Articles written by Dan Birchall - Page 2

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About me - Dan Birchall

Hailing from a small town in New Jersey, Dan has at various times been a birdwatcher, chocolate connoisseur, competitive cyclist, computer programmer, consultant, editor, election worker, father, heavy-metal journalist, husband, laser safety observer, lava

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Travel > Travel Planning & Advice Ways to travel cheap or free: 9 of 32
There are many ways to save money when traveling, but most of them will save you a little bit here and there on small expenses like getting around town, dining out, or the like. What about saving on the big expense - getting there in the first place? I'm a top-tier elite frequent flyer. Last year, I flew the equivalent of mo... More..
Computers & Technology > Phone Service Providers Which mobile phone provider offers the best customer service?: 1 of 3
Merely using the phrases "mobile phone provider" and "best customer service" in the same sentence is cause for derisive laughter. I first got a mobile phone (paid for by the company I was working for at the time) from a little company called Honolulu Cellular. As its name implies, it offered service in the city of Honolulu, ... More..
Sciences > Geology & Geophysics Highest mountains in the world: 2 of 5
There are three different ways to measure the "highest mountain in the world," and as a result, three different mountains can claim the title for different reasons. 1. Summit highest above sea level The summit highest above sea level is that of Mount Everest in the Himalayas, at 8850 meters. (K2 in the Karakoram range is sec... More..
Sciences > Physics Why objects float: 3 of 7
Objects float in a liquid or gas if they have a lower density, or a lower mass per unit of volume, than the liquid or gas itself. The easiest example of an object floating is a piece of light wood in water. Water has a density of 1 gram per cubic centimeter. Balsa wood, in comparison, has a density of 0.1 to 0.2 gram per cub... More..
Relationships & Family > The Single Life Single on Valentine's Day? How to celebrate with style: 10 of 21
Although some may propose - and some already have - that singles should enjoy Valentine's Day by eating the entire box of chocolates themselves, I'd like to suggest instead exercising some constraint and viewing it as a day to save a bit of money. There are several ways of doing this: 1. If you would have otherwise bought so... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Society: 137 of 282
The Rules Part II the rulebook says you watch your own back take the straight way the path of least resistance if it's going to hurt you, you don't do it, nothing is worth the pain the rulebook says you save your own life keep alive at any cost don't take the big chances, don't risk it all for anything, keep your priorities ... More..
Sports & Recreation > Recreational & Youth Tips for teaching your child to ride a two-wheel bike: 5 of 10
My five-year-old learned to ride a two-wheeler in a total of 2 hours using the simple 3-lesson method I describe below. I was impressed by this, since although I'm a somewhat serious cyclist and former racer, I didn't learn to ride until I was about seven! She had already been riding tricycles since age 2, and riding a small... More..
Sciences > Astronomy The tenth planet: 4 of 8
When Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto in 1930, he wanted to make sure it - and he - received appropriate amounts of publicity and attention. Being perhaps as good a promoter as he was an astronomer, he therefore proclaimed that he had discovered a rather large new planet. This seemed logical enough to everyone else: the other... More..
Arts & Humanities > Screenwriting Best place to go for feedback on your screenplay: 2 of 4
There's no single best place to go for script feedback, because any script requires multiple types of feedback. Some types can be gotten on-line, but before you're done, you will absolutely need in-person feedback from real, live actors. I'd suggest the following steps: Write This one's a no-brainer. Get what's in your head ... More..
Celebrations & Holidays > Valentine's Day How Valentine's day is celebrated in China: 1 of 2
Although young Chinese couples today often celebrate the western Valentine's Day on February 14th, China also has its own Valentine's day, with its own legend of romantic tragedy that dates back more than 2,000 years - and even its own astronomy! It's called Qi Xi (say "Chee-Shee"), "The Night of Sevens," or Qi Qiao Jie ("Ch... More..