…and this is a 
I must thank the reader known to me only as CAC for sending me DVDs of the Inside Nature's Giants programs. I've been enjoying the dissections of an elephant and a whale in the evening — most of the organisms I cut into are millimeters long and require very sharp, thin instruments, so it's interesting to see ones that require hip waders and backhoes.
You should all lobby your local PBS stations and tell them these would be wonderful additions to the lineup! You might also suggest that broadcasting them during the dinner hour might not be recommended.
Life Science
Comments
Posted by: Eyeoffaith | July 15, 2009 8:43 PM
I have to use a saw blade with diamonds to cut my specimens. :)
Posted by: Sili
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July 15, 2009 9:01 PM
Where's the fun in cutting something if it doesn't bleed and whimper?
Posted by: 'Tis Himself
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July 15, 2009 9:02 PM
Biologists are cutting up elephants and whales. Us social scientists never have any fun.
Posted by: Eyeoffaith | July 15, 2009 9:10 PM
You have me on that one Sili. However, they do look very pretty when I grind them to 30 microns thick.
Posted by: Damian | July 15, 2009 9:16 PM
The third episode was on last night, and it was the best so far, in my opinion.
The blurb from the Channel 4 website:
Have you seen the size of the lower jaw muscles? They're the size of footballs (soccer balls), whereas the muscles on the head which are used for opening the jaw are really small. That's obviously why they have such amazing bite strength, but a few pieces of tape can hold the jaw shut.
Oh, and I learned so much about the unique features of the heart, which I won't reveal, except to say that it was absolutely fascinating.
Posted by: SimonG | July 15, 2009 9:30 PM
So far, they've been getting better each time. I think because the animals have been progressively more alien.
It's amusing to see people using power tools and excavators rather than the more delicate tools I remember. It also gave me a much better feel for the sheer size of the Fin Whale. (I've seen them in the wild, but not up close.)
Posted by: Kobra | July 15, 2009 9:32 PM
You mean people don't like to watch gory dissections while eating? What's next, are you going to tell me they don't appreciate atheist humor at Sunday service? Bah, bunch of wusses!
Posted by: Travis | July 15, 2009 9:46 PM
I watched the first episode while eating, I do not think anyone should have a problem doing that.
Posted by: Lsuoma | July 15, 2009 9:56 PM
These are also available on several torrent sites as well.
Posted by: Zeno | July 15, 2009 10:15 PM
It would be a relief if PBS would run those during pledge drives instead of the incessant stream of woo-meisters and their bogus wares.
Posted by: JimLongo | July 15, 2009 10:27 PM
Off topic....
PZ,
Is this worth our collective support? Poll on god currency.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/todaysbuzz/thursday/sfl-atheist-religion-capitol-buzz-fins-m071609,0,7520979.story
H/T - Friendly Atheist
Jim
Posted by: Lilith | July 15, 2009 11:02 PM
#7
I just voted and the religious nuts are winning by a mile.
Posted by: Lilith | July 15, 2009 11:05 PM
Oops - comment should have been for #11
Posted by: Anon | July 15, 2009 11:06 PM
One of my first fond memories was of the evening when my mom (a high school science teacher at the time) had received a sample in the mail of a new type of preserved frog for class dissection... so we finished our spaghetti, pushed the dishes to the middle of the table, and gathered around to check it out. It was fascinating, and cool, and not gross or disgusting in the least.
Posted by: Politas
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July 15, 2009 11:09 PM
Animal dissections while eating? Pah! I've watched human dissections while eating.
Posted by: littlejohn | July 15, 2009 11:49 PM
Just voted on this poll:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/todaysbuzz/thursday/sfl-atheist-religion-capitol-buzz-fins-m071609,0,7520979.story
We're up to 24.8%. The poll count is low; we can beat this thing. Get rid of "In God We Trust."
Posted by: Ryan Egesdahl
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July 15, 2009 11:57 PM
Yeah, if you're into coddling sissies, you might do that. Us *real* men eat spaghetti with meatballs while watching chilbirth and bean burritos while watching colonoscopies. Then, the *real* women, like my mother, will completely trump the men by saying, "If you think that's bad, try having a baby or bleeding out your sex toy once a month."
Damn, my mom is a real she-woman, she is.
Posted by: Joseph Smidt | July 16, 2009 1:01 AM
A backhoe, wow! The biggest thing I have dissected is a pig and we didn't need anything like that.
Posted by: Kevin Schreck | July 16, 2009 1:05 AM
I've really been enjoying this program, too. It's a very fresh and intriguing approach to the natural history documentary genre. Engaging, exciting, and it doesn't stoop itself down to a gross-out gore-fest. Superb visuals, and something new for lay people and zoology enthusiasts alike.
Posted by: Lsuoma | July 16, 2009 1:50 AM
Ryan Egesdahl@17: you have a bleeding FleshLight? Quick, call the Vatican!!!
Posted by: Azkyroth | July 16, 2009 2:17 AM
While you're at it, lobby them to dissect Rush Limbaugh for the season finale.
Posted by: Happy Tentacles
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July 16, 2009 3:09 AM
The crocodile-dissection was fascinating! Though the pouring-out of the stomach-contents was a bit yucky. It's the giraffe next week.
Posted by: Jafafa Hots | July 16, 2009 4:13 AM
There may be something wrong with me - I kept hearing about how the elephant guts took some getting used to, but I didn't experience even the slightest bit of squeamishness or discomfort, couldn't see at all what some people were grossed out about.
Posted by: DLC | July 16, 2009 5:34 AM
back in the 1980s, the local PBS station ran a live presentation of an open heart surgery. Fascinated, I sat on the couch and happily munched pizza while watching them open a man up, yank his ribcage out of the way and then do things to his heart. If I remember correctly it was a valve job.
