History Shorts: Justinian's Plague (541-542)

Justinian reconquered the Western Roman Empire and Europe seemed assured of escaping the Dark Ages. In 541, a pandemic struck the globe unraveling Justinian’s conquests. The plague seems to have originated in China and moved westward killing 25 million. Constantinople was especially hard hit. The disease wiped out 40% of the populace. Research indicates the plague was not the same disease that ravaged Europe in the 14^th century. The plague might have been brought forth by cold, damp weather following a massive volcanic eruption. In the end, the disease decimated the Byzantine Empire and its ability to hold onto Western Europe. As a result, Europe entered the Dark Ages.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mzb5K5M8cgY

Sci-Fi History: Godzilla (1954)

Godzilla was a Japanese reaction to nuclear power. In 1945, the U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on Japan ending World War II. Memories of the attacks led Japanese writers to develop Godzilla. The monster became a metaphor for nuclear weapons. In the beginning, he was a destructive monster. However, Godzilla's popularity forced a change. In later films, Godzilla played the hero and sometimes defended humanity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKrj1ymJzmo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laJ7UCzCtV4

Travis Mayweather timeline

Born: 2126 on cargo freighter Horizon

He grew up in space

2149: Joined Starfleet

2151: Joined Enterprise NX-01 as helmsman

2151: Helped discover the Terra Nova colony; a boyhood dream

2151: Jailed by Tandarians and imprisoned with Suliban. He was involved in a mass jail break

2153-4: Xindi mission

2155: Terra Prime Crisis

2155: Left the Enterprise for Discovery after the Kobayashi Maru was destroyed. He blamed Archer for the ship’s destruction.

2155-61: Romulan War

2155: Discovery destroyed. Moved to Atlantis, which was also destroyed. Mayweather became known as a bad luck charm.

2159: Moved to the Republic.

2160: Served on the Franklin Roosevelt.

2160: Returned to Enterprise

2161: War ends, Enterprise decommissioned

History shorts: The Nika Riots (532 A.D.)

Constantinople tired of Emperor Justinian’s tax policies. At the chariot races, fans of various teams grew unruly and rioted. Some politicians decided to use the mob rioting as a pretext to overthrow the emperor. Justinian freaked and fled to the docks. As he prepared to go into exile, his wife Theodora convinced him to face the mob. Justinian grew a backbone and viciously put down the revolt. 30,000 died in the rioting and Justinian’s vengeance. Afterward, Justinian rebuilt the city and constructed the Hagia Sophia. He also created the Justinian Code and reunited the Eastern and Western Roman Empires for a time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ONRc_wuvl0

Billy Hamilton: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1961

Born: February 16, 1866

Debut: July 31, 1888 (KC Cowboys)

1890: Sold to Phillies

1891: Won batting title (.340)

1892: Had lead off and walk off HR in same game

1893: Won batting title (.380)

1937: Attacked the Sporting News for naming someone else the greatest base stealer of all time

Died: 1940

1961: Elected to HOF

Accomplishments:

2x batting champ

.344 career hitter

Hit .300: 13x

Hit .350 or better: 5x

.403 (1894)

1697 runs

Led league in runs: 4x

100+ runs: 11x

198 runs (1894)

2164 hits

Led league with 179 hits (1891)

200+ hits: 2x

10+ triples: 3x

15 triples (1894)

40 HR

 742 RBI

914 steals

Led league in SB: 5x

100+ steals: 4x

1189 walks

Led league in walks: 4x

100+ walks: 5x

.455 OBP

Led league in OBP: 5x

.400 OBP: 13x

.521 OBP (1894)

.432 slugging

.500 slugging: 2x

.888 OPS

Led league in OPS: 2x

1.000+ OPS: 2x

Max Carey: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1961

No class for 1960.

Here's Max Carey:

Born: January 11, 1890

Max Carey was born Maximillian George Carnarius, but changed the name to retain amateur status.

