The Wonderful Future that Never Was

Different levels of traffic, that is an amazing idea! It was in the twentieth century at least. The idea was to make different street levels, one for people walking, one for slow traffic and one for faster traffic. There would be ramps to get to each one. It seemed like a good idea at the time.
This idea showcases the base for 1900's science inventions, make life move quicker. That is what almost every invention was about. How can we get there faster? How can that be done quicker? How can we cut down that time? The different levels of traffic would work if engineering allowed it and if human nature was easier to understand. People would never be able to go on the right level of auto mobile traffic, there is always that slow traffic even still today. Everyone was in a hurry and things would get very congested. This invention also shows how there was a concept of close knit cities. The Multiple levels of traffic would only be in crowded cities and be very short down a road.
From the view point on their present, it was a great idea. People could get places faster and it would keep people and traffic separate.

Science Fiction

Science fiction and science fact are opposites. We know that already, but people in the 1930's did not exactly know how to differentiate. People who were listening to “War of the Worlds” had to be confusing science fact with science fiction. The radio announcer talked about the observatory and the astronomer that was viewing mars. Then her started to describe the aliens heat rays and the material their “space craft” was made out of. He described how the metal was not human made because it came through the atmosphere and would have been torn apart. This is an example of using science-based ideas and exaggerating them to create science fiction. Also, the people of the 1930’s were listening to the radio, not watching this on television or watching a movie. The radio created a real life feeling so many people believed that this was really happening. Those people who were familiar with science fiction knew that this was supposed to be entertainment for the listening population. Everyone else used science fact to understand what was going on. The confusion between science fact and fiction can create major problems and chaos. 

Benjamin Franklin was not a president.

http://www.npg.si.edu/exh/franklin/bfpeale.htm

            Benjamin Franklin, a great father to our country. The picture I choose was the one painted while Franklin lie in his death bed. It represents his scientific discoveries as well as his opinion about them. While reading through the “Franklin and his Friends” web site I discovered more about Franklin than just the guy behind electricity.

While giving tours of the museum I request that the tour guides include more than just the type of painting and that this is Benjamin Franklin.  I want them to discuss the development of society that his inventions had. Not only did the lightning rods protect houses but it also gave people more comfort and stability. They would not have to worry as much about their homes when a storm came.

            The painting also show cases Franklin’s opinions of his own inventions. According to the site, Benjamin was not a fan of the lightning rods with the knobs at the top. The artist used great detail showing him holding a rod with a pointed rod and not one with a knob on it.

There are so many hidden details in a painting that people would not expect. If the visitors took one thing from this painting it should be to look at all the fine print and think about what the mean on a larger scale. Most people think Benjamin Franklin was a president. Well, he was not but he was a leader of science and politics. He developed so much more than we could ever imagine with out studying it further and just maybe, that’s what the observers will do.