Posted by: hoots_mon | July 16, 2009 5:59 AM
I have a pretty solid stomach and I watched the whale episode while eating - not vomit inducing, but I certainly didn't clear my plate! I would highly recommend not watching at meal times!
Posted by: John Morales | July 16, 2009 6:12 AM
Jafafa Hots @23, how about this?
Posted by: Hampus | July 16, 2009 6:12 AM
You can also get the torrent real quick like at thebox.bz
I'm not saying you SHOULD pirate it, I'm just saying...
You totally should.
Posted by: hexkid
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July 16, 2009 6:22 AM
This has been a superb series and shows that science can be entertaining without having to dumb it down.
Using comparative physiology to show the links between species and the compromises that have been taken is a great demonstration of evolution in action. The inclusion of Dawkins doing little cameos to explain this process is delicious.
I hope that Channel 4 are getting the viewing figures that this deserves and that some people who doubted Darwin's theory have been won over.
Posted by: MPG | July 16, 2009 6:54 AM
I'm usually pretty impressed with the science output of Channel 4. Earlier this year they did a series of live, televised surgical procedures, including an open-heart valve repair, and the removal of a frontal lobe tumour on a conscious patient. I was particularly fascinated watching the surgeon test different areas of the patient's brain with a probe to make sure they weren't cutting into anything critical. They took questions from the audience (mostly medical students) and TV viewers, and the whole thing was very interesting and informative.
Posted by: RHM | July 16, 2009 6:57 AM
Animal dissection with accompanying explaination and description by biologists? I would love to see such programming available! Do I think a request to PBS for aquisition of these programs would be successful? Not on your life!
My last try at that sort of thing (..."could you please purchase and broadcast 'A Brief History Of Disbelief'...?")got me the usual, nice-but-negative response. Though I explained why I had stopped sending money (an aside to #10), I still got the plea for donations. *head/desk*
Might as well try discussing reason with a theist. Dog-chase-tail.
I'm tempted to make the request, anyway. Perhaps I should take the accomodationist approach and send them a check with my query?
Ha! I lost that kind of stupid long ago.
Posted by: Thinking | July 16, 2009 9:00 AM
HI All long time time reader first time poster.
I really enjoyed these C4 (Channel 4) programmes. I am not a biologist or specialist in any related field, but these programmes are interesting, full of useful facts and more than anything they are enlightening, with out the shock and gore of say reality TV like America's got talent.
C4 programmes are great, the oldies like Equinox are fantastic, and the BBC programmes like Horizon and Timewatch are really fascinating
But overall theres a sympathy and an honesty with these programmes which is hard to beat these days....essential viewing.
Posted by: summerharsh | July 16, 2009 10:05 AM
PLEASE! someone tell me how a lowly American type can get a hold of these videos... want to watch... want to learn...
Posted by: MS | July 16, 2009 10:31 AM
"You might also suggest that broadcasting them during the dinner hour might not be recommended."
Some years ago my wife and I were having an early happy hour in a local bar. We were the only patrons. The TV was tuned to the Discovery Channel (or something akin), which was showing a vasectomy, of all things. Better than golf, I suppose, but I still asked the bartender to change the channel...
Posted by: Kevin | July 16, 2009 10:47 AM
^summerharsh: Download them as a torrent. That's how I got them.
Posted by: A lurker | July 16, 2009 12:51 PM
The last credit says that the show was produced in association with the National Geographic Channel." Maybe it will show up in the U.S. eventually.
Posted by: Sid | July 16, 2009 1:00 PM
http://www.viddler.com/explore/Hominid/videos/3/
Posted by: Sid | July 16, 2009 1:06 PM
http://www.viddler.com/explore/Hominid/videos/3/
Posted by: Tony Lloyd | July 16, 2009 3:03 PM
A quick heads up on the dinner thing. Do NOT watch the emptying of the crocodiles stomach at the dinner table!
And for those of you who don't have Englishmen sending them DVD's the programmes are available here: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/inside-natures-giants/4od
(unless they have some geographical filter/walls/whatever)
Posted by: maxh | July 16, 2009 3:31 PM
I am loving Nature's Giants, can't believe they only made four! The whale was great, especially that clip of the Danish dissection when they made a Gut Fountain. The elephant was good but nothing I didn't know already. It seems that ZooBook subscription my parents gave me when I was small really paid off! I have been fine eating and watching them, except the crocodile stomach contents... that was rather offputting! Can't wait for the giraffe!
And why to animal morticians look the same? The guy at the RCVS looks just like the one at the University of Edinburgh Vet School...
Posted by: Ryan Egesdahl
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July 16, 2009 4:57 PM
@Lsuoma #20:
I would, but they have this thing against me, like I'm going to molest their priests or something. Srsly. I keep wondering if anyone's told them I'm too old for their priests, but I figure they just don't have a conception of age in regards to sex, just like most of the religious don't.
Posted by: Monado | July 17, 2009 4:10 AM
A quick heads-up: Our clososest PBS station, WNED in Buffalo, will be playing the program "Masters of Disguise" next. It's worth looking for in your local listings. It's about the camouflage and quick-change abilities of octopods. I'm not sure if it's Nova or National Geographic.
Posted by: Pat Silver | July 17, 2009 7:45 AM
I was impressed by some of the science content, the crocodile one even discussed developmental biology when they were exploring the structure of the heart and the fact that crocodiles have two aortas.
Posted by: Monado | July 17, 2009 5:23 PM
I should have said "octopods and squid, with perhaps a sea cucumber or two thrown in for color."