Humorous History: Friday, Period 1, Class 2

[makesfaces.livejournal.com]

When the students walked in today, a song was playing playing on Jim's laptop. He wasn't offering an explanation. He just greeted people as they came in.

When the bell rang, Jim smiled, paused the song, and started his lecture. "Let's talk about the Vice President. And let's be completely honest... Does anyone here really know what the Vice President does? I don't. And that's why I'm not qualified to teach any kind of history class but this one. I know they have some tiebreaking powers in the Senate. And take over if the President dies, but day to day work? No clue. And that's why history forgets most of them unless they became President, were killed in a duel, or were just really, really stupid."

"But there was this one guy, Vice President Charles Dawes. He was the VP during Calvin Coolidge's elected term in office. But before that he spent some time as a composer, completely self-taught. In 1912, he wrote a piece called 'Melody in A Minor,' which is a really boring name if you ask me. But the music was pretty good and everyone likes to give people theme songs. So, when he started really making a name for himself in politics, any place he went, he was usually greeted by some band playing 'Melody in A Minor' when he showed up."

"And you know how high school bands keep playing oldies for no real good reason that anyone who isn't in band can figure out? The same thing happened with 'Melody in A Minor.' The music stayed pretty popular with bandleaders for years, but then a songwriter named Carl Sigman decided to turn it into a pop song called 'It's All In the Game.' A bunch of artists recorded versions of it in 1951, but a version by Tommy Edwards was remastered in 1958 and that ended up at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks."

"For the record, that's the song you heard when you walked in."

"Since Dawes wrote the original music, he got a co-writer credit on the song, making him the only Vice President in American history to have a #1 single."

"So, two discussion questions today that I think you'll enjoy. First, what musician with a number one single under their belt would you most like to see as Vice President, keeping in mind that you probably have no clue what the VP does? Second, if you could recruit any Vice Presidents, living or dead, to form an all-star band, who plays what instruments and what would their name be? The best suggestion gets my solemn vow that if we ever have an invasion of former VPs, I'll try to get them to play a concert. And if I can manage that, you're absolutely getting backstage passes."

Comments

Sign In [Week 2]

[makesfaces.livejournal.com]

Like you have NO IDEA what your job requires.

Re: Sign In [Week 2]

[longislandiceme]

Bobby Drake

Take Notes [Week 2]

[makesfaces.livejournal.com]

Or pass them. Whatever.

Re: Take Notes [Week 2]

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

Effy wasn't so much making notes, as just tapping her pen lightly on her paper and making a series of dots.

... Maybe it looked studious?

Shut up, it was early.

Re: Take Notes [Week 2]

[decoder-rings.livejournal.com]

Hannibal was all set to take notes but then...what notes? He wrote 'VP is a superstar' once and then just dropped his pen so he could listen. This didn't seem like a notes taking class.

Awesome class, yes. Notes taking, no.

Re: Take Notes [Week 2]

[fabulous-secret.livejournal.com]

Adora took copious notes on the vice presidential duties.

tie-breaking
takeover from death
sing songs
lead bands

Re: Take Notes [Week 2]

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

Rose - really wanted to know if this was going to be on the exam. And if so, were they going to have to play the song.

Re: Take Notes [Week 2]

[life_inshadow]

Tara was taking notes.

Mostly they were on the song lyrics, but they counted.

Re: Take Notes [Week 2]

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

Turtle was taking a few notes, mostly out of habit, but also because this was pretty interesting. More interesting if they'd been Presidents instead of vice presidents, but that would, she felt, distract a little from the point.

And her notes also included a note to herself that she was not to think that Mr. Halpert was cute. That ship had sailed and she's the one who sent it out of the docks, so having to suffer his adorkableness now was penance, she just had to remember that.

Re: Take Notes [Week 2]

[lovemykilt]

Priestly totally wasn't taking notes. He was definitely paying attention, though. You had to dig a teacher who was willing to admit they totally weren't qualified to teach civics or whatever.

Discussion 1 [Week 2]

[makesfaces.livejournal.com]

A musician who has had a #1 single needs to be picked as VP. This can be a few years into the future so they clear the age requirement, and because you can't take away a #1 single. Who do you pick?

Re: Discussion 1 [Week 2]

[iknowstuff.livejournal.com]

"Rob Thomas," Layla replied. "Because he was drawn from weeds and brave like a soldier."

Re: Discussion 1 [Week 2]

[decoder-rings.livejournal.com]

There were a few people that immediately came to Hannibal's mind. "Bruce Springsteen, easy. He's the Boss. Everyone would just be intimidated by him and sit the hell down when he was talking."

