SeanChron | Drunk History's Sports Heroes

I have been a HUGE fan of Drunk History for a LONG time. Where else can you get schooled on history AND celebrate drunkenness in all its glory. Ok, well maybe Mad Men as well. But Drunk History is much more fun.

I have to say that Season 2, Episode 9 "Sports Heroes" is one of my favorite episodes yet. All the stories were fantastic, as always, but it is the segment on Native American athlete Jim Thorpe (Sac and Fox) that moved me to write up a quick post since the show hits two of our big areas of interest here at Future-ish...design (entertainment industry) and culture. Add to that combination the fact that I competed in modern pentathlon (one of the sports Jim Thorpe excelled in) for several years AND that Jason Momoa, one of my favorite actors, played Jim Thorpe and how could I not love it.

Back in 2011, I waxed on about how in addition to more money and attention being needed in the STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and math) in schools and colleges, we also needed the same for CHAT subjectsn (culture, humanities, ancestry, and traditions). I think Drunk History has made huge strides in bringing history to the forefront and making it fun again.

SeanChron | Korina Emmerich on Project Runway

Deisgn and culture have intersected again. Psyched to see another Native American designer on Project Runway. Korina Emmerich (Puyallup) will be one of 18 designers that start Season 13 of Project Runway.

SeanChron | Patricia Michaels on Project Runway Finale

Season 11 of Project Runway has come to a close and although Patricia Michaels, my Future-ish favorite, came in 2nd place I think there were many wins during the finale. First and foremost, there were wins for all of the finalists, they all put on fantastic shows and Michelle Lesniak Franklin, the winner, was a fierce competitor with her female-wolf-on-her-last-hunt inspired creations.

But the other wins that caught my attention were the ones Patricia mentioned throughout the finale episode and across the whole season. Clearly Patricia's success in the competition was a win for her personally but she also talked about how she felt she had succeeded in representing her family and community, the Taos Pueblo located in New Mexico, well throughout the entire competition. She then referenced the role she was able to play in breaking stereotypes of Native Americans more broadly by demonstrating the unique and innovative contributions they make in fashion and many other industries. Add to all that goodness...I was thrilled - THRILLED - when she introduced herself at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week show in her Tiwa language. She also thanked the audience in Tiwa and later her Mother shared some kind and inspiring words in Tiwa after the competition. That means millions - MILLIONS - of people have heard the Tiwa language for the first time...win, Win, WIN!

Heidi Klum, a clear fan of Patricia's, said many times throughout the season that she's never seen anything like the looks Patricia designed, Nina Garcia noted she has a "gift of creativity", and Zac Posen, also a clear fan, called her show pieces "new and different...its from her soul...its pure". Michael Kors, a guest judge for the finale said:

"When I look at the work that [Patricia] does, WOW...When I looked at that dress, that was this perfect culmination of a modern, easy shape that a girl wants to put on with this incredible mica and horse hair, I love that she took all that and merged that together, its SPECTACTULAR...I don't think we've ever seen that type of attention to artistic detail. Its cool! I think she's thinking outside the box.

I think her little blue dress and bouncy blue hairpiece may become an iconic moment in fashion. Iconic in fashion because: 1. it is a truly original and stunning design and 2. it finally breaks the convention that a Native American aesthetic can only reflect the same stereotypical pieces. Patricia has proven that culture and tradition can be referenced but still be very fashion forward. More importantly, I believe Patricia's hard work, creativity, and grace throughout the competition will become an iconic moment in mainstream media as well by demonstrating the truly original and creative talent that Native artists can bring to design industries.

Big Brain Challenges on Discovery

The Discovery Channel's lineup of new shows just keeps getting better. Premiering May 1, 2013 is their challenge-based reality show The Big Brain Theory: Pure Genius hosted by actor, producer, and public servant Kal Penn. The series features engineering challenges that push the contestants' science and design skills to max. With $50,000 at stake and a one year contract to work at WET, a leading design and engineering firm of large-scale water features such as the Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas.

Science Channel's Outrageous Acts

A new Science Channel original series is sure to intrigue and amaze viewers. Outrageous Acts of Science offers up crazy stunts that involve a bit of science along with commentary from high profile folks from STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math). The show is quite entertaining (as all these sorts of shows are) but the little helping of brain candy in each episode actually makes it a bonafide learning opportunity. Not that the average Joe should try anythings at home, but there is real life science behind many of the crazy videos.

PBS's The Secret Life of Scientists & Engineers

We have a new favorite reality TV show, well it's kind of a reality TV show. Funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, The Secret Life of Scientists & Engineers on PBS's NOVA, explores the inspiring work and very surprising hobbies of scientists and engineers. Who knew scientists and engineers had raucous passtimes that range from daredevils and dancers to musicians and sailing. Above is geologist Alexandrea Bowman who has two secret lives outside of her research, Native American dancing and ninjitsu...NINJITSU! Multiple videos on a very diverse group of scientists and engineers are available on The Secret Life website.

Myhrvold's Modernist Cuisine on Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart is going future-ish in the kitchen. Seattle's own Nathan Myhrvold and his Cooking Lab team made an appearance on Martha Stewart (video clip available) this week, wowing both Martha and the viewers with their food-foward cooking techniques. Myhrvold is soon to release his multi volume cookbook, Modernist Cuisine.

SeanChron - Science Channel's An Idiot Abroad

2.5.11 - Comedian Ricky Gervais has a new project and, once again, he is having loads of fun at the expense of others in a way that makes us laugh...and makes us a little uncomfortable. For An Idiot Abroad, Gervais teamed up with his friend and colleague Stephen Merchant to send another friend and colleague, Karl Pilkington (often the butt of Gervais' practical jokes), around the globe to visit the 7 Wonders of the World. Gervais' burning question is whether the globetrotting will expand Karl's heart and mind to the people and places of the world or if he will hate every second.

The verdict is still out on if Karl's deadpan remarks and humor are the real Karl or a persona. It's clear that these three know each other well and they know how to work off each other to create interest in the show. One thing is for sure though, Karl's cross-cultural awareness adventures will give us all a chance to experience the real lives and diverse worldviews of people from around the planet that we might not otherwise have the chance to encounter.

Neil deGrasse Tyson on Big Bang Theory

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson recently had a cameo on CBS's Big Bang Theory. Check out a video clip here. Let's hear it for more scelebs in primetime!

Alaska Native Ariel Tweto kicks butt on Wipeout

Ariel Tweto, from the Native Village of Unalakleet in Alaska, kicked butt on the first season of ABC's show Wipeout. Although I'm a bit embarrassed to admit I'm a HUGE fan of Wipeout, I really was out of my seat cheering on Ariel throughout the show. Not only did she kick butt throughout the first rounds, she was awesome in the finals!!! I think her attitude and personality were the best part though, you just want to give her a big hug. She not only represented Alaskans, she represented her fellow Eskimo people and Indigenous people around the world...and she had a blast doing it! From what I've found Googling Ms. Ariel, she's a cross country star and has her sights on a journalism and /or fitness-nutrition career. She was fantastic on the show so I bet we'll see more of her.