Frank Capra & Eddie Albert explained it to us back in 1956 & beyond. A Bell Labs educational, Capra-directed film, "Our Mr. Sun," was great fun, and, as it turns out, equal to a Ph.D. It was still being shown to grade schoolers all the way into the mid-70s (when I saw it) and apparently even today (I saw testimonials on the web from current teachers about it's pedagogic efficacy!)
Dr. Baxter (the film's straight-man scientist) predicted that energy shortages would start in the early-70s with oil shocks/disruptions reverberating on from there. This was 1956, mind you. This goofy kid's film -- with animated characters interacting with screen actors-- predicted the 1973 & 1979 oil shocks and the subsequent oil wars (Iran Hostage Crisis, Gulf I, 9/11, Afghanistan, Gulf II) at the turn of the millennium!
It did a great job of explaining (with good humor) how virtually all of the energy we use comes from the sun (either currently as plant matter or stored as fossil fuels). That was the big 'scientific' point. But it was quite prescient politically in explaining (with animation) how we are withdrawing more from the energy "bank" than we are depositing. It hinted strongly at the *idea* of sustainability even before that term was in vogue as an ecological statement. It is great propaganda for creation of a population of energy conservation freaks (guilty). (Unfortunately, I think most of my classmates went to sleep during the film.)
Here are some links to reviews of it. Apparently the thing is selling like hotcakes all over the net, as most of the links I found were to sites selling boxed sets of the Bell Labs series.
First the serious reviews: http://www.library.american.edu/subject/media/capra.html
http://www.css.washington.edu/emc/titles.php?abstracts=1&mid=2128
Then the commercial review: http://www.0ne-shop.com/vhs/Genres/Classics/Classic-Directors/Frank-Capra/P-0000000a000057645a536b5454625755/Our-Mr-Sun/Our-Mr-Sun.php
Then, the funnest review, from the Onion AV Club:
http://www.theonionavclub.com/review.php?review_id=6889
Having been the geek who paid attention in 5th grade science class, I'm hoping Santa brings me DVD set --which includes "Hemo the Magnificent!" (it's all about blood!), "The Unchained Goddess" (I need a refresher on the Coriolis effect!) for Christmas!
I'm now even happier that I cut and run from academe after finishing the Maaaahhhhstuhhhs degree. It might have made me even stupider than I am now.
And, Mike, I wouldn't apologize, the point of the article you posted is a big reason a lot of us are riding!
-Mike **************************************
I know it's a bike list, but sometimes even I need a little encouragement to ride...
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/SciTech/DyeHard/dyehard-1.html
Michael Lemberger Madison, WI
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