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“A thing of beauty is a joy forever.”  —John Keats

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— MY TWO CENTS WORTH —

Good morning, it’s Tuesday, Nov 4, 2025.

Although Halloween has retreated into the dark shadows until next year, stories of the unexplained still make for good reading. 

Two such stories headline today’s dispatches. One involves a train and the other a ship. NIGHT OF TERROR and “CURSE OF THE PHANTOM VOYAGE.”  Both stories share mysterious events that remain bizarre and unexplained. 

You’ll also read about 13 unexplained events involving UFOs—stories that delivered a sense of fear to the witnesses.

Enjoy the stories and your week ahead.

— DISPATCHES FROM THE OLD WEST — 

(1) Train engineer Nelson Edwards’ journey toward the Continental Divide in the late 1890s turned into a night of terror when he spotted a ghost-like image waving frantically, standing atop a phantom train bearing down on him from behind. Read all about “NIGHT OF TERROR.” 

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(2) Another unexplained story from the Old West involves sightings of a ghost-like vessel on the Platte River in Wyoming. The phenomenon first began in the 1860s, carrying an ominous omen of death. “CURSE OF THE PHANTOM VOYAGE.”

— DISPATCHES FROM HERE & THERE —  

(3) Interest is increasing at a faster pace than advancements in the robotic industry. Figure Robotics revealed its “03” humanoid robot, which manages a broad range of activities in the home. After watching this must-see video, ask yourself (and let us know) whether this is something you envision in your future.  

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(4) For a hundred years after the Statue of Liberty arrived in the United States, speculation revolved around who it was modeled after. Historians believe the French sculptor who designed it drew inspiration from his mother.

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(5) You might be surprised to learn about a new hamburger being offered at a restaurant in Barcelona, Spain. But it’s not about the taste. This hamburger carries a price tag that can only be described as obscene—and you need an invitation to spend it. 

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(6) When I think of the word counterfeiting, I automatically think of paper currency—not cheese. However, counterfeiting Parmesan Reggiano cheese is a significant issue. To counter the $2 billion crisis, the official Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium is now microchipping 88-pound cheese wheels with tiny edible trackers. Last year, the consortium successfully blocked Kraft Heinz from registering the “Kraft Parmesan cheese” trademark in Ecuador. Some cheese sold as Parmesan in the US might not contain any Parmesan at all. 

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(7 UFOs are back in the news. The curiosity about UFOs is probably attracting as much attention as stories about the Titanic. Here’s a Baker’s Dozen of sightings that still give witnesses a sense of fear.

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(8) Game time: Name that Thing features various games with certain limits imposed to answer each question. Speed and difficulty are the main elements. 

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"Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together." —Vincent Van Gogh

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