Unnatural Programs

What little television I used to watch was primarily devoted to science and nature, with a bit of news and sports on the side. Unfortunately, what remains of that genre is now filled with human melodrama and a mix of reality shows focused on dysfunctional people. If you hope to get a forecast from the Weather Channel, expect to wade through a chorus of zany meteorologists, lifestyle advice experts, tornado chasers, and an ever-expanding collection of programs on characters such as turbine cowboys, bombastic ice pilots and, starting this week, macho iron workers.

The Discovery and History Channels are no better, offering a steady diet of shows on gator hunters, daredevil loggers, bleary-eyed truckers, death-defying crabbers and, just this year, full-metal jousters. Even the storied Nature program on PBS has shifted toward a more humanistic view of the natural world, seemingly in response to the public's drift from true science to emotionally satisfying entertainment. Fortunately, programs such as Frontline and NOVA continue to offer informative and fascinating presentations.

The dearth of good science programming on television is likely a concious effort of media moguls to compete with the varied enticements of the Internet. Grabbing viewers with serious, thoughtful content has, sadly, been largely abandoned. Promising an inside look at the lives of New Jersey Housewives has become their mode of operation and the future of educational television looks bleak indeed.

The Human Swarm

In this era of social networking, facilitated by Facebook, Twitter and those ubiquitous smart phones, a large segment of our society has become a human swarm, communicating via emails, tweets, texting, instant messaging and online comments. Spurred on by friends, journalists, broadcasters, sports commentators and a host of media celebrities, many of us have become accustomed to sharing our lives and thoughts with the internet universe and, unfortunately, often rely on those connections to feed our self esteem.

While social networking surely has its advantages and while many participants are able to balance this activity with their family, educational and employment obligations, others seem to be obsessed with these communication technologies, putting their privacy and personal welfare at risk. Of course, as we often learn or experience firsthand, this obsession may lead to accidents and injuries, the result of constant distractions from the almighty cell phone. In addition, this devotion to group communication seems to encourage ritualistic group behavior, a phenomenon most evident at college sporting events.

This cultural trend imposes other risks and harmful effects as well. Solitude, creativity and personal independence are all victims of the human swarm, which places group participation and cooperation above individual freedom. Many argue that open communication and the expression of opinion foster social progress; while this may be true, I suggest that the demands of the swarm and the mining of data by those who control it may outweigh those benefits.

Flying with Pterosaurs

Since heavy snow still covers most of the Front Range trails, we opted for a visit to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science today. Long famous for its wildlife dioramas, this magnificent institution has recently received kudos for its recovery of numerous Pleistocene fossils from a lake bed near Snowmass, Colorado; the skeletal remains of mammoths, mastodons, ancestral camels, ancestral bison and numerous other animals were unearthed last summer before the reservoir was refilled.

Today, we arrived just in time to see an IMAX film produced by National Geographic and narrated by the renowned naturalist, David Attenborough. Given the odd title of The Flying Monsters, apparently chosen to attract young visitors, this 3-D film covered the natural history of pterosaurs, from their initial appearance in the Triassic, some 200 million years ago, until their disappearance at the end of the Cretaceous, 65 MYA. Thought to have evolved from lizards that used webbed limbs to glide between trees, pterosaurs had an elongated digit on each forefoot which was connected to the ipsilateral leg by a thin membrane. Early pterosaurs were not much larger than lizards while giraffe-sized pterodons had appeared by the late Cretaceous; through the course of their evolution, pterosaurs lost their long tails and developed a limited ability to walk on their hands (located at the bend of each wing) and feet, offering some capacity to feed on land as well as in the air. Some pterodons, equipped with a large head fin, also may have preyed on fish, sailing across the surface of the sea.

While pterosaurs disappeared with terrestrial dinosaurs, at the end of the Cretaceous, the film suggested that their demise may not have been solely related to a massive meteor strike; rather, the rise of birds, more agile on land and in the air, may have sealed their fate. Though pterosaurs were extinct for almost 65 million years before humans appeared, the film provided a splendid introduction to those fascinating creatures and, through the magic of 3-D photography and computer animation, allowed the audience to fly with them.

Smart Phone Stress

Always behind the curve when it comes to technology, I use a flip-top cell phone that I bought in 2004. It still provides clear voice communication and texting (which I rarely use) but, of course, does not have GPS, internet service or the numerous applications available on the modern smart phones.

Then again, I check my email twice a day (on my laptop) and can speak with friends, family or emergency services whenever necessary. I don't need GPS to explore the countryside and can't imagine watching movies, sporting events or other programming on the tiny screen of a cell phone. Of course, I'm not on Facebook, have never tweeted, despise computer games and prefer old fashion paperback books.

Most importantly, though, I enjoy a reasonable degree of solitude and am not tempted to instantly review every email that comes my way. While others may scoff at my antiquated concept of modern communication, I suggest that they are being unnecessarily stressed by a bombardment of messages from friends, business associates and spam producers. For the younger generation, who have grown up staring at various forms of computer screens, this lifestyle may be perfectly comfortable but the use of smart phones by older adults likely comes with a price that they do not recognize.

