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Here are answers to the questions asked on the first day of class
by students:
About Lectures
About the Quizzes
About the Short Papers
About the Midterms
About the Final Paper
About Grading
About the Readings
About the Makeup Quiz
About the Professor
The Professor's Opinions
About Historical Events/The Discipline of History
About Textbooks
Miscellaneous
About Lectures
Q: Will you make us stay for the full time? Can we go early? Can
we have a break?
A: My goal is always to finish 10-20 minutes early. Usually I
succeed, sometimes I don't.
Q: Do you take attendance?
A: No.
Q: Is it a problem if I am late, or miss class on occasion?
A: You are adults, and you must decide what is the right thing for
you to do. It's your education, not mine. I will not get angry, nor
will I say anything to you. However, too much missed
class time will certainly impact your grade eventually, since you will
miss material and since you will eventually miss a quiz or two. Be
aware that I usually give quizzes at the beginning of class, and they
last 10 minutes.
Q: Should we take notes in lectures?
A: I would. But don't try to write everything down--that's transcribing, not
note taking.
Q: Can we tape record lectures? Can I use a laptop? Can I use an electronic dictionary?
A: Sure.
Q: What is your policy on cell phones in lecture?
A: Please try to remember to turn them off, and please don't use them
to message people during class (or, if you must, step outside). I don't want
other students to be distracted.
Q: Do you mind if people enter/leave in the middle of lecture?
A: As noted above, I prefer to keep distractions to a minimum. That said,
if you have to leave, you have to leave.
Q: Can we go to the bathroom when we want?
A: Well, if you have to go, you have to go.
Q: Are food/drinks allowed in class?
A: As long as they do not provide a distraction. Anything with a strong odor,
or that would be loud to consume would be a problem.
Q: Your classroom is really cold! Your classroom is really warm!
A: Well, the closer you sit to the left side of the room, the colder it is,
because that is where the A/C is. So move in that direction if you are warm,
and move away if you're cold. Unfortunately, I have little control over the
climate in the room. The thermostat does not work, and my calls for repairs
are invariably disregarded.
Q: Why is this classroom's capacity so big? Too big is unnecessary, I think!
A: I don't know. I guess the university wanted lots of students to be able to take 202 and
other popular classes.
Q: Why are your classes always in the same rooms?
A: Because there are certain rooms "assigned" to the history department, and the history
classes are all held in those five or six rooms.
Q: Will you write out or spell difficult words in your lectures?
A: I will. However, I can't always guess which words might be hard
to spell. Please ask if you want something written up on the board,
and it doesn't already appear on the handout.
Q: Will we cover the Civil War? The Cold War? The Holocaust? The
Great Depression? Current Policies towards Islamic Nations? Watergate?
Technology? Industrialization? The War in Iraq?
A: The Civil War - Not really, although I wish we could. The Cold
War - Yes. The Holocaust - A little. The Great Depression -
Definitely. Current Policies towards Islamic Nations - Some.
Watergate - Yes. Technology - A little. Industrialization - The
effects, more than the process. The War in Iraq - Yes, some.
Q: How much time will we spend on World War II and the Cold War?
A: About two weeks.
Q: Are the lecture titles taken from the reading, or are they just
titles?
A: They are just titles.
Q: Can I get lecture notes for a day that I missed?
A: Ask a classmate to tape the lecture or to take notes for you. I
don't have anything else to give you, because the lecture handout IS
my notes.
Q: Are the lecture notes on the website?
A: If you count the handouts as 'lecture notes,' then yes.
Q: What information sources should I refer to for a lecture that I
miss?
A: There is, in general, no good source to read. Get notes from
someone, or perhaps arrange tape recordings if you know in advance you
won't be in class. If you want to come by my office, I can also try to
give you a brief overview.
Q: Will there be any in-class assignments, or will it be only
lectures?
A: Well, if you consider quizzes to be in-class assignments, then
yes. Otherwise, no.
Q: Where do you get your information for lectures?
A: Good question. Sometimes from books, sometimes from lectures
I've heard, sometimes from people who lived through the events,
sometimes from newspaper articles and other documents created at the
time, sometimes from my own experience. If you ever have a specific
lecture you're curious about, feel free to ask.
Q: Will class notes be posted on the website? Will the lecture
handouts and pictures be posted?
A: Well, the lecture handouts ARE my notes. That's what I lecture
from. Any they are indeed posted here.
Q: Are you going to talk about things that have never been
published in a textbook or been told to the public?
A: Sometimes, yes.
Q: Why do you like to walk around during lecture?
A: It keeps the room a bit more lively. If I just stand in one place, then things
get a little stale.
Q: What movies will we see in class?
A: We will see clips from a Bugs Bunny Cartoon, The
Grapes of Wrath, Full Metal Jacket, a classroom film strip
from the 1950s, Saturday Night Live, The Beatles'
Anthology, and several others.
Q: I am not a good note taker. If I don't take good notes, how hard
will it be to pass?
A: If you are not a good note taker, I think it probably means you
are trying to write down too much. Focus on the bold terms from handouts, and you
should be fine. And even if you struggle a bit on the tests, you can
easily make up for it by working hard on the papers.
Q: How do you remember events and dates? What is your method?
A: Largely by reading and repetition. It also helps to associate things together. Like,
if you think about the clothing of the 1950s, and you link that to the Cold War and the Korean
War, and Rock and Roll and the Civil Rights Movement. If you can connect all those things together in your head,
then you remember when they all happened, because they all happened together.
Q: Do we need to come on finals week?
A: Nope.
Q: As a teacher, how would you rate your class: 1 - boring to 10 -
exciting?
A: Well, I work very hard to push it as close to the 10 as I can,
but that said, it is a history course and not a TV show or a Hollywood
blockbuster. There's only so much I can do. Maybe you can tell me your
rating once the class is over?
Q: I look forward to the day we talk about "The Devil's Music." Are we going to listen
to some music that day?
A: We will listen to music every day, but especially on that day. We'll hear parts
of about 10 songs.
Q: What are we going to focus on in the lecture, "Goodbye my Sweetheart, Hello Vietnam"?
A: How the Vietnam war started, how public opinion turned against it, and how it
affected American culture and politics in the long term.
Q: Will there be assignments where we have to present in front of class?
A: No.
Q: I'm lost in history. Are there any films/movies that I can view and
be in the same mind frame for this class?
A: Do you mean a documentary? If so, then "The Century" by Peter Jennings
wouldn't be a bad choice. If you mean an actual movie, then you might want
to watch the entirety of the films that I show clips from in class.
Q: I am nervous--I know little about U.S. history, and am worried that
I won't be able to keep up or understand what's going on.
A: Well, I will do my best. To a large extent, the responsibility rests with you,
however. If you don't understand something, you need to raise your hand, or else come
to my office for an explanation.
Q: What is your favorite part of history that you teach in your class?
A: The popular culture stuff--television, rock and roll, Vietnam War.
Q: Do you like to tell stories?
A: Yes. I try to do that in class as much as possible.
Q: Do we need to print out the handouts?
A: No, I will bring copies to class.
Q: I'm an international student and I am a bit overwhelmed. Where do I go
to get information for the quizzes and short papers?
A: Everything you need should be in the lectures and readings. If you feel
you don't understand something, or you missed something, you should talk to me
or email me.
Q: What should we do if we are an international student, and our grammar isn't
very good, but we still want a good grade?
A: Work hard, come to class, do the reading, take advantage of the campus writing
center and make sure to finish your drafts in time for me to take a look at them.
Q: How many hours should we study for this class each week?
A: Well, I would say it should take you two hours, on average, to do the readings each week. I would
review your lecture notes on occasion, perhaps a total of 20 minutes a week. The short essays and
midterms should probably take about five hours each to do. The final paper should probably take about five hours
research, and perhaps 10 total hours to write. Add all that up, and it's about five hours a week
for all studying, reading, and writing.
Q: Will we have group work in class?
A: On occasion, yes.
Q: Sometimes I have questions, but I don't know how or what to ask. Do I have to have
a clear question before I go to your office, or can I just get a brief overview of the
important points of the lecture.
A: Generally, I prefer that you ask me in class, because if you didn't understand,
other students probably had the same problem. However, it is ok to come to my office
without a clear question.
About the Quizzes
Q: How many questions will be on the quizzes?
A: 10.
Q: What is the average grade on your pop quizzes?
A: It depends on the quiz. Somewhere between 7 and 8 out of 10.
Q: Are the quizzes multiple choice?
A: No. See some sample quiz questions here.
Q: Why don't you have multiple choice exams?
A: Because even a student who didn't do the work can get three or four right
by guessing randomly.
Q: Will the quizzes be done at the beginning of class?
A: Yes.
Q: How many quizzes will there be?
A: Four. And then there is a makeup quiz, for a total of five.
Q: What's the makeup quiz?
A: During the second midterm, there will be a 10-question quiz covering
all the lectures from the quarter. It will replace any quiz grade, either a zero
from a quiz you missed, or a low/medium grade from a quiz you took.
Q: Will there be any hint as to when the quizzes are?
A: Sometimes, but not always.
Q: Can anything appear on quizzes or must they be in bold (from
lectures)?
A: Each quiz will have roughly five questions of the out-of-class
readings (the books and PDFs), and five questions based on the lectures. The lecture-based
quiz questions will invariably draw on the bold terms.
Q: What readings will the pop quizzes cover?
A: Both the online readings and the books. However, once you have been tested on a
particular reading, it will not appear on any further quizzes.
Q: What is the best way to study for quizzes?
A: You really shouldn't have to study much. Come to class, do the
reading, review your notes on occasion, and the quiz questions should
be easy enough that you'll get them.
Q: Do we need scantrons for quizzes?
A: No.
Q: Are you going to give a take home quiz?
