Here are answers to the questions asked on the first day of class by students in the various sections:

About Lectures
About the Quizzes
About the Short Papers
About the Final Paper
About Grading
About the Readings
About Attendance
About the Professor
The Professor's Opinions
About Historical Events/The Discipline of History
About Textbooks
Miscellaneous

About Lectures

Q: What time will this class usually begin?
A: When it is scheduled. I usually start a little late the first week, because people are still trying to find classrooms, etc., but on time thereafter.

Q: Should we take notes in lectures?
A: I would. But please don't try to write down every word that comes out of my mouth. Notes are meant to be a summary, not a transcript.

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, 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: Can we tape record lectures?
A: Certainly, if you wish.

Q: Are you ok with laptops in class for note taking?
A: Sure, that's fine.

Q: Will you write out or spell difficult words in your lectures?
A: I will. However, I don't always guess correctly 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 you write important points from lecture on the board?
A: Usually, yes.

Q: Do we need to print the handouts?
A: No, I will bring copies to class.

Q: Where do you get the lecture titles from?
A: Truthfully, I try to think of something that encapsulates the topic, and is mildly clever. Sometimes it's a book title ("The Grapes of Wrath") or an advertising slogan ("We're Going to Disneyland") or a song ("California Dreamin'") or whatever.

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. You can also come to my office, if you want, and I'll try to give you a brief overview.

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: Is your webpage accessible through the Cal Poly webpage?
A: No. Make sure you keep your syllabus, and get the URL from there. You can also email me and I will send you the link.

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 there will be. 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 we look into the struggles of Native Americans?
A: Yes

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: Will we talk about the history of Pomona?
A: A little bit.

Q: What movies are we going to watch? Do you have a list online? Will we watch any films on the history of California?
A: I don't have a full list online, but among the works of fiction we will watch are The Grapes of Wrath, Pulp Fiction, Rio Bravo, Falling Down, The Mask of Zorro, Birth of a Nation and Tombstone. In terms of documentaries, we will see one on a Native American named Ishi, one on Disneyland, one on Berkeley in the 1960s, and a handful of others.

Q: Are we going to watch whole films, or just clips?
A: Just clips. Usually five to 15 minutes.

Q: Why are you showing Pulp Fiction?
A: It is a good movie for illustrating how modern day filmmakers portray Los Angeles.

Q: What do you think is in the briefcase at the end of Pulp Fiction.
A: The diamonds they stole in Reservoir Dogs.

Q: What is a good and entertaining movie that represents California well?
A: I will choose Fast Times at Ridgemont High. However, Blade Runner, Back to the Future, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, The Aviator, and Top Gun are also good choices.

Q: What does The 40-Year-Old Virgin have to do with California other than it was set here?
A: Well, it does much to reflect modern ideas about California--our love of cars, our views on sex and sexuality, our handling of race relations, our fascination with technology, etc.

Q: Have you seen Pirates of Silicon Valley.
A: Yes. It's pretty good.

Q: Are we going to talk about West Coast gangsta rap (NWA, Tupac, etc.) and how it affected the culture of California?
A: Yes, a bit.

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: How would you grade yourself as a professor?
A: I cannot really answer this question objectively. What I can say is that most professors try to be the type of professor they wish they had had, and I certainly do that. I can also say that some professors try to put forth their best effort, others do not. I definitely am in the group that tries their best. Whether I actually succeed is for you to judge.

Q: Why is this class so fun?
A: Well, you don't know for sure that it is yet, do you? My lectures could be really, really boring. That said, all I can say is that I try to do what I wish my professors had done when I was a student. Keep it interesting, relevant, throw some trivia in there, etc.

Q: Why do all my friends recommend me to take your class, and mention that if I graduate before having you as a prof, then I'm an idiot.
A: Hard for me to say. Maybe they thought I was funny. Or funny looking.

Q: What is the past feedback on this class? Good? Bad?
A: No professor can make EVERY student happy, but the feedback has been 99% good.

Q: What do you expect us to walk away from your class with, from a personal point of view.
A: Well, I would hope that you would develop intellectually a bit, learning something about the discipline of history, and also about how to utilize and analyze information. The ability to assess and utilize information is the primary thing that separates the educated from the uneducated.

Q: In any way, can this not be a kind of cold classroom lecture?
A: I try my best for it not to be that. Some days, it's easier than others.

Q: What is your best lecture for this quarter?
A: I dunno, it's hard for me to judge. Based on students' feedback, here are some possibilities: Modern California, California Architecture, Hollywood, and Disneyland and the Tourist Industry.

Q: Will there be group discussions in class?
A: Yes.

Q: WIll there be group assignments/projects?
A: No, other than in-class discussion.

Q: Are we only going to basically learn the history of California?
A: Well, that is the title of the class. That said, not everything we talk about will be historical, nor will all of it be strictly limited to California. Though most of it will be.

Q: Are we allowed food/snacks in this class?
A: It doesn't really bother me, as long as it's not distracting. Any snack-type food--peanuts, chips, pretzels, candy, a bagel--is not distracting. Something with a strong smell--spaghetti, garlic chicken, tacos--probably would be distracting.

Q: Why is there offensive content?
A: Because covering the subject--California history--requires us to address some touchy issues--racism, violence, and so forth. And the items that illustrate those issues--be they films, or songs, or pictures--are potentially offensive.

Q: Might the offensive content show up on a quiz or essay?
A: Maybe, in the sense that I might ask a question about the Pulp Fiction clip or something like that. However, the quizzes and the answers will certainly be PG-rated.

Q: Have you ever had people leave the class because they don't agree with the lecture or are offended by it?
A: Yes, I have. Not too often, though.

Q: I think I might be a little overwhelmed in this class. I don't know if you get many students from out of state, like I am, who know absolutely nothing about California, so is there anything I can do to make things a little less stressful?
A: Well, I wouldn't be too worried until you've heard a few lectures--I generally try to cover all the background information needed. That said, if you'd like to come by my office for review or clarification, you're welcome to do that. And if you'd like to buy or borrow a book to refer to, let me know and I'll recommend one.

Q: I'm a foreign exchange student. Will I be able to follow this class? Do I need to find more information?
A: As I noted above, I think you'll be just fine. If you feel otherwise, come talk to me and let me know what I should be explaining that I'm not.

Q: My grade won't be affected by the fact that I am not from California, will it?
A: It shouldn't be. If you feel that you've been hindered in some way, please do come and see me.

Q: If I am not a citizen or a resident of California, how can I improve myself in this class?
A: Well, most social science and humanities classes are not so much about the information they cover, but instead the critical thinking and writing skills they help develop. In other words, a student benefits in much the same way from a class on English linguistics, California history, AFrican politics, or Italian architecture.

Q: Can he just get up and go to the restroom as needed?
A: I would if I was you. I'm not sure what alternative there is--if you have to go, you have to go.

Q: Why is the rise of Silicon Valley so important?
A: Well, to begin with, I am expected to cover certain issues in this course, among them the development of California's biggest industries. Computer manufacturing is the state's third biggest industry. Beyond its economic significance, though, the story of Silicon Valley is an interesting example of how seemingly unrelated events (in this case, the building of the railroads, the antiwar movement and the rise of the personal computer) can be intimately connected.

Q: Will we be discussing any agricultural topics? The Imperial Valley?
A: We will a bit, particularly when we talk about water. I won't really go much into specific geographical areas, though.

Q: Will we be discussing Mulholland and the Owens Valley controversy?
A: Yes.

Q: Can we talk about pot culture in California? Or surf/punk culture?
A: These will get a very brief mention. If you want, you can make this the subject of your final paper.

Q: Will we be discussing the economy of California, and its development throughout history?
A: Absolutely, quite a bit.

Q: I want to know more about the CLA building, and why Hollywood is where it is.
A: We will talk about that in about eight weeks.

Q: Do you lecture on Franklin D. Murphy at all? Do you know who he is?
A: He won't come up in lecture, though his Stanford counterpart (Frederick Terman) will. And yes, I know who he is. I did go to UCLA after all.

Q: How will current issues like immigration laws be tied into the course?
A: I will bring them up, off and on, as it makes sense.

Q: Will you be talking about the history of the palm tree?
A: Yes, a little bit.

Q: Do we cover different types of food in California?
A: A very little bit. I'd like to do a whole lecture, but there isn't time. However, one of the final paper topics is all about food.

Q: What person covered in this class's lectures is your favorite, or do you feel is the most interesting.
A: Hm, interesting question. Certainly the governor is a very interesting character. So too are Walt Disney, Harvey Henderson Wilcox, George Takei, and Charles Fletcher Lummis. However, I think I will go with Ishi, the last stone age Native American.

Q: Which of the three parts of the course is most interesting to you?
A: I like them all for different reasons, but if I had to pick one, I would probably choose the third part.

Q: What is the most interesting thing about California history?
A: I'd say the very interesting people--some of whom are listed above--are the most interesting thing. California has been home to a lot of very important thinkers, and artists, and businesspeople, and also quite a few nut cases.

Q: Do you think California history is boring?
A: No, I don't. As long as we don't dwell too much on details of the state's political history.

Q: What is your favorite topic in California history?
A: Well, in addition to the people I discuss above, I'd say the rise and development of the entertainment industry. Or perhaps the rise and development of Disneyland.

Q: Does the name 'California' have a special significance? Where did the name come from?
A: It does. We will talk about that in the very first lecture.

Q: Has California ever had an African-American governor?
A: No. The closest we came was when Tom Bradley nearly won election to the governor's office in 1982.

Q: What can we actually learn from this class since we don't need to memorize anything about the history?
A: Well, you will need to absorb some factual information, I was just trying to say that the class won't be an exercise in rote memorization. In any case, the value in taking a history class (or pretty much any general education class) is that it teaches you how to be a critical thinker. It's practice at learning how to absorb information, analyze it, organize it, and utilize it.

Q: I'm not a future teacher; will I have any problems with the "future teachers" part of the class?
A: Not at all.

Q: Is the class website on blackboard?
A: No. I don't like to use blackboard for that purpose. However, I do use it to record your grades, so you can stay up to date.

Q: Do you put grades on blackboard?
A: As noted above, yes.

Q: How do you feel about cell phone use in class?
A: Please don't. I don't want other students to feel distracted, or to be unable to hear.

Q: Why has the department told you not to add more students?
A: Because an overly full classroom is a fire hazard.

Q: Will the "your cultures" participants get extra credit?
A: No, but they will be allowed to skip one of the short papers.

Q: If you had to pick a place to be at during lecture, where would it be?
A: Well, I'm not sure I understand your question. Do you mean, if I didn't have to be working, where would I be? Probably at home, doing some other kind of work. Or do you mean, if we could hold lecture anywhere, where would it be? If that's what you mean, I suppose I would like to hold lecture in some place relevant to that day's topic. So, for example, it would be cool to hold the "Californios" lecture on Olvera Street.

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: What do you base the quizzes on, if you don't want us memorizing things?
A: Well, I do have to ask you about something. I just meant that I won't ask you the kinds of questions where you have to make note cards and force information into your brain. What I try to do is ask you questions about memorable things I said, such that they should be pretty easy if you did the reading/attended the lecture, but otherwise should be pretty hard to guess. So I might ask, for example, what Father Serra did to make himself seem more religious. I would hope you'd remember that he whipped himself.

Q: Are the quizzes multiple choice?
A: No, short answer. See some sample quiz questions here.

Q: Will the quizzes be done at the beginning of class?
A: Yes.

Q: How many quizzes will there be?
A: Four.

Q: How often do the quizzes happen? Will they be spaced out, or could there be two in a week?
A: They are usually spaced out, but you can never tell.

Q: How long for the quizzes?
A: I start the clock when the last person has their quiz in hand, from that point you have nine minutes.

Q: Are the quizzes really pop quizzes, or will we have knowledge of them?
A: Sometimes I may hint that one's coming, but not always.

Q: Why can't we have prior warning on the quizzes in order to increase our chances of getting a better grade?
A: The quizzes are "pop" in order to encourage you to review your notes on a regular basis (rather than cramming them one time), and to reward people who make a habit of attending class. That said, on occasion, I may hint at an imminent quiz.

Q: Can anything appear on quizzes or must they be in bold (from lectures)? Is it just the bold words?
A: Each quiz will have roughly five questions on the out-of-class readings, and five questions based on the lectures. The lecture-based quiz questions will invariably draw on the bold terms.

Q: You said your quizzes will be based on the bold topics from the outline. Will your lectures tell us all we need to know, or should we do additional research?
A: The lectures will tell you all you need to know.

Q: Will the quizzes be based on the bold terms from the readings?
A: Well, there are no bold terms in the readings. The quizzes will be based on the bold terms (from the lectures) AND on the readings.

Q: What is the best way to study for quizzes?
A: You really shouldn't have to study much. Come to class and pay attention, do the reading, and the quiz questions should be easy enough that you'll get them.

Q: Do we need scantrons for quizzes?
A: No.

Q: Is there an opportunity to make up missed quizzes if I am late/absent/on a field trip?
A: Yes, there is a makeup quiz in Week 10.

Q: If we tell you that we are going to miss class in advance, can we take a makeup quiz when we return, or take the quiz early?
A: These sorts of situations are why I have the makeup quiz in Week 10.

Q: If we miss a quiz, do we talk to you about a makeup assignment at the next class, or would you prefer we email you on the day of the quiz?
A: You don't need to talk to or email me at all. Just do the makeup quiz.

Q: How many quizzes are we allowed to make up?
A: Just one.

Q: What is the makeup quiz about?
A: It will be like the other quizzes, but will cover all the lectures. It will occur on the last day of class, and will replace a grade of zero, or your lowest grade.

Q: How many quizzes can we make up?
A: One.

Q: Are the quizzes open books/open notes?
A: No.

Q: Do we have to memorize dates?
A: No.

Q: Will you drop a quiz score?
A: If you do the makeup quiz, and don't miss any of the other quizzes.

Q: Are the quizzes individualized?
A: No, that would be really hard to do.

Q: Can you give us the answers to the quizzes?
A: Sure! They are all contained within the lectures and the readings.

Q: What are the details for the makeup quiz?
A: They are located on the assignments page.

Q: What is the makeup quiz for again?
A: You can do it in order to replace any quiz grade you are unhappy with, including a grade of zero.

Q: Are the quizzes cumulative?
A: No. Once you are quizzed on something, that's it. The only exception is the makeup quiz, which covers the bold terms from all lectures.

