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December 16, 2025

Dispatches: Old West & Beyond

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"Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day." — Dalai Lama

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— MY TWO CENTS WORTH —

Food delivery by drone is just part of daily life in Shenzhen ...

Various companies in the United States are now operating drone deliveries, including Walmart, Amazon (Prime Air), Wing, and Zipline.

Recently, however, a drone delivery of steak, crab legs, Old Bay seasoning, marijuana, and cigarettes was winging its way toward South Caroline’s Lee Correctional Institution, but guards intercepted the shipment.

The Department of Corrections, using the hashtag #ContrabandChristmas, posted on social media, "Folks were planning an early holiday Old Bay crab boil and steak dinner."

— DISPATCHES FROM THE OLD WEST — 

(1) Billy Claiborne survived the Gunfight at the OK Corral, but couldn't survive his own arrogance. His troubles began when he demanded that others call him Billy the Kid.

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(2) Jesse Chisholm blazed the cattle trail named after him, but never drove cattle himself. Fluent in about a dozen Indian dialects, Chisholm worked as a hunter, guide, and trader. He also served as a key interpreter for the Plains Indians. "TRAILBLAZER."

— DISPATCHES FROM HERE & THERE —  

(3) We’ve all probably been part of a tacky, or gag “white elephant” gift exchange at one time or another. The term actually emerged in the 1890s when white elephant parties became popular.

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(4) With more holiday celebrations on the horizon, many people are confused about whether alcohol is good for you. Some say moderate drinking is OK, while others believe there’s no benefit to any amount of alcohol. Six experts weigh in with their two cents worth. 

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(5) The King of Rock ’ n' Roll once made an appearance at the Grand Ole Opry, and it didn’t go well. In fact, the venue manager advised Elvis Presley to give up on music.  

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(6) Yes, Virginia, some Christmas Songs are annoying. According to Finance Buzz, these are the ten most annoying.

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(7) Frank Gehry, who designed some of the most famous buildings in the world, died earlier this month at the age of 96. But he left us with an outsized legacy of architectural artistry. His designs were bold, creative, fun, sometimes whimsical, and, above all, memorable. Here’s a photo essay featuring a cross-section of Gehry’s greatest hits.  

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(8) When you need to kick back and chill for a while, soft, soothing music is a good option. Here are two hours of “Music of Wellness.”  

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“Life is thickly sown with thorns, and I know no other remedy than to pass quickly through them. The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us.”  - Voltaire

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