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Public Domain 2025
From Duke University law school, a list of the best works that as of 2025 are in the public domain. Continue reading
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More or less
If you’re fond of both language and math, you surely already know that in the phrase “5 minus 3” the number 5 is the minuend and the number 3 is the subtrahend. Since that’s not news, it’s a good thing that 5 less 3 is not really the subject of this bit of trivia. No, Continue reading
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The Fur-Nanny
When my littles are sadI cheer them upBy being their waggy,licky pup. They’re really cute;it’s worth my whileto fix them upand make them smile. If one is aboutto bump their noseI bring that behaviorto a close. I check each one,because, you see,My family smallsdepend on me. -Chocolate Continue reading
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A question of responsibility
“When one individual inflicts bodily injury upon another such that death results, we call the deed manslaughter; when the assailant knew in advance that the injury would be fatal, we call his deed murder. But when society places hundreds of proletarians in such a position that they inevitably meet a too early and an unnatural Continue reading
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Blogfog
A thoughtful analysis of why Merrick Garland is not the best investigative target. A good infographic can summarize an area of information better than almost anything else. Wait, erase that “almost;” I can’t think of any candidates for something better. Anyway, here’s a compilation of the best infographics (charts) of 2024. The most interesting insights, Continue reading
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Brevity good
Sometimes words get shorter because people who use them start to leave out sounds or syllables. Take, for example, “pacifist.” Around the turn of the 20th century the word was “pacificist,” as used in the March 4, 1907 edition of the London Times: “Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman’s article…on the limitation of armaments…cannot be said to have Continue reading
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Humans Unleashed
Signs, poles and treesall make me go ‘sheesh;’those things can cause problemswhen humans are leashed. We go on a walk;I’m ahead; they’re in backbut basic leash management’ssomething they lack. You’d think it was simple.and I sure have tried,but when there’s a postthey will pick the wrong side. So I have to fix itand come back Continue reading
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Humorous, but not very funny
When you’re feeling hopeful or optimistic about something you might say you’re feeling “sanguine” about it. If you’re like most people, you probably wouldn’t, but the point is that you could. “Sanguine” is a reasonably common word, although it doesn’t generally pop up in everyday conversation in most circles. But it has a pretty unusual Continue reading
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OMG Look What They Found!
Darrell Huff wrote How to Lie with Statistics way back in 1954. It’s not just about lying with statistics; it’s about completely bungling your interpretation of what you think you’ve noticed. Some people even write books based on that kind of bungling. I haven’t read Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World by Adam Grant, but Continue reading
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The little devils
An “imp” is a small devil or demon, and in modern usage usually means a small child engaged in some sort of mischief. “Imp” is from Old English, and first appeared in a book from about 900, Pastoral Care: “Sio halige gesomnung Godes folces, ðæt eardað on æppeltunum, ðonne hie wel begað hira plantan & 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 Bossypaws. I shouldn’t be surprised, but she mostly speaks in doggerel. You can find her contributions tagged with Chocolatiana.
Check out my other blog, Techlimitics, where I’m grappling with the nature of simplicity.
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Contact
peterharbeson@me.com