Selling the Church

Tuning into 60 Minutes last evening, I encountered the usual mix of TV commercials for cell phone services, stock brokerages, automobiles and erectile dysfunction medications. But a new ad appeared amidst those expected enticements and was clearly aimed at the upscale, sophisticated viewers of that respected, long-running program. This polished and obviously expensive ad (given its placement on 60 Minutes) was directed at fallen-away Catholics; with images of the Vatican and scenes of aid work across the globe, it was a clear effort to restore the tarnished image of a once powerful and influential institution.

Reeling from the ongoing child abuse scandal and faced with an increasingly educated and skeptical populace, the Catholic Church is attempting to invoke a sense of nostalgia with this advertisement campaign. Whether a Fifth Avenue approach will be effective remains to be seen; after all, it is directed at past members who are unlikely to respond to this glossy package, having learned from personal experience that Church activities are devoted primarily to indoctrinating youth and ensuring future funds for the Church's coffers. As the ad so clearly demonstrates, the Catholic Church is (and has been) Big Business.

The new advertisement is, in fact, a capitulation on the Church's part, an admission that Catholic dogma, ritual and traditions are losing ground in the modern world. Support for the Church, like that for State Lottery programs, is increasingly dependent upon an impoverished and poorly educated segment of the population. It is unfortunate that those hard-earned tithings are now being used to fund this expensive propaganda.

The Nature of Writers

We writers are compelled to commit words to page; many are storytellers, some are journalists and others are academic scholars. All have a certain facility with the language, including an ear for grammar and nuance.

Preferring to express ourselves in print, writers tend to be introspective, if not reclusive, and are seldom fond of public oration. On the other hand, we are generally good listeners and avid observers of the human condition, traits that provide a wealth of material. Nevertheless, like other creative artists, writers often harbor manic-depressive tendencies, leading to periods of intense productivity interspersed with episodes of brooding inertia.

Above all else, writers must write. While our work may be entertaining, educational or inspiring for others, its production is a vital though challenging process for the author. The prospect of getting published, while emotionally satisfying and, sometimes, financially rewarding, is not the primary motivation for most writers; rather, the drive to indulge our passion is reason enough.

Hooked on Competition

Competition has always been the engine of the American economy and we have long been entertained by the competitive nature of sports. But, in recent decades, cable television has introduced an exploding array of competition-based programs to a ravenous, tube-watching public.

Spearheaded by the likes of American Idol and Iron Chef, this programming offers an expanding array of competitions between performers, chefs, bakers, designers, survivers, travellers, daredevils and dieters, among others. In most cases, the competitors are systematically eliminated over the course of the season and the viewing public is often involved in the judging process.

While talents are displayed and hard work is rewarded, these shows are popular due to the drama, turmoil and heartache that accompanies the competition; in other words, viewers tune in to witness the stress of those striving for celebrity and are entertained by the suffering that comes with criticism and defeat. As is often the case, these programs, like much of American television, reflect the dark side of human nature and highlight a distrubing undercurrent in human society.

Irene's Welcoming Party

After several uneventful years and a slow start to the current season, the hurricane stuntmen from the Weather Channel have taken up posts along the East Coast, from the Carolinas to New England, ready to bring us eyewitness reports on the devastation wrought by Hurricane Irene. Now churning off the Georgia shore, the storm is forecast to move northward across eastern North Carolina and then sweep across the heavily populated corridor of the Northeast. While Irene has weakened to a Category 2 storm, her wind field is very broad and storm surge is the major concern, potentially bringing catastrophic flooding to coastal areas.

With bags packed since the first of June, the weather stuntmen (and stuntwomen) are waiting for the opportunity to stand in the wind and rain while, at the same time, are admonishing coastal residents to heed warnings and evacuate the region. If luck holds, they will be in the right spot to endure the brunt of the storm and, if their antics are dramatic enough, end up on future Weather Channel newsreels of severe weather events. Jim Cantore, the acknowledged king of weather disaster reporting, is stationed in New York City where Irene's impact could be especially devastating.

For all of the good work that the Weather Channel performs in the interest of public safety and education, it is prone to place too much emphasis on entertainment and its heroic hurricane stuntmen send the wrong message to citizens who, too often, are reckless in the face of threatening storms. Indeed, the Channel has spawned the dubious industry of storm chasing which, unfortunately, places entertainment ahead of science and personal safety. Let's hope that Irene veers out to sea and leaves the stuntmen safe, dry and disappointed.

Exploiting Human Nature

As a physician, I regularly witness the less attractive features of human nature but it has been the explosion of cable channels and social networking that has fully exposed, if not celebrated, our obsession with power, sex, celebrity, death and various forms of human turmoil.

Though religious and political scandals, corporate greed, domestic violence and civil rights abuses have occurred throughout history, modern technology assures that we are constantly exposed to these dark human traits. While it is important to stay informed about the ills of society and while the exposure of such activity is essential to its eradication, a wide variety of cable channels feed on dysfunctional human behavior, turning human tragedy into a lucrative form of entertainment.