Debut: October 3, 1910 (Pirates)

1922: Stole 51 bases and was caught 2x

1925: Pirates win World Series

1926: Selected off Waivers by Dodgers (then known as Robins)

1932-33: Dodgers Manager (146-161)

Later, managed in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League

1961: Elected to HOF

Died: 1976

Accomplishments:

1925 World Champion

738 steals

Led league in SB: 10x

20+ steals: 15x

30+ steals: 14x

40+ steals: 10x

50+ steals: 7x

60+ steals: 2x

.285 Average

Hit .300: 5x

Led league in games (1914)

Led league in AB: 2x

1545 runs

Led league w/99 runs (1913)

100+ runs: 5x

2665 hits

207 hits (1922)

419 doubles

30 doubles: 5x

Led league in triples: 2x

159 triples

10+ triples: 9x

15+ triples: 2x

70 HR

800 RBI

Led league in walks: 2x

.361 OBP

.400 OBP: 2x

.386 slugging

.747 OPS

Postseason: .458, 0, 2 RBI, 3 steals (1.177 OPS)- 1 series

Managerial record: 146-161 (.476)

Hoshi Sato timeline

Born: 2129

2151: University professor

2151: Convinced by Jonathan Archer to rejoin Starfleet

2151-61: Essentially created the universal translator

2152: By this point, she knew around 40 languages

2152: Saved ship after a transporter accident left her a virtual ghost

2153-4: Xindi Crisis

2153: Kidnapped by Tarquin, but escaped

2154: Kidnapped and tortured by Xindi; helped destroy Xindi weapon

2154: Augment Crisis

2155: Terra Prime Crisis

2155: Tried to leave the Enterprise, but stayed on at Archer’s urging

2156-61: Romulan War

2160s: Retired from Starfleet with the rank of Lt. Commander

2246: Murdered by Kodos the Executioner on Tarsus IV

Hideki Matsui timeline

Born: June 12, 1974

1992: Drew 5 intentional walks in a High School game

1993: Joined Yomiuri Giants

Debut: May 1, 1993 (Yomiuri Giants)

1994: Won World Series

1996: Japanese League MVP

2000: Won World Series

2000: MVP

2002: Won World Series

2002: MVP

2002: Appeared in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla

2002: Signed with New York Yankees

Debut: March 31, 2003 (Yankees)

2003: Became first Japanese player with a postseason home run

2003: Yanks lose World Series to Marlins

2004: Yanks lose ALCS to Red Sox

2005: Yanks lose ALDS to Anaheim

2006: Set record for consecutive games to start a career (518)

2006: Yanks lose ALDS to Tigers

2007: 2000^th combined hit (Japan and USA)

2007: First Japanese player with 100 home runs

2007: Yanks lose ALDS to Indians

2009: Won World Series

2009: World Series MVP

2009: Signed with Anaheim

2010: Signed with Oakland

2011: Hit his 500^th combined home run

2012: Signed with Tampa Bay

2012: Retired

Accomplishments:

2009 World Champion

2009 World Series MVP

2x All Star

3x Japanese World Series Champ

9x Japanese All Star

3x Japanese MVP

3x Japanese All Star MVP

2000 Japanese Series MVP

Led league in games played: 3x

518 consecutive games to start his career (record)

Over 500 combined home runs and 2500 combined hits

.282 Average

Hit .300: 2x

Scored 100 runs: 3x

1253 hits

30+ doubles: 3x

40+ doubles: 2x

20+ home runs: 5x

31 homers (2004)

100+ RBI: 4x

.500 slugging: 2x

.822 OPS

Postseason: .312, 10 Home runs, 39 RBI, .933 OPS (11 series)

Sci Fi History: The Forbidden Planet (1956)

The Forbidden Planet combines Shakespeare with Freud serving as a precursor for future Sci-Fi endeavors. The movie stars Leslie Nielson and Anne Francis and introduces Robby the Robot. It borrows heavily from The Tempest and uses Freudian ideas on the subconscious. The film is a direct ancestor of Star Trek. Gene Roddenberry cited Forbidden Planet, with its United Planets, as an influence.  Today, the film is considered both a cult classic and a sci-fi classic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y4crGU7dkg

Kerry Wood: timeline

Born: June 16, 1977

1995: Drafted by Cubs

Debut: April 12, 1998 (Cubs)

1998: 20 strikeout game (1 hit and 0 walks in the shutout)- New rookie single-game strikeout record

1998: Rookie of the Year

1998: Cubs lose LDS

1999: Injured-missed whole season

2000: Returned, but struggled

2003: Led league in strikeouts (266)

