2023-08-02 16:11
Every time I join the group of bicycle riders who decide to ride across Iowa; I find myself surrounded by people full of joy, hope, fun, kindness and goodwill that I start to think: “I… Read More
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Type Oh! The Manual Typewriter Experience Blog
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Typecasting, the art of using a manual typewriter to create and post information, stories, poems, life experiences.
2023-08-01 14:00
People have rode bicycles across the state of Iowa yearly for 50 times now. This year 20,000 signed up (add another 9,000 who only signed on for a day instead of weeklong). More showed up… Read More
2023-06-27 18:17
There are moments, I just look around and see all I let past. Once and a while I will be able to capture the moment. I then recall all the moments that only exist in memory… I smil… Read More
2023-05-16 18:52
It seems to happen more and more often; I will read something online… search for more information and discover the more I dig into the story the less I find. Still better to search a… Read More
2023-03-30 22:39
Yesterday I received in the mail a letter I mailed 6 years ago. I could be upset, but better late than never. After all it is not as if my words could save the word… if was only my… Read More
2023-01-30 00:53
It’s a new year… I feel that it would be great to think positive thoughts at the start and strive to keep along that path throughout the year and on for infinity.
1966 Under… Read More
2022-10-29 19:37
I sat down at my 110 year old typewriter and put down my thoughts. When I finished I felt I had created a “fine mess” of thoughts and was about tear up the paper when it occurre… Read More
2022-10-28 02:29
Over five decades I have written to Presidents. I felt it was important to express my view and believed it was worth as much as money, input to a poll… and it did not matter if the p… Read More
2022-07-01 02:13
On a bicycle I get to see things I would have missed had I been driving a car.
1959 Hermes 2000 Read More
2022-05-09 00:43
Mother’s day is like seeing a rainbow… it is just something to look on and enjoy.
1962 Royal Futura 800 Read More
2022-05-03 18:32
When typeing out my frustrations, most of the time I would just take out the paper and toss it; I felt better and that would be the end of it. Today I kept my words because I realized… Read More
2022-03-31 00:32
I have allowed myself to get caught up in the troubles of the world around me and overlooking all the good that is around me. My internet went down… I called in the problem and the n… Read More
2022-01-11 23:17
When I look back on the films of Sidney Poitier I view a positive possibility of what America is. The high road toward the future with hope and steadfastness and a big heart for others… Read More
2021-12-15 03:11
In 1941 my father was still a teenager and he joined the army. He spent 4 years overseas and came back full of goodwill, hope and love for America. The reality of discrimination and the… Read More
2021-11-07 19:40
The last time I looked at bicycles knew of road bikes, hybrid, city, adventure, dirt bikes as well as mountain bikes. Today I find “gravel” and even “CGR” (cross, gr… Read More
2021-10-09 23:13
A decade ago I scanned an image I thought I have captured everything of importance. Then I took another look at the hard copy and flipped it over and my view of what was important chang… Read More
2021-08-13 03:00
On the bicycle ride across Iowa a person rode past me with an electronic device that spoke out loud Speed, Distance Traveled and total climb completed. The voice said: “You have trave… Read More
2021-08-03 15:22
In a corn field far far away… in the summer… on a bike… that’s where I will be!
2021 Iowa Bicycle Ride Read More
2021-07-01 01:52
It use to be that around 350 miles on my bicycle was when long distance riding became fun; up to that distance it was a grind and just getting in shape. This year I had to reach 500 before… Read More
2021-05-03 03:56
I like to think that now that I am back riding my bicycle… things will return to the way they were. Only way to find out is to pedal until they do.
