NOTE: We are listing both EST/Pacific Time and individual television ratings. All rated [G] or [PG] unless noted. [NR] = Not Rated, news-related program.Thursday, June 1, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 9:30am, Mail Call #41: Blimp/Military Shotguns/Navy Graveyard/Poop Deck repeated @ 3:30pm 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Nuclear Subs. The most priceless jewels in the arsenals of a handful of countries, some nuclear submarines carry more firepower than all the bombs dropped in history. Since the 1950s, these lethal steel sharks have been a cornerstone of American defense policy. The Cold War launched an underwater race for supremacy with the Soviet Union. The result: engineering miracles, which roam 70% of the earth's surface, providing deterrence to enemies, intelligence about adversaries, and an abiding sense of dread. 8-9pm -- Ancient Marvels - Bible Tech. Arguably the most influential book ever written, the Bible provides a glimpse into the origins of ancient technology and its use to withstand the elements, build great structures, wage war, and conserve precious water. We examine the technological plausibility of biblical structures and machines--including the Tower of Babylon, the Temple of Jerusalem, ancient bronze and iron forging, and shipbuilding skills that might have been employed to build Noah's Ark. 9-10pm -- Decoding The Past - Fatima Secrets Unveiled. In 1917, the Virgin Mary supposedly appeared six times to three children near Fatima, Portugal, and revealed three prophecies--two of which were made public. She bore a message of peace and prayer--but warned of a horrifying hell. The second part prophesized the end of WWI, the outbreak of WWII, and the rise and fall of Soviet Communism. In 1978, the third secret was revealed to the Pope, who just recently related the prediction--that an assassin would try to kill the Pope in St. Peter's Square! 10-11pm -- Sodom & Gomorrah - Did the sinful biblical cities Sodom and Gomorrah exist or was the story of their destruction crafted for other purposes? Near the Dead Sea, archaeologists uncovered the ruins of two ancient cities, Bab-edh-dhra and Numeira, that show evidence of fire and collapse and an inscription on a sanctuary near a cave calling it a shrine to Lot. Is this the cave where Lot and his daughters sought refuge after the demise of the evil cities? We examine the many theories. ____________________________________________________ Friday, June 2, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Cannons. Cannons have fired balls of iron and atomic bombs, changed the way wars are fought, and now come equipped with smart weapons. Beginning with 13th-century cannons that were designed to penetrate forts of the day, we'll see how cannons were first cast and later forged, and show how large cannons terrorized civilians and soldiers in WWI and WWII. Moving to the present, we feature the 40-ton self-propelled Crusader that launches 100-pound steel artillery shells more than 33 miles. 8-10pm -- Storm on the Horizon - On January 29, 1991, Saddam Hussein launched his three best armored divisions across the Kuwaiti border and into the Islamic Holy Land of Saudi Arabia. Scattered groups of lightly armed US Marines were caught without warning in their path. This 2-hour special is the gripping story of how these elite fighting men escaped the enemy onslaught and reversed the assault with an unprecedented combination of high-tech weaponry and old-fashioned Marine know-how. Based on the book, Storm on the Horizon, this is the story of the first battle of the Smart-Bomb Age, as told by the book's author and the men who fought through it. 10-11pm -- Modern Marvels - Bombs. Bombs...the most feared and powerful weapon in any nation's arsenal. What began as incendiary devices in the 7th century has evolved into weapons that can literally blow the human race off the face of the earth! From the use of diseased carcasses flung over castle walls to Greek Fire to today's smart bombs, we review the evolution of bombs. ____________________________________________________ Saturday, June 3, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 11am, Mail Call #36: Military Pilot Training/Flak/ Doolittle Raid/One-Man Submarine/Military Radios 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Engineering Disasters 11. Join us for look into five engineering disasters... A dangerous cloud of gas explodes into Cleveland's worst fiery industrial disaster in 1944, killing 128 people. A dance competition turns deadly at the new Kansas City Hyatt in 1981, when a skywalk gives way and kills 114. In 1995, neighbors gaped at the spectacle of a $1.5-million San Francisco Bay area mansion breaking into bits as it fell into a massive sinkhole during a rainstorm. In 1931, one of the worst "natural" disasters ever occurred in the Yangtze River basin when six huge flood waves swept down the river destroying the insufficient dams and levees and killing at least 145,000 people. The "miracle mineral" that the US was built upon turns out to be an invisible killer--an estimated 10,000 people die each year from asbestos-related diseases. 8-10pm -- Washington the Warrior - The George Washington we all know is larger than life, an icon of mythic proportions. But before becoming "Father" of his country, he was a soldier. This unique, in-depth portrait of the Washington we don't always think about begins in 1753, when the 21-year-old obtained an officer's commission in the Virginia militia. While serving alongside British regulars, did brash and sometimes reckless decisions help ignite the French and Indian War? Washington retired from the militia in 1758, but continued to hone his leadership skills. Managing his vast Mount Vernon estate required many of the same talents as commanding soldiers in the field. When America declared independence, Washington was the consensus choice to lead the Continental Army. This is the epic story of Washington's journey to greatness--propelled by intense, often painful, transformation. The man who emerged was a warrior of the purest sort...a man who preferred liberty to power and justice to glory. 10-12am -- Eighty Acres of Hell - "To the Victor, Belongs the Silence." Hidden until now, we uncover an important and shocking chapter of the American Civil War. Although our nation is well-versed about the atrocities committed against Union POWs at Andersonville, Georgia, few have heard of the wholesale annihilation of Confederate prisoners at Camp Douglas in Chicago, Illinois (12,000 inmates were incarcerated, 6,000 never left). Unlike Andersonville, Camp Douglas had the resources necessary to house and care for its prisoners, but calculated cruelty, torture, and neglect by the US military conspired to exterminate Southern soldiers who entered this "80 Acres of Hell". But, Southern prisoners were not the only victims. Under martial law, prominent Chicago citizens were unjustly tried and imprisoned by a ruthless military tribunal. From 1862 to 1866, more than 6,000 Rebel prisoners and 14 civilians died at the hands of a corrupt and murderous system with tentacles to the White House. ____________________________________________________ Sunday, June 4, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Digging for the Truth - The Da Vinci Code: Bloodlines. Josh Bernstein searches for solid evidence behind the controversial theory laid out in Dan Brown's book The Da Vinci Code. Brown's theory claims that Jesus married Mary Magdalene and that she conceived a child. It also suggests that the bloodline continues--unbroken--to this day. Josh shows what's true and what's clearly make-believe in Dan Brown's bestseller. From musty libraries to ancient churches, Josh's unique quest leads him to seek the DNA evidence that might prove or disprove one of the most sensational claims in modern history. Most remarkably, he'll orchestrate the first ever DNA test on a Merovingian royal to find out if the story of a divine bloodline stretching back to Jesus and Mary Magdalene could possibly be true. 8-9pm -- Mysteries of the Freemasons - The Beginning. Suspected throughout their long history of plotting to overtake the world, accused of fomenting revolution, and reviled as devil worshippers that stole King Solomon's treasure, the Freemasons claim they're merely a civic-minded fraternity, bound together by harmless rituals. Our high-energy cocktail of dramatic reenactment, expert interviews, and on-location footage entertains historians Akram Elias, Stephen Bullock, and Brent Morris to retell the Freemasons' central myth concerning Hiram Abiff, mythical builder of Jerusalem's Temple of Solomon. During construction, he was killed by three workers who believed his "secret" would impart magical powers--representing the three evils against which Freemasons believe they're still struggling: ignorance, fanaticism, and tyranny. Today, the world's 2.5 million Freemasons meet to reenact the ritual of Hiram's murder as the initiation ceremony for the main rank of Master Mason. 9-10pm -- Mysteries of the Freemasons - America. Is America the creation of the Freemasons? For hundreds of years, suspicions of a plot to take over America have swirled around the Freemasons, the world's oldest secret society. Freemasons led the Revolution, framed the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, designed our nation's capital, and in the early years of the Republic, grew to unmatched heights of influence and power. The untold story of the Freemasons in America reveals secret codes, patterns in the sky, murder, and a radically new picture of the nation's Founding Fathers. We'll explore this remarkable story through dramatic reenactments, expert interviews, sophisticated CGI, and original location documentary footage. Features historians Stephen Bullock, Dan Burstein, Brent Morris, Akram Elias, and author David Shugarts. But will a rational view reveal the Freemasons as an important and honorable thread in the fabric of America? 