# ben franklin (blogs) — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 3 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover ben franklin. Page: Feed: --- ## [Maybe It's a Matter of Scale #141](https://www.mjlarsonconsulting.com/new-blog-1/mpzek2zn2smp8fklclclx465698r4h) _2026-08-19 · Mark Larson · New Blog_ I’ve spent a lot of time the past couple of months thinking about life, death, the afterlife, and aliens. The alien part seems out of place in the list, but one has to admit that there has been a lot of talk of space aliens and other life in the universe. Stay with me as this weblog is going to jump around a lot. Next jump: In pre-historic times, when a tribe of hunter-gathers encountered a… ## [You Can't Yell 'Fire' in a.... #140](https://www.mjlarsonconsulting.com/new-blog-1/66d5hf8p5ay5lwffg4pw3cex3en4m6) _2026-08-09 · Mark Larson · New Blog_ We’ve heard about First Amendment rights and what they entail and what they don’t. A very well known fact about limits of free speech is the old “You can’t yell ‘fire’ in a crowded theatre.” But how did that phrase develop? Apparently, according to John U. Bacon, the phrase came about in 1913 and from a tragedy. In Calumet, Michigan there was incredible wealth due to copper mining. The town… ## [Where asthma rates are highest in Philly](https://tcphilly.substack.com/p/where-asthma-rates-are-highest-in) _2026-08-06 · The Conversation Local · The Conversation Philly_ Greater Philadelphia earned failing air quality grades. A new study finds higher asthma rates near industry and major roads, especially where green space is scarce. ## [Should you drink Philly's tap water?](https://tcphilly.substack.com/p/should-you-drink-phillys-tap-water) _2026-07-31 · The Conversation Local · The Conversation Philly_ Philadelphia's tap water meets federal drinking water standards but falls far short of public health goals when it comes to cancer-causing chemicals. ## [Inez Patterson broke barriers in Philly pools](https://tcphilly.substack.com/p/inez-patterson-broke-barriers-in) _2026-07-29 · The Conversation Local · The Conversation Philly_ When Patterson was at Temple University, she insisted on swimming when her white teammates swam and not being limited to the hour when the pool was available to Black swimmers. ## [Confucius Say...Chopsticks. #139](https://www.mjlarsonconsulting.com/new-blog-1/xfr3bgsxz3h6wjknh22safyz2yzsms) _2026-07-23 · Mark Larson · New Blog_ It doesn’t seem that Confucius, who lived over three thousand years ago, gets the respect he deserves. His impact on the Chinese, called Confucianism, focuses on morality, kindness, and leading by virtue. Traits that seem in short supply with at least one of our leaders today. He also emphasizes family loyalty and especially respecting elders. Confucius was certainly a towering figure for the… ## [Court fines hit Philly's poorest neighborhoods hardest](https://tcphilly.substack.com/p/court-fines-hit-phillys-poorest-neighborhoods) _2026-07-22 · The Conversation Local · The Conversation Philly_ New research maps where legal financial obligations are concentrated – and finds they overlap with poverty, violence and racial inequality. ## [How air pollution threatens Philly’s preterm infants](https://tcphilly.substack.com/p/how-air-pollution-threatens-phillys) _2026-07-21 · The Conversation Local · The Conversation Philly_ Even small increases in air pollution can increase the risk of serious respiratory illnesses for preterm infants and their risk of having asthma as they get older. ## [Two Different Art Experiences #138](https://www.mjlarsonconsulting.com/new-blog-1/35ewe44hwz5rl8e2x678kcm5wn42nw) _2026-07-19 · Mark Larson · New Blog_ As the reader may recall there was a recent post about graffiti and street art. I started to appreciate it more once I learned the code. In this case, the artist was doing a commissioned piece that looks as if the artist is climbing out of the piece onto the wall. There is a lot of detail from the lettering to the shadow at the top and the active spray painting and the North Face bag. There is a… ## [The Philly roots of ‘Double Dare’](https://tcphilly.substack.com/p/the-philly-roots-of-double-dare) _2026-07-15 · The Conversation Local · The Conversation Philly_ Philadelphia produced some of the most popular and longest-running local children's shows in television history. ## [Collect Open Source Legends (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/kd1nFTsWGtUt) _2026-07-15 · **Sponsored**_ Open-licensed art, limited foil trading packs, and optional on-chain mints. ## [Throw Up Has a Different Meaning #137](https://www.mjlarsonconsulting.com/new-blog-1/t82kp8xpb332e9gdptpc2rlhe8x4ke) _2026-07-15 · Mark Larson · New Blog_ We signed up for a tour of the Bushwick Art Collective. I was very interested until I learned about the topic: street art and graffiti. Growing up, graffiti was seen as simple vandalism and destruction of