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.Sunday, April 1, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Ten Commandments - Part 2. Thousands of years ago, the laws of Moses were given to the Israelites--laws that prescribed both their relationship with God and with each other. The 10 Commandments, the word of God, carved into stone--a sacred covenant between God and the Israelites. In both Exodus and Deuteronomy, it tells us that Moses brought down these commandments in the form of two tablets. It has become traditional to split the commandments between them, half on one tablet, and half on the other. The first commandments deal with God and how He should be worshipped. The second set of commandments, sometimes called the Laws of Man, provided society with the means of living with one another. We'll take a close look at these last commandments and see how they have translated into our modern legal system. 8-10pm -- The Exodus Decoded - The story of the Exodus invokes an epic tale--Pharaohs and Israelites, plagues and miracles, splitting of the sea and drowning of an army, and Moses. It's at the heart of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. After much research--working with archaeologists, Egyptologists, geologists, and theologians--filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici concluded that the Exodus took place hundreds of years earlier than thought. With a new timetable, Jacobovici reexamined artifacts and discovered that the traditional consensus on the date was reached without reference to Judaic texts that record the oral traditions. When Jacobovici consulted these texts, they revealed names of people and places unknown to researchers until recently when extensive excavations in the Nile Delta took place. Teaming up with special effects designers, he created a unique digital experience of the Exodus. Blending archaeological findings with eye-catching effects, Jacobovici creates a virtual museum to showcase his discoveries. 10-12am -- Bible Battles - In one of the most hostile lands on the planet, an ancient people called the Israelites forged an army and carved out an empire. Their ancient military exploits are described in one of history's most famous religious texts--the Old Testament of the Bible. But by reading between the religious lines, military historians unlock the soldiers' secrets of the Bible by examining the weapons, strategies, and the commanders, some of whom are not always thought of as warriors, like Abraham, Moses, and Deborah. In this 2-hour special, we explore the biblical world from a military perspective from the time of Abraham until David's ascension to the throne. Blood often flows more freely than holy water in the days of the Old Testament, and the military secrets of the Bible have yet to be revealed...until now! ____________________________________________________ Monday, April 2, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Levees From collapsing floodwalls in New Orleans to high-tech mechanical storm surge barriers in Europe, we'll explore the 2,500-year history of keeping rivers and tides at bay by erecting levees. To get a lesson on how levees are built and why they fail, we'll climb atop Sacramento, California's crumbling river levees to see evidence of erosion that portends a New Orleans-level disaster. In stark contrast are the ingeniously engineered levees and dikes holding back tidal waters in the Netherlands. Their success inspired other mechanized flood barriers on both the River Thames outside London and one currently under construction near the sinking city of Venice, Italy. We'll also take a look at the hard lessons learned when levees are breached. In New Orleans, we'll see what the US Army Corps of Engineers is doing to protect the Crescent City from future hurricane seasons. 8-9pm -- UFO Files - Out of This World. Are we alone in the universe? Is the earth on the brink of a cosmic catastrophe? Do aliens really exist? And if they do, how do they get here? Long before man landed on the moon, people have been asking these and other questions that are out of this world. Perhaps clues to some of these questions lie in understanding the behavior of asteroids, life on Mars, and secrets that our government may hold about UFOs and Roswell. 9-10pm -- Digging for the Truth - Search for King David King David is the shepherd poet who slays the giant Goliath, according to the Old Testament. He then goes on to become the first king of a united Israel. Some scientists claim that the archaeological evidence appears to call the story into question; others believe they have already found the evidence to prove that it is true. Join host Josh Bernstein as he examines an ancient basalt slab inscribed with David's name, recreates his famous fight with Goliath, and descends through a secret waterway into the heart of Jerusalem. 10-12am -- Egypt: Engineering an Empire - Twenty-five hundred years before the reign of Julius Caesar, the ancient Egyptians were deftly harnessing the power of engineering on an unprecedented scale. Egyptian temples, fortresses, pyramids and palaces forever redefined the limits of architectural possibility. They also served as a warning to all of Egypt's enemies-that the world's most advanced civilization could accomplish anything. This two-hour special uses cinematic recreations and cutting-edge CGI to profile the greatest engineering achievements of ancient Egypt, and the pharaohs and architects who were behind them. Includes Djoser's Step Pyramid at Saqqara, Senusret's Nubian Superfortresses, Hatshepsut's Mortuary Temple at Dier el-Bahari, Akhenaten's city at Amarna, and the temples of Ramesses the Great at Abu Simbel. ____________________________________________________ Tuesday, April 3, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- 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. 8-9pm -- Ancient Discoveries - 14 - Machines III One thousand years ago, when Europe was still in the dark ages, China was at the forefront of technology. We unveil the remarkable story of how China created a myriad of ingenious devices including cosmic machines able to collect data on the stars, hydraulic hammers, water-controlled clocks, and mass production plants powered by water. We visit a reconstruction of an ancient Chinese iron furnace to unravel how the Chinese created a forty-ton iron artifact five centuries before the West discovered cast-iron technology. Meet the leading clay expert Professor Ye Hongming who has spent a lifetime seeking to discover the secrets of how the ancient Chinese created their vast terracotta army. 9-10pm -- Ancient Discoveries - Ships. Lurking beneath Lake Nemi's blue waters lay the titans of Roman naval engineering--the Nemi Ships. Titanic luxury liners of the ancient world, they held inventions lost for thousands of years. But why were they built? Were they Caligula's notorious floating pleasure palaces--rife with excess and debauchery? Flagships of a giant sea force? It took Mussolini's obsession with all things Roman to finally prise the two wrecks from the depths of Lake Nemi near Rome. Using an ancient Roman waterway, he drained the lake and rescued the ships, an accomplishment captured on film that we access to illustrate this astounding story. Sophisticated ancient technology discovered in the boats transformed the understanding of Roman engineering overnight. Yet by 1944, the adventure had turned sour and the retreating German army torched the boats. We reveal the mysteries of the Nemi Ships and the ancient technology that made them possible. 10-12am -- Beyond The Da Vinci Code - Is it the greatest story ever told - or the greatest story ever sold? A best-selling novel sparks a debate that could change Christianity forever. Were Jesus and Mary Magdalene married and co-leaders of their movement? Was Mary Magdalene, herself, the Holy Grail - the vessel said to hold Jesus's blood--and mother of his descendants? Did the early Church know this "truth" and deliberately mislead followers? Is there a secret, ancient society, the Priory of Sion, which still protects this bloodline? Have some of the most illustrious names in art and science been members? These are some of the questions that Dan Brown's best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code raises. We examine both sides of the story--the conventional view of Christianity and the "alternate history" proposed by Brown--so that viewers can decide. ____________________________________________________ Wednesday, April 4, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Codes. Whenever a culture reaches a level of sophistication in literacy, science, and language, codes spring up spontaneously. As the social life of a community increases in complexity, the demands for private communication between two or more people inevitably lead to cryptology--a system of secret symbolic messages. We explore the rich history of communicating with secret symbols--from Egyptian hieroglyphics to Caesar's encrypted directives, from WWI and WWII codebreakers to cyberspace. 