A: No. The midterms are take home, the quizzes are in class.
Q: Can we print the online readings and use them on the quizzes?
A: No. That would actually tend to hurt your grade, as it would waste valuable time.
About the Short Papers
Q: I will be out of town on the day one of the short papers is due.
Can I turn it in early?
A: Yes.
Q: Are you willing to look at/comment on short papers before they
are turned in?
A: Absolutely. But I have to have them by 11:59 p.m. the Saturday before they
are due, so I have time to read them and comment.
Q: Can you explain more about the short papers? Are the
requirements on the website? Will we have to answer a specific question?
A: You should look at the questions here. If you are still unclear, email me, or come and talk to me
in my office hours. I will also talk more about the short papers
in the week before they are due.
Q: How long should the short papers be?
A: 500 words, at least.
Q: How long is a 500-word paper?
A: Assuming standard margins and font size, about two
double-spaced pages or so.
Q: Are we supposed to write freakishly long papers, even though they are known
as "short" papers?
A: I would not say "freakishly" long. To do well, you may need to go as many as 750
words or even 1,000 to properly answer the question and explain your ideas. But even 1,000
words is only four pages.
Q: How important is grammar on the essays?
A: It's not the most important thing, but it certainly will factor
into your grade some. Usually about 10% of your grade.
Q: Is there a certain format you want the papers to be in? Should
they be double spaced or single spaced? Should they be MLA or APA?
A: I have no preferences or guidelines beyond that you must meet
the word limit.
Q: Is there homework except for the online reading, midterms, and final project?
A: The short papers. But beyond that, no.
Q: Can assignments be turned in via email?
A: Yes, as long as I get them by 11:59 p.m. the day before they are due. Otherwise, turn them
in when you come to class.
Q: Do you really mean 11:59 p.m.?
A: Yes. I need to have time to acknowledge receipt, and I don't want you to be tempted to
try to do them right before class.
Q: Do we need to turn papers in to turnitin.com?
A: No. I am not using that service yet, though I may start soon.
About the Midterms
Q: How many questions will be on the midterm? Are the midterms
multiple choice?
A: You can look at the sample midterm here; your midterm will be virtually
identical. That is to say, you will analyze on passage (from a choice of
three), and you will analyze two pictures (from a choice of five).
Q: Are the midterms cumulative?
A: No. The first midterm will cover the first half of the course,
the second midterm will cover the second half.
Q: Will there be a question on the midterms about Farewell to
Manzanar or Fast Food Nation?
A: Almost certainly.
Q: Will the midterms cover the lectures?
A: Yes.
Q: Will we need to know something already about history from
1877-present, or will the readings, books, and lectures be all we need
to know for midterms.
A: Everything you will be tested on will be drawn from the
readings and lectures.
Q: How do I analyze a picture and passage on the midterm?
A: Well, the sample midterm has some suggestions.
We will also do some practice in class.
Q: Will the pictures we will be analyzing be specific to an era?
A: Usually, yes. And I'll tell you what era on the test.
Q: How will you grade us analyzing the pictures on the midterm? Is
there any definite answer to them?
A: There is no definite answer. I will be looking for how carefully
you pay attention to details, how effectively you are able to connect
the pictures to the larger themes/events discussed in class, and how
well you are able to draw useful insights from the picture about
whatever they show.
Q: Will there be a review for the midterms?
A: No. If you have questions, come to my office or
email me.
Q: Can you make the midterm/final multiple choice?
A: Absolutely not. Multiple choice tests are fundamentally in
opposition to my teaching philosophy--they test you on your ability to
memorize, not your ability to think.
Q: If I am no good at analyzing pictures, will I have a hard time in the class?
A: I would say not. First, this is a skill that we will work on together. It's
not something I expect that you already know how to do. Second, analyzing pictures
only ends up being about 10% of your grade.
Q: Will the midterms be turned in to you in class, or via email?
A: You can do it either way. But if by email, it must be in my inbox
by 11:59 p.m. the day before class.
Q: How long do the midterm responses need to be?
A: There is no set requirement--just whatever it takes for you to say what you want to say.
There are some sample answers online if you want to know
what it generally takes to get an A.
Q: Is the final paper different from the midterms?
A: Yes.
About the Final Paper
Q: Can I do ____________ for my final project? Can I develop my own
topic?
A: Virtually any TV show, musician, or museum will be ok. You just
have to check with me first, if the option you choose is not already
on the "pre-approved" list. You can also develop your own topic, if
you come to talk to me.
Q: Which option would you recommend for the final paper?
A: Whatever you like. Any of them can lead to an A paper, if done
well.
Q: Is there a limit on how many sources I can use for the final
paper?
A: Well, no, but you really shouldn't need very many sources.
Hopefully you will see what I mean when you read the topics.
Q: Can you give any suggestions for doing well on the essay? Can
you tell me about your preferences?
A: Some tips can be found at the bottom of the first page of the
paper assignment.
Q: How is the final paper graded? Is the focus on content?
Historical relevance? Grammar? Something else?
A: All of these things are helpful, but the most important thing
is to have good, thoughtful, creative, interesting ideas. You can look
at the samples I have put online to get some sense of this.
Q: How important is grammar on the final essay?
A: It's not the most important thing, but it certainly will factor
into your grade some. Given that you have plenty of time to do the
project, you have time to get a friend or someone in the writing lab
to look over it.
Q: How long should the final paper be?
A: 1,000 words minimum.
Q: How many pages for a 1,000 word final paper?
A: Assuming standard-sized fonts and margins, about four or five
double-spaced pages.
Q: Which is the most popular topic for the final paper?
A: I would say that music/TV/bus ride are all about equally
popular.
Q: How can we write the paper when you don't recommend the use of
quotes?
A: First, let me say that the use of quotes is ok, if it is done
correctly and sparingly. The problem is that many students use too
many quotes, or they quote things that should not be quoted. If you
want to say that, for example, Eminem was born in Detroit in 1972,
then you can just say that in your own words. It does not need to be a
quote.
Q: How much research is needed for the final paper? Should we start
now?
A: The final paper topics are meant to require about five hours of
research. You don't need to start now.
Q: Will the topics for the final paper be online?
A: Yes, right here. In fact, that
is the only place you will find them; in the interest of saving the
lives of trees, I don't hand out copies in class.
Q: I'm not great at research papers. Since the final is a research
paper, what will happen if I don't do well on it?
A: Well, obviously your grade will suffer. I would encourage you to
take advantage of my office hours to get some assistance--anybody can
write a good paper if they want to.
Q: What is the grading scale for the final paper?
A: Well, it's worth 80 points, and it's roughly 72-80 is an A/A-,
64-71 is a B+/B/B-, 56-63 is a C+/C/C-, 48-56 is a D, and below 48 is
an F.
Q: Can I paraphrase the whole research paper without using any of my own
opinions? Assuming I use multiple sources, and cite well?
A: No. Doing this is practically a guaranteed path to a grade of C- or less.
Q: How will the final paper be turned in?
A: Via email.
Q: Can we submit the final paper before finals week?
A: Yes, if you wish.
About Grading
Q: Will I be graded down for a particular political point of view?
A: Certainly not. If you feel you have been, I would encourage you
to come to my office to discuss it.
Q: Will this course be hard? On a scale of 1-10, 1 easiest and 10
being the hardest, how does this class compare to other history
classes?
A: That is a difficult question to answer, as much depends on each
particular student's experience, motivation, and skills. However, I
suppose I can say a couple of things. Some courses are so difficult
that nobody gets an A. This course is not that difficult--if you do
the work and show up to class, you should do well. On the other hand,
some classes are so easy, everyone does well. This course is not that
easy--if you blow it off, and don't make an effort, you won't do well.
Q: What is the average grade students get in this course?
A: A quick check of my grades from the last quarter tells me that the average
grade was 80.14/100. So, I guess the answer is, "B-".
Q: How many people get A's in this class? How about the other grades?
A: On average, about 20% A's. 35% B's. 25% C's. 10% D's. 10% F's. The
F's were mostly people who did not turn in one or more assignments.
Q: Will this class be difficult for foreigners?
A: I don't think so, as long as you're able to follow what I am saying, and you
ask questions when you are not clear.
Q: Do most students pass this course?
A: Well, as you see above, 80-90% pass, depending on your definition.
Professors in the social sciences and humanities are far less willing
to flunk students than those in the sciences, generally speaking.
Q: Do you grade on a curve?
A: No. History classes rarely, if ever, use a curve.
Q: I am not a strong writer; how tough is your grading on written
assignments?
A: I try very hard to be a fair grader--not too hard or too easy.
If you try your best to be thoughtful and creative, you will generally
do well.
Q: Is this class harder or easier than your History 370 class?
A: I would say they are about the same.
Q: How do you grade papers? On what do you base the grades?
A: Well, the quality and quantity of your ideas is foremost. Writing/grammar,
the extent to which you followed the directions, and whether or not you
seem to have done the reading carefully are also factors.
Q: Is there extra credit offered for the course? How many points is it worth?
A: A little. It's on the assignments
page. It is worth 5 points (the whole class is worth 200).
Q: What is your suggestion on studying habits to get an A in the
course?
A: Well, do the obvious things. Come to class, take good notes, do
the reading on time, etc. One trick that I liked to use is that I
would always go home and retype my notes a few days or so after a
lecture. Not only did this make studying very easy, it also served as
a sort of review that really locked the material into my head.
Q: How do you calculate grades? If an answer is not fully correct, can we get partial
credit?
A: Grading varies from assignment to assignment, but yes, a partially correct answer
will usually get some credit. And there is essentially no such thing as a zero on an essay or
a midterm. Even a very poor essay or midterm will get some points.
About the Readings
Q: Will you be discussing the readings before they are due?
A: I may give a brief preview, but I won't talk about anything
substantial until the day they are due. I want you to develop your
own ideas before you hear mine.