10-11pm -- The Revolution - Boston, Bloody Boston. Relive the drama in this exciting documentary series that explores the founding of the United States. The opening episode dramatizes the controversies and conflicts leading to war--the Stamp Act riots, Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, and Battles of Lexington and Concord. A Continental Congress is convened and we are introduced to some of the major political players involved in the rebellion, including Samuel Adams, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Patrick Henry, and Thomas Hutchinson, as well as England's King George III and British General Thomas Gage. ____________________________________________________ Monday, June 5, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Garage Gadgets. Handy around the house? You will be after this history of the household garage. From lawn care products to snow removal and outdoor cooking, the garage gadgets for do-it-yourselfers have evolved over the decades to meet the ever-changing challenges of maintaining a home. With a typical garage as our starting point, we'll explore the uncommon histories behind some common garage items such as the lawn mower, string trimmer, leaf blower, barbecue grill, and more. 8-9pm -- UFO Files - Russian Roswell. Welcome to the remote, top-secret military base Kapustin Yar, the Soviet "Area 51"--where the wreckage from no fewer than eight UFO crash incidents and their occupants were transported and studied between 1945 and `91. We expose this never-before-seen installation through interviews, on-camera tours, dramatic reenactments, and extensive recreations. We also explore the many Russian UFO crashes over the decades and show the ways in which Soviet UFO research scientists at Kapustin Yar used and processed the wreckage...and the alien bodies. Join us as we investigate the facts and myths surrounding Kapustin Yar, as well as the many UFO crashes that still circulate in the lore and consciousness of the Russian people. 9-10pm -- Digging for the Truth - Stonehenge Secrets Revealed. Stonehenge is one of the most famous and mysterious structures in the world. Now, host Josh Bernstein investigates the origins of Stonehenge and the prehistoric world that surrounded it. From the depths of a 5,000-year-old copper mine to an ancient quarry from which the stones were carved, Josh deploys the latest archaeological evidence to reveal who built this great monument. Then, using prehistoric technology as his guide, he reveals how it was built, and why! 10-11pm -- Deep Sea Detectives - Secret Underwater Caves. Within the Island of Cozumel in Mexico, there winds a 6-mile underwater cave system named Cueva Quebrada. Almost a mile from any entrance lies a significant cache of Mayan artifacts, a burial mound, found in 1991 by cave explorers Jeff Bozanic and Steve Ormeroid. How did the Mayans place these objects a mile back into the cave system? Deep Sea Detective John Chatterton trains to become a cave diver and uses the newest technology for a deep and treacherous dive to solve the mystery. ____________________________________________________ Tuesday, June 6, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - D-Day Tech. By the spring of 1942, Hitler had made a fortress of Europe, and the Allies began to plan the biggest invasion in military history. The history-altering success of the D-Day Invasion depended on innovative engineering and technological advances. This is the story of those scientific and mechanical breakthroughs--the overwhelming array of landing craft, specialized weapons, and ingenious electronics--used to breach Fortress Europe on June 6, 1944. 8-9pm -- Decoding The Past - The Antichrist: Zero Hour. From popes and presidents to dictators, Antichrists have been identified in all periods of recorded history and in all walks of life. Even nations, movements, and technologies have been thought by some to be the agents of the Antichrist. Throughout history, people have seen their own times as the most morally bankrupt and have recognized signs of the coming of the Apocalypse. If the end is near, what will it be like? What is the Antichrist's agenda? How does he intend to take over the world and wreak destruction? Is this escapist fantasy or inescapable fate? 9-10pm -- Mega Disasters - Asteroid Apocalypse. Many scientists now believe that a "killer asteroid" wiped out the dinosaurs and 70% of all living things 160-million years ago. How likely is it that a similar event can occur again? In this episode, we explore the catastrophic effects of a 2-kilometer-long asteroid hitting just off the coast of Los Angeles. Using the Chicxulub asteroid impact of 160-million years ago (the one that killed off the dinosaurs), we watch--moment by moment--as the blast annihilates not just Los Angeles, but communities within 100 miles of the coast. A firestorm consumes much of southern California and tsunamis wreak havoc up and down the entire western US coast. The resultant dust cloud covers much of the Midwest, devastating crops for at least a year. Millions of people die from the direct effects of the impact, and millions suffer a famine the likes of which the world has never seen. The good news is that technology has given us the tools to--perhaps--avert such a disaster. 10-11pm -- Mega Movers - Peril in Paradise. When it comes to working in extreme environments, our movers are ready! In this episode, we travel from Hawaii to North Carolina where our movers confront two different working conditions--both considered danger zones. In Hawaii, an old plantation house is moved deep into a rain forest on the edge of an active volcano. In North Carolina, a crew battles a flooded field packed with tree stumps to move a pre-Civil War farmhouse. Join us as we learn the ways the pros who know the conditions get the job done. ____________________________________________________ Wednesday, June 7, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Hardware Stores. Join us for a nuts-and-bolts look at the history and evolution of those places that hold our world together. From the local blacksmith to Home Depot, it's the story of nails, screws, mollybolts, duct tape, and superglue. We visit one of the oldest hardware stores in America, Placerville True Value, and wander the aisles of the mega-giants. As we chronicle the rise of the hardware "Big Box" superstores, we also see how the mom-and-pop local hardware stores still manage to survive. 8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Transcontinental Railroads. With California finally part of the United States, two rail companies raced to connect the monied East and the promising West. Along the way, fortunes would be made, lives lost, and adversity overcome. Join us for the exciting story of the largest, most expensive challenge of the 19th century. 9-10pm -- Modern Marvels - Dredging. They dig, scoop, suck, and spew an ocean of silt and sediment. Dredgers are the mechanical beasts that fuel the world's economic engine by clearing and deepening ports for mega-container ships. The roots of dredging go back as far as the Egyptians, who used their hands to open channels on the Nile to keep crops watered. The Romans, who used harbor dredging to keep a tight fist on Europe, pioneered the "spoon and bag" dredge to speed up the process. Steam power brought about the first large-scale dredges and helped create the Panama Canal. We'll go aboard two of the largest US dredgers and see how they keep waters moving. And in Holland, we meet the biggest players on the dredging world and witness the launching of the largest dredge ever built. From there, we head to Dubai in the Middle East, where 90 square miles of new islands was dredged from the sea and will now create a pleasure world for the rich and powerful. 10-11pm -- Modern Marvels - Oil Tankers. The biggest moving objects ever built by man, oil tankers dominate the world's waterways, both in size and numbers. Upwards of 10,000 strong, the world tanker fleet's vast number results from the modern, insatiable thirst for oil. We'll dig into the history of oil transport--from Civil War days to the critical WWII years and invention of the supertanker in the 1950s. And we examine the financial impact of modifying these steel leviathans to prevent future catastrophic environmental disasters. ____________________________________________________ Thursday, June 8, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Paint. From the Impressionist canvas to the Space Shuttle...from customized hotrods to the brilliant orange hue of the Golden Gate Bridge or tiny electronic devices--paint is one of our most ubiquitous products. And paint adds more than just pigmentation. It's a crucial engineering element, protecting ships from water corrosion, stovetops from heat, and the Stealth Bomber from radar detection. In homes and businesses, it provides a balanced spectrum of light and protects surfaces from wear. In this colorful hour, we discover how this marvel of chemistry and engineering is made, and how it is applied. Come see what's beneath the surface as we reveal one of man's most ingenious methods of defeating the elements and adding spice to life! 8-9pm -- Ancient Marvels - Japan's Mysterious Pyramids. Most historians and archaeologists maintain that civilization as we know it began about 5,000 years ago with the emergence of the earliest Egyptian dynasty. But, a small yet persuasive number of scientists believes that a highly advanced civilization, nearly twice as old, flourished during the last Ice Age. Solid evidence of this 10,000-year-old civilization is difficult to produce, but some feel a recent discovery off the coast of a tiny Japanese island, Yonaguni, may be the proof they seek. 9-10pm -- Decoding The Past - Monsters of the Sea. Gargantuan creatures rising from ocean depths to wreak havoc on man! Are they figments of the imagination or living relics of prehistoric times? We investigate the first documented American sea serpent sighted at Cape Ann, Massachusetts in 1639, and the weird fish Coelacanth, caught off Africa and thought to be extinct for 70-million years. We also feature footage, shot by a fisherman off Vancouver's coast, of Cadborosauras, a large creature that is "to science, an unknown animal." 