Free printable American history lessons: Benjamin Franklin, colonial America

Early summer is a time when the United States turns its attention to American History. Memorial Day, Flag Day, 4th of July all focus on famous people and events in American history. One of the most famous was Benjamin Franklin. Students study his life and works extensively in school. Who was Benjamin Franklin? He was many things--statesman, diplomat, inventor and leader. Here are free printable lesson plans on Benjamin Franklin to explore this enigmatic character. Born January 17, 1706, Benjamin Franklin was the 15th of Josiah Franklin's 17 children. His parents were poor working class people. Franklin's grandparents had been blacksmith, farmer and indentured servant. Despite these humble beginnings, Benjamin Franklin has been called a polymath or Renaissance Man. A Renaissance Man is a "jack of all trades," a universal man. Most were ancients like Leonardo da Vinci and Cicero and Imhotep who fell into it by birth.Benjamin Franklin is one of a very few people to earn this title of Renaissance Man in modern times. Visit these links for free printable lesson plans on the Renaissance Man.   Free printable American history lessons: Benjamin Franklin, colonial America | Examiner.com

Pushy parents ruin Easter egg hunt: Greedy grownups bulldoze other tots and trash PEZ candy hunt

Children can't take their parents anywhere these days without them acting up. Pushy parents ruined kids' Easter egg hunts this holiday weekend reported the Associated Press on March 27. Confectioner PEZ hosted Easter egg hunts but had to close early and cancel future events due to bad behavior. But it wasn't the kiddies who were acting up. They understood the common sense rules--share, play nice, have fun. It was misbehaving moms and dads who did not. The greedy grownups bulldozed other tots, ran amok at the candy hunt and trashed the PEZ visitor center in Orange, Connecticut. Over a free candy hunt--talk about an epic parenting fail!  Pushy parents ruin Easter egg hunt: Greedy grownups bulldoze PEZ candy hunt | Examiner.com

Inkster cop Bill Melendez wrist slapped in beating unarmed black man Floyd Dent | Examiner.com

Inkster, Michigan cop William "Bill" Melendez was sentenced in Detroit after beating an unarmed black man Floyd Dent in 2015, reported .Mic on Feb. 3. Judge Vonda Evans of Detroit scolded Bill Melendez, the former Inkster, Michigan, police officer for 30 minutes. But when it came to doling out punishment, the ex-cop nicknamed Robocop, only got his wrist slapped after beating a guy senseless. Melendez and other Inkster cops were caught on squad car dash cam in a police brutality free-for-all. The beat, kicked and tazed the unarmed black man after stopping him for an alleged traffic violation.   Inkster cop Bill Melendez wrist slapped in beating unarmed black man Floyd Dent | Examiner.com

Cathleen Martin got bloody fingertip in Applebee's salad: Lawsuit fingers cook

Hello, welcome to Applebee's! Would you like the bloody fingertip salad? No? Well neither did an Atascadero, California family. But that's what the patrons were served. Cathleen Martin got a bloody finger tip in her Applebee's salad in Paso Robles, California, reported AOL on Jan. 11. And now a lawsuit fingers a line cook at the Paso Robles restaurant. Applebee's confirmed that the mystery meat Cathleen Martin found in her Oriental chicken salad was in fact a hunk of human finger and that said bloody fingertip once belonged to one of the cooks. A line cook admitted to inadvertently severing said bloody fingertip.   Cathleen Martin got bloody fingertip in Applebee's salad: Lawsuit fingers cook | Examiner.com

Free printable Kwanzaa lesson plans, Swahili worksheets, African crafts, games

Habari Gani? This is the Swahili greeting given at Kwanzaa, the least known but fastest-growing of the winter holidays. When you greet someone with Habari Gani? you are asking "what's the news?" Kwanzaa--meaning "first fruits of the harvest"--celebrates family, community and culture. Kwanzaa is celebrated for seven days, from December 26 to January 1. In the seven days there are seven principles that people aim for. Here's the list in Swahili and English, plus free printable Kwanzaa lesson plans, Swahili worksheets, African crafts and games.  Free printable Kwanzaa lesson plans, Swahili worksheets, African crafts, games | Examiner.com

Facebook adds Donate button to posts, makes giving, but also hacking, scamming easier?

 Does anyone else see problems with "donate" buttons on social media? Facebook has added a Donate button to posts reported Digital Trends on Nov. 20. Now that ostensibly that makes charitable giving easier. But might it also make hacking and scamming easier? If it was just a matter of charitable organizations using the new Donate button analytics to leverage contributions, that would be one thing. But the Facebook Donate button lets users contribute to causes from their Facebook News Feeds and even in Facebook Chat. The point of the Facebook Donate button was to simplify things for nonprofits. But is the Donate button oversimplified and therefore vulnerable to hacking and scamming? Clicking the Donate button takes you to your linked credit card, debit card and Paypal account. It makes Facebook into a vendor. Facebook adds Donate button to posts, makes giving, hacking, scamming easier? | Examiner.com

Caitlyn Jenner Christmas billboard offends transgender: NZ Santa sack ad nixed

A New Zealand company's Caitlyn Jenner Christmas billboard was meant to be a spoof, but the Santa sack ad isn't generating too many ho-ho-ho's. TakePart reported on Dec. 3 that the billboard shows the iconic Caitlyn Jenner Vanity Fair image with added Santa hat and reads "I hope your sack is fuller than mine this year. Merry Christmas from Cranium." Some found the Santa sack pun cute, but the Caitlyn Jenner Christmas billboard offended transgender people who complained, Rebecca Jones, mom of a transgender 9-year-old boy was one who complained to Cranium Signage about their "disgusting" billboard. Jones is part of a transgender support group in Auckland.   Caitlyn Jenner Christmas billboard offends transgender: NZ Santa sack ad nixed | Examiner.com