8-9pm -- Modern 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 -- 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! 10-12am -- 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. ____________________________________________________ Thursday, April 5, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Mummy Tech. After thousands of years, Egyptian mummies are speaking from the grave. With the use of state-of-the-art computer tomography scanning, known as CT-scanning, we explore inside a 2,000-year-old mummified body of an Egyptian child. With today's technology, mummies are studied without being unwrapped. Researchers travel around inside the mummy's head and body with 3-D imagery. We meet Dr. Robert Brier, a renowned Egyptologist. Dr. Brier reveals secrets of Mummification--it took up to 70 days to preserve the dead. Aided by new technology, we investigate the death of one of the most famous mummies, King Tut. Was he murdered or did he die from an illness? We also uncover the case of the Mummy who lay in obscurity for over a hundred years, until modern science unlocked the secrets of his identity as an Egyptian pharaoh. And we join a team of conservationists as they build a nitrogen-filled glass display case to provide a safe sanctuary to prevent mummies from decay. 8-9pm -- Something About Mary Magdalene - Mary Magdalene has been a Christian icon for almost 2,000 years, but her role in Christianity is getting a dramatic reassessment. Was Mary a prostitute, Jesus' wife, or was she something even more surprising? Explore the new image of Mary coming into focus among scholars, a picture drawn from the heretical gospels found buried in Egyptian sand in the last century, and controversial new interpretations of New Testament scripture. Is Mary Magdalene the co-founder of Christianity and the Church, the mysterious so-called "beloved disciple" in the Gospel of John? Is there evidence of a rivalry between Mary Magdalene and St. Peter in the early Church? Discover a woman who was a powerful source of inspiration among the earliest Christians, and for growing numbers of women in the Church today, is a beacon for the future. 9-10pm -- Ten Commandments - Part 1 What's the real story behind history's most famous written document? Our 2-part special examines the three different--and sometimes contradictory--biblical accounts of Moses on the Mount, and then looks at each of the 10 Commandments in historical context. Adultery, perjury, murder, theft, graven images, Sabbath laws, coveting--what did they mean then? And do they mean anything today? Also examined are the other 603 commandments prescribed by Moses that took a backseat to the more famous first 10. What was in these commandments and why have they been largely forgotten? Legal, religious and historical scholars, including legal author Alan Dershowitz and Old Testament expert Daniel Smith-Christopher, reveal how the issues raised by the 10 Commandments have been viewed--and punished--throughout history. From ancient times to modern times, see how the definitions, the laws, and morality have changed within the parameters of history's most formidable "Top 10" list. 10-11pm -- Ten Commandments - Part 2. Thousands of years ago, the laws of Moses were given to the Israelites--laws that prescribed both their relationship with God and with each other. The 10 Commandments, the word of God, carved into stone--a sacred covenant between God and the Israelites. In both Exodus and Deuteronomy, it tells us that Moses brought down these commandments in the form of two tablets. It has become traditional to split the commandments between them, half on one tablet, and half on the other. The first commandments deal with God and how He should be worshipped. The second set of commandments, sometimes called the Laws of Man, provided society with the means of living with one another. We'll take a close look at these last commandments and see how they have translated into our modern legal system. ____________________________________________________ Friday, April 6, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - The Supermarket. Our basic need and desire for food has made the supermarket one of the great success stories of modern retailing. Making customers' visits to the market as efficient as possible has led to many technological advancements such as bar coding and a scale that recognizes the type of produce placed on it. We'll explore the psychology of the supermarket including store layout, lighting, music and aromas that trigger the appetite. With a growing percentage of the public interested in eating healthier foods, organic grocers are carving out an increasingly large niche. These are just a few of the items worth checking out in this appetizing hour. 8-9pm -- Snipers - Stalk and Kill. Meet the ultimate hunters in a deadly game where the quarry shoots back--U.S. Army snipers. Experts of stealth and stalking, they can kill with a single shot from nearly a mile, or creep within yards of an enemy target remaining virtually invisible. Starting with American snipers in the Revolutionary War and ending with 21st-century snipers and the latest technology at the U.S. Army Sniper School, we review the history of these marksmen who train to become the "most hated men on the battlefield." 9-10pm -- Dogfights - 06 - The Last Gunfighter Skilled fighter pilots Paul Speer and Phil Wood, tackles the fierce North Vietnamese MiG over the killing skies of Vietnam. They fly the U.S. Navy's top fighter, the F8 Crusader. In one of the longest, gut-wrenching dogfights on record, Lt. Commander Richard Schaffert--out of missiles and with his guns jammed--takes on a lethal MiG-17 and the best enemy pilot he's ever faced. His only chance lies with the amazing capabilities of the F8 Crusader, "the last gunfighter." Using state of the art computer graphics, viewers will feel like they're in the battle, facing the enemy. 10-11pm -- Mail Call - 92 - Mail Call R. Lee Ermey gets the skinny on Pinnacle Armor, the military's newest state-of-the-art body armor and finds out if it'll stand up to a direct hit from an AK-47. Learn the history of the U.S. Cavalry's last great campaign--the Punitive Expedition against Mexico that pitted Pershing against Pancho Villa. Take a joy ride in the M274 mechanical mule, a vehicle designed for the recoilless rifle and understand the history of combat cameramen with a focus on WWII and the outstanding work of Norm Hatch. Finally view a live-fire demonstration with the MG-42, the German-made machine gun with the highest rate of fire of any weapon in WWII. ____________________________________________________ Saturday, April 7, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern 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. 8-10:30pm -- Planet of the Apes - Movie. The year is 3978 and a spaceship with a crew of four crashes down on a distant planet. One of the crew members had died in space and the other three head out to explore the planet. The planet is much like their own; however, it is inhabited by intelligent apes. One of the men is shot and killed and the others are taken to the apes' city. There, one undergoes brain surgery and is put into a state of living death. The other (Charlton Heston) befriends some of the apes but is feared by most. After being put through ape trial he escapes with a female human native to the planet. He then learns the planet might not be so distant after all... Roddy McDowall and Kim Hunter co-star in this film classic. (1968) MonsterVision review & host segments 10:30-11:30pm -- 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. ____________________________________________________ Sunday, April 8, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Banned from The Bible - Part 1. In a 2-part 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. 