Two more suggestions for book club.

1. American Promethus: the Triumph and Tragedy of J Robert Oppenheimer

2. One Nation Under Sex: How the story of Presidents, First Ladies, and their Lovers Changed the Course American History

Well the US History kids just wrapped up the Cold War and in my research I was reminded of this biography of Oppenheimer from an older Daily Show interview. Oppenheimer, the little I know of him so far, is intriguing as the lead scientist behind the Atomic Bomb. When the test bomb dropped in New Mexico Oppenheimer quoted the Bhagavad Gita “I am become death, destroyer of worlds”  Many of the other scientists behind the bomb got so wrapped up in the amazing scientific aspects of the bomb that when confronted after Hiroshima and Nagasaki were stunningly inhuman in their interviews. Oppenheimer is later put on constant surveillance during the Cold War as a suspected Commi spy.

When fruitlessly trying to explain Containment policy, the Truman doctrine, and proxy wars to the students I used clips from the History Channel which feature my favorite historian and nerdy dreamboat Dr. David Eisenbach.  Eisenbach’s newest book seems scandalous and awesome.

The description reads, “Ben Franklin saved the American Revolution by seducing French Women. A gay love affair between President James Buchanan and Senator William King aided the secession movement. Woodrow Wilson’s girlfriend dictated his letters to the German Kaiser. And lesbian relationships inspired Eleanor Roosevelt to become a revolutionary crusader for equal rights. The colorful sex lives of America’s most powerful leaders have influenced social movements, government policies, elections and even wars, yet they are so whitewashed by historians that people think Thomas Jefferson and Abe Lincoln were made of marble, not flesh and blood. ”

Skip Hunger Games it was awful, consider Eisenbach’s other book Gay Power a look at the 1960s Gay Rights Movement, stop hiding your copy of 50 Shades of Gray, and preorder One Nation Under Sex.

Give it up for the Rebecca Black of Rap, laying down some vicious verse:

 

 

and some more pugnacious prose from the newest release:

 

While I consider myself a proficient internet-er there are still some things that I am constantly learning. Due to my recent discovery of the power of Reddit, a site I’ve known about but have paid little attention to until the last couple of months (As long as you do not mind an abundance of cat pictures and an overflowing amount of atheist views, I highly recommend it.)

Along the way I have run into many unique terms (acronyms) and some interesting etiquette (or bizarre lack thereof). With that being said, it brings me to my point of “firsting,” something I most likely have come across but have never really paid attention to. Urban Dictionary terms it as:

• The obnoxious practice of responding to a blog post/article/video with a comment saying “first.” Generally this comment will have no substance; it is about nothing other than itself. When the first spot is stolen by a non-firster a firster will often resort to “second!” or “third!”

 

Needless to say it’s out there and makes people mad, mad enough to give it it’s own Funny or Die video, coincidentally acted out wonderfully by Patton Oswalt, enjoy: