History is one of those school subjects that can be oh-so-boring or unbelievably fascinating, depending on what you are studying and how it's taught. I enjoyed some parts, hated others. The parts I hated were the third, fourth, and fifth years of American History because they covered the same old facts as previous years. Looking back, I understand why they did that, because I know American history better than most people (where were they?) who were born and raised here. At the same time, there are so many other histories we could've been studying. The internet makes it so much easier, because when everyone shares what they know, we all end up better educated. 

Fantasmagoria, by Emile Cohl (1908)

How old do you think photography is? OK, are you thinking of Thomas Edison... no, thats motion picture photography. Goback further. The Civil War? Yes, Lincoln was photographed. But the first photograph was taken in 1826. Really. (via the Presurfer)

Bad American History from the Professor Brothers. NSFW. (va Transbuddha)

The History of Smoking Bans. (via the Presurfer)

Some altered photographs that made history.

A timeline is a device to make history easier to understand. At least, that’s the way it’s supposed to work! This Wikipedia entry plots a timeline to explain the three Back to the Future movies. Now I’m more confused than when I watched them.

An Account of the Astounding Possibility that Life May Exist on Mars. An interactive history of the exploration of Mars. (via the Presurfer)

Smithsonian Magazine presents the history of the Tattoo.

A Brief History of the Vacuum Cleaner.

A Brief History of the Criminalization of Marijuana. (via Grow-A-Brain)

The history of the internet smiley. It was invented on September 16, 1982, by Scott Fahlman on the CMU bulletin board. Now you know.

What Historical Figure Are You? (via Konagod)

You are Oscar Wilde Charming and Witty. You are incredibly popular because of your wry and satirical sense of humor. You are also incredibly talented at writing, and pushing the conventional boundaries of your society. Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

Miss Abigail’s Time Warp Advice.

The history of the suction cup. Its part of the Suction Cup Museum. (via Everlasting Blort)

In Loving Mammary: Tracking 100 Years of Breast Obsession.

Ten Zen Monkeys plotted Sir Paul McCartney’s history of drug abuse on a timeline.

Stairway to Gilligan’s Island. From 1977, it’s Little Roger and the Goosebumps with the song that got them into some trouble with Zep when it became a sensation in 1978.  The band finally gave their blessings to the song in 2000.

The history behind the story in the movie 300. May contain spoilers. (via All Night Surfing)

The History of the Button. Not the kind that holds your shirt on, but the kind you push to make things happen. (via Grow-A-Brain)

The History of Computer Role-Playing Games Part I: The Early Years (1980-1983) (via the Presurfer)

Blog of the Day: 100 Years Ago Today delivers news of the “aughts”, not the “ohs”. Fascinating reading! (via Transbuddha)

 Historian Joke

(Thanks, Ann!)
The other day I went to a restaurant called 'A Taste of the Raj.' The waiter beat me with a stick and made me build an elaborate railway system.

The 10 Signs of A Bad History Teacher

1. Constantly gets Indonesia and Outdonesia confused.

2. As incentive for learning, when you name a state capital, you get to take a shot.

3. Insists that one of Popes during the Roman empire was Pope Bubba.

4. Thinks that Mussolini was Hitler's favorite pasta.

5. Counts Puerto Rico, Mexico and Canada as "technically" U.S. States.

6. Tells you that its Napoleon that's the ice cream that comes in 3 flavors

in one box.

7. Insists that the Great Depression could have been stopped with the right amount of Lithium.

8. Threatens to renact Salem Witch Trials/Burnings if homework is not turned in on time.

9. Claims that it was Martin and Lewis that were the great explorers of the West.

10. Credits David Hasselhoff and not Democracy for the fall of the Berlin Wall.

The Wife

A man complains to a friend, "I can't take it anymore."

"What's wrong?" his concerned friend asks.

"It's my wife. Every time we have an argument, she gets historical!"

"You mean hysterical," his friend said, chuckling.

"No, I mean HISTORICAL," the man insists. "Every argument we have, she'll go "I still remember that time when you did this ...."

Previously at Miss Cellania: A whole category of History.

Thought for today: Ancient orators tended to Babylon.

humor jokes video funny games history timeline

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