8-9pm -- Banned from The Bible - Part 2. The conclusion of our 2-part look at the manuscripts, codices, scrolls and clay tablets that were known, but deemed unfit to grace the pages of the sacred scriptures for Jews and Christians? Why were they left out? And are there still others writings yet to be discovered, works that may have more to say about our spiritual and religious ancestry than some books that are currently included? 9-11pm -- Banned from The Bible II - Take another look at ancient texts that were edited out of the Bible. Are they the missing links to Christ's true teachings, or heretical attempts to rewrite history? Explore the kabalistic stories of angels and demons disavowed by orthodox leaders, and the apocalyptic visions and the sexual imagery that were barred from the Old Testament. Why was Peter's account of a "Lord of The Rings"-style battle of wits and magic repressed by Rome? With discoveries being made all across the world--in caves, ruined temples, ancient libraries and monasteries--these tantalizing fragments continue to be found and debated. Are they heresy or hidden truth? ____________________________________________________ Monday, April 9, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Money How does America make money--literally? We visit the United States Mint and the Bureau of Printing and Engraving to see the secretive government facilities where our legal tender is generated. With a storied past as tantalizing as the wealth they create, these mints can spit out fortunes in an hour and keep our economy flowing. 8-9pm -- UFO Files - Majestic Twelve: UFO Cover-Up. What really happened in Roswell, New Mexico in the summer of 1947? Did a flying saucer crash in the vast desert scrubland? The initial Army Air Force press release claimed they had recovered a flying disk. But a day later, the story dramatically changed--now they called it a weather balloon! In 1987, secret documents surfaced indicating the existence of the "Majestic 12"--an elite group of scientists and military and intelligence officials, allegedly brought together by President Harry Truman. Did the MJ-12 truly exist? If so, did these men forever trivialize the most talked-about UFO event in history, as well as all UFO sightings thereafter? 9-10pm -- Digging for the Truth - Lost Treasures of the Copper Scroll In the depths of an Israeli cave, archaeologists found rolls of dusty manuscripts dating to the 1st century AD, and they are inscribed on a copper scroll! Scholars believe the copper scrolls represent a detailed treasure map--a list of hiding places where the priests of Jerusalem's Second Temple stored their most precious silver and gold artifacts during times of trouble. Join host Josh Bernstein in his search as he rappels into the caves outside Qumran. He then creates his own copper scroll, and uses ground-penetrating radar inside a newly excavated tunnel hundreds of yards beneath the ground. 10-11pm -- Decoding The Past - Mayan Doomsday Prophecy The world is coming to an end on December 21, 2012! The ancient Maya made this stunning prediction more than 2,000 years ago. We'll peel back the layers of mystery and examine in detail how the Maya calculated the exact date of doomsday. Journey back to the ancient city of Chichen Itza, the hub of Maya civilization deep in the heart of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, to uncover the truth about this prophecy. The Maya were legendary astronomers and timekeepers--their calendar is more accurate than our own. By tracking the stars and planets they assigned great meaning to astronomical phenomena and made extraordinary predictions based on them--many of which have come true. Could their doomsday prophecy be one of them? In insightful interviews archaeologists, astrologers, and historians speculate on the meaning of the 2012 prophecy. Their answers are as intriguing as the questions. ____________________________________________________ Tuesday, April 10, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Banks. Backbones of worldwide economics, for centuries banks enabled the creation of wealth, and industry leaders became icons. But modern technology revolutionized the way banks do business, and the Internet insures they must adapt or disappear. From banking's early European origins to "e-banking", this is an hour you can't afford to miss! 8-10pm -- Meteors: Fire in the Sky - Meteors, comets, and asteroids cross the solar system to offer clues about our planet and universe. Can they destroy civilizations? Did they wipe out the dinosaurs? Have they brought life to our planet? And when will the next one hit? Aided by elaborate animation and live-action footage, we learn what these mysterious space rocks really are and imagine what likely happened 65-million years ago, when an object plowed into the Yucatan Peninsula. We see how certain spectacular meteor falls advanced our understanding of what they are and the danger that they pose. We talk to leading experts--astronomers and geologists including David Levy and Carolyn Shoemaker, co-discoverers of the Shoemaker-Levy comet that fell into Jupiter in 1994. And we talk to NASA scientists about recent missions to asteroids and comets and speculate on ways to move Earth-threatening asteroids and comets out of our way. Because it isn't a question of if but when the next deadly impact will take place. 10-11pm -- Modern Marvels - Bathroom Tech. From tub to toilet to toothpaste, here's everything you ever wanted to know about the most used and least discussed room in the house. From the first home bathrooms in ancient India, Roman latrines, and bizarre Victorian-era bath contraptions, to modern luxurious master bathroom suites, we trace the history of bathing, showering, and oral hygiene. And we reveal the messy truth about what was used before toilet paper--brainchild of the Scott Brothers of Philadelphia--and why astronauts wear diapers. ____________________________________________________ Wednesday, April 11, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Gold Mines. Around the world and across the eons, gold stands as a symbol of power, wealth, and love. The quest for the yellow metal took men across oceans, into the depths of the Alaskan winter, and miles beneath South African earth. This is the story of the hunters of the precious metal and their methods for extracting it. 8-9pm -- 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. 9-10pm -- Modern Marvels - Insulation. It keeps us warm. It keeps us cool. It protects us and makes our world more comfortable. As simple as a pane of glass, or as complex as the fuselage of a space station, it's all around us, but is almost always out of sight. We explore where insulation technology has been, where it is today, and where it's going. We'll visit the manufacturing facilities of two of the most recognizable insulating materials: fiberglass and foam; and explore how insulation has evolved. Historical highlights include how the ancient Romans and Greeks insulated their homes, as well as the natives of tropical and arctic climates. New technologies covered include insulated concrete forms and gas-filled panels. Whether at home or in the office, on a space station, or beneath the sea, insulation is essential for making our world habitable. We'll show that how we use insulation, and how we develop it, will be a major factor in how we conserve our supply of energy in the coming years. 10-11pm -- 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! ____________________________________________________ Thursday, April 12, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Silver Mines. It was called the "mother lode", a deposit of silver so massive that it would produce $300-million in its first 25 years of operation, establish Nevada as a state, and bankroll the Union Army in the Civil War. Named after an early investor, we'll see how the Comstock Lode, discovered near Virginia City, proved to be a scientific laboratory from which vast improvements in mining technology and safety were pioneered, including innovations in drilling, ventilation, drainage, and ore processing. 