Q: Can you explain the due dates for the online reading?
A: Nearly every week has an online reading assignment to be
downloaded from the course webpage. If an online reading is due, say,
on February 1, then you should have read it by the time you get to
class on February 1.
Q: Do you think the reading is difficult?
A: Well, we're not talking The Little Engine that Could in
terms of ease of reading, but I don't think the assignments are
outrageously hard to read. I try to pick things that are short and
interesting.
Q: How much are the required books?
A: At the Cal Poly bookstore, they probably cost about $20-$25 total. Same from
any other bookstore. If you are looking to spend less, try
a used book site like Abebooks.
Q: Should we print out the readings and bring them to class?
A: If you want to, but it's not necessary, If there's a particular
passage I want to discuss, I'll put it on the handout.
Q: Can we get the readings for the whole quarter ahead of time?
A: Yes. They are available here.
Q: How much of the books do we have to read?
A: The required assignments are all of Farewell to Manzanar
and the first part of Fast Food Nation (roughly pages 1-107).
Q: Do we have to read all of Fast Food Nation?
A: No, just the Introduction and Part I.
Q: Is there a reason you are only emphasizing the first half of Fast
Food Nation.
A: That's the only part that connects directly to my lecture.
Q: Why do we have to read Fast Food Nation
A: Because it's interesting and very relevant to the topic we will discuss that day.
Q: How long is Farewell to Manzanar?
A: About 170 pages. Very short pages, though.
Q: Does the online reading come from these two books?
A: No. You read the books, and ALSO the online reading.
Q: Will the books be used only for the short papers?
A: No, they might very well appear on the quizzes and midterms as
well.
Q: How many pages will usually be required to read online each
week?
A: This is hard to answer precisely, because some weeks have a lot
(maybe 35 pages), other weeks have much less. I would guess it
averages 20 pages a week.
Q: Do we have to write something about every reading?
A: No, just the books. However, the PDF readings will appear on the midterms and on quizzes/
Q: Should we be able to read the books and do the paper in a single week? Or should we
read a bit of the books each week?
A: Well, you know what works best for you. That said, it's certainly possible to read them in a single week.
Q: For clarification, there are three reading assignments:
Farewell to Manzanar, Fast Food Nation, and the online
stuff, right?
A: Yes
Q: When it says the online readings are "due" is that just have them read
or is there something we need to turn in?
A: Just have them read.
Q: So the online readings are for the quizzes, and the books are for the papers, correct?
A: No. The papers will be based only on the books. The midterms and quizzes will cover
the books AND the online readings.
About the Professor
Q: Where are you from?
A: I live in West Los Angeles now, but I was born and raised in
Orange County. I went to Tustin High School.
Q: Where do you live?
A: I live right on the border between Los Angeles and Santa Monica, near the
corner of Wilshire Blvd. and Bundy Drive. The OJ Simpson murders occurred about two blocks
north of my apartment (about a year before I moved in).
Q: How long is your commute?
A: It is 41 miles from the front door of my apartment to the lot I
usually park in. With traffic flowing, I can easily make it in 45
minutes. WIth bad traffic, it takes much longer. One time, when it was
raining, I left my apartment at 1:00 and didn't make it to campus
until 6:30. It doesn't take much math to tell you that meant an
average speed of 7.45 miles per hour. I almost could have walked here
faster.
Q: How old are you?
A: I was born August 30, 1974, which means I am currently 34 years
old.
Q: What is your astrological sign?
A: Virgo.
Q: What is your middle name?
A: George, after my grandfather (George Stewart was his name).
Q: Are you diabetic? Nothing mean?
A: No, though diabetes does run in the family. I've been tested several times.
Q: What made you decide to grow a ponytail? How long did it take you to grow out?
A: It is the lowest-maintenance hairstyle known to man. Except for a buzz cut,
I suppose, but I look really strange with a buzz cut. It took about a year to grow out; now I
get it cut every six months or so.
Q: How long did it take you to have a beard like yours? I want one...just worried it will take too long.
A: Not long at all. A couple of weeks.
Q: What car do you drive?
A: I have a Toyota Prius.
Q: What is your favorite car?
A: I'm not much of a car person, but if I had my choice, and cost/environmental
impact were no concern, I suppose I would drive a Porsche of some sort.
Q: Do you have any pet peeves we should look out for?
A: There is nothing that bothers me that is not already obvious. I
don't know a single professor who is not annoyed by students who talk
in class, by people who try to pull a fast one, by students who put in
minimal effort and then complain about their grades, etc.
Q: How can we piss you off in class?
A: Do once of the things listed above, I suppose. I'm also not a fan of people
talking while I am talking.
Q: What is your favorite color?
A: Purple.
Q: What is your favorite toothpaste?
A: My dentist told me to use Colgate Total, so that's what I use.
Q: What size shoe do you wear?
A: I have very wide feet, so I have to wear a 9-1/2 even though my feet are only an 8 in length.
Q: Do you not like Texas?
A: I had no intention of expressing a dislike of Texas. I brought
it up because it is a large state with lots of leverage and because
its citizens are so very conservative that the Texas educational
system is notoriously picky about textbooks. If you doubt me, search
google for "Texas"
and "textbooks" sometime.
Q: Why did you become a professor?
A: It was a job that seemed to utilize my particular skill set
very well, and it's also very challenging. Most academics will tell
you that being a good teacher is much harder than being a good
scholar. Also, truth be told, I like the schedule. The standard 9-5 schedule
does not suit me well (as evidence, consider the fact that I am typing this at 3:20 a.m.).
Q: Did you plan on being a teacher from the beginning?
A: No, I originally planned to be a lawyer. I'm not sure why.
Q: What is your specialty in history?
A: U.S. Civil War, and U.S. 20th century cultural history
Q: What is your favorite area in history?
A: Again, the U.S. Civil War, and U.S. 20th century cultural history. It is not a coincidence
that I chose to specialize in those things.
Q: Do you really like history? If you do, how can you like it?
A: I do--it would be very hard to get a Ph.D. if I did not. And if you approach
history properly, it's very, very interesting. Intellectually engaging, full of drama,
and you can learn important things nobody else knows.
Q: What is your favorite part of studying history?
A: Learning something interesting that nobody else knows.
Q: What made you become interested in history? Any particular
person or experience?
A: I've always liked it, I can't say why for sure. A trip I took
to various historic sites in the 7th grade and my grandmother's
encouragement both played a role.
Q: What is your favorite historical era to teach?
A: Modern U.S., because it has the best visual options in terms of
movies and such, and because students are generally the most
interested in this era.
Q: Do you like being a professor? Do you like teaching history?
A: Yes, I do. But it's very hard work to do it properly, trust me. And
yes, I like teaching history--it's interesting, and it's like a story.
Q: What is your proudest achievement in your field?
A: I don't know, maybe the chance to edit my own encyclopedia.
Q: What profession would you have chosen if you had not become a
history professor?
A: I assume we are counting out other history-related jobs, like
working at a museum? If so, then I can tell you the only other
profession I seriously entertained was high-end law
enforcement--working on computer crimes for the FBI, for example. I
might also have considered exploring something related to writing.
Q: Where did you go to school?
A: High school - Tustin High, as I noted above.
Undergraduate/Graduate - UCLA.
Q: Why did you choose UCLA?
A: Truth be told, when I was an undergrad, the main factor was
that it was the best school that did not require letters of
recommendation--I was too embarrassed to ask for them. By the time I
went to grad school, I had a good relationship with a lot of people
there, and it was a good place to go.
Q: How much was tuition at UCLA when you went there?
A: I don't remember, exactly, but it was around $1,500 a quarter.
Q: What was your major?
A: History
Q: How many degrees do you have?
A: Three--BA, MA, Ph.D.--all in history.
Q: Did you go to graduate school straight after college?
A: Yes.
Q: How is the campus at UCLA?
A: It is pretty nice, although hard to get around sometimes
because it is very large and is situated on hills. Some things about
it are nicer than CPP, some things about CPP are nicer than UCLA.
UCLA, for example, has no ducks walking around.
Q: Is UCLA better than Cal Poly?
A: Well, UCLA has more prestige, but you can certainly get a very good
education at either place (and you can also get a pretty mediocre education
at either place). I would actually guess that the average Cal Poly grad has an
easier time getting a job than the average UCLA grad. My experience is that Cal
Poly students are harder working, and take a more practical view of their careers
(i.e. making sure to secure internships) than UCLA students.
Q: How did you like UCLA?
A: In general, I liked it very much. That said, every school has
its annoyances. At CPP, BroncoDirect, parking, and the rules about
adding/dropping/enrolling in classes are all annoying. At UCLA,
parking is also a real problem, as is dealing with the school's
bureaucracy when you have to do so.
Q: Do you really hate USC? Why?
A: Well, they are the rival of my school, UCLA. That said, I don't
really hate them. I make jokes about them because it's funny.
But I actually have a lot of friends who went to USC.
Q: Why is there a rivalry between USC and UCLA?
A: It is somewhat natural for schools that are near one another to be rivals,
particularly if they are very large and very close to one another, as UCLA and USC are.
Q: If UCLA and USC students are superior, why are so many grads teaching at CPP? Not that glamorous to me.
A: Trust me, getting a job as professor anywhere is pretty good. There's about one job for every
five Ph.Ds. To get a job at a university that's among the Top 100 in the country is particularly good.
Q: Why is Cal better than UCLA?
A: Well, I'm not sure it is. However, the things Cal has that make it an
elite university are its excellent faculty, its very nice campus, and its
massive amounts of research dollars.
Q: How long have you been teaching history? How long have you been
teaching at Cal Poly Pomona?
A: Ten years overall. Five years at CPP, the other five at UCLA.
Q: Do you have another job?
