Stories Short and Strange
17 short stories for general audiences ranging from the unusual to the unbelievable to the just plain strange.
Why is Water So Weird?
Have you ever wondered why water expands as it freezes? Or why it changes temperature more slowly than other liquids? Science has known for years about water’s weird properties, but they haven’t been able to find a reason. Until now. Evidence has been found that water is actually two liquids, one denser, and one less
Wedding Traditions: Why There Are Groomsmen
It’s interesting how our cultural practices change over time. For example, our weddings. It’s customary for the bride and groom to have attendants: bridesmaids, groomsmen, and a best man. But how did these customs originate? I recently found an eye-opening article on the Mental Floss website regarding the idea of having groomsmen and a best
The Bow-Wow Theory of Language
Occasionally I find a subject that really piques my curiosity. For example, how did human language first begin? According to an article on the Live Science website, “Bow-Wow, Ding-Dong, Pooh-Pooh: Expert Explains Early Theories of How Human Language Evolved — and Their Silly Names” by Karen Stollznow, there are a whole boatload of theories. And
On Finding Unique Souvenirs
Anyone who travels the world likes to find unique keepsakes to help document their journeys. And yet, it takes a practiced eye to differentiate between the kitschy (miniature Eiffel Towers!) and the truly unique items that preserve special memories. I’m not saying I’ve never succumbed to the mundane, but over the years I have found
The Prayer Flags of Bhutan
It’s impossible to visit Bhutan without noticing the prayer flags. There are literally millions of them, strung everywhere across the landscape. What is their significance? Fortunately, I found a comprehensive article, “Prayer Flags of Bhutan: Spirituality and Meaning,” in the May-June 2026 issue of Tashi Delek, the inflight magazine of Drukair, the Royal Bhutan Airlines,
Birthdays in Bhutan
I’ve just returned from my latest adventure which took me back to Bhutan, that diminutive Buddhist kingdom sandwiched between India and China. I had visited in 2018 to run the Thunder Dragon Marathon, the second part of the Dragon Challenge, the first part being the Great Wall Marathon in China the preceding week. That was
Invictus Revisited
From the “I Wish I’d Written That” Department — I think this is one of the all-time great poems, Invictus by William Ernest Henley. This is painted on the wall of the in-school suspension classroom at the high school where I substitute teach. I first posted this in 2020, and it’s a good time to repost since
The People’s Tycoon: Henry Ford and the American Century
Is it a good thing when your employer takes an interest in your personal life? If you were an employee of the Ford Motor Company in the mid-1910s, you could expect a home visit from the Social Department, which employed investigators who checked for heavy drinking, gambling, and other immoral behaviors. Such was the progressive
Casualty Notification From The Inside — Reprised
I first wrote this reminisce about one aspect of my military service in September 2021. I thought this would be a good time to republish it since we’re at war again. Listening to the media coverage of the Iraq withdrawal, one of the most heartbreaking stories was the interview with the widow of the last
Collecting Gems of Wisdom
“The nice thing about quotes is that they give us a nodding acquaintance with the originator which is often socially impressive.” — Kenneth Williams I love to collect quotes, perhaps because many I find express things so much better than I can. My all-time favorite quote is about the importance of learning history: “Fools say