Benjamin Franklin Biography

Birthdate

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts with many many brothers and sisters. He was born and raised there in Boston because that’s where most of his family grew up and they really enjoyed living there. That’s where his family and

friends were and that’s where he wanted to be, at least for the time being.

Family Members

Benjamin Franklin had many brothers and sisters: James Franklin, Peter Franklin, Samuel Franklin, Ebenezer Franklin, Thomas Franklin, Joseph Franklin I, Joseph Franklin II, John Franklin, Sarah Davenport, Elizabeth Douse, Jane Mecom, Hannah Cole, Lydia Scott, Anne Harris, and Mary Holmes. All of these children were raised by the wonderful parents: Abiah Folger and Josiah Franklin. All of them grew up together in a loving family and they varied in ages. When Benjamin Franklin grew up, he married a woman named Deborah Read and had three children named William Franklin, Sarah Franklin, Bache, and Francis Folger Franklin. They continued to live in Boston while the children grew up. The city they knew and loved.

Childhood and School Life:

When Benjamin Franklin was a child, Josiah, Benjamin’s father, had plans for Ben to enter the clergy, so he sent him to the Grammar School. Josiah soon changed his mind about Benjamin and took him out of school. Ben started working in his father’s candle and soap shop. That did not make Ben happy. As a boy, Benjamin loved reading. Once, he read a book about swimming and quickly taught himself how to swim. He built himself wooden paddles for his hands and feet to help him swim faster. He then used a kite to pull him along making it even easier to swim. Also, he read a book about meat and was so disgusted, he decided to be a vegetarian. Not only did he like to read but he loved to write to. No one wanted to hear what a young boy had to say so he wrote in secret using the name, Silence Dogood, and slipped his stories under the door of his brother’s print shop.

Benjamin Franklin and the Armonica

Hobbies, Interests, and Activities

Not sure if you would consider it a hobby but more like what he lived his life by. He wanted to live his life by his thirteen necessary virtues - which he created on his own. “Temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity and humility.” Another thing Benjamin Franklin liked was music. He composed a quartet. He played several musical instruments, including the violin, harp, and guitar. His interest in music led him to create the glass armonica. Benjamin Franklin also loved to travel. He traveled to England and France many times. As many of us know, Benjamin Franklin was an amazing inventor. Some of the things he had created were swim fins which he created while he was teaching himself to swim. Franklin Stove which allowed people to safely heat their homes while using less wood. Bioscience and medicine because he had to continuously switch between two different glasses.

Anecdotes

One thing that makes Benjamin Franklin who he is is most definitely all of his inventions. Not many people know too much about anything else he did before or after all the inventing but he is well known for all his cool inventions. Mostly his interest in electricity and to prove to people that lightning is indeed electricity. He started off by attaching metal to a kite and waiting for it to be struck with lightning but that was too dangerous so instead he made a metal rod and attached it to the side of his house and on a stormy day, lightning struck the metal rod creating electricity. Another invention that shows us exactly who Benjamin Franklin is and what he likes is the invention of the armonica. It shows us that he loves music and he always wanted it to be a part of his life. His inspiration to create this device came from a concert he once saw. He said, “of all my inventions, the glass armonica has given me the greatest personal satisfaction”.

Bifocals

One of his greatest invention that shows us he is hardworking and self determined is the invention of the bifocals. Benjamin Franklin couldn’t see well far or near and before this invention, he had to keep switching between two glasses just so he could read something far away or close to him. So, he created glasses that can enable you to see both near and far thus inventing the bifocals. This is a huge landmark in history considering we still use these today. The last invention that I think made him absolutely wonderful was the Franklin Stove. It was hard for people to heat their homes because they had to use many pieces of wood. Now people can safely heat their home and with less wood.

Career

At first, he started his career as a printer. Along the way, he founded the New England courant, the fourth newspaper in the colonies. After a huge fight with his brother, Benjamin left Boston to start a new life in Pennsylvania when he became part of the Pennsylvania’s colonial legislature, as delegate and elected clerk of the general assembly. In 1737, he then became postmaster of Philadelphia. He soon became a higher rank called deputy postmaster general of British North America. Along the way he published the Pennsylvania Gazette and wrote and published Poor Richard’s Almanac, which made his reputation as a philosopher way better. Everything he did as a writer earned him a great amount of money allowing him to go forward with his love of scientific investigation. Sometime after he was elected a member of the Royal Society acknowledged his scientific achievements especially for his interest in electricity. His careers led him to receive honorary degrees from Yale and Harvard. He then needed a change so he went to London as an agent representing the interests of Pennsylvania.

Reason For Fame

There are many different things Benjamin Franklin has done to become the well known person he was but after the Americans defeated the British at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777, Franklin talk to France’s government in hope of an alliance. Later, it was shown that France donated a huge amount of money to the American cause. A little while after that, America and France signed a treaty. Benjamin Franklin became famous for his courage and determination. Also, Franklin and his partner created Pennsylvania’s paper currency. Franklin helped this business by writing A Modest Equine into the Nature and Necessity of a Paper Currency and he became the public printer for New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. Another huge thing he was interested in was electricity leading to the invention of the lightning rod. The lightning rod was created after his attempt of the kite flying technique.

