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Let the wild rumpus start!
The people exploring and populating the North American frontier between about 1780 and about 1840 weren’t just boldly going into the physical wilderness. They were blazing new linguistic trails as well; quite a number of new English words originated around that time and place. Many of them were multisyllabic and somewhat fanciful. A couple of Continue reading
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September 23
If yesterday was a good commemoration of enduring mysteries, then today, September 23, seems to be a good day to commemorate enduring itself. Quite a few things began today that are still around. For one thing, September 23, 1642 was the first day anyone ever became a Harvard alum — it was their first commencement. Continue reading
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September 22
“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” That was Hamlet pointing out to Horatio that even the most educated people can’t explain everything. Sometimes the quote reads “our philosophy,” which is the way Shakespeare’s first folio read before he changed it to “your.” Although the play Continue reading
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September 21
One of the things we have to thank September 21 for is… the future. Maybe not the future we actually inhabit, but at least the one with time travel, invisible men, and invaders from Mars. That’s because H.G. Wells was born today in 1866. Although he’s mostly remembered for The Time Machine, War of the Continue reading
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What was that?
Today I met something:a thing called a “cat.”Both Iand the thingwere quite startled by that. I said “YIKES!”Or somethingthat had that effectand the thing jumped straight upbefore hitting the deck. It took off at a dashand by reflex I chasedAnd we ranjust like crazyall over the place. I came to my sensesand yelled“Wait, hang on,”But Continue reading
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Rabbits and Squirrels
Rabbits are badBut squirrels are worseRabbits are quietBut squirrels can curse! My sister and ICan’t abide either sortAnd we chase them away.It’s a job and a sport. I don’t try to bite themBut Hayley did onceCause she’s fast, and the rabbitWas kind of a dunce Who didn’t quite getThat Hayley is quickerAnd also an excellentShorty-cut Continue reading
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My Collection
I collect rocksI select them with careAnd I carry them, too —From right here to right there. My family don’t get it;That much is true…And neither do I!Just a fun thing to do. -Chocolate Continue reading
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Power hungry
There are cars powered by gasoline, and they have engines. Then there are cars powered by electricity, and they have motors. A hybrid car, of course, has both a gas engine and an electric motor. The difference can’t just have to do with the fuel, because if you have a small boat, you can attach Continue reading
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Upton Sinclair
Upton Sinclair was born September 20, 1878, and got famous first for his 1906 novel The Jungle. It was an expose that uncovered shockingly bad conditions in the meat packing industry of the US. That was over a century ago, and not everything has changed; a major US meat packing company is currently closed because Continue reading
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New Bones, Chew Bones
I got a new bone yesterday;my favorite thing to chew.I was not the only one;Hayley got one too I started mine at once, you know;I am not a waiter.Hayley, though, stashed hers awayso she could chew it later. So now I’m mad; my bone is done,and Hayley started hers.She’s just happy chewingbut I’m feeling all 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