-
November 17
November 17 is a bit of an odd day in the history of, well, history. It’s not that nothing ever happened — it’s more like a number of things that did happen might was well not have. Maybe an example is in order. In 1810, the Napoleonic Wars were still in progress in Europe, and… Continue reading
-
Where’s my racing form?
When something is “phony” (or, in Commonwealth countries, “phoney”), it’s fake, or if a person, insincere. J.D. Salinger captured it precisely in Catcher in the Rye: “they had this headmaster, Mr. Haas, that was the phoniest bastard I ever met in my life.” There’s a myth that “phony”, probably because it sounds like “phone” as… Continue reading
-
Theater of the Absurd
Just like the Republican presidential campaign, apparently everything is TV now: “…a 27-year-old social media huckster, beat a 58-year-old man with a long history of health problems, both physically and mentally, in a boxing ring late on Friday night.“ Meanwhile, Dave Winer observed a campaigning shift by the Repubs, who: “…didn’t worry what Jake Tapper… Continue reading
-
November 16
When the colonists in North America first declared themselves the United States, I bet you don’t know which country was the first to officially recognize the new nation. It happened on November 16, 1776, and had to do with a ship — so there’s a hint; it had to be a country with a harbor.… Continue reading
-
Learn the rules!
I love to play a lot of games:the ones that I invent. When humans dream up other games,they’re seldom what I meant. It seems their one abilityis picking up and tossing. Their games are all “go get this thing,”and THEY do all the bossing. MY games are much more funnerbut they never learn the rules;… Continue reading
-
I’m Still a Kid
I often get excitedwhen I’m out to walk and trotand I meet a stranger dogwhose acquaintance I’ve not got. If they are still a puppythen we both will want to play;older dogs are boring’cause they listen to the “stay.” I know what I’m supposed to do,I just don’t always do it.I might get scolded after,But… Continue reading
-
Truck
“I think,” said Corney, “we’d better get him up to bed at once?” “Do what yow like,” replied aunt Ann. “It makes no odds to me: I’ll ha’ nothing to do with him! — I’ll have no truck with a tocksicated man.” If you “have no truck with” someone (or something), that means you want… Continue reading
-
Emil Krebs
Can you speak a second language? Or have you studied a second or third language? Everybody who has, whether they’ve succeeded in becoming fluent or not, has experienced how difficult it can be. And everybody who hasn’t probably imagines that it’s at least that difficult, if not more so. So it’s time to be impressed… Continue reading
-
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 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. It’s also… 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 pup Chocolate. I shouldn’t be surprised, but she mostly speaks in doggerel. You can find her contributions tagged with Chocolatiana.
Privacy policy
No trackers, no ads, no data collected or saved.
Now Read This
This list includes only “artisanal” sites, by which I mean they’re all authored by individuals. While there are some worthwhile sites created by organizations, this is the kind I prefer to support.
[citation needed] by Molly White
Bedlam Farm Journal by Jon Katz
Full Moon Fiber Art by Maria Wulf
Daring Fireball by John Gruber
Garbagetown by Catherynne M. Valente