Stories: Old West & Beyond 06.03.25
“We learn from history that we do not learn from history." —George Wilhelm Hegel
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Good morning. Today is Tuesday, June 3, 2025.
The other day, I was talking to a fellow writer about the “old days,” when we used typewriters. Yep, that long ago. My first one was a portable Royal typewriter, which my parents gifted me in high school after I expressed an interest in writing. I used it for class assignments and continued to use it well after I graduated to write and sell magazine articles.
The Royal came with some unavoidable frustration, such as the clumsiness of using carbon paper to make copies. A bigger hassle involved having to use a fresh sheet of paper to retype a page if I committed a spelling or grammatical error. Erasing was almost impossible without tearing or smudging the page.
I used the Royal for a long time before graduating to an IBM Correcting Selectric Typewriter. A couple of years later, I discovered the magic and speed of word processing. But what I miss about the manual typewriter is the sense of connection I felt to the words I typed. In some ways, I also miss the deliberate pace of using a typewriter, the sensation of watching every letter and word materialize before my eyes. Now and then, I can hear a distant clickety-clack of the keys on the old Royal, sort of a clunky music score. To reproduce the sound as accurately as possible, I have a mechanical keyboard connected to my computer.
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THE OLD WEST: SENTENCED 160 TO DEATH
During his years heading up the U.S. District Court in the Western District of Arkansas, Judge Isaac Parker sentenced 160 individuals to death. “God of the Gallows.”
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THE OLD WEST: THE EXECUTIONER
George Maledon served as the high executioner for Judge Isaac Parker at Fort Smith, Arkansas. A thin man in a dark suit with deep, dark eyes, the "Prince of Hangman" gained notoriety for his efficiency in executing as many as 60 criminals during his career." Hang 'em High, Hang 'em Quick."
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3. HOW TO PACK WITHOUT TAKING YOUR ENTIRE WARDROBE
Packing light is the key to a more enjoyable vacation, or even a weekend trip, especially when traveling by airplane. I don’t check luggage. Here’s how to pack light for a long trip.
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AN ARTIST WHO CREATES HIS OWN CLOUDS
Painting accurate clouds can often be a challenge to artists, but not to Dutch visual artist Berndnaut Smilde. He creates his clouds using fog machines, humidity, and lighting.
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CREATIVE ODDBALL JOBS THAT GENERATE HIGH INCOME
Some entrepreneurs are creating new job categories, such as — ready for it? — dog-music composing and desert island tourism. Here’s the scoop.
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WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND A BIRD THAT HAS FALLEN FROM ITS NEST
Once, I discovered a baby bird in my backyard that had fallen from its nest. I ended up placing it back in the nest, which I learned was the right thing to do. But some birds that fall from their nests should not be returned to them.
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7. ARCHITECTURAL ILLUSIONS THAT ARE PLAYFUL AND INTRIGUING
British sculptor Alex Chinneck creates what could be described as bendable art. His creations include wavy brick buildings, twisted clocks and cans, and zippered walls. Click on his name and enter his world.
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8. OH NO, NOT ANOTHER SUPERMAN MOVIE!
Superman is back. And, he has a super dog. Here are 11 movies to carry you through the summer.
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“The time to be happy is now, the place to be happy is here, the way to be happy is to make others so.” —Robert G. Ingersoll
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Great piece, as usual. Especially enjoyed your piece about the typewriter. It really took me back.