Q: Will we be quizzed on material before it's covered in lecture?
A: No, though you may be quizzed on readings that have been due but have not yet been discussed.

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? Can I turn in, say, the Week 5 paper in Week 2?
A: Yes.

Q: Are you willing to look at/comment on short papers before they are turned in? How early do we need to submit them?
A: If you wish. You can bring them to class/office hours before they are due, or you can email them to me. However, if you email, you must get it to me by Saturday at 11:59 p.m. at the latest, to give me time to respond.

Q: Should I start the short papers pretty early? Like, right after the last lecture of the week?
A: Well, starting them early maximizes the amount of time you have to get feedback. Particularly if you get some ideas/an outline/a draft together in time to discuss it with me in person (which always results in the best feedback). But the papers should not demand so much time that you HAVE to work on them for four or five solid days, if that is what you are asking.

Q: Can you explain more about the short papers? Are the requirements on the website?
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.

Q: Is any topic OK for the papers?
A: No, you must do one of the pre-assigned topics. See the link above.

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: If I can explain my ideas in less than 500 words, will I be penalized for being short?
A: Yes--that's what a minimum is. Also, I can say that it's very difficult to properly answer these questions in 500 words, much less something below that.

Q: Is it possible to get an A with only 500 words, or do I have to write 800 to get an A?
A: It is possible to do it with 500; you just have to be very skillful in your use of language.

Q: Can we do more than one paper in a week?
A: No. The topics overlap too much. I want you to write about four different things.

Q: Can we do extra short papers for extra credit?
A: I'm afraid not. It would make grading very difficult.

Q: Whatever week we do our short paper, we choose ONE of the topics each week, right?
A: Yes.

Q: So, we only have to do any four of the short papers, right? As long as we don't do two in the same week?
A: Yes.

Q: Can we pick any weeks to do the short papers, or do we have to do them in any order?
A: You can pick any four weeks you want.

Q: Which four papers would YOU choose?
A: The ones that interested me the most. If you want to know which those are, I guess that might be the one on Disneyland, the one on movie posters, the one on Chinese immigration, and maybe the one on architecture. Though the ones on music and grading papers would also get a long look from me, too.

Q: Can we do all four papers in consecutive weeks, say weeks 2/3/4/5?
A: Yes.

Q: Is there a penalty for late papers? Do you accept late papers?
A: The short papers cannot be turned in late. The final paper can be, but only at a very substantial penalty (5 points a day).

Q: Can we turn the short papers in early? Can we turn all of them in at once?
A: If you wish. If I was you, however, I would at least get one graded paper back--to see how well I was doing--before submitting the rest.

Q: For the writing, should we have good structure and grammar?
A: Yes, you should.

Q: Do the short papers need introductions and conclusions?
A: These things are wise to include, because they make it much easier for me to understand your train of thought.

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, if for no other reason than a well-written paper is easier to understand.

Q: If I am not a good writer, should I go to the writing center for help?
A: This would be wise--not only for grading purposes, but to improve yourself as a writer.

Q: Is a bibliography required for short papers/the final paper, or will in-text citing suffice?
A: In-text citing is fine.

Q: Do we have to include references in the papers?
A: No. If you cite something, just put a parenthetical citation. No bibliography/references page is necessary.

Q: How do you want things cited? Can you explain the citations again?
A: Here's an example: The Angels are, "the best baseball team ever." (www.dodgersblogs.com), or The Angels are, "the best baseball team ever." (The Truth About Baseball, p. 66).

Q: Will examples of short essays be posted online so we get an idea of what you are looking for?
A: Yes. After every assignment is turned in, I will post examples of excellent responses so that you can look at them and use them to help you improve on future essays.

Q: What will you be looking for when grading the short essays? (e.g. grammar, well-organized, etc.)
A: Well, all of these things are good, but I would say the number one thing I look for is good, thoughtful, creative ideas. I recommend that you think about your answer to each question for at least 30 focused minutes before you write anything.

Q: What method do you use to grade papers?
A: Not sure how to answer that, but I can tell you I look for the following things, listed roughly in order from most important to least important: (a) Do you have good, thoughtful ideas? (b) Do you have several ideas--at least three? (c) Did you explain your ideas fully (d) Do I believe you did the reading? (e) Did you write with good grammar/structure/style? (f) Did you meet the length requirement?

Q: How hard do you grade the short papers?
A: Not outrageously hard, I suppose, although given that they are short and you have no midterms, there's no reason you can't do an excellent job on each.

Q: What is the average grade on the short papers?
A: About 16/20.

Q: How hard of an essay grader are you? The easy going grader? A fair grader? Or a "I enjoy putting as many red marks on a student's paper as I possibly can to lower their esteem" grader?
A: I certainly try to be #2, a fair grader. I'm certainly not #3. In fact, I don't even use a red pen.

Q: Do you really read the short essays, or just look at the thesis statement?
A: I really read them, as you will see soon enough (by the marks I make on various sentences/paragraphs). Is there really a professor who does otherwise? I mean, how is it possible to grade an essay without reading it?

Q: Are there right or wrong answers on the short papers?
A: Not really. It's largely a question of how well and how fully your answer addresses the question.

Q: Which short essays topics are the easiest for us to write?
A: The ones that interest you the most.

Q: Will the PDFs help us on writing any of the short papers?
A: Yes, definitely.

Q: Are we supposed to use the articles for the short papers, or our own information?
A: Both are good, but you should definitely incorporate the readings wherever possible.

Q: So we do one of the two topics in the weeks we choose, and we have to base our paper on our own ideas and the online readings? Before we've even heard lectures on the topics?
A: That's right.

Q: Is there a certain format you want the papers to be in? Should they be double spaced or single spaced?
A: I have no preferences or guidelines beyond that you must meet the word limit. Single or double spaced are fine.

Q: For citations and sources, should we use MLA standard?
A: No, I really don't care about MLA. If you are going to cite something, use parenthetical citations. For example: Disney said, "I don't like Mickey Mouse," (www.disneyinfo.com/disquote.html).

Q: For the papers, is there a specific font or margin size?
A: No. Just a word minimum.

Q: Why do we need to write so much?
A: That's what historians do--it's how we learn to analyze information, and to develop ideas. I could assign much more reading, and slightly less writing, if you'd like. That's what most professors do.

Q: Should the ideas in our papers be factual, with references, or opinion based on critical thinking.
A: Some of both. You should give your critical opinion, but then ideally you should back your opinion up with some facts that support it.

Q: The short papers seem to be kind of challenging. Is this so?
A: I hope so. I think you will find that challenging papers ultimately teach you more, and are more fun/interesting than easy papers.

Q: Did you say NOT to double space the essays in order to save paper/trees?
A: No, I said not to use a title page for that reason. A title page is a total waste of paper. Double-spacing is not, since it gives me room to write comments.

Q: Can we do extra papers to improve our grade? If we get a bad grade on one paper, can we do another to replace it?
A: No, I'm afraid not. I want you to really focus on doing your best job on the four you choose. If you want to give yourself the best possible odds, then send me a draft for comment.

Q: Do students tend to get better grades when they have submitted a draft for comment?
A: Without question.

Q: Can I just confirm: Papers are to be submitted via email by 11:59 p.m. the day before they are due, or turned in to you in class later on the due date?
A: That is correct.

Q: Would you rather get papers in class or via email?
A: I have no preference.

Q: What format should the submissions be in, if sent via email?
A: Anything is fine, pretty much--PDF, Word, WordPerfect, Pages, etc.

Q: Is there a certain reason the papers are due via email by 11:59 p.m.?
A: Well, you don't HAVE to turn them in via email. You can submit them in class, if you want. However, if you do turn them in via email, I want to have time to acknowledge receipt before class starts.

Q: How long will it take you to reply to acknowledge that you've got our papers if we submit them via email?
A: Not long. If I'm not up at midnight, I'll generally reply before I leave for class in the morning.

Q: For papers submitted via email, do you have a preferred format for the subject line?
A: No, as long as I can tell it's a student paper. Don't put "CHEAP VIAGRA" or "BUSINESS OFFER FROM NIGERIA" as the subject.

Q: Will most, if not all, assignments be submitted via email?
A: Your call. If you want to do it that way, you can. Only the final has to be submitted via email. The short papers can be brought to class.

Q: Can we use non-campus email addresses to contact you?
A: Sure.

Q: Is it ok to submit documents in Word format?
A: Yes. In fact, that is preferable.

Q: Is it ok to submit papers in Word 2008 format?
A: Yes. I can open them.

Q: Are there really no midterms?
A: You think I was joking? People would riot if I showed up one day and said "Surprise! You have a midterm today!"

Q: Can we turn our work in early?
A: If you wish, yes.

Q: Can you go over the teaching elements we can use for our papers for those of us who are LS majors?
A: You are free to use whatever you wish, including things you've learned in other classes. If you have any specific questions, see me or send me an email.

Q: Do we need to inform you which topics we choose for the short papers?
A: No, you don't.

Q: When you were talking about evidence for the short papers, you said something about references? What was that?
A: I think what you're referring to is that I said your short papers should make reference to the readings, if at all possible.

Q: Could you explain more about copying and pasting? I am still just a little unclear.
A: I sense this question may be tongue-in-cheek. However, just in case, I will say again that copying anything from the Internet is generally a bad idea. If you ARE going to do so, it should only be a quotation, and it should be CLEARLY identified as such.

Q: Can we use quotations from the readings for the short papers?
A: Yes. In fact, I encourage that. It proves you did the reading (and thought about it).

About the Final Paper

Q: Do we have to do a final paper and a final exam? Do we do either/or?
A: There is no final exam, only a final paper. And you have to do it.

Q: Is the final an essay or multiple choice?
A: As noted above, it is a paper.

Q: Why are there no exams for this class? Why do you hate exams?
A: Well, there are pros and cons to every decision a teacher makes in the classroom (you'll have an opportunity to explore that fact in a future assignment, if you wish). Anyhow, here are some of the reasons I prefer to do papers over exams: (a) In life, you will be judged on the quality of your ideas, rather than the speed with which you developed them. Papers therefore prepare you better than exams. (b) I can ask better, more interesting questions on a paper than an exam, which will tend to make your writing experience more enjoyable and engaging. (c) Many students are penalized unfairly by exams, simply because they don't handle the pressure well. (d) To give an exam forces me to give up a lecture; I don't wish to do so.

Q: Can you give some ideas about what we can do for our final paper?
A: They are right here. Note that the website 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: Can I do ____________ for my final project? Can I develop my own topic?
A: Most alternatives, if they interest you, will be ok. You just have to check with me first, if the option you choose is not already on the "pre-approved" list.

Q: Which option would you recommend for the final paper?
A: Whatever you like best. Any of them can lead to an A paper, if done well.

Q: Can you give any suggestions for doing well on the essay? Can you tell me about your preferences? What exactly are you looking for?
A: Some tips can be found at the bottom of the first page of the paper assignment, which can be downloaded here. Over the course of the quarter, you will also get some ideas and suggestions from me.

Q: How is the final essay 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 paper?
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 do you grade the final paper?
A: I'm not sure what you mean, but I'll try to answer. It is graded on a scale on 0-80, with the A range starting at 72/80. When I grade it, I look to see how well you've demonstrated an understanding of course material, and of the analytical techniques we've worked on in the course. I am most interested in good, creative ideas. I am least interested in pure summaries of factual information.

Q: How long should the final paper be?
A: 1,000 words minimum.

Q: How many pages for a 1,000 word final paper? What happens if you are just under 1,000 words?
A: Assuming standard-sized fonts and margins, about four or five double-spaced pages. If you are just under, your biggest problem will not be some sort of automatic penalty I might assess, it will be that you likely haven't said enough to earn a really good grade. While 1,000 words is the minimum, most students write 1,500 words, and some write 2,000 or even 3,000. This speaks to how much room there is for analysis in these papers. If you struggle to reach 1,000, you're probably not doing enough analysis.

Q: Is there a word limit or page limit to the final paper?
A: Only a minimum. No maximum.

Q: Which is the most popular topic for the final paper?
A: The movie topic.

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, Mission San Diego de Alcala was founded by Junipero Serra in 1769, then you can just say that in your own words. It does not need to be a quote.

Q: For the final paper, which is the best database to use on the university library website.
A: With rare exceptions, none of the databases will be of use.

Q: Are there limits or minimums on the amount of research for the final paper?
A: No, but the topics are designed to require roughly the same amount of research--about 5 hours.

Q: Is the final paper only due online (through email)?
A: Yes.

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: Will we get any advice for our final paper?
A: I will discuss them a bit in class, and I will have extra office hours if you would like one-on-one assistance. I will also make myself available to review drafts, both in my office and via email.

Q: How early should we start on our final paper?
A: You should have your topic largely decided by week six or seven, and should probably begin drafting it, or at least developing a detailed outline, by week eight or nine.

Q: How many external sources are required for the final paper? What is an acceptable source.
A: I have no firm guidelines about either of these things. If you have any doubts about something, ask me.

Q: Do you want a title page/works cited page for the final paper?
A: I do not require either.

Q: Can the final be turned in at any time? Can I turn it in early?
A: Any time before the deadline, yes. And that means that yes, it can be turned in early?

Q: Do we email the final paper or hand it in?
A: You email it. If you want to hand it in, you can, but you have to do so early, since I am not on campus on the final paper due date.

Q: Was there actually a person who emailed you asking about the final exam last quarter?
A: Yes. It happens *every* quarter.

About Grading

Q: What quality do you feel is most important for a student in your class to have?
A: Probably the willingness to put in their best effort. If you are trying your hardest, which means you're coming to lecture, submitting drafts for comment, coming to see me in my office, etc. then you will undoubtedly succeed in this course.

Q: Will I be graded down for a particular political point of view? If our thoughts and views differ from yours, will that affect our grade?
A: Certainly not. If you feel you have been graded unfairly, 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? Is this class easy?
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: Do you think this class has a lot of busy work? I'm taking 20 units so I'm just wondering.
A: First, let me say that 'busy work' usually means pointless work assigned just for the sake of giving you work to do. I don't believe I give any busy work. However, what I am sure you meant to ask is will this class require a lot of your time. I would guess that, between lectures and readings and papers, you will spend an average of six to seven hours per week. That's pretty much exactly what the university wants for a four-unit class.