8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - More of the World's Biggest Machines. On land, in the air, or on the sea--we examine some of the biggest machines ever built, including: the Antonov AN-225, the world's biggest aircraft; the GE 90-115B jet engine; the Sikorsky CH-53E helicopter; the Union Pacific's biggest steam locomotive, the "Big Boy" 4000 and GE's AC 6000; the Discoverer Enterprise, the world's largest oil-drilling ship; the RB 293 bucket-wheel mine excavator; and the LED Viva Vision, the world's largest printing screen, which stretches 4-blocks long in Las Vegas. 9-10pm -- Mega Movers - B-25 Bomber In 1943, a B-25 Mitchell, WWII's most versatile twin-engine bomber, crash-landed in South Carolina. It sank 150 feet to the bottom of a lake and over time was forgotten. Now, 60 years later, a local doctor is determined to raise the giant bomber intact and give it to a museum. Our team--divers, engineers, and preservationists--takes on the job of moving the 20,000-pound bomber to the surface, while faced with the challenges of working in nearly zero-visibility murky waters and the wrath of an approaching hurricane, plus fear that the plane may be breaking apart! 10-11pm -- Modern Marvels - Yard Tech In the 21st century, turf grass is the number one crop grown in the U.S. When suburbia exploded after World War II, turf became the defining characteristic of nearly every yard. First, it's off to the research greenhouse facility at The Scotts Company to learn how grass seed is bred for special characteristics. Then pay a visit to the Toro Company, a big name in lawnmowers. The Rain Bird Company and its automatic sprinkler systems is the life giver to thirsty lawns across the country, and The Davey Company specializes in moving trees in excess of one million pounds. Finally, take a trip to California Waterscapes and watch as a crew installs a waterfall and koi pond. ____________________________________________________ Friday, April 13, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 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 -- Modern Marvels - Weapons of Mass Destruction From the unimaginable power of nuclear bombs to microscopic anthrax spores, we reveal who possesses these nightmare weapons and explore the danger posed by terrorists with deadly technologies. Using the latest computer technology we see an on-screen representation of the radioactive plume that would result from a mock dirty bomb attack in Seattle. We will learn how bio-agents are discovered and understand the technology currently used to identify and prevent suicide bombings. Weapons of mass destruction have made the world a dangerous place but we will find out how technology can assist us as we strive for lasting solutions. 9-10pm -- Dogfights - 08 - Death of the Japanese Navy In one of the most amazing yet lopsided naval battles in history, a mighty Japanese fleet led by the Yamato, the biggest battleship in the world, versus Taffy 3, a small U.S. task unit of tin can destroyers and baby flat-tops. The U.S. fleet is made up of ships too weak to fight and too slow to run. David battles Goliath in a fight for survival, with the lives of thousands of American soldiers in the balance. We will recreate this famous battle using state of the art computer graphics. Viewers will feel like they're in the battle, facing the enemy. 10-11pm -- Mail Call - 93 - Mail Call Shot on location in San Diego, California at the Strategic Operations Training Center, R. Lee Ermey answers viewer questions about the military with practical demonstrations in the field. Lee gets in a little trigger time training with a group of "insurgents" in an "Iraqi Village" at the most realistic training facility used by the U.S. Marine Corps. Then witness the guns and gear used by the British Red Coats against the American rebels during our War of Independence. Go with Lee on an in-depth tour of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, dedicated to finding and the remains of all missing and unidentified service men and women. Finally, take a trip to Fort MacArthur in Long Beach, California to re-enact the great L.A. Air Raid of 1942. ____________________________________________________ Saturday, April 14, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Yard Tech In the 21st century, turf grass is the number one crop grown in the U.S. When suburbia exploded after World War II, turf became the defining characteristic of nearly every yard. First, it's off to the research greenhouse facility at The Scotts Company to learn how grass seed is bred for special characteristics. Then pay a visit to the Toro Company, a big name in lawnmowers. The Rain Bird Company and its automatic sprinkler systems is the life giver to thirsty lawns across the country, and The Davey Company specializes in moving trees in excess of one million pounds. Finally, take a trip to California Waterscapes and watch as a crew installs a waterfall and koi pond. 8-11pm -- Reel To Real - Clear and Present Danger Movie. Harrison Ford stars as CIA analyst Jack Ryan in this faithful adaptation of the Tom Clancy novel that finds Ryan embroiled in a failed U.S. attempt to destroy a Columbia drug cartel and the resultant cover-up that reaches into the White House. Co-starring James Earl Jones and Willem Dafoe. (1994) ____________________________________________________ Sunday, April 15, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Snipers - World's Deadliest Snipers. Among the world's best, the British Royal Marines build on their noble traditions and the lessons of history to hone the skills of snipers and place them in a proud global lineage. The daring British Commandos, perfecting their use of camouflage and stalking, cleared the hedgerows at Normandy. The Russian Red Army snipers, known for patience and stealth, helped to break the siege of Stalingrad. We also look at a little-known force--the Red Army's deadly women snipers, who fought alongside the men. 8-10pm -- The Kennedy Assassination: Beyond Conspiracy - No other murder in history has produced as much speculation as the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Forty years after he was fatally shot, more than 70 percent of polled Americans believe there was a conspiracy and that Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone. In this 2-hour special, ABC News Anchor Peter Jennings takes a fresh look at the assassination, the evidence, the various and many theories, and an exact computer simulation of the famous Abraham Zapruder film that offers surprising results. 10-12am -- Fort Knox: Secrets Revealed - The U.S. Bullion Depository, better known as Fort Knox, is home of the United States Army and one of the world's most top secret fortresses. Hidden deep inside the vault is an estimated $73 billion dollars in gold. Almost all information about it is classified. Through interviews with eyewitnesses, rare photos and rarely seen films, we will construct a picture of what the building might look like. Hear testimony of those journalists and congressmen who were among the select few invited inside in 1974. Discover the history and secrets behind the Army's tank warfare and the classified military technologies it will use to fight the wars of the future. ____________________________________________________ Monday, April 16, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - World's Biggest Machines 4. From a giant machine press that stamps out an entire car body to a 125-ton chainsaw that cuts through the world's hardest rock; from a huge telescope that glimpses the ends of the known universe to the world's largest rock crusher. Join us for a workout of the world's largest machines, and take a long look through the lens of the world's biggest optical telescope, the Keck Observatory, atop 13,800-foot Mauna Kea in Hawaii. 8-9pm -- UFO Files - UFO Hot Spots. For those who study the UFO phenomenon, "UFO Hot Spots" are places around the globe known for a long history of UFO sightings and reports. From Brazil to Mexico, from Washington State to Florida, multiple witnesses, including air traffic controllers and even military personnel, confirm that something unexplained is repeatedly happening in the night sky. Tales of alien abductions, bizarre and chilling photographs of UFOs, and hours of videotape all abound as we search for UFO Hot Spots. 