In this special Fourth of July episode, Nevin and Brandon recount what Paul Revere actually did on the night that started the Revolutionary War. Not only do they disprove some common misconceptions, but also address the recent truthiness of Sarah Palin.

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New episodes every fortnight on http://www.blip.tv/LaughingHistorically

Episode 32: Guiltier Pleasure Books

Click here to vote for Emily Asbury in Neil Gaiman’s American Gods Audiobook Contest! You can vote once per day!

Books in this Episode (click to buy):

• Playboy (1-year auto-renewal)
• The World According to Twitter
• A Short History of Nearly Everything: Special Illustrated Edition
• In Cold Blood
• Atlas Shrugged

In this episode, Brandon and Nevin tackle the history of probably the most confusing Holiday ever conceived, Easter. How did bunnies, eggs, and peeps end up being involved with the holiest day in the Christian Calendar?

Like us on Facebook.com/LaughingHistorically and for more episodes: http://www.laughinghistorically.tv/

Episode 31: Turn the Page and Cough

Books in this Episode (click to buy):

• The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman
• My Anxious Mind: A Teen’s Guide to Managing Anxiety and Panic
• Salary Tutor: Learn the Salary Negotiation Secrets No One Ever Taught You

In this episode, Brandon and Nevin discuss animals who have valiantly served their countries throughout history, drinking and smoking their way into legend. Its history, but funny.

Watch this week’s EXTRA episode… Top Secret CIA Spy Cats

For the original post this episode was based on, click here.

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In this extra from Episode 04, Brandon and Nevin discuss the top secret CIA experiments to turn cats into spies.

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In this episode, Nevin and Brandon discuss the romantic exploits of Benjamin Franklin, inventor of bifocals, the american postal system, the Franklin stove, and father of electricity and America.

This episode was based upon this post from Nevin, inspired by this post on the dating blog The Date Report.

Episode 30: The Three Laws of Two and a Half Men

Click here for the full list of Borders closing due to the Bankruptcy.

Books in this Episode (click to buy):

• I, Robot
• Zombie Spaceship Wasteland: A Book by Patton Oswalt
• The Animal-Lover’s Book of Beastly Murder
• The Books of Great Alta: Comprising ‘Sister Light, Sister Dark’ and ‘White Jenna’

In this episode, based on this post from Nevin, we discuss how drinking is at the backbone of American history. For a full account of the pre-constitutional convention blowout, read “Were the Founding Fathers Alcoholics?“

Throughout my studies and research, I have come across many unusual and unique historical stories and anecdotes. Every week I will post one of these with a brief introduction and explanation. I hope you enjoy these because some of this stuff is too good to be true.

America Loves Booze

Shopping malls, football, television, pop music, and of course BOOZE. When Copland wrote Simple Gifts, he was probably referring to the things formerly listed. All music aside, Americans love our alcohol and that’s why almost all the Founding Father’s owned breweries and distilleries. Fun facts: George Washington was the largest whiskey distiller in the entire country and a challenger to global distribution. John Adams even dabbled in kegs and eggs in his day. As published in History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts (Norfolk was where John Adams lived for most of his life), “To the end of John Adams’ life, a large tankard of hard cider was his morning draught before breakfast.”Another fantastic boozing story is when the Founding Fathers decided to get shitfaced before they signed the Constitution.

An article in the Hufftington Post, which is devoted to questioning the alcoholism of our country said, “In 1787, two days before they signed off on the Constitution, the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention partied at a tavern. According to the bill preserved from the evening, they drank 54 bottles of Madeira, 60 bottles of claret, eight of whiskey, 22 of porter, eight of hard cider, 12 of beer and seven bowls of alcoholic punch.” If you do the math, each delegate threw back two bottles of wine, three or four shots (probably Yeager bombs since we all know Jefferson blew that shit out), and a lot of beer (8-10 pints).  With that being said, if Benjamin Franklin were alive he would scoff at Four Loko.

Want one more? The Star Spangled Banner is actually the melody of an old sobriety test drinking song in England. The name of the song is To Anacreon in Heaven. According to sources, Englishmen would song the ridiculously hard song to prove to their buddies they weren’t drunk at the pub. If they sang it perfectly, they were good for another two, three, four, or ten beers. Good job Francis Scott Key. Ya drunk. Listen to the song here:  Bangled Banner Star (definitely how it was originally pronounced after a few).

For more information on boozing, the Founding Fathers, or how to raise your tolerance, check out this article:

Were the Founding Fathers Alcoholics?

In the first video episode of Laughing Historically, on the week of his birth, Nevin and Brandon explain how Edgar Allan Poe was discharged from the military and booted from West Point, subsequently landing his first book deal. This. Happened.

