January 17, 2013: Benjamin, Betty, Zooey and Pooh

He was brilliant, he was an inventor, he was a statesman and he was a real ladies man. On this date in 1706, he was born, Benjamin Franklin. The bifocal lens, the fire department, the public library and the Franklin stove are all inventions of Mr. Benjamin Franklin. When people talk about money, they refer to dead presidents but then they say that it is all about the Benjamins. Well Franklin is on the $100 bill and he was not president, now that’s power. Mr. Franklin is also an important resident of Walt Disney World and not in the Hall of Presidents (remember he and Alexander Hamilton are on the money but were not presidents, in fact Hamilton could not be president because he was not born in America). Mr. Franklin, along with Mark Twain is the host of the American Adventure in the United States of America pavilion at EPCOT. It’s a great show, it’s patriotic, it's huge, you get a preshow and it’s air-conditioned. If you need more convincing, you’re not paying attention.

                                          The American Adventure: Home of Mark Twain, 

                                             Benjamin Franklin and the Voices of Liberty

It’s Betty White’s birthday and at her age, it’s okay to admit your age again, kind of like the kid who is 6 years, 3 months and 14 days. Betty was born in 1922. It seems like every few years, everyone realizes how awesome Betty White is but she is as steady as the sun and the moon, other people just come back around. Of course her last big rush of fame included a Snicker’s commercial but for many she’ll always be one of the Golden Girls. In addition the Golden Girls’ home was featured on Residential Street on the Backlot Tour at Disney-MGM Studios. Like many TV / movie homes, it was only a façade, a front, used for an opening shot on the show. That part of the Backlot Tour is gone, along with the MGM in the name but go to Hollywood Studios and celebrate Betty White today.

                                               Part of the Backlot Tour as it exists today.

I think Zooey Deschanel is awesome. Of course she’s the New Girl but she is also a singer and in 2011 she performed five songs for the soundtrack of Disney’s Winnie the Pooh. I bought the movie for my wife, Deana, she loves Pooh Bear and so we were both happy. Go to the Magic Kingdom, ride the Pooh ride in Fantasyland and, as always, have a moment of silence for Mr. Toad.

Remember, your best excuse is always: waiting for your dreams to come true.