Here's a fun Independence Day fact: Ben Franklin is a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. From the citation:
Benjamin Franklin was a competent swim coach and teacher; he advised on water safety, lifeboat rescue escape from shipwrecks, and the advisability of universal learn-to-swim classes. One of United States first "ornamental swimmers", on a Thames River excursion in 1726, he swam from Chelsea to Blackfriars (3½ miles) "performing on the way many feats of activity, both upon and under water, that surprised and pleased those to whom they were novelties".
He invented the swim fin; his version was worn on the hands. You never thought Ben Franklin and Jacques Cousteau could sensibly be mentioned in the same sentence as diving innovators, did you?
I was terribly disappointed in CBS's one-hour presentation of the Boston Pops last night. The "finale" was long on fireworks and short on live music; what in the world were they thinking? No "1812 Overture" with cannon? That's been a tradition for years and years! Fie upon you, CBS! Bring back A&E!
Posted by Linkmeister at July 5, 2003 10:22 AMOl' Ben had his finger in many pies.
Posted by: Jen at July 5, 2003 02:44 PMBenjamin Franklin was also a gifted oceanographer and spent a considerable amount of time mapping the gulf stream currents with remarkable accuracy.
Posted by: fred at July 5, 2003 04:33 PMIf I didn't already have bios of Nixon, Teddy Roosevelt, and John Adams to read, I'd like to read Walter Isaacson's new one of Franklin.
Posted by: Linkmeister at July 5, 2003 07:25 PMStan taped that piece for the show, Linky...
He "very definitely" taped that song. There were 3 Howitzers(sp?)supplied by the US army, and a conductor to orchestrate the firing of the cannons at the appropriate times. Why it was not on the show is astonishing!!!!!!!!!!!!
He worked very hard on that special. He has been sleeping all weekend because of it. Someone did a shit editing of the whole event. Now I understand why he gets so p.o'd!!!!!!!!
Anyway, Time Magazine has a great edition out this week on Franklin.. Somehow genius isn't a big enough word for him.....
That's why I blamed CBS. "Pops Goes the Fourth" used to be on PBS, then on A&E. It was usually at least a 1 1/2 hour long show, if not more, and the highlight was the finale with Williams and now Lockhart conducting the 1812. I suspected that the network hadn't shown the program in its entirety; I may write a letter.
Posted by: Linkmeister at July 6, 2003 07:49 AMFurther details on CBS and the POPS: the show started at 8:30pm EST, and CBS only broadcast the 10-11:00 section of the BSO program. Worse, it's a five-year deal.
Grrr.
Posted by: Linkmeister at July 6, 2003 08:12 AMthere should be more stuff on Benjamin Franklin the oceanographer on the internet
Posted by: Jillian at September 24, 2003 06:59 AM