In this volume, we talk about terrible fonts, the correct pronunciation of Neanderthal, and Bob Dylan’s ghost writer. Amanda and Brandon talk about textbooks we actually enjoyed reading and just couldn’t sell back.

Episode 28: This Book Property of Severus Snape

Books in this Episode (click to buy):

1. Introduction to Physical Anthropology 2011-2012 Edition
2. Thinking with Type, 2nd revised and expanded edition: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, & Students (Design Briefs)
3. Halo: The Fall of Reach
4. Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions (P.S.)

Throughout my studies and research, I have come across many unusual and unique historical stories and anecdotes. Every week I will post one of these with a brief introduction and explanation. I hope you enjoy these because some of this stuff is too good to be true.

John Quincy Adams and the Crab People

History is full of amazing and intelligent people; one of those men is John Quincy Adams. Most famously noted for passionately supporting the separation of church and state, restructuring American infrastructure through domestic building projects and high tariffs, and of course telling Europe and the rest of the world to f off using the Monroe Doctrine. However, lets be honest here…the man was a little batty. You know that when Sir Anthony Hopkins has to play you in a movie.

Anyway, during Adams’ time as president, several theories were proposed regarding what lay at the center of the world (hence the later publication of the famous Journey to the Center of the Earth). One of the theorists was John Cleves Symmes, Jr. and as predicted he was from New Jersey. Regardless, Symmes founded and proposed the Hollow Earth Theory. According to him, the Earth was not only hollow, but also had caves of under water, land, and life. More specifically, he believed there were mole and/or crab people down there. Now, Adams being the political genius he was, believed Symmes. Not only that, but he thought by voyaging down there we could trade with the mole and/or crab people. Seriously folks…I can’t make this shit up.

From Memoirs of John Quincy Adams, John Quincy Adams, Vol. 7 p.168-170.

“Mr. Reynolds is a man who has been lecturing about the country in support of Captain John Cleve Symme’s theory that the earth is a hollow sphere, open at the Poles. His lectures are said to have been well attended, and much approved as exhibitions of genius and science. But the theory itself has been so much ridiculed, and is in truth so visionary, that Reynolds has now varied his purpose to the proposition of fitting out a voyage of circumnavigation to the Southern Ocean. He has obtained numerous signatures…It will, however, have no support in Congress. That day will come, but not yet, nor in my time. May it be my fortune and my praise to accelerate its approach!”

For more information on Crab people, the Hollowed Earth Theory, and John Quincy Adams, check out these links:

http://olivercowdery.com/texts/1818symm.htm

http://www.unexplainedstuff.com/Places-of-Mystery-and-Power/Hollow-Earth.html

We wanted to do something different for this episode; we wanted to share our favorite books of the year with you. Amanda and Brandon read a selection of the best book they read in 2010 to prep for another great year of reading.

Episode 27-5: Best Reads of 2010

Books in this Episode (click to buy):

• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
• The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook: A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal

Throughout my studies and research, I have come across many unusual and unique historical stories and anecdotes. Every week I will post one of these with a brief introduction and explanation. I hope you enjoy these because some of this stuff is too good to be true.

Andrew Jackson v. A Witch

The title alone should cause some eyebrows to raise and question ones sanity. However, according to President Andrew Jackson, not only did he meet a witch, she was quite the word that rhymes with witch and starts with a ‘b.’ But, this was not an event that haunted Jackson. He actually loved it and said the Bell Witch was the only person he considered more badass than himself.

“In 1819 General Jackson confronted an original American haunting, the Bell Witch in Robertson, Tennessee. He had beaten the British army in New Orleans, and with all the arrogance and swagger he could muster, he had no doubt that he could also conquer a rather silly witch.

Jackson and a group of his friends, including one who called himself a “witch killer,” took off on horseback with a wagon to visit the Bell plantation. In route, the wagon seized up and refused to move once they were on Bell land. The horses couldn’t move it and the men put their shoulders to the task and it still would not budge. This irritated Jackson. He alternately cursed, whipped and coaxed the horses until he wore himself out with the effort and the wagon still had not moved. Finally he stood there in the road, tired and frustrated, looking at the wagon and said, “By the eternal, boys. This must be the Bell Witch’s doings.” Almost immediately a harsh female voice rang out from the surrounding woods, “You’re right, Gen’rl. Move on out of here and I’ll see you later on tonight at the house.” The horses gave it one more pull and the wagon lurched and moved forward.

