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Benjamin Franklin, Civic Scientist

Posted by michael on from the no-quoting-please dept.

Guinnessy writes "Neal Lane, the ex-science advisor to President Clinton, has written an article in Physics Today magazine, that explains why he thinks Benjamin Franklin, was an early American prototype of a civic scientist, i.e. someone who would 'probably address many of today's concerns with wisdom, practicality, and a deep sense of civic responsibility.' Ironically the same issue has an example of a modern day civic scientist, a profile of Richard Meserve, a physicist who became a lawyer. Interesting stuff."

16 of 155 comments (clear)

  1. ROY is DEAD (of Sigfried and Roy) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    And this is what Slashdot is discussing?! Get some priorities people. He was killed by a tiger!

    1. Re:ROY is DEAD (of Sigfried and Roy) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      Sorry, this is Slashdot. We lack the depth of cultural knowledge necessary for that to be relevant. If, on the other hand, it were Steven King or *BSD, _then_ it would make news here.

    2. Re:ROY is DEAD (of Sigfried and Roy) by The+Clockwork+Troll · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      That is horrible. There's only one thing to say at a time like this - GO GET EM TIGER! ROY IS ON TEH SPOKE!!!~`1

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      There are no karma whores, only moderation johns
  2. fp kekkeke by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    fp lolllolol

  3. Slow news day again. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Slow news day again.

  4. Safari by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    The story doesn't render at all in Safari, but it does in Firebird.
    WHY! OH WHY!!!

    1. Re:Safari by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      safari sucks

    2. Re:Safari by edalytical · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      No the page is not valid HTML there are 93 errors.

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    3. Re:Safari by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      That shouldn't make a difference if you're able to read /. The main page has 394 as I type this.

  5. Little known fact... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Frank Benjamin was a stupid homeless man from Los Angeles, CA and nothing at all like Ben Franklin, except for the fact he conducted an experiment with electricity. He died, though.

  6. Grammar? by EvanED · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Can we have things that at least *approach* gramatical correctness in the stories?

    "Neal Lane, the ex-science advisor to President Clinton, has written an article in Physics Today magazine, that explains why he thinks Benjamin Franklin, was an early American prototype of a civic scientist, i.e. someone who would 'probably address many of today's concerns with wisdom, practicality, and a deep sense of civic responsibility.'"

    There should me no comma before *either* 'that' or 'was an early'.

    1. Re:Grammar? by EvanED · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      "There should me no comma before *either* 'that' or 'was an early'."

      Um, yeah. That should say "There should be..." in the last sentence. Figures it's a grammar post that I make a typo in...

    2. Re:Grammar? by Soko · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      There should me no comma before *either* 'that' or 'was an early'.

      Curse of the Grammer Nazis, dude. Get used to it. The Karma police will be along shortly. ;)

      Soko

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      "Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm." - Anonymous
    3. Re:Grammar? by Second+Vampyre · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      If Mr. EvanED was paid to post comments on Slashdot, he'd certainly be fired now.

  7. Urban legend or real smack? by kamapuaa · · Score: 0, Offtopic
    Benjamin Franklin definitely did positive things for the US. However, his advocacy of using massive attack dogs and smallpox-infected blankets when dealing with Indians makes him a difficult figure to accept as a modern-day role model.

    I've also heard that he fucked young boys, and was involved with infamous rake's clubs while in England. However, are these charges real, or just an urban legend?

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    Slashdot: providing anti-social weirdos a soapbox, since 1997.
  8. That's what happens by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    When you try to slide your cock into a tiger's anus, it attacks you!