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From: john@frog.UUCP (John Woods, Software)
Newsgroups: sci.misc,rec.arts.tv
Subject: Re: Watch for THE RING OF TRUTH on PBS
Message-ID: <1880@frog.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 22-Oct-87 20:31:00 EST
Article-I.D.: frog.1880
Posted: Thu Oct 22 20:31:00 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 25-Oct-87 16:46:18 EST
References: <1987Oct13.230923.20975@sq.uucp> <1336@ilium.swatsun.UUCP>
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Organization: Superfrog Heaven [ CRDS, Framingham MA ]
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Xref: mnetor sci.misc:606 rec.arts.tv:4249

In article <1336@ilium.swatsun.UUCP>, hirai@swatsun (Eiji "A.G." Hirai)writes:
>In article <1987Oct13.230923.20975@sq.uucp> msb@sq.uucp (Mark Brader) writes:
>>#  Tuesday, October 20
>>#  9 pm: RING OF TRUTH -- Science; 60 min.
> 	I desperately hope that this series will not be as bad as another
> science program that PBS showed recently.  I do not remember the exact title
> but the program attempted to show some theories on the various fundamental
> forces in the Universe.  It had the narrator climbing up a light tower
> and opening windows when explaining the march back in time to the beginning
> of the Universe.

I remember that show, I don't remember what I thought of it.  Generally,
science shows intended for non-scientists tend to be flat for scientists (or
even "scientist-wanna-bes" like myself*), partly because they have to simplify
things in order to convey quickly the gist of stuff that would take years to
teach in detail, and partly because of a (slightly) mistaken notion that
without gimmicks and fancy effects, no one will pay attention.

Having said that, I want to state that I enjoyed the first show of The Ring
immensely.  Even if you "know" everything that he says, it is still enjoyable
to be caught up in his joy of exploring and explaining the Universe.  I think
he conveys the facts and the feelings very well.

(To someone who wondered:  I don't think he teaches Freshman physics, but he
does give one lecture a year to the MIT Freshman physics course; a fascinating
experience that is, too!)

* B.S. Physics, B.S. EECS, both from MIT.  I barely squeaked though Quantum
Mechanics, so now I are a programmer :-).

--
John Woods, Charles River Data Systems, Framingham MA, (617) 626-1101
...!decvax!frog!john, ...!mit-eddie!jfw, jfw@eddie.mit.edu

"Cutting the space budget really restores my faith in humanity.  It
eliminates dreams, goals, and ideals and lets us get straight to the
business of hate, debauchery, and self-annihilation."
		-- Johnny Hart