A: Well, not exactly. When someone is an academic, it is expected that they will use much
of the time they are not teaching to work on scholarly projects. For example, I am currently
editing an encyclopedia (and I am paid for that work). However, that's not really a different
job, it's an aspect of my teaching job.
Q: Would you consider writing a book on U.S. or California history?
A: You mean a textbook? Probably not. But a regular book? Yes. I'm actually at work
on an encyclopedia (see above) and a couple of other books right now.
Q: What got you to teach in this style?
A: I took a lot of history classes as an undergrad. I tried to pick
the best parts of the good ones, and avoid the worst parts of the bad
ones. I also have a habit of doing things differently than other people.
Rebelliousness, you might call it.
Q: Why did you choose to teach at Cal Poly Pomona if you graduated from UCLA?
A: Well, in my line of work, you don't actually have a lot of
choice. You go where the jobs are. In the case of CPP, they needed
someone, it is a nice campus, the students are good, and it's not too
bad of a commute. Pretty close to an optimal situation.
Q: Have you ever thought about teaching at UCLA? Would you prefer to
teach at UCLA or at Cal Poly Pomona?
A: I have taught at UCLA, many times. There are advantages to each
university, but if given my choice, I would choose Cal Poly Pomona.
Classes at UCLA are usually much larger, and some of the students
there are VERY disrespectful in the way they treat their professors
(reading newspapers in class, etc.). I
dislike both of those things.
Q: When we send an email to you, what should we put in the subject?
A: Doesn't matter to me. I'll figure out who you are. Unless you put something like
"CHEAP VIAGRA" in the subject line.
Q: Are you teaching any other courses?
A: Yes, History of California (History 370).
Q: What is your nationality?
A: I'm about fifth-generation American. In terms of ethnic
heritage, I am part Irish, part English, part German, part Norwegian,
part Native American, part Polish, and probably other stuff, too.
Q: Do you have any pets? Names?
A: Not any more. My landlord threw a fit, and so I had to move them up north to my mom's house.
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time? What are your hobbies?
A: Watch and play sports, play board games, read, play poker, take
martial arts lessons, listen to music, go to movies, play video games.
Q: Are you a video gamer?
A: Yes, indeed (as I noted in the previous answer).
Q: Do you play Everquest or World of Warcraft in your
spare time?
A: No. First, because they are kind of addictive and I fear they
could become too big of a distraction. Second, because I will never
have enough time to practice so that I can compete with these people
who play 10 hours a day, every day. I used to play Warcraft III
online, and I always got pounded, because the sharks who play online
are just too good. I do have a Wii, and I like to play that. And a Playstation
2, and an original NES, too.
Q: Can you read Macintosh files? Are you Macintosh or PC?
A: Yes, I have both a Macintosh and a Windows computer. I use the Mac
primarily.
Q: If you and I were friends on Facebook, would you recognize me in class?
A: I think so.
Q: Are you a baseball coach?
A: I do coach (and play first base for) my softball team.
Q: How do you stay in shape?
A: I walk five miles a day, every day (unless I am sick). I also do Krav Maga
(Israeli martial arts) two or three times a week, weight lifting twice
a week, racquetball once a week, and softball once a week.
Q: Do you play any sports?
A: As noted above, I play softball and racquetball regularly. I also play
football, basketball, tennis, and baseball on occasion.
Q: Do you play any instruments? If so, which ones?
A: Afraid not. I don't have the hands needed to play guitar--my
fingers are too short and stubby. I have the rhythm necessary to play
drums, but I live in an apartment, which makes practice impractical.
One of these days, when I live in a house, I'll probably buy a drum
kit and learn.
Q: Can you sing?
A: Not really. I can, however, do fairly good imitations of some
singers. Bob Dylan, Jim Morrison, and Louis Armstrong, for example.
Q: Are you a Christian? A Democrat? A Republican?
A: I don't prefer to reveal this information at this point,
because I want people to feel as free to express their views as is
possible. If you want to know the answer to the question, I will be
happy to tell you in week 10, at which point it's less of a problem.
Q: Do you have a criminal history?
A: No, why do you ask?
Q: Who did you vote for in 2008? Obama or McCain?
A: As I said above, I'm not willing to reveal that information now. If you want to
know in week 10 who I voted for, I will tell you.
Q: Is Barack Obama the best person for the presidency?
A: I don't feel there's a way to answer that question until he's been in office for several
years. I will say that history is on his side--come see me in my office if you want to know why.
Q: How do you think Obama will do? Will he be successful and rebuild the American economy?
A: He could be great, but as I say above, only time will tell.
The Professor's Opinions
Q: What do you think about the book Catch-22?
A: As chance would have it, that is my favorite book. It's
brilliant, making many wise points about warfare and human nature with
biting satire.
Q: What is your favorite film (American/foreign)?
A: I suspect that most academic types would tell you some sort of
artsy/classy movie--Citizen Kane, The Seven Samurai,
Lawrence of Arabia,--is their favorite. And while I certainly
enjoy many highbrow films like this, I must concede that my favorite
film of all time is a cheeseball comedy--The Blues Brothers.
I think it's funny, and has great music and a great message.
Others in my "Top 10" would include The Princess Bride, The
Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather--Part I, 12 Angry Men, To Kill a
Mockingbird, American Beauty, and Monty Python and the Holy
Grail. My favorite foreign film is probably The Closet.
Q: Who is your favorite actor? Actress?
A: Actor, probably Kevin Spacey or Sean Penn. Actress, probably Kathy Bates.
Q: What is the funniest thing you've ever seen?
A: I have to say, I remember laughing awfully hard when I saw
Clerks 2 on opening night (with director Kevin Smith in attendance). I especially liked
the bit about
Star Wars vs. Lord of the Rings; I agree with Randal's
point of view. Note that the clip is, uh, R-Rated.
Q: Do you like Star Wars?
A: Yes. I saw Revenge of the Sith on opening night, and
I've seen all the others at least five times each. Return of the
Jedi, which is my favorite film of the six, I have seen about 30
times.
Q: Which do you prefer: Star Wars or Star Trek?
A: It's a close call, but probably Star Trek because there's so much more of it.
Q: Are you a big fan of Adult Swim?
A: I like some of their programs--mostly Family Guy and Robot
Chicken. Some of their stuff, especially Aqua Teen Hunger Force I don't
really see the appeal.
Q: What do you think about the movie Across the Universe?
A: I liked it, though I kind of thought it dragged at the end.
Q: What is your opinion of the other history professors at this
university?
A: I haven't really seen many of them teach, so it would be hard
to comment in any meaningful way. But I know enough to know that there
are some very good ones, and a few that are less so. Beyond that,
different professors always have different styles. Sometimes a
professor's style works well for a particular student, sometimes it
doesn't.
Q: Why is baseball America's pasttime?
A: Well, I'm not sure it is any more. Many people would pick
football. Nonetheless, it might be still, and it certainly once was,
and I would say that has something to do with the fact that the early
promoters of the game (i.e. Albert Spaulding) did their jobs very well.
If you would like to talk more about this very interesting question,
please feel free to stop by my office sometime.
Q: Should Barry Bonds be considered for the Hall of Fame?
A: I don't think so. He cheated, just like Joe Jackson, just like
Pete Rose. And while others who cheated may skate by because we can't
prove it--Sammy Sosa, for example--that doesn't mean we should
overlook the cheaters whom we've definitely caught.
Q: What kind of music do you like? Any favorite bands?
A: In terms of genres, I like classic rock, hard rock, heavy
metal, rap, alternative, and a bit of just about everything else. In
terms of bands, my favorites include The Beatles, Nirvana, Metallica,
NWA, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Beastie
Boys, the Steve Miller Band, Eminem, and AC/DC. My very favorite of these is
the Beatles.
Q: What type of music has been most influential to you?
A: You mean, in my own life? Probably heavy metal, which was the
primary sort of music I was listening to at some key points in my life.
Or do you mean, what type of music do I think is most influential,
historically? If that is what you mean, then I choose Jazz, for
its influence on civil rights, American culture, and on other
types of music.
Q: What is your favorite song?
A: I prepared a list of my top 100 a few years ago;
here's the Top 20:
A: 1. "Wish You Were Here," Pink Floyd
2. "A Day in the Life," The Beatles
3. "Kashmir," Led Zeppelin
4. "Something," The Beatles
5. "I Will Survive," Cake (original version by Gloria Gaynor)
6. "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" Nirvana
7. "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)," Metallica
8. "Mind Games," George Clinton (original version by John Lennon)
9. "Behind Blue Eyes," The Who
10. "God Only Knows," Beach Boys
11. "Smells Like Teen Spirit," Nirvana
12. "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away," The Beatles
13. "All Along the Watchtower," Jimi Hendrix (original version by Bob Dylan)
14. "Don't Speak," No Doubt
15. "When the Levee Breaks," Led Zeppelin
16. "Stan," Eminem
17. "Gin and Juice," Snoop Dogg
18. "Walk This Way," Aerosmith and Run-DMC
19. "Gangsta's Paradise," Coolio
20. "Bicycle Race," Queen
Q: What is your favorite Beatles song and album?
A: As is consistent with the list above, "A Day in the
Life" is my favorite song, though "Something," "While My
Guitar Gently Weeps," "I Me Mine," and "You've Got to Hide
Your Love Away" are in the top five. My favorite album is
"The Beatles) (aka The White Album).
Q: Is there a reason you chose the song "Gold Digger"? Are you a Kanye West fan?
A: I am a fan. I chose the song because I thought it was a good counterpart to Scott Joplin. I
also considered an Eminem song.
Q: Is Kanye West your favorite musical artist?
A: I like him as a person, and I like his music, but he's definitely
not my favorite.
Q: Can you schedule more Kanye West songs?
A: Probably not, but there will be some other similar songs later in the quarter.
