Book of Days
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November 15
Today is the international “Day of the Imprisoned Writer.” When it was instituted in 1981 the PEN International “Writers in Prison Committee” was really talking about political writers and journalists, but any time you have the opportunity to appropriate a holiday, you should probably make the most of it. After all, there might be cake. … Continue reading
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November14
It’s November 14, the day James Bruce discovered the source of the Nile River. He traced it all the way to an Ethiopian town called Gish Abay. There was a fresh water spring there, and Bruce declared it to be the source of the river. There was at least one hole in his story, though;… Continue reading
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November 13
It’s November 13, and you are feeling sleeeepy… how do I know that? Simple — today’s the anniversary of the day in 1841 that James Braid, a reasonable and respected medical man from the UK, attended a demonstration of “animal magnetism” by Charles Lafontaine. “Animal magnetism” was supposedly an invisible force that was common to… Continue reading
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November 12
November 12 marked a significant event in the life of Warren Harding. No, not that Warren Harding. I’m talking about Warren Harding the rock climber who was the first to climb El Capitan in Yosemite by the “Nose ascent” that at one time was considered impossible. He finished the climb on November 12, 1958. Harding… Continue reading
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November 11
There are some odd events associated with November 11, many of them related to the numbers in the date “11/11.” On 11/11/11 — as in 1911 — an odd natural event occurred too: the “Great Blue Norther.” A number of cities across the central US were experiencing unseasonably high temperatures that day. In Kansas City,… Continue reading
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November 10
One of the enduring questions of November 10 is “Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street?” Today is the anniversary of the show. In 1969 it was a big departure from the children’s TV shows of the time, but by now it’s the gold standard, having won 189 Emmy Awards. One of… Continue reading
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November 9
November 9, 1801 was an important day in the history of dairy products and fictional corporate representatives. Gail Borden II was born. He was named after his father, but somewhat unusual names seemed to run in the family; his mother’s given name was Philadelphia. The family moved to Kentucky when young Gail was about 13,… Continue reading
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November 8
It was a mere 401 years ago today, in 1602, that the Bodleian Library at Oxford University was opened to the public. It wasn’t a step the librarians took lightly. The library had been founded as far in its past as 1602 is in our past, in the 1300s, and for its first three centuries… Continue reading
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November 7
November seventh turns out to be the anniversary of three of the oldest things around. In 1492, on the outskirts of Ensisheim, France, a meteorite fell — it’s the oldest one with a record of when it arrived. Then in 1665, in London, the “London Gazette” was first published. It’s the oldest journal in the… Continue reading
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Remember, remember, the 5th of November
It’s November 5, which in England means it’s the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot. In 1605, Guy Fawkes was arrested in the basement of the Parliament building with a bit of incriminating evidence: 36 barrels of gunpowder. The plot was to destroy the House of Lords while the Lords — including, in particular, King James… Continue reading
About Me
I’m Pete Harbeson, a writer located near Boston, Massachusetts. In addition to writing my own content, I’ve learned to translate for my loquacious and opinionated puppy Chocolate. I shouldn’t be surprised, but she mostly speaks in doggerel.