Who is the American-English equivalent to Shakespeare?
Shakespeare appeared at the last time in history when one person, a great genius, could have reasonably complete knowledge in virtually every field of human activity. The breadth of the sphere of knowledge was just narrow enough for him to master, in a language sense, fields as diverse as warfare, theology, architecture, medicine, poetry, alchemy, history, manners, music, geography, swordfighting, etc. etc. Within 100 years of Shakespeare’s time the sphere of knowledge had inflated and we had entered the age of specialization.In other words, Shakespeare is not only the greatest English language writer of his time, he is the greatest English language writer who will ever exist.Since his time, and on into the future, the hyperinflation of the sphere of knowledge is too great and will be too great for any one writer, no matter how monumentally gifted and accomplished, to encompass it and match him.So there is no American English writer equivalent to him. Nor any other equivalent.
Has anyone in the public sphere ever reached the pinnacle of three entirely different disciplines like Arnold Schwarzenegger (actor, politician) has?
Parallel to Schwarzenegger's case, let's require two really apical achievements, and allow one merely unusually notable achievement. Becoming a leading body builder, at a time when few had heard of the sport, is not at the same level as becoming a movie star or governor.C. P. Snow: chemist, novelist, politicianJohn Belushi: Simultaneously had the #1 TV show, movie, and album in the U.S., a totally unparalleled achievement.Giovanni di Lorenzo de Medici: Pope, philanthropist, patron of arts and learning, foil for Martin LutherChe Guevara: Revolutionary, author, physician, diplomatEmanuel Lasker: Chess champion, algebraist, early game theoristVoltaire: Historian, author, philosopherJames Simons: Mathematician, hedge fund manager, self-made billionaire, philanthropistOprah Winfrey: Television host, Oscar-nominated actress, media tycoon, self-made billionaire, philanthropistLinus Pauling: Nobel prize in chemistry, Nobel Peace Prize, molecular biologistHugh Laurie: Athlete (prior to career-ending injury), comedian, dramatic actor, musicianBernie Madoff: Chair of NASDAQ, financial innovator (payment for order flow), philanthropist, criminalMick Foley: Professional wrestler, NYT #1 Bestselling author, actorMark Wahlberg: Rapper, actor, producer. (Despite all being in "entertainment," these three careers are very discrete in his case.)Jim Brown: "Greatest professional football player of all time," Lacrosse Hall of Famer, movie actorDeion Sanders: Superbowl winner, world series winner, WNBA assistant coach, TV personalityThe Marquis de Sade: Author, politician, criminal.Fred Williamson: Professional football player (three-time All Star), architect, actor / director / producerSteve Allen: Invented the late-night show as the first host of The Tonight Show; Grammy-winning composer who wrote more songs than anyone else ever has; author of 50 books; two Hollywood Walk of Fame Stars (TV and Radio).
Ben Franklin's Lightning Conductor Needle-Point Design Observation Question?
Historical addendum: although Franklin released his invention into the public domain, Nikolai Tesla did patent an improvement: Nikola Tesla's U.S. Patent 1,266,175 was an improvement in lightning protectors. The patent was granted due to a fault in Franklin's original theory of operation; the pointed lightning rod actually ionizes the air around itself, rendering the air conductive, which in turn raises the probability of a strike. Many years after receiving his patent, in 1919 Dr. Tesla wrote an article for The Electrical Experimenter entitled "Famous Scientific Illusions", in which he explains the logic of Franklin's pointed lightning rod and discloses his improved method and apparatus.
Liberalism? Conservative? What do these really mean?
Wow...good job! Pretty much sums it up and yeah...prepare to be attacked with namecalling. I'm sure they are on their way!
What were the major roles for women within Puritan households?
Puritan wives are often though to have worn black and lead dull lives. But they wore blue, violet, green, and yellow. They often had large families, were not prudes and did not have sexual hangups. They were responsible for the family home and raising children, but not that alone. The household might also include bachelor young men, or single women who lived with them. The wife was responsible for looking after their needs as well.They would typically homeschool their children, at least while they were young. By 5 or 6 children could read and write. The literacy rate was 99%, even on the frontier. They’d send their children to Latin (grammar) school for 7 years where they’d study grammar, rhetoric, arithmetic, science, Latin, Greek, and sometimes Hebrew. This might prepare them for College (3 years) and Seminary (3 years). Harvard was established 6 years after the first Puritans landed.In modern parlance we’d call this a “classical education” though it was also fused with Biblical education. Puritan mothers would use The New England Primer (of 1683) to teach young children the alphabet, but also the Bible:In Adam’s Fall, we sinned allThy life to mend, this Book attendThe Cat doth play, and after slay.A Dog will bite a thief at nightAn Eagle’s flight, is out of sight……Uriah’s beauteous wife, made David seek his life.The Primer was so popular that Benjamin Franklin was printing it nearly a century later.