The Nimble Pianist
12th August 2009, 08:51 PM
A couple weeks ago I set my DVR to record episodes of this new series on the History Channel called "That's Impossible" (http://www.history.com/video.do?name=Thats_Impossible). The ads for the series mentioned that the object was to discuss the new technology of today which can serve as precursors to the technology of tomorrow which in turn may prove to be the culmination of that which science fiction writers could only hope. The series looked promising and so I set for it to record.
The first episode I watched seemed alright. It was titled "Eternal Life". It was mostly science based, and paid most attention to what's cutting edge today with only a quick introduction to Dr. Aubrey de Grey's at worst naive belief (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aubrey_de_Grey)that living past the age of 1000 could be a reality for those living even today. Considering the source, I was pleasantly surprised in the lack of pseudoscience and conspiracy theory in this episode.
Then I moved on to the episodes about weather manipulation, and mind control. The former spent almost a half hour of the hour slot making blind appeals to "many people" and their beliefs about the USSR and China using chem-trails to cause the 89 earthquake in California as well as the drought in the early 90's. The latter spent about equal time discussing the "targeted individuals" who insist that the US Government has been reading their minds for the sake of some unspecified function of the military.
With each episode I'm beginning to notice the focus shift more and more to two things:
- Possible wartime scenarios for which these hypothetical technologies might be employed,
- The tin-foil-hatters whose "experiences" allegedly demonstrate that these technologies are not so hypothetical.
Not only am I disappointed that this show for which I was initially so hopeful has shown itself to be a bust, I fear that damned channel is finding more novel, and most importantly subtle ways of introducing woo into everything they present.
What better way to pass off fringe conspiracy theory as plausible than juxtaposing it with scientists discussing technology they've actually created which is only peripherally related to the conspiracy theory in the first place?
The first episode I watched seemed alright. It was titled "Eternal Life". It was mostly science based, and paid most attention to what's cutting edge today with only a quick introduction to Dr. Aubrey de Grey's at worst naive belief (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aubrey_de_Grey)that living past the age of 1000 could be a reality for those living even today. Considering the source, I was pleasantly surprised in the lack of pseudoscience and conspiracy theory in this episode.
Then I moved on to the episodes about weather manipulation, and mind control. The former spent almost a half hour of the hour slot making blind appeals to "many people" and their beliefs about the USSR and China using chem-trails to cause the 89 earthquake in California as well as the drought in the early 90's. The latter spent about equal time discussing the "targeted individuals" who insist that the US Government has been reading their minds for the sake of some unspecified function of the military.
With each episode I'm beginning to notice the focus shift more and more to two things:
- Possible wartime scenarios for which these hypothetical technologies might be employed,
- The tin-foil-hatters whose "experiences" allegedly demonstrate that these technologies are not so hypothetical.
Not only am I disappointed that this show for which I was initially so hopeful has shown itself to be a bust, I fear that damned channel is finding more novel, and most importantly subtle ways of introducing woo into everything they present.
What better way to pass off fringe conspiracy theory as plausible than juxtaposing it with scientists discussing technology they've actually created which is only peripherally related to the conspiracy theory in the first place?