Posted on January 27th, 2012

Wednesday Science Night for February 1st presents:

7:00 PM Nature – “Wolverine: Chasing The Phantom”
Its name stirs images of the savage, the untameable. Legend paints it as a solitary, bloodthirsty killer that roams the icy heart of the frozen north, taking down prey as large as moose, crushing bones to powder with its powerful jaws. But there is another image of the wolverine that is just beginning to emerge, one that is far more complex than its reputation suggests. This film takes viewers into the secretive world of the largest and least known member of the weasel family to reveal who this dynamic little devil truly is. Hard-wired to endure en environment of scarcity, the wolverine is one of the most efficient and resourceful carnivores on Earth.

8:00 PM NOVA – “Ice Age Death Trap”
In a race against developers in the Rockies, archaeologists uncover a unique site packed with astonishingly preserved bones of mammoths, mastodons and other giant extinct beasts, opening a vivid window on the vanished world of the Ice Age.

9:00 PM Inside Nature’s Giants – “Great White Shark”
The experts travel to South Africa to dissect a 15-foot-long great white shark. Comparative anatomist Joy Reidenberg uncovers the amazing array of senses the shark possesses, including the ability to detect the electro-magnetic field given off by other creatures. Veterinary scientist Mark Evans investigates the origins of the shark’s infamous killing bite, and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins explains how sharks’ teeth and jaws evolved from their outer skin and gill arches. Finally, the experts ask whether the shark deserves its reputation as a man killer.

Posted on January 27th, 2012

This week, KLRU hosted the first of two workshops to explain to middle school students how to create games for the PBS portion of the National Video Game Challenge. We met in a game design class at East Austin College Prep Academy with students, their teachers, Laura Minnigerode of World Wide Workshops, Anne Fertitta of AMD (a fellow national sponsor), Michael Mayrath of GYLO, a local startup in educational gaming, and two guest speakers: Prof. Susan Empson of UT-Austin and Vicki Smith, a national finalist in last year’s Video Game Challenge.

For the competition, students are creating math games that help elementary-age students solidify essential math concepts. We had Prof. Empson, our elementary math expert, and Ms. Smith, our award-winning game designer, help connect mathematical thinking to solid game construction. As part of the workshop, we had students present games in progress and all of our experts then chimed in commentary on how to beef them up for submission.

Our next stop: Travis HS on Tuesday, Jan. 31! If you’d like to help mentor students in their submission, either in person or via distance, contact Ben Kramer at 475-9050 or bkramer@klru.org.

Posted on January 27th, 2012

Masterpiece Theater at 8 pm Sunday and 8 pm Saturday presents part four of Downton Abbey, Series II. In the climactic battle of the war, Matthew and William go over the top to an uncertain fate. Vera plays a cruel endgame with Bates and Anna, and Daisy faces the severest test of her life.

Sherlock must solve perplexing and dangerous puzzles specifically laid out for him on Masterpiece Mystery! at 9 pm Sunday. Can he and Watson catch up to the villain before innocent people are harmed?

Legends of the 1960s unite in this live performance special, 60s Pop, Rock & Soul at 9 pm Monday. Co-hosts Peter Noone and Davy Jones sing their biggest hits focusing on the years 1965 – 1969.

Annie Oakley: American Experience at 7 pm Tuesday tells the story of the five-foot-tall sharpshooter who pulled herself out of the depths of poverty to become known the world over as a symbol of the Wild West.

Jesse James: American Experience at 8 pm Tuesday tells explores the myth behind the American outlaw whose expansive ambition, unbending politics and surprising cunning helped invent his own valiant legend.

Frontline at 9 pm Tuesday reveals that a crisis in death investigation in America is also becoming a threat to public health on “Post Mortem.”

Wednesday Science Night features Nature “Wolverine” at 7 pm, Nova “Ice Age Death Trap” at 8 pm and Inside Nature’ Giants “Great White Shark” at 9 pm.

Experimental modern rock rules with Florence + the Machine and Lykke Li on Austin City Limits at 10 pm Wednesday and Friday.

Singer-Songwriter Nick Lowe discusses his career on Overheard with Evan Smith at 7 pm Thursday.

