Americans and American History

It seems like every year a study comes out showing how abysmal Americans' knowledge of American history is. Jay Leno frequently show us how little we know in a humurous way with Jay Walking. We even make light of it with shows like Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader. Surveys of college students have been conducted that show how most college graduates know very little of our country's history. (Click here for an example) Here are some results from this study:
"Approximately 14,000 freshmen and seniors at 50 schools nationwide were given a 60-question, multiple-choice exam on basic knowledge of America’s heritage. Both years, the students failed. The average freshman scored 51.7% the first year and 51.4% the next. The average senior scored 53.2%, then 54.2%."

In response to this survey, I would like to take my own survey. Please indulge me and take my short 15 question quiz on American history and politics.


U.S. History Quiz
1.) Which came first, the Revolutionary War or the Civil War?
2.) What decade did the Civil War take place in?
3.) How many presidents have there been?
4.) Name the original thirteen colonies.
5.) Which came first, the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution? (extra credit for naming the years that either were drafted)
6.) Name the branches of government.
7.) What was the Monroe Doctrine?
8.) How many amendments are there to the Constitution? (extra credit if you can describe them all)
9.) How many presidents have been shot? Assassinated?
10.) How long can a president serve? What are the prerequisites to become president?
11.) Who said “Give me liberty or give me death?”
12.) Who/what is America named after?
13.) On what ship did the Pilgrims sail to America?
14.) What significance is there to the date June 6, 1944?
15.) Who is the current commander-in-chief of the armed forces?

Music vs. Lyrics

Do you listen to the lyrics of a song, or do you listen to the beat/instruments/other aspects? Do you have a song that you love, but the lyrics are bad? One of my favorite songs of all time is Say Goodbye by Dave Matthews Band, but it is about how this guy is cheating with another guy's girlfriend. Its all about making love to a girl for one night and then she has to go back to her man the next day and they have to be just friends. The live versions are even better than the studio, but the lyrics are even worse. But I still love the song and it remains on my top 5 greatest songs of all time.
Can you disassociate the lyrics from a really good song? What songs do you love that have bad lyrics?

Meca-leca-hi-meca-hiney-ho.

Good news for all you Pee-Wee Herman fans
Here and here.

Happy Anniversary, Honey!!!

Today is Michelle's and my three year anniversary. Three years ago today we were standing in the gazebo at the Huntington Beach Hilton proclaiming our love for each other through marriage. A lot has happened in the last three years, the best thing is this little guy.




Michelle, if its possible I love you now more than I did then. I look forward to every day with you. I thank God every day for blessing me with you. I love you!