Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Quotes of the Day: Ben Franklin on the Turkey
For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America . . . He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on.
(from a letter to his daughter)
Chagrined a little that we have been hitherto able to produce nothing in this way of use to mankind; and the hot weather coming on, when the electrical experiments are not so agreeable, it is proposed to put an end to them for this season, somewhat humorously, in a party of pleasure on the banks of the Skuylkill. Spirits, at the same time, are to be fired by a spark sent from side to side through the river, without any other conductor than the water; an experiment which we some time since performed to the amazement of many. A turkey is to be killed for our dinner by electrical shock, and roasted by the electrical jack, before a fire kindled by the electrified bottle; when the healths of all the famous electricians in England, Holland, France, and Germany are to be drank in electrified bumpers [toasting glasses], under the discharge of guns from the electrical battery. (Quoted from here)
Happy Thanksgiving to you all, even those (@salpadula, *cough* *cough*) who will have nothing to do with making turkey today.
Ben could be a real card, sometimes.
Franklin also wrote of the (ahem) rattlesnake that she is
Do you know who else has blue tongues? Giraffes…
I had not heard of Franklin’s adventures in turkey electrocution before. Nifty!
Happy Thanksgiving Skip.
I really need to electrocute more of my food myself.
Shocking! I thought it was Edison who came up with the electric chair to prove that Tesla’s alternating current was dangerous, but no, it goes back to Ben Franklin, as so much does.
As Skip said, this conversation is part of the Quote of the Day Series. If you have a funny quotation you would like to share, or just some quotation where you can harass @salvatorepadula, our sign-up sheet is waiting for you here with operators standing by.
Are you saying we fried the wrong turkey?
And here I thought no more shocks could come out of DC!
Happy Thanksgiving, Skip!
He sings the body electric.