Q: What is the best way to get an A in the class?
A: Do all the work, come to lectures, come to office hours and get feedback if your essays aren't getting 18's and 19's and 20's. There's no shortcut.

Q: In case a student cannot reach a 'C' grade to pass, will you give an extra point or two to help out?
A: If you put in a good effort, you will not be at risk of not passing this course. And if you do not put in a good effort, then you really won't deserve free points.

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: What is the average grade students get in this course? What is the ratio of A's to F's? Do a lot of people get C's or better?
A: A quick check of my classes from last quarter tells me that the average grade was 83.19/100. So, I guess the answer is, "B-/B". This is the average grade in most history courses, as studies show. As to the ratio of A's to F's, very few people fail history courses. There were about four A's (20% of the class) for every one F (about 5% of the class). Anyone who fails likely skipped one or more assignments.

Q: I'm looking to raise my GPA. Is this a good class, having that in mind?
A: If you're willing to work, it is. Those who show up to class, do their best on the assignments, participate in discussions, etc. should dp well. This is not a class, however, where one can "mail it in" and do well.

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 many people get an A, B, or C? And how many people get an F?
A: In general, I give about 20% As, 35-45% Bs, 20-25% Cs, 10% Ds, and 10% Fs. Most of the Fs and Ds are people who didn't come to lecture and didn't do some of the assignments.

Q: Will participation affect my grade?
A: Not directly, though a student who participates will tend to get the benefit of the doubt from me if they need it (say they are right between an A- and a B+)

Q: Will you make this class super easy?
A: Well, when I was a student, the easiest classes were the ones I enjoyed, and so lectures/essays did not really feel like "work." I'll do my best to make the class like that. If you mean that you just want me to hand out A grades like candy, that's not going to happen.

Q: Are you an easy 'A' teacher?
A: No. I would say that if you get an A in this course, you'll enjoy the process more than in most other courses. But you'll definitely have to work for it. Only about one in five students got an A in this class last quarter.

Q: Is this class difficult to get an A in?
A: If you do your work, and attend lectures, and put forth your best effort, it is not difficult to get an A. It's not necessarily easy, either, but it's not difficult. Not like, say, an engineering course.

Q: Can you reduce the grading scale to 180 for an A?
A: I'm afraid not.

Q: Do you have a curve?
A: Nope, that would be very unusual for a history course, particularly one based almost entirely on essays. It would also hurt more people than it helped.

Q: Will there be any extra credit opportunities?
A: One or two may pop up during the course of the quarter.

Q: If everyone does good work, is it possible that everyone gets an A?
A: Sure.

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. The readings all come with brief introductions that I wrote.

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 April 6, then you should have read it by the time you get to class on April 6.

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.

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: Are the lectures based on the reading assignments?
A: They are definitely related, though there's stuff in the lectures that is not in the readings, and there's stuff in the readings that's not in the lectures.

Q: Can we get the readings for the whole quarter ahead of time?
A: Yes. They are available here.

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 30 pages), other weeks have much less. I would guess it averages 15 pages a week.

Q: Will the online readings cover the same material as the lectures?
A: The two will definitely be strongly connected.

Q: So we don't have to buy any books?
A: Nope.

Q: Will we be discussing the readings in class?
A: Yes.

Q: Where are the online readings from?
A: Lots of different places. Some from books, some from websites, some from other sources.

Q: Is it required to read both topics each week even if we decide not to do a writeup for that specific week?
A: You should do all the reading, regardless of which weeks you actually do the short papers.

About Attendance

Q: Will all class sessions last the full time? Will we get a break?
A: I usually let you out a few minutes early. I would consider giving you a break, but invariably students prefer to go straight through and leave early.

Q: Do you take attendance?
A: No.

Q: What is your attendance policy? Is it a problem if I am late, or miss class on occasion because of work/school commitments? Are you annoyed by tardiness or by leaving class early?
A: You are adults, and you must decide what is the right thing for you to do. Obviously, everyone has the occasional crisis or conflict. 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. Also, I would ask that if you must arrive late or leave early, you do so in the least distracting manner possible.

Q: If we miss class due to an emergency, should we notify you?
A: It can't hurt, but you don't have to.

Q: Does attendance matter? Do you care about attendance?
A: I do not specifically give points for attending class, if that is what you mean. On the other hand, if you decide not to attend regularly it will, as I say above, hurt your grade.

Q: Is attendance really than mandatory if everything is online.
A: I assure you, not everything is online. If you only rely on the website, I can promise you that your grade will be harmed.

Q: Do we need to come on finals week?
A: No.

Q: I am going to miss class on ___________. Will this hinder my progress in the class? Can I turn in my assignments early?
A: Missing one or two lectures is not the end of the world, grade-wise. You are free to turn in assignments early.

About the Professor

Q: I got to class late. How do you prefer to be addressed?
A: By my first name--Chris or Christopher--please.

Q: Can I call you 'Sensei Bates'?
A: I would find that amusing, yes.

Q: Where are you from? Where did you grow up? Have you lived here your whole life? Are you a native Californian?
A: I live in West Los Angeles now, but I was born and raised in Orange County. I went to Tustin High School, and during my time in Orange County I lived in Tustin, Orange, and Anaheim. I have indeed lived in California for my whole life.

Q: How far back do your California roots go?
A: World War II era. All four of my grandparents came here during or right after the war (from Minnesota, Georgia, and Pennsylvania).

Q: Can you tell us about your great uncle who was at Iwo Jima?
A: I don't know much--he died before I was born. He was a Pima Indian and died of alcoholism.

Q: What do you like about living in sunny Southern California?
A: All the different and interesting people, and institutions, and restaurants, and museums, and so forth. All the things to do here. The fact that everyone outside California wishes they lived here.

Q: What interests you most about California history?
A: The development of the state's culture--Disneyland, Hollywood, etc.

Q: Why do you live in Santa Monica?
A: I found a really nice, cheap apartment in grad school and have never given it up.

Q: How long is your commute? How long does it take you to get to work?
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: I know you live in West L.A.; how often do you bump into stars? What celebrities have you met?
A: Somewhat regularly. In the past year, I have seen Norm MacDonald, Henry Winkler, Kevin Federline (the highlight of my life, obviously), Arnold Schwarzenegger (who lives down the street from me), Jack Nicholson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Smith, Latrell Sprewell, and Ricky Jay. As to the celebrities I've actually met, you know about John Lithgow. I've also met John Wooden, Kareem, Kevin Smith, Steven Spielberg, Jim Carrey, Rod Carew, Michael Dukakis, Gary Hart, and probably a few others I am forgetting.

Q: How old are you?
A: I was born August 30, 1974, which means I am currently 37 years old.

Q: Where were you born?
A: Los Alamitos, California.

Q: How long have you lived in California?
A: My whole life.

Q: What does the G stand for in your initials?
A: George, my grandfather's name.

Q: What is your favorite car? If you could have any car you wanted, what would it be?
A: Hm, I'm not much of a car person, but I guess if cost and environmental impact were not issues, I'd want a Porsche.

Q: Mercedes or BMW?
A: I prefer BMWs.

Q: What kind of car do you drive? Why?
A: A Toyota Prius. It's environmentally responsible and gets good gas mileage.

Q: Have you ever texted while driving?
A: Yes, but I try not to.

Q: Will gas prices continue to increase throughout our lifetime?
A: Yes, it's just a question of how fast. I think it will be very fast, which is one of the reasons I bought a Prius.

Q: Are you aware of the terrible environmental damage that Prius batteries do to the environment?
A: I have heard about this, and read about it. Speaking as a historian--and not as a Prius driver--I believe it to be unsubstantiated propaganda created by people who are hostile to environmentalism. I have been reading this site for years, and have always found them to be reliable. Here is there comment on the matter, with documentation/evidence.

Q: Why is CARB so strict with modifications to cars?
A: First, let me note for those who do not know the acronym, that CARB is the California Air Resources Board. I suppose I might have several answers to your question. First, CARB is a bureaucracy, and bureaucracies don't keep themselves useful/employed by being lax. Second, California has had some REALLY bad problems with air quality in the past, and it would be politically very bad if those problems reappeared. Third, the number of people who are concerned about the environment (or at least say they are concerned) is WAY larger than the number of people who want to modify their cars. The majority usually wins in cases like this.

Q: What are your thoughts on the "green" movement in California and how do you think it will affect the state's future and economy?
A: Well, like most Californians I think, I regard myself as pro-environment. I am of course aware of the argument that green legislation/regulation/technology often cuts into business growth/profits, but I am not sure I agree wholly with that argument. To start, if California becomes a world leader in the creation/production of green technology (something that's already underway), we could profit by selling it, as we have thanks to our leadership in computer technology.
    Further, some positive changes can only take place if ALL businesses are required to make those changes. To take one example, it's cheaper to make cars that burn leaded gasoline. Any car company that switched to unleaded 30 years ago would have been at a huge competitive disadvantage because they would have been bearing an expense that other car companies were not. When the government stepped in and required all companies to go unleaded, it made it possible for an eco-friendly change without putting anyone at an impossible-to-overcome disadvantage.
    Finally, I am persuaded that behaviors that seem cheaper in the short term often cost more money in the long term. Fast food is the famous example of this. If you spend $5 for a cheap meal at McDonald's instead of $10 for healthier food, that may seem a savings of $5. But what if that habit gives you a heart attack in 30 years, and your medical bills are $300,000? You didn't really save money, and your health is wrecked. I think the same basic concept could apply to environmental legislation. If we pass some eco-friendly rule that requires some expense on the part of citizens/businesses, it may hurt a bit right now. However, it may spare us from a much, much larger future expense.

Q: What is your sign?
A: Virgo.

Q: How many siblings do you have?
A: One, a younger brother.

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 Polish, part Native American, and probably other stuff, too.

Q: Do you speak any foreign languages?
A: Not really. A very little bit of Spanish, German, Italian, and Farsi.

Q: Do you prefer dogs or cats?
A: Cats, I'd say. I like small dogs, too, however. Big dogs are a little too rambunctious for my taste.

Q: Do you have any pets? Names?
A: Yes, I have a dachshund named Otto.

Q: Are you married?
A: I am married, yes.

Q: What was the highlight of your wedding?
A: The ceremony was very cool. So were the toasts.

Q: Do you have any kids?
A: Nope.

Q: Do you have a nickname?
A: Nope.

Q: What does your name mean?
A: It translates literally as "bearer of Christ." My mother chose it because she likes the Winnie the Pooh books (in which one of the main characters is named Christopher Robin).

Q: What is your political affiliation? What religion do you belong to?
A: These are the only two questions I won't answer right now. If you want to know, ask me in Week 10 and I will tell you. For now, I don't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable about expressing a particular point of view.

Q: Most college professors tend to be more liberal than conservative. Is your course slanted in either direction or would you say you're fairly open-minded? Be honest!
A: You're certainly correct about this observation. I certainly do my best not to slant things, but it's not always easy. I would be interested to hear your opinion at the end of the quarter, if you don't mind sharing it.

Q: You seem like a cool professor. Are you?
A: I hope so!

Q: Do you feel you give an unbiased history of California?
A: I try, but to achieve this goal with total success is impossible.

Q: What's your GPA?
A: I'm afraid I don't remember it, exactly. As an undergrad, it was roughly 3.75, and I graduated magna cum laude with high honors. As a grad, it was roughly 3.85. Pretty much everyone in grad school has a high GPA, though. Oh, and the grading at UCLA is easier than the grading at Cal Poly Pomona, so it's little bit easier to get a 3.75 there than it is here.

Q: What was your favorite class/event in college?
A: In terms of classes, it was either U.S. Civil War, or Intro to Folklore and Mythology. In terms of events, I went to the 1991 UCLA-USC football game, when UCLA secured a Rose Bowl berth with a last-second TD catch, winning 24-21.

Q: What was the toughest class you took at UCLA as an undergrad?
A: German 3. I am not great with languages, and on top of that, it was five says a week at 8:00 a.m. and I am not a morning person. It was the only class that I took pass/fail at UCLA.

Q: What was the best thing you liked about going to UCLA?
A: The professors were very good. I also liked the campus, and my job at the newspaper.

Q: Is it true that graduate school (getting your Ph.D.) is extremely hard and you only get one chance at it?
A: Well, it is hard, though in a different way than undergraduate courses. It's not generally true that you only get one chance, though. Most graduate schools want you to succeed, because they have invested valuable resources in you.

Q: Was grad school a drastic difference from your undergrad studies?
A: Yes. There are few tests and not really any meaningful deadlines. The amount of reading is much greater, the type of thinking/analysis they expect is very different, and the annoying obligations are considerably different.

Q: Did you ever cheat on your tests?
A: I did not. First, because I was too worried about the consequences if I did so. Second, because I wanted an A in every class, and I did not trust other students' answers to get me that A.

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: What did you want to be when you were a little kid?
A: Well, I remember wanting to be a printer, because that's what my father did. Then, at various times, I was thinking doctor, then lawyer, then judge.

Q: At what point in your college career did you decide to pursue a Ph.D.? Why did you become a historian?
A: Late in my junior year, I started exploring it as a possibility, which meant--among other things--doing a serious research project my senior year. I enjoyed the research project, and my skill set matched well with those needed from a historian, so I made the final decision about halfway through my senior year.

Q: Why did you decide to become a teacher?
A: Well, you have to in order to be a scholar (in almost all cases). However, when I first taught (in grad school) I was pleased to discover that I really liked it.

Q: What is your favorite historical period/area/event in history?
A: The United States Civil War.

Q: Why did you choose the Civil War as your specialty?
A: I always liked it, and I know it very well. I did well in college when I took that class, and it kind of just went from there.

Q: I'm curious what your topic of research was for your Ph.D., since you seem to draw from such sources as literature, art, and pop culture in your history instruction?
A: You're very perceptive in realizing the two things must be related. In fact, my work was on Civil War reenactment. Or, put another way, the Civil War in popular culture.

Q: What was the title of your dissertation? What was the subject?
A: "What They Fight For: The Men (and Women) of Reenactment." The subject, as noted above, was Civil War reenactment.

Q: What about the Civil War interests you most?
A: Well, it's hard to narrow it down to one thing. But if I had to, it would be the way in which people have remembered/celebrated/commemorated the Civil War since it ended. That means reenacting, movies, songs, and so forth. As you will see above, this was the topic of my dissertation.

