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!
As I write this post in the week preceding Mother’s Day, I’m sifting through memories of my mom, trying – but failing – to come up with something as amusing, or at least as memorable, as some of the stories I’ve told in this blog about my dad, who was a certifiable character. Mom – […]
The ultimate cowcatcher When I was a kid, the railroad that linked my hometown – Asbury Park, New Jersey – with New York City, about 90 minutes up the line to the north, ran on steam. That’s right, for years – until diesels took over – the trains were pulled by steam engines. I’d often […]
Here’s a word that, in my view unfortunately, has been creeping into use in the U.S. – “bespoke,” as in a “bespoke” suit or shirt. Taking myself as a representative moderately well-educated American native speaker of English, I have to admit that the first couple of times I came across “bespoke” I was completely […]
https://pen4rent.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Bespoke2.jpg720960Howard Danielhttps://pen4rent.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/logo.pngHoward Daniel2017-04-30 16:44:222017-04-30 16:44:22‘Bespoke’ vs. ‘Custom-Made’ or ‘Made-to-Order’
Howard Daniel, age 4 or thereabouts To all readers who may be interested in stories about Danelectro and my dad, Nathan I. Daniel, and his many innovations in the field of electric guitars and musical instrument amplifiers, this post is for you. A few days ago, I got an inquiry from John Ward, editor and […]
https://pen4rent.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Howard-in-amplifier-e1492959320531.jpg32642448Howard Danielhttps://pen4rent.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/logo.pngHoward Daniel2017-04-23 15:40:052018-06-29 19:25:24Boyhood Memories of the Danelectro Factory
Russian Easter Eggs Have you ever locked yourself out of the car? With the motor running? On a narrow street? With traffic stuck behind you? Because you’re just outside the Russian Orthodox Cathedral as the Midnight Easter Service is about to begin? Yup! It happened to me. Which is a self-exculpatory way of saying, “Yes, […]
The defeat of evil: burning a Dusshera effigy of Ravana In the late summer of 1970, as I was nearing the end of my Peace Corps service in India, the local Peace Corps office asked if I would be willing to stay on for another three months to help train a new group of volunteers […]
https://pen4rent.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Dussehra.jpg600733Howard Danielhttps://pen4rent.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/logo.pngHoward Daniel2017-04-09 17:25:572017-04-09 17:38:21Courage and Fear
Dormitory No. 6, Leningrad State University (Neva River hydrofoil in foreground) (Photo: Michael Alberts) Here’s a bit of color about a little-heralded aspect of life in the bad old days of the USSR. The story comes from my first visit to the Soviet Union – as a graduate student – in the summer of 1967. […]
https://pen4rent.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Dorm-No.-6-credit-Michael-Alberts-1.png324578Howard Danielhttps://pen4rent.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/logo.pngHoward Daniel2017-04-02 17:47:572017-04-02 17:47:57Just Across the River From the Czar’s Palace
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 […]
Mother’s Day Memories
/0 Comments/in Holidays, Places I've lived, Recollections, Thoughts /by Howard DanielAs I write this post in the week preceding Mother’s Day, I’m sifting through memories of my mom, trying – but failing – to come up with something as amusing, or at least as memorable, as some of the stories I’ve told in this blog about my dad, who was a certifiable character. Mom – […]
Cowcatcher Evolution
/0 Comments/in North Bay, Places I've lived, Recollections, Santa Rosa, Sonoma County /by Howard DanielThe ultimate cowcatcher When I was a kid, the railroad that linked my hometown – Asbury Park, New Jersey – with New York City, about 90 minutes up the line to the north, ran on steam. That’s right, for years – until diesels took over – the trains were pulled by steam engines. I’d often […]
‘Bespoke’ vs. ‘Custom-Made’ or ‘Made-to-Order’
/0 Comments/in Language, Writing & editing /by Howard DanielHere’s a word that, in my view unfortunately, has been creeping into use in the U.S. – “bespoke,” as in a “bespoke” suit or shirt. Taking myself as a representative moderately well-educated American native speaker of English, I have to admit that the first couple of times I came across “bespoke” I was completely […]
Boyhood Memories of the Danelectro Factory
/16 Comments/in Danelectro, Recollections /by Howard DanielHoward Daniel, age 4 or thereabouts To all readers who may be interested in stories about Danelectro and my dad, Nathan I. Daniel, and his many innovations in the field of electric guitars and musical instrument amplifiers, this post is for you. A few days ago, I got an inquiry from John Ward, editor and […]
Happy Easter!
/2 Comments/in Holidays, Humor, Places I've lived, Recollections /by Howard DanielRussian Easter Eggs Have you ever locked yourself out of the car? With the motor running? On a narrow street? With traffic stuck behind you? Because you’re just outside the Russian Orthodox Cathedral as the Midnight Easter Service is about to begin? Yup! It happened to me. Which is a self-exculpatory way of saying, “Yes, […]
Courage and Fear
/2 Comments/in Places I've lived, Recollections, Thoughts /by Howard DanielThe defeat of evil: burning a Dusshera effigy of Ravana In the late summer of 1970, as I was nearing the end of my Peace Corps service in India, the local Peace Corps office asked if I would be willing to stay on for another three months to help train a new group of volunteers […]
Just Across the River From the Czar’s Palace
/0 Comments/in Places I've lived, Recollections /by Howard DanielDormitory No. 6, Leningrad State University (Neva River hydrofoil in foreground) (Photo: Michael Alberts) Here’s a bit of color about a little-heralded aspect of life in the bad old days of the USSR. The story comes from my first visit to the Soviet Union – as a graduate student – in the summer of 1967. […]