10-11pm -- Declassified - Cover-Up? Are some of the most enduring mysteries of our time the product of conspiracy and cover-up? What really lies hidden at the secret government facilities at Area 51? Did Jack Ruby kill Lee Harvey Oswald to keep him from telling the truth about the JFK assassination? Did Marilyn Monroe commit suicide-or was she murdered? Was Robert Kennedy killed by one disturbed young man or a sinister criminal syndicate? ____________________________________________________ Friday, June 9, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Bricks. The history of civilization has been built on the back of brick, and it's been said that "architecture itself began when two bricks were put together well." From great Egyptian temples to the Roman aqueducts, the Great Wall of China, and the dome of the Hagia Sophia, brick is one of the oldest, yet least celebrated, building materials manufactured by man. In this hard-packed episode, we explore brick's past, highlighting defining moments, such as the Great London Fire of 1666, the zenith years of brick in the New York Hudson River Valley, and brick as an essential building block in infrastructure and industry. We'll feature advancements through the ages as well as construction techniques, trends, and the future of brick construction. Essentially, brick is still just burnt clay...it has been around for thousands of years, but continues to serve as the backdrop of the modern age. 8-10pm -- Building in the Name of God - The greatest religious structures are marvels of engineering, technology, and invention, representing not only the glory of God, but also the ingenuity of man. This 2-hour special charts the challenge of erecting the five breakthrough monuments from the birth of Christianity to the present day. Each structure broke the engineering mold by demanding that their builders go higher and bigger than ever before--sometimes leading to disaster as domes collapsed and massive walls and pillars buckled under the strain. We'll reveal the secrets of their epic construction using computer-generated imagery coupled with material specially-shot on location, and interviews with experts. Each building combines major technical innovation with breathtaking human endeavor, strokes of genius, ambition, and intrigue. We'll visit the Hagia Sofia, Notre Dame, St. Peters Cathedral, Barcelona's Segrada Familia, and the Crystal Cathedral in LA. 10-11pm -- Modern Marvels - Da Vinci Tech. Nearly 500 years after his death, Leonardo da Vinci still intrigues us. Most people think of him as a great artist, but he was also a remarkable scientist and inventor. His love of mechanics was unparalleled and he filled his notebooks with pages of incredible machines--from weapons of war to "Ships of the Skies", from submarines and scuba suits to robots and an analogue computer...even contact lenses and alarm clocks! How did a 15th-century man envision such modern innovations? If we follow his plans, would any of his designs work? We need wonder no more. With recent technological advances and new materials, we're the first generation able to bring Leonardo's drawings to life--to learn whether his "mechanical dreams" were workable plans. We explore the fascinating intersection of his art, science, and engineering marvels, and use them to offer insight into this "Genius of Geniuses", who remains as elusive as Mona Lisa's smile. ____________________________________________________ Saturday, June 10, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 10:20am Mail Call: D-Day Special. Host R. Lee Ermey takes an in-depth look at the technology used throughout the "longest day"--and travels to Dover, England and Normandy, France for a view from both sides of the operation in a special hour-long program 11am Mail Call: F-15 Eagle/Flying Platform/Atomic Annie/ Army Missiles/Tommy Gun v. Burp Gun/Bullets: #37 R. Lee Ermey rides in an F-15 Eagle, courtesy of the Oregon Air National Guard --and proudly returns all three of his airsickness bags empty! Find out about a wacky single-man vertical flight machine tested in the 1950s --the Hiller Flying Platform; Atomic Annie, a howitzer that fired both conventional and nuclear warheads; why the Army controlled missile programs in the 1940s and '50s; which WWII submachine gun was better, the US Tommy Gun or German Burp Gun; and the terms used to measure bullets 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Logging Tech. When Paul Bunyan cried "Timber!", he never foresaw today's cutting-edge, controversial industry that feeds a ravenous, lumber-crazy world--a world striving to protect nature while devouring it. Come into the woods to see how he-men and hi-tech combine forces to topple 4-billion trees annually; journey to 19th-century America, when lumberjacks cut a legend as large as the timber they felled; and travel with a tree from stump to sawmill and learn its non-wood uses--from aspirin to film to toothpaste! 8-10pm -- Amazon Adventures - In a 2-hour special shot on location in the Brazilian rainforest, we recount the story of intrepid adventurers who tried to tame the Amazon, and investigate tales of heroism, greed, and death in this hostile region. From Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Ford to Hiram Bingham, who uncovered Machu Picchu, we travel through time along this magnificent river, and meet unsung hero Walter Earnest Hardenberg, whose bravery brought one of the most harrowing tales of human torture in the 20th century to world attention. We also join ethnobotanist Richard Evans Schultes, who embarked on an adventure to seek the botanical source of a plant known as curare, a muscle relaxant that's derivatives are used in surgery today. The Amazon has challenged these adventurers to perform acts of almost superhuman endurance, inspired folly in the cautious, bravery in the coward, and brought great men to their knees. 10-12am -- Little Ice Age: Big Chill - Not so long ago, civilization learned that it was no match for just a few degrees drop in temperature. Scientists call it the Little Ice Age--but its impact was anything but small. From 1300 to 1850, a period of cataclysmic cold caused havoc. It froze Viking colonists in Greenland, accelerated the Black Death in Europe, decimated the Spanish Armada, and helped trigger the French Revolution. The Little Ice Age reshaped the world in ways that now seem the stuff of fantasy--New York Harbor froze and people walked from Manhattan to Staten Island, Eskimos sailed kayaks as far south as Scotland, and two feet of snow fell on New England in June and July during "the Year Without a Summer". Could another catastrophic cold snap strike in the 21st century? Leading climatologists offer the latest theories, and scholars and historians recreate the history that could be a glimpse of things to come. Face the cold, hard truth of the past--an era that may be a window to our future. ____________________________________________________ Sunday, June 11, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Decoding The Past - Bible Mysteries. The Bible has been studied by millions of people over thousands of years-but it continues to mystify us even today. Did Noah's Ark really exist-and is it trapped in the snow and ice on a mountaintop in Turkey? Have archeologists found the remains of the evil cities of Sodom and Gomorrah? Was the Shroud of Turin really the burial cloth of Jesus Christ-or just a medieval forgery? And are there secret messages and codes hidden within the text of the Old Testament? 8-10pm -- Hell: The Devil's Domain - Our in-depth history of Hades begins with the story of a negative near-death experience, in which a man thinks he went to Hell after being declared clinically dead and before resuscitation. Following Lucifer's trail from cave paintings in France circa 6,000 BC to current portrayals in popular culture, our 2-hour exploration shows how Hell and the Devil remain powerful forces--at a church in Texas, where souls are delivered from Satan's grip; in talks with a survivor of the 1980s recovered memory craze, who "recalled" attending Witches' Sabbaths that practiced cannibalism; and at the modern Church of Satan. We review literary landmarks that expanded our ideas of the Underworld, from Dante's Inferno and Milton's Paradise Lost to Mark Twain's anti-hero, and trace development of Christian, Moslem, Jewish, and Buddhist conceptions of the afterlife. Click here for Hell 10-11pm -- The Revolution - Rebellion to Revolution. Rebellion escalates into war with the Battle at Bunker Hill. The Continental Congress establishes an army and appoints George Washington as Commander-in-Chief. But Washington faces nearly insurmountable obstacles in turning the motley militias into a battle-ready army. When the Continental Army surrounds British troops that occupy Boston, Britain sends additional troops and its three best generals--William Howe, John Burgoyne, and Henry Clinton--to take over command in the insurgent colonies. The Continental assault from Dorchester Heights forces the British and Loyalists to evacuate the city. ____________________________________________________ Monday, June 12, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Copper Kings. More than a century ago, two men controlled nearly all of U.S. copper production, transforming Butte, Montana from a washed-up gold-mining camp into a global powerhouse. William Clark, a ruthless banker known for preying on the misfortune of miners, and Marcus Daly, a self-made man with a knack for knowing where to dig, created huge empires and lived like kings, while fighting a ferocious, personal, battle that lasted nearly 25 years. We follow the rivalry between these giants of American industry. 