Dispatches Old West & Beyond 06.24.25
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“Summer afternoon — summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” —Henry James
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MY TWO CENTS WORTH
Viewers who don’t want to watch commercials on YouTube can pay a fee and avoid them. Since I choose NOT to ante up any money, the channels I watch are always cluttered with commercials. However, you don’t have to watch the entire commercial. After a few seconds, click on “Skip,” which will then return you to the content you were watching.
The one commercial I’ve grown to detest is the one about the alleged “pink salt trick,” which I click away from as soon as I can. I’ve never watched the whole thing because those kinds of commercials always direct you to a much longer sales pitch.
The pink-salt video is all about weight loss, achieved by adding a specific amount of the salt to the listed ingredients. What really frosts me, though, is the outlandish claim made by the spokeswoman. During a recent one, the spokeswoman boasted of losing 25 pounds in roughly two weeks.
This kind of claim is absurd and, more importantly, dangerous. Losing 25 pounds in two weeks—even if it were possible—deprives the body of critical nutrients like vitamin D and calcium. It also puts people at risk of developing certain health conditions that often lead to injury. It can also lead to loss of muscle mass and an imbalance of electrolytes. Other issues involve possible gallstones and a drop in energy level. UGH.
Ok, let’s get to today’s dispatches.
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FROM THE OLD WEST
(1) In late June 1874, a small group of buffalo hunters spit in the eye of fear and took on a large force of charging Indians. Hunter and civilian scout Billy Dixon helped repel the attack with his “Big Fifty.”
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(2) Stories and articles about the American West are riddled with misinformation and, in some cases, cartoonish characters. Here are seven of the many myths associated with the Old West.
FROM HERE & THERE
(3) Designer Syd Mead nailed it when he described science fiction as “reality ahead of schedule.” And when artists and designers don’t have any creative restrictions, they can produce the most amazing scenarios of the future, especially when it comes to travel modes.
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(4) Scientists conduct a lot of research, even when it comes to milk and Oreos. Yep. You may be surprised to learn that there is an optimal dunk time for that particular cookie.
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(5) If you’d like some ice cream to go along with your milk-soaked Oreo, have you heard about Cellato? This high-end gelato features white truffles, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, and gold leaf—all yours for $6,600 a serving.
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(6) The process of restoring damaged artwork has always been both expensive and time-consuming. However, an MIT grad student has developed a breakthrough method that requires only a few hours.
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(7) I’ve read where some people store batteries in the freezer. Who does that and why? Here are four myths about batteries, according to Popular Science.
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(8) For those of you who enjoy crossword puzzles, here’s a similar challenge. But, instead of words, this one features numbers.
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“I do have reasons for hope: our clever brains, the resilience of nature, the indomitable human spirit, and above all, the commitment of young people when they’re empowered to take action.” —Jane Goodall
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