History Shorts: Rome Falls (476 A.D.)

The Book of Revelations prophesy about the end of the world came to pass in 476 A.D. That year, the Roman Empire ceased to exist. The empire teetered for a century before finally collapsing. The economy collapsed in the 3^rd century, but it sputtered on. Over time, a series of problems befell the empire. These included falling birthrates, crop failures, a shrinking tax base and military, which allowed barbarians to overrun the empire’s borders.  Barbarians sacked Rome in 410 and 455. Attila the Hun ravaged Italy in the 450s. The military could no longer defeat the invaders. In 476, barbarian leader Flavius Odoacer deposed Emperor Romulus Augustus and proclaimed himself King of Italy. The Western Roman Empire ceased to exist. However, the Eastern Empire continued for another 1000 years.

476 the movie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9g_Mt_xyVg

Overview:

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

The Last Legion:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvXSz6Ssgik

Sci-Fi History: The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)

A humanoid alien, Klaatu, visits Earth and delivers an ultimatum to humanity. He tells a professor that other planets worry that nuclear power will destroy Earth.  Klaatu warns people not to extend their violence into space.  He dies, is resurrected, and returns to the heavens.

In 1951, many believed Klaatu represented Christ and that annoyed and frightened some studio execs. The film also explores humanity’s capacity for violence.  Hollywood remade the film in 2008, but it lacked the power of the original. Without the Cold War, it’s message faded.

Quotes of the Month: October 2012

Quote of the Month: “She certainly didn’t break the group up, the group was breaking up.”

-Paul McCartney on Yoko Ono

Stupid Quote of the Month:

"We know that Pakistan has arrested the doctor who helped us catch Obama-uh-bin Laden."

-Bob Schieffer

And the rest…

“How they can justify . . . raising taxes on the middle class that has been buried the last four years?”

-Joe Biden

“Hope is not a strategy.”

-Mitt Romney

“It’s stunning that he’s in politics, because he really doesn’t like people.”

-Former Clinton aide Neera Tanden on Barack Obama

"The president's remarks are brought to you by the letter O and the number 16 trillion."

-Mitt Romney

“Actually Mitt is his middle name. I wish I could use my middle name.”

-Barack Obama

Hikaru Sulu timeline

Born: 2237

2255: Entered Starfleet academy

2259: Graduated. By this point, he had tried many hobbies ranging from botany to fencing.

2264: Assigned to USS Enterprise

2265: Transferred from science to helm and tactical

2266: Travelled to 20^th century Earth and transported to Earth with Captain Kirk to recover USAF photos of the Enterprise.

2270: Sulu promoted to second officer with rank of Lt. Commander

2273: V’Ger Crisis

2285: Promoted to commander sometime between ST:TMP and Khan

2285: Wrath of Khan

2285: Helped steal Enterprise to rescue Spock

2286: Piloted stolen Bird of Prey. Whale Probe Crisis.

2287: Participated in raid on Nimbus III.

2287: The Final Frontier

2290: Promoted to captain and assigned to Excelsior.

2293: Witnesses explosion of Praxis

2293: The Undiscovered Country

2293: Sulu’s daughter Demora became helmsman about the Enterprise-B

Early 24^th century: Might have been active and may have sponsored Chakotay’s academy candidacy. Chakotay said a Captain Sulu sponsored him. It could have been Demora or another Sulu.

History Shorts: Attila the Hun (450-453)

Attila ruled the Huns from 434-453. In 450, he led a series of devastating raids into the Roman Empire. He failed to take Rome or Constantinople and Aetius blunted Attila’s attempt to seize Gaul. Attila was known as the “Scourge of God” and openly defied the Christian god. He used that reputation to threaten and raid northern Italy. Eventually, he pulled out because the region lacked resources to plunder. He saved face by brokering a deal with Pope Leo. Attila died in his sleep shortly thereafter. Leo became the  hero who stopped the Scourge of God and the church’s prestige increased dramatically. Meanwhile, people grew more and more disenchanted with secular authorities. The church stopped Attila while the secular authorities failed miserably.

BBC Drama:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBeHljB6uFU

History Channel:

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

Deadliest Warrior:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSgrY14VFzg

Saxon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIKGpO2FOXY

Leo the Great:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=la1Ean-eofk

　

Sci Fi History: Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

Comedy legends met horror legends in 1948. Abbott and Costello have run-ins with the Wolf Man (Lon Chaney), Dracula (Bela Lugosi), and Frankenstein’s monster (Glenn Strange). The movie marked the end of the golden age of monster films and reinvigorated Abbott and Costello. The movie is considered one of the funniest in history and the duo’s finest.  Boris Karloff declined the role of the monster leaving the spot to Strange. Strange found the duo hilarious and laughed throughout filming leading to excess retakes.  At the very end, Vincent Price makes a cameo as the Invisible Man.  This is the movie to watch during Halloween season.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg5N9FJc__Q

Montgomery Scott timeline

Montgomery Scott aka Scotty

"The Miracle Worker"

Born: 2222

2238: Developed Perera theory about detonating photon torpedoes

2241: Joined Starfleet. He would serve on 11 ships over 51 years. At the academy, he almost stalemates the Kobayashi Maru using an engineering trick.

2253: Junior engineer aboard the Enterprise

2258: By this point, Scotty is a Lt. Commander serving on Delta Vega for beaming Admiral Archer’s dog into oblivion. He would later invent transwarp beaming.

2265: Became chief engineer aboard USS Enterprise

2266: Changes the laws of physics and saves the ship.

2267: Accused of murder on Argelius. Is acquitted when the murderer turns out to be Jack the Ripper.

2267: Engages in a bar room brawl aboard Deep Space K-7

2268: Earned citation for helping save landing party without violating the Prime Directive.

2268: Outdrinks a Kelvan and helps recapture Enterprise after aliens put it on course for Andromeda.

2268: Scotty is almost killed when a faulty magnetic probe nearly doomed the ship.

2270: Promoted to full commander and oversees refit of USS Enterprise

2273: V’Ger Crisis

2285: Nephew killed in surprise attack by Khan.

2285: Promoted to captain and assigned to Excelsior.  Sabotages Excelsior and helps steal the Enterprise in order to rescue Spock.

2286: Travels to 20^th century Earth and divulges secret of transparent aluminum. After returning, he refits the new Enterprise.

2287: The Final Frontier

2293: The Undiscovered Country

2293: Appears at maiden voyage  of Enterprise-B and helps save El-Aurian refugees. James T Kirk is apparently killed.

2294: On the way to retirement, his ship crashed into a Dyson’s Sphere. He juryrigged a transporter to allow his survival until rescue.

2369: Rescued by USS Enterprise-D

2371: Steals the Yorktown to rescue Spock on Romulus.

2375: Becomes head of the Starfleet Corps of Engineers.

2377: Travels to Wataii homeworld to rescue Chekov

2383: Assumes command of USS Challenger. However, his heart began to give out due to being stuck in transporter stasis for so long.

2383: Dies sealing a transwarp rift. Spock later speculated that Scotty was one of the few people capable of discovering a way to survive such a mess.