8-9pm -- UFO Files - Canada's Roswell. Roswell conjures up the most famous UFO case in US history, luring believers on an unending search for a "smoking gun" locked away in some secret government vault. Could Canada have the real thing--a UFO case with a certifiable paper trail? In Nova Scotia, on the night of October 4, 1967, in the remote town of Shag Harbour, dozens of eyewitnesses--airline pilots, fishermen, teenagers, and police officers--see what appears to be an extraterrestrial craft hovering above the water's surface. Some claim to have seen and heard the UFO plunge into the waters off the shoreline. Canadian authorities dispatched the Navy, Coast Guard, and police, and after a full government inquiry, claimed not a trace of anything suspicious. But does the government know more than it's telling? Lingering questions lead two UFO researchers to launch an investigation--and they uncovered documents that make it clear that the case should never have been closed. 9-10pm -- Digging for the Truth - The Vikings: Voyage to America. Did the Viking explorers Erik the Red and Leif the Lucky make it all the way across the Atlantic to America 500 years before Columbus? Josh Bernstein sails a Viking ship from Denmark to discover what made the Vikings such masterful mariners. With the ancient Viking sagas as a guide, he embarks on a 4,000-mile journey from Scandinavia to Newfoundland, via Iceland and the wilds of southern Greenland. Along the way, he tracks down the archaeological evidence behind the Viking legends and proves, once and for all, that they really did beat Columbus to become the first Europeans in the New World! 10-11pm -- Deep Sea Detectives - Pharaoh's Lost Treasure. In 290 BC, the Egyptian Pharaohs construct one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the tallest lighthouse ever built: the Lighthouse of Alexandria. In the 14th century, an earthquake toppled her and the tower's remains fell into Alexandria harbor where they were forgotten for centuries. Now, researchers believe they have found the stones from the lighthouse. But others say these can't be her stones because they believe the lighthouse stood in a very different location. Join our deep-water detectives, John Chatterton and Richie Kohler, as they dive in Alexandria for the archaeological ruins that hold the key to solving this ancient mystery. ____________________________________________________ Tuesday, June 13, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - The Stock Exchange. Welcome to the center of the American economy, where nearly $90-million changes hands each minute. Journey back to the wooden wall, built to hold back Indians, where early traders signed a pact creating the New York Stock Exchange; watch worldwide markets quake with the crash of 1929; and visit today's computer-driven wonder. 8-9pm -- Decoding The Past - The Bible Code: Predicting Armageddon. Is there a prophetic, highly accurate code locked within the Bible that outlines past and future events? Does the Code contain hidden messages about people such as Napoleon, Einstein, and Hitler, and key world events like WWII, the Kennedy brothers' assassinations, and 9/11? More frightening are references to future events--including Earth's impending end. We take a balanced look through the eyes of Code supporters and critics and let viewers determine its accuracy in predicting the future. 9-10pm -- Mega Disasters - Earthquake in the Heartland. Could a killer earthquake strike America's heartland? If history proves true, the answer is yes. The 1811-1812 New Madrid Earthquakes (centered in southeast Missouri) rank as some of North America's most catastrophic natural disasters. Stretching more than 160 miles, a system of earthquake faults lurks beneath the Mississippi River basin, loaded and ready to erupt. And it's happened before. Pioneer residents of New Madrid, Missouri were thrown from their beds in the early hours of December 16, 1811 when an estimated 8-point earthquake hit. But it wasn't just one event. Multiple shocks were experienced over the next three months--the largest caused the Mississippi to flow backwards. No earthquake sequence has lasted so long, produced so many shocks, nor created such astonishing phenomena on land and water. The New Madrid Fault remains a seismically active area and experts expect a repeat. The only question is when... 10-11pm -- Mega Movers - Tower Crane Whether it's at the top of a towering skyscraper or at the bottom of the ocean, if it's got to be moved, the Mega Movers are always up to the challenge. In this episode, we look at two very different moves in two extreme environments. In California, the team must disassemble and move a tower crane that soars 36-stories high in the middle of downtown Los Angeles. And in Florida, they battle the elements to preserve a hurricane-ravaged beach by moving 4-million cubic yards of sand from the ocean floor to the coastline. See the unique methods and tools that these movers use to get the job done. ____________________________________________________ Wednesday, June 14, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Breweries. From Pilgrim brew masters to early commercial ventures to today's monolithic corporations, we'll imbibe American beer's long history, focusing on the commercial brewing industry that developed in the 19th century and continues to today. We'll also taste social experiments from the past, like the Temperance Movement and Prohibition, to see how they left scars on the industry and continue to influence sobriety today. 8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Leather. Sometime at the dawn of civilization, animal hides were rubbed down with animal fat, making them more flexible, durable, and malleable. By the 5th Century BC, this "tanning" process expanded to include vegetable and tree oil washes, creating what's now known as "leather"--one of man's most reliable and versatile products. Without advances in leather shoes, the Romans could never have marched to the Tigris; nor could the Pilgrims have survived winters in Plymouth. Today, leather is a staple of our daily lives. Modern tanners have devised techniques to make leather more versatile, colorful, and luxurious than ever. We visit modern tanneries of conventional cowhide leather, and explore the more exotic leathers made from alligator, snakes, and even sting-ray. And we'll examine the race of modern science to create synthetic leathers that are supposedly more convenient in today's fast-paced life. We'll see how leather binds us to the past in an unparalleled way. 9-10pm -- Modern Marvels - Metal. They constitute the very essence of the modern world; the cadence of our progress sounds in the measured ring of the blacksmith's hammer. From soaring skyscrapers and sturdy bridges to jet planes and rockets, metals play a key role. Our journey begins before the Bronze Age and takes us into the shiny future when new metal structures--engineered at a molecular level to be stronger, lighter, and cheaper--shape human progress, as they have since man first thrust copper into a fire and forged a tool. 10-11pm -- Modern Marvels - Heavy Metals. They are elements that occupy a select portion of the periodic table and are so essential to America's economic and military might that they are stored in the National Defense Stockpile in case of all-out war. We plan a riveting visit. Some of the vital heavy metals that we survey include copper, uranium, lead, zinc, and nickel. We also take a look at superalloys--consisting of steel combined with chromium, cobalt, and dozens of other heavy metals--that resist corrosion and perform increasingly elaborate functions. From Earth to space, from cosmetics to vitamins, in a million different ways, heavy metals are here to stay! ____________________________________________________ Thursday, June 15, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Assembly Line. While the basic principles of the assembly-line technique for mass production haven't changed in over 100 years, the people and the products that exploit the assembly line have. We'll focus primarily on the industries responsible for its development as well as significant inventions and world events influential to its growth. We also hear from four generations of assembly line workers who provide perspective, as well as heart and soul, for this revolutionary production technique. 8-9pm -- Ancient Marvels - The Colosseum. Nothing symbolizes the Roman Empire at its height or Rome in magnificent ruins more than the Colosseum. Built in 70 AD, it seated 80,000 people, boasted a retractable roof, underground staging devices, marble seating, and lavish decorations. It still serves as the prototype for the modern stadium. The complexity of its construction, the beauty of its architecture, and the functionality of its design made it the perfect place for massive crowds to congregate for the bloody spectacles it contained. 9-11pm -- Mega Movers - Moving the Impossible. From the engineers of ancient Egypt to the architects of Renaissance Rome and the modern era's moving miracles--the men, methods, and machines of structural moving have pushed the limits of imagination and technology for over 5,000 years. In this 2-hour chronicle, we'll investigate the amazing feats of mega moving from primitive civilization through the Industrial Revolution into the 21st Century--including the evolution of technology that allows a 3,000-ton building to be driven down the street by remote control! From the granite blocks of Stonehenge to the awesome Vatican Obelisk and the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, see how ambition and ingenuity have continued to defy convention, break records, and achieve the unthinkable in moving! ____________________________________________________ Friday, June 16, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Sears Tower. Some 23,000 people walk through the Sears Tower's domed entrances daily. 