Today's Forgotten English

[the_gneech]

novitious
Newly invented.

--Noah Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828

300th Birthday of Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
American Renaissance man. He is best remembered for his contribution to American independence and for his wise, often humorously ironic, sayings, such as, "All would live long, but none would be old." An inveterate inventor, he devised bifocal glasses, the odometer, and swim fins, and he helped introduce to America the catheter tube, a windsurfing apparatus, the public library, and the notion of matching gifts in charity fund-raising. He also charted the paths of storms over North America and discovered the course of the Gulf Stream. As a publisher, he printed America's first political cartoon and some of its earliest editorials. At age twenty-two, he composed this cheerful epitaph for himself, which he revised a number of times: "The body of B. Franklin, Printer (like the cover of an old book, its contents torn out and stript of its lettering and gilding) lies here, food for worms. But the work shall not be lost; for it will (as he believ'd) appear once more in a new and more elegant edition revised and corrected by the Author."

Comments

[frostdemn.livejournal.com]

And the only man that was not a president to be on currency!
Yep, he was awesome. I read a biography on him once; He worked for a printing company in his youth and everyone was all, "You should drink some ale! It'll do ya some good!" but then he carried a pair of printing tablets (which were really heavy) up the stairs in a run while they would only be able to carry one and only walk.

[trpeal.livejournal.com]

Alexander Hamilton (1st Secretary of the Treasury) is on the $10 bill, and Salmon P. Chase is on the $10,000 bill (no longer in circulation). Neither one of these gentlemen were ever President, either.

My favorite Franklin quote is "Beer is God's sign that he loves us, and wants us to be happy."

[frostdemn.livejournal.com]

Hunh, I learned something today.
I guess I don't pay enough attention to my bills. Or don't hold enough $10 bills to know.

[camstone.livejournal.com]

...And let's not forget "All around well liked letcherous gentleman who liked to take air baths (e.g. Nudie runs/Streaking.)"

Ahhhh... ol' Ben... he was such a great ol' cout!

[rhanlav.livejournal.com]

He's also the guy Huey Hefner says was a truly great American, for pretty much those similar reasons. Heh. ^_^

[level-head.livejournal.com]

He didn't say it, but could have: "To enjoy life, take big bites! Moderation is for monks!"

It's interesting, as he was quite self-disciplined about his indulgences, but his manner of doing so made him quite puzzling to his contemporaries -- and us, centuries later. A unique individual in many ways.

And it would have been fabulous to converse with him.

===|==============/ Level Head

[level-head.livejournal.com]

He was indeed. An extraordinary and brilliant man, who had a lot more to do with the country's formation and international diplomacy than many realize.

"Poor Richard's Almanac" is very funny in places, and touching in others. And there's the whole sad business of Franklin's son becoming a Royalist -- on the other side of the Revolutionary War.

I was, just yesterday, invited to see "Ben Franklin: Unplugged" -- and was surprised to learn that this was a one man play which had a major focus of demonstrating how much Franklin has in common with communists. The actor/author is a communist, from what I have read, and the reviews speak glowingly of the communist aspect. Here's an interview with Kornbluth, the author. (http://www.metroactive.com/papers/sonoma/08.29.02/franklin-0235.html)

But one difference between my parents and Ben Franklin--well, there are a number of similarities: both Ben Franklin and my father liked to run around nude in the apartment--one thing that really struck me is that Franklin really went through a revolution, and my parents talked about one. Franklin went through it and had a lot to do with it.

When I was growing up, revolution for little communist kids was very glorious--the idea of it, the songs and the slogans. But the actual revolutions are incredibly painful and difficult for the people who are revolting and being revolted against too, probably. The energy to make a revolution is really violent and strong and angry, and how do you deal with that?

It seemed unlikely to be a fun evening; I declined.

Ah -- I just encountered a review not so thrilled, in Variety. (http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117929254?categoryid=33&cs=1)

===|==============/ Level Head

[d-l-leonine.livejournal.com]

http://www.freedomsnest.com/cgi-bin/qa.cgi?ref=fraben

I've been refering to #9 a LOT lately

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

Tanx fir the reminder!

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

http://www.kuinfo.lib.ku.edu/questionblock.asp?id=669