Jay Franklin

“The Ben Franklin Effect: If weak ties do favors for us, they start to like us. Then they become even more likely to grant us additional favors in the future. Franklin decided that if he wanted to get someone in his side, he ought to ask for a favor. And he did.””

“...in the woods, if you stopped, if you grew still, you'd hear a whole new set of sounds, wind rasping through silhouetted leaves and the cries and chatter of blue jays and brown thrashers and redbirds and sparrows, the calling of crows and hawks, squirrels barking, frogs burping, the far braying of dogs, armadillos snorkeling through dead leaves...””

“When an emergency arose that necessiated Uncle Jay-Jay to shoe a horse himself, I always manipulated the bellows. He was always so exacting that I did it with great decorum, fearing his displeasure. This case was different. I worked the pole with such energy that it nearly blew the fire out of the pan, and sent ashes and sparks in a whirlwind around Harold. “That the way to blow?” I asked demurely.“Take things a little easier,” He replied. I took them so easily that the fire was on its last gasp and the shoe was almost cold when required. “This won’t do,” Said Harry. I recommenced with such force that he had to retreat. “Steady! Steady!” He shouted.“Sure, O’i can’t plaze yez anyhows,” I replied””