Olympiaman's Typecast

September 8, 2011

2011-09-08T15:31:00.001-05:00

SG3 Sighting

2011-08-01T15:25:00.004-05:00

Sorry I have been so busy. I will put up a post soon, I promise. School and work this summer have taken all of my energy.

Anyways, I watched the movie Sucker Punch last night and might I say it was quite a bizarre movie. I still don't understand what I saw. Anyways, in the first half hour when the main character gets brought to the insane asylum the secretary has a Olympia SG3 sitting on her desk. I must have looked like a goof when I immediately blurted out my finding!

Keep up the good work, I still read everyone posts daily, Thank you all

Smith Corona Sterling Overview

2011-02-08T02:15:00.005-06:00

BTW Happy ITAM!!!

Tab Set Panel

Open Tab Set Panel

Tab Set Pins

January 20, 2011

2011-01-20T12:27:00.002-06:00

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type Book Trailer

2010-11-25T16:39:00.004-06:00

Last week my Mother-In-Law, who is a School Librarian at Sheldon Early Childhood Academy did a few book trailers for their school website. She asked me to borrow a typewriter to aid in making the trailer. I quickly ran through my head picking out the best choice for the occasion. My Smith Corona Sterling I though for the sound and overall look would be best. Anyways I thought everyone in the typosphere would get a kick out of this. I found it especially amusing how the school librarian at the Sheldon High School couldn't figure out how to use the carriage return.

Click below to see the video:
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type
By Doreen Gronin Pictures by Betsy Lewin

P.S. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Response to LFP’s Modern Convince

2010-10-23T02:28:00.002-05:00

Response to LFP’s Modern Convince

Buying a toaster online can be quite time consuming I’m sure. But so can buying anything online. There are just so many reviews that if you aren’t careful you will become consumed by it all.

The past three or so weeks I have been trying to put together all of the parts that I need to build a new PC. The problem is that when building a PC there are constantly new parts coming out, some better than others. A brand that I trusted two years ago might be not the best choice now. Some of parts that go into building a PC are… First you have to figure out what processor you want, are you going with Intel or AMD. (I’m going with AMD for their price/performance ratio. Plus it will be replaced, that is inevitable, so why spend more than you have to.) Then your Motherboard, Ram, Power supply, Hard Drive, and Graphics card all have to be selected.

There are also combos that if you buy, say, a case, power supply, processor and motherboard you get fifty dollars off. Usually combos are a great way to save money but trying to select the best one that is in your price can be very, very time consuming. There will be things you like about some of the parts in the combos and other parts you wish you could replace all together.

The main thing I try to keep in mind is there will be things I replace in two years because they are out of date. But this is why if you do it smart, and build it yourself, you can save money by just replacing what you need. Just buying a new motherboard and processor in two years, spending maybe one hundred and fifty dollars is better than throwing out a thousand dollar HP or Dell. There is no worse feeling than using a old, slow, gunked up computer because you spent all of that money and it can’t be upgraded.

Overall building a computer is a time consuming process and it’s hard to stay up to date on everything. Although as of right now I feel so up to date it is outrageous. It is so easy to put together a computer, and quite fun. The hard part is selecting the right parts.

Dot Matrix Cast 9/17/10

2010-09-17T00:57:00.002-05:00

With the new ribbon and when printed in Best mode there is still noticeable features that make it obvious it is printed on a Dot Matrix. Once I scanned and posted the paper it actually looks really clear as if the scan smoothed out some of the dots. The Fast mode and Draft were re-printed onto the original page and wasn't spaced correctly. Oh well, it's the first of its kind, I'll get it right the next time

Friday August 28, 2010

2010-08-28T00:30:00.003-05:00

Typecast Friday 28th 2010

Trust me I have been trying to put together something and it bugs me every day that it has gone on this long. This isn’t a typecast but just an update on life I guess. I finished school with A’s last semester. I have had the past two weeks off and have to go back this following Monday. This is why it has been bothering me so much. I have all this free time that I’m sure most of you would kill for and I can’t even manage a simple update. So I figured I owe it to Y’all, as they say there in Houston. I still haven’t got used to that whole Y’all thing. For me it is still “You Guys”

There were things that I procrastinated on doing that got done on my break at least. My latest project is actually two things. First off, Allies laptop died a few days ago. It was the dreaded finicky power cord. We already replaced it once about a year ago and now that the thing is going on six years it was time for something new. I have always loved Macintosh. For me the only Microsoft products that I like are Windows 3.1 and lovely DOS. I have used Microsoft machines growing up and found that anything past Windows 95 gets really clunky and slow. My father worked for Digital or DEC a computer company that was wonderful back in its hay day. Ever since I was born there was a computer in the house. Our first computer was the IBM 5170 built in 1986 that was actually the first computer to be labeled as the PC, personal computer. Growing up it was DOS games and games that ran with 3.1. Every other year they would give my father a laptop and when he got a new one he would generously give the old one to my brother and I.

