Wasn't going to watch TV tonight; had too many things to do. But dinner ran a little late and I wound up watching "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!" with my 2.5 year old granddaughter. Although she was a little bored by the World War I Flying Ace, I think in general she was impressed.
After another half-hour went by, my wife started channel surfing. As our local PBS station came on, I remembered "Oh yeah, I wanted to see this!" It's Nova's presentation of The Elegant Universe. I missed the first hour of this 6-hour, 3 week series, but that was OK. Pardon me for sounding like one of those pledge-week rappers, but this is the kind of stuff I depend on PBS for. A history of string theory, aka "the theory of everything." I'll tell you right off, this is not just a set of talking heads (though we get some great ones). They are really trying hard to explain this heavy-duty math and physics so that we of lesser minds can get a handle on it. THis may not be a completely accurate quote, but here's what I remember: "Imagine an atom the size of the solar system. A string would only be as big as a tree."
Although a history/politics geek from childhood, I have always been fascinated by big-picture astronomy and physics, so this is a grabber. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, go click the link. Watch the rest of the series (and see if this first part will re-air in your town). You may well feel your brain expanding as the show continues. And how many times can you say that about a television show?
But wait! That's not all! PBS isn't done! After Elegant Universe finished, they showed a different sort of mind-stretcher: National Geographic's Inside Mecca. Since non-Muslims (and I guess that's the appropriate spelling these days) cannot even visit this holiest of Islamic places, this is as close as I'll ever get to seeing and understanding the massive undertaking known as the Hajj. The film focuses on three pilgrims: an Irish-American woman from Texas who converted in college, a Black South African and a businessman from Indonesia (the largest Muslim country on Earth). Very impressive, and so important these days. It's a show not at all about politics, and more about what unites all Muslims and brings them to this place. Again, if you get a chance to see it on your affiliate, it's worth it.
Now I have to get back to work!
11:51:25 PM 
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