2003: Cubs win first postseason series since 1908

2003: Hit home run in NLCS, but Cubs lose in 7 games

2004-6: Several injuries

2007: Moved to bullpen, injuries continued

2007-08: Cubs lose LDS

2008: Signed with Indians

2010: Traded to Yankees

2010: Yanks lose LCS

2010: Signed with Cubs

May 18, 2012: Faced one batter, struck him out, and retired

Accomplishments:

20 strikeout game (1998)

2x All Star

1998 NL Rookie of the Year

Fastest to reach 1000 strikeouts in appearances and IP in MLB History

Home Run in 2003 NLCS Game 7

86-75 career

3.67 ERA

34 saves (2008)

63 career saves

200+ IP: 2x

200+ Strikeouts: 4x

Led league: 266 strikeouts (2003)

1582 strikeouts

1.267 WHIP

1.085 WHIP (2008)

Postseason: 2-2, 3.43 ERA, 1.299 WHIP (7 series)

Political Quotes of the Year 2012

Quote of the Year:

"There are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe that government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you name it."

-Mitt Romney

Dumb Quote of the Year:

“If you got a business-you didn’t build that.”

Barack Obama referring to things businesses built or helped build

And the rest…

"I'm not concerned about the very poor. We have a safety net there. If it needs repair, I'll fix it.”

-Mitt Romney

"What does it say about the college co-ed Susan Fluke [sic] who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says that she must be paid to have sex -- what does that make her? It makes her a slut, right? It makes her a prostitute. She wants to be paid to have sex. She's having so much sex she can't afford the contraception. She wants you and me and the taxpayers to pay her to have sex."

-Rush Limbaugh on Sandra Fluke

"There seems to be something "liberating" about ignorance -- especially when you

don't even know enough to realize how little you know. Thus an administration

loaded with people who have never run any business is gung-ho to tell businesses

what to do, as well as gung-ho to tell the medical profession what to do,

lenders whom to lend to, and the military how to fight wars."

-Thomas Sowell

"We got a problem because we've got a president who's all foam and no beer."

-Tim Pawlenty

“College graduates should not live out their twenties in their childhood bedrooms staring at faded Obama posters.”

-Paul Ryan

“Unchain Wall Street. They’re gonna put y’all back in chains.”

-Joe Biden to African Americans

“If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.

-Todd Akin

"A new survey out today shows how much time we waste every day in our lives. For example, we waste seven minutes in line every time we go to get coffee, 28 minutes getting through airport security, four years waiting for Obama to do something about the economy. Every year, we waste a lot. We wasted a lot of time."

-Jay Leno

 “But I was pretty certain and continue to be pretty certain that there are going to be bumps in the road, because you know in a lot of these places, the one organizing principle has been Islam.”

-Barack Obama on the assassination of the American ambassador to Libya

"President [Barack] Obama is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people."

-Clint Eastwood

Do we see sometimes us going overboard in our campaign, are there mistakes that are made, areas where there is no doubt that somebody could dispute how we are presenting things? You know, that happens in politics."

-Barack Obama admitting to lying about Romney.　

"I don't think we would consider them an ally, but we don't consider them an enemy.”

-Barack Obama on Egypt (Later corrected by the State Dept).

Do you want Barack Obama to be re-elected? Then don’t vote for Ron Paul.’

-Paul Ryan

“Thank God for Hurricane Sandy!”

-Chris Mathews

"There's never been a day in the last four years I've been proud to be his vice president."

-Joe Biden

"Our people in an overwhelming way supported the re-election of this president and there ought to be a quid pro quo and you ought to exercise leadership on that. Of course, not just that, but why not? After the election of Jimmy Carter, the honorable Coleman Alexander Young, he went to Washington, D.C. He came home with some bacon. That's what you do."

-JoAnn Watson embarrassing Detroit once more

"There will be blood."

-Democratic State Senator Douglas Geiss

Sports Quotes of the Year: 2012

Quote of the Year:

“I personally think he's an idiot."

-Red Wing Ian White on Gary Bettman

Dumb Quote of the Year:

"Is he a brother or a cornball brother?  We all know he has a white fiancée. There was all this talk about he's a Republican, which, there's no information at all. I'm just trying to dig deeper as to why he has an issue. Because we did find out with Tiger Woods, Tiger Woods was like, I've got black skin, but don't call me black. So people got to wondering about Tiger Woods early on."