So anyways, it is so easy to trail off when writing on the computer. Where was I? Oh, so I was looking for a Macintosh for Allie. The iBook seemed like a good choice but her current laptop didn’t do anything portable so then I thought what about one of those iMac G4’s, the ones that have the round base and swivel LCD. She has always wanted one so we found one on ebay and ordered it. I of course hunted and hunted to find the best one and I plan to max it out for her since it is older. The thing though about Macintosh machines is that they don’t slow down. My Macbook that I am using right not (with my Unicomp keyboard) is still fast as when I bought it. The only way that her laptop lasted as long as it did was because I put Ubuntu on it, a Linux operating system. (I would rather use Linux than Windoze any day of the week, but that’s just me.)

So my love of Macintosh computers and vintage macs brought me to a recent purchase of a Mac LC III built around 1991. This is the reason that I haven’t been seen these past few weeks and why sometimes I prefer the simplicity of the Typewriter. Computers, especially vintage computers can be so time consuming. But I plan to post an overview of some vintage Word Processors I have been working with sometime, hopefully soon. I have about eight or so Word Processors in the mix from Word 5.1 to Claris Works to Write Now to MacWrite, Word Perfect and a few others and many versions of each. All of these are available from a website called Macintosh Garden where they are free to download. I even found a copy of Adobe PS 4 on there that I enjoy.

So that’s what has been going on recently and maybe even some Dot Matrix Vintage Mac typecasts will appear in the near future. I have a whole bunch of ideas and just need to make the time to show them off. I better get cranking two because come to think of it, Nano is coming up right around the corner.

Darth Vader Calls About His iPhone 4

2010-08-02T17:34:00.000-05:00

June 22 2010

2010-06-22T22:07:00.005-05:00

A tribute video of our friend Tom F. at Cambridge Typewriter
Just now came across this video, I wonder if Tom knows its whereabouts

June 16 2010

2010-06-16T21:12:00.006-05:00

May 20 2010

2010-05-20T21:20:00.006-05:00

2010-05-17T22:10:00.002-05:00

School is out for a few weeks. I will be back on June 7th for summer classes. I am just trying to get done with school as quickly as I can. I worked a few extra shifts and bought myself a Yamaha keyboard. When I was young, first grade or so, I took a few piano lessons but never followed. When I was in high school I picked up playing guitar but could only read tabs. I have always wanted to go back to piano especially when I got rid of my guitar because my hands and fingers were just to big to play it. So I now have beside me my keyboard that I have spend easily 6 hours a day on since I got it last Tuesday. I feel through my writing I am only able to be so creative and would like to express myself through music as well. In no way have I forgot about my writing, I am keeping good journals as I begin playing and making progress. I find myself not knowing where the time has gone when I look up. I bought a piano lesson DVD set on sale called Learn and Master Piano and they are simply amazing. I have never been so excited about sheet music and learning chords and don't want to miss anything.

My time seems to be just so taken up lately which I am not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing. I haven't had a chance to update and felt that I am far over due. Yesterday I was sitting at the bar at Applebees and was talking with this seventy year old amazingly cool guy that worked for the Houston Chronicle, our Houston newspaper. He was talking to me about how much he doesn't understand the workforce and how it is almost impossible to hold a job for a long time. He had worked for the Chronicle for 40 years. I told him that I have a great time writing with my Olympia SG1 and my Selectrics, he chuckled and told me about how that's all there was when he started. We both agreed that the society that we live in is to fasted paced and probably almost everything in newspapers is someones edited first draft. I told him how a typewriter forces you to do at least a second draft before it's all just editing. He thought it was funny how someone doing HVAC Refrigeration was also a writer but said anything is possible if you are interested in what you are doing.

