History Shorts: The Little Ice Age (1250-1850)

The Earth cooled following the Medieval Warm Period. It began in 1250 (or 1350) and ended around 1850. The cause of the cooling is debated. Theories range from solar activity to ocean currents to volcanic activity. Glaciers spread, winters lengthened, famines occurred, and rain increased. Essentially, it was a cold, wet period in global history. The Little Ice age caused some of histories great famines, ruined crops helping to precipitate the French Revolution, walloped Napoleon in Russia, led to ice in the Great Lakes during June, ended the Viking Age, and may have led to witch hunts after crop failures. It finally ended around 1850. This coincided with the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. As a result, some have proposed that global warming began as a result of industrialization. Others have pointed to other natural factors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuZSMVwJLq0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdK6zbPnHw4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AXbSRjMmRI

Sci Fi History: Kolchak The Night Stalker (1974-75)

Kolchak began as two popular TV movies. Their success led ABC to commission a series starring Darren McGavin as the reporter, Carl Kolchak, who investigated paranormal incidents and crimes. Kolchak was a consummate reporter, a bit slovenly, and definitely Midwestern. The show featured the "monster of the week" formula, which might have been its downfall. Kolchak inspired the X-Files two decades later. That show featured both an overall mythological story arch AND monster of the week episodes. The X-Files tried to bring the Kolchak character aboard, but copyright issues prevented it. Instead, McGavin made two appearances as Arthur Dales, the FBI agent that created the X-Files.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfmK8YUdSpY

History Shorts: The Magna Carta (1215)

King John was just a bad monarch. He was incompetent and overbearing. John lost a war in France, lost baronial lands to the French, and crushed the people with high taxes. Finally, the nobles had enough and revolted. They defeated the king and forced him to sign Magna Carta. It marked the first time an English king had his power limited. The document also protected the rights of the nobles. The Magna Carta marked the first step toward British constitutional government and later the American Constitution.
:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfAq0Lp-AmA



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

King John:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTNe_uJ4cnU


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCMgoDu3WkU 

Chuck Finley: California Angels timeline

Born: November 26, 1962

1984: Drafted by California Angels (Did not sign)

1985: Drafted by Angels again

Debut: May 29, 1986 (Angels)

1990: 18-9, 2.40, 236 IP, 177 Strikeouts, 1.233 WHIP

1999: Struck out 4 batters in one inning 2x

1999: Signed with Indians

2000: Struck out 4 batters in one inning for third time (only pitcher to do so)

2002: Traded to Cardinals

2002: Retired

2008: Dropped off Hall of Fame Ballot (0.2% of vote)


Accomplishments:
5x All Star

200-173

3.85

524 games-467 starts

63 CG

15 SHO

3197.1 IP

2610 Strikeouts

1.376 WHIP

Won 15+ Games: 7x

Sub 3.50 ERA: 4x

Sub 3.00 ERA: 2x

13 CG (1993)

251.1 IP (1993)

200+ IP: 9x

200 Strikeouts: 2x

Led League in GS (25): 1994

Led League in CG (13): 1993

Led League in IP: 183.1 (1994)

Led League in WP: 2x

Postseason: 1-2, 4.50, 22 IP, 19 Strikeouts, 1.455 WHIP, 7 Games, 4 GS (4 Series)

David Justice: Atlanta Braves timeline

Born: April 14, 1966

1982: Graduated High School after skipping two grades

1985: Drafted by Atlanta Braves

Debut: May 24, 1989 (Braves)

1990: NL Rookie of the Year

1991-2: Braves lose World Series

1992: Appeared in an episode of The Young and the Restless

1993: Braves lose NLCS

1994: People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People"