Q: As someone who has studied the Civil War: Why do so many blacks live in the South when it's so racist?
A: Well, there are a lot of reasons. For most, that's where their family and their roots are. And often, they have kind of learned to deal with white racism in one way or another.

Q: You said your expertise is the Civil War. Will you share a little bit about its impact on California if there is any?
A: Certainly. Watch for that in Lecture 3.

Q: What got you into teaching?
A: Every grad student teaches, pretty much. That's how they pay for grad school. And then, it turned out I liked it.

Q: How/when did you find your passion in teaching history?
A: As noted above, I was required to do it to pay for grad school, and I confirmed (as I suspected before hand) that I really liked it. I was heavily involved in theater in high school, and lecturing is just another type of performance.

Q: What do you like most about history?
A: There are always new things to discover/learn.

Q: What does history mean to you and how does it inspire you?
A: Well, it reminds us of our good fortune today--thank goodness we don't have slavery, for example--and also helps us to better understand who we are and where we are going. It's interesting, enlightening, stimulating, and indeed sometimes inspiring. I personally like to hear/read about people who have confronted great challenges, and to learn from/be inspired by their approach to overcoming them.

Q: Did you start teaching right after graduating college?
A: If you mean undergraduate, there was a two-year gap. I started in my third year of grad school. If you mean, did I start right after grad school, I was teaching long before I finished grad school.

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, I don't really like a 9-5 schedule (as evidenced by the fact that I am typing this at 3:13 a.m.)

Q: Do you want to keep teaching for the rest of your career?
A: Yes, I would say so.

Q: How much is a professor paid? Do you do something else that brings in the $?
A: It depends enormously on your rank, and where you teach. A professor can be paid as little as $20,000 a year, or as much as $250,000 (or more, if they teach at a medical school or a business school, or a law school). At Cal Poly, the range is something like $40,000 - $150,000. In addition to that, many professors--including me--make money on other, related jobs, like writing/editing books.

Q: Do you enjoy being a professor?
A: Absolutely.

Q: Why do you dislike titles like professor or doctor?
A: First, because they seem phony to me. I prefer to earn respect, rather than have people give it to me (or pretend to give it to me) just because I happen to have a diploma. Second, because I want you to think critically about everything you hear in this class, including everything I say. If you are thinking of me as being somehow "above" you, that can't happen as easily.

Q: Why do you teach/love/like history? What made you want to study history?
A: I teach it because it's challenging and it's something I feel I can accomplish positive things while doing it (just like a soldier, or a fire fighter, or an artist helps make the world a better place). I enjoy the subject because it's interesting, and it's mentally challenging to try to understand, and because it helps me understand the world better.

Q: Has your pursuit of history as a career been beneficial intellectually and economically?
A: Certainly. It would be hard to be a scholar without getting enormous intellectual benefits. And economically, well, it gave me my job and has led to lots of other great opportunities.

Q: What led you to teach the way you do?
A: I try to do the things that I liked when I was a student.

Q: Where did you learn how to teach?
A: Beyond about 10 hours training at UCLA, I am self-taught.

Q: Why do other teachers suck so bad?
A: 'Suck' may be a bit strong in some cases. However, I would say that my colleagues who struggle largely do so for three reasons. First, there is no particular professional reward for being a good teacher; it doesn't get you more money or get you promoted (research does). Second, the skill set required for good teaching and for good scholarship are very different, and not many people have both. Third, and finally, people tend to do things they way they were taught, without thinking critically about them. This happens in all fields of human endeavor. For example, in baseball, we can prove mathematically that bunting the ball is almost ALWAYS a bad idea. And yet, baseball teams still do it, because that's the way it's always been done.

Q: Why do you make this class funny?
A: It keeps the students awake and engaged.

Q: How do you remember all the history facts, dates, events?
A: In part, I just happen to have good memory. In part, I've studied it so much that it sticks with me via repetition. In part, I use mnemonics (tricks to help me remember, like associating a particular person with a song, or something like that.)

Q: Have you had training in instructional strategies and methodologies?
A: A little, but not a lot. Most of what I know has come from independent reading, and from my own experiences as a student.

Q: Your approach seems very non-traditional, and critical of methods you have encountered. Have you ever struggled with dogmatic professors with such beliefs, and has it affected your professional/academic career?
A: Well, I haven't really struggled with them as a student. The problem is that the professor has all the power, and any student who challenges a professor's way of doing things is likely to suffer grade-wise. So, when I was at UCLA, I knew how to get an A on whatever assignments I was given, even if I didn't think much of the assignments. In my professional career, it is certainly possible for professional animosities to develop between more traditional professors and less traditional professors. I wouldn't say that's been a big problem in my career, but it may have happened on occasion. Problem is, it's hard to know. If someone doesn't like you, they don't necessarily explain their reasons.

Q: Why is history important to you?
A: Well, the past can do much to teach us how to deal with the problems and challenges of the present. On top of that, the past can be and often is abused by people in service of their particular agenda, and I hate to see people get away with that. The only way we can keep politicians/filmmakers/authors/etc. honest is to learn the information for ourselves.

Q: Why did you choose to learn/teach California history?
A: Actually, I didn't choose, I was chosen. The university needed someone to teach this class--someone who would have good ideas about how to improve it--and they asked me.

Q: Why do you teach this course if you don't really care that much about California?
A: Well, I teach it because the university assigns me to do so. However, I did not mean to suggest that I don't care that much about California. It is, after all, my home state and the place I live. I meant only that I am not attached to the "traditional" way of teaching California history, because I am not trained as a California historian.

Q: How long have you been teaching history? How long have you been teaching at Cal Poly Pomona? Where else have you taught?
A: 13 years overall. Eight years at CPP, and the other five at UCLA.

Q: Why did you choose to teach at Cal Poly Pomona? Why not UCLA any more?
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. There are also a lot of hassles that come from teaching at UCLA that I don't want to deal with. The students there are far more likely to cheat, for example.

Q: What do you like most about teaching at Cal Poly?
A: The students. They are, in general, more genuine and more interested in learning than the ones at UCLA.

Q: What classes do you teach at Cal Poly? Do you teach any other courses?
A: Yes, History of the U.S. from 1877-2000 (History 202), History of the U.S. from its beginnings to 1877 (History 201), and sometimes U.S. Civil War (History 344).

Q: Do you teach this course in summer?
A: Yes, I often do.

Q: Will you be teaching this course next quarter?
A: I am currently scheduled to, yes.

Q: Is this your favorite class to teach? What is your favorite course to teach?
A: Hard question to answer. There are enjoyable things about all the classes I teach. My favorite aspect of this class is that I can bend the rules a bit more since it is an advanced class, and I can do some things in the classroom that would be not appropriate in a less advanced course.

Q: What is your favorite part of teaching this particular course?
A: Well, as I noted above, because it's an upper division course, I can be a little looser in terms of subject matter and approach. Which means that there are some pretty fun/cool lectures that I really like, such as the one on Hollywood or the one on Disneyland.

Q: What do you think of Cal Poly education-wise compared to UCLA?
A: You can get a good education at either institution. UCLA is better for some disciplines--pre-med, for example--while Cal Poly is better for others--engineering, for example. Also, some kinds of students will do better on a large and bustling campus like UCLA, while others will thrive more in the more intimate setting here.

Q: Why do you teach history, instead of math or English or something else?
A: History interests me more, and I know a lot more about it. While I understand math, I would have a hard time explaining it to people.

Q: Did you always want to teach history?
A: No, I started college thinking about law school. Then, I decided to switch to history, then in grad school I developed an interest in the teaching aspect of the job.

Q: Why teach at the college level and not high school or junior high?
A: Well, those are very different jobs. But the very best answer to that, I would say, is that a college level professor also gets to do other things--like research. It's nice to have a change of pace. It's also nice to be able to teach something that you're truly one of the country's experts in, and you can only do that in college.

Q: Do you teach at any other schools?
A: No, not any more. Not enough time in the week, really.

Q: What else do you do besides teach?

A: Well, I write and edit books on historical topics. That's generally considered to be an aspect of my job as a professor, though it does pay a separate salary (from the publishers, not the school).

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 or film.

Q: What is your favorite song about California?
A: Wow, so many to choose from! I think I will select "California Love" by Tupac Shakur and Dr. Dre, though "Superman" by Lazlo Bane is a close runner-up.

Q: What part of history do you find most interesting?
A: The U.S. Civil War, and 20th century popular culture.

Q: What is your favorite event in U.S. history?
A: The Civil War. If that's too broad, then I'll say the Battle of Gettysburg.

Q: What is the most interesting event in history that sticks out in your mind?
A: Again, I'd probably go with the Civil War. Though I certainly think that a whole lot of interesting things happened in California history.

Q: Why the Civil War?
A: I dunno, it seems the most vivid to me, I suppose. So many interesting events and people, and so important to the development of this nation.

Q: I've heard you specialize in the Civil War. Is this true? Why are you teaching California history when your expertise is in the Civil War?
A: Yes it's true. Although it should be noted that most professors teach outside their field most of the time, and I certainly know more than enough to teach this course.

Q: I'm interested in how you came about structuring your class, with regards to format, lack of text, and general negative outlook on traditionally taught courses?
A: I am influenced, I would say, by three things. First, the things I experienced as a student that worked or did not work. Second, the reading I've done about educational theory. Third, feedback from students about what I did that was working or not working. In the case of California history, in particular, I tried to maintain a balance of coverage between the things that were clearly crucial and should be covered in a California history course (missions, Great Depression, Gold Rush, etc.) with the things that I thought were most interesting and potentially useful to students (Hollywood, architecture, etc.).

Q: What is the most important event that Californians should know about?
A: Hard to say. I would say the event that had the most impact on the state would either be the gold rush or World War II. Perhaps the most useful thing for us to study, however, is the vicious racism that has marred the state's history. As the state grows ever more diverse, we must remember not to let such things happen again.

Q: Why teach about California?
A: Well, because we live in California, it's an excellent means of helping us to understand the connection between history and our present-day lives. It's also interesting.

Q: Do most of the historical events/people covered in this class play out closer to the modern/postmodern era, or do more exist closer to statehood.
A: Well, there's a fair bit of both. However, I would say that about 50% of the course covers the last 70 years, and the other 50% covers everything before 1940. Of course, some lectures cover both (for example, the Hollywood lecture begins in 1890 and runs to the present).

Q: Who would you say is the most significant figure in California history?
A: Interesting question! I think I will go with Earl Warren, the governor who was partly responsible for interning the Japanese, building the freeways, and building many of our schools.

Q: What is your favorite part of California history?
A: Probably the rise of Hollywood.

Q: Who is the most famous Californian?
A: Right now? I would say either Steven Spielberg, Arnold Schwarzenegger, or Steve Jobs. Of all time? I would say Ronald Reagan or Richard Nixon or Howard Hughes.

Q: How do you spell the former governor's last name?
A: Schwarzenegger. It means "the black plowman" in his native language, which is Austrian.

Q: Is it true that Zorro was a mass murderer who killed Californians just because they were Californians, because he was from Mexico and despised the U.S., and was eventually killed by his own gang for sleeping with his gangsters' wives?
A: Well, first of all, Zorro was a fictional character. Second, none of this occurs in any of the Zorro stories I know. I think you might be mixing Zorro up with some real person--perhaps Pancho Villa?

Q: How has the development of infrastructure in Los Angeles changed natural patterns (migration, hydrology, heat island, etc.) in the past 100 years?
A: It would be hard to answer that succinctly, but I will note the following. First, the oldest roadway in the world is currently occupied by Wilshire Boulevard. So, I would suggest that in some ways (say, migration patterns), infrastructure simply follows what was already happening, and just makes it easier and faster. As to more environmental issues, undoubtedly the fact that we have millions of people living in what is supposed to be a desert has had a profound impact. If you want to read more about this, email me and I can recommend some books.

Q: How many Mexicans resided in California before 1848?
A: About 7,000.

Q: Do you think Mexico would have utilized California to its full potential (economy, agriculture, movie industry, Disneyland) if it were still part of Mexico?
A: Interesting question! My answer is, no, I don't think California would be what it is today if it were still part of Mexico. I will give you two reasons this is the case. First, Mexico still has Baja California. If they were capable of that kind of development, why not do it in Baja? Second, many of the things that happened in California were dependent on Americans in other parts of the country. For example, the movie industry would not have emerged if Thomas Edison (in New Jersey) did not invent the movie camera. A Mexican-owned California would not have the necessary connections to the rest of America for things like the movie industry to emerge here.

Q: Do you foresee California breaking up into smaller states?
A: No, because the various parts of California are dependent on one another.

Q: Why is Disney important?
A: He created California's tourist industry.

Q: How much have our theme parks shaped the ideas and views of California from a Californian and an American standpoint?
A: Quite a bit, I would say. We'll talk about this in the last lecture of the quarter.

Q: You said tourism is the second biggest industry in the state. What's first?
A: Agriculture.

Q: Why is Mickey Mouse so popular?
A: Hard to say why it's him. He's cute, I guess, and friendly. And he's been the face of a major, major corporation for 80 years.

Q: Do you like to go to Disneyland? How often do you go? Do you hate Disneyland?
A: I used to, but we went so many times when we had annual passes that I eventually got burned out. I went again recently, but it was SO crowded it was hard to do much. I don't hate Disneyland.

Q: Do you think the establishment of Disneyland greatly benefited California?
A: Yes, certainly.

Q: Was the creation of Disneyland endorsed by local and state governments to increase tourism and the economy of California?
A: Yes, certainly.

Q: Do we need to inform you which topics we choose for the short papers?
A: No, you don't.

Q: Is it true Disneyland was originally laid out like a swastika?
A: No, that's an urban legend. On the other hand, these buildings were, though by accident.

Q: How many people have died at Disneyland? Did the Big Thunder Mountain ride really decapitate someone?
A: We will probably never know for sure, but it's certainly a lot, just because random chance dictates that someone will die there every week (or even more often), usually of heart attacks or things like that. You will be reading an article about people who died in violent accidents. And yes, someone did die on Big Thunder, though from being crushed, and not from decapitation. You can read about it here if you want.

Q: How many 370 classes have you taught?
A: I've taught this course probably twenty times before this. That said, the class is always a work in progress. I welcome your feedback, positive or negative.

