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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
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On second thought…
The weather’s getting colder.I go out; it’s snow I find.Now I feel, to my surprise,that I have changed my mind. Snow changes the smellsin gentle little waysand you can poke it with your noseif you’d like to play. At first I thought it was more like rainand that stuff I despise.But snow is a better… Continue reading
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December 9
One of the shortcomings of growing up entirely in one culture is that you might never really understand some of the holidays celebrated in other cultures. December 9 might highlight something like that for those of us brought up outside of Sweden, where it’s Anna’s Day today. What that means in Sweden is a celebration… Continue reading
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James Thurber
When you were a child, if your mom pretended to have a disability, went to a faith healer show, and jumped up yelling about being healed — and she she staged the whole thing as a practical joke — what do you think you might grow up to become? In the case of James Thurber,… Continue reading
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December 8
December 8 makes us pine for what we’ve lost to history. Back in the good old days, this whole modern practice of surnames wasn’t nearly as established, so people were able to identify their leaders the ways they wanted. That’s why we know that in the year 877, when the new king of Aquitaine was… Continue reading
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Decisions, decisions
This is a question that’s been on my mind:I have two sorts of treats, but my choice is which kind?There are some that are crunchy,and they’re really neat,but the others are chewy,and still good to eat. I have both kinds at homeand it’s kind of a gameto guess which I will get;’cause they’re just not… Continue reading
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Avram Noam Chomsky
Avram Noam Chomsky celebrates his 96th birthday today. You may know his name from his political activism, writing, and speaking, but he’s also a founder of a whole scientific field: cognitive science. He’s also a major figure in analytic philosophy and is known as “the father of modern linguistics.” He’s an institute professor emeritus at… Continue reading
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You’re feeling sleepy…
When you’re just waking up, you’re often in a unique mental state. You’re still half asleep, and whatever nutty thing you were just dreaming about is starting to slip away, but for a little while it still makes a kind of sense. There’s also a mental state you might enter as you fall asleep; you’re… Continue reading
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December 7
On December 7, 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the US Constitution. It didn’t take effect for two more years, on March 4, 1789 — a date that, oddly enough, isn’t celebrated (or even much remembered ) in the US. It can, of course, be amended, and has been 27 times. The US… Continue reading
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Department Of Gruff (DOG)
Every room inside my househas a comfy spot that’s mine.I use each one of them to loungeBut only one at a time. It’s a slightly vexing issue.Much like that thing with treats:I only have a single mouththat I can use to eat. Those birds are so much better’cause it only takes one woofand all of… 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