9-10pm -- Digging for the Truth - The Aztecs: Of Blood and Sacrifice The Aztecs were the largest civilization to ever rule Mesoamerica. Archaeology and modern science are now shedding new light on the blood rituals they practiced. Join host Josh Bernstein as he travels to Mexico City to investigate and use forensic science to examine the bones of sacrificial rituals. Next he'll try his hand at the weapons of the Aztecs, sample the potions of the priests and even cut through flesh using the technology of the ancients. 10-11pm -- Digging for the Truth - Lost Empire of Genghis Khaan Genghis Khaan and his Mongol Horde created the largest land empire in recorded history, and they did it in less than seventy years. How were Genghis Khaan and his army able to achieve this military dominance on such a grand scale? What ultimately became of the great Empire of the Khaans? Join host Josh Bernstein as he builds a ger on the Mongolian steppe, fires arrows from horseback like a Mongolian warrior, and uses DNA science to trace the genetic legacy of the military genius, Genghis Khaan. ____________________________________________________ Tuesday, April 17, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. It stretches 2,500 miles from Boston to Miami. The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway is comprised of a system of canals, land cuts, and a series of natural and artificial barrier islands, which provide a protected passage for low-draft vessels wishing to avoid the tumultuous currents of the Atlantic Ocean. The AICW was conceived in the late 18th century, before there was a system of roads in America. A time when the numerous rivers, bays, and sounds along the eastern seaboard were the roads and the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway was envisioned to be America's first superhighway. Much like Route 66, the AICW represents a bygone era. A time when the transport industry was in its infancy, and life moved at a slower pace. It's a safe bet that the ships that sail its waters today value it for that very reason. 8-9pm -- Decoding The Past - The Other Nostradamus. He predicted WWII, the deaths of US Presidents, and the turmoil of the 1960s. He prophesied that Israel would become a state 15 years before the event and foretold the Great Depression. Many of his visions seemed to pass unfulfilled, but are now proven accurate. His name is Edgar Cayce, and to many, he's known as the other Nostradamus. Throughout the 1930s and '40s, Cayce was a well-known American figure, reputed for his "healing abilities" as well as his prophecies. Cayce's predictions are documented in the transcriptions of his readings, which he gave until his death in 1945. Join us as we examine his life and prophecies. 9-10pm -- Ancient Discoveries - 10 - Robots Is there any truth in the amazing and sensational idea that the ancients had robotic devices? Heron and Philon would be the masters of ancient robotic inventions including famous automatic devices such as robotic temple doors and the automatic serving girl. Included in the machines of the ceremonial halls of the Byzantine Emperor of 830 AD are stories of a gold pear tree with singing birds, two lions which roared whilst twisting their heads and several wild animals that surrounded the throne roaring. Attempts will be made to reconstruct some of these awe inspiring machines--and show for the first time that the ancient engineers and inventors knew how to harness robotic technology 2000 years ago. 10-11pm -- Man, Moment, Machine - JFK & the Crisis Crusader. October, 1962: For thirteen days a desperate showdown puts the world on the brink of nuclear war. One man hopes to end this high-stakes gamble, but President John F. Kennedy can't afford to make any mistakes. Only one machine can make this happen, the RF-8 Crusader, capable of the low-level reconnaissance photography needed to prove what the Soviet Union is up to on Castro's Cuba. Failure is unthinkable. April 18, 2007 Sorry, no listings received for today April 19, 2007 Sorry, no listings received for today ____________________________________________________ Friday, April 20, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 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 -- The Lost Evidence - 19 - Battle of Berlin On April 16th 1945, 9000 Soviet guns and more than a million Red Army soldiers unleashed a devastating bombardment on German troops manning the outer defenses of Berlin. Time had run out for Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. However, the battle-hardened veterans of the Red Army now face an enemy fighting with a ferocity born of desperation and at the heart of the defense is Hitler himself--refusing to admit defeat and demanding suicidal counter attacks. We use aerial reconnaissance photographs taken during the course of the battle combined with cutting edge computer graphics to create 3D models of Hitler's embattled capital city. For the first time it is possible to follow step by step the savage battle which brought the war in Europe to an end. 9-10pm -- Dogfights - 12 - Long Odds Bomber's vs. Fighters face off in three of the most intense dogfights in history! Courageous bomber pilots from World War II and Vietnam challenge deadly foes against incredible odds. Using state of the art computer animation, you're in the cockpit with legendary World War II Navy ace Swede Vejtasa's SBD dive bomber as he fights off eight lethal Japanese Zeroes. World War II Medal of Honor winner Jay Zeamer and his crew pit their slow B-17 bomber against 17 Japanese fighters in a battle for survival. Next, soar with Air Force Lt. Col. Leo Thorsness as his F-105 Thunderchief takes on a flight of skilled MiG-17's in the skies over Vietnam. 10-11pm -- Modern Marvels - Edwards Air Force Base. Examine the colorful history of the premier flight test center, and America's most important aviation facility for more than 60 years, Edwards Air Force Base in California. Every single aircraft to enter the Air Force's inventory has been put through its paces at Edwards, along with many Navy and Army aircraft as well. With unprecedented access to several forgotten and abandoned facilities on the base, we are guided by Richard Hallion, former chief historian for the US Air Force. Today, Edwards continues to push the envelope. Among the many cutting-edge projects currently being tested is the Airborne Laser, designed to focus a basketball-sized spot of intense heat that could destroy a ballistic missile. ____________________________________________________ Saturday, April 21, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - More Military Movers Soldiers, machines, and supplies are only effective if they arrive at the battlefield in time. Explore the history and the technology behind the machines that do the heavy moving in times of war. The V-22 Osprey is designed to combine the best qualities of a helicopter with the best qualities of a fixed-wing aircraft. For all of its ingenuity and promise, the Osprey has had a tumultuous development period. These controversies will be examined as Osprey advocates explain how the aircraft's shortcomings have been worked out. Take a look at the Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopter--a versatile, twin engine, tandem rotor, heavy lift copter that is a major military workhorse. Also spotlighted are LMSRs, which are some of the largest non-combatant ships in the military. Reaching nearly a thousand feet in length, they are capable of carrying an entire U.S. Army task force. 