-Rob Parker

And the rest…

“My husband can not throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time.”

-Gisele

“And Randy, not like any other superstar I've met, he has more quit in him than any of those other players.

-Cris Carter on Randy Moss

"(One fan) actually called me a racial slur to begin the game with. He was the only one I had a problem with. People in Boston don't even do that."

-Carl Crawford

"I remember when I went to the ownership meetings in Colorado in August, and I was walking back from dinner with Tony La Russa (retired Cardinals manager) and we're talking about statistics and about WAR. And, no offense to the player, but when I woke up that morning they had on the (ESPN.com) site that Darwin Barney that day was ranked ahead of Miguel Cabrera in WAR. And I don't mean anything against Darwin Barney, but there wasn't a person in Major League Baseball who on that particular day would have traded Miguel Cabrera for Darwin Barney. So, when people say WAR is all-encompassing, that loses the argument to me right there."

-Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski

"We are not prepared to open another season until we have a new collective bargaining agreement,"

- NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman signaling the start of another player lockout.

"No curfew. I live in the basement. I got everything I need. Home cooking … it's awesome."

-Mike Trout on living at home

"I'm ready to go. I'm Applebee's out."

-Jim Leyland on the end of Spring Training

"I have to go over my carefully prepared ad-libs."

-Vin Scully

"Some of them are zombielike. Some honestly have an empty-corpse quality."

Washington State football coach Mike Leach describing his seniors after a 2-4 start

"People always ask me: 'When is the new Pele going to be born?' Never. My father and mother have closed the factory."

-Pele

Quotes of the Year: 2012

Quote of the Year:

"She's such a nightmare. Her career is over, I can tell you that. She looks like a fairground stripper."

-Elton John on Madonna

And the rest…

"Jack, you are my best friend. We had fun together. I will miss you. I will talk to you in my prayers. I love you Jack. Love, John."

-One of Jack Pinto’s classmates (Pinto was a victim in the Sandyhook shooting).

"It's not much different to being 109."

-WWI Vet Florence Green on what it’s like being 110

“The fact is, I’m gay.”

-Anderson Cooper

"She's a trampire!"

-Will Ferrell

"There’s disobedience and there’s obedience to God. I’ve been being disobedient."

-Josh Hamilton

 “She certainly didn’t break the group up, the group was breaking up.”

-Paul McCartney on Yoko Ono

“Israel has opened the gates of hell.”

-Qassam Brigade

“Get a ****in’ beer!”

-Pete Townshend at the 121212 concert for Sandy Relief

“Put the harps back in the closet.”

-George H.W. Bush following reports of his impending death

Quotes of the Month: December 2012

Quote of the Month: "Jack, you are my best friend. We had fun together. I will miss you. I will talk to you in my prayers. I love you Jack. Love, John."

-One of Jack Pinto’s classmates

Stupid Quote of the Month: "Is he a brother or a cornball brother?  We all know he has a white fiancée. There was all this talk about he's a Republican, which, there's no information at all. I'm just trying to dig deeper as to why he has an issue. Because we did find out with Tiger Woods, Tiger Woods was like, I've got black skin, but don't call me black. So people got to wondering about Tiger Woods early on."

-Rob Parker on RGIII

And the rest:

"Our people in an overwhelming way supported the re-election of this president and there ought to be a quid pro quo and you ought to exercise leadership on that. Of course, not just that, but why not? After the election of Jimmy Carter, the honorable Coleman Alexander Young, he went to Washington, D.C. He came home with some bacon. That's what you do."

-JoAnn Watson embarrassing Detroit once more

"There will be blood."

-Democratic State Senator Douglas Geiss

“But I’ve got to say, if it rains in London, you’ve got to come and help us, OK?”

-Mick Jagger at the 121212 concert for Sandy Relief

“Get a ****in’ beer!”

-Pete Townshend at the 121212 concert for Sandy Relief

“He had no desire., If he could have found someone else to take his place ... he would have been ecstatic to step aside. He is a very private person who loves his family deeply and wants to be with them, but he has deep faith in God and he loves his country, but he doesn’t love the attention."

-Tagg Romney

 “Put the harps back in the closet.”

-George H.W. Bush following reports of his impending death