104 elevators (some double-decker), moving at speeds up to 1,600 feet per minute, transport workers and visitors to the 110 floors of North America's tallest building. Sears, Roebuck and Company began as a small mail-order business in Chicago, and by 1960, had grown into the biggest global retailer. Sears Chairman Gordon Metcalf proposed bringing the company under one roof to create the world's largest headquarters. Join us for a look at this pioneering building that remains a symbol of the future and a tribute to the company that dreamt big enough to build it! 8-10pm -- Time Machine - In a 2-hour special, we scrutinize ancient writings that didn't "make the cut" in the battle to create a Christian Bible in the new religion's first few centuries. Biblical archaeologists and scholars examine why they were left out and if others might yet be found. Beginning with the little-known Life of Adam and Eve, we also peruse the Book of Jubilees, the Book of Enoch, the Gospel of Thomas, the Protevangelium of James, the Gospel of Mary, the Gospel of Nicodemus, and the Apocalypse of Peter. 10-11pm -- Bible Code II: Apocalypse and Beyond - As we delve further into the provocative theory that a cryptogram exists in the Bible outlining past and future events, we learn how the Code works from supporters and examine supposed examples of precise messages. And we hear from critics who present compelling arguments that the Code is merely a statistical anomaly. We uncover how military and intelligence organizations interact with the Code, and compare it with other sources of biblical prophecy. ____________________________________________________ Saturday, June 17, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 11am -- Mail Call: Avenger/Stinger & Red Eye Missiles/ Military Firefighter & Smokejumper: #38. R. Lee Ermey checks out the Marine Corps' Avenger Air Defense System; explains the difference in the Stinger and Red Eye missile that replaced it; finds out how military firefighters train differently than their civilian counterparts; learns about the first military smokejumpers--an all African-American unit known as the 555th Test Platoon or Triple Nickels; discovers the function of the Kiowa Scout Helicopter on the battlefield; and unravels the mystery behind the WWII drawings "Kilroy was here." 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - The Erie Canal. Begun in 1817, the Erie Canal was an engineering wonder--363 miles of water highway linking the western frontier to the Atlantic seaboard. It took eight years to construct and thousands of hours of brutal labor, but by the time it was done, 3,000 canal boats traveled the new corridor, making New York City a commercial capital. 8-9pm -- Save Our History - Jefferson's Other Revolution. Thomas Jefferson was a very busy man. He drafted the Declaration of Independence, was the United States' Minister to France, Secretary of State, Vice President, and America's third President. In the midst of a prolific public career, Jefferson maintained a vibrant private life: father, friend, farmer, inventor...and America's first great architect. Host Steve Thomas explores the private versus the public Jefferson as reflected primarily in the restoration of Poplar Forest, his hideaway retreat, considered to be one of his most extraordinary architectural achievements. He also travels to two of Jefferson's other monumental achievements: the Virginia State Capitol, Jefferson's first public building designed while in Paris in 1785, and the University of Virginia, his last major architectural endeavor designed in 1817. 9-11:30pm -- The Fog of War - Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Errol Morris, and winner of the 2004 Best Documentary Oscar, this interview with Robert McNamara, Secretary of Defense in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, gives a uniquely unsettling viewpoint on much of 20th-century American history. Employing a ton of archival material, Morris probes the reasons behind the U.S. commitment to the Vietnam War. McNamara himself emerges as clearly haunted by the what-ifs of Vietnam. He also mulls the bombing of Japan in World War II and the Cuban Missile Crisis, raising more questions than he answers. (2003) ____________________________________________________ Sunday, June 18, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Cannibals #2 - Cannibalism evokes an image of uncivilized people roasting enemies over a fire. But the reality is that even the most civilized humans have resorted to cannibalism. And there's new evidence that some of Europe's first humans had a taste for their own kind of flesh. Usually cannibalism occurs as a last resort--people being pushed to do the unthinkable in order to survive. And while there's little doubt that it occurred, survivors struggle to conceal the truth or simply deny it happened. Was it a practice accepted by societies long ago? We also investigate the recent discovery of Neolithic bones in England that show signs of cannibalism--a discovery that shocked experts and horrified many since some bones belonged to newborns. Our three tales of cannibalism suggest that those who ate human meat are far from alone. Secrecy, denial, even pride, are emotions that accompany the act of eating human flesh. But how do we handle the truth behind the act? 8-10pm -- Modern Marvels - Walt Disney World. Journey underground and backstage at the technological marvel that is Walt Disney World. Enter a make-believe world spanning some 27,000 acres, brought to life by cutting-edge technology. What was once Florida swampland now boasts the world's largest theme park. The ride technology ranges from space-age centrifuges to enhanced motion vehicles powered by 3,000 PSI of hydraulic pressure. And hundreds of audio animatronics brought to life through the power of pneumatics, hydraulics, and electrical systems. Walt Disney World is made up of four separate theme parks, each with its own innovations: the 107-acre Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom. The four parks are all part of a megaplex of a resort. Twice the size of Manhattan, it was the final vision and crowning achievement of a man who spent more than 40 years pushing the limits of technology to create entertainment magic: Walt Disney. 10-11pm -- The Revolution - Declaring Independence. 1776: Noble ideas and dreams of independence ring out as America is born. However, dark and devastating struggles will quickly challenge these hopes and leave few believing that the glorious cause will survive. Join us as we relive the drama surrounding the birth of the United States in this documentary series. ____________________________________________________ Monday, June 19, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - The Alaskan Oil Pipeline. In 1973, a desperate America, starved by an OPEC embargo, began construction on an 800-mile lifeline for its insatiable oil hunger. We'll examine this technological triumph, built over impenetrable mountains and tundra, where temperatures drop to 75 below zero. We also study its impact on a fragile ecological system. 8-9pm -- UFO Files - Mexico's Roswell. Coyame, Mexico is a small town not far from the US border. It's home to three thousand people and possibly the best-kept secret of all-time. In August of 1974, the USA military was tracking a mysterious object over Mexico; then suddenly it disappeared from radar near Coyame. At the same time a civilian plane headed in the opposite direction is reported missing. What follows next is the stuff Hollywood blockbusters are made of: a crash site, a spacecraft, dead bodies, a covert recovery mission, and a government cover-up. Is this the story of the century, or just a piece of Mexican folklore? Over the last 15 years, Mexico has experienced an unprecedented UFO wave. While the sheer volume of encounters garners attention, it's the apparent quality, or credibility, of these incidents that has our attention. Through interviews with witnesses and experts we examine the evidence, and controversial footage released by the Mexican military reveals never before seen video. 9-10pm -- Digging for the Truth - Roanoke: The Lost Colony. In 1587, over 100 settlers landed in the New World to establish England's first permanent colony. Three years later, they had vanished... Josh Bernstein is on the trail of America's oldest missing-persons case. He flies high above Roanoke Island in a powered para-glider; climbs and cores a cypress tree to study the climate conditions the settlers faced; participates in an American-Indian powwow; and learns to cook as the local 16th-century natives once did. Finally, Josh travels back to England to trace the roots of a family that could be descendants of the Roanoke colony. Using DNA science, he makes a groundbreaking discovery--and, amazingly, it suggests that one of the 1587 lost colonists may have survived. 