Ben at 300

If you live in Philadelphia, yesterday, there was no way you couldn't know that it was Ben Franklin's 300th birthday. Well, unless you stayed home and didn't turn on any of the local stations, then you would be ignorant of the invasive fact.

As an employee of the University of Pennsylvania, I was swept up in the "Benergy." (Not my word, but I can't give proper attribution.) I spent the day celebrating: laying a wreath at his burial site, throwing a nickel on his grave and luncheoning with others from Franklin-affiliated organizations.

It was just interesting that I was at the grave of a man who so greatly influenced America. He's only one of two men on US currency who was not president. Monroe isn't on any currency, and he came up with the Monroe doctrine -- and I always thought that MD was a big diplomatic deal! It is amazing that people to this day still dress up as Franklin, and that many people are so moved to remember Ben and his accomplishments.

It's a testament to immorality.