1959 Hermes 8 Standard Read More
2021-04-03 00:30
I like to think that things are returning to a new normal. Masking restrictions where I am are easing and people seem more relaxed and making travel plans. I want this to be true and to re… Read More
2021-03-20 01:07
Spring is hear and things are already better than 2020. No worry that the store may be out of toilet paper. Thoughts are about not about lockdowns coming but the ease and ending of them… Read More
2021-02-19 00:37
Been snowed in for the past week. Read a book (Rabbit’s Blues: The life and times of Johnny Hodges by Con Chapman) which provided me with a new phrase to use: “Can a Moose Croch… Read More
2021-01-17 18:31
I was not at the Capitol when things happened… I can only go by what I saw and heard and read; I am sadden by it. I would like to believe that the majority had good intent to have a… Read More
2020-12-31 04:09
So far the fact that I turn 65 in 2021 has resulted in lots of calls from folks wanting to help me deal with Medicare. I try to be polite before I hang up… Dealing with 2020 I feel… Read More
2020-12-21 04:34
At the start of 2020 I had a long list of things I planned to do. Then things changed and my biggest plan became to “just stay healthy”… so far so good and it means that… Read More
2020-11-02 11:54
I drove by my polling place to determine where I will park tomorrow… I could have voted early but like to vote on election day. I like to think I might discover something that will i… Read More
2020-09-28 01:09
I understand that we can say something and have others interpret what we say in a manner that was not our intent. Today some have the ability to use words in a way that conflicts; but mean… Read More
2020-09-04 22:46
What you do when no one is looking is what makes the world go round. I will continue to believe when someone mentions seeing a “double rainbow” not call it “fake news&rdqu&hell…Read More
2020-08-19 15:09
I was watching the DNC virtual convention and I thought I understood what I was seeing… until the commentators started to speak. Then I learned all the things I missed and what was a… Read More
2020-07-31 18:19
I have a great dislike of lunch counters. Not because I fear rejection or arrest. No one will beat me for sitting down and expecting to be served. But I grew-up at a time when this was tr… Read More
2019-08-18 19:15
I learned to drive a car on a 1962 Ford. It had power windows, power steering and brakes. A 3 speed automatic transmission, AM radio and no seat belts. It was my fathers car… and a… Read More
2019-08-01 02:21
After 7 years, I reach 1,000 typed pages posted to this blog. I feel happy that I can still roll paper into a machine and place words on page. The words are often worth less than the paper… Read More
2019-07-31 04:52
Just completed my 21st bicycle ride across Iowa. I thought hard about not going, I had enough training in (900 miles) but felt out of unsure. Yet once on the ride; I felt better before… Read More
2019-07-17 03:06
I’ve reached 900 miles of bicycle training miles… I feel 1,000 would have been better but reaching this number does feel good… good to go as they say…
1912 Harr… Read More
2019-07-07 16:29
The 4th of July has come and gone…. but every day is a day to think happy thoughts about the country of one’s birth Read More
2019-06-29 02:31
I typed this post on a 1962 Royal Futura… the same year that Duke Ellington recorded an album with Coleman Hawkins. I have found that listening to this recording and typing on a type… Read More
2019-06-22 02:42
I saw a series of posters… it sets out to evoke the 1950’s by showing images of James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Humphrey Bogart and Elvis Presley interacting in various setting. Th… Read More
2019-05-30 23:24
Sometimes I have to recall that the primary reason to type and post is just for the fun of it. Not to give profound thoughts. Not to pass on wisdom. Not to become deluded by my own image… Read More
2019-04-29 23:05
My problem is that I keep following the logic of the words being used today…. this leads me to roads that seem full of distrust, division and hurt. My mind wants a path to communicat… Read More
2019-04-23 03:00
I will clearly express the view that spending 5 days to read the Mueller report was a waste of time. It was that the actual report was not what people claimed it was or was going to be. It… Read More
2019-04-01 20:28
Looking for the positive in things may seem foolish… but it makes days brighter… nights peaceful… and tomorrow something to look forward to…
1936 Kappel Read More
2019-03-13 21:38
Using the same Olympia Portable (1961) that I used for my first post… I now post #990. I thank everyone who has taken the time to read, comment and read some more. You bring joy to… Read More
2019-03-10 20:15
I grew up at a time when taking the higher road was the road that was traveled by folks like Martin Luther King & Nat King Cole. It was one that I wanted to travel. Perhaps many see gr… Read More
2019-02-17 03:57
It is one thing to expand one’s inputs to escape one’s information bubble. What I have found is when writing to elected leaders those who reply provide the greatest change of all… Read More
2019-02-11 04:43
There seems to be a movement where actions of youth carry over without any mediation for growing older, becoming mature, reflection, reform and wisdom. This type of thinking rewards those b… Read More
2019-01-30 03:57
Its 2019, the route for this years bicycle ride across Iowa has been announced… time has come to stop slacking off… time to stop making excuses to sit back and do nothing at al… Read More
2019-01-16 17:40
As I often do when at a Library I will just walk down the aisles reading titles… which is what happened when I came across a book by Jo Walton that is a personal look back at the Hugo… Read More
2019-01-05 03:41
I recently spent some time talking to a computer voice to obtain information… based on its response and what I see on the news the AI (artificial intelligence) of computers is almost… Read More
2018-12-20 01:25
What would I say to a younger me? Depends on how much younger… most of the time I only need go back to yesterday to want to tell myself something… Read More
2018-12-02 23:09
I dislike one word answers…. it assumes that the meaning of that “1” word is the same for everyone. “Friend” “Love” “Faith” might get i… Read More
2018-11-09 20:50
My 93 year old Uncle tells me that as a small child I carried books around and insisted that people read to me. He claims I sought “knowledge”… Considering some of t… Read More
2018-11-01 02:51
I sat at my typewriter instead of my TV. After a while I relaxed and felt much better… I fear that if I keep typing I may never return to television!
