkeley. Basically the 10-minute video turns the suns hot spots into soundwaves, creating a soundtrack that accompanies the amazing images.
Though the music isn’t startling in and of itself, when paired with some of this footage it takes on a life of its own.
Anybody interested in astronomy, music, or simply art, should take a look and a listen to the music of the sun.
At Washington D.C.’s National Zoo, they have a number of very successful breeding programs, including those for the Golden Lion Tamarin, the Sumatran Tiger, and the Kori Bustard. These animals (both parents and any offspring) are well taken care of by the zoo staff who feed, clean, and care for them 24/7.![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_c.png?x-id=9603d671-f125-4bcb-99c4-625ad5b555a8)
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_c.png?x-id=992c65dd-3e47-4c90-b302-924f6114bb8b)
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_c.png?x-id=fa2ef9ee-5120-4426-910f-c9d06b0b8364)
Speaking of cinematography, NatureTech won an 
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_c.png?x-id=e9c8fd12-7fec-4e61-af46-4206285a39cf)
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=4617b316-4aae-4f80-bb8f-b1443383b686)
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=887967de-4080-4bb6-9f9c-c15221a6e5f3)