April 7, 2010

2010-04-08T21:44:00.012-05:00

Spring Break Quick Update

2010-03-17T21:39:00.001-05:00

Spring Break Quick Update

First off, I am officially moved in to the new place. We turned in the keys today to the old apartment and I don’t think I will miss it a bit. I can’t say enough good things about the new house. We have finished painting everything that we felt needed to be changed and it is now time to start unpacking. First off was my desk setup. I felt that everything was going to be a little cramped in the new room but it wasn’t bad. I said to Allie that I would be happy as long as I was able to have my desk, with my typewriter set up to the left, like at the last place. I just found that the setup worked so well at the other house that I couldn’t let it go.

With everything that has been going on lately, time just seems to be cranking by. I start my job at the new place tomorrow. I am excited but worried at the same time. Starting at a new restaurant on a Friday night will be quite the experience to say the least. As far as other things go, it has been nice to have a little break from school. I will be taking summer classes for sure and am all registered and everything. Silent type II needs to be fit in to my hectic schedule. I will find time, I promise. I just keep telling my self I need a few more days to get totally situated.

Other things I am really excited about are the back yard and our two car garage. I have never had a garage to put my tools in and it is going to be quite the treat. The back yard should be looking nice in a few weeks as well. I am not used to the grass that grows out here and had a good conversation with the clerk at Lowes about what I should do. I bought all the seed, a spreader and some lawn soil. I also bought the other day a reel lawnmower. It works really well surprisingly. I figured living in a town house, with a fairly small back yard, there should be no need to worry about having gas for the lawnmower. Plus, I figured that a manual typewriter does just a good job at writing as a word processor so I went for the old school mower. I plan to water the grass with my little spray attachment I bought for the hose and give it some love once the grass seed is put down. My grandfather always found that if you have the time to water the grass by hand, the grass would almost always grow better.

Now that things are hopefully about to settle down I plan to post much more than I have been lately. My mind has been filled with things that need to get down on paper but I have been so tired I haven’t been able to keep up. I find I seem to forget how much moving sucks until I am about half way through, thinking, how will I ever get all of this done in my lifetime. But time keeps ticking and eventually everything begins to work out. I am glad that I am getting near to finishing this move and it will be nice to have that piece of mind, knowing I won’t be moving for quite a while.

-James W.

Observations Typecast

2010-02-15T20:34:00.004-06:00

Written on the Olympia SG
typos in the first paragraph, I was warming up. ; )

Typing with Speed and Luxury + Videos

2010-02-05T16:08:00.006-06:00

I just got the Unicomp 104 Space Saver in the mail today!! This thing is simply amazing. I am really glad that I got the Space Saver model because I do need the desk space. It is so funny that I have something now so close to what a typewriter is but in digital format. The only thing that I will have to get use to is using the PC style keyboard with my Macbook. I don’t see much change besides not having the volume buttons, which doesn’t bother me too much. The keyboard was supposed to come last night but I missed the UPS guy. So with the note that he left, I signed it and wrote to him, “Please leave package to the left of door.” The whole thing is since I’m living in apartments right now they don’t like to leave packages at the door unless you have a note (Which I just found out today!) I have been missing the UPS guy a lot since I have lived here and I wish that I knew a while ago that all I had to do was leave him a note. Oh well…

Back to the keyboard, this thing is amazing. I love the way the buckling spring feels below my fingers. It is so just much smoother than the crappy rubber domes keyboards, just a bit more expensive and louder. I like the fact that I know when the key has made contact by a audible click. It is pleasant and reminds me a lot of typing on my typewriters. Another thing that I wanted to mention was that I find it much easier to type without looking at the keys. I think it has something to do with the way the keys are positions on the different levels, again, a lot like my typewriters.

In my opinion I love this little thing. The thing that made me give in was that I knew once I bought it I wouldn’t have to ever buy another keyboard. I can have this thing in service for quite a while. Once this computer is out of date this Unicomp keyboard will live on. That was the main selling point for me. Now I have something that is very pleasant to type on doing my Nano revisions. I would highly recommend this lovely keyboard to anyone here at the typosphere. This thing, with all of the schoolwork that I have to type up this week is going to have quite a lot of work to do. I am faithful that this thing will be able to accomplish my every task with out any problems.

Quick Olympia SG Video Overview

2010-01-31T20:33:00.005-06:00

This is a one take movie of my Olympia SG 1 typewriter. When I say one take I mean one take, no editing. To answer your question, YES the camera fell off my leg and dropped to the floor and no I didn’t edit it out. It’s the Typosphere at its finest! With all the talk about crap cams and what have you why not first shot, one take movies? Watch me not being able to say what I mean like “focus” instead of “zoom” and everything. Anyway I hope you enjoy, Thanks for watching

The iPad

2010-01-27T19:09:00.003-06:00

Well the new Apple iPad was revealed today by our friend Steve jobs, the Gandhi of Apple. To be honest the thing looks pretty neat. I already have a computer though (Macbook) and a desktop (Both Macs). The thing is though they both over four years old. It is pretty much getting to be that time. I might have to start saving my 25 cent pieces. But logically I keep telling myself, I already have a iPhone, and what I am using will do for now.