Q: Do you listen to Tupac, and what do you think about his influence?
A: I do, and he obviously had an enormous influence on the West coast
rappers of his day, as well as the newer rappers working today. I
particularly detect his influence in the music of Kanye West and
Eminem.
Q: Are Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls still alive?
A: Did you know that almost any time a popular and famous person dies
young, there is a conspiracy theory about their death? Either that
they didn't really die (Tupac, Jim Morrison, Elvis Presley, Jimi
Hendrix, Princess Diana) or that their death was in fact the product
of a plot that's being hidden from the public (John F. Kennedy, John
Lennon, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., Marilyn Monroe). I am
disinclined to believe in these conspiracies, especially since I saw
Biggie Smalls' body (he was killed about four miles from my apartment,
and I happened to drive by as they were cleaning up the scene and
putting him on the ambulance).
Q: What is your favorite rap song?
A: "Stan," by Eminem. But I also very much like "Slow and Low" and "No Sleep
til Brooklyn" by the Beastie Boys, "Bring the Noise" by Public Enemy, "Walk this Way"
and "My Adidas" by Run-DMC, "Fuck tha Police" and "Straight Outta Compton" by NWA,
"California Love" by Tupac Shakur, "Gangsta's Paradise" by Coolio,
"Gin and Juice" by Snoop Dogg, and "Fett's Vett" by MC Chris.
Q: People either love or hate Dane Cook. What are your thoughts?
A: I am not much a fan of stand up comedy, and I am definitely not a fan of his stuff
(which is reportedly stolen, anyhow). The only standups I really like are Richard Pryor,
Denis Leary, and Sam Kinison.
Q: Do you have a favorite artist (e.g. a painter)?
A: In terms
of painters, I like Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Warhol, and Van Gogh. In terms of
sculptors, I like Remington and Michelangelo and Bernini and St. Gaudens. In terms of architects,
I like Frank Lloyd Wright and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. And in photography, I like
Ansel Adams and Alexander Gardner.
Q: What is your favorite sport/team?
A: My favorite sport to watch is football, to play is baseball. My
favorite teams are the L.A. Angels of Anaheim, the L.A. Kings, the
Green Bay Packers, and the L.A. Lakers.
Q: What do you think about the Lakers and LA teams in general? Do
you like the Clippers? What do you think about the Dodgers?
A: As I noted above, I am a long time Laker fan.
I like the Kings, although I think they are poorly
managed by their owner and their GM. I don't like the Dodgers, whom I also think
are poorly managed by their owner. The Angels are my favorite pro team
of all; I've rooted for them since I was six (25 years!). I have no
use for the Clippers, another poorly managed team. As to the college
teams, obviously I like UCLA, and can't stand USC.
Q: Is this the year the Lakers go all the way?
A: I think so, yes. Barring injury to Kobe or Pau Gasol, of course.
Q: Why are the Lakers so good?
A: They have always been a very well-run franchise. They trade well, draft well, do everything right.
Q: When will the Dodgers win another World Series?
A: I don't see it anytime soon, frankly. I am unimpressed with the people who run that team.
Virtually all of the big contracts they have handed out have been foolish--Andruw Jones, Jason Schmidt,
Juan Pierre.
Q: Why do the San Francisco 40ers always lose?
A: After two decades of amazing drafts and great ownership, they just fell apart. I mean,
I can only think of one draft pick in the last eight years that's been really great (Frank
Gore, a steal in the third round of the 2005 draft).
Q: If you're a historian, then who won the 1983 NBA title?
A: Easy one. The Philadelphia 76ers. Other champions that year: The Orioles,
the Redskins, and the Islanders.
Q: Should playa hating be against the law?
A: Yes, and punishable with the death penalty.
Q: What do you think about the Angels' chances this year to win the
World Series?
A: I dunno; I think they will struggle to score runs.
Q: Who is your favorite Angel--past or present?
A: Nolan Ryan is #1, hands-down. Others on the list would include
Chuck "The Ragin' Cajun" Finley, Darin Erstad, Vladimir Guerrero, Rod
Carew (whom I've had lunch with), Bob Boone, and Wally Joyner.
Q: Why did the Angels give up Orlando Cabrera for Jon Garland last year?
A: Two reasons: 1. They had too many shortstops and not enough pitchers. 2.
Cabrera had a career year and was never going to play better than he did in 2007.
It was therefore a good time to 'sell high.'
Q: Do you really feel taking performance enhancing drugs (or steroids) in sports is bad?
A: Yes. First, sports aren't important enough for people to sacrifice their health and
their lives. Second, when pros take these drugs, it encourages non-pros (high schoolers,
for example) to do the same.
Q: What is your favorite thing to read/learn about in history? What era
are you most passionate about?
A: The U.S. Civil War. Although I am also very interested in
modern America, the history of TV and popular music, the presidency,
and historical myths.
Q: Would you live in your favorite period if you could?
A: Given that it's the Civil War, no. They had no video games, many fewer books,
crummy food, and no modern medicine. Would you really want to live in a world without
aspirin or anesthesia?
Q: Who is your favorite person in U.S. history?
A: Abraham Lincoln. I am also very much interested in General
George Patton, President Harry S. Truman, the women who helped us
win World War II, baseball player Jackie Robinson, President Thomas Jefferson,
many figures from the Wild West, General Ulysses S. Grant, musician Bob Dylan,
filmmaker Martin Scorsese, football player Brett Favre, and a bunch of others.
Q: What is your favorite ice cream? Do you prefer strawberry,
chocolate, or vanilla?
A: I really liked Ben & Jerry's Festivus flavor, but I don't think
they make it any more. Among currently available flavors, I like
Haagen Dazs Dulce de Leche. And among the three flavors that comprise
Neapolitan ice cream, I like strawberry best.
Q: What's your favorite type of beer?
A: I am mildly allergic to alcohol, and so never developed a taste for the
kind of beer you're referring to. As such, my answer will have to be root beer.
Q: How do you feel about legalizing marijuana?
A: I am in favor of it. I don't think the war on drugs is a good use of our resources.
Q: What is your favorite TV Show?
A: Among those still on the air, Family Guy or The
Simpsons. Of all time, either
M*A*S*H or Star Trek: Deep Space Nine or Saturday
Night Live.
Q: Do you watch the O'Reilly factor?
A: No, I don't have the patience for TV news or talking heads. Too slow; I prefer to
read my information. And I also find O'Reilly to be annoying.
Q: What is your favorite political cartoon strip?
A: "Bloom County," by Berke Breathed.
Q: What is your favorite Disney character?
A: Hmm, hard one. Maybe Tigger. Maybe Donald Duck. Maybe Merlin. Maybe the Sorcerer's
Apprentice.
Q: What is your favorite Simpsons character?
A: From the actual family? Homer. From the whole show? Either Willie
the groundskeeper or Disco Stu.
Q: What do you believe to be the most influential TV Show, band/singer, and writer
to have an effect on America's youth over the last century?
A: For TV show, I will definitely go with Sesame Street. Think of how many
kids have learned to read/count from that show. For the band/singer, I will choose
Elvis Presley, I think. He, more than anyone else, was responsible for establishing
rock and roll. As to writer, that's a hard one. I think I will go with Dr. Benjamin Spock,
who wrote the nation's most important book on baby and child care. Millions of mothers
have raised their children according to his ideas. My runner-up (and it's close) is J.K.
Rowling. How many kids have been persuaded to read and to learn thanks to her books?
Q: Who is your favorite American WWII general?
A: Patton, hands down. Very interesting man.
Q: What do you think about Ho Chi Minh?
A: I don't have a strong opinion, but generally speaking, he seems to have done
good things for Vietnam.
Q: What do you think about Che Guevara?
A: I think he's way more famous than his career really justifies his being, and that
most people who wear t-shirts with him on them know nothing about who he was.
Q: What is your favorite historical movie?
A: Glory, although Patton and Spartacus are
also near the top of my list.
Q: What are the best WW II movies?
A: Well, Patton again. Also, Flags of Our Fathers, The Thin
Red Line, Das Boot, Casablanca, Letters From Iwo Jima, and
The Bridge on the River Kwai. I am not a fan, incidentally, of Saving Private
Ryan, which I find to be poorly directed and melodramatic.
Q: Do you like to snowboard?
A: I wish I could! I lack the time and the coordination for that
particular activity. Can't surf, either.
Q: On a certain special Cal Poly website, someone stated that you
resemble Jack Black. Do you agree? Are you related?
A: I guess I can see that. He went to UCLA too, you know. But I
can tell you for sure that we're not related. He grew up at least 60
miles from me.
Q: Do you like Tenacious D?
A: They are all right, but not great.
Q: Do you think the information given in public schools is
censored, and to whose advantage is this?
A: Tough question. I am not sure I would use "censored" as much as
I would use "skewed." And I would argue that the people who are most
interested in skewing this information are school boards and other
public officials who want to please voters by making sure that
children are taught the "correct" version of history.
Q: What are your thoughts on the current president? Why is Bush a (jerk)?
A: I can't use the actual word you used, but I think this conveys your
sentiment. Anyhow, you actually raise a very interesting question that
many historians like to think about--why is President Bush's approval
rating so very low (it's in the low 30s right now, which is very
unusual)? Obviously, part of the 70% who "disapprove"is people who
disagree with his philosophy/values--after all, every president is
hated by at least 30% of the country. But what about the rest of the
people who don't like him? Part of it, of course, is the war in Iraq.