Even more disturbing, the rise of social networking, encouraged throughout society, feeds this exhibitionism, offering immediate fame to those who take advantage of our dark obsessions. As individuals, we have little control over this cultural trend but, alarmed by its effects, one can certainly choose not to participate in the feeding frenzy.

Tornado Central

Last Friday, during my road trip to Oklahoma, a swath of severe, tornadic thunderstorms developed across the southeastern corner of that State. While I was well to the north and west of the storms, their cloudtops loomed to the southeast and I was treated to a few hours of weather coverage by the meteorologists of Oklahoma City.

Since their metropolitan area is second only to Clearwater, Florida, in its susceptibility to tornadoes, these meteorologists are exceptionally knowledgeable about the dynamics of these storms and provide coverage that is both educational and entertaining. Combining information from onsight storm chasers (mapped by GPS on one station) and the latest storm imaging technology, these enthusiatic forecasters keep the citizens of Oklahoma well informed; based on the scientific detail of their discussions, it is also clear that they are speaking to an engaged populace that respects, understands and heeds their advice.

Most televised weather reports focus on the severity and direction of dangerous storms, providing information that has been invaluable in saving lives; the coverage from Oklahoma City goes well beyond this vital warning system, offering insight into factors that generate, sustain or weaken these atmospheric monsters. For those of us who are fascinated by the weather, their expert coverage of tornadic thunderstorms is a thrilling, if unfortunate, experience.

Illusion in the Gulf

One year after the Deep Water Horizon exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, all appears to be well. The blue waters and white beaches are no longer tainted with black swaths of oil, sea birds are not encased in crude and most of the Gulf fisheries have reopened for business. BP and the Federal Government have pulled most of their cleanup crews, fines have been levied and reimbursement funds are trickling through the Gulf Coast economy. Most important to U.S. oil companies, offshore drilling continues in the wake of our country's greatest environmental disaster.

As often occurs after such events, political and industrial response is directly proportional to the degree of media coverage that is generated by the disaster. Once the gushing oil well was plugged, almost three months after the explosion, intense media coverage waned and the commitment of BP faded with the camera lights. The Federal Government, hobbled by debt and a weak economy, lost interest in the Gulf and failed to prosecute the other industrial giants responsible for this catastrophe.

The fact that we continue to refer to the event as an "oil spill," as if an oil barge capsized in the Gulf, highlights our tendency to minimize the effects of man-made disasters; in this case, crude oil gushed into the Gulf for 87 days and it's hard to accept the soothing conclusion that environmental effects have been limited. We have yet to learn how deep water ecosystems were affected by the oil and, as any student of nature knows, all ecosystems are interconnected. The image of recovery, fostered by the oil industry and condoned by our Government, is but an illusion.

Annual Guess from CSU

Almost two months in advance of the 2011 hurricane season, the soothsayers from Colorado State University have released their annual guess regarding the number and severity of Atlantic storms. Their current prediction is close to the average data for Atlantic hurricanes but, as usual, their forecast will be updated over time.

While it is both interesting and educational to learn how hurricane incidence and intensity is dependent upon ocean temperatures, wind patterns and climate change, such folly from CSU degrades the legitimate science of oceanic meteorology. In my limited experience, their forecast accuracy approaches that of the Farmers' Almanac and they might as well switch their attention to NCAA bracketology. Perhaps other universities will begin to offer their own hurricane predictions and a lottery could be established; profits might be directed to mental health facilities that must deal with anxiety induced by such forecasts.

Despite the fact that their "educated guess" is a shot in the dark, CSU's annual hurricane prediction will be splashed across the media for public consumption. Should their crystal ball prove to be inaccurate, as has often been the case, public trust in critical scientific forecasts, such as global warming or the effects of environmental pollution, will be further eroded.

The Scourge of Polypharmacy

During the first few decades of television, tobacco ads were beamed into American homes, encouraging all of us to indulge. Thanks to the efforts of public health groups and despite the power of the tobacco lobby, this advertising has since vanished from the airwaves. Alcohol consumption, on the other hand, still receives plenty of encouragement, highlighted by joyous partiers and tempered by the hypochritic admonition to drink responsibly.

In recent years, the American pharmaceutical industry has decided to bypass physicians and market their products directly to the public. We are now deluged with their advertisements which depict happy, upscale drug consumers while, in the background, a narrator lists the numerous potential side effects of their miraculous pill. Such irresponsible advertising, which ignores the complexity of medical therapy, exacerbates the perception that there is a quick remedy for every ailment and that bad lifestyle choices can be erased with a prescription drug. This ingrained message results in the excessive use of medications and many Americans end up on dozens of pills, each with its own array of possible complications.

Polypharmacy has now joined tobacco use, alcohol abuse and obesity on the list of major preventable health risks. We can blame this relatively new problem on the legalized drug pushers of American society, on the media moguls that promote their products and on the legislators that permit this form of advertising.