Q: Where did you go to school? Did you go straight through? How many years total?
A: High school - Tustin High (Class of 1992), as I noted above. Undergraduate/Graduate - UCLA (Classes of 1996 and 2004). For junior high/elementary, I went to Edgewood and to Twila Reid Elementary. Yes, I went straight through. I had no break between high school and college, or between undergraduate and graduate school. I was in college for a total of 12 years.

Q: Why did you choose UCLA? What made you go there?
A: Truth be told, when I was coming out of high school, the main factor was that it was the best school that did not require letters of recommendation--although I was a good student, 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: Did you major in history?
A: Yes.

Q: What's your craziest story from college/UCLA?
A: I was shot at in a drive-by shooting three weeks before I started college. Does that count?

Q: What is the story about the firecracker and your ear?
A: Short version: I lit an M-80 and tried to "deploy" it in such a way that it would startle/frighten one of my friends/dorm-mates. But it went off too quickly, about 1/4 second after I threw it. So it blew up right next to my right ear.

Q: Why did you choose history as the focus of your career?
A: I've always liked it, and I was very good at it in high school and college. Seemed like a match.

Q: What about the subject of history excites you the most? What intrigues you?
A: Well, when it comes to studying history, I think the most exciting thing is that there is so much history that there are always new things to discover that nobody has ever noticed before. When it comes to teaching history, I think the most exciting thing is that I'm in a position to really introduce people to the great things about this subject, since so few students have been awakened to the things that make history interesting.

Q: Has history ever allowed you to travel anywhere exciting?
A: Yes. When I did the research for my dissertation, I traveled all around the East Coast--Gettysburg, Philadelphia, New York, Richmond, Washington, etc. On top of that I've presented papers at various conferences, which has allowed me to visit (among others) New Mexico, Toronto, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Atlanta, and New Orleans.

Q: Where have you traveled?
A: As noted above, I've been to most of the famous cities in the United States, and seen most of the big historic sites. I haven't traveled much outside the United States, except that I went to Italy for two weeks for my honeymoon.

Q: What profession can someone who majored in history get into other than teaching?
A: Well, the purpose of most social science/humanities majors is to teach you to be a well-rounded, critical thinker, which should make you good raw material for just about any job. I know people who have gone into politics, accounting, law, business, psychology, medicine, journalism, filmmaking, and computer game design, among other professions.

Q: Was UCLA your first choice of school?
A: Yes.

Q: Have you attended any universities besides UCLA?
A: Nope.

Q: Did you like going to school at UCLA? How were the students/professors?
A: In general, I liked it very much. That said, every school has its annoyances. At CPP, BroncoDirect, overcrowding, 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. The students and professors were both generally very good and very nice, although there were certainly a few exceptions.
    Speaking specifically about the grad program in history, it was good, but very, very hard in the first year. They don't hold your hand, and it's easy to get overwhelmed. Eventually, as you build a network of colleagues, it gets easier.

Q: How hard did you find it to get into UCLA's grad program? What do they look for in candidates?
A: Well, I did well in all the basic things--GPA, test scores, letters of rec--so I think I made it in pretty easily. I know they look pretty carefully at those three things, as well as what you want to study, and who you want to study with. If you plan to go to grad school there, or anywhere else, it is wise to find a professor you want to work with before you apply, so they can be a source of advice and an advocate for you.

Q: Do you have any advice for a history major looking to teach at the college level?
A: Sure. I can do better in person, though, so you'd do well to come to my office hours for a discussion.

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: Did you ever join any sports or clubs at UCLA, and if so what were they and why did you join them?
A: I worked for the Daily Bruin because it was fun and it was a better job than anything else on campus. I also played intramural softball and football, for fun and a little exercise.

Q: If my mom is a UCLA alum and my dad is a Cal Poly alum, do I get extra credit?
A: No, but they can have some if they take the class.

Q: What significance does UCLA have towards the state of California?
A: That's a pretty broad question, but I'll do my best to answer. It is, first of all, one of the state's oldest public universities, and so has been responsible for educating a very large number of the state's citizens. It is also one of the crown jewels of our public university system (along with Berkeley) and indeed one of the preeminent universities of any sort in the state (along with Stanford, CalTech, USC, UCSD and a few others). As such, the university brings important scholars, lots of research funds, and a great deal of prestige to the state.

Q: Who do you think is the best basketball player that ever played at UCLA?
A: Lew Alcindor (aka Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). 88-2 and three national titles in his three years as a varsity player.

Q: Do you think that a degree from a big name university such as UCLA or USC helps one obtain a better job, higher pay, etc.? If so, why?
A: It certainly can, for at least two reasons. First, because big and powerful schools--especially USC--have networks that help grads to find good jobs. Second, because when you apply for a job, you are often competing against 10 or 50 or 100 people. The interviewer(s) can't truly get to know that many people, and they are going to need shortcuts to allow them to eliminate candidates in an efficient fashion. One possible shortcut is to assume that someone from a more famous/prestigious school is a better candidate.
    Now, with that said, this effect can easily be overstated. Lots of people get degrees from, say, UCLA and think that it's a golden key that will unlock all doors. I promise you, it's not. You can get a degree from a less prestigious school, and if you invest your time wisely (internships, getting good grades, networking) you can be in a great position to land a job. And you can get a degree from a more prestigious school but can be almost unhireable if you invest your time poorly.

Q: Describe USC for us.
A: Well, all rivalry-related joking aside, it's a pretty solid school. In particular, if I was going to go somewhere for professional school--MBA, law degree, whatever--I would take a long look at USC because they are great at helping grads get jobs.

Q: Is UCLA really better than USC in terms of academics and preparing you for a future career?
A: As a general rule, it's a little better, but the difference is not enormous. And, as noted above, there are some departments at USC that are very, very good.

Q: If I am a USC student, do you think I will have a problem in this class?
A: Certainly not.

Q: Could you say a new USC joke every class?
A: I already told you most of my best ones. If I hear a good new one, though, I'll share it.

Q: Can you come up with some fresh USC jokes? I've heard all of these.
A: I'll do my best.

Q: What does USC stand for? University of Spoiled Children!
A: Also, University of Second Choice.

Q: Can you tell more UCLA jokes? I need to build up my collection!
A: I will see what I can do. ;)

Q: When did the USC-UCLA Rivalry begin? What set it off?
A: Well, it pretty much began once UCLA became an independent school (it was originally part of Berkeley). No specific event set it off, it's just kind of natural for two universities that close to one another to be rivals. Kind of the same thing as Duke-UNC.

Q: Do you really hate USC? Is it really that bad? Why? Did you have any bad experiences there?
A: No, it's just for fun. Some of my best friends went there. And I did not have any bad experiences.

Q: Do you drink wine coolers? What is your favorite kind of beer/liquor?
A: I am not much of an alcohol drinker. I'm mildly allergic to it.

Q: Given your allergies, what would happen if you drank some alcohol?
A: I am not certain. Obviously it depends a lot on how much. If only a moderate amount, the consequences are minor. If a lot, probably much worse.

Q: What is your favorite drink?
A: I'll go with black cherry soda. I also really like cherry-grape Gatorade (which is very hard to find)

Q: What is the most memorable place you've ever visited/traveled? Have you traveled abroad?
A: I would say that there are two contenders for this title. One would be the battlefield at Gettysburg. And the other would be Plimoth Plantation, where the Pilgrims lived. The former experience was the most memorable of my adult years, the latter of my childhood. I have not traveled abroad, beyond fairly brief trips to Canada and Mexico.

Q: If you could live in any time period, which would you choose? And why?
A: Interesting question! I think I would choose the 1890s, because lots of interesting things were going on. The Wild West, the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, industrialization, etc.

Q: Which gaming console did you like growing up?
A: I had a lot of different ones, but my favorite as a kid was my Intellivision. As a teenager, it was my NES. I have a Playstation 2 and a Wii now.

Q: What is the first gaming console marketed to the public?
A: It was the Magnavox Odyssey.

Q: What is your favorite game?
A: Sid Meier's Civilization, though I also like the Zelda games, and the Might and Magic games, and the GTA series, and the two Kingdom Hearts games, and Gun, and Red Dead Redemption, and a lot of older games like Tecmo Bowl and Madden '94.

Q: Do you have an interest in historical gaming?
A: If you mean video games, then yes. As noted above, some of my favorite video games are historical. If you mean role playing games or board games, less so. I do play a few historical board games--Puerto Rico, for example--but the fact that they are historical is just incidental.

Q: Do you read comics? If so, which?
A: If you mean comic books, not really. If you mean comic strips, I like Calvin and Hobbes, The Far Side, and Beetle Bailey.

Q: Have you ever been shot at?
A: I suspect you already know that the answer to that question is 'yes.'

The Professor's Opinions

Q: What do you think of Cal Poly students?
A: In general, I like them very much. I find that, as a rule, they are more interested in getting an education than are students at UCLA. Which is not to say that there are not good students at UCLA, because there certainly are. But there are way too many students at UCLA who don't really want an education, or who simply view education as a burden that is necessary so they can go to law/medical school and get rich.

Q: Are UCLA students smarter than Cal Poly students? What is the difference, in your opinion?
A: I would say the average UCLA student and the average Cal Poly student are pretty much equally smart. It is a little more common at UCLA to find a student with outstanding writing skills, but that's not exactly a product of intelligence as much as it is experience/educational background. In terms of prominent differences, there are two that leap to mind. The first is that UCLA students are more likely to do whatever is necessary to get an A, even if "necessary" means inappropriate or unethical. I saw WAY more cheating there than I've even seen here, and also more instances of professors being threatened and things like that. The second is that Cal Poly students are more diverse, and (in a related fact) are more likely to have English as a second or third language. I'm not sure I ever had a student at UCLA who wasn't completely fluent in English. Whereas, in a class of 60 students at Cal Poly, I am likely to have five or six students who are still learning the language.

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) and why?
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 like the music, I like the cast, and I think it's really funny. 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: What's your favorite film genre?
A: Hm. Probably comedy, though I like documentaries a lot, too.

Q: What is your favorite Western movie?
A: Rio Bravo.

Q: Who is your favorite actor?
A: Hm, that's a hard one. I guess I will go with Kevin Spacey. Though Sean Penn is awfully impressive as well, as is Daniel Day-Lewis.

Q: What's your favorite stooge, among the Three Stooges?
A: Moe.

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: What do you like doing for fun in your free time? What are your hobbies?
A: Well, I like movies and music. I play softball, basketball, football, and racquetball. I also do martial arts (specifically, Krav Maga). I play poker every other week. I like to play board games and video games. I like to try new restaurants. And, of course, I like to socialize with friends.

Q: What is your favorite thing to do in California?
A: Hm. I am assuming because of the way you worded this question, you're asking about something that can ONLY be done in California. If that is what you will mean, then I think I will choose eating at uniquely Californian restaurants like Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles.

Q: What is your favorite thing about California?
A: The eclecticism of the state. You can visit mountains here, or beaches, or cities like Pomona, or cities like San Francisco, or missions, or movie theaters. It has everything. That applies to food, too, and I really like to sample various cuisines.

Q: What place in California do you like to visit? Which one is your favorite and why?
A: Well, let's see. San Diego, Angel Stadium, restaurants that match the description above, the Cinemadome in Hollywood, Griffith Park, the various historical museums, and Knott's Berry Farm would all be on my list. If I had to pick a favorite, though, it would probably be downtown Los Angeles, just because there's so much to see and do there-- lots of restaurants, some good museums (MOCA, Japanese-American, etc.), some good architecture, some really old historic buildings, Olvera Street, Chinatown, etc.

Q: What is your favorite California city?
A: Los Angeles

Q: If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
A: I gotta say, it's kinda lame, but probably Los Angeles. I am very, very sensitive to humidity, and so really prefer to live somewhere with dry weather. I like large cities, and find small cities to be a bit depressing. I also like a city with character--San Diego is large and has good weather, but I find it a little boring because I seem only to see Applebee's and Best Buy and McDonalds wherever I go (no offense to San Diegans). If I couldn't live in Los Angeles, then I would probably choose Seattle or Philadelphia, but really, LA best suits my tastes.

Q: Which state seems most interesting to you?
A: California, by far. If you want my runner-up, I'd probably go with Pennsylvania.

Q: What is the most interesting part of California, currently?
A: Do you mean this in the concrete, physical sense? Like, what place in California is most interesting? If so, I would say downtown LA. Some cool historical and cultural stuff, and yet at the same time there is serious urban renewal going on with LA Live/Staples, so the place is really jumping these days. Or did you mean in a more abstract sense? If so. I would say the most interesting part of California is our ongoing efforts to deal with population growth/increasing diversity.

Q: Do you enjoy studying the history of California?
A: Yes.

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: Do you think the other history teachers at Cal Poly are boring, or lack a sense of humor?
A: All of them, no? But I am sure this is true of some of them.

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: PC or Mac?
A: I have both; I use the Mac much more, though.

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 is the Beatles.

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. "Where Did You Sleep Last Night," 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: If you like rap music, who is your favorite rapper?
A: N.W.A., definitely. I also like Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Public Enemy, the Beastie Boys, Run-DMC, Tupac Shakur, and Coolio. If N.W.A. doesn't count as a "rapper," then I will say that Dr. Dre is my favorite.

Q: Do you listen to Sublime?
A: Yes. Wish I could have seen them in concert before their lead singer died.

Q: Do you like Pink Floyd?
A: Yes, very much.

Q: Do you play the guitar?
A: I wish I could, but my fingers are too short and stubby. I can't make the chords properly.

Q: What do you listen to in your car on the way to work?
A: Sometimes the musicians listed above, but more often it's sports talk radio.

Q: Are you a partier? Have you smoked pot?
A: As noted elsewhere on this page, I am allergic to alcohol. In addition, the smell of marijuana makes me sick to my stomach (even before I knew what the smell was). So, that pretty much means the answer is 'no'. I do know what the sensation of being drunk/high is like, I think, as I have been under sedation for dental work, and I'm told that's similar.

Q: Copenhagen or Skoal?
A: I don't partake of tobacco, especially not chawin' tobaccy.

Q: Do you like sports?
A: Yes, as I noted above. I like football, basketball, baseball, hockey, and occasionally soccer. Especially football and baseball and college basketball. I don't have strong feelings one way or the other about tennis, auto racing, volleyball, or boxing. I wish they would get rid of golf, which is a game and not a sport anyhow.