Later Life/Old Age

Benjamin Franklin continued to prosper even at an old age. He was the first U.S. ambassador to France. He accepted this position two years after his wife died. While he was ambassador to France, he proposed to a widow named Madame Helvetius, aged 74, but she rejected him.

Key Club Decorates Rose Parade Float

Key club is a fun group of people that love to volunteer their time and energy to help others in need,no matter big or small! A little but about the key club is its the oldest and largest service program for high school students. It’s an organization led by students whose goal is to teach leadership through helping. A couple weeks ago, Key club got to decorate a float for the Rose Parade to volunteer their time and help get the Rose Parade done. The Rose Parade is “America’s New Year Celebration” held in Pasadena, California. It’s a festival full of flower covered floats, marching bands, and equestrians. The Rose Parade was originally started on January 1, 1890, hundreds of thousands of people come to watch it, and many people watch it on television. Key club volunteers for many organizations and fundraisers but this was definitely one of the coolest since the Rose Parade is watched by so many people! In my opinion, volunteering that much of your time to help others is so courageous and kind-hearted. The Key club meets here at West Hills every monday to hang out and discuss upcoming events to get prepared.

West Hills Catalog

Coraline Movie Review

Coraline and Wybie Lovat

Coraline, the suspenseful, touching, and funny stop motion film will keep you interested and make you chuckle! The movie Coraline stars the voices of, Dakota Fanning (Coraline); Teri Hatcher (Mother and other mother); Jennifer Saunders (Miss Spink); Dawn French (Miss Forcible); Keith David (Cat); John Hodgman (Father and other father); Ian Mcshane (Mr. Bobinsky); and Robert Bailey Jr. (Wybie Lovat). The film takes place in Ashland, Oregon where Coraline and her family move to live in an apartment called the Pink Palace. The type of the film is a stop motion, animation, fantasy, etc. Whatever tickles your fancy!

Coraline's other parents

           In the beginning of the film when Coraline’s mother and Father are unloading the moving truck, Coraline goes exploring where she takes a stroll down a trail where she attempts to find a well she had once heard of. As she meanders down the path, she encounters a small black cat. This cat will be very important throughout the movie! Then Coraline is startled by a loud horn where she then sees a person speeding down the hill on their bike who seems to be wearing an odd looking mask. The kid takes off his mask and introduces himself as Wybie, a kid who lives in the neighborhood. Wybie explains to Coraline that she has been standing on the well this whole time. Wybie’s grandma then calls him home so Coraline makes her way back to her new home too. When Coraline is home, Wybie delivers a doll to her that resembles her. Coraline starts walking through the house where she discovers a small locked door. Coraline is curious to find out what is on the other side. I mean, if you found a small door in your home, wouldn’t you be curious? I think so. Coraline bugs her mother to help her get inside so she riffles through a drawer in the kitchen where she finds many keys but one stood out the most so she grabbed it and tried it on the little door. It worked! But, Coraline was disappointed to find only a brick wall on the other side. But, later that night, she follows a mouse around the house till she sees it crawl under the small door. She opens the door to find something that looks like a tunnel. She crawls through it where she finds herself in the same room she was just in but greater! Nicer parents, tastier food, a more colorful and fun house, and a room that makes her smile from ear to ear! But Coraline soon realizes that these “other parents” have buttons for eyes. The other mother has a fun idea of playing outside in the mud but Coraline turns it down and explains she would like to get her rest. Her other parents put her to bed in her other room and she wakes up in the morning back in her dull, drab bedroom. Thereafter, Coraline’s parents leave to get groceries leaving her home alone for the evening. You know what Coraline is going to do now. She goes to see her other parents through the small door in her house but finds them asleep. While she is there, she sees the black cat that was introduced in the beginning of the movie. The cat tells her the other mother has been watching her through the doll Wybie gave her. Coraline’s other parents then awaken while she is trying to leave but decides to go to sleep in her other room knowing she will just wake up back in her room. But, it takes an odd turn and when she wakes up, she realizes she is still in her other room. Why was she still there? Coraline tries to sneakily escape but finds that the small door is locked and blocked by an unusual looking dresser. She finds her other mother and demands to be set free but this just infuriates her other mother. Later that night, Wybie quickly pushes her out the small door to help her return home but she must hurry before her other mother sees Wybie helping her. When Coraline returns home, she is relieved but soon realizes her parents are no where to be found. Where have they gone? The next morning, the black cat shows Coraline a mirror where inside are her parents freezing and shivering, covered in snow. Coraline begins to tear up and her mother inscribes, “help us” in the fog on the window but soon the heavy fog covers the mirror completely to the point where her parents weren’t visible any longer. Frustrated, Coraline slams her fists on the mirror, shattering it into many pieces. Frantic, Coraline goes to see her other parents. Coraline challenges her to a game. If her other mother wins, she will stay with her and her other mother can sew buttons on her eyes. If Coraline wins, she gets to take her parents back to the real world. Coraline races against the time to find her mother and father but along the way, there are many obstacles. She must find the souls of 3 children her other mother had captured a while back along with finding her parents. But, it wasn’t going to be easy.

