Articles written by Dan Birchall - Page 5

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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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Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Religion: 80 of 138
(written in June 1992, inspired by the last words of Joseph Addison) "In What Peace" I stand and watch, with furrowed brow, And wonder at the things we do. Apocalypse we've spawned somehow, Our world is bathed in brimstone now, And yet the sky remains so blue. What goes around, true, comes around, So easy it would be to say,... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Love: 499 of 784
"This Actor's Name" I stand before you naked now, Stripped of celebrity; You've watched all of my characters, It's time that you met me. You've seen my role as lunatic, Chaotic man I seemed. The cosmic eddies washed me On the seashores of your dreams. I've played the gigolo's Faustus, Paid a soul for every dance. You've seen... More..
Sciences > Geology & Geophysics Earthquake experiences: 8 of 12
After 3 years of living in a volcanic, seismically active area in Hawaii, I finally managed to feel an earthquake on May 13, 2005. Around midnight, I was sitting in the control room at work with three Japanese observers. 27 miles away, and 2.5 miles higher, the observatory's telescope was cheerily doing telescope things, inc... More..
Sciences > Water & Oceanography The tallest waterfalls in the world: 4 of 6
The world's highest waterfall is Angel Falls, which drops a total of 3212 feet, including a single drop of 2648 feet, on Auyan Tepui in Canaima National Park, Bolivar province, Venezuela. The waterfall was discovered in 1910 by Ernesto de Santa Cruz, and is named for pilot Jimmy Angel, who in 1937 became the first westerner ... More..
Food & Drink > Meat & Poultry Reasons for choosing a free-range or organic turkey for Thanksgiving: 2 of 3
Some years ago, I lived across the street from a butcher shop in the small city of Burlington, New Jersey. Every year, the shop would get free range, organic turkeys in for Thanksgiving. Orders had to be placed weeks in advance, but once I mentioned it to my mother, she made a point of getting one each year. A free range, or... More..
Travel > Travel Diaries & Adventures (Other) Best and worst experiences with airlines: 18 of 26
Perhaps I'm just easier to please than many people, but in over 300,000 miles of flying this lifetime, I've actually had far more good experiences than bad. There are some that stand out one way or the other, of course, like the first time I got to fly in a reclining international business class seat, or the time my wife and... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Need: 57 of 82
Interesting medicine... time flickers, flashes you stand before me, a dark haired man casual bemused something shifts you stand beside me, a slight female light hair smiling something snaps you are in my arms the formal gown seems out of place against my rugged garb something dies the looks of envy curiosity from across the ... More..
Relationships & Family > New & Old Friends How to make a new circle of friends when you're married: 9 of 12
It's not unusual to feel that you have less in common with single friends once you're in a serious relationship or married. And it's not uncommon to want to spend more time with your partner. That's all well and good. Sometimes, though, it can be all too easy to neglect your other friendships and be obsessive or clingy or sm... More..
Sciences > Ecology & Environment Environmentally constructive tree planting: 3 of 4
As a general rule, planting trees is an excellent idea. They consume carbon dioxide, give off oxygen, prevent erosion, can help maintain water tables, and provide a range of other benefits, from shade and timber to fruit, nuts, flowers or even medicines. For this reason, Wangari Maathai, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for h... More..
Arts & Humanities > African History The history of Nairobi: 3 of 4
Nairobi began as a largely uninhabited swamp around a watering hole known to the Maasai tribe as "Ewaso Nyirobi," or "stream of cold water." A little more than a mile above sea level, this area was too cold for malaria to much of a problem. In 1899, a railway was being built by the British East Africa Company's Indian and Pa... More..