Q: What is your favorite sport to play? To watch? What is your favorite football/baseball/basketball/hockey 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: LeBron James or Kobe Bryant?
A: Who is better? Probably LeBron, at this point, though his habit of disappearing at the end of games must be getting worrisome for fans of the Heat. Whom do I like more? Well, I am a Lakers fan, and I really dislike LeBron. So Kobe, though I don't like him nearly as much as I like Magic Johnson or Kurt Rambis.

Q: What sports team do you hate the most?
A: Well, hate is a strong word. USC is my rival school, so of course I root against them. However, I think the team I root against the very most is the New York Yankees.

Q: What do you think about the Angels changing to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim? Should the Dodgers change to the Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles?
A: I wish the Angels hadn't changed, but I guess it doesn't bother me too much. As to the Dodgers, I think they should be worrying more about their hitting than the name of the team.

Q: Why did Arte Moreno change the team's name to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim? I think it's really stupid.
A: To sell more tickets and jerseys in Los Angeles. Given that he managed to make a blllion dollars in Mexico, I guess he must be right, though it does seem kind of silly to me, too.

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: Who is your favorite athlete?
A: All time? Nolan Ryan. Though Magic Johnson and Chuck Finley are also up there.

Q: What do you think about the Lakers and LA teams in general?
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. 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 (27 years!). As to the college teams, obviously I like UCLA, and can't stand USC.

Q: Does UCLA have a football team?
A: Not much of one, I am afraid.

Q: How do you feel about the upcoming Jim Mora, Jr. era at UCLA? Do you think he will turn that program around?
A: I'm mildly optimistic, though UCLA cannot hope to be truly competitive if they do not invest more resources in the football team. Their practice facilites are pretty bad, for example.

Q: Who is your favorite UCLA football player? Who is your least favorite USC player?
A: The first question is easy to answer--Cade McNown. He was very exciting to watch. The second question is harder. O.J. Simpson is the obvious answer, but I think I will actually go with Keyshawn Johnson. He always seemed like an arrogant jerk to me.

Q: Who was a better Bruin QB? Maddox or Aikman? Only college ball as a basis for comparison.
A: Good question! I'm going to go with Aikman, I think. He threw more TDs and far fewer interceptions. Plus, he completed 65% of his passes, compared to 60% for Maddox.

Q: Why do sports teams from California get no love or respect?
A: First, because many people resent California for whatever reason, and take out their anger on the sports teams. Second, because sporting events broadcast in primetime here (e.g. UCLA football games, Lakers' games, Dodgers' games) are on after people go to sleep on the east coast, so they don't see them.

Q: Who is your favorite NBA player?
A: Well, I like several--Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, Kevin Garnett.

Q: Why does Luke Walton suck so bad?
A: Well, he's slow and not a great shooter. Plus, he has the same problem his old man had--a bad back.

Q: Do you think Kobe will get the scoring title by the time he retires?
A: Well, let's see. He needs about 10,500 more points. He's averaging around 1,800 a season right now, and is beginning to slow down a bit. So, he'll probably need six or seven more years, which means playing until he's 39 or 40. He'll probably do it, but it's going to be close. And I really wouldn't be surprised if he retires before that, if he decides he's not going to be able to win any more titles.

Q: How would things have gone if Bynum was traded for Carmelo Anthony.
A: Not well, I think. Anthony's a scorer, and the Lakers already have plenty of those.

Q: Who do you think will win the NCAA Tournament this year?
A: Hard to pick against Kentucky, right? (Update: I was right! Usually I am wrong when I answer questions like this one.)

Q: Who do you think will win the NBA title this year?
A: Hard one. If I was betting money, I would probably bet on the Chicago Bulls.

Q: How good a basketball player are you? Did you play in college?
A: I am pretty good for someone who is as short and slow as I am. I played intramural games in college, but nothing more organized than that.

Q: Are you a baseball coach?
A: I do coach (and play second base/first base for) my softball team.

Q: Should L.A. have its own NFL team? Why or why not?
A: I don't think so. So many people here are from other cities--and root for those cities' teams--that it just doesn't make sense here.

Q: Who do you think will win the Super Bowl and why?
A: The Green Bay Packers. I am a fan of the team--as you will see elsewhere--but I really like the situation they are in. I mean, they won the Super Bowl last year despite losing a lot of people to injuries, like Jermichael Finley and Ryan Grant. Now they have those people back. They are a young team that has had a year to get more experienced and more used to playing together. Rodgers is great and they have a lot of weapons on offense.

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: Do you have a serious opinion on the 9/11 event, and what is it?
A: Well, I'm not sure exactly what you're asking. If you are asking whether or not I think it was a conspiracy, I do not. If you're asking for my take in a more general sense, I think it was a terrible act committed by a group of crazy people. I also think that something like 9/11 will happen again unless we substantially change our approach to the Middle East.

Q: Was 9/11 an inside job?
A: As I noted above, I do not think so. I am not really a believer in conspiracy theories. And this one, in particular, seems far-fetched to me.

Q: Are Muslims taking over the Western world?
A: I see no evidence of that being the case. Certainly they have a role to play, but as I think of a list of the Western world's 10 most powerful people--President Obama, the Pope, the Prime Minister of England, etc.--they are all Judeo-Christian in background. And the Western world's 10 most powerful countries are all non-Muslim (unless you want to consider Iran as part of the Western world.)

Q: Why is Proposition 13 never discussed during election campaigns?
A: Well, as you know, Proposition 13 keeps taxes on houses low. The people who benefit most from Prop 13, then, are successful middle and upper class individuals. These are people who are very likely to vote and who are key sources of campaign contributions. Angering them by talking about getting rid of Prop 13, then, is not a good choice for any politician who wants to be elected.

Q: Why is there not more offshore drilling off the California ocean?
A: Because that would irritate two very powerful groups in California--environmentalists and rich people who own beachfront houses.

Q: How come American pride is not popular, and do you think Hollywood has something to do with it? Why dont we emphasize American pride over cultural pride, since most of us are Americans?
A: An intriguing question. I'm not sure that I agree that we don't celebrate American pride--there's Fourth of July, and incredibly expansive coverage given to elections, and lots of flags and bumper stickers and "support our troops" magnets on cars and things like that. That said, if there's been a decline in the celebration of American pride--and I would say there has been-- I would offer three theories. First, I think your notion that Hollywood has something to do with it has merit. I would say that today, for every patriotic movie that is made--Top Gun, The Patriot, Independence Day--there are probably five movies that lean towards being anti-patriotic. My second theory is that the Vietnam War has something to do with it--that war was a real blow to American pride. Third, and finally, it may be that "the market" in terms of books, films, politicians, whatever, is simply adapting to American preferences. Studies have shown that the vast majority of people, when asked to choose between their national heritage and their cultural heritage, are more interested in their cultural heritage.

Q: Why are sales taxes so high in California? Is it because people are so rich here?
A: I would say that the wealth of people here has little to do with it. I think it's because voters here don't punish politicians for raising taxes, because people here are more concerned with other issues. In some places--the South leaps to mind--increases in taxes will result in a violent backlash.

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.

Q: I notice some Star Trek on your website. Are you a fan of any other Sci Fi?
A: I like Star Wars, and the books of Neal Stephenson.

Q: Do you watch Seinfeld?
A: I did when it was on. I see it in re-runs now, occasionally.

Q: Why are The Simpsons so popular?
A: They are funny, and topical, and the show is very well written and acted.

Q: Do you still watch The Simpsons?
A: Yes, in reruns. I don't often see the new episodes.

Q: Besides Dexter, who is your favorite Dexter character?
A: I haven't seen that much of the show, but I do like the character John Lithgow plays.

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 Disney movie?
A: Alice in Wonderland.

Q: What is your opinion of how well Disney's California Adventure represents California and its history?
A: Disney is, in general, pretty poor when it comes to historical accuracy because their goal is to entertain, and not to teach. And so, I think that you're not going to get much reliable information about the past from a visit to DCA. What I think is interesting is this question: "What does it say about modern Californians that they are attracted to history that is presented in this particular fashion?"

Q: What is your favorite historical movie?
A: Glory, although Patton and Spartacus are also near the top of my list.

Q: Have you seen the movie Chinatown? Do you think it is based on a true story?
A: I have, and in fact we will be watching part of the movie in class. It is definitely based on a true story, though the screenwriter changed nearly everything about that true story. We will be talking about the real story in class.

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 online, and I always got pounded, because the sharks who play online are just too good.

Q: XBox 360, PS3, or Wii?
A: I have a Wii, and I think it's great. I just got a PS 3, but I haven't had much chance to play it.

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: Would you rather date someone in the sci-fi book section or the self-help book section of Barnes and Noble?
A: This boils down to a nerd or a girl with issues. I'll take the nerd.

Q: Did anyone ever tell you that you look like Jack Black? Kevin Smith? Philip Seymour Hoffman? Mike "Mikey" Teutul from Orange County Choppers? The "Comic Book Guy" from The Simpsons? Chris Farley? Matt Foley? The lead singer of the Zac Brown Band? Peter Griffin from "Family Guy."
A: I've heard most of those. I guess I can see it, especially with Kevin Smith (whom I've met, by the way) and Jack Black. And I certainly hope I'm a little brighter that Peter Griffin! Isn't there an episode where he forgets to breathe?

Q: Did anyone ever tell you that you look like John Lithgow?
A: Uh, no.

Q: Are you in any way related to Jack Black?
A: Not that I know of.

Q: What is your favorite Jack Black movie?
A: High Fidelity, I would say.

Q: Would you let someone cut your hair for $100?
A: Probably not, that's not nearly enough money.

Q: Havbe you always had long hair? How long have you been growing your hair? How long did it take to grow it out?
A: Well, I cut it every three or four months. However, it hasn't been really short for about 12 years. It took about a year when I grew it out originally.

Q: What is with your hair? Why did you grow your hair long? Why do you have a ponytail?
A: I thought it looked better that way.

Q: How often do you wash your hair?
A: 4-5 times a week.

Q: Where do you get your shirts?
A: Let's see. Sears, Amazon, Gap, and Macy's, mostly.

Q: How often should one trim one's belly button hair?
A: Not sure--what's your opinion?

Q: You seem like a serious professor. That being the case, where did you get your sense of humor? Why are you so funny?
A: I dunno. I guess my family. Many of them are pretty funny. I also did a lot of theater in high school, as I note elsewhere.

Q: What is your favorite color?
A: Purple, I suppose. The color of royalty.

Q: Why is Paris Hilton so famous?
A: I have to admit, I'm confounded, too.

Q: Is it true Mexicans are taking over the state?
A: Well, this is often used as kind of a racist, reactionary talking point. Factually speaking, Mexican people will be in the majority in this state by 2020 or so. They are increasingly occupying positions of power--L.A. mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, and so forth. However, I would not quite call this a "takeover."

Q: Why is there always a focus on the Mexican border, but never the Canadian border, in terms of the immigration issues concerning California?
A: Well, first of all, California doesn't have a border with Canada. Directly to our north is Oregon, then Washington, then Canada. Second, Canada's economy is strong, so there aren't nearly as many Canadians coming here as Mexicans. Third, I'm afraid racism is still alive in our society, and white-skinned English speakers are far less bothersome to many Americans than are brown-skinned Spanish speakers.

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: Do you think California can succeed as an independent country?
A: Certainly. If it broke off from the U.S., it would have the sixth largest economy in the world.

Q: What is your favorite restaurant or place to eat in the L.A. area?
A: Probably the Pantry, which is one of the restaurants you can write about for your final paper, if you wish. I am also a big fan of El Cholo. Both of those are pretty low-key, among the more classy restaurants, my favorite is probably Jar.

Q: Are the California wines really better than the French?
A: Well, it's quite literally a matter of taste. They have done studies where they took cheap wines and fancy wines and had people sample them and rate them, and NOBODY could tell for sure which were the cheap wines and which were the expensive ones. What this study demonstrated, then, is that taste in wine is highly subjective--what's delicious to one person is not delicious to the next.

Q: If we do the final paper on Pink's, do we need to order something specific? What do you recommend?
A: No, you don't actually have to order anything. But if you're going to, I would definitely think about the chili dog. It's their signature dish.

Q: What is your favorite food to eat?
A: Hm, hard question. If we are speaking of a general type of ethnic cuisine, probably Italian. If we are speaking about a specific food item, probably pizza.

Q: How do you like your steak?
A: Medium.

Q: Crunchy or creamy peanut butter?
A: Crunchy, for sure!

Q: Do you like BBQ ribs?
A: I like the taste, but I don't like eating them, because it's so messy.

Q: Do you like chocolate?
A: Yes!

Q: Do you like sushi?
A: Yes, indeed.

Q: What is your favorite cereal? And with what kind of milk?
A: Probably cocoa krispies. And 1% Alta-Dena.

Q: What is your favorite city?
A: Los Angeles. So big and so much interesting stuff.

Q: What is the coolest place in California?
A: Hm. I guess the Sunset Strip.

Q: What is your favorite fact about California?
A: Hm. I guess that it is the fact that if California became an independent country, it would have the seventh largest economy in the world.

Q: What is your favorite state or province or country or general location in the world?
A: Assuming California is off-limits, I would probably say Pennsylvania.

Q: Do you read mental_floss magazine, and if so, how accurate would you say their information is?
A: I have been a subscriber for about three years. And I think they are pretty good in terms of accuracy. Not perfect, though--I do catch occasional errors.

Q: What is your favorite day of the week?
A: Hard to answer. I like Mondays, because it's a new start and everyone's well-rested. I like Thursdays, because that's my softball night. I like whatever the last day of the workweek is for me (Fridays, this quarter), because I can take the evening off and not feel bad about not working.

Q: Do you consider Arnold Schwarzenegger a conservative or a liberal?
A: I think we get a little too attached to those labels, but if you put a gun to my head and made me choose, I would say he's a liberal.

Q: Don't you love the way Arnold Schwarzenegger pronounces 'California'?
A: Actually, we will talk about that in the lecture about California Republicans. I think it's funny, but it's also a deliberate political maneuver.

Q: Was Arnold right in going against the decision of the people regarding the state quarter?
A: Probably. His design's much more classy, I would say.

Q: Which state quarter presented in class do you prefer?
A: I like the people's choice better. Though if I was the one deciding, I probably would have done what Arnold did, for the reason stated in the previous question.

Q: You said that the people of California voted for one design, but then the "Governator" made the decision. What actually happened?
A: Both. The vote of the people was not legally binding, it was just a poll to see what the people preferred. The official decision was fully the Governator's.