property. There was a criminal aspect to graffiti, so I was already determined not to like the tour. Plus it was 95 degrees. It was great! Each artist has a particular style and there is some… ## [Why Philly police skip the ambulance](https://tcphilly.substack.com/p/why-philly-police-skip-the-ambulance) _2026-07-14 · The Conversation Local · The Conversation Philly_ Police departments vary widely in how they use 'scoop and run' – and whether they use it just for colleagues who've been shot or for members of the public too. ## [The Ben Franklin Effect #136](https://www.mjlarsonconsulting.com/new-blog-1/https/wwwmjlarsonconsultingcom/new-blog-1-5) _2026-07-12 · Mark Larson · New Blog_ Of our Founding Fathers, Ben Franklin, is probably my favorite. His accomplishments speak for themselves, but there are two anecdotes that stand out. The first is an editing change to the Declaration of Independence. Apparently, Thomas Jefferson wrote, “we hold these truths to be sacred” and Franklin changed sacred to self-evident . His reasoning was that sacred had a religious meaning and the… ## [Why the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating Philly’s gun permit practices](https://tcphilly.substack.com/p/why-the-us-department-of-justice) _2026-07-09 · The Conversation Local · The Conversation Philly_ Philadelphia police revoked the carry licenses of five members of the Black Lion Party for International Solidarity, citing 'good cause.' Is that constitutional? ## [Scrap the Cap #135](https://www.mjlarsonconsulting.com/new-blog-1/https/wwwmjlarsonconsultingcom/new-blog-1-4) _2026-07-08 · Mark Larson · New Blog_ H.L. Mencken was write about a lot of things. “For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple and wrong.” Mencken is wrong here. Social security is complex, but to scrap the cap the answer is clear, simple, and right. ## [Why PA’s proposed bell-to-bell ban isn’t a simple fix for students hooked on their phones](https://tcphilly.substack.com/p/why-pas-proposed-bell-to-bell-ban) _2026-07-07 · The Conversation Local · The Conversation Philly_ Supporters of the ban argue that kids need a break from constant phone notifications so they can focus on learning and social skills instead. ## [One Leg, Two Legs, or All Four Legs #134](https://www.mjlarsonconsulting.com/new-blog-1/https/wwwmjlarsonconsultingcom/new-blog-1-3) _2026-07-05 · Mark Larson · New Blog_ Every country has its quirks and oddities. Albania is no different. One can see Burger King restaurants and there even is a KFC in the airport. But MacDonald’s apparently not allowed. Also, they are a very heavy coffee drinking nation. But one cannot get regular drip coffee. It has to be an Americano or latte or for most people, an espresso. I’m not sure of the reason, but Starbucks doesn’t have… ## [Now, That's a Distinctive Building #133](https://www.mjlarsonconsulting.com/new-blog-1/https/wwwmjlarsonconsultingcom/new-blog-1-2) _2026-07-01 · Mark Larson · New Blog_ The Albanian protests to prevent the ecological and historical ruin are continuing, but the outcome is far from certain. The ruling elite are telling the citizenry that they need this development for tourism and jobs and a better standard of living. A rising tide, after all, lifts all boats. However, the people don’t see things the way the government might like. For one thing, there is a palpable… ## [Pennsylvania coroners routinely refuse to release autopsy records to public](https://tcphilly.substack.com/p/pennsylvania-coroners-routinely-refuse) _2026-06-29 · The Conversation Local · The Conversation Philly_ When coroners shield their records from public view, they’re not just violating the public trust. Often, they’re also breaking the law. ## [Albania Part III #132](https://www.mjlarsonconsulting.com/new-blog-1/https/wwwmjlarsonconsultingcom/new-blog-1-1) _2026-06-28 · Mark Larson · New Blog_ Albania was shown the path to reconciliation and healing by Mother Teresa and they have been willing to confront their past. Warts and all. But there are some issues they’ll have to deal with and some quirks. One issue they’ll have to deal with is the widespread cigarette smoking. Everywhere you go there are smokers everywhere and an ashtray on every table. There will have to be a reckoning with… ## [Anthony Ettinger on LinkedIn (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/hfRYqpzh7Rxl) _2026-06-28 · **Sponsored**_ Public LinkedIn profile at linkedin.com/in/anthonyettinger. ## [New feature for Farcaster WP: Notifications](https://davisshaver.com/2024/12/13/new-feature-for-farcaster-wp-notifications/) _2024-12-13 · davis · Davis Shaver_ Today I've updated Farcaster WP to take advantage of the powerful new notifications framework in Farcaster frames. ## [Introducing Farcaster WP](https://davisshaver.com/2024/12/12/introducing-farcaster-wp/) _2024-12-13 · davis · Davis Shaver_ I made a WordPress plugin that connects your WordPress site to Farcaster.