Arts in Context looks at what made the Trans-Pecos town of Marfa nestled near Big Bend National Park the desert destination it is today in “The Light and The Land” at 7:30 pm Thursday.

Chet heads to “cowtown” to visit the historic Fort Worth Stockyards, take a horseback ride, visit their art museums, and attend the Stockyards Rodeo on The Daytripper at 8 pm Thursday.

Independent Lens at 9 pm Thursday presents “Daisy Bates: First Lady of Little Rock”. The documentary tells the story of her life and public support of nine black students to attend the all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, which culminated in a constitutional crisis — pitting a president against a governor and a community against itself.

Michael Feinstein’s American Songbook at 9 pm Friday explores how technology has preserved – and altered – the way we think about the great songs and singers of the past.

Designer Adams Kirkpatrick illustrates designs and plants for waterwise shade gardens on Central Texas Gardener at noon Saturday.

Modern rock band Wilco returns to the ACL stage with tunes from their LP The Whole Love on Austin City Limits at 7 pm Saturday.

Posted on January 24th, 2012

Arts In Context
The Relatives with The Isaac Sisters
Date: Saturday, February 11
Time: Taping starts at 8 pm. Doors will open at 7 pm
Free but RSVP required. RSVP now

Formed in the early 1970s by the Rev. Gean and Tommy West, The Relatives’ cut three genre-bending singles during their decade-long run that were too freaky for the church and too righteous for R&B radio. Though pioneers of an utterly singular sound, the Relatives never made a splash outside of Dallas and have remained virtually unknown even among serious record collectors. But all of that is changing with recent performances at ACL Music Festival in 2010 and backing Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears on the PBS television series Austin City Limits last year. Joining them will be The Isaac Sisters in their very first television appearance.

Posted on January 24th, 2012

KLRU-TV, Austin PBS Celebrates Black History Month

KLRU announces an expansive slate of events and programs profiling the rich history, culture and contributions of African-Americans in honor of Black History Month. The programs air as part of KLRU’s celebration of Black History Month, February 2012.  With new programs that delve into the archives of history, this year’s schedule provides an in-depth look at a variety of historical events from the post-Emancipation era to the rise of the black power movement.  Additionally KLRU will host two free community events. Information is listed below.

Events:

KLRU Community Cinema
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 7 p.m.
Location: Windsor Park Library, 5833 Westminster Drive
KLRU and the Windsor Park Library present monthly film screenings and discussions afterwards. The February event is in conjunction with Black History Month. Shukree Hassan Tilghman, a 29-year-old African American filmmaker, is on a cross-country campaign to end Black History Month.  Through this tongue-in-cheek journey, More than a Month, investigates what the treatment of history tells us about race and equality in a “post-racial” America.  Join us for a free screening and discussion afterwards.

Arts In Context: The Relatives with The Isaac Sisters
Saturday, February 11 at 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m.
Location: KLRU Studio 6A, 26^th and Guadalupe
Free, but RSVP required. RSVP now
Join us for this very special taping of Arts In Context.  Formed in the early 1970s by the Rev. Gean and Tommy West, the Relatives’ cut three genre-bending singles during their decade-long run that were too freaky for the church and too righteous for R&B radio. Though pioneers of an utterly singular sound, the Relatives never made a splash outside of Dallas and have remained virtually unknown even among serious record collectors. But all of that is changing with recent performances at ACL Music Festival in 2010 and backing Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears on the PBS television series Austin City Limits last year.  Joining them will be The Isaac Sisters in their very first television appearance.

On Air:

Below is a list of programs on KLRU (18.1) during February to commemorate Black History Month.  All programs are broadcast on KLRU 18-1 unless otherwise noted.

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Posted on January 20th, 2012

Masterpiece Classic  at 8 p.m. Sunday and 8 p.m. Saturday presents part three of “Downton Abbey, Series II”. Isobel and Cora lock horns over control of Downtown’s medical role, Mrs. Bird starts a soup kitchen, and Matthew and William embark on a perilous patrol behind German lines.

On Masterpiece Mystery! at 9 p.m. Sunday, Sherlock Holmes stalks again in a thrilling contemporary version of the Victorian-era whodunits. When a banker is found dead inside his locked apartment, Sherlock and Watson must follow the clues that lead to an underground crime gang. But who is the leader pulling the strings? Find out on “Sherlock: The Blind Banker”.