Q: Is it important who gets elected, in terms of education in the state of California?
A: Certainly. There is no doubt that some politicians will make education a higher priority than others. Our new governor seems to rank it lower than most other members of his party.

Q: When the state needs to cut budgets, why do they go for education cuts first?
A: I don't get it either. I would think that money spent on education pays greater dividends than just about anything. I guess it's because most voters in California don't place a priority on education.

Q: What do you think of Mayor Villaraigosa?
A: Well, he seems very energetic and able to get stuff done. I think it's also nice that the town's Latino population is being represented in that office. Did you know the last Latino to be mayor of Los Angeles held office 160 years ago?

Q: Why are politicians so stuck up?
A: Because history shows that when politicians regularly act like "regular guys" we won't vote for them. Jimmy Carter learned this lesson the hard way when he was president.

Q: How long do you think until we use up all the water we take from neighboring states?
A: Not long, we're already having issues. The net result of this will be more tax money spent on water reclamation projects, and more laws designed to curb water use. Like, you can only water your lawn twice a week; if you do more you get a $500 fine.

Q: What do you think is going to happen to California in the next 5-10 years--the concerns over global warming and our overpopulated nation?
A: Well, it's hard to predict the future, but it's hard to see how California won't get even worse in terms of gridlock and overcrowding and outrageous housing prices. That said, historically people in this state and this country have managed to do well and bear down in the face of crises. They just don't do so until the crisis is full blown.

Q: Why do you think California has the hottest girls?
A: Well, without saying anything that will get me fired for sexual harassment, it is worth observing that our concepts of beauty largely come from the media--TV and movies. And most TV and movies are made here, using California women.

Q: What is a really good Southern California restaurant with high marks that is part of California's History?
A: If your concern leans more to the "history" part, I would say the Pantry is a good pick. If your concern leans more to the "high marks" part, I would choose Musso and Frank. However, all of the restaurants listed for the "restaurants" final paper topic meet your description.

Q: How old is the downtown restaurant Philippe's?
A: The actually opened in 1908, but invented the French Dip in 1918. They opened in their current location in 1929.

Q: What is the cause/start of gangs in a city?
A: Good question, and not one that we have a good, clear answer to. Obviously, poverty plays a big role. As does constant poor treatment from the rest of society. You'll read a bit more about this during the quarter.

Q: What are the pros and cons of having a female president?
A: Well, it would be good for women's rights in this country, and I think also that a woman might approach some longstanding problems in a different way than male presidents have. The major downside is that a woman president might not be taken seriously by some people, both in this country and in other parts of the world.

Q: Who did you vote for and why? McCain or Obama? Did you Barack the vote? Who do you want to win the next election?
A: I don't want to say now, because I want students to feel comfortable expressing whatever viewpoint they want to. I will tell you in week 10, though.

Q: What do you think of the presidential election? Who are you leaning towards and why?
A: I don't want to answer this now but, as noted above, I am willing to answer in Week 10 if you ask.

Q: Who is going to get the Republican presidential nomination?
A: Mathematically, it is almost impossible for anyone but Mitt Romney to get it. Rick Santorum would have to win something like 70% of the remaining votes.

Q: Why are we in this economic slump?
A: Understanding how economies work is something that takes a lifetime to learn, and even then is somewhat sketchy. However, I will say this--how "good" the economy is doing is largely a matter of how good people think it's doing. And so I think the shocking collapse of the home mortgage market is probably the key cause, not only because of the damage it actually did, but also because it made people believe the economy was in bad shape.

Q: Do you think California will eventually have a normal and stable economy?
A: Well, certainly it will get better than it is right now. However, I think it is unlikely that California's economy will be free from its usual wild ups and downs anytime soon. You see, states really have two ways to raise money, through income taxes and property taxes. California, famously, has very low property taxes thanks to Proposition 13. So, the state has to pay most of its bills with income taxes. The difficulty is that income tax revenues tend to fluctuate a lot more than do property taxes, and so we tend to go through these dramatic cycles. Inasmuch as Prop 13 is VERY popular with the people who vote, it's not going away, and so this basic dynamic isn't going to change.

Q: What does "history" tell us about the state of our economy? Why is it this way? When will it get better?
A: Well, nobody can answer these questions with certainty. The national economy is an enormous, complex thing, and because the various elements of the economy are always changing, it's difficult to draw on the past with any sort of precision. What I mean is that, even if we look at the last three or four big recessions in our history, things are different enough now that we can't make direct comparisons. That said, certainly history gives us some general lessons, the most obvious being that if the government doesn't do anything to help, things will get worse. So, you can count on continued government intervention.

Q: Who do you feel is to blame for the current state of our economy?
A: Well, if you want to pick one person, I suppose former President Bush, since his administration pursued policies that encouraged or allowed bad behavior on the behalf of corporations. However, I would tend to caution against blaming one person, or one particular group of people. The fact is that economies go through cycles, and that's just the way it is.

Q: Why do you think Barack Obama won?
A: I think he ran an extremely skillful campaign, and that the Republicans were hurt by the failures of the Bush presidency, and by mistakes that McCain made during the campaign. If Obama ran a mediocre campaign, or if Bush were moderately popular, it would have been a close election. But with neither thing being true, you got a landslide.

Q: Why are there only two political parties in the U.S.?
A: The short answer is that it is a winner-take-all system. If you vote for a third party in some countries, your vote might count, because they are not winner take all, they award representation proportional to the vote. Here, voting for a third party is a waste. You have to basically pick one of the two parties and vote for them.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 200 years?
A: Um, in a cemetery somewhere, I suppose.

About Historical Events/The Discipline of History/California History

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: Why do you think CIS majors need something like history?
A: Because it teaches us to use our mind and our critical thinking skills. What a computer programmer, or a doctor, or a lawyer, or a historian do is not all that different, they just utilize different kinds of information when they do it.

Q: Does history make you sleepy?
A: No. Hopefully I can work it so it doesn't make you sleepy, either.

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: You mentioned that the sources you use to tap into the past--poems, speeches, etc.--but you didn't mention archaeology. Is that not part of a historian's process, if available?
A: It certainly is. I didn't mention it because (a) archaeology is usually used for peoples who lived many centuries ago, while most of California's history occurred in the last 150 years, AND (b) we can't really do archaeology in class, in the way we would analyze a poem or a film. However, in week six, I will talk a little bit about how archaeology is used to reconstruct the past of Native Americans.

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 far back in California history are we going to go?
A: Well, we'll go back 30,000 years, at least for a minute or two. We'll also talk about the 1500s in that same lecture. However, most of our focus will be on the years 1850-2000.

Q: Did the Russians set foot in California before the Spanish?
A: No, but they did get here pretty early.

Q: Is it true that giant sequoia trees were cut down and transported to the East Coast for display?
A: Yes it is. They could cut a section from them and mark world events on the rings. Like, "when this ring was formed, Jesus was being born."

Q: Who was Father Serra?
A: The man who started the California missions.

Q: What is the single most important event in California history.
A: I will argue in this class that the answer is World War II.

Q: How many serious earthquakes has California had?
A: Depends on your definition of "serious," but if you mean "big enough to do serious damage to an entire city" then I would say two. One in the 1880s and one in the 1910s.

Q: How did Hollywood get its name?
A: It started as a housing development called Hollywoodland, and then dropped the "land" when it became part of Los Angeles. As to why "Hollywoodland," we don't know. There are several theories as to why it was given that name (by its creator, Harvey Henderson Wilcox). The likeliest is that he named it after a famous cemetery in his hometown of Richmond, Virginia.

Q: How did California get its name?
A: There is some debate about this, but the generally accepted answer is that it comes from a Spanish novel called Las Sergas de Esplandian. We will talk about this in class.

Q: Why was Sacramento chosen as the capital of California instead of Los Angeles?
A: First, let me say that it was chosen in the 1850s. So, the "obvious" choice then would have been San Francisco, and not Los Angeles (which was a tiny little town at that time). In any case, it was chosen because (a) land there was cheap, which mattered a lot given the state government's budget at the time, and (b) because it's fairly near the center of the state.

Q: What makes history, history? For example, who decides that Christopher Columbus reached North America first and who decides on publishing American history for everyone to read, whether they are right or wrong?
A: Great question, and a hard one to answer. To begin with, professional historians and book publishers and book buyers have a fair amount of influence over the "creation" of history. And what we believe to be true about the past changes quite often, more often than you may think. For example, as recently as 70 years ago, professional historians thought slavery had been a good thing for African Americans.
    With that said, certain information gets stuck in peoples' heads--for reasons we often don't understand--and even all of the historians in the world put together can't change these "facts." For example, most people believe that Columbus discovered America. That's obviously not true, as I note above. And I can name you a hundred other things about American history that people believe to be true that, in fact, are not.

Q: Why does history sometimes seem to repeat itself?
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: What do you think is the most historically important novel/text ever written?
A: Great question! 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 Q'uran, 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: Have you visited the Civil War sites back East? Do you find them to provide accurate information?
A: I have visited many of them. There is so much information presented, and so much variance from site to site (i.e. there's a lot of difference between, say, Gettysburg and the White House of the Confederacy) that it's hard to generalize. That said, I would say there's a lot of good information, some bad, and most sites are getting better over time. Gettysburg, for example, just recently began to emphasize the role slavery played in the Civil War.

Q: I was always curious about John F. Kennedy's and Marilyn Monroe's death--could you please elaborate or touch on that topic?
A: Well, I can't really do so in lecture, as those two people aren't really central to California history (although Marilyn Monroe did die in California). In short, I'm not much of a conspiracy theorist, and I believe Marilyn Monroe was an imbalanced person who committed suicide, and that Lee Harvey Oswald either acted alone (or else with one accomplice). If you want to walk more about it, stop by my office sometime.

Q: What do you think of the Bilderberg Group, the Trilateral Commission, and the Council on Foreign Relations? Who is Alex Jones?
A: Alex Jones, of course, is a famous conspiracy theorist, and these are some of the groups that he (and other conspiracy theorists) think are secretly running the world. I, myself, am skeptical.

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 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: Can it be possible to say that access to water in the desert was the key to California's emergence as such an economically significant state?
A: I would say so, since the cities of Southern California wouldn't be possible without it. That said, even without the water, the state would still be pretty important because of its ports, because of its size, because of its natural resources, and because San Francisco would exist even if we Los Angelinos hadn't been able to exploit the Owens Valley and Mono Lake for water.

Q: What role has California played in the history of aviation?
A: A huge role. Most of the major aerospace companies were founded here--McDonnell, Douglass, Lockheed, Hughes, etc.

Q: Do you know any significant musicians or styles that emerged from California?
A: Certainly. Among the important musical styles that emerged partially or entirely from California are modernist classical, west coast jazz, surf rock, acid rock, folk rock, country rock, heavy metal, gangsta rap, funk, and ska. Among the important musicians that came from here are Arnold Schoenberg, John Cage, Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, the Beach Boys, the Doors, the Mamas and the Papas, Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, the Eagles, Jackson Browne, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Santana, the Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, Frank Zappa, Guns N' Roses, Metallica, NWA, Snoop Dogg, Jane's Addiction, Stone Temple Pilots, Cake, No Doubt, the Wallflowers, Rage Against the Machine, Sublime, Faith No More, the Offspring, Green Day, Papa Roach, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Korn, Blink 182, Rancid, Linkin Park, Weezer, Tool, System of a Down, Pennywise, and Phantom Planet.

Q: What is a good book for places to visit in California?
A: You might want to consider Weird California.

Q: What are the demographics of California today?
A: Not sure what you are interested in, specifically, but this site will give you a good overview.

Q: Which quarter design would you have chosen for California?
A: I like the design with the sun and ocean on it better.

Q: What is your favorite state quarter, not including California?
A: Probably Massachusetts. Although Alaska and Virginia are cool, too.

Q: Was the second design for the quarter even considered? Were any made?
A: Yes, it was considered. But none were made.

Q: Is that a red-tailed hawk on the state quarter?
A: On reading your question, my guess was that it was a California condor, since that is our official state bird. According to the U.S. Mint's site, I guessed correctly!

Q: I know agriculture was brought up when talking about the quarters, but how prevalent is the industry in California?
A: Interestingly, given that California is heavily associated with large cities/moviemaking/Silicon Valley, agriculture is actually our largest industry, by far. Nearly $200 billion annually. Tourism is second, then aerospace, then computers, then entertainment.

Q: Besides education, what is California's greatest expense? And what is California's greatest source of revenue?
A: Health and Human Services, and Personal Income Taxes. You can see an overview here.

Q: If you were to describe to a person who has never been to California and does not know anything about the state the most important aspect of living here, what would it be?
A: Hm, interesting question. I guess I would tell that person that whatever you want to do with your life--make music, be a teacher, take long bike rides in your spare time, go to good restaurants, be a Buddhist, whatever-- there is a large community of people just like you. However, you have to look for them, because unlike what happens in small towns in the midwest, people won't automatically reach out to you.

Q: On the quarter picture, there is a DE on the bottom of the hill. What does that stand for?
A: Those are the initials of the artist who created the final version of the artwork.

Q: On the quarter, what does 'E Pluribus Unum' mean?
A: "Out of many, one." It is one of the national mottos of the United States (along with "In God We Trust"), and has been appearing on American coins for 200 years.

Q: Is the bird on the California quarter a California Condor? What does it represent?
A: Yes, good call! I think it was chosen because it looks good, and is apropos to the setting. John Muir really might have seen one of those in the Yosemite Valley.

Q: Do you know if any other state quarters were changed?
A: Well, the California one wasn't changed, as such, it's just that the governor had a different opinion than "the people." That said, a few other states' designs were controversial. You can see a pretty good list here.

Q: What does the man climbing a mountain refer to?
A: The man is John Muir, and he discovered/surveyed Yosemite Valley. So the quarter is a reference to that.

Q: Why didn't the governor choose the state flower as the design of the state quarter?
A: Well, I think because that wouldn't have accomplished as many of his goals as the design he did choose.

Q: Do you think the discovery of the man Ishi changed Californians' outlook on native Americans?
A: I think there was a temporary effect, but that most Californians eventually forgot about him. We will talk about this in class.

Q: How come former governor Davis was unable to avert the California energy crisis?
A: In part because the machinations that were occurring (e.g. the manipulation of the market by Enron and others) were too much for any one person to handle. And in part because he was taking campaign contributions from energy companies, and was therefore not too keen on confronting them.

