History Shorts: The Ten Commandments (1250 BC)

Like the Code of Hammurabi, the Ten Commandments help form the basis of western law. The Ten Commandments are wrapped in the Biblical story of Exodus. Scholars and the faithful have debated the Exodus and whether or not it happened, but there does seem to be some evidence to support the event. Despite this, we do not have a clear date for Exodus or the Ten Commandments. It seems to have occurred somewhere between 1550 B.C. and 1250 B.C.

The commandments and Exodus have provided pop culture with material for centuries.

Here are some modern examples:

Mel Brooks:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TAtRCJIqnk

Yul Brynner:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqowzbnKLqs&feature=related

Parting the Red Sea:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vxnApK4O48&feature=related

History Shorts: Atlantis (1600 BC)

Atlantis may have existed on the island of Santorini in the Aegean Sea. Sometime around 1600 B.C., the Thera supervolcano exploded destroying Minoan civilization on the island. The Minoans were the first advanced civilization in Europe. They had extensive trade networks and formidable navy. The Minoan civilization disappeared following the explosion marking an important historical turning point as Greek power shifted from Santorini to the mainland.

Nat Geo on the Thera eruption:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRBC-TFtxHw&feature=related

Pop culture: Atlantis by Donovan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leI7sfmipuI

Perhaps the closest pop culture has come to Atlantis' destruction:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cDixDGokCE

Some more Earth-bound Atlantians:

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

and Aquaman:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AlIaagHaFc

2010 All Major League Baseball Team

1b- Miguel Cabrera- Detroit


2b- Robinson Cano- Yankees

SS- Troy Tulowitzki- Colorado

3b- Adrian Beltre- Boston

OF- Ichiro- Seattle

OF- Carlos Gonzalez- Colorado

OF- Josh Hamilton- Texas

C- Joe Mauer- Minnesota

DH- Vladimir Guerrero- Texas

Utility- Omar Infante- Braves

RHP- Roy Halladay- Philadelphia

LHP- C.C. Sabathia- Yankees

REL- Joaquin Benoit- Tampa Bay

Closer- Brian Wilson- Giants

MVP: Joey Votto, Josh Hamilton
Cy Young: CC Sabathia, Roy Halladay
Rookie of the Year: Buster Posey, Austin Jackson
Manager of the Year: Bud Black, Ron Washington

Presidential Songs: Ronald Reagan

President Reagan did not have any real campaign songs. He did try to use John Mellencamp's "Pink Houses," but the artist protested. Mellencamp vehemently opposed Reagan's policies.

Pink Houses:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOfkpu6749w&ob=av2e

Since Reagan is credited with ending the Cold War, perhaps this would have been a better Mellencamp selection:

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

Presidential Songs: Jimmy Carter

People questioned whether the government could be competent and honest. Well, Jimmy Carter says yes!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h874BPSnbWc

Of course the song that best fits the Carter years is by Gloria Gaynor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBR2G-iI3-I

Presidential Songs: Gerald Ford

Gerald Ford captained the University of Michigan football team winning two national titles. Forty years later, he became president. Instead of "Hail to the Chief", the marine band often played "Hail to the Victors."

The Victors:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnkOkraJXK4

Ford at U-M:

http://mvictors.com/?p=179

Quotes of the Month: September 2010

Quote of the Month: "We went to a movie and then had a little midnight picnic on a satanic altar."


-Christine O’Donnell

Dumb Quote of the Month #1: "Long before America was even an idea, this land of plenty was home to many peoples. The British and French, the Dutch and Spanish, to Mexicans, to countless Indian tribes. We all shared the same land,"

-Barack Obama (Mexico became a nation in 1821. The United States formed in 1776).

Dumb Quote of the Month #2: "He's been out in these countries for decades, building schools, building roads, building infrastructure, building day-care facilities, building health-care facilities, and the people are extremely grateful. He's made their lives better."

-Patty Murray on Osama bin Laden

And the rest:

“They talk about me like a dog.”

-Barack Obama

“Hey, Castro came out against anti-Semitism. I'm putting on my snowsuit and booking the flight to Hell.”

-Jason Alexander

"The time I stand up here blaming the officials for a loss is the time I don't have to do this anymore."

-Detroit Lions Head Coach Jim Schwartz

“We just sucked.”

-Tom Brady on a loss to the Jets

"The United States administrations must recognize Iran is a big power.”

-Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

“We in the Senate refer to Sen. Gillibrand as the hottest member.”

-Harry Reid

“I feel that my role as a former president is probably superior to that of other presidents'.

-Jimmy Carter

"It was his fault. Ted Kennedy killed the bill."

-Jimmy Carter on why he did not pass National Health Care

"Catching Boehner with a mistress is the only way to destroy him politically before the election."

-anonymous source from the NY Times

"I don't want a tomato picked by a Mexican. I want it picked by an American, then sliced by a Guatemalan and served by a Venezuelan in a spa where a Chilean gives me a Brazilian."

-Stephen Colbert