Saturday, January 21, 2006
Ryan's 10 Favorite Historical Episodes
10) ca. 1938-1944 AD. On two separate occasions, Nazi secret forces campaigning to recover ancient artefacts of power, are foiled by archaeologist and modern-day swashbuckler Junior (Indiana) Jones.
9) 1763 AD. Immanuel Kant, enrapt by Jay Jay Rousseau's recently published work Emile, forgets to pick up the laundry - at his regularly scheduled time - one spring morning in sunny Konigsburg. Townspeople panick!
8) 1943 AD. The Skunk Works are established in Burbank, California.
7) Fall 2000 AD. During a moment of prolonged silence, Cole Murdock mutters, perhaps a little too loudly, "balls deep" during a Charles Page Academic Team match.
6) 1519 AD. Shiftless and idealistic adventurer Hernando Cortez dreams of life 'outside the big city' while staring across the palm trees and beaches of Cuba.
5) Date unknown. The concept of the Shrike is first considered by Dan Simmons.
4) 1892 AD. Micah K. Philipopaulos, a Cyprot Jew and dock worker, for reasons unbeknownst to his family, breaks a long standing tradition as he names his firstborn son Phillip. Years later, in the early 1980s, and half a world away in Tulsa, Oklahoma, history rectifies Philipopaulos' gross hubris when his great-great-grandson Phillip Phillips IV, through perseverance and integrity, restores the family tradition with the birth of his first son.
3) Winter 2004 AD. While watching "Max," I laugh at the director's (responsibility suspect) notion that the Holocaust and scourging of Europe arose from one moment in which an overly sensitive painter - A. Hitler - closes his heart to kindness, when stood up by an art promoter who was coincidentally murdered en route to their appointment by a war band of zealous (and perhaps drunken) National Socialists Hitler had empassioned only hours earlier.
2) 1187 AD. Salah-ad-Din (re)captures Jerusalem.
1) 480 BC. Approximately 300 Spartan warriors, under King Leonidas, commanding a garrison of 7,000 Greeks, manage to repel - even if temporarily - a Persian invasion force under Xerxes I at Thermopylae. After the battle, while preparing burial rituals for the slain defenders, family and friends notice strange markings and alien wounds inflicted upon the dead bodies. Curious bits of crimson fur litter the battlefield. Later it was discovered the Greeks fought, remarkably and valiantly, against Persian steel at their throats and foxes at their bowels (without saying a word).
Honorable Mentions:
-1984
-Sometime 2003 AD. Stewart (or 'Sturt') decides after much insistence and deliberation, that it should most certainly be done 'with a twist.'
9) 1763 AD. Immanuel Kant, enrapt by Jay Jay Rousseau's recently published work Emile, forgets to pick up the laundry - at his regularly scheduled time - one spring morning in sunny Konigsburg. Townspeople panick!
8) 1943 AD. The Skunk Works are established in Burbank, California.
7) Fall 2000 AD. During a moment of prolonged silence, Cole Murdock mutters, perhaps a little too loudly, "balls deep" during a Charles Page Academic Team match.
6) 1519 AD. Shiftless and idealistic adventurer Hernando Cortez dreams of life 'outside the big city' while staring across the palm trees and beaches of Cuba.
5) Date unknown. The concept of the Shrike is first considered by Dan Simmons.
4) 1892 AD. Micah K. Philipopaulos, a Cyprot Jew and dock worker, for reasons unbeknownst to his family, breaks a long standing tradition as he names his firstborn son Phillip. Years later, in the early 1980s, and half a world away in Tulsa, Oklahoma, history rectifies Philipopaulos' gross hubris when his great-great-grandson Phillip Phillips IV, through perseverance and integrity, restores the family tradition with the birth of his first son.
3) Winter 2004 AD. While watching "Max," I laugh at the director's (responsibility suspect) notion that the Holocaust and scourging of Europe arose from one moment in which an overly sensitive painter - A. Hitler - closes his heart to kindness, when stood up by an art promoter who was coincidentally murdered en route to their appointment by a war band of zealous (and perhaps drunken) National Socialists Hitler had empassioned only hours earlier.
2) 1187 AD. Salah-ad-Din (re)captures Jerusalem.
1) 480 BC. Approximately 300 Spartan warriors, under King Leonidas, commanding a garrison of 7,000 Greeks, manage to repel - even if temporarily - a Persian invasion force under Xerxes I at Thermopylae. After the battle, while preparing burial rituals for the slain defenders, family and friends notice strange markings and alien wounds inflicted upon the dead bodies. Curious bits of crimson fur litter the battlefield. Later it was discovered the Greeks fought, remarkably and valiantly, against Persian steel at their throats and foxes at their bowels (without saying a word).
Honorable Mentions:
-1984
-Sometime 2003 AD. Stewart (or 'Sturt') decides after much insistence and deliberation, that it should most certainly be done 'with a twist.'
posted by pale rider at 10:04 PM
8 Comments:
a joy. a delight. laughter followed. puzzlement. frustration. bland response.
guncat gives it a 4..........out of 5, and has a weird feeling like he should know more than he does about #1. January 18, 2003: during traffic court for an expired tag, Chris is "cutsied" by none other than Ben Linde. Judge mouths "abused".
Another honorable mention, or this could even enter the list at #11 is kobe bryant's recent 81 point game last night versus the raptors. second only to wilt chamberlain in points per game, kobe is the current soup du jour. h.u. ramirez - my roommate, basketballer, and verifiable authority - contends bryant's accomplishment is even more significant than chamberlain's long standing record. comments anyone?
I am not qualified for a b-ball response, but that sounds good. I'll have that.
I enjoy lists, and this one is a goodie. Here's another for the mix.
Number undetermined: May 23, 2511, Unification Day. Leaders of the Independent Faction sign the peace accords on Verbena. The Alliance becomes the sole governing power in the 'verse. Aid is finally sent to the survivors in Serenity Valley.
I enjoy lists, and this one is a goodie. Here's another for the mix.
Number undetermined: May 23, 2511, Unification Day. Leaders of the Independent Faction sign the peace accords on Verbena. The Alliance becomes the sole governing power in the 'verse. Aid is finally sent to the survivors in Serenity Valley.
I may not be qualified to talk on Kobe, but FOX Sports has a dissenting opinion (big shock):
"In the aftermath of Kobe Bryant's 81-point explosion Sunday night, Carter told the Newark Star-Ledger that the second-highest scoring performance in NBA history might not set a good example for young players.
'The only bad thing about it is that younger kids, whose minds are easily warped, are going to think, "Ohhh! I am going to go out there and do it instead of (honoring) the team concept first,"' the Nets' star told the newspaper. 'That is what is missing in the game, guys understanding how to play as a team.'"
Full article:
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/5275220
Not agreeing one way or tother at this juncture, just throwing it out there.
"In the aftermath of Kobe Bryant's 81-point explosion Sunday night, Carter told the Newark Star-Ledger that the second-highest scoring performance in NBA history might not set a good example for young players.
'The only bad thing about it is that younger kids, whose minds are easily warped, are going to think, "Ohhh! I am going to go out there and do it instead of (honoring) the team concept first,"' the Nets' star told the newspaper. 'That is what is missing in the game, guys understanding how to play as a team.'"
Full article:
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/5275220
Not agreeing one way or tother at this juncture, just throwing it out there.
(alright chris, throw everything you know about sports together and say something) i hope kobe wins the game that he plays!
Nice reference Gun Cat
January 29th: Jim Gaffigan's "Beyond the Pale" premiers on Comedy Central. The Hot Pocket will forever live in infamy.
Where are the words?
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