1961 Olympia SM7 Read More
2018-10-18 02:27
Sometimes the reason I buy one item or another can be a little thing… price… color… looks… age… I have looked for quality… I have looked for i… Read More
2018-10-12 23:47
As the days add up into years… the years into decades… I have come to the view that at 62; I may someday know as much as I thought I knew as a teenager.
1919 Woodstock #5 Read More
2018-09-30 18:07
I saw this old joke: “If you are attacked by a gang of clowns… go for the juggler” and I laughed. Then I thought we are all caught up in a media circus… clown… Read More
2018-09-20 14:50
There are times I forget that having something to say is not always as important or as fun as saying nothing at all. Typing allows one to say things that are relaxing and stress relief… Read More
2018-09-12 00:22
I started this post using a WWII era typewriter… it suffered a catastrophe failure as I typed my thoughts regarding 9/11. Using a typewriter built for use in war to type about p… Read More
2018-09-10 16:06
If I were thinking in a logical manner… the expense to overhaul a 20 year old bike would not be worth it. But what price is joy? When you ride a bike over 8,000 miles it i… Read More
2018-08-28 02:56
My favorite bicycle pedal has been discontinued… which gives me a choice of buying up old stock or re-building the existing pedals for the rest of my biking life. Or… I c… Read More
2018-08-21 19:30
In the decade I stopped bowling I recalled all the good moments… the league championships, the 300 game; I convinced myself I had been a good bowler and each year transformed myself i… Read More
2018-08-16 14:21
Some of us reach the point where we realize that if we were on the game show Survivor, we would be voted off early. The degree of deception and rejection of ethics is just beyond… Read More
2018-08-10 00:18
When I ride my bicycle across the state of Iowa. I see people on bikes that look like they cost $79.95 who pass me and finish strong. I see people on bikes that list for over $10… Read More
2018-08-02 00:40
In just 4 years, Iowa will host the 50th bicycle ride across the state. I can just imagine all the people who will return for one last ride… as well as the many thoughts of thos… Read More
2018-07-31 01:44
800 training miles and I made it across the state of Iowa on my Bicycle. Approx. 440 miles in 7 days of perfect weather and wonderful people. On the forth day I caught up to the… Read More
2018-07-12 00:13
I still can not get around the concept of repeating a wrong…. because someone else started it leads to anything good!
1966 Hermes 3000 Read More
2018-07-03 02:07
I have finished my letter writing (519), and getting back to typing and riding and reading… the same old… same old…
1962 Royal Futura 800 Read More
2018-06-16 03:28
As I’ve grown older, I’ve looked back at where I was at age 20. Where my father was at the same age. That I was blessed to have him as my father is the best and only… Read More
2018-06-04 02:13
1908 L.C. Smith No. 2 Read More
2018-05-22 03:12
There are times I feel using a 100 year old typewriter to type a letter to someone will get you more attention than sending an email…
1974 Smith Corona Galaxie 12 Read More
2018-05-08 00:56
Had I stayed with my computer I would have stopped sending letters 4 months ago. Slower, lots of mistakes… but it seems more honest to type the words and to strive to get a poin… Read More
2018-04-28 22:54
I just had to type another day on this 117 year old. I delude myself because it seems to type better… just from the use.
1901 Underwood #5 Read More
2018-04-26 21:03
I now can good back to a Underwood that still lists Wagner Typewriter as the manufacturer. 1901 is about as old as I want to go.
