Osprey returning to nest Before visiting our son Adam and his family in the Washington, D.C., area at the end of May, Sandra and I took a few “just the two of us” vacation days and visited two great destinations, each about three hours south of D.C. – Chincoteague and Assateague islands on Virginia’s “Eastern […]
https://pen4rent.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Chincoteague1.jpg13971500Howard Danielhttps://pen4rent.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/logo.pngHoward Daniel2018-06-17 18:11:002020-05-17 17:37:32Chincoteague, a Walk on the Wild Side
In the wake of this past Tuesday’s primary elections here in California and several other states, my attention was drawn* to a Los Angeles Times report on voter apathy. “No offense, but I never vote,” a man, age 63, told the reporter. Asked why, the man responded, “I don’t believe in the system.” As someone […]
These giant folded-paper “mushrooms” grow (and shrink) when spectators step on a switch. (All photos courtesy of Sandra Kelley-Daniel) This past week Sandra and I were visiting our son Adam and his family in the Washington, D.C., area. Last Sunday we all went to the Smithsonian Institution’s Renwick Gallery where we enjoyed a remarkable exhibit, […]
Toeing the line Here’s an amusing misuse of a common phrase – “toe the line.” Some writers mistakenly render it “tow the line.” The right way, using the word “toe,” creates the image of someone placing his or her foot exactly at the line – perhaps a starting line for a race or, more commonly, […]
https://pen4rent.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Toe-line.jpg8011190Howard Danielhttps://pen4rent.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/logo.pngHoward Daniel2018-05-27 13:22:442018-05-27 13:22:44TOE the Line vs. TOW the Line
UPDATE: I sent a slightly revised version of the letter below to Delta’s complaint line the evening of May 16 and received a very gracious and responsive reply early the next morning. (I’d originally written this complaint primarily for the amusement of my blog’s readership, and only later decided to send it directly to Delta.) […]
Jonah This is the perfect story for Mother’s Day. It’s not from my own past, but it’s too good not to pass along – and I have the gracious permission of its principal, my daughter-in-law Jodi, to share it today with all her fellow mothers and all the husbands and children who love the mothers […]
https://pen4rent.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Jodi-Jonah-8-wks3.jpg20003008Howard Danielhttps://pen4rent.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/logo.pngHoward Daniel2018-05-13 19:27:182020-06-21 15:24:21The Smile That Saved a Life, a Mother's Day Tale
Roma (Gypsy) women Every once in a while, as I drive down the street or highway, I’ll spot a sign calling attention to what is usually a pretty low-rent establishment – a place where, according to its sign, you can get your palm read and your fortune told. In the interest of full disclosure, readers […]
https://pen4rent.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Gypsy.jpg1110736Howard Danielhttps://pen4rent.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/logo.pngHoward Daniel2018-05-06 16:08:212020-04-05 21:18:16Want to Have Your Palm Read? Me Neither!
Norman Borlaug About a month ago I saw an online birthday tribute to a 20th century hero few people have ever heard of. On March 25, Norman Borlaug, an agronomist who passed away in 2009, would have celebrated his 104th birthday. Borlaug’s work, say those who are familiar with it, saved billions of lives. It […]
https://pen4rent.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Borlaug.jpg353400Howard Danielhttps://pen4rent.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/logo.pngHoward Daniel2018-04-29 17:45:352020-04-05 21:19:50A Hero You May Never Have Heard Of
If you haven’t bathed in traditional Japanese style, you’ve missed a great experience. I’ve had a few opportunities to bathe like the locals do in Japan, but none to rival the one I’ll recount below. First though, for readers unfamiliar with Japanese customs, here’s brief intro. In Japan, you get clean before you get into […]
Rin Tin Tin Years ago, when Johnny Carson was the face of late-night TV, he once drew hundreds of outraged letters after he dared to say, in conversation with a guest, that pigs are smarter than dogs. Lassie lovers were not amused. I spent my childhood largely unaware of the limits of canine intelligence. […]
Chincoteague, a Walk on the Wild Side
/0 Comments/in Family, Recollections, Travel /by Howard DanielOsprey returning to nest Before visiting our son Adam and his family in the Washington, D.C., area at the end of May, Sandra and I took a few “just the two of us” vacation days and visited two great destinations, each about three hours south of D.C. – Chincoteague and Assateague islands on Virginia’s “Eastern […]
Does Voter Apathy Exacerbate Political Polarization?
