To Reach Old Age, Stop Counting
Ben Franklin liked to point, with pride, to the number of elderly Americans. Every man and woman who reached 80 was further evidence of the healthful climate and society of New England. Yet Franklin didn’t... More
What Would Ben Franklin Say?
More In What Would Ben Franklin Say?
Franklin and Cook, Part II: Cook’s Death
Aloha from Hawaii! This is the second part of my previous posting from Maui in which I wrote about Ben Franklin’s attempt to raise enough... More
Franklin and Captain James Cook, Part I
The dauntless tales of explorer Captain Cook and Founding Father Ben Franklin are makings for an adventurous history lesson in the South Pacific. ... More
The Spirit of the Fifth of July
On the day after the nation’s birthday, after the smoke from the fireworks has cleared, and we’ve cleaned up after guests, America will return to... More
The Need for a Monitor
Mr. R. Allen Stanford has been indicted on 21 counts of embezzling up to $7 billion. We would like to think that, if we were... More
Picking on Journalists
Journalists are easy targets. They are unprotected, unarmed, and vulnerable to any tyrant who can hijack them to grab the world’s attention. The hostility against... More
The First Kite Experiment
Most us know something about Franklin’s airborne tests of electrical theory. Few are aware of another kite-based experiment he performed years before. Here is his... More
Franklin, Relax!
Mr. Franklin could barely imagine life without work, though his idea of work covered all manner of activities into which he could pour his energies.... More
A Day at the Museum
According to the latest blockbuster, a night at the Smithsonian Museum is truly an adventure, but what about a day at the Met? Here, Dr.... More
America’s Disappearing Newspapers
America’s newspapers wallow in red ink. Several prominent dailies have morphed into Internet apparitions of their former selves. Others become thinner with each passing week.... More
Franklin and Civility
Tact, diplomacy, and subtlety seem to be fading away as politicians and journalists adopt more dogmatic tones and indulge in accusations, personal attacks, and sweeping... More
What It All Boyles Down To
"They judged her by her ugly leg."... More
TEA’d-off Taxpayers Protest
Life's certainties: death, taxes, and one more thing ...... More
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