Re: Discussion 1 [Week 2]

[life_inshadow]

Tara had no idea. "Um. Fred Schneider from the B-52s?" she finally suggested. "He'd make everybody laugh but he'd get things done."

Re: Discussion 1 [Week 2]

[longislandiceme]

"Celine Dion," Bobby said, grabbing the first name that popped into his head. "Except I don't know if that'll work seeing as how I think she may be an alien from outer space." Or, you know, Canadian. But those were practically the same. "But maybe they'll change the rules or something eventually."

Re: Discussion 1 [Week 2]

[not-jaded-yet.livejournal.com]

Jennifer scrunched up her face.

"Well, a lot of the #1 singles I'm familiar with are by people who are dead now," she said.

Re: Discussion 1 [Week 2]

[notyourpawn.livejournal.com]

"One of the gentlemen from Led Zeppelin," Alice suggested. "They could play wonderful guitar chords and screech during official speeches and everything would become far more interesting. And if there are no official duties, it wouldn't stop them from putting out more music."

Discussion 2 [Week 2]

[makesfaces.livejournal.com]

You're putting together an all-star VP band. Who do you pick for what instruments?

Each of you has a list of US VPs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Vice_Presidents_of_the_United_States) on your desk. Take a look at it, maybe pick names at random.

Re: Discussion 2 [Week 2]

[iknowstuff.livejournal.com]

"Well you have to have George Clinton (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Clinton_(politician)) as a lead singer," Layla mused. "That way he'll be mistaken for the Grandmaster of P-Funk (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Clinton_(musician)) and you'll get higher ticket sales."

Re: Discussion 2 [Week 2]

[decoder-rings.livejournal.com]

"Well, I'd stick John C. Calhoun (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Calhoun) on lead guitar because that's guy's got hair made for headbanging," he said. "Chester A. Arthur (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester_A._Arthur) on bass because no one really knows the bass player anyway so he'd just kinda be there. Spiro Agnew (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiro_Agnew) on drums because...well, a drummer named Spiro is awesome. Levi P. Morton (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levi_P._Morton) would be the vocals and occasionally whip out a harmonica during twangy songs. And special mention to Hannibal Hamlin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannibal_Hamlin) who'd be stuck behind a keyboard or playing the odd brass instrument here and there."

Re: Discussion 2 [Week 2]

[life_inshadow]

"Dan Quayle has to be the pretty frontman with no talent," Tara said. "And, ooh, Cheney for manager, 'cause, uh, I'm pretty sure he already has a deal with the devil, but don't let him onstage."

Re: Discussion 2 [Week 2]

[notyourpawn.livejournal.com]

"Aaron Burr (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Burr) would be lead vocals," she decided. "He killed a man (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burr-Hamilton_duel) in a duel, that gives him some impressive street cred. But Thomas Jefferson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Jefferson) would be the lead guitarist who actually wrote all of the lyrics and secretly resented that Mr. Burr was the one getting all of the groupies. Nelson Rockefeller (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Rockefeller) for bass, as he looks like a perfect hipster in those glasses, and I am sure he'd manage to play the bass ironically. Chester A. Arthur (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester_A._Arthur) would play drums, as he looks to be quite the jovial fellow. I don't suppose I could ask that Queen Victoria play keyboards? She's hardly a vice-anything, but at least her, I'm familiar with."

"As for a name," she added, "quite clearly, they would have to call themselves Vice."

TAs [Week 2]

[makesfaces.livejournal.com]

There are two. Either talk to them or, in Kelly's case, have her talk at you for a terrifying amount of time. But only once they ping in, of course.

Re: TAs [Week 2]

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

And, of course, Turtle was there, present and accounted for.

And thinking that, sure, a Vice President with a #1 hit was nice, but she wasn't going to be impressed unless it was a President with a hit.

It made her wonder if President Bartlett was a singer.

And made her sad that she was not, because if she did get StuCo--

--but she was not going to think about it, lest she start getting sick from nervousness.

Talk to Jim [Week 2]

[makesfaces.livejournal.com]

Ask him where he found all of this information and see how long it takes him to admit "The internet."

OOC [Week 2]

[makesfaces.livejournal.com]

For what it's worth, it's a pretty cool song.

Today's a furlough day for me, so I'll be around most of the day! Huzzah!

Except first I need sleep.

Re: OOC [Week 2]

[longislandiceme]

You know, I may actually learn things through this class. Currently all I know of US History is that we burned down the White House that one time (incidentally, there is also a pretty cool song to go along with it).

"We've successfully invaded Detroit! We shall keep it forever and make it a part of Canada."