Oceanic Notions

Although this program features some stunning satellite photography of our planet, and a handful of general details about our oceans (water covers 2/3rds of the earth's surface, etc.), the majority of the footage and commentary focuses on the Carolinas coastline. Interviews with Duke University professors on the subject of erosion are set against a local historian's musing on shipwrecks on the Carolina shore. Comments about the dangers of overdevelopment of the shoreline and the perils of pollution share time with the reflections of a toddler on living on a sailboat. What's shown and discussed is never less than interesting, but the focus of the tape is unclear. What does the settlement of Beaufort, NC some 275 years ago by French Huguenots have to do with oceans? There's simply too little information about too many subjects here to merit being called an overview of our oceans. This would be of primary interest to public schools and libraries in the Carolinas. (Available from: Claiborne M. Clark, 2032 Wilson St., Durham, NC 27705)