1901 Underwood No. 5 Read More
2018-04-21 20:57
We live in such information bubble’s that I had to look up why calling someone a “snowflake” was a “putdown”. Based on my research it’s like calling… Read More
2018-04-16 01:35
Today I picked my 112 year old Underwood #5 to type with. Looks better at a distance than close up. Got lots of use in its day… and still performs. Part of me enjoys… Read More
2018-04-11 13:41
I keep walking past this 1903 Underwood #4… today I took it off the shelf and was amazed at how well it works. Then after typing a page… I did a little work on it and now… Read More
2018-04-02 22:54
I have been online 6 years now… I had thought that it this point I would have many great insights; but instead I just have the type. I have words on paper that fill many noteboo… Read More
2018-02-28 23:39
If you could use your computer like a typewriter would you? After a second post using the “Visual Typewriter” software my answer is “NO”. You get sounds… Read More
2018-02-26 05:19
In 1943 this is how a U.S. Army Decontamination Unit was described: “… Months before the war began these colored men left jobs as railroad men, school teachers, cab drive… Read More
2018-02-17 00:05
The “c” “?” does not work. Having problems with the ribbon advance. The carriage came loose in shipment. But what a “looker”. Even… Read More
2018-02-10 15:20
It took a long time before I realized how important it is to consider that in WWII: Landing strips are needed, places for troop ships to dock were required, hospitals to take care of t… Read More
2018-02-07 04:23
I have typed over 220 letters… and all I can say is: “that’s a lot of paper!”
1912 Harris visible Read More
2018-01-24 01:00
I have passed the half-way point in my letter writing to Congress. So much effort goes into division that I thought a “little effort” toward understanding and unity would w… Read More
2018-01-15 15:57
Dr. King used words well and to great effect. Today words are picked apart and little leeway is given to intent and words used. We understand that a word has many meanings&hellip&hell…Read More
2018-01-13 03:12
Kentucky Typer had a new old stock (1984) FACIT 1740 for sale. I was looking for a typewriter to do the bulk of my letters to Congress on and the FACIT fit the bill. (The paperwo… Read More
2017-12-31 20:13
Looking back on 2017, I look forward to 2018. Which is a good thing after all.
1936 Underwood 6, North Rim (Grand Canyon), RAGBARI 2017 Read More
2017-12-24 16:12
There is nothing better than running into a old friend… good memories rush in and smiles slip in. Even a 43 years old typewriter…
1974 Smith-Corona Galaxie Twelve Read More
2017-12-23 03:00
That time of year… time to spread some joy as if it were peanut butter on bread!
1955 Royal Quiet De Luxe Read More
2017-12-17 02:54
A funny thing happened on my way to the l946 KMM, I put in 5 sheets of paper and the typewriter acted with speed, grace & perfection. I had to check to make sure I was not using a… Read More
2017-12-12 15:34
After typing 50 letters using my typewriters… my fingers seek out the Underwood’s. Not that other machines don’t do a great job… the touch wants what th… Read More
2017-12-04 17:24
After typing 5 letters in a row with my 1956 Remington Travel-Riter, the ribbon started to snag… I switched to my 1962 Royal Futura and it’s able to handle a dozen pages in a ro… Read More
2017-12-02 20:21
After mailing off 115 letters to members of congress using my computer… I’ve gotten back 1 meaningful response. As a result I will switch to using my typewriter in the hop… Read More
2017-11-26 01:50
I was watching the movie “Our Brand is Crisis” which is about American Political consultants who go throughout the world to win elections. The only thing that means anythin… Read More
2017-11-22 17:40
In the spirt of the day… I thank everyone for being who you all and I hope and wish bright hopes and peaceful dreams and all the joy you can obtain.
1915 Remington Monarch No. 3 Read More
2017-11-17 01:33
I saw this for $32.00… guess no one saw what I did. It’s a neat typewriter to own… even if its not the greatest of typewriters.
1915 Remington Monarch No. 3 Read More
2017-11-15 01:39
It’s been over 40 years when my job sat me behind a computer terminal… 30 years since I bought my first PC… I use a computer everyday… but for fun I use a typewrit… Read More
2017-11-09 00:29
I typed my views then checked my facts. I discovered the number in the house since 1911 is 435 not 235… My intent remains true even when the facts are wrong. Perhaps its p… Read More
2017-10-30 00:28
The fingers want a Underwood… makes zero sense… but its all about the touch!
1934 Underwood #6 Read More
2017-10-28 03:36
I liked the look of this number 6, the sides had not been enclosed…
1934 Underwood No. 6 Read More
2017-10-22 16:27
I returned to bowling in September… I discovered my need to bowl well matters. Not to be the best on the lane; just to be the best I can be!
1925 Underwood No. 5 Read More
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