1995: Hit GW HR in Game 6 of the World Series

1995: Braves win World Series

1996: Experienced season-ending shoulder injury in May

1996: Braves lose World Series

1997: Traded to Indians

1997: .329, 33 HR, 101 RBI, 1.013 OPS

1997: Indians lose World Series

1997: Comeback Player of the Year

1998: Indians lose NLCS

1999: Indians lose NLDS

2000: Traded to Yankees

2000: ALCS MVP

2000: Yankees win World Series

2001: Yankees lose World Series

2001: Traded to Mets

2001: Traded to A's

2002: A's lose NLDS

2002: Retired

2007: Braves Hall of Fame

2007: Named in Mitchell Report

2008: Dropped off HOF Ballot (0.2% of the vote)


Accomplishments:
2x World Champion

3x All Star

2x Silver Slugger

1990 NL Rookie of the Year

2000 ALCS MVP

1997 Comeback Player of the Year

2x Player of the Month

4x Player of the Week

.279

305 HR

1017 RBI

929 Runs

1571 Hits

.378 OBP

.500 Slugging

.878 OPS

30+ Doubles: 3x

20+ HR: 9x

30+ HR: 3x

40+ HR: 2x

100+ RBI: 3x

.300: 2x

.400 OBP: 3x

.500 Slugging: 6x

1.013 OPS (1997)

Postseason: .224, 14 HR, 63 RBI, .717 OPS (21 Series)

Travis Fryman: Detroit Tigers/Cleveland Indians timeline

Born: March 25, 1969

1987: Drafted by the Detroit Tigers

Debut: July 7, 1990 (Tigers)

1993: .300, 22 HR, 97 RBI, 37 doubles, 98 runs, .865 OPS

1997: Traded to Arizona Diamondbacks

1997: Traded to the Cleveland Indians

1998: Indians lose ALCS

1999: Indians lose ALDS

2000: .321, 22 HR, 106 RBI, 93 runs, 184 hits, .908 OPS

2001: Indians lose ALDS

2002: Retired

2008: Manager in NY-Penn League

2008: Dropped off HOF ballot (0.4% of vote)

2014: Minor League instructor


Accomplishments:
5x All Star

1992 Silver Slugger

2000 Gold Glove

2x Player of the Week

.274

223 HR

1022 RBI

895 Runs

1776 Hits

.779 OPS

30+ Doubles: 7x

20+ HR: 7x

100+ RBI: 3x

.300: 2x

.500 Slugging: 2x

.908 OPS (2000)

Led league in AB: 2x

Led league in SF (13): 1994

Postseason: .191, 1 HR, 6 RBI, .565 OPS, 3 SB (4 series)

Dave Concepcion:Cincinnatti Reds timeline

Born: June 17, 1948

1967: Signed by Cincinnati Reds

Debut: April 6, 1970 (Reds)

1970: Reds lose World Series

1972: Reds lose World Series

1973: Became the Reds' starting shortstop

1973: Broke his ankle and missed half the season

1973: Reds lose NLCS

1975: Hit .455, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 SB, 1.227 OPS in NLCS

1975: Reds win World Series

1976: Reds win World Series (hit .357, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .971 OPS in WS)

1979: .281, 16 HR, 84 RBI, 91 runs, 19 SB, .764 OPS

1979: Reds lose NLCS (hit .429 in NLCS)

1982: Hit 2-run home run in NL's 4-1 All Star victory

1982: All Star MVP

1986: Barry Larkin assumed the starting shortstop job

1988: Pitched in a game

1988: Released by Reds

1989: Attempted to make California Angels, but failed and retired

2007: Reds retire his #13

2014: Became V.P of the Tigres de Aragua of Maracay


Accomplishments:
2x World Champion

9x All Star

5x Gold Glove

2x. Silver Slugger

1982 ASG MVP

.267

101 HR

950 RBI

993 Runs

2326 Hits

.679 OPS

3114 TB

30+ Doubles: 2x

41 Steals (1974)

30+ Steals: 2x

20+ Steals: 7x

.306 (1981)

Postseason: .297, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 7 SB, .789 OPS (9 Series)