Several questions have come up on this PA trip. What better way to remember the questions and (as I find them) the answers than to … blog them:
How do Evening Primroses work?
What puts the fire in a firefly / lightening bug?
What is a Township?
What is a Pike?
Why is the bizarre Trojan War art exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art considered a significant contribution to contemporary art rather than just “silly”.
Joe Duck 
Okay…. off the top of my head:
Fireflies: its not just the lucipherinase that is of interest to scientists but the fact that we seem to be losing alot of fireflies. Would be a shame to lose the species before we discover the secret of on-demand cold light.
A pike? Ah, best explanation I can think of is to suggest you think of the photos they always have of the Swiss Guards who guard the Pope. They are depicted carrying these large poles with a spear point on top and a curved blade. Firemen carry pikes too. A ‘Turn Pike’ was a toll road and a pike would be used as a sort of ancient toll gate. Most roads in this country were originally toll roads and were ofcourse privately built, even if constructed along a federally chosen route. Enjoy the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Township is a political subdivision often resulting in some confusion because a town of a certain name will have certain boundaries but there may well be dozens of other towns that are still inside the Township and often eight townships within a county.
‘significant contribution’ translates to ‘I can’t think of anything in particular to say about it, but if I claim its significant, others may think so to’. Its “PR speak”.
Hey FG – thanks for a great roundup! I think Ben Franklin himself would have enjoyed your broad perspective on many topics.
The Art was by “Cy Twombly”. His pieces command huge sums at Art sales but I still don’t get it.