American Masters at 9 p.m. Monday presents “Phil Ochs: There But For Fortune”. From civil rights to the anti-war movement to the struggles of workers, folksinger Phil Ochs wrote topical songs that engaged his audiences in the issues of the 1960s and 70s. This biographical documentary shows how Phil’s music and his fascinating life story and eventual decline into depression and suicide were intertwined with the history-making events that defined a generation.

A central figure in the narrative of how the west was won, Wyatt Earp and his story of how he became an American legend are presented on American Experience at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Nature at 7 pm Wednesday visits Tongass National Forest, Admiralty Island in southeast Alaska, where the largest concentration of bears anywhere in the world are experiencing a lack of salmon and get a bitter taste of what the future may hold in “Fortress of the Bears”.

Nova at 8 pm Wednesday meets a new breed of experts who are approaching “cold case” art mysteries as if they were crime scenes, determined to discover “who committed the art,” and follows art sleuths as they deploy new techniques to combat the multi-billion dollar criminal market in stolen and fraudulent art on “Mystery of a Masterpiece”.

Folk meets indie rock with Fleet Foxes and Joanna Newsom as they both make their debut performances on Austin City Limits at 10 p.m. Wednesday and Friday.

Inside Nature’s Giants at 9 pm Thursday travels to the Florida Everglades to meet “python hunters” who are attempting to control the python population (approximately 100,000) through a cull on “Monster Python”.

Actress & comedian Molly Shannon is best known for her six-year run as a Saturday Night Live cast member, creating many recurring characters. She joins us to talk about SNL, becoming an author and women in comedy on Overheard with Evan Smith at 7 pm Thursday.

Arts In Context Trouble Puppet Theater on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. profiles the Austin group that creates outstanding works of puppet theater for grownups.

Join Chet Garner as he travels to Wimberley, Texas to experience glass blowing, homemade tamales, a hike up Mt. Baldy and a dip in Blue Hole on The Daytripper at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

Independent Lens at 9 p.m. Thursday presents the next episode of “Have You Heard From Johannesburg?”, a mini-series that chronicles the unprecedented international movement of citizen activists who fought for three decades to bring down the brutal, racist system of apartheid in South Africa when their governments would not.

Tony Bennett’s second duets album was released this fall to great acclaim, pairing the crooner with Lady Gaga, Aretha Franklin, Willie Nelson, Norah Jones, among others, and featuring the final Amy Winehouse performance before her untimely death. The album is featured on Great Performances: Bennett Duets 2 at 9 pm Friday.

Experimental modern rock rules with Florence + the Machine and Lykke Li as they both debut the ACL stage on Austin City Limits at 7 pm Saturday.

Posted on January 20th, 2012

Wednesday Science Night for January 25th presents:

7:00 PM Nature – “Fortress of the Bears”
Part of the massive Tongass National Forest, Admiralty Island in southeast Alaska supports the largest concentration of bears anywhere in the world. Sustained by a wealth of salmon streams, isolated and protected by their environment, some 1,700 Alaskan brown bears are part of a unique circle of life that has played out here for centuries. Beginning in August, millions of salmon — pink and chum, coho and sockeye — return to the island to spawn, providing a feast for the bears, eagles, orcas, sea lions and even the trees themselves. As long as the salmon continue to arrive, all is well. But this year, for the first time, the salmon fail to arrive and the bears get a bitter taste of what the future may hold.

8:00 PM NOVA – “Mystery of a Masterpiece”
In October 2009, a striking portrait of a young woman in Renaissance dress made world news headlines. Originally sold two years before for around $20,000, the portrait is now thought to be an undiscovered masterwork by Leonardo da Vinci worth more than $100 million. How did cutting edge imaging analysis help tie the portrait to Leonardo? NOVA meets a new breed of experts who are approaching “cold case” art mysteries as if they were crime scenes, determined to discover “who committed the art,” and follows art sleuths as they deploy new techniques to combat the multi-billion dollar criminal market in stolen and fraudulent art.