There's nothing Americans like more than a war that's going well, and
there's nothing they hate more than a war that's going slowly. I would
say that Bush is also hurt a lot by his leadership style. He has
surrounded himself with a small group of very loyal people who tell
him what he WANTS to hear, rather than what he NEEDS to hear. He is,
as a result, rather out of touch with the average American, and does
some very unnecessary and foolish things as a result that make people
very angry. For example, when he tried to turn control of port
security over to the country of Dubai about two years ago, that was an
extremely foolish thing to do. It's the kind of thing his advisors
should have told him not to do. But clearly they didn't, and he made a
lot of people--even people in his own party--VERY angry. I might add
that this problem is not unique to Bush. A lot of presidents--Democrat
and Republican--manage their presidency in this way. Lyndon B. Johnson
(Dem) is the most obvious example, but other examples include Ulysses
S. Grant (Rep), Warren Harding (Rep), and Woodrow Wilson (Dem). And
all of them suffered as a result.
Q: What is your understanding of Farenheit 9/11 by Michael Moore? How has it shaped peoples' views?
A: I thought it was an interesting (albeit exaggerated) film. I really don't think it's had
much of an impact on public opinion--Bush did win re-election after it came out.
Q: Who is the world's superpower?
A: For better or worse, we are. Of course, the problem with being 'King
of the Hill' is that everyone is trying to knock you off.
Q: How often do you teach this class?
A: I teach it pretty much every quarter.
Q: Do you check your email daily?
A: Yes, usually multiple times.
Q: The word recession is bring thrown arounds a lot, is that a sign that
our economy is headed toward a depression?
A: It could very well be, but it doesn't necessarily have to be. Depends on what
President Obama does.
About Historical Events/The Discipline of
History
Q: I'm an engineering major. Why the hell do I need to know history?
A: Well, first of all, because it engages the mind and teaches us how
to use information. That is important in every discipline. Second, because
to properly understand the world, you need to have a certain level of cultural
literacy. In your life, people will make reference to John F. Kennedy, the Cold
War, the New Deal, women's suffrage, Ronald Reagan, and Watergate (among other things). You want to know
what they are talking about. Third, because the past gives us the experience we need
to make decisions in the present. Is George Bush correct when he says that invading Iraq is
the only way to keep the Middle East stable? Well, a look at our past actions and experiences in that region can give a clue.
Q: Why do we care about the past?
A: There are many reasons. Understanding the past can help us to
understand who we are and where we came from. It can provide many
lessons in how nations and peoples should act and they should not act.
It can help us to make sense of contemporary problems, and help us
find solutions to those problems.
Q: Explain why history is the most important subject.
A: Well, I don't believe I made that assertion. Comparing the significance of history to,
say, something like engineering is like comparing apples and oranges. I will say that history
teaches us how to make sense of the world, and many of the problems that we face. It
also forces us to open our minds, and develops our critical thinking skills.
Q: What does it mean to examine/write about something like a
historian would?
A: Well, historians are, of course, interested in the past. And
they are interested in trying to figure out exactly what happened, and
why it happened. So, the first thing that the historian does is
collect evidence--photos, newspaper articles, letters, speeches,
poems, paintings, artifacts, etc. Then we try to make some informed
guesses about what those things tell us about the past. Finally, we
try to determine some patterns, so that we can make a general
statement about some aspect of the past.
Let's take an example. Say the historian
wishes to learn how Americans felt about the Internment of the
Japanese. So, he or she examines newspapers from 1942, 1943, 1944, and
1945. The historian then looks at the articles/cartoons/editorials
that he or she collected and notices that newspapers in strongly
Democratic states generally favored internment, and that those
newspaper in strongly Republican states were opposed. With this
evidence in hand, the historian might draw the conclusion that the
motivating factor behind internment was not to protect the Japanese
from violence, as FDR said, but instead to shore up political support
for the Democratic party in time for the critical elections of 1942.
This is a pretty good example of how
historians do their business. And it is essentially what you will do
on your final paper.
Q: Since historians can choose whatever evidence they want to make their point,
why should I take any of it seriously?
A: Because an educated individual learns how to evaluate evidence, and to
decide which evidence is persuasive. If I were to cherry-pick evidence to prove to you.
say, that George Bush is secretly a gay Buddhist ballet dancer, would you buy it? On the other
hand, if I gave you several pieces of evidence that he made decisions to please his
father, would you potentially be persuaded? I think you would be able to decide which,
if either, of those two things is correct based on your examination of my evidence.
Q: Does history happen to repeat itself over time?
A: Great question, and I could go on for pages answering it. But
you don't want to read pages, so I'll be more succinct in outlining my
opinion. Ultimately, history is made by people, and people are
basically the same, whether they are white or black, Asian or
Australian, living in A.D. 2005 or living in 2005 B.C. This being the
case, it should not be surprising that we should see the same basic
responses to events over and over.
Let's
take a classic example. Throughout history, the same basic type of
person has tended to rise to positions of leadership: confident to the
point of arrogance, aggressive, usually male, shrewd, etc. This was
true in 1800, when Napoleon rose to power, and it was true in 1935,
when Hitler rose to power. Both of these men could not accomplish
their ambition--to rule all of Europe--without conquering Russia. Both
were shrewd enough to see this was the case, but also arrogant enough
to overlook the fact that conquering an area as large as Russia is an
enormous task. And both eventually suffered enormously for their
arrogance, as their failures in attacking Russia eventually
contributed to their respective downfalls. The point is, it should not
surprise us that many great leaders have tried--and failed--to conquer
Russia, because the kind of man that our society tends to elevate to a
leadership position is the same kind of man who would actually believe
he could conquer such a large area.
Let's
look at one more example. Life is rough, and suffering is always a
part of existence. However, it is human nature for people to not want
to blame themselves for their problems. If they can be given a
credible alternative to blame, they always take it. So, it's not
surprising that when things have gotten their worst in history, that
people have been especially eager to find a particular group of people
to scapegoat. It happened with Christians when Rome began to fall
apart in the 300s, it happened with Jews when the Black Plague broke
out in the 1200s, it happened with supposed witches when the European
economy collapsed in the 1400s, it happened with Jews again in the
1930s, and so forth.
Q: If history repeats itself, can we therefore predict the future?
A: On occasion, but generally not. It's hard to know which things are going to repeat
themselves until they do.
Q: How valid can a novel be as a source of history?
A: First, let me note that novels are works of fiction. I assume
you're asking about historical narratives like Farewell to
Manzanar, which are not actually novels, since they are not fictional. But really, whatever kind
of book you are talking about, my answer is the same.
What we call history is really a group of
generalizations. What happens is that historians get hundreds or
thousands of individual people's accounts of the events they lived
through and we read them. From those accounts historians try to draw a
general picture of what happened, and that is what gets taught in
history classes. But the general account is only generally true, and
it is by definition oversimplified. So, a book or a novel can give us
a more specific picture, because that book speaks for one or two or
three people, instead of hundreds or thousands. Now, the book will by
definition be more skewed towards one point of view. But it will also
be more nuanced than what we learn in textbooks. Anyhow, by pairing
together the broad syntheses compiled by historians with more
individualized versions of history written by those who were there, we
can gain a deeper historical understanding than if we just relied on
historians, or if we just relied on first-person accounts. I hope this
makes sense. If it doesn't let me give a quick example. If you look at
a forest, and you look at a picture of a tree, you get different kinds
of information, right? But both kinds of information help us to
understand what a forest is like, right?
Q: Is all history based on written information only? Is all history true?
A: No, and no. As to the information, I hope to show you this quarter that
historians use all sorts of sources. As to truth, there is very little "truth"
in history--it's all interpretation and guesswork. Or, as Napoleon put it,
"History is a set of lies agreed upon."
Q: What do you think is the most historically important novel/text
ever written?
A: Great question! Let me start by issuing the same clarification
that I issued above, namely that a novel is a work of fiction. So if I
am allowed to consider all texts, including those that are not
fictional, then the answer to your question is undoubtedly the Bible.
And it would be followed closely by other key religious texts--the
Qur'an, the works of Confucius, the Bhagavad Gita, the I Ching, etc.
If we are declaring religious texts to be
off-limits, then I would choose The Wealth of Nations by Adam
Smith, and The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx, which between
them form the philosophical basis upon which the governments of most
modern countries are founded. Also high on the list would have to be
Newton's Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, (aka
The Principia which forms the basis for much of modern science.
If we are limiting ourselves ONLY to
novels--works of fiction--then it's a tougher question. I suppose I
would choose Machiavelli's The Prince or Dante's Divine
Comedy or Sir Thomas More's Utopia. And finally, If we are
limiting ourselves to novels AND American history, I would choose
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, which played a key
role in bringing about the Civil War.
Q: What do you think about the History Channel?
A: Anything that gets people interested in history is good. That
said, watch with caution, because sometimes their research is less
than perfect. Come talk to me in my office sometime and I'll tell you
a story about the outrageous errors in one of their programs that I
reviewed.
Q: Do you think National Treasure was uplifting or demeaning to historians?
A: I'm generally a fan of anything that gets people interested in the past. I certainly
did not find it demeaning, since I'm sure 99% of moviegoers realize it's not accurate.
Q: Who is your favorite person in history and why? Dead, or alive, or
even imaginary?
A: I like Abraham Lincoln. He's interesting, and a bit of an
inspiration in terms of how he dealt with problems.
Q: Who is your favorite president and why?
A: See question above.
Q: Who was the worst U.S. president (excluding Bush)?
A: James Buchanan, who basically guaranteed that the Civil War would happen
with his mismanagement.
Q: What do you think about Columbus "discovering" America?
A: Well, he didn't obviously. The Native Americans came before
him, and so did the Vikings. He also didn't prove the world was round
(Europeans already knew this). What he is important for, then, is not
for discovering anything, but instead for encouraging Europeans to
believe that much wealth was to be had by exploring and exploiting the
so-called "New World." He thus became the impetus for the age of
exploration.
Q: How much of history do you think is actually true?
A: Depends on the source, but I would say that about half of what most people "know"
is actually true.
