Boomerang! Episodes » conservation

Episode 43 Featuring Jim Thorpe and Wild Places

admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:18:20 +0000

Mom gets all excited about going shopping. But when she gets there, she freaks out… Caroline goes back to 1928 to speak to Native American athlete Jim Thorpe. How good was he? Well, All-American in football, decathlon gold medal winner in the 1912 Olympics, and then he also played major league baseball… In this episode’s Power-Up, Natalie discovers the power of an introduction… When Tucker Jones is asked to look in on a friend’s grandmother, he stumbles onto the lukewarm trail of a foiled robbery….Caroline has an ingenious idea about converting freeway trash to freeway cash on BOOM Radio… Considering the fact that some folks actually wanted to turn the Grand Canyon into a landfill, Hayley and the King of Complicated Stuff consider the value of wild places… Natalie portrays the wondrous, scandalous, mischievous hermit crab in this episode’s Natural Wonder.

Episode 28 Featuring Walt Whitman, Steroids and Ethics

admin — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:44:15 +0000

Big Talk: Does your Mom sing in the car? … Turning Points: In the early 1800s the world had not yet discovered a truly American poet. Laura goes back in time to interview the first real candidate: Walt Whitman…. On Boom Radio Clodagh makes it clear she does NOT have a crack in her windshield… Tucker Jones is on the trail of a stolen car… Getting glabrous? Freddie Finklehammer tells you what that means on Weird Words… As steroid use is rocking baseball, the King of Complicated Stuff & Hayley discuss the role of ethics in the matter… On News Update, Josh wrestles with the question: What is art — and what isn’t? … Toby & Gramps take to the wilderness of Yellowstone Park, despite bluff grizzly charges, buffalo, wolves and… signs.

Episode 06 Featuring Dr. Seuss and Tiananmen Square

admin — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:46:21 +0000

Theodor Geisel saw the world differently than most people. And if you are a Cat in the Hat fan, you know we’re lucky he did. On this issue’s Turning Points, Kelsey goes back in time to speak with Dr Suess… A few of your letters about the funny things grown-ups do… Well, living in Disneyland sounded like a good idea at first… With eleven years separating Dave from his big brother, the distance wasn’t only in age. Schmave tells the gut-wrenching story of his relationship with the oldest brother… Weird Words Freddie Finklehammer hosts the ready-for-prime-time game show…It was only going to be a protest march. But when Chinese authorities responded with gunfire, Tiananmen Square became much more than a place – it became a black mark in Chinese history. Jessica and the King of Complicated Stuff dig in on The Big Idea… At one time the plains states were covered with buffalo as far as the eye could see. And then there were less than two dozen. On Natural Wonder, Hayley admires the mighty bison.

Episode 35 Featuring Aldo Leopold and Globalization 3

admin — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 22:14:18 +0000

Big Talk: Should this writer toss his Dad’s old newspaper pile?… Aldo Leopold saw the earth’s soil and rivers and wildlife as one connected organism. Our BOOMERANG! reporter goes back in time to talk to this environmental pioneer … Boom Radio: Clodagh has a new pastime she is just dying to tell you about… When Cheryl discovers Schmave’s unusual olfactory gifts, the two of them join the legion of superheroes… Natalie does the Power-up to divert brother Bo… Hayley and the King explain how “supercompanies” preach free trade while snuffing out competition, in this 3rd part of our Big Idea about globalization… Now YOU can learn to count to 10 in Bulgarian!!! (HEY! This is important!)… Widget and Whack decide size DOES matter when it comes to strength.

Episode 37 Featuring Margaret Bourke White and Water Water Everywhere (Water 1)

admin — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 17:08:22 +0000

Big Talk: This snoring Mom is in denial… Turning Points: She thought she was going to study insects for a living. Instead Margaret Bourke-White photographed some of the most important people in the world. Emily goes back to the 1950’s for an interview with this amazing woman… Boom Radio: Clodagh has a new listing of fees. Watch out!… Neighborhood kids are losing their savings in a phony business scam and Tucker Jones takes the case … Natalie suggests you learn how to count to 10 in LATIN because you just never know… Our Queen of Complicated Stuff takes a look at water: what it is, where it comes from and where it’s going on The Big Idea… August takes his Dad by surprise when he becomes King of the chessboard… Snowflakes… snow-crystals — who gives a hoot? Natalie, our Natural Wonder girl, that’s who.

Episode 40 Featuring Gertrude Bell and The Last Drops (Water 3)

admin — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:43:16 +0000

Her accomplishments are breathtaking. Yet you ask someone: “Who is Gertrude Bell?” and the reply usually comes back blank. In our Turning Points interview, Natalie goes back to 1921 to speak with the British mountaineer and desert explorer… Boom Radio: Clodagh believes online “security” questions may be a tad too complex… When Schmave goes down to visit relatives in southern Illinois, he ends up on a pie run he will never forget on SCHMAVE’S ELEVATOR… August comes to rescue of an elderly computer user on this month’s Power-up … Our third and final Big Idea segment about water covers everything from bottled water to dams… Toby and Gramps run into a veteran of the Everglades in this segment of their American Journey.

Episode 42 Featuring “Izzy” Stone and Living Small

admin — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:10:23 +0000

Widget & Whack: Mass & Weight …
Bubba Kowalski, chanting monks, lazy objects… In their latest physics primer, Widget & Whack somehow relate all of these to the concept of mass.
The Count: Estonian …
How to count to ten in Estonian. because you just never know…
The Big Idea: Living Small …
Hayley & the King of Complicated Stuff suggest old trademarks of the “American Dream” may need some shifting — from quantity to quality.
Turning Points: I.F. “Izzy” Stone …
At the age of 14, Izzy started his own newspaper. The Progress didn’t last, but he stayed in journalism. And in his search for truth over the years, Izzy managed to anger — and inspire — readers on all sides of the political spectrum.
BOOM Radio: Trillion…
Clodagh provides a mind-boggling explanation of just how big a “trillion” really is.
Schmave’s Elevator: A Happy Birthday…
While riding his bike, Schmave comes across an elderly acquaintance on the lam from his retirement home birthday party. Schmave and pals help their “old” friend truly enjoy the day.

Episode 38 Featuring Jacques Cousteau and Nature’s Hydrologists (Water 2)

admin — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 17:26:08 +0000

Big Talk: Mom is peeking at my journal… Jacques Cousteau is best known for his many documentaries of life under the sea. But later in life he became an important environmental activist on the world stage. In our Turning Points interview, Emily goes back in time to speak with this famous explorer… Boom Radio: Clodagh says green is good, but before you blow a lot of money, think about what “green” really means… Schmave’s friend has the perfect antidote for the school bully… Learn to count to ten in Dutch and amaze your friends!… Part 2 of our Big Idea story on water focuses on three mammals we can’t afford to lose… August tackles dinner on this episode’s Power-up… It’s Primary season and the first stump speech for the BOOMERANG! party is given by Jessica.