8-10pm -- Jonestown Paradise Lost - Framed by recently released, U.S. Government information and eye witness accounts, this special follows Congressman Leo Ryan's fatal journey into "Jonestown", a community carved out of the jungles of Guyana by the followers of messianic/charismatic pastor, Jim Jones. Using extensive and fact backed dramatic re-enactments, as well as archival footage, and heart-rending interviews, we go beyond "official reality" and deep into the inner workings of this tragic cult and its apocalyptic end. 10-11pm -- The States - 01 - California, North Carolina, Kansas, New Hampshire, West Virginia Take a history lesson filled with surprising facts, figures and stories from five American states. In California, see how the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill, in 1848 started the largest migration in US history, and then learn how scientists are currently trying to predict the next big earthquake. Next it's off to North Carolina's tobacco fields and the mystery of Roanoke--the lost colony. Wichita, Kansas is the "Aviation Capital of America" and Wyatt Earp put Dodge City on the map. New Hampshire is the state where the first act of open rebellion in America's Revolutionary War took place and the first presidential primary each election season is held. Finally, learn about The Battle of Blair Mountain, West Virginia, where in 1921, over 10,000 unionizing coal miners faced off with state and federal troops in what was one of the largest armed uprisings in America since the Civil War. ____________________________________________________ Sunday, April 22, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Weird Weapons - The Allies. In this episode we uncover Allied secrets off WWII, like a battleship made of ice, bat bombs, floating tanks, rocket-propelled wheels that would roll through enemy lines, pigeon-guided missiles, and earthquake bombs designed to penetrate the earth and shake structures to pieces. More bizarre stories of extraordinary armaments dreamt up by the some of the time's most inventive minds--weird weapons unlike anything before. And what about the atomic bomb? 8-9pm -- Weird Weapons - The Axis. Between 1939 and `45, the world was locked in a nightmare struggle of unprecedented ferocity. When the smoke from WWII cleared, bizarre stories emerged of extraordinary armaments dreamt up by both sides' most inventive minds--weird weapons unlike anything before. New ways of bringing destruction to the enemy were born of desperation and wild imagination. And in a world gone mad, nothing seemed too strange to try. Axis powers tested a strange range of weapons: a vortex cannon designed to tear wings off aircraft, an assault rifle that could shoot round corners, a death ray that could boil people alive, and most bizarre of all, an army in space. 9-11pm -- Sherman's March - Known affectionately as "Uncle Billy" by Union soldiers, but reviled in the South as a brutal war criminal, General William Tecumseh Sherman is one of the truly enigmatic and complex figures in the American pantheon. His legacy was built during a five-week campaign of terror and destruction that would become known as "total war". Sherman ordered his troops to burn crops, kill livestock, destroy railroads, pilfer food supplies and to make sure the South's civilian infrastructure was shattered. Although the concept had been around for centuries, this is the first time in modern warfare that total war was used to such an extensive degree. First Savannah was captured, and then he marched from Georgia through South Carolina and burned the capital to the ground. On the heels of Sherman's destructive onslaughts, the Confederacy officially conceded victory to the Union on April 9, 1865. 11-1am -- Sherman's March - (repeated) ____________________________________________________ Monday, April 23, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Lost Worlds - Knights Templar. They defended the Holy Land through bloodshed and prayer. Founded in the 12th century, these Christian warrior monks reigned supreme for nearly 200 years before suffering a spectacular fall from grace. Tried for heresy, they were disbanded and their Grand Master burned at the stake. We'll search behind the legend for their lost world. We recreate the city they knew as Tortosa--now hidden among modern homes in the Syrian city of Tartus. We reveal secrets of their headquarters at Temple Mount in Jerusalem, with magnificent underground vaults that could stable 1,000 horses. And we visit the circular church in London built to resemble the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and the site of the Templar's mysterious initiation rites. We bring to life the hilltop fortress that Lawrence of Arabia called "the finest castle in the world", and return to the Mediterranean island where the Knights Templars made their last stand against Moslem enemies. 8-9pm -- UFO Files - Deep Sea UFOs. Join us for a detailed examination of the little-known phenomenon of USOs, or "Unidentified Submerged Objects", an advanced type of UFO that can operate just as efficiently in water as in the atmosphere. These supposed otherworldly vessels have been reported, some believe, as far back as ancient Egypt. Others believe that USOs were reported by Alexander the Great and Christopher Columbus, and might even involve the lost city of Atlantis. Highlights include the 1967 "Shag Harbour Incident", a government-documented USO crash off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, and a trip to the area around Laguna Cartegena in Puerto Rico, a reported hotbed of USO activity. Interviewees include the US Navy's Bruce Maccabee, UCLA's Kathryn Morgan, as well as USO and UFO experts Stanton Friedman, Bill Birnes, and Preston Dennett. 9-10pm -- Cities of the Underworld - 04 - Scotland's Sin City Edinburgh, Scotland is a thriving metropolis, but take a look into its past, and you'll find it has led a double life. A sophisticated and educated surface city evolved above while a darker, seedy world grew below--from plague victims getting buried alive under the streets to body snatchers, illegal distilleries and castle dungeons. Join host Eric Geller as he investigates these stories, deciphering fact from fiction, while uncovering the engineering marvel of Edinburgh's underground--created when the city actually changed its street level. 10-12am -- Digging for the Truth - Atlantis: New Revelations Is Atlantis, the story of the fabled continent, a myth or based in fact? One of the most enduring legends of all time, Atlantis was described as a perfect society--peaceful, artistic, and technologically advanced--but it was destroyed in a cataclysm that literally drowned the continent. Could Atlantis still be waiting to be discovered? Join host Josh Bernstein as he heads to the Mediterranean Sea in search of Atlantis. Walk in the footsteps of Plato in Greece, and dive the blue waters of the Mediterranean to discover mysterious sunken artifacts. Equipped with state of the art technology, Josh leads an exclusive boat expedition off the coast of Cyprus in search of the "true" Atlantis. ____________________________________________________ Tuesday, April 24, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 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 -- Lost Worlds - Secret Cities of the A-Bomb. In 1939, a group of scientists--Albert Einstein among them--warned FDR of the possibility that Hitler's Germany might be close to producing an atomic bomb. Roosevelt issued an order--the US had to be the first to develop an atomic bomb and within three years they were well on their way to creating a hidden world of secret cities and classified nuclear facilities. Six decades later, we return to the once-classified sites where the course of history was decided. In top secret cities and nuclear facilities, we uncover and rebuild this lost world in three top-secret cities in isolated parts of Tennessee, New Mexico, and Washington State. This was to be the most costly and labor-intensive engineering program ever undertaken. Using classified material, eyewitness testimony, and cutting-edge graphic technology, we recreate the secret world of the Manhattan Project. 9-10pm -- Ancient Discoveries - 15 - Machines of The East While the ancient Greeks had amazing engineers like Heron and Ctesibius, the Islamic world had Al-Jazari--a prolific writer and a talented craftsman. Working in what is now modern Turkey, he produced books which featured fifty mechanical devices in six different categories; including water clocks, hand washing devices, machines for raising water and geared mechanisms. In 1976 The Science Museum in London, reconstructed one of Al-Jazari's water clocks. It would take the shape of an elephant with an intricate clock mechanism which would chime automatically. For the first time watch as some of Al-Jarazi's most important inventions are recreated and see how sophisticated the inventors of the ancient Islamic world had become. 