9:00 PM Inside Nature’s Giants – “Monster Python”
In Florida’s Everglades, Mark Evans and Joy Reidenberg meet “python hunters” who are attempting to control the python population (approximately 100,000) through a cull. They join reptile expert Jeanette Wyneken to dissect two pythons: a nine-foot male and a 14-foot female. The program explores the science of slithering, as well as the development of “infra-red goggles” that let the snakes hunt warm-blooded prey in the dark and a flexible jaw that allows them to stretch their mouths around huge prey, including alligators. The scientists make an amazing discovery in the female: ovaries bulging with 40 egg follicles ready to be fertilized. Richard Dawkins describes how snakes evolved from four-legged lizard-like ancestors, and biologist Simon Watt finds out what it feels like to be crushed by a real-life python.

Posted on January 18th, 2012

Educators can register now for the free Play Safe! Be Safe! event on Feb. 10

Austin, TX — KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, in partnership with other community organizations brings the award-winning fire safety education workshop Play Safe! Be Safe! to Austin on Friday, Feb. 10, at the Region XIII Education Service Center, 5701 Springdale Road. This event is designed to give teachers, other child care providers, child care program managers and fire and life safety educators the information and tools they need to instruct children ages three to five on fire safety.

The day’s activities will present a fascinating and entertaining look into the preschool child’s perception of fire, the surprising frequency of children’s misuse of fire and practical approaches to teach young children fire safety. All participants receive a free Play Safe! Be Safe! kit and trainers will receive additional kits for distribution.

KLRU’s Play Safe! Be Safe! training event will be from 9 a.m. to noon on Feb. 10 at Region XIII Education Service Center. The event is free but pre-registration is required. Register online now or contact Mary Alice Appleman at 512-475-9051 or maappleman@klru.org

KLRU is presenting Play Safe! Be Safe! in conjunction with United Way Capital Area, Region XIII Education Service Center and Texas State Fire Marshal Office.

Play Safe! Be Safe! is an award-winning fire safety education program created especially for children ages three to five. It was developed by BIC Corporation in cooperation with educators and fire safety experts. Find educational games and activities for your children or students, or learn about our workshops for educators, community leaders and fire safety personnel by using the links below.
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Posted on January 18th, 2012

KLRU added Bill Moyers’ new show Moyers & Company to our Friday night public affairs lineup last week.  If you want to watch Moyers & Company online, you can go to billmoyers.com

On Friday, January 20^th at 8 pm on Moyers & Company, the discussion continues about how money dominates politics.  For years, high-ranking administration officials have spun through the revolving door between the White House and American big business. But how have they influenced the regulation of industries from which they came — and American democracy as a result? This weekend, continuing our sharp multi-episode focus on the intersection of money and politics, Moyers & Company explores the tight connection between Wall Street and the White House with David Stockman, former budget director for President.

Currently a businessman who says he was “taken to the woodshed” for telling the truth about the administration’s tax policies, Stockman speaks candidly with Bill Moyers about how money dominates politics, distorting free markets and endangering democracy.  “As a result,” Stockman says, “we have neither capitalism nor democracy. We have crony capitalism.”

Stockman shares details on how the courtship of politics and high finance have turned our economy into a private club that rewards the super-rich and corporations, leaving average Americans wondering how it could happen and who’s really in charge.

“We now have an entitled class of Wall Street financiers and of corporate CEOs who believe the government is there to do… whatever it takes in order to keep the game going and their stock price moving upward,” Stockman tells Moyers.

Also on the show, Moyers talks with Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times reporter and columnist Gretchen Morgenson on how money and political clout enable industries to escape regulation and enrich executives at the top.  Morgenson warned of Wall Street’s culpability in the widening income gap back in 2007 on Bill Moyers Journal.

Posted on January 17th, 2012

Join KLRU and the Austin Public Library for free Community Cinema screenings on the first Tuesday of the month at the Windsor Park Branch Library (5833 Westminster Dr,). Screenings will start at 7 p.m. with a discussion to follow each of the films. The next screening will be More Than a Month on February 7th.

More Than a Month
Shukree Hassan Tilghman, a 29-year-old African American filmmaker, is on a cross-country campaign to end Black History Month. Through this tongue-in-cheek journey, MORE THAN A MONTH investigates what the treatment of history tells us about race and equality in a “post-racial” America.