10-11pm -- Deep Sea Detectives - Train Wreck in Lake Michigan. Railroad car ferries were thought to be some of the safest vessels on the Great Lakes, built to withstand ice and waves year round. But on October 22nd, 1929, the SS Milwaukee sailed into a Force-9 Gale and disappeared. Was it foolishness on the part of the ship's captain, Robert "Heavy Weather" McKay? Or was he ordered to sail by the railroad company? Was there a design flaw with the ship itself? Or was there a conspiracy to cover up unsafe business practices? Our hosts, veteran divers John Chatterton and Richie Kohler, using cutting-edge technology, fascinating underwater footage, and expert interviews, compare the official post-accident investigation with the wreck itself, and possibly rewrite history. ____________________________________________________ Tuesday, June 20, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Gasoline. Traces the history and evolution of the world's most important fossil fuel. Without gasoline, modern life would grind to a halt. Americans use about 360-million gallons of gas every day. And though most of us could not function without gas, very few understand what it really is, how it is made, what all those different octane numbers really mean, and how researchers developed cleaner-burning gasoline. All these questions will be answered as we look at the history of this "supreme" fuel. 8-9pm -- Decoding The Past - Giganto: The Real King Kong. An exploration of the Giganto (King Kong) legend using modern science, technology, and historic eyewitness accounts. Gigantopithecus (the Latin term for "Giant Ape") is believed to have existed 9 to 5-million years ago and supposedly was around 10-feet tall. Some fossil evidence shows that it may have lived in China or India. Scientists of varying fields will attempt to genetically connect Giganto to modern-day creatures from around the world. Could Bigfoot be a relative? Forensic testing, extensive scientific research, 3-D animation, and body reconstruction will help determine the true mystery behind this prehistoric ape. 9-10pm -- Mega Disasters - West Coast Tsunami. What would happen if a massive earthquake and tsunami were to strike the West Coast of the United States? Experts say it could easily match the catastrophic 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in scale and might. A 700-mile stretch of coast, from northern California to southern British Columbia lies just off the extremely volatile Cascadia Subduction Zone. Many seismologists say that after more than 300 years of massive pressure build-up, it is likely to erupt in the not too distant future. And it has happened in the past. Geologists have discovered evidence of a massive tsunami that struck the Pacific Northwest in 1700--as powerful as the devastating Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004. Hundreds of thousands of lives are at stake. We'll talk to emergency planners, seismologists, and other researchers who are trying to get a handle on when Cascadia will blow, and what--if anything--we can do to minimize the disaster. 10-11pm -- Mega Movers - Giant Structures. When it comes to moving giant structures, few moves are as impressive as those that take place at sea. These types of moves require unique techniques and tools as well as careful, detailed planning. In Canada, a team of engineers will attempt to move a gigantic 702-ton ship-loading device from the coast of Vancouver to a small mining island 70 miles away. Meanwhile, off the coast of Virginia, our movers will try to save an endangered island house by loading the entire structure onto a barge and sailing five miles to the mainland. But there is little margin for error in this chaotic environment, requiring all of the skill and ingenuity that the movers can muster. Join us for this mobile series in which we follow the relocation of the biggest, heaviest, and least movable of historic structures imaginable. ____________________________________________________ Wednesday, June 21, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Titanic Tech. Welcome aboard the luxury liner Titanic, the world's largest ship and pride of the White Star Line. Watertight compartments and a steel-plated hull render it all but unsinkable. Nearly every technological breakthrough of the previous 50 years is employed onboard, providing comfort and safety for passengers and crew. But none of this will matter on April 15, 1912, when the ship bears down on an iceberg on her maiden voyage, sinking within hours with more than 1,500 lives lost. Learn the details of her construction and how the achievements of technology may have masked her vulnerabilities. 8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - The Autobahn. Imagine a superhighway designed for speed...thousands of miles of roadway unhindered by limits of any kind. Buckle up for safety as we take you for the ride of your life when we explore the fascinating history and current reality of the world's fastest freeway. The number-one works project of the Third Reich, the Autobahn was known as Adolf Hitler's Road until Germany's defeat in WWII. Reconstructed and extended to more than four times its original size, it became a symbol of the New Germany. 9-10pm -- Modern Marvels - The World's Fastest. Perhaps no field has experienced the revolution in velocity more acutely than transportation. We look at five blazingly fast technological marvels that have pushed the speed limits to the very edge, each with its own unique and dramatic history: the world's fastest production car (Sweden's Koenigsegg CCR); the world's fastest train (the Maglev in Shanghai); the world's fastest boat (The Spirit of Australia); the world's fastest roller coaster (the Kingda Ka) and the fastest thing on earth (the Holloman High Speed Test Track), used to test highly sensitive equipment for many branches of the government and commercial clients. 10-11pm -- Modern Marvels - Horsepower. Buckle up for a rip-roaring ride through the world of extreme horsepower. Experience the fastest accelerating cars on earth. Find out how horsepower was first coined as a marketing tool for the steam engine in the early 1800s and meet the horsepower police--the Society of Automotive Engineers who test today's most powerful car engines. Feel the amazing power of Unlimited Hydroplane racing as 3-ton boat-beasts careen across water at speeds of over 200 miles per hour. Journey to the bowels of an enormous container ship where the world's most powerful diesel engine provides over 100,000 horsepower. At the Hoover Dam, watch as it harnesses the enormous power of water. Explore the 80,000 horsepower pumping units at the Edmonston Pumping Plant that delivers 2-billion gallons of water a day to thirsty Californians. And sit behind the steering wheel of a new generation of hybrid cars that boast 400-horsepower yet get 42 miles per gallon of gas. ____________________________________________________ Thursday, June 22, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Bullets. From "safe" bullets that stop hijackers but leave aircraft unscathed to bullets that chain-saw through steel and "smart" bullets computer-programmed to hit a target, this explosive hour examines the evolution of bullets from origin in the 1300s--stones and round lead balls shot from iron and bamboo tubes. Lead balls ruled until 1841 when a conical-shaped bullet changed ammo forever. We learn how to construct a modern cartridge, and at pistol and rifle ranges view demonstrations of modern firepower. 8-10pm -- Ottoman Empire: The War Machine - The Ottoman Empire was born in a fight for survival. Under constant attack, tribes of Muslim Turks banded together in self-defense and created an empire that endured for over 600 years. We delve into the history of this vast empire--from the 14th Century up until today. In WWI, the Ottomans sided with Germany. The Gallipoli Campaign stands out as a landmark in the history of the Great War. Nine months of bloody war in the area resulted in more than 100,000 deaths and the Allies retreated without gaining territory. A commander named Mustafa Kemal led his troops to several victories over the Allies, and in the tradition of Mehmet and Suleyman, the magnificent Mustafa established himself in Ankara as the leader of the Turkish Republic. Kemal transformed a country in ruins and implemented westernization, modernization, solidarity, and equality. Out went the Arabic alphabet--in came the Latin. The Ottoman Empire is a mere memory--Turkey is the future. 10-11pm -- Decoding The Past - Lost Worlds. The world has been captivated by legends of ancient civilizations that flourished only to vanish without a trace. Can Atlantis be found? Did the ferocious Amazon women really exist? What mystery lies behind Stonehenge or the giant heads of Easter Island? Modern science can help us draw back the veils of time and, at last, give us answers to the elusive mysteries of lost worlds. ____________________________________________________ Friday, June 23, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - World War I Tech. The first bombing airplanes and widespread use of chemical weapons...earliest tanks...submarines. When Industrial-Age technology and war first mixed on a large scale, the end result was ruthlessly efficient destruction. World War One epitomized the dark underbelly of the Industrial Revolution. We see how technological achievements that streamlined 19th-century production, improved transportation, and expanded science were used to efficiently decimate a generation of soldiers in the early 20th century. 