As much fun as the Indiana Jones movies are, they are not history. (Neither are a lot of History Channel programs, but that’s a whole other discussion) An actual history of Egyptology in the Nazi period has been written, and the truth is a lot more interesting, really, than the fiction.
Category Archives: current events
Extra Credit Opportunity: Philippine Insurgency History
On 6 April at 4:00 p.m. in the Crimson and Gold Ballroom of the Overman Student Center, Dr. Sean Kalic of the U.S. Army’s Command and General Staff College faculty will present on U.S. counterinsurgency operations during the Philippine Insurrection of 1899-1902. A look at this country’s first major overseas counterinsurgency campaign should help us see our current counterinsurgency-related problems in Iraq and Afghanistan in a broader historical perspective. I expect this talk to be of interest to all concerned citizens and well as those of us who specialize in history.
John Daley
Chair, Dept. of History
Extra Credit Opportunity: Apple Day Convocation
The annual “Apple Day Convocation” will be celebrated on Thursday, March 4, 2010, in the McCray Recital Hall. This year’s speaker will be Ms. Inez Kaiser, a 1941 PSU graduate. Don’t miss an opportunity to hear her speak on “Lessons Learned from a 1941 Pitt State Grad.”
The event is at 3pm, and classes at that time should be dismissed.
Extra Credit Opportunity: State of the Union
The annual presidential report to Congress, the State of the Union address will take place tonight at 8pm, central time. For extra credit, watch the speech (and, if you wish, the Republican response), and write a short (2 pages, max) summary and reaction.
Globalization: Television still important
An interesting discussion about the social and economic effects of television globally, especially satellite broadcasts.
Historians Explain Murder?
How have historians dealt with questions of crime and punishment? Jill Lepore looks at new books on murder, with a special emphasis on explaining why the US looks different than economically and politically similar societies.
History of Print and Blogging in the Arab World
I will be taking a moment in class Friday to reflect on this article by Brian Ulrich, describing the history of print and other media up to the present in the Ottoman Empire and its offshoots.
Companies v. Countries
Just to follow up on my comments in class, here are Countries of the world ranked by GDP and the Global 500 companies ranked by revenue. In terms of revenue, Wal-mart comes out right around #25 on the GDP list. Microsoft only comes in around #60-63.
Bioethics – DNA technology, science, privacy and tribal rights
It’s all here: Do scientists have the right to use blood collected for one study in another one, especially one that could challenge religious faith?
Who owns DNA?
Also, who controls information?
World AIDS Day maps: by population, and by numbers