Q: Did George Washington free his slaves in his will? If so, were they actually free?
A: Yes. Or, more accurately, he freed his personal servant, and instructed that the rest
of the slaves should be freed on the death of his wife (she died about two years after he did).
And they were indeed freed upon her death.
Q: Who do you think won the CIvil War? North or South?
A: Well, if we judge by who surrendered to whom, then certainly the North. However,
the South did manage, in the end, to maintain its way of life and its basic economy for another
80 years.
Q: What was the most popular type of alcohol during prohibition?
A: Gin. Why? Because it's the easiest thing to make at home. You may have
heard the phrase "bathtub gin"? That phrase dates back to prohibition.
Q: What can you tell me about corn whiskey?
A: It was, and is, a very common form of homemade liquor because it uses corn,
which is so widely available. It was common during prohibition.
Q: Do you know who really killed JFK?
A: I have no special knowledge of this matter. But, as I've noted
other places on this page, I'm generally skeptical of conspiracy
theories. Did the Warren Commission do a sloppy job of investigating
the assassination? No doubt. Is it possible there was one other
shooter who got away with his crime? I am at least open to that. But
is it some grand conspiracy run by the Mafia or Fidel Castro, or the
military, or Lyndon Johnson, or angry New Yorkers, gay cowboys, or whatever? I'm very
skeptical. How could such a big secret involving so many people stay a
secret? If you're interested in reading a good book on this topic, I
would suggest Case Closed by Gerald Posner.
Q: What is the truth about the magic bullet? Was it one, or several bullets?
A: Well, according to the Warren Commission, it was a single bullet. I don't know
"the truth," as such, but if you read Case Closed, mentioned in the previous
answer, he makes a fairly persuasive case that it's possible. You can also
see this site.
Q: Is it true John F. Kennedy had a thing going with Marilyn Monroe?
A: Yes, apparently so. So did his brother. JFK was a notorious womanizer.
Q: Why does the Kennedy family seem to be cursed?
A: Interesting question. In part, it is because they are
high-profile, and certain things like assassinations only happen to
high-profile people. In part, it is because they seem to be raised to
be a bit careless, which can lead to things like drunk driving
accidents and self-inflicted plane crashes. And in part it is because
there are so many of them for bad things to happen to.
Q: How does the economy of the past relate to today?
A: Well, we will talk about this in lecture, but I would say the primary connection
is that, about eight decades ago, we decided that laissez faire (aka "anything goes") doesn't
work, and that the government needs to step in and help manage the economy. Nearly everything
that has happened with the economy since then is a product of that lesson.
Q: Why did the Catholic church choose to stay out of World War II?
A: Well, complicated question. The short version goes something
like this: Early in his rule, Hitler showed that he was just as
willing to kill Catholics as he was Jews. So, the church signed an
agreement with him in 1933 in which both parties agreed to leave the
other alone. On top of that, the headquarters of the Catholic
church--the Vatican--is located within Italy, one of the countries
allied with Hitler. So, because the church's leaders felt that its
followers and its headquarters were highly vulnerable, they decided to
do what they could to save themselves. And that meant looking the
other way when it came to the Holocaust.
Q: Was Hitler gay?
A: Maybe, but probably not. However, it is fairly likely that he died a virgin.
Q: Was Henry Ford friends with Hitler?
A: Yes, he was. Ford is the only American mentioned in Hitler's book Mein Kampf, in fact.
Q: Did the U.S. know about the attacks on Pearl Harbor before they
happened?
A: We can never know for sure, but I don't think so. I will
explain why I feel this way in lecture.
Q: Do you think the atomic bomb was really necessary to end World War
II?
A: Yes. We will talk at length about this in class.
Q: What event do you think changed the United States the most?
A: It depends on how you define "event." My first answer would be the Civil War.
If that is too broad as an "event," and we have to narrow it down to a single day,
then I will choose the Battle of Antietam. Come to my office and ask if you want to know
why I chose this.
Q: After you told us that we had to analyze a picture, you showed us a picture of the
American marines raising up the U.S. flag in Japan. This got me thinking. It shows a picture of, simply,
a victory, but for what? In general, why do we have wars? I know that before countries were established on a map
as they are now, people used to fight for land. Why don't we do that anymore? What are the true intentions
and reasons why nations go to war?
A: Wow. Very impressive questions. Very thoughtful indeed; I'm glad you'll be in class this quarter.
In short, you're right that countries don't generally go to war over land any more (though some do).
I would say that countries go to war for two main things, today. The first is for resources. For example,
the U.S. may not need any "land" in Iraq, but we'd sure love access to their oil. The second is
for self-defense. Many people go to war to protect their lives, their country, and their way of life.
For example, terrorists attack us because they feel we are harming their culture and their way
of life. So, we fight back because we are worried they will attack and kill more of us. Anyhow,
that's my answer, in a nutshell. If you'd like to talk more about this, come to my office sometime.
Q: What president do you think changed the U.S. in the best way?
A: Consistent with the previous answer, I'll have to go with Abraham Lincoln. However.
Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt aren't far behind.
Q: What has Dick Cheney done?
A: In what sense? Do you mean, what has he accomplished? Well, he was a long time
Congressman from Wyoming, and an influential functionary within the Republican Party
before becoming Vice-President. Since becoming VP, he has clearly played a major role in
shaping the president's policy agenda. On the other hand, perhaps you mean, "what has he done
to make people dislike him so much?" If that is what you mean, well, to begin with he
is ultraconservative, and has pushed the administration to do things that make liberals
very unhappy--e.g. tax cuts. Indeed, you could even argue that he is the primary person
behind the war in Iraq. Beyond that, I know many people think of him as a hypocrite, since
he pursues anti-gay policies in public, but has a lesbian daughter. Further, the incident
where he shot his friend in the face and then tried to cover it up was a major black mark.
Q: Do you think fashion plays an important role in history? How much, on a scale of 1-10?
Will we be talking about it?
A: It certainly plays some role, though it's very, very hard to measure how much of a role.
I will say it's about a 3 on a scale of 1-10, because it certainly affects the economy, and
some people's behavior, and the judgments people make about one another. We will talk about it
a little bit on occasion, but not too often. If you want to make this the basis of your final
paper, come talk to me.
Q: Based on what you said about how you feel history involves music, paintings, and movies,
do you believe that dance, any kind, is related, too (i.e. hip hop, breakdance, salsa, jazz, ballroom.
club dancing, etc.)
A: Certainly. We will talk a tiny bit about this in class, and if you wanted to do your
paper on the historical significance of a particular dance or dances, that would be fine.
Q: Did the artist who painted "American Gothic" paint anything
else?
A: Yes, he was very prolific. His most famous work other than
"American Gothic" is probably his version of Paul Revere's ride, which
you can see here. One of his paintings was used for the Iowa state quarter.
Q: Why did Newman's Own cookies (and other products) use "American
Gothic" as part of their branding scheme?
A: Well, I am really no more qualified to answer that than you are. Why do you
think so? My best guess is that the painting exemplifies certain
values--hard work, respect for the land, rejection of fancy modern
technology--that Newman wanted to identify with his products. Plus,
dressing up Paul Newman is a little bit amusing, and I suspect he
liked that aspect, too. In any case, "American Gothic" is one of the
most frequently appropriated and satirized paintings in history (right
up there with the "Mona Lisa"). See here and here and here for a few examples.
Q: Why is this painting called "American Gothic"? Is it because the
house in the background is Gothic in style?
A: That is one theory. The other is that he used "Gothic" because it
is a synonym for "old-fashioned." Of course, it's possible that both
theories are true.
Q: Do you believe WWII started with the Treaty of Versailles (which
ended WWI), Hitler's rise to power, or the European powers not acting
against Germany building militarily and invading Poland?
A: First, let me note that they did respond to the invasion of
Poland, they just didn't respond to his other actions (e.g. taking
Austria). In any case, as I will argue in lecture, I believe that the
Treaty of Versailles made WWII inevitable, so that is my choice from
your list.
Q: How do you feel about our entrance into Vietnam on a personal
level? Do you sympathize with the government's actions back then, and
do you find correlations between Vietnam and the War on Terror?
A: Great questions. I think escalating our involvement in Vietnam
was a mistake, but it was a mistake that political considerations
forced upon Lyndon B. Johnson--we will discuss this more in lecture. I
do sympathize with LBJ for having been forced into this position, but
at the same time I also blame him for the lies he told and the
arrogant mistakes he made.
As to the last
question, I do see some correlations. Both wars have/had end goals
that are kind of vague, and that ultimately seem to me to be/to have
been unachievable. Americans want desperately to fight the kind of
wars we are good at, where we conquer a lot of territory, and do a lot
of damage, and then the enemy gives up. WWII and WWI were wars like
this. But Vietnam and Iraq were/are not, they are dirty, messy
guerrilla wars against an almost intransigent resistance that almost
cannot be forced to surrender. I think that the best case we can hope
for in Iraq is that, in a few years, we are significantly able to
reduce our troop commitment, and that we can maintain the peace and
stability there with a much smaller military presence. This is
basically the same end scenario as we had in Korea, where we still
have troops to this day, 53 years after the war ended. It seems to me
to be an impossibility that we will be able to leave Iraq entirely
anytime in the next 20-30 years.
Q: Who do you feel is the most influential person of the 2000's,
excluding the president of the United States.
A: Fascinating question. Now, I begin by assuming that in
disqualifying President Bush, we are also disqualifying those whose
power and influence derives from him, right? Dick Cheney, Condoleezza
Rice, etc.? Proceeding with this assumption, I am going to
argue that the person who is alive today, and has had the most
influence on modern society, is Bill Gates. Admittedly, the work he
has done to influence society began well before the 2000s. But if we
are to exclude those people in the White House, I think the person who
has the strongest influence on us is Bill Gates.