What I have been thinking about purchasing is one of those IBM Model M keyboards. As much as I love my AS I am not a huge fan of its keyboard. As a matter of fact, I'm not a big fan of any of my keyboards, except my typers of course. But with the revision process of Nano this year it may be more worth looking into even more so than the iPad tablet. Thoughts???

Check out the new Apple iPad on Apples Website

New Year Typecast

2010-01-16T13:35:00.002-06:00

Olivetti Typecast

2009-12-18T17:40:00.002-06:00

Season Update Typecast

2009-12-15T14:14:00.004-06:00

Texas Snow

2009-12-04T18:57:00.024-06:00

Olympia SG 1 Arrives!

2009-11-14T13:59:00.005-06:00

SG1 Update

2009-10-23T15:39:00.007-05:00

Well for the past year I have been wanting to not only try a desktop, standard machine but I have had my eye on specifically an Olympia SG 1. Just the other day I found one on Ebay. That same day I called around to a few places that might have one for sale around here. With no luck, I called Cambridge Typewriter back home in MA. To my surprise, Tom, said that he just got one in and that he could hang on to it for me if I would like. Well I told him I would get back to him and would wait and see if the SG1 on Ebay would skyrocket or not.

Of course today I checked it again, it went from $30 to $130. Screw that, not paying such a price for a machine especially if it hasn't been refurbished. So all depressed and thinking that Tom might have already had a buyer for the SG1, I called him anyways. He remembered me from the other day and I told him to hang on to it with great enthusiasm! He told me he would and took down my name and email to send me a picture. I am now so excited! I have my dream machine in the grasp of my fingers. He said it would be about a week until he got to refurbishing it and for me to plan to call him next friday. So I say nay nay to the SG1 on Ebay and can not wait for him to spruce up my future Nano machine. I keep thinking, a SG1 hot off the shelf as it would have been forty or so years ago. Oh man!!!

speculator said...

Ya know, James, I saw Tom working on that SG1- when I was just there on Saturday- and I thought you'd like something like that.
You'd probably save money, considering it'll be mint and road-ready, not to mention sans the shipping problems w/ eBay.

You saw my machine before I, I am so jealous!! That is just to funny man, and you are totally right about the whole shipping thing. When I got my SM9 off I was lucky to get the thing in one piece. Although it was in its case, it was not working when I got it. Nothing was tied down. Now it does silly things like it backspaces twice and the tabulator gets stuck on occasion. This SG is going to be the perfect.

I'd Rather Be Writing

2009-10-22T18:07:00.002-05:00

DE Razors, SilentType, and Nano

2009-10-04T13:34:00.005-05:00

Mekur Double Edge Razor (Safety Razor)

DE Razor Opened with Personna Blade

Some of the different blades that I have

Feather being the sharpest

Personna being my personal favorite

Proraso Shaving Cream

Also my shaving bowl and brush

For a random topic on shaving, here are some of the things I use and get the closest shave I have ever had. Besides all of the marketing hype of Gillette and Schick they are in my opinion not capable of giving as close of a shave as the old double edge razor. Not only that but because of the multiple blades and a method called Hysteresis. The first blade pulls the hair slightly out of the follicle and the next cuts. The problem with this is it can lead to irritation and tons of ingrown hairs. By using the right shaving cream soap or in a tube you can also get a better shave. Shaving cream that comes in a can is no good at all. There is air bubbles in the foam when it comes out and is cheaply made.

DE Razors also let you have a selection of blades that are all different. Everyones face is different and therefore different people may think one blade is better than another. From my own personal experience I like the Personna blades as they are not to sharp and leave no irratation at all. People with thicker beards would probably prefer Feather blades or something a little more sharp than the Personnas. Feather blades are made in Japan and are the sharpest blades in the market. But like I said, I don't have a crazy thick beard so I have found them to be a bit overkill.

On another note, Silent type is a total success. Thank you strikethru, you did a great job! Also it seems the Nano site is booming and the forums have already started pouring in. I am excited but at the same time worried about what exactly I am going to decide to write.