10-11pm -- Man Moment Machine - Alexander the Great and the Devastating Catapult. Only Alexander the Great would have the audacity to attempt such a daring siege--the fortified island city of Tyre seems invincible, but his Macedonian troops are inspired and determined, and the young Alexander has a secret weapon--a machine created for the destruction of cities: the catapult. If Tyre falls, it will be a pivotal victory in Alexander's quest for a new empire--a key stop on a march that will cover more than 10,000 miles and span three continents. ____________________________________________________ Wednesday, April 25, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Nature's Engineers 2. Think man is unique within the animal kingdom? You might not after this hour that features an amazing collection of earth's non-human inhabitants that use tools, build intricate structures, create traps to capture prey, and perform complex procedures, including farming. From Egyptian vultures utilizing stones to crack open hard-shelled ostrich eggs to chimpanzees using a "tool kit" to extract termites from their nests, we learn that our ability to create tools is not exclusive. Other mammals create subterranean structures, including those prodigious diggers Prairie Dogs, and many animals and insects make devices to augment hunting, such as the Ogre-faced Spider that spins a small web to throw down on unsuspecting passersby. And we're not the only ones to work as a unified, multi-skilled force. Aphid-Raising Ants protect and care for herds of plant juice-sucking aphids that they "milk". 8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Balls From professional sports to the playground, balls have been a way of life for generations. We will explore the research, development, technology and performance of balls as they spin through our sporting lives, bouncing evenly, spiraling tightly, and careening off our feet, bats, racquets and clubs. We'll tour the Wilson Football Factory and the Rawling's Costa Rica Baseball Factory as well as visit the National Soccer Hall of Fame and the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. Learn about the ancient Mesoamerican ballgame known as juego de pelota wherein a loser's skull might be used as the core around which a new rubber ball would be made. 9-10pm -- Modern Marvels - Canning It's the unsung essential of modern life. Canning is the method of a preserving and packaging food, without which civilization would never have ventured beyond the local food supply. It changed the way the world eats and revolutionized the food industry. There are self heating and self cooling cans, microwaveable cans, ozone safe aerosol cans and cans that store nuclear waste. We will explore where canning has been, where it is now and where it is going in the future. 10-11pm -- 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! ____________________________________________________ Thursday, April 26, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Environmental Tech From the prairies of Saskatchewan to a Manhattan skyscraper we'll see the 21st Century's cutting-edge "green" technologies in action. New technologies such as carbon sequestration and bioremediation take on our most daunting environmental crises, from global warming and deforestation to nuclear waste and resource scarcity. See how blue-green algae are converted into automotive biofuel and methane from decomposing garbage is turned into clean-burning natural gas. Finally, we'll see how trees and other natural environments can be used as engineering materials to control flooding and rejuvenate dying rivers. 8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Extreme Aircraft. Join us for a supersonic look at some of the most cutting-edge aircraft ever developed--from the X-1 that first broke the sound barrier to the X-43 Scramjet that recently flew at Mach 7. These extreme aircraft have made their mark on aeronautical history, and sometimes on political history as well. The U-2 and SR-71 spy planes played a crucial role in the Cold War, and now Lockheed Martin's top-secret "Skunkworks" division is touting the new "air dominance" fighter plane-- the F/A-22 Raptor. 9-10pm -- Mega Movers - Biggest Moves # 2 How do you move a 180 foot railroad bridge? An 8 story lighthouse? A 500 ton oil rig? Or an entire beach all in one week? This two-part compilation of last season's Mega Movers highlights the travels and travails of relocating the biggest, heaviest and least mobile structures imaginable. You'll see all the crucial steps from planning to placement as highly skilled movers tackle the impossible knowing that an inch miscalculation here or there can mean the difference between a successful move and disaster. Will these mega structures find their way safely to a new home or will they disintegrate and be lost for all eternity? 10-12am -- Boneyard: Where Machines End Their Lives - Where do machines go when they die? From B-52 Bombers to massive aircraft carriers, from passenger cars to Cold War cruise missiles and remnants of the Twin Towers, all that we manufacture has a lifespan. But reaching the end of their original purposes can be just the beginning. Join us on a fascinating visual journey as we follow some of our greatest achievements in manufacturing, design engineering, and construction to their after-lives and final resting places. ____________________________________________________ Friday, April 27, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Renewable Energy. In the young 21st Century, two realizations are dawning on the world's population: we are hopelessly dependent on petroleum, which is only going to get more expensive; and global warming, caused mainly by our burning of fossil fuels, will impact civilization in ways that we're only beginning to grasp. Stepping in to fight both of these massive problems are the rapidly evolving technologies that harness renewable energy. We will see how air, water, earth, and fire are transformed into clean, reliable sources of heat, electricity, and even automobile fuel. We'll take an in-depth look at the most proven and reliable sources: solar, wind, geothermal, biofuels, and tidal power. From the experimental to the tried-and-true, renewable energy sources are overflowing with potential... just waiting to be exploited on a massive scale. And unlike fossil fuels, they'll always be there. 8-9pm -- Stealth and Beyond - Land Stealth. Remember Ralph Ellison's The Invisible Man? Well, sometime in the future, the US hopes to deploy invisible warriors. In this hour, we examine the highly secretive world of the stealth soldier. Using deception, illusion, reflective surfaces, and forced perspective, the soldier of tomorrow will have advantages unimagined in history and science. We highlight new technology in materials and sensory detection being developed for the ultimate in military dupery. 9-10pm -- Dogfights - 11 - Dogfights of the Middle East The sound of jet combat reverberates above the tombs of the Pharaohs as the small Israeli Air Force delivers a knock-out punch to the Egyptians in the 1967 Six Day War. Fly in the Mirage III with the IAF's first jet ace Giora Romm as he chases down two MiG-17s over the Suez Canal at dusk. Be in the cockpit with 119 Squadron Commander and ace Ran Ronen as he flies into hostile Jordan for a top secret rendezvous--arranged by the Israeli Mossad, and later as he speeds deep into enemy territory for a bombing mission that ends up as a swirling dogfight directly over the Egyptian base. Witness the first combat engagement of the McDonnell Douglas F-15, and how Major Moshe Melnik draws first blood for the Eagle in the skies over Lebanon in 1979. Learn how the Israeli Air Force of today hones its capabilities with cutting edge technology that makes it the most feared opposition in the sky. 10-11pm -- Man, Moment, Machine - Patton and the Desperate Tank Attack. The tide has suddenly turned in the war in Europe on December 16, 1944. The hard-hit German Army has secretly assembled a massive force. They slam through woods in Belgium-Luxemburg and hit the Allies with a steel fist. In the middle of one of the coldest winters in history, the front line is buckling. The enormous bulge in Allied lines gives the battle its name. The 101st Airborne Division and elements of Patton's 10th Armored Division are rushed to stop the onslaught. In the town of Bastogne, the Germans surround the Americans and begin to tighten the noose. It looks like no one can relieve them until the Americans send in their most aggressive warrior--George S. Patton--to beat back the enemy assault with the best machine in his arsenal--the M-4 Sherman tank. ____________________________________________________ Saturday, April 28, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Sewers. A simple flush and it's forgotten. But haven't you secretly wondered where it all goes when we go? Join us as we explore this less-than-polite topic, and examine the network of underground pipes and tunnels that carries human waste and excess storm water away. From ancient Rome's pristine sewage-conveying systems, through the disease-spreading, out-the-window system of Europe in the Middle Ages, and into the progressive sanitation engineering of the 19th and 20th centuries, we go with the flow of sewage history. And we sift through the flotsam and jetsam of our cities' sewer systems and delve into the sewers of Paris, Boston, and Los Angeles to study waste management's evolution. We meet a sewer diver (and his robotic counterpart) who inspects and ensures the efficient operation of the conduits; decipher the myths about "treasures" and creatures found in the murky depths; and find out exactly where it goes, how it gets there, and how we've learned to use it to our benefit. 