An aspect of film making I found interesting was the set design of Coraline. Anything and everything was handmade! One specific part that was out of this world was the garden that Coraline walks through in the movie which was all handmade and filmed. The plants were made out of items such as plastic mesh, paper, clay, wires, and fiber optic lights. One scene where Coraline is walking through the garden and the flowers are growing each step she takes, that was created by making one flower out of clay and wires and putting a crazy amount of mirrors around it giving the illusion that there are multiples of them. Now that is incredible! Also, when Coraline and Wybie were standing in the mysterious fog, that was all handmade too. They made the fog using dry ice and poured it on the set design to make it look real. This idea didn’t just pop into their heads though. They tried other things first such as, cotton, computer animations, and other items but none of it gave a real sense to the film. Overall, the entire set design was precise and well put together and it blew my mind and I hope it did the same to yours!

Coraline's director and a model of Coraline

Another aspect of film making I thought was interesting was the costume design. It’s not as simple as you might think, especially in stop motion where all the characters are lilliputian and all the clothing needs to move smoothly with the characters to make it look lifelike. People are hired to hand knit and sew all of the outfits for every single character. Now, this doesn’t mean they can create one outfit then be done. The character must have a selection of clothes to match the characters personality. Also, they have to make more than one of each outfit because one might be used for a scene in the mud, in the house, in the rain, etc. Now, these outfits may seem quite easy to make but it’s not just what you see on the outside. If you look on the inside of the clothing, there are wires placed inside just as there is inside the character models themselves. The wires help the clothes move smoothly and stay in place. So, the character moves, the clothes move. This entire process made my eyes grow wide. I had no idea how much time was spent just making these small little outfits!

Overall, I adored this film. It was funny, sad, interesting, and suspenseful. The place, sound, everything kept me interested, especially the characters personality and looks. Coraline having blue hair was definitely out of the ordinary but it matched her personality and it made the entire film more interesting. The film itself was very well done. There was a lot of time and effort put into it and it looks completely lifelike. It amazes me how the film is put together by one second shots with someone moving the character a smidgen each time. I definitely recommend this movie to any age group. It will keep you interested and make you laugh so get out there and watch it. I hope it will get a good review out of everyone!  

Saturday Night Live!

            Saturday Night Live has aired since it’s premier on NBC since October 11, 1975. The cool thing about this show is there is a different host every time a new episode is made. You will always be surprised. The producer of this show is Lorne Michaels. Saturday Night Live can be described as a late night sketch-comedy television program. It’s television series normally starts in September and ends in May with 20 live episodes per season. SNL has been the highest rated late night show in America since 1977. It has reviews all over the inter web! Lets take a closer look at an episode.

            On September 15, Seth MacFarlane hosted and did a great job. The Politicians opened the show where Fred Armison, the Barack Obama impersonator doing a podium speech got a bunch of laughs. Jason Sudeikis impersonated Romney and got just as many laughs from the audience.

            Next, Seth MacFarlane shared his hilarious impersonations with the audience such as, Peter Griffen, Stewie, George Takei, Marty McFly and many more. This got a great reaction from the audience and I will definitely have to agree with the audience.

            After Seth came up, they did a gangnam style scene. This is a meme originally created by kpop star Psy. In this scene, the actors worked at a hat store called “Lids”. When the employees were feeling down in the dumps, they would press a button and someone would come out of a room and start doing the gangnam style dance, which was absolutely hilarious.

            Next up was Seth Meyers weekend updates. Seth Meyers talked about Chris Brown’s new tattoo of a battered woman. Seth Meyers delivered a quote, “You know you’ve made a bad decision when having a neck tattoo is the second worst thing than having a neck tattoo”, that got a laugh out of everyone although a lot of people disliked this because of the fight between Rhianna and Chris Brown.

            After that was Ryan Lochte’s Fall TV preview where Seth MacFarlane impersonated an Olympic medalist. He pronounced Matthew Perry’s “Go On” as “goon” to commercials with short TV shows.

            Next, FrankOcean performed two songs which were, “thinkin bout you” and “pyramids” which got a positive reaction from the audience.

            Then came puppet therapy. Bill Hader which played a war vet, worked out his issues through ventriloquism which wasn’t the most humorous set but was very creative.

            Now, Sadly, there were some low points of this show. The scene called, “Sex over 50” was just not funny and people found it weird and disturbing and to graphic. Also, the scene about Honey Booboo which was over for a while now. Although some of Cecily Strong performance’s made us laugh, it wasn’t the greatest.

            There are many opinions on SNL. Some say it’s offensive. I find maybe 25% of it funny. It’s made for an older audience I would have to say. And people with a better sense of humour. It wouldn’t be the first thing I would want too watch but I hope I got a laugh out of you!

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