Simple Things

2009-09-28T16:37:00.005-05:00

Written on: Olympia SM9

Life With No Fall Typecast

2009-09-17T20:48:00.005-05:00

New Type Fonts

2009-09-06T14:43:00.002-05:00

Typewriter Cover

2009-09-02T20:08:00.004-05:00

The end result

Todays project was to make a better cover for the selectric than an old tee shirt. Allie and I went to Joanns, got fabric and she basically took over. She was in and out of the room going from the sewing machine and back. The end result other than a few slight difficulties was great! It made me wonder though, what to you guys do for overing your desktop machines? I mean portables can be put away, but even then, do you cover it or...

Typecast: Generosity & Pen review

2009-08-27T18:58:00.002-05:00

Domino PC's

2009-08-19T22:04:00.001-05:00

This is for everyone's enjoyment here at the typosphere. I thought of all of you when I saw this. LOL

Wet Ink

2009-08-14T16:54:00.003-05:00

So I was writing in the 'ol journal this afternoon and spilled some condensation from my glass on the paper. It gave me the idea of testing how the ink of different pens stick to the paper when wet. I remembered in the trash there was a balled up piece of paper that I used the other day to see how different pens I use wrote. It was after reading LFP’s different opinions on pens what not. When journaling I like to use pens that flow across the paper and write fairly evenly. I tend to write very small and use almost exclusively either the Jotter or my Uni Ball Vision Elite. I am willing to invest in a nice fountain pen that doesn’t write so boldly but have yet to find one. Last year I picked up the disposable pilot fountain pens at staples but never really used them. They write so damn boldly. I write with either a .5MM or something similar. As much as I love my Jotter, my hand can become sweaty and likes to slide down the pen. But when that happens it’s usually time to give my hand a quick break anyways. I guess my somewhat lack of pen knowledge led to my preference of the typewriter. But although I’m aware of what I’m getting myself into here ($$$) and being an office supply geek LPF brought up an interest I avoided since high school. My stepfather owns a business selling promotional products. He brought my pen addiction to a full time high when I was a kid. But fountain pens are a whole new world for me. Opinions??

IBM Ribbons typecast

2009-08-13T21:01:00.005-05:00

Typecast: Workspace

2009-08-06T17:21:00.002-05:00

Finally some room to move around.

It's not finished yet, still needs work

How long have I been complaining

about not having a scanner??

Wireless Kodak ESP7 All-in-One Printer

Home on the way

2009-08-04T12:05:00.006-05:00

On that note...

So last night Allie and I decided to move the bed to make more room. Room for what you might ask, well with school and everything what could be better than a desk of course! Finally, *sigh* Before the bed was in the middle of the room and there wasn't much space for anything. Now I will be able to write next to the window as well instead of looking at a blank wall. I ordered a L shaped corner desk, I can't wait till it arrives. As you might remember, the selectric on a tray table only lasts for so long before you realize how nice a desk would be. Luckily there is room now!

SM9 & Selectric Colorcast

2009-07-25T21:32:00.009-05:00

Crayola VS. Cra Z Art

With all of the trouble that people are going through in an attempt to do a color cast I figured I would see if I could pin point the problem. I went and bought Crayola crayons and some knock off brand called Cra Z Art. What I found was that the cheeper brand crayons work better. I think because our favorite Crayola crayons are made not to transfer they are not the best to use.

I strated off with the first three Crayola crayons pressing really hard

The small section of red is what lightly coloring looks like. Not what you want

I used small sections and made sure they were dark as I could get them

I shook the shavings in to the Walmart bag

When heating the wax with the blow dryer the chepo Cra Z Art

green color melted as did the other colors.

The Crayola didn't melt at all, probably being one of the reasons it

didn't work all that great.

The Wax should show through the other side

I put the Selectric on the highest impact setting.

Setting 5

No Flash

The Crayola crayons really didn't work well at all with the Selectric

or the SM9

The Last three Samples using the Cra Z Art crayons

came out great. It seems with the 12 pitch Selectric set on

its highest impact setting worked the best. I was giving the

SM9 a good whack too but who knows.

Skyriter Fly the Sky

2009-07-11T15:39:00.002-05:00

I Really Need A Scanner

Back in action

Analog Wiffleball

2009-06-30T21:16:00.002-05:00

Analog Wiffle ball sounds so good right now!

Alfred does tons of webcasts and is a funny bastard. He is a macintosh lover as am I but this video takes the cake. Its so true, people are sitting at home playing their xboxes instead of out enjoying the beautiful weather.