Now, it may be that choosing Bill Gates
violates the rules of the question, and that the only people whose
emergence/influence is limited to the 2000s counts. If so, then my
answer would be Osama bin Laden, whose attack on the U.S. may
fundamentally change our attitudes towards the Middle East and towards
civil liberties.
Finally, I must note that
whatever answer I offer comes with an important caveat. There are many
people who have risen to prominence only recently, and whose influence
on history is yet to be ascertained. It could be that in 40 years,
someone else emerges as obviously the most important person of this
decade.
Q: Are we in the Iraq war for the oil?
A: Maybe. But if a president is already willing to do shady
things, it seems to me that there are easier options than a full scale
war if you want to secure cheap oil. And on top of that, if getting
cheap oil was in fact our goal, it sure isn't working out, is it?
Q: Did Ronald Reagan really end Communism in the Soviet Union?
A: Historians debate this question endlessly. I would say that no
one person can be given all of the responsibility for the collapse of
an entire society. However, Reagan probably deserves just about as
much credit as anybody (along with Russian premier Mikhail Gorbachev
and U.S. President Richard Nixon).
Q: What is the most dramatic historical event, do you think?
A: Well, that requires a bit of a value judgment. But, it seems to
me that for an event to be dramatic, it has to affect a lot of people
in a very short period of time. This being the case, I suppose I will
choose the dropping of the atomic bombs. This killed tens of thousands
of people, brought an end to World War II, and set the stage for the
Cold War, all in the span of three days. That seems very dramatic to
me.
Q: What is the most fascinating thing you learn when you study U.S.
history?
A: Well, this is a matter of taste, but I think that for me it's
probably that just about everything that is happening today has
happened over and over before in one form or another.
Q: What do you consider the most significant event of the last 50 years?
A: Well, that depends on how broadly you define "event"? I mean, does the 42-year-long Cold War count?
I'm guessing you mean something that occurred in a week or less. If so, I will say the election of
Ronald Reagan. Enormous impact on the American economy, on politics, on foreign affairs.
Q: Would you recommend Lies My Teacher Told Me?
A: Yes, definitely.
Q: What nation had history's greatest warriors?
A: Hard to say, since comparing an American GI to a Greek Hoplite
seems an awful lot like comparing apples and oranges. That said, if I
have to answer, I guess I'd go with the Romans. They conquered an
awful lot of territory, and they held it for an awfully long time. But
I think the Americans have a case, too, given the size of the wars
that they managed to win.
Q: Was the last presidential election rigged?
A: By last election, I assume you mean 2000, right? If so, I think
the answer is probably no. At least not in the traditional sense.
There have been a number of elections in American history--1960, 1876,
and others--where the casting of fraudulent votes was used to swing
the election. I don't think this happened in 2000. That said, were
some states (Florida, for example) very sloppy in the way they
conducted their balloting? Certainly. Was it a bit shaky that the
Supreme Court ended up making the final decision? Probably so. But
these are not the same thing as "rigging" the election.
I guess, for me, the bottom line is this:
Al Gore might or might not have won the election if every ballot in
every state had been counted correctly, I'm not sure. But as far as I
am concerned, he deserved to lose. He had enormous advantages going
for him--a robust economy, the backing of a popular president, etc. He
should have won easily. But he ran a poor campaign that seemed to be
without vision and without direction. And so, he cut it really close,
and it cost him. I mean, he didn't even win his own home state, for
goodness' sakes. Do you know how hard that is to do? EVERY
presidential candidate wins his home state. Even Mondale, who lost the
other 49 states to Reagan in 1984, at least managed to win his some
state of Minnesota.
Q: What started the stock market crash?
A: Good question, and we will discuss this a bit in lecture. But
for now, the short answer is that people were buying stocks at prices
that were far too high, believing they could sell at a handsome
profit. Eventually, people stopped buying stocks at these crazy
prices, and the market crashed.
Q: Do you believe we really went to the moon?
A: Yes. If you read the other answers here, you will see that I
generally reject conspiracy theories. In this case, I find it
exceedingly difficult to believe that the federal government-- which
has not exactly been wildly competent in hiding its secrets in other
areas--could pull off such a massive scam involving so many people
without the truth leaking out eventually.
Q: What is your take on 9/11?
A: You mean, do I believe it was a secret government conspiracy? I do not. And yes, I have
seen that video on YouTube. I do believe, however, that (1) President Bush probably deserves more
of the blame for not protecting us than he got, and (2) if we just assume these were crazy people
with no rational basis for complaint, that is a dangerous conclusion. As you will see in lecture,
there are some very obvious reasons that some Muslims hate the United States. We cannot pretend those
concerns do not exist, even if condemn terrorism and the killing of innocent civilians as a proper
response to those concerns.
Q: Do you believe Area 51 exists and is being kept secret by the government.
A: Nope. I don't have confidence in the goverment to keep those kinds of secrets.
Q: Is the world going to end in 2012?
A: No, absolutely not. (The best part about this answer is that if I'm wrong, nobody will be
around to point it out).
About Textbooks
Q: If we wanted a textbook, which would you recommend? What textbook would you use
for this class if you had to use one?
A: Give Me Liberty!, by Eric Foner.
Q: At what point in your career did you stop using a textbook?
A: I have never used one. I learned my lesson as an undergraduate
that they are not very helpful.
Q: Why don't you use a textbook?
A: Well, I tried to explain this in class, but the short version
is that a textbook encourages you to memorize information, rather than
understand it, and the information it's having you memorize is of low
quality.
Q: Did anyone ever bother you about not forcing students to buy a textbook?
A: Nope.
Q: Do you not require a textbook for this class because you, yourself, don't like reading the textbook?
A: If you are asking whether I made this choice to avoid having to read a textbook myself, the answer is no.
It would be much easier for me to read a textbook than to find my own readings, scan them, put them online, etc If you mean,
did I learn from my own career as a student that reading textbooks isn't very helpful/enjoyable, the answer is yes.
Q: Why do you think textbooks are inaccurate? Where can we find correct facts about history?
A: Textbooks are inaccurate because the people who buy them demand distortions and other
such manipulation. They are also inaccurate because they are written by people who are not expert
in everything they are writing about. For better information, non-textbook history books are usually
pretty good (what they would sell at Barnes & Noble, for example). Primary documents are good, too,
if you're willing to do some work.
Miscellaneous
Q: Is John Lithgow really funny?
A: Well, yes, although he's much more subdued in person than when
he's performing. I would say that his most noticeable character trait
when you meet him in person is that he's very charming.
Q: What was the name of your professor who is married to John Lithgow.
A: Mary Yeager. Her page at UCLA is right here.
Q: What did you tell John Lithgow?
A: I told them that I liked him in Third Rock from the Sun.
Q: Since the Cal Poly webpage is sometimes unavailable will you
postpone paper and reading deadlines?
A: Probably not, since you have them so far in advance.
Q: How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck
wood?
A: Everybody knows a woodchuck would chuck as much wood as a
woodchuck could chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood. Which, as it
turns out is about 700 pounds a year, according to New York state
wildlife expert Richard Thomas. See here for
a full explanation.
Q: You are walking to St. Ives. You see a man with seven wives. Every
wife has seven sacks, every sack has seven cats, every cat has seven kittens.
Kittens, cats, sacks, wives, how many were going to St. Ives?
A: Well, I am guessing the answer is 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 + 1 + 1, which equals 2403.
I assume the trick is that people forget to count "you" and the man in their calculations.
Unless the man and his wives are walking away from St. Ives (you didn't specify), in which
case the answer is 'one' -- only you.
Q: Do you think television makes everyone skinnier?
A: A friend of mine is a film editor (for Desperate Housewives) and he says it's true,
so it must be.
Q: Who invented the first surfboard?
A: We will never know. By the time surfing was first observed by a European (in the 1770s),
the practice had been around in Hawaii for many years.
Q: Wasn't it Janis Joplin who did "Maple Leaf Rag"? Name change?
A: Unless she was secretly 130 years old, male, and black when she recorded "Me
and Bobby McGee," I don't think so.
Q: Isn't the New York Times written at a 7th grade reading level?
A: Well, I've heard that. However, keep in mind that any such measurement is by its nature
kind of imprecise. Further, I just tested several New York Times stories on the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level Formula,
and every single one came in at 12th grade (which is as high as the scale goes).
Q: Is it true that the chicken nuggets from McDonalds use fake meat?
A: No, that would be very, very illegal.
Q: Why do they have curry flavore ice cream?
A: Because some people like exotic or strange tastes, and others like a blending of savory
and sweet flavors (the latter is common in Africa and the Middle East).
Q: Is a potato chip a vegetable?
A: Yes, it is. Albeit barely.
Q: Was Abraham Lincoln black?
A: That has often been rumored, but is not true.
Q: If there are five birds on a branch, and you shoot one, how many are left?
A: None. I'm sure the other four would fly away upon hearing the noise.
Q: Can you tell us another joke?
A: Ok. What do USC and UCLA students have in commmon? They both got into USC.
Q: Have you found Waldo? Where was he?
A: Yes, I have. He was hiding in a cave in Iraq. Oh wait, that was Saddam Hussein.
Q: What is the most crazy question a student has ever written during this question activity?
A: Recently, I had a student ask about the best techniques for cutting belly button hair.
Q: Why don't you like blackboard?
A: It's somewhat clunky, and doesn't give a lot of freedom to move things around. It's
designed for people who know far less about web design than I do.
Q: What is the most embarassing thing you've said in class?
A: I once chewed out a class for misspelling the name of the Buddha, and then promptly
proceeded to write the name on the board and misspell it (I wrote it as Buddah).
Q: What if I can't think of a comment or question?
A: I guess you ask this.
Q: Did I really have to ask you a question?
A: I don't know. Do I really have to answer?
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