Listgasms » History

Each February we celebrate Black History. We remember the great trailblazers of the African-American community such as Martin Luther King, Jackie Robinson, and Rosa Parks. February is the month to celebrate the accomplishments of these historic individuals because of their accomplishments and the acclaim they brought to their community.

Black History is American History and that is why Listgasm presents you with a look a few African Americans (past and present) who you probably won’t find in your school textbook. We sometimes forgot about these men and women, BUT NOT ANYMORE.

here’s a friendly reminder… (thanks internet!)

Bill Cosby, first black male to star in a network television show, “I Spy” (1965), pusher of Jello, and all around good man

James Earl Jones, the voice of God and Darth Vader

Violet Palmer, first black woman to be a referee in the NBA

Pope Saint Gelasius 1, one of only three black Popes in the Catholic Church

Shaquille O’Neal, the big Aristotle, NBA giant, law enforcer, and philosopher

JC Watts, who we eagerly await to run for President of the United States

Chef from South Park, a gentlemen and a scholar to the kids in his community

Lynn Thigpen, the commissioner from, Where in the World Is Carmen San Diego?

LeVar Burton, he inspired us to read (Reading Rainbow), taught us all about Roots, and spawned a new style in sunglasses

Mavis Beacon, taught us all how to type on an Apple IIe

Carl Weathers, for being the only actor from Predator to not run for Governor(yet)

The Entire Cast of Cool Runnings, no words can describe the thrill of watching this film which is also responsible for a surge in Jamaican nationalism

Steve Urkel, for reminding us that persistence pays off

Cera from the epic movie series The Land Before Time, for being the sassiest Triceratops in Dinosaur history (and spelling her name with a “C”)

Darius Rucker, the lead singer of Hootie and The Blowfish. (who also made a R&B album that nobody bought)

(Not Pictured)
AC Richardson, GW Carver and all the other Black Inventors

Clarence Thomas, for being supreme in every way that a man can

Nate Robinson and Spud Webb for inspiring every man, woman, and child under 5 feet 9 inches that dunking is humanely possible

Grant Fuhr, first black goalie in the NHL

Booker T, WCW wrestler

My Buddy!

Madame CJ Walker, first black millionaire

Robert Johnson, owner of BET, first black billionaire!

Oprah, for being Oprah (and because her vajayjay painin’)

AC Green, the consummate athlete, role model, and Christian

Vanessa Williams, first Black Miss America!

Morris Day and the Time, for making nothing but hits

Conde Rice, first black female secretary of state and all around great American

Gemini, first black American Gladiator

James Trivette, for having Chuck Norris’ back in time of need

Helmet Burger Guy, because he can put food down like a champ

Ryan Moses, my first best friend!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE GREAT LISTS 

The 2008 Presidential Primary: Part 1

(Click on the screenshot to go to the actual archived page)

December 2006 through December 2007 (top to bottom)

Conclusion: Drudge loves Hillary just a smidgen more than Obama…just wait a few more weeks and we will bring you Part 2 (2008).
The Good News: Only 1 more year to go!

Click here for more great lists

Today marks the 98th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America- just one of the few good things left in the world that are older than John R Wooden.

I am a proud Eagle Scout myself, and owe some of my fondest moments to the adventures of scouting…I just ask that my mother doesn’t digs up any old photos of me in those daisy-duke shorts.

Here is a list of famous Eagle Scouts thanks to Wikipedia

A few of the greats include:

• Michael Bloomberg (Mayor of NY city)
• Justice Stephen Breyer (Supreme Court)
• Clive Cussler (Writer)
• President Gerald Ford Jr
• Steve Fosset (Aviator)
• Dick Gephardt (former Congressmen and Presidential Candidate-D)
• Kevin Rose (founder of Digg.com)
• Steven Spielberg (Film Director)
• Sam Walton (founder of Wal-Mart)

Of few others: (not so great but also worth mentioning)

• Mark Madsen (NBA Center/ Bad dancer)
• Michael Moore (Lunatic Liberal)
• L Ron Hubbard (Cult Leader)
• Marion S Barry (corrupt Mayor of Washington DC)

Just a few more days until 2008.

If you are like me then the future bums you out. It’s not that I don’t have an optimistic outlook on life, its just that I have watched a ton of movies. These tidbits of entertainment promise us awesome technological advancements like flying cars, hover skateboards, space travel, and fabulous new wardrobes. As we enter 2008 we are forced to cope with the fact that 2008 will be slightly better than 2000.

Solution: Reflect on 2007 with the help of the following lists while eating your old Y2K rations.

• Politics
• Celebrity Arrests
• Mac Tips
• Best of Sports
• Worst of Sports
• Careers
• Stocks
• New and Improved Applications
• Beard and Mustache Championships
• Human Nature
• Movies
• Health
• Entertainment
• Foot-and-Mouth Awards
• Darwin Awards
• Time’s Top 50 Lists

Today we take a break from the completely random lists that we usually spotlight on the Listgasms Blog and give respect to the listgasmic qualities of Foreign Policy Magazine.

Their list archive is particularly interesting, like the sweet satisfaction of eating a persimmon for the first time.

Thanks to FP magazine we can all be more educated on topics like:

• Individuals who have made themselves Presidents for life
• The world’s biggest military build-ups (Sorry liberals, the US is not #1)
• The most eligible World Leaders
• The world’s largest hedge funds
• 5 population trends to watch
• The world’s top immigrant smuggling routes.

Go get you learn on with Foreign Policy Magazine

You know its a great list when Slick-Willy is twice mentioned in the top 5 of a top 20 list.

“Depends on your definition of harassment.”

Our favorite user generated submissions look back at trends from the 80s and 90s. These juicy blasts from the pasts are delightful reminders of what used to be. Surferpete’s submission sums it up: Monster 80s Boomboxes.
These lists are like old yearbook photos left in the attic to one day be discovered by your children. Do your part and help us find more nostalgic lists! ‘Tis the Season.

P.S. Shouldn’t I be riding one of these by now? Get on it NASA or Segway guy!

Every few years, a group of scholarly individuals get together and decide they should spend their time ranking the presidents of the United States (as opposed to making me breakfast - will they ever learn?). Typically, the rankings that are taken most seriously are those which only have “knowledgeable” individuals contributing - chiefly college professors of history and political science.

One of the recent polls of these kind, a 2005 study by The Wall Street Journal, provides insight to the historical success and failure of our past leaders.

Perhaps some of these results surprise you, likely not. What will probably surprise you most is how few of these people you actually remember from high school history. (”Lincoln wasn’t the only president in the 1800s?!”) Any thoughts on where our current commander in chief will end up when all is said and done?

As for me, I’ve been rooting for Millard Fillmore for years, but he just can’t seem to get it going in the rankings.

“In retrospect, Fugitive Slave Law = bad idea”

So find your favorite Prez and enjoy. And for a little humor, take a peek at this list of the Top Ten Signs your Presidential Candidate is Under-Qualified.