Connections - James Burke "The Trigger Effect"

Back in 1978, James Burke created a series for television that took a slightly alternate view of history, as it progressed through the technological advances of the day. In most cases, Burke takes a technological event from medieval times and followed a progression into the present day. The principles haven't changed, but it might be even more fun, seeing what was state of the art thirty years ago and comparing it to today's state of the art, and things we take for granted.

There were ten episodes in the original series. If I can find them, I'll post them over the next nine Saturdays. As wiki states, "The series was noted for Burke's crisp and enthusiastic presentation (and dry humor), historical reenactments, and intricate working models." And it was thought provoking. I watched it again this week, and though a little dated, it still holds up well.

Each episode is about 50 minutes long. Skip a "House" or "Bones" or "Psych" rerun and spend a little time exploring how the past created our present, with what it might mean for the future. I think you'll enjoy it! Give it a shot!