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December 13
The US Army traces its history back to 1775; so does the Navy. The Marines were also formed in 1775, and became part of the Navy in 1834. The Air Force came much later, of course, in 1947. And the “Space Force,” which is the world’s only uniformed service that lacks any means of reaching… Continue reading
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Feeling bilious?
It’s common to almost everyone that they think of a cause for what they see, coming up with an explanation that seems reasonable, at least given what they know at the time. Before things like germs, viruses, and some of the actual processes operating in your body were discovered, people dreamed up any number of… Continue reading
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December 12
Kids in Iceland have been looking forward to December 12; this is the night the first of the Yule Lads arrives. They’re 13 pranksters — the sons of the giants Gryla and Leppaludi, who live in the mountains in a cave. You definitely want to stay away from Gryla and Leppaludi. Each of the 13… Continue reading
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Sleigh
It goes without saying that Santa rides around in a “sleigh.” That is, it goes without saying but it doesn’t go without music and pictures — the sleigh is a crucial part of any good Santa tableau. But “sleigh,” it turns out, is a word that only arose in the 1700s. Specifically, the 1721 December… Continue reading
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Gift
“Gift” is an old word; older than English. It comes from Old English, and even before that seems to have been part of ancient Germanic languages. After all, even thousands of years ago people got married. And in those days a “gift” was the payment a man made when purchasing a wife. It’s not certain… Continue reading
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Yule
This is the time of year we find ourselves in the “yule” or “yuletide” season. It’s twelve days long — except when it’s about two months long — which it isn’t when it lasts just three days. But we’re only “probably” in it because it hasn’t always taken place at this time of year, or… Continue reading
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December 11
In the US, December 11 is “Indiana Day”, but really it’s only celebrated in Indiana itself. It commemorates Indiana becoming a state in 1816, but the date became an official observance only in 1925. Indiana was the 19th state, admitted a year before Mississippi, when it was transformed from the “Indiana Territory” to Indiana. As… Continue reading
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Listen to me; I’m rich
From my privileged positionas a dog of ease and wealth,I shall add my observationson the world’s state of health. You humans seem to ideatethat wealth means one is smart.I’m better off than anyoneAnd have this to impart: You guys are often kindlybut you’re just as often nuts.You tie up those big minds of yoursin silly,… Continue reading
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Wait, I thought “sticks and stones…”
Some people think that a text — a book of fiction, for example, or the script for a play — is one complete thing, and that each constituent part, whether it’s a passage or just a single word, must be left as-is or the message and nature of the whole is changed. Others think of… Continue reading
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December 10
Today is December 10, although if you write it “Dec 10” you might mean the PDP-10 computer from Digital Equipment Corp (“DEC”) back in the 70s. Like most of the computers back then, the DEC 10 was a mainframe that lived in its own (large) room that probably had its own air conditioning system. As… 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.
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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