Q: Is California a safe state to live in?
A: As safe as any other, I would say. I mean, unless you do something stupid, like walk around South Central at 2:00 a.m. wearing gang colors.

Q: What makes California so darn awesome? Why is it the greatest state?
A: The people, the weather, and the landmarks (like Hollywood, Disneyland, etc.). Oh, and the fact that I live here. That's probably #1.

Q: Do you think California is a good state to live in?
A: Absolutely. Good weather, diverse landscape, diverse populace, lots of interesting sites/restaurants/things to do.

Q: Do you think California is a positive place to live in, in the future (within 15 years)?
A: If you can deal with the traffic, I don't see why not. I suppose the housing prices are a bit troubling in some areas, but overall I think the benefits will continue to outweigh the disadvantages.

Q: Should more freeways be built in SoCal to alleviate traffic?
A: This seems like a no-brainer, but I'm not sure what my answer is, really. I mean, in an abstract sense, more freeways seems like a good idea. But then I think about some of the practical issues in play. First of all, where is the money coming from? Second, where do we put them (there's not a lot of open space available like there was in the 1950s)? Third, what's it going to be like while they are built? I mean, they've just been adding a single lane to the 405 and it's been a nightmare for YEARS. Fourth, will more freeways actually reduce traffic, or will it simply encourage more people to drive? I guess I'm leaning towards the notion that more freeways is probably not a viable solution, and we have to think of something else, like better public transportation, or better management of our resources (like every driver has one "day off" a week that they are not allowed to use the freeways.)

Q: Do you like California? Why or why not?
A: Yes! Good scenery, great history, interesting people, lots to do.

Q: I know you're teaching California history, but is it your favorite state?
A: It is!

Q: Why do so many people dislike Californians?
A: I think they are jealous, frankly.

Q: How do you plant seedless watermelons?
A: Right next to the seedless grapes, I suppose.

Q: Will Northern California and Southern California ever split into separate states? Should they be separated?
A: I doubt it. That would take a majority vote, and most of the people live in Southern California. Since Southern California needs Northern California's water to survive, it seems impossible to me that Southern California voters would approve a split, and without them, it can't happen. I also, personally, see no good reason to do this.

Q: What was the significance of "I Love You, California," again?
A: It's our official state song.

Q: When was the official California state song written?
A: 1913. You can read more about it here, if you want.

Q: Why is "I Love You, California" our state song? Was it chosen for political reasons?
A: Well, the answer to that question is not recorded, but I think I can speculate pretty accurately. When they chose the state song in 1951, they were essentially choosing between "I Love You, California" (written by F. B. Silverwood) and "California, Here I Come," (written by Bud De Sylva and Joseph Meyer, performed by Al Jolson). "I Love You California" was written by a Californian, while "California, Here I Come," was not. In addition, Al Jolson, who made "California, Here I Come" famous, was Jewish, and F.B. Silverwood was not. Given that it was 1951, I think those two factors kind of sealed the deal.

Q: Why does "I Love You, California" sound so horrible?
A: That is the first recording of the song ever made that you heard.

Q: Name all the California songs you know.
A: Let's see. "California, Here I Come" by Al Jolson, "Little Old Lady from Pasadena" by Jan & Dean, "California" by Phantom Planet (the theme song of The OC), "April 29, 1992" by Sublime, "Beverly Hills" by Weezer, "Burn Hollywood Burn" by Public Enemy, "Free Fallin'" by Tom Petty , "California Love" by 2Pac featuring Dr. Dre, "Hollywood Nights" by Bob Seger, "Hooray for Hollywood" by Johnnie Davis and Frances Langford, "I Love L.A." by Randy Newman, "L.A. Woman" by The Doors, "Los Angeles is Burning" by Bad Religion, "Paradise City" by Guns N' Roses, "California Dreamin'" by The Mamas and the Papas, "California Girls" by The Beach Boys, "Straight Outta Compton" by NWA, "California Uber Alles" by the Dead Kennedys, "Dani California" by Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Blue Jay Way" by The Beatles, "Going Back To Cali" by LL Cool J, "Going to California" by Led Zeppelin, "Gone to California" by P!nk, "Hotel California" by The Eagles, "To Live and Die in L.A." by 2pac, "Under the Bridge" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns N' Roses, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" by Tony Bennett, "Californication" by Red Hot Chili Peppers, "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" by Scott McKenzie, "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay", by Otis Redding, "Folsom Prison Blues" by Johnny Cash, "I Don't Like Mondays" by The Boomtown Rats, "Superman" by Lazlo Bane, "Lodi" by Creedence Clearwater Revival, "California" by Joni Mitchell

Q: Why are Fleetwood Mac and Heart the greatest bands ever?
A: I wasn't aware they were. I guess you have a thing for women with raspy voices. You should listen to some Melissa Etheridge.

Q: What makes California the state with the most immigrants? What is so attractive about California that people want to move here?
A: We will discuss this issue a lot, but a pretty good answer is that since 1848, California has had the image of a land with much opportunity and wealth. This has created a LOT of problems for the state, particularly during the Great Depression.

Q: Is there evidence of a correlation between Americans' religious involvement and other trends (economic, political, moral)?
A: Absolutely. There have been thousands of books written about this. If you're interested in something specific, let me know, and I'll give you some reading suggestions.

Q: Who was the luckiest 49er that struck rich in gold?
A: Most 49ers did not strike it rich, of course. I think the guy that got the luckiest--and certainly got the richest--was Samuel Brannan. Though I have to admit, he wasn't a miner. In any case, we'll talk more about him in a week or so.

Q: Who do you consider to be a good historic writer?
A: Do you mean, what writer from the past is a good writer? If that is your question, I will go with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who created Sherlock Holmes.
Or, do you mean, what historians are good writers? If that is your question, I will choose David McCullough, Bruce Catton, and James McPherson.
Or, do you mean, who writes good works of historical fiction? If that is your question, I will choose Michael Shaara, hands down.

About Textbooks

Q: I know you don't like textbooks, but which three do you recommend reading for this class?
A: Well, if you really want three textbooks, I can't give you an answer, because there aren't three I would recommend. The best textbook is The Elusive Eden: A New History of California, and that's the only one that would get even my mildest recommendation. However, I suspect that you're not actually asking about textbooks as such, but just three good books about California. If that's the case, I would suggest a John Steinbeck book--perhaps The Grapes of Wrath. I would also suggest Mike Davis' very interesting City of Quartz. And I would probably finish the list with one of the prominent books about ethnic experiences in the state, either Barrio Boy or On Gold Mountain or Farewell to Manzanar.

Q: Have you ever had a student that asked you for a textbook they could reference?
A: A few times. Mostly foreign-born students who were concerned they didn't know enough background information.

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: You said textbooks are not too helpful because they tend to be politically biased and/or inaccurate. If so, why do other teachers still use them? How were you, as a student, able to cope with this dilemma? Are the inaccuracies of books limited only to history books, or is it a problem with other subjects, too?
A: Teachers use textbooks because (a) they are a crutch; a sort of insurance policy that they feel increases the chance you will learn something, even if you don't grasp their lesson (b) they are a way of making you do work, so that you can't skate through class (c) that's how history classes have always been taught, and they don't want to rock the boat. Those are my best guesses, but it should be noted that because I don't use a textbook, I'm not in the best position to answer why people use a textbook. As to my time as a student, I was unaware of the problems, so I simply accepted what I read as being correct. As to other subjects, there are definitely problems in other subjects' textbooks (especially a subject that's constantly evolving, like biology). I would say history books are the worst, though.

Q: Do you feel that history books conceal the actual truth about California history or America's history in general?
A: Absolutely. If you are interested in reading more about this issue, I recommend a book called Lies My Teacher Taught Me, by James Loewen. Very interesting, and a quick read. You can also come to my office sometime if you'd like to discuss the issue.

Q: You mentioned the fact that white Americans make up stories to cover up their mistakes in history. Is that true for other subjects/groups?
A: Absolutely. Every group reinterprets the past to make themselves look better.

Q: We understand that you don't like textbooks, but have you written any books yourself, like 1776?
A: I am currently at work on several projects, including an encyclopedia and a book on the fifty most important events in U.S. history.

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: Was your teacher's last name Lithgow? That would have been a dead giveaway?
A: Yes, it would have been, but no her name is not Lithgow. It's Yeager.

Q: Why do John Lithgow and his wife have different last names?
A: Well, many women today do not change their names when married, of course. But on top of that, historians (and other writers) often become known by their name. When Mary Yeager wrote her second book, or her third, or fourth, she wanted to make sure people knew it was by the same person that wrote her first book. If she changed names, people might not realize that fact.

Q: What kind of pizza was John Lithgow eating when you were chatting with him?
A: Pepperoni, I believe.

Q: Where does Lithgow buy his Pizza?
A: This particular pizza was from Numero Uno.

Q: Did you have any additional conversation with John Lithgow after your comment and is he interesting in person?
A: I did, and I've since chatted with him several times. He is interesting in person--and very tall, by the way. I would guess he's almost a foot taller than I am (I'm 5'8").

Q: Did you get John Lithgow's autograph?
A: The first time I met him, no. I did have his wife get it for me later, because my mother wanted it.

Q: Do you still talk to John Lithgow?
A: Last time was a couple of years ago, at a party at his house.

Q: Can John Lithgow come to our class and bring us pizza?
A: You wish! Heck, I wish!

Q: How did John Litgow react?
A: He thought it was funny.

Q: Do you have any other embarrassing stories from grad school?
A: Yes. One or two will come up in class; stop by my office to hear about others.

Q: What's the most embarrassing thing you have said to a student?
A: "Sex!" I can explain better if you ask me in person. I didn't tell that story on the first day, did I?

Q: Are you going to tell us more stories, like when you were shot at in Long Beach?
A: Yes. I take it you know someone who took the class before?

Q: Why does Jack Nicholson wear sunglasses indoors?
A: Because he cares more about looking cool than being able to see properly, I suppose. It's possible he has a condition that makes him sensitive to light, but I've never heard that to be the case.

Q: Can I ask you for a lot of help?
A: Certainly. I will do my best.

Q: How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
A: Well, 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. Now my question to you is, "How much ground would a groundhog grind if a groundhog could grind ground?"

Q: The man who makes it doesn't want it, the man who buys it doesn't use it, the man who uses it doesn't know it. What is it?
A: A coffin, I do believe. Now: What walks on four legs at dawn, two legs at noon, and three legs at sunset?

Q: If we all get A's on our first paper, will you cut your hair and spike it?
A: Sure. If every student gets an A, no problem.

Q: Why do hot dogs come in packages of 10, but hot dog buns come in packages of eight?
A: I shall allow Cecil Adams, author of the syndicated column "The Straight Dope," to answer this one. Click here for his response.

Q: What is a marshmallow made of?
A: Mostly sugar and egg whites. Marshmallows used to include sap from the root of the marshmallow plant, hence the name, but they don't any more. If you're interested, ask me sometime about how marshmallows can be used to predict how well someone will do on the SAT test. No joke.

Q: If Wikipedia is not relatively reliable for research/fact-finding, is the only other alternative "old-fashioned" research in books, periodicals, etc.
A: Wikipedia is not really more or less reliable than traditional encyclopedias. See here if you want to read more. So I am not advising one or the other. What I would advise is: (a) That if you have a question, just ask me AND (b) You should never quote any sort of encyclopedia in a college essay. Very bad form, trust me.

Q: If your house was on fire, and you could save one item, what would it be?
A: The backup drive on my computer. That's more valuable to me than everything else combined.

Q: If California was a person and all the states were people as well and they were all pro wrestlers how do you think California would do in a giant wrestling match of all the states?
A: I think, in the end, it would come down to us versus Texas. And is there anything we can't beat Texas in? I don't think so. We'd feed the Texas wrestler his cowboy hat.

Q: Why is there only one instructor for this course?
A: Because that's all that's needed. The university will never pay two teachers where one will do.

Q: Where do babies come from?
A: The stork brings them, as i understand it.

Q: When are they going to break down the CLA building and the parking structure, due to their poor foundation?
A: Roughly 2015.

Q: How many history classes do I need to take to get a history minor?
A: I'm afraid I don't know, but if you stop by the history department (94-369) and talk to Gayle Savarese, she will tell you.

Q: How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?
A: Would you believe that some engineers at Purdue actually did a study on this topic? Their answer: 252 licks.

Q: I took history of California in community college, but it didn't transfer over for this class. Why?
A: I don't know, but I'm guessing it is because this is an upper division course, and CC classes can only count in place of lower division courses. If you'd like a better answer stop by the history department (94-369) and talk to Gayle Savarese.

Q: Where does your lap go when you stand up?
A: The same place your shadow goes when the sun is down, I suppose.

Q: Why are things transferred by car called a shipment and things transferred by ship called cargo? Can a bald man have hairline fractures?
A: Why do we park in a driveway, yet drive in a parkway? Why are apartments joined together? If you try to fail and succeed, what are you?

Q: Can you teach all my classes?
A: Hm. Don't think I'd be good at a lot of other subjects. Don't know much about engineering, for example.

Q: Do you want to buy a used Integra? Only $500,000!
A: Will you take a check?

Q: Is African American politically correct (vs. black)?
A: Yes, but I think both are mostly acceptable today. Many black people prefer 'black.' I would stay away from 'negro,' however.

Q: Why is it hot in here even though I am wearing shorts and a t-shirt?
A: I guess the budget crisis has left not enough money for things like air conditioning.

Q: What are the key differences between History 202 and History 370?
A: Not too many, really. History 370 is an "upper division" course, so it's a little more open-ended in terms of the subjects covered and the assignments.

Q: So who did invent the slam dunk?
A: According to the article I assign in History 202, Julius "Dr. J" Erving. Or, more accurately, he made it popular.

Q: What three cities claim to be the birthplace of the blues?
A: Hm, it's been a while since I took that class, but I think it was Kansas City, Chicago, and New Orleans.

Q: Do you know the way to San Jose?
A: Hm. I've been away so long, I may go wrong, and lose my way.

Q: What is the meaning of life?
A: To be named lord high commander of the universe, with all human beings trembling at the mere mention of one's name. Of course, that could just be me that wants that.

Q: Can you really answer any question on any topic?
A: Most of them!

Q: How are you?
A: Good! How about you?