/0 Comments/in Hawaii, Places I've lived, Thoughts /by Howard DanielIn the wake of this past Tuesday’s primary elections here in California and several other states, my attention was drawn* to a Los Angeles Times report on voter apathy. “No offense, but I never vote,” a man, age 63, told the reporter. Asked why, the man responded, “I don’t believe in the system.” As someone […]
“Burning Man”
/0 Comments/in Recollections, Thoughts /by Howard DanielThese giant folded-paper “mushrooms” grow (and shrink) when spectators step on a switch. (All photos courtesy of Sandra Kelley-Daniel) This past week Sandra and I were visiting our son Adam and his family in the Washington, D.C., area. Last Sunday we all went to the Smithsonian Institution’s Renwick Gallery where we enjoyed a remarkable exhibit, […]
TOE the Line vs. TOW the Line
/0 Comments/in Language, Writing & editing /by Howard DanielToeing the line Here’s an amusing misuse of a common phrase – “toe the line.” Some writers mistakenly render it “tow the line.” The right way, using the word “toe,” creates the image of someone placing his or her foot exactly at the line – perhaps a starting line for a race or, more commonly, […]
Dear Mr. Delta
/0 Comments/in Humor, Recollections, Thoughts, Travel /by Howard DanielUPDATE: I sent a slightly revised version of the letter below to Delta’s complaint line the evening of May 16 and received a very gracious and responsive reply early the next morning. (I’d originally written this complaint primarily for the amusement of my blog’s readership, and only later decided to send it directly to Delta.) […]
The Smile That Saved a Life, a Mother’s Day Tale
/0 Comments/in Family, Holidays, Recollections /by Howard DanielJonah This is the perfect story for Mother’s Day. It’s not from my own past, but it’s too good not to pass along – and I have the gracious permission of its principal, my daughter-in-law Jodi, to share it today with all her fellow mothers and all the husbands and children who love the mothers […]
Want to Have Your Palm Read? Me Neither!
/2 Comments/in India, Places I've lived, Recollections, Russia-USSR /by Howard DanielRoma (Gypsy) women Every once in a while, as I drive down the street or highway, I’ll spot a sign calling attention to what is usually a pretty low-rent establishment – a place where, according to its sign, you can get your palm read and your fortune told. In the interest of full disclosure, readers […]
A Hero You May Never Have Heard Of
/0 Comments/in India, Places I've lived, Thoughts /by Howard DanielNorman Borlaug About a month ago I saw an online birthday tribute to a 20th century hero few people have ever heard of. On March 25, Norman Borlaug, an agronomist who passed away in 2009, would have celebrated his 104th birthday. Borlaug’s work, say those who are familiar with it, saved billions of lives. It […]
Furo Adventure
/0 Comments/in Family, Humor, Japan, Places I've lived, Recollections, Travel /by Howard DanielIf you haven’t bathed in traditional Japanese style, you’ve missed a great experience. I’ve had a few opportunities to bathe like the locals do in Japan, but none to rival the one I’ll recount below. First though, for readers unfamiliar with Japanese customs, here’s brief intro. In Japan, you get clean before you get into […]
The Limits of Canine Intelligence
/0 Comments/in Humor, Places I've lived, Recollections, Thoughts /by Howard DanielRin Tin Tin Years ago, when Johnny Carson was the face of late-night TV, he once drew hundreds of outraged letters after he dared to say, in conversation with a guest, that pigs are smarter than dogs. Lassie lovers were not amused. I spent my childhood largely unaware of the limits of canine intelligence. […]