A few weeks ago I wrote about my initial exposure to vodka, back in 1967 during my first stay in Leningrad/St. Petersburg, when a friend and I sat on a park bench and shared a bottle of “the white stuff” with a partially – and soon to be totally – inebriated Russian guy. On that […]
Fairly typical bus in rural India. Note ladder to roof for heavy luggage and, occasionally, extra passengers. Read on! When was the last time you heard someone complain about sardine-can, economy-class seating on your least favorite airline? Just yesterday, right? Or, almost certainly, within the last few weeks? Well, I’d like to bring a little […]
Margaux Hemingway While recently browsing the wine aisles, I spotted several moderately priced bottles of Margaux (but not Chateau Margaux, the queen of all wines in that exceptional appellation d’origine, which commands a correspondingly exceptional price). Like many other incidents in life, this find somehow prompted my brain to shift to a new, but only […]
https://pen4rent.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Margaux-H.jpeg982650Howard Danielhttps://pen4rent.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/logo.pngHoward Daniel2017-07-09 16:34:362017-07-09 23:24:46A Rose by Any Other Name … Well, Maybe Not ANY Other Name!
In my junior year of high school, our history teacher began the year’s first lesson by telling us that “America is a hard-drinking nation.” We may well be, but in my experience, Americans don’t hold a candle to the Russians. I’ll come back to tales of Russian drinking prowess in a future post, but today […]
Education As regular readers of this blog are aware, every once in a while I take time away from retelling stories I find entertaining and go on a little language rant. As a writer and editor, I hope my friends will view this as coming inevitably with the territory. Today’s post – about the widespread […]
Dad, in a characteristically playful mood, horsing around with champagne corks at a birthday party (at about age 80) On Father’s Day, as spring gives way to summer in the Northern Hemisphere (and a heat wave here in California), we can all appreciate the pleasure of a nice, cool shower. I have a little twist […]
Blinky with my dad (I was perhaps 10 years old when I took this Polaroid shot; Dad would have been about 42) Most of my friends and family love dogs and cats. My preference, however, has always been birds, the parrot family in particular. I’ve always thought it would be cool to have a beautiful, comic […]
This is me in traditional Indian garb, 1968* A recent conversation with my dentist brought back some interesting memories. The first was of an encounter I had with a dentist when I was a Peace Corps volunteer in India back in the late 1960s. And that took me back to a few other experiences I […]
https://pen4rent.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Howard-dhoti-1.jpeg640445Howard Danielhttps://pen4rent.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/logo.pngHoward Daniel2017-06-04 17:51:252017-06-04 18:46:09Medical Experiences of a Peace Corps Volunteer in India
Graduation season is again upon us. The season for speechifying. As a professional speechwriter, I’d like to offer the following text for the featured speaker at whichever graduation you’ve been invited to attend: “Good morning, graduates, parents and guests. To provide some unexpected relief, I’ll be brief. I’ll simply answer a question many of you […]
Stereotypical obit writer I recently read an article in The Economist about Obit, a documentary on the obituary writers at the New York Times. As someone whose writing credits include several obits, I found the article of considerable interest. I got my start in the genre when I was working as publications manager for Alexander […]
https://pen4rent.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Obit-writer.jpg16001600Howard Danielhttps://pen4rent.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/logo.pngHoward Daniel2017-05-21 16:00:392017-05-21 19:48:47Advance Man for the Grim Reaper? No, Thank You!
Russian Drinking Tales – Round 2
/0 Comments/in Places I've lived, Recollections /by Howard DanielA few weeks ago I wrote about my initial exposure to vodka, back in 1967 during my first stay in Leningrad/St. Petersburg, when a friend and I sat on a park bench and shared a bottle of “the white stuff” with a partially – and soon to be totally – inebriated Russian guy. On that […]
So You Think Airline Travel Is Tough?
/0 Comments/in Places I've lived, Recollections, Travel /by Howard DanielFairly typical bus in rural India. Note ladder to roof for heavy luggage and, occasionally, extra passengers. Read on! When was the last time you heard someone complain about sardine-can, economy-class seating on your least favorite airline? Just yesterday, right? Or, almost certainly, within the last few weeks? Well, I’d like to bring a little […]
A Rose by Any Other Name … Well, Maybe Not ANY Other Name!
/0 Comments/in Humor, Thoughts /by Howard DanielMargaux Hemingway While recently browsing the wine aisles, I spotted several moderately priced bottles of Margaux (but not Chateau Margaux, the queen of all wines in that exceptional appellation d’origine, which commands a correspondingly exceptional price). Like many other incidents in life, this find somehow prompted my brain to shift to a new, but only […]
Russian Drinking Tales – Round 1
/0 Comments/in Places I've lived, Recollections /by Howard DanielIn my junior year of high school, our history teacher began the year’s first lesson by telling us that “America is a hard-drinking nation.” We may well be, but in my experience, Americans don’t hold a candle to the Russians. I’ll come back to tales of Russian drinking prowess in a future post, but today […]
‘Educate’ vs. ‘Inform’
/2 Comments/in Language, Writing & editing /by Howard DanielEducation As regular readers of this blog are aware, every once in a while I take time away from retelling stories I find entertaining and go on a little language rant. As a writer and editor, I hope my friends will view this as coming inevitably with the territory. Today’s post – about the widespread […]
Father’s Day Memories
/2 Comments/in Danelectro, Holidays, Humor, Recollections /by Howard DanielDad, in a characteristically playful mood, horsing around with champagne corks at a birthday party (at about age 80) On Father’s Day, as spring gives way to summer in the Northern Hemisphere (and a heat wave here in California), we can all appreciate the pleasure of a nice, cool shower. I have a little twist […]
They’re Not Actually Birdbrains
/0 Comments/in Humor, Places I've lived, Recollections /by Howard DanielBlinky with my dad (I was perhaps 10 years old when I took this Polaroid shot; Dad would have been about 42) Most of my friends and family love dogs and cats. My preference, however, has always been birds, the parrot family in particular. I’ve always thought it would be cool to have a beautiful, comic […]
Medical Experiences of a Peace Corps Volunteer in India
/0 Comments/in Places I've lived, Recollections /by Howard DanielThis is me in traditional Indian garb, 1968* A recent conversation with my dentist brought back some interesting memories. The first was of an encounter I had with a dentist when I was a Peace Corps volunteer in India back in the late 1960s. And that took me back to a few other experiences I […]
The Commencement Speech You’d Really Rather Hear
/0 Comments/in Language, Thoughts, Writing & editing /by Howard DanielGraduation season is again upon us. The season for speechifying. As a professional speechwriter, I’d like to offer the following text for the featured speaker at whichever graduation you’ve been invited to attend: “Good morning, graduates, parents and guests. To provide some unexpected relief, I’ll be brief. I’ll simply answer a question many of you […]
Advance Man for the Grim Reaper? No, Thank You!
/0 Comments/in Recollections, Writing & editing /by Howard DanielStereotypical obit writer I recently read an article in The Economist about Obit, a documentary on the obituary writers at the New York Times. As someone whose writing credits include several obits, I found the article of considerable interest. I got my start in the genre when I was working as publications manager for Alexander […]