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Dunsical breborions!
In 1653, Sir Thomas Urquhart translated The First Book of the Work of Mr. Francis Rabelais. Urquhart was a Scottish aristocrat who was also a writer, but he is most known for his translations of Rabelais. That, and the way he died, of course. When he heard that Charles II had become the king, Urquhart… Continue reading
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Jacob Abbott and Astrid Lindgren
Literature for young people wouldn’t be the same without November 14. Well, I mean, obviously any book that mentioned the month would, in that case, have to explain why the calendar goes from 13 directly to 15, but that’s not what I mean. I’m talking about Jacob Abbott and Astrid Lindgren who were born on… Continue reading
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November 14
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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Theorem
I love the leaves in autumn,and also needles (pine).The sniffs are very pleasantand the feel on paws is fine. I’ve noticed that each needleis exactly like a line.You also get some conesfrom the tree that’s labeled pine. There’s a crackpot human notionthat thanks to pines I see;they do a thing with numbersthat they call “geometree.”… 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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That’s Irrevelant!
It’s not uncommon for two sounds in a word to trade places when someone speaks them, saying “aks” for “ask” or “revelant” for “relevant.” It’s common enough that there’s a word for it: metathesis. Metathesis doesn’t just occur on an individual basis, though; there are words in which sounds have swapped places in the language… Continue reading
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Neil Young
Neil Young, the Canadian musician, celebrates his 79th birthday today. He was born in Toronto in 1945, and contracted polio when he was 6. It was the last major outbreak of that disease in Ontario, and it left him partially paralyzed on his left side. His family began spending winters in Florida, in the US,… Continue reading
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Charitability
It’s probably a good day to talk about eleemosynary activities we all might engage in, possibly by visiting an almonry or even dealing directly with an almoner. What I’m talking about, of course, is charitable acts and donations. “Eleemosynary” comes from the Latin word “eleemosynarius,” which means compassion. It can be traced even further back… 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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Bigger ain’t better
To the averagecanine brainit causes neitherstress nor strain to outsmart humansonce again;it’s pretty easy,that is plain. I hear the humansbrag and boastabout their brain size;it’s their most oft-spoken claimbecause it’s s’posedto mean they’re smartand you are toast. But we just laugh,my pals and me,because we’re smartenough to see brain size is nota kibble scoop;it’s them,… 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.
Recent Posts
- Dis- or Ab-?
- Thoughtfulness about fake thought
- Drink plenty of liquids
- “Hawkweed?”
- Walked to school in the snow uphill both ways
Visitation
Research Results
i.webthings.hub
Full Moon Fiber Art
Scripting News
Balloon Juice
Empty Wheel
Kansas Reflector
Bedlam Farm Journal
Krugman Wonks Out
Daring Fireball
[citation needed]
Pluralistic
Cornerstone of Democracy
Whatever
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