Dispatches Old West & Beyond 07.01.25
“A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading.” —William Styron
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MY TWO CENTS WORTH
During the week, I read a number of newsletters and articles about a broad range of stuff. This week, I plucked a few random facts that I’ve decided to pass along.
. . . The ancient Romans considered butter to be far inferior to olive oil. Butter was seen as a food for northern barbarians. Romans did use butter to rub on their bodies to treat coughs and aching joints.
. . . It probably comes as no surprise that a headless chicken dies in a matter of minutes. However, in the 1940s, a chicken in the United States lived for 18 months without a head because its jugular vein and most of its brainstem were primarily left intact.
. . . I’ve always found it frustrating to draw a straight line. In reality, there’s no such thing as a straight line. Even a laser light beam is slightly curved
. . . If you’re an identical twin and decide to commit a crime and blame it on your twin, forget about it. Identical twins don’t have the same fingerprints
. . . This is July 1. This month, we celebrate Independence Day. July 2 is World UFO Day, and July 3 is Stay out of the Sun Day. July 6 is National Fried Chicken Day. And July 29 is International Tiger Day.
FROM THE OLD WEST
(1) Luther "Yellowstone" Kelly helped tame the raw American frontier as a soldier, scout, hunter, Indian fighter, and trusted confidant to Native Americans. A great adventurer, Kelly joined the Army at age 16 and left three years later to explore the Yellowstone region. “Yellowstone Kelly.”
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(2) In 1872, an Act of Congress established Yellowstone as the world’s first national park, over two million acres of unparalleled discovery and beauty.
FROM HERE & THERE
(3) Travel specialists believe there will be more people travelling than ever before this summer. For those struggling to pack light, consider trying the 5-4-3-2-1 method. https://www.southernliving.com/5-4-3-2-1-packing-method-11688372
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(4) Fifty-one years ago, a pack of chewing gum became the first item ever scanned by a UPC barcode. Now, billions of transactions are scanned by barcodes. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/june-26/barcode-scanner-invention-first-use
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(5) Unique. Innovative. Ornate. Futuristic—words that described the Golden Age of automobile design in the 1950s..Tail fins and lots of chrome took center stage and, in many ways, changed America’s lifestyle. Sometimes, however, form trumps substance. Here are 12 of the stupidest cars of the Fifties.
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(6) Although we’re not that many days into the summer of 2025, some areas of the country have experienced near-record heat. Most of us, however, find relief due to air conditioning. But this wasn’t always the case. Here are 11 ways people beat the heat before a/c.
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(7) Sometimes, I find myself avocado challenged. I have several avocados sitting on my kitchen counter waiting to ripen. Here’s how to tell when an avocado is ripe. https://www.mentalfloss.com/food/how-to-tell-if-avocado-is-ripe
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(8) Space, surprisingly, is filled with sound—even black holes, comets, and planets. In fact, Venus transmits loud, almost ear-splitting sounds resembling screams. Jupiter sounds like a blend of radio waves and cricket. Give a listen to the sounds of space yourself.
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“If you feel you are in a black hole, don’t give up. There’s a way out.” —Stephen Hawking
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