Articles written by Peter Pogany

How To Guides |
Community

About me - Peter Pogany

As a career economics professional, I taught at the university level and worked in the international arena for many years. I am interested in "Big History" and global issues.

+ more bio information

RSS Feed

Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: The pursuit of happiness: 2 of 21

Why cover up a fragrant rosebush in full bloom? And she certainly didn’t. Her summer dress left more skin bare than covered. Rich brown hair on attractively strong shoulders; a touch of sarcasm under half-shut eyelids; vivid, challenging smile on expressively curved lips - red like a fresh-cut wound! But she was ...
Arts & Humanities > The World Wars What were the causes of World War I: 1 of 7

June 28, 1914. Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir apparent to the Hapsburg throne and his expectant wife Sophie, visit Sarajevo, capital city of Bosnia-Herzegovina, a province of the late Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. Seven potential assassins await them, lined up along the expected route of the official motorcade according to th...
Creative Writing > Satire Satire: Hell: 2 of 12

The throttle was fully opened and the equipment roared down the runway, leaving the ground with a shudder. The obligatory 45-degree turn following takeoff was barely cleared and the captain was already announcing the cruising altitude, time of arrival, and weather conditions on the ground in Atlanta the destination. It looke...
Politics, News & Issues > Energy Issues The pros and cons of nuclear energy: 2 of 10

Nuclear electricity alternates between hope and fear. Like the courtesan in the novel of 19th century French writer Balzac, atomic energy is a melange of splendor and misery. It is at once a wellspring of great expectations about reducing reliance on fossil fuels and ridding nations of dependence on imported oil, and a hot b...
Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: Confessions: 4 of 14

“She troubled me to no end with her intense, summer-sky blue eyes . . . long, coal-black hair sparkling in the lights of the stuffy pub. My mouth was dry. I lost my appetite.” “’So, you are a professor of literature,’ she mused. ‘Recite something for me.’” “How I flee fro...
Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: Misunderstanding: 15 of 49

NEAR THE JUNGLE The shrill ring of the telephone ripped Bernard from deep sleep late in the afternoon. He reached toward the sound in the darkened room with eyes closed, cursing the world. “Oh yeah, I took a bunch of sleeping pills,” he remembered: “Danielle is gone!” The call was from her. She was at...
Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: Crossroads: 2 of 6

“By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food . . .” (Genesis 3:19) Everybody felt sorry for Joe. He was capable, well qualified, always pleasant - helpful. But the economy . . . cutbacks, he was not alone. A group of supportive co-workers accompanied him to the parking lot. There were hugs and ki...
Business > International Business & Trade Understanding the meaning of peak oil: 1 of 3

Orthodox academe's incapacity to do so a caricature in the lighthearted spirit and general good will of the Christmas season. Dear Santa, Bring more oil! Substitutes too! Urgent! Never mind temporary respites and unreasonable spikes; disregard daily oscillations and monthly vacillations! If you string a line through annual d...
Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: Trapped: 1 of 3

Sunday afternoon they were alone in the music school’s largest practice studio. The young assistant professor of piano performance sat at the Steinway, playing Debussy’s "Clair de Lune," mixing it with a "Nocturne" then ambling into "Reflets dans l’eau." Realizing that the ambitious display began to ...
Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: Nightmares: 32 of 94

Looking around in an old bookstore - hissing espresso machine, creaking spiral staircase, sweating pipes in the basement - we found a drawing; "Parisian Mob Scene - Late Summer 1792." Ah, this would make an excellent gift for a poet acquaintance of ours. "Before going to sleep," he once told an audience, "feast your eyes on ...