Justine Larbalestier

reading, writing, eating, drinking, sport

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Sites of interest

Jill Lepore has an excellently entertaining piece in The New Yorker about Benjamin Franklin’s whimsy. Being Australian, I’m not a Benjamin Franklin expert. For instance I didn’t know that he’s the originator of many aphorisms, such as “Early to Bed, and early to rise, makes a Man healthy, wealthy and wise”. An aphorism that really pissed off Mark Twain: “The sorrow that that maxim has cost me through my parents’ experimenting on me with it, tongue cannot tell.” As someone who is also troubled by mornings and in love with staying up late, I sympathise.

My fave of Franklin’s sayings is “He that lives upon Hope, dies farting.” Of which Lepore notes, “Scholars have suggested that the last one was a printer’s error, and should have read ‘fasting,’ but, I ask you, who was the printer?” Answer: Benjamin Franklin.

Tee hee. Farting . . . I think I have become a Benjamin Franklin fan.

Speaking of fabulous people, my sister, Niki Bern, has her new show reel up, which consists of scenes from well-known movies for which she has wrought most excellent digital effects. I’m so proud! Be warned though that it is a Very Big File. Go, Niki!

Posted by Justine at 11:55, 26 January 2008 under Frippery, New York City/USA, Praising | 8 Comments »

Comments

  1. Gabrielle Says:

    I agree with you and Mark Twain. The farting saying makes me giggle, although I don’t really know what it’s supposed to mean. Hee.

    And that is very impressive, your sister’s reel. Sheesh. You are a fabulous family.

    January 26th, 2008 at 1:55 pm

  2. 2. Justine Says:

    Tee hee. I think it means that if you don’t do anything and just hope for stuff to happen to you then you might as well sit around farting. Or something like that.

    I’m very proud of my entire family. They are doers not hopers.

    January 26th, 2008 at 4:55 pm

  3. Gabrielle Says:

    And not farters! Cheers!

    January 26th, 2008 at 5:19 pm

  4. 4. Justine Says:

    I wouldn’t go that far . . . The Berns and the Larbalestiers have been known to fart. A Lot!

    January 26th, 2008 at 5:23 pm

  5. him Says:

    I’m seeing my lawyer!

    January 26th, 2008 at 6:36 pm

  6. Chris McLaren Says:

    There’s some good stuff at Wikisource.

    And then there’s always Fart Proudly.

    January 26th, 2008 at 7:46 pm

  7. 7. Justine Says:

    Him: I’m seeing my lawyer!

    Well, obviously I didn’t mean YOU, Da!

    Chris: Ta. Always good to find out more about the famous people in the country I am currently living in . . .

    Was your second link meant to be to this?

    January 27th, 2008 at 11:11 am

  8. Chris McLaren Says:

    It was indeed.

    January 27th, 2008 at 2:56 pm

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