Archive: Category : Extracurricular

  1. Extracurricular: The Discovery Channel April 6th

    by:Drew

    Working remotely from home has been an ongoing battle for my sanity, and the Discovery Channel has provided much needed relief from the work at home blues. The following shows come to my rescue when iTunes playlists and DVD’s lose their freshness:

    The Deadliest Catch
    A harrowing documentary series on the adventures of red-crab fishermen on the Bering Sea, The Deadliest Catch makes me appreciate my job. At times, I imagine myself wrangling in half-ton pots full of king crab, until I remember the time I went salmon fishing on Lake Michigan and fled beneath deck during a lightning storm. I’m mesmerized watching these guys work in sub-freezing temperatures, on boats rising and falling 20 feet, dodging hooks and ice chunks, and filling their hulls with critters armed with razor sharp pincers - but unlike the filmmakers, I’m happy observing from my comfortably heated office in the midwest.

    Mythbusters
    From a job I admire, to a job I envy. The premise of the show is to attempt to verify or “bust” popular urban legends and myths - all though I’m convinced it’s an excuse to blow-up, shoot, electrocute, drown, and smash crash test dummies. Armed with a gorgeous workshop and seemingly endless resources, Adam and Jamie, take on a few myths each episode, and do their best to recreate the original circumstances. Regardless of whether a myth is confirmed or busted, something usually blows up, which is nice.

    How it’s Made
    As a child, I was fascinated by the “How Crayons are Made” special. How it’s Made follows the same model, showing the production processes behind everyday day products. Web designers should take note on the efficient and graceful assembly line systems featured in the show - the epitome of “form follows function.”

    Planet Earth
    For months, the Discovery Channel has been promoting it’s new National Geographic-esque documentary series with a slickly edited trailer and a fancy new website. Hosted by Sigourney Weaver, Planet Earth is an evolution in documentary film making. High-tech toys aside, the glimpses into rare wildlife are alone worth the tune in.

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