It was a quiet dinner at the Bell cabin and afterward Jackson took his pipe and lounged in front of the fire with his traveling companions and the Bell family. When Jackson inquired of John Bell as to why the witch was so quiet this evening, the self-proclaimed “witch killer” jumped up and announced that he had a pistol with a silver bullet in it and that Kate (the witch) was probably keeping a low profile because she was afraid of him. Immediately the witch killer started screaming and jerking as if he was being stuck by red hot pins. Then an invisible entity screamed and laughed while it kicked him in the butt. The self-proclaimed “witch killer” landed on the floor where Kate continued to kick him until the man was entirely out of the cabin and laying out in the yard. Jackson then rolled on the ground in laughter and said, “I would rather fight the British than the Bell witch.” Although he wanted to stay the night, his men refused.”

For more on the Bell witch and other famous supernatural encounters, check out these websites and book:

http://www.horrormasters.com/Text/a0167.pdf

http://www.bellwitch.org/

http://www.amazon.com/Bell-Witch-American-Haunting/dp/031226292

Throughout my studies and research, I have come across many unusual and unique historical stories and anecdotes. Every week I will post one of these with a brief introduction and explanation. I hope you enjoy these because some of this stuff is too good to be true.

Mr. Lincoln, You Ugly.

One of the most lighthearted men in history is definitely Abraham Lincoln, at least when it came to his physical appearance. According to Samuel Haycraft, an acquaintance and friend of Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln shared stories about his travels and dealings with people throughout his adolescence and adult years as a logger, lawyer, and politician. Although it is likely some of these stories are exaggerated or fabrications, they truly show Lincoln’s sense of humor. One of my favorites is this one:

One day, Lincoln was splitting rails with his shirt open when a man came up and pointed a gun at him. Lincoln hurriedly said, “What do you mean by this?” The man replied, “I promised to shoot the first man who was uglier than myself!” Looking at the man’s face, Lincoln said, “If I am uglier than you, then shoot me.”

For more funny history about Lincoln, check out this site:

http://www.physical-lincoln.com/appearance.html

In this holly jolly volume, we talk about how child labor created Christmas, hotels that try to kill you, and creepy elves that watch your children. To continue our Christmas-themed month, Amanda and Brandon talk about Christmas stories with and about Ghosts including A Christmas Carol and The Shining.

Episode 27: Ghosts of Christmas Books

Books in this Episode (click to buy):

1. A Christmas Carol
2. The Shining
3. Holidays on Ice (includes Santaland Diaries)
4. When I Was Joe

On this volume, we talk about the presumptions of gift-giving, how Al Roker is wrong, and the genius of Sir Richard Branson. To start the Holiday shopping season, Brandon and Amanda talk about the art of buying books as gifts with some tips to find the best deal. We also talk about YouTube indie-band Pomplamoose and how they are giving away their new Christmas album to those who donate books to the Richmond Book Drive. Support their cause here!

Episode 25: Harry Potter

In this volume, we talk about how Harry is older than us, Wizards in America, and Killing Spider Man. Amanda and Brandon finally get to talk about Harry Potter in the longest/most magical Do Nothing But Read EVER!

Episode 25: Harry Potter

]]> http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/2010/11/do-nothing-but-read-episode-25-harry-potter/feed/ 6 http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/2010/11/do-nothing-but-read-episode-24-david-sedaris-hipster-literature/ http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/2010/11/do-nothing-but-read-episode-24-david-sedaris-hipster-literature/#comments Sun, 14 Nov 2010 19:31:41 +0000 Brandon http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/?p=7968

On this volume, we talk about french speech impediments, elfin humorists, and wizard hormones. Amanda and Brandon continue their series on humor books after the Booktober break and discuss David Sedaris.

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Episode 23: So Can You America

]]> http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/2010/11/do-nothing-but-read-episode-24-david-sedaris-hipster-literature/feed/ 0 http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/2010/11/do-nothing-but-read-episode-23-so-can-you-america/ http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/2010/11/do-nothing-but-read-episode-23-so-can-you-america/#comments Fri, 05 Nov 2010 05:06:17 +0000 Brandon http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/?p=7794

On this episode, we talk about naked Supreme Court Justices, meta-books, and Kanye West. Amanda and Brandon discuss the Daily Show’s books, America (the book) and I Am America and So Can You.

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Episode 23: So Can You America

On this volume we talk about parenthetical italics, creepy hotels in Colorado, and everyone in New Zealand. Amanda and Brandon talk about Stephen King, focusing on the man himself and his writing style.

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Episode 21: Scary Short Stories to Tell in the Dark

Listen to This Episode:

Episode 21: Scary Short Stories to Tell in the Dark

On this volume we talk about sexy romanians, pussy monsters, and lesbian vampires. Amanda and Brandon start Booktober, where they will be talking about different scary topics each week leading up to Halloween. This week, they are facing the classics, Dracula and Frankenstein.

Listen to This Episode:

Episode 20: Frankenstein… Facebook friend?

Books in this Episode:

1. Frankenstein
2. Dracula (Barnes & Noble Classics Series) (B&N Classics)