8-12am -- Spartacus - Movie. By 72 BC, the Roman Empire had swept across the European continent, conquering countries and selling the people into slavery. But one slave dared to take a stand. This is the story of Spartacus (Goran Visnjic), from the country of Thrace, who, after witnessing his father's brutal death and enduring being sold into slavery, swears to one day live again as a free man. Based on Howard Fast's acclaimed novel, the miniseries was filmed in Bulgaria and directed by Robert Dornhelm. The cast includes Alan Bates, Assen Blatechki, Ben Cross, Henry Simmons, Angus MacFadyen, and Rhona Mitra. (2004) Part 2 - The gladiator Spartacus leads the largest uprising of escaped gladiators and slaves in Roman history and nearly causes the downfall of Rome. The battles against the Romans during the Third Servile War turned Spartacus the man into a legend. Based on Howard Fast's acclaimed novel and directed by Robert Dornhelm. The cast includes Alan Bates, Assen Blatechki, Ben Cross, Henry Simmons, Angus MacFadyen, and Rhona Mitra. (2004) ____________________________________________________ Saturday, June 24, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 11am -- Mail Call: Cobra Attack Helicopter/Sidewinder Missile/ C-54 Skymaster/Mps/Flintlock Pistol: #39 What puts the "super" in the Marines' attack helicopter, the AH-1W Super Cobra? As long as we're talking snakes, why are there so many AIM (Air Intercept Missile) Sidewinders? Why do many consider the C-54 Skymaster transport plane the true hero of the Berlin Airlift and the first Air Force One plane? What kind of training and gear are supplied to our military police? How accurate were the old Flintlock Pistols? Shot on location, R. Lee Ermey answers viewers' questions on military technology. TVPG L 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Axes, Swords and Knives. Blade implements have been a part of civilized man's arsenal since the Paleolithic Age, when sharp tools were chipped off of flint or obsidian. But with the discovery of metallurgy, people were able to forge stronger, more versatile blade implements. We visit an axe-throwing contest in Wisconsin for an introduction to the least subtle of the blade tools. Then we visit a swordsmith and an experienced swordfighter who work in traditional methods from ancient sources, and review the history of knives. 8-11pm -- The True Story of Alexander the Great - 334 BC--a 20-year-old military commander from Northern Greece set out to conquer the known world. During the next 12 years, King Alexander of Macedon led 40,000 troops more than 20,000 miles, defeated the world's most powerful ruler, King Darius of Persia, and conquered West Asia before dying at age 32. In a 3-hour special, host Peter Woodward explores the true story of Alexander the Great--a tale of conquest, love, hate, revenge, and ultimately tragedy. He visits locations of Alexander's youth, temples dedicated to Greek gods where Alexander sought divine counsel, and actual battlefields, as well as demonstrating his signature battle plans and weaponry. How could one man accomplish so much at such a young age? What led to his demise? These questions drive our analysis of Alexander's complex character, delicately balanced between genius and insanity. ____________________________________________________ Sunday, June 25, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Cities of the Underworld - Istanbul is undoubtedly one of the most dynamic and exotic cities in the world. Once the capital city of three of the world's most powerful empires--The Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman--its strategic location made it the perfect spot for empires to rise, fall...and rise again. Today Istanbul's residents are walking on top of remnants of these fallen civilizations...literally. Taxis drive over parts of Constantine's Lost Great Palace; children play on cobblestone streets concealing a massive Byzantine dungeon; a high school sits on a 3rd century wall leading to the bowels of a 100,000 seat ancient Roman Hippodrome; and basement's of old Ottoman homes lead to subterranean tunnels and secret cisterns. Join host Eric Geller as he leaves the buzz of the city streets behind and follows the pull of the past. Teamed with leading archeologists and experts, Eric peels back the layers of the past--to reveal a hidden history that hasn't seen the light of day for ages. 8-10pm -- Rome: Engineering an Empire - For more than 500 years, Rome was the most powerful and advanced civilization the world had ever known, ruled by visionaries and tyrants whose accomplishments ranged from awe-inspiring to deplorable. One characteristic linked them all--ambition--and the thirst for power that all Roman emperors shared fueled an unprecedented mastery of engineering and labor. This documentary special chronicles the spectacular and sordid history of the Roman Empire from the rise of Julius Caesar in 55 BC to its eventual fall around 537 AD, detailing the remarkable engineering feats that set Rome apart from the rest of the ancient world. Featuring extensive state-of-the-art CGI animation, and exclusive never-before-seen footage shot on a diving expedition in the water channels underneath the Colosseum. 10-11pm -- The Revolution - American Crisis. The newly proclaimed nation stares at the stark realization that it could soon be dead. Desperate and determined, General George Washington gambles on a brilliant yet dangerously daring stroke to save his army and America. ____________________________________________________ Monday, June 26, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Guns of the Civil War. It was a war in which brother fought brother and battlefields became slaughterhouses. During the Civil War, the country was in the midst of an industrial revolution and developed the most destructive killing machines the world had ever seen. Join us for a test fire of Civil War guns--the first truly modern weapons. 8-9pm -- UFO Files - An Alien History of Planet Earth, Part 1. Nick Cook, a British aerospace journalist with a 20-year history of "getting below the surface" of some of the strangest military aircraft to take to the skies, applies his expert, investigative skills to a world of mystery and deceit--a fantastical place full of UFOs, strange encounters, and alien abductions. His job is to investigate secret programs--the shadow defense industry, worth billions of dollars, but hidden from public view. Now, with more people than ever believing in UFOs, Cook wants to know what really has been flying through our air space. In part one, he traces the phenomenon from early sightings of UFOs during WWII to the mass reports of alien abductions that swept America in the 1980s and `90s. 9-10pm -- Psychic History - John Holland is a psychic medium with an extraordinary talent. At any given location, John can sense what took place there, even if it was 100 years ago. His ability to reveal past events makes him uniquely suited to investigate history as it has never been investigated before. Join John as he focuses on Waco where David Koresh's cult of Branch Davidians took on the forces of the US government. Holland applies his special skills to resolving the lingering mysteries of Waco: Who fired first? The Federal agents or the Branch Davidians? And were Koresh's followers being held against their will? John also makes an amazing observation--that a house half way across the country from Waco was where the cult assembled their guns. Only the police knew this; the fact was never made public. Expect more stunning revelations as John continues to apply his psychic gifts to investigating history. 10-11pm -- Deep Sea Detectives - Disaster of Napoleon's Fleet. The Battle of the Nile--August 1, 1798. A mighty French fleet under the command of Napoleon Bonaparte is anchored in Aboukir Bay, Egypt. Just hours before sunset, an outnumbered British fleet, commanded by the famous Admiral Horatio Nelson, discovers the French and battle ensues. In the dark of night, the French flagship, L'Orient, one of the most powerful warships in the world, suddenly explodes. She sinks quickly, taking an estimated $20 million in gold and silver to the bottom. How did the mighty battleship sink so quickly that night? And what happened to the lost fortune in gold and silver? Veteran divers John Chatterton and Richie Kohler plunge into Aboukir Bay--and discover that history's telling of the L'Orient's demise is wrong. Did Admiral Nelson "spin" the events of that day? ____________________________________________________ Tuesday, June 27, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Aswan Dam. In 1954, Gamal Abdel Nasser, the Arab Republic of Egypt's first prime minister, had a plan to bring his poor country into the 20th century. To pull it off, he needed to harness the flow of the world's longest river--the Nile. The ambitious plan called for construction of a high dam in southern Egypt at Aswan. But the builders of the pyramids and the Suez Canal were no strangers to large undertakings. We'll see how the Aswan High Dam socially, politically, culturally, and agriculturally affected Egypt. 8-9pm -- Decoding The Past - The Holy Grail. The Holy Grail...Christ's cup from the Last Supper. Medieval poets sang its praises, and King Arthur's knights chased it to the ends of the earth. Did Joseph of Arimathea really claim the cup after the Last Supper and collect Jesus's blood in it at the Crucifixion? Why are there so many Grail tales, no two of which fully agree? And why does the scent of heresy linger about the sacred cup? Many treasures are bigger, but none more precious or elusive as we discover in this quest for the venerable vessel. 9-10pm -- Mega Disasters - Yellowstone Eruption. The world's largest, most active volcano system exists in the western US. 6,000 years ago, the Yellowstone Volcano erupted. Lava and pyroclastic flows covered 3,000-square miles with ash 3-feet thick. Fossils discovered as far away as Nebraska were found to have died from inhaling the Yellowstone debris. If--or perhaps we should say when--it erupts again, the Yellowstone "Mega-Volcano" will create a global cataclysm beyond human comprehension. Everything within 150 miles--including the cities of Cody, Wyoming and Bozeman, Montana--will be hit by an 800-degree blast of heat and 200 miles-per-hour winds. Thousands will be killed. That's just the local effects. Half the US will be buried beneath a blanket of volcanic ash. Crops in the Midwest--the world's breadbasket--will be destroyed. And it will take years before crops can grow again. Starvation, epidemics, and social chaos won't be long in coming. 