They Don't Make 'Em Like Ben Anymore

[filkertom]

Why can't we have a few more people like Benjamin Franklin hanging around today?

Who's your nominee for modern Renaissance Person? I could make a case for Al Gore (author, environmentalist, activist, politician). John Carmack (game designer, rocket scientist) leaps to mind.

Comments

[aiela.livejournal.com]

Completely off topic, but I don't see any mention on TomSmithOnline of you going to Confusion this weekend. I know you've got a busy travelling schedule coming up, does that mean you won't be gracing us with your presence this year?

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Ummm... main page. Tour Dates, in the lower left corner. Top listing. :) I've got a joint interview (me and Heather Alexander, on "professional-level filk" or somesuch) at 2:00 Saturday, a performance panel at 4:00, and the open filk at 9:00 that night. I'll likely be there Saturday only, but I'll definitely be there.

[aiela.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I left for class and then they posted the schedule to the web page - I think they were just waiting for me to say something stupid.

And how I missed it on your web page, I dunno.

Looking forward to it :)

[wcg.livejournal.com]

Brian MayBSc., ARCS, DSc., CBE

In addition to his well known work with Queen, he's also an astrophysicist. Additionally, he does theatrical work with his wife's theatre company, and philanthropic work.

[drzarron.livejournal.com]

Sir Richard Branson, Business man, Adventurer, Visionary.

[shsilver.livejournal.com]

George W. Bush: Idiot, Moron, Asshole, Tyrant

[delayra.livejournal.com]

Does it have to be someone well known? Because I know a man, who I met ten years ago, that for 3 years me and a couple of other friends actively had a betting pool going and tried to find something he couldn't do. The rules were that he couldn't know about the bet, and it couldn't be something too minor or esoteric. For example, when we checked to see if he could swordfight, we couldn't have specified "with a shortsword" -- it had to be swordfighting of any kind... turns out he was a fencer, and also knew how to defend himself with a katana / wakazashi as well as been part of a swordfighting group able to use classic english weapons (shortsword, longsword, broadsword, bastard sword, great sword)

After three years, no one had won, and he figured out what we were doing. Bet ended and the group of us reclaimed our money, grumbling

His name is Jericho Johnson, and he's the closest thing to a Renaissance Man I've ever met. He's educated, runs his own business, helps out with charities -- not just donates, open-minded, performs on stage, writes, stays active athletically, keeps up with the latest geekery, a caring father... I've always been a little awed by him and his seeming ability to do everything

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Couldn't hurt, if only because of a common public record. I mean, Moonwolf is a singer/songwriter, fighter, blacksmith, etc.... Anne is a doctor/writer/singer/actress/dollmaker... huskiebear is a scientist/photographer/recording engineer/graphic designer/quiltmaker/chef....

[shadowcat48li.livejournal.com]

Richard Fenyman

[salkryn.livejournal.com]

It's spelled Feynman, but other than that I would agree. He was a physicist, a musician, an artist, he did acting, he was a professor, and I could keep going. There are two books about his life: Surely Your Joking, Mr. Feynman! and What do You Care What Other People Think? Heck, they even wrote a play about him called QED. Although, I would ask if Feynman is recent enough, as he died in 1988.

[tony-goldmark.livejournal.com]

It was a lot easier to be a Renaissance man back when people had nothin' to do, no TVs and crap to distract 'em. Before Google, you had to find stuff out for yourself!

[unclelumpy.livejournal.com]

Well, I WOULD suggest Dr. Steven Hawking, but...

He can't be much else BUT a scientist, can he?

Something to share

[markbernstein.livejournal.com]

My page-a-day calendar this year is material from "America", the history textbook from Jon Stewart and the other folks at "The Daily Show". The entry for January 17th is:

Your Unelectable Founders

Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 - April 17, 1790)

Achievements: Proved lightning was electricity by flying a kite, vindicating 20 years of meaningless kite-flying.

Reason why unelectable: Loved the ladies. Loved 'em old, young fat, thin, whatever. Couldn't get enough. Just loved 'em.