Benjamin Franklin, Government and Daylight Savings Time

Ben FranklinWise old Benjamin Franklin made lots of discoveries. But I have to say that one of them makes no sense at all today. In Ben’s day during the winters the cost of candles was one of the major expenses. So Ben came up with the idea of “Daylight Savings Time.” They would use the longer days to save themselves the need to keep the candle burning. It caught on.

But today, does it still make any sense, what with light bulbs and electricity and all our conveniences? Why do we need the trouble of changing the time on our electric clocks? Spring forward, fall back. But why now? It no longer makes any sense. read more

Thomas Jefferson and Books

Library of Congress Reading Room

Thomas Jefferson loved books. To his friend, John Adams, he declared “I cannot live without books!” He was a voracious reader. When you visit his home at Monticello, you will not only see his library but you will also notice that he had several places set aside in multiple rooms in his home, where he could sit and read when time permitted.

The British burned down the Library of Congress in the War of 1812, along with several other buildings, like the President’s Mansion. Jefferson offered to sell his library to Congress to replace what they had lost. In 1815 Congress approved the purchase, and it took ten wagonloads to bring the books to Washington, DC! read more

Why Not be an American in America?

Flags

Flags

Wow! I was shocked by this story. I guess I shouldn’t have been in this day and age, but still it bothered me.

Apparently, a school in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, has a tradition of America day together with their homecoming celebration. But this year the school leaders wanted to cancel it because this may offend some at school who don’t consider themselves truly Americans!

That makes sense for Berkley California, but for Jackson Hole? I just couldn’t believe it anywhere in America.

As an American historian, I couldn’t help but think about some of the words of our President Theodore Roosevelt: read more