10-11pm -- Mega Movers - Massive Bridges. Bridges move people and cargo daily, but what happens when the bridge itself needs to be moved? In this episode, we see how two very different bridges are moved--using two very different methods. In Missouri, local bridge preservationists attempt to transport a 137-ton railroad bridge right through the heart of downtown Kansas City. And in Iowa, the National Guard rallies to save a 129-year-old bridge using one of the most modern mega-moving tools available: a Chinook Helicopter. Will our Mega Movers succeed in preserving these beloved bridges for future pedestrians to use? ____________________________________________________ Wednesday, June 28, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Bunkers. From the earliest bunkers of WWI through the ultra-futuristic ones of tomorrow's wars, we trace the story of defensive fortifications. In the constant struggle to hold off ever more potent forms of attack, bunkers function in a variety of forms. Three mammoth block structures comprise a submarine bunker at Lorient, France, able to house 20 subs. We visit Churchill's Cabinet War Room and Hitler's Berlin bunker, as well as backyard Cold War bunkers and those that protect nuclear weapons themselves. 8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - The Butcher. In a carnivorous world, a butcher is a necessary link in the food chain, carving a carcass of unsavory flesh into mouthwatering cuts. We trace the grisly trade's evolution--from yesteryear's butcher-on-every-corner to today's industrial butcher working on a "disassembly" line. We tour the infamous remains of the Chicago Stockyards, where Upton Sinclair, Clarence Birdseye, and refrigeration changed butchering forever; witness high-speed butchering; and travel to a non-stop sausage factory. And if you're still squeamish, a USDA inspector offers the lowdown on HACCP--the country's new system of checks and balances on everything from quality grading to E. coli, Salmonella, and Mad Cow Disease. Finally, we visit the last bastion of old-school butchering--the rural custom butcher, who slaughters, eviscerates, skins, and cuts to his customer's wishes. 9-10pm -- Modern Marvels - Garage Gadgets. Handy around the house? You will be after this history of the household garage. From lawn care products to snow removal and outdoor cooking, the garage gadgets for do-it-yourselfers have evolved over the decades to meet the ever-changing challenges of maintaining a home. With a typical garage as our starting point, we'll explore the uncommon histories behind some common garage items such as the lawn mower, string trimmer, leaf blower, barbecue grill, and more. 10-11pm -- Modern Marvels - BBQ Tech. An old-fashioned style of cooking, barbecue has evolved into a modern food craze and spawned a multi-billion dollar industry. We digest famous barbecue cook-offs and visit long-established barbecue restaurants like Arthur Bryant's in Kansas City, where the huge grills and taste thrills of true barbecue are more popular than ever. At home, three out of four US households own a grill. After WWII's end, the phenomenon of backyard barbecuing swept the nation, thanks to inexpensive and mass-produced grills, including the kettle-shaped Weber. Our tour of Weber's modern factories shows how they keep pace with demand by manufacturing more choices than ever, including portable mini-grills. We also examine the variety of fuels available for the savory selection of spicy sauces and rubs. Join us as we devour the mouthwatering flavors of BBQ in this episode. ____________________________________________________ Thursday, June 29, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Cereal: History in a Bowl. Move over pancakes, step aside bacon! Cereal is arguably the true breakfast king, a $9-billion industry with an indisputable place in pop-culture history. Full of surprise, nostalgia, and fascinating facts, we celebrate the colorful--and crunchy--saga of a distinctly American breakfast. We see how a Presbyterian minister-turned-health-food-fanatic--Sylvester Graham, of "graham cracker" fame--turned his countrymen from fried pork breakfasts to grain- and bran-heavy diets in 1824. We reveal the rivalries, tricks, and accidents that turned cereal into a breakfast sensation. And we examine the amazing feats of marketing used to promote the product--from creating iconic characters for packaging, to ingenious prizes that drove consumers to the shelves in droves. 8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Snackfood Tech. Extruders, molds, in-line conveyor belts. Are these machines manufacturing adhesives, plastics, or parts for your car? No, they're making treats for your mouth--and you will see them doing their seductively tasty work in this scrumptious episode. First, we visit Utz Quality Foods in Hanover, Pennsylvania, that produces more than one million pounds of chips per week, and Snyder's of Hanover, the leading US pretzel manufacturer. Next, we focus on the world's largest candy manufacturer, Masterfoods USA, which makes Milky Way, Snickers, Mars, and M&Ms, and take a lick at the world's largest lollipop producer, Tootsie Roll Industries. And at Flower Foods' Crossville, Tennessee plant, an army of cupcakes rolls down a conveyer belt. The final stop is Dreyer's Bakersfield, California plant, where 20,000 ice cream bars and 9,600 drumsticks roll off the line in an hour. 9-10pm -- Modern Marvels - Candy. It pulls, stretches, bubbles, hardens, crunches, and melts! We eat about 7-billion tons of it yearly. We're talking about Candy--loved by kids and savored by adults. Candy-making evolved from a handmade operation to high-tech mass production. Nowhere is that more apparent than at Hershey's. On a tour of their newest production facility, we learn how they process the cocoa bean. At See's Candy, we see how they make their famous boxed chocolates--on a slightly smaller scale than Hershey's. We get a sweet history lesson at Schimpff's Confectionery, where they still use small kettles, natural flavors, and hand-operated equipment. Then, we visit Jelly Belly, purveyors of the original gourmet jellybean. Saltwater-taffy pullers hypnotize us on our sweet-tooth tour; we gaze at extruders making miles of licorice rope; and watch as nostalgia candy bars Abba-Zaba and Big Hunk get packaged. And in this sugary hour, we digest the latest sensations--gourmet chocolates and scorpion on a stick! 10-11pm -- American Eats - Pizza. "When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's amore." And nothing sums up the American relationship with pizza better than that word. Americans eat approximately 350 slices per second--about 100 acres of pizza a day! At last count, there were close to 70,000 pizzerias in the US working tirelessly to satisfy that $11-billion a year craving with a seemingly endless variety. Pizza's American journey has taken it full circle--from small Italian-American communities, through the cutthroat competition of global chains, to the mass-produced world of frozen pizza, and back to distinctive, personal pies. But all the while, pizza has managed to retain its original identity--its versatility and strong heritage have given it a staying power like no other. Despite fierce passions and regional preferences, there's room for everybody at the pizza table. ____________________________________________________ Friday, June 30, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Shipyards. Shipyards are waterside construction sites where the extraordinary takes shape and where some of the largest tools built by humans help create the biggest machines on earth. But shipyards and ships of today bear little resemblance to those of antiquity. From ancient days to the 18th-century Industrial Revolution to the epic effort performed at Pearl Harbor, we examine the shipyard, and look to its future. Will the craftsmanship and practical knowledge of how to build ships disappear in the 21st century? 8-10pm -- Modern Marvels - Walt Disney World. Journey underground and backstage at the technological marvel that is Walt Disney World. Enter a make-believe world spanning some 27,000 acres, brought to life by cutting-edge technology. What was once Florida swampland now boasts the world's largest theme park. The ride technology ranges from space-age centrifuges to enhanced motion vehicles powered by 3,000 PSI of hydraulic pressure. And hundreds of audio animatronics brought to life through the power of pneumatics, hydraulics, and electrical systems. Walt Disney World is made up of four separate theme parks, each with its own innovations: the 107-acre Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom. The four parks are all part of a megaplex of a resort. Twice the size of Manhattan, it was the final vision and crowning achievement of a man who spent more than 40 years pushing the limits of technology to create entertainment magic: Walt Disney. 10-12am -- Absolute Evel: The Evel Knievel Story - His life story reads like a soap opera script. Born Robert Craig Knievel, this wild, young man from the rough mining town of Butte, Montana dreamed of becoming rich and famous. After years of struggle, Bobbie's alter ego Evel Knievel became the world's most famous daredevil. His exploits are legendary and it's unlikely his accomplishments--or notoriety--will ever be duplicated. Now, he's paying a high price for the life he led. He lives in constant pain from the incredible abuse his body suffered during his daredevil days. As he enters the twilight of life, this 2-hour special may be his last chance at a public forum. He's a man who is outspoken, outrageous, at times hilarious, but always fascinating. From humble beginnings in Butte to iconic status and everything in between, Evel candidly shares every aspect of his life. The aging daredevil reflects on his incredible experiences and how he would like to be remembered.
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* Congressman Gary Condit (D), who reportedly told police he'd had an affair with Levy, is no longer considered to be a suspect in the case. Condit lost his bid for re-election in the Democratic Primary of 2002.
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