8-10pm -- Sherman's March - Known affectionately as "Uncle Billy" by Union soldiers, but reviled in the South as a brutal war criminal, General William Tecumseh Sherman is one of the truly enigmatic and complex figures in the American pantheon. His legacy was built during a five-week campaign of terror and destruction that would become known as "total war". Sherman ordered his troops to burn crops, kill livestock, destroy railroads, pilfer food supplies and to make sure the South's civilian infrastructure was shattered. Although the concept had been around for centuries, this is the first time in modern warfare that total war was used to such an extensive degree. First Savannah was captured, and then he marched from Georgia through South Carolina and burned the capital to the ground. On the heels of Sherman's destructive onslaughts, the Confederacy officially conceded victory to the Union on April 9, 1865. 10-11pm -- The States - 02 - Texas, Massachusetts, Arkansas, Iowa, Delaware Another history lesson filled with surprising facts, figures and stories from five American states. Texas hit the jackpot in 1901 with the discovery of oil at Spindletop Well in Beaumont. Puritans came to Massachusetts to escape religious persecution, but their own zeal to convert Native Americans led to one of the bloodiest wars in US history. Arkansas, 1957--nine African American high school students attempted to enroll at Little Rock's Central High School and made Civil Rights history. During the Iowa Caucuses farmers rub elbows with would-be presidents. Finally, Delaware patriot Caesar Rodney rode into history in 1776 when he raced 80 miles on horseback to break the deadlocked vote for American independence. ____________________________________________________ Sunday, April 29, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Cities of the Underworld - 04 - Scotland's Sin City Edinburgh, Scotland is a thriving metropolis, but take a look into its past, and you'll find it has led a double life. A sophisticated and educated surface city evolved above while a darker, seedy world grew below--from plague victims getting buried alive under the streets to body snatchers, illegal distilleries and castle dungeons. Join host Eric Geller as he investigates these stories, deciphering fact from fiction, while uncovering the engineering marvel of Edinburgh's underground--created when the city actually changed its street level. 8-10pm -- Countdown to Armageddon - Asteroids on a collision course with Earth, super volcanoes, global warming, killer viruses--all are potential catastrophes that threaten to wipe out life on our planet. Are these simply natural disasters that have been occurring since time immemorial? Or are these threats terrifying prophesies from the Bible that are at last coming true? Are our fears overblown? Or are the infamous Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse riding among us in a countdown to Armageddon? 10-11pm -- The Antichrist - Part 1. How would you recognize the most evil person on Earth? According to many historical texts, you should look for a brilliant, enigmatic public figure who transforms the world for good--for a while. Basically, the last person you'd tap as Satan's human emissary. While many believe the Antichrist has come and gone, just as many believe he will soon arrive, if he's not already in our midst. Join us for harrowing look at an evil so obscure that he answers only to Satan. Real? Our group of prophecy believers and historical experts help sort it out. We follow the emergence of the Antichrist from pre-Judaic texts, through the Book of Daniel and Revelation, into Christian writings of the Middle Ages, and other religious traditions as well. Aided by interviewees both religious and secular, comprised of eminent clergy, scholars, historians, psychologists, and culture makers, we'll examine the evil enigma from every conceivable angle. ____________________________________________________ Monday, April 30, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Tobacco. Discovered around 18,000 years ago, tobacco was first cultivated in the Andes between 5000 and 3000 B.C. At a modern tobacco farm in North Carolina, a farmer will show us how the crop is harvested and cured and we'll visit the Fuente cigar plantation in the Dominican Republic. While tobacco has brought pleasure to countless smokers the world over--it has sent millions to an early grave. In an interview with the Surgeon General, we will explore this leading public health issue. The show will also look at smokeless methods of consumption as well as explore the use of nicotine replacement therapy. 8-9pm -- UFO Files - Black Box UFO Secrets. Reveals for the first time the cockpit and control tower audio recordings of pilot and astronaut confrontations and sightings of unidentified flying objects high in our skies. From a detailed account of one of the very the first reported pilot case, the Arnold case in 1947, to recent recordings over New England and Texas, to NASA recordings and video from 2005, this special features interviews with pilots, witness and experts, including UCLA's Joseph Nagy, actor Ed Asner, and pilot/UFO researcher Don Berliner. 9-10pm -- Cities of the Underworld - 01 - Hitler's Underground Lair Berlin, Germany was the battlefield of the 20th century, and today, sealed up and forgotten beneath its streets are the remnants of a dark past. Walk anywhere in the city and you could be walking directly on top of one of the over 1000 Nazi bunkers engineered into Berlin's sandy soil, lost remnants of Hitler's ill-fated Germania or even beer brewing plants that inspired the Nazis' journey into the underground. Join host Eric Geller as he travels through the dark and damp recesses of Berlin's secretive soil. 10-11pm -- Digging for the Truth - King Tut: Secrets Revealed The mysterious death of King Tut continues to puzzle archaeologists and scholars alike. From the moment the "Boy King's" mummy was discovered in the Valley of the Kings, rumors of foul play emerged. Recent x-ray's of King Tut's mummy show signs of a possible attack, but new evidence may point to another cause of death. In his quest for the truth, host Josh Bernstein climbs into King Tut's tomb, fires the weapons King Tut took to his grave, and uses modern science to dig deeper into the rumors of King Tut's murder.Let them choose their own gift: Amazon.com Gift Certificates
from episodes of "24" to Star Trek, whether they're available on video/DVD or not!
Wednesday, April 11 10am Wild West Tech: Vigilante Tech (TVPG V, cc) Wednesday, April 11 11am Shootout: Wild West (TVPG V, cc) Saturday, April 21 8am Wild West Tech: Cowboy Tech (TVPG | cc) Saturday, April 28 8am Wild West Tech: Gadgets (TV14 | cc) Sunday, April 29 2am Wild West Tech: Vices (TV14 | cc)Mail Call (rated TVPG-L, cc) in 2007, all 60-minute unless noted:
R. Lee Ermey (Mail Call) has decided to play something other than a tough drill sgt. (Full Metal Jacket). His latest movie is a prequel to Texas Chainsaw Massacre called "Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning" as the head of a very strange & lethal family of mutants>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Watch Mail Call every week if you know what's good for you, scumbag,
hosted by R. Lee Ermey of Full Metal Jacket
(movie available on video and DVD)
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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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