Heres the youtube vid- Comedy : Wiffleball

“To hell with the advances in computers”

2009-06-26T13:17:00.007-05:00

Looks like a SG-3

I don't know what has been making me so interested in politics lately. Perhaps it is just another excuse not to write. But I found an interesting article where Kurt Vonnegut, IMO one of the greatest authors compares president Bush to Hitler. I guess he was preparing to give a speech on what he thought was going on with our country. Many other authors as well were willing to put their reputations on the line to tell us what they really thought. The speech given was one of Vonneguts last.

"To hell with the advances in computers," he says. “YOU are supposed to advance and become, not the computers. Find out what’s inside you. And don’t kill anybody."

I think there is so much in this speech that we can all learn from and become inspired by. Now I am off to write some more science fiction! JuST 4 more days people!

Read 3/6/06 - Kurt Vonnegut's "Stardust Memory"

P.S. Michael Jackson DIES = MTV Plays Music Videos??? Check it out! Like Michael Jackson or not you have got to love this day because MTV us actually playing music videos!

Well Celebrated!

2009-06-24T10:32:00.005-05:00

How was everyones typewriter day? I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did. I took my SM9 down to the pool and wrote for a while. The wife decided to get a tan. The office for the complex is right looking out to the pool. I could feel people looking through the window of the door trying to figure me out. I should have made a sign "Happy Typewriter Day" and stood it up on the table where the umbrella sits. Then they wouldn't look so concerned.

I had yesterday off and when it got to hot being under the Texas sun I went inside to continue. I wrote for probably another four hours. The Selectric is running like a dream. I had to replace the ribbon, I always keep a spare ; ) Well I hope all of you had a wonderful day!

Typecast: The Deception

2009-06-23T19:18:00.006-05:00

Want to see the other side. The side TV doesn't show us?

The Obama Deception

If you have a chance watch it.

But you have to take it with a grain of salt

Selectric III Fixed!

2009-06-22T21:56:00.007-05:00

Ok, I have been working on my selectric a lot lately. It has had this ticking noise that was driving me up a tree Not just that but I knew it couldn't be good to just leave it like that. I was talking with a few people on Golfballtypewritershop and they told me it was almost defiantly a bushing. They were dead on! Steve who lives in New Zealand said that he would send me 20 bushings free of cost. He told me to take a few for myself and send the rest to someone who needs one. They than can send them on to the next person and so on. If everything goes to plan 10 people should have replacement bushings at just the cost of postage. Thank you Steve!

I just got done taking Zing, my selectric apart. She is running as good as new. I am sorry Mike I could not write my fingers off tonight. I was thinking about it but a friend in need comes first. Plus I figured if I get my selectric in perfect working order it would be the best typewriter day present to myself ever!! There will be plenty of writing tomorrow as well, maybe even in public (wink, wink).

If anyone has a selectric that ticks or is in need of a bushing let me know. It is very easy to replace. If I had not replaced mine when I did I would have had to take it in for repairs. The bushing was gone, there was none, melted away. That means every time I sat at my typewriter for two plus hours I was making poor Zing suffer. Not any more! She's in tip top shape now. Just waiting to be used for hours on end.

More Pictures at Golfballtypewritershop Photos

(Check out some of the pics taken during replacement)

No membership? Here are the Photos on Flickr

(Enjoy)

Video Of Fixed Selectric III on Youtube

(The final product, Whisper Quiet)

The Terra Cotta Warriors

2009-06-15T12:08:00.006-05:00

Looks dangerous but its actually pretty sturdy.

(Duffy, its possible)

Alright I had no choice. There is just not enough room for anything besides a typewriter stand or something equivalent. My wife has the boxes filled with her stuff on each side and right behind the chair is the foot of the bed. I am still on a hunt for one but in the mean time I found a little dinner table thing. It works for now. It was only 8 bucks at Walmart and I figured if it will help me for now then it's worth it. It actually holds a Selectric just fine. Its got a a pretty thick piece of wood on top and can support what I need so it's good. Even using my SM9 and returning the carriage doesn't wobble it to much. I am checking craigslist all the time and hopefully something will come up.

I have been going on JuST Write and kind of switch it up hear and there. I do find though lately I am making more and more excuses of things I need to do before I can sit down and write. I got a bunch of books at the library and have been trying to balance everything out. I rarely watch tv so it's really a dispute between writing, reading and going on the computer and everything else. I feel as though I have a time limit on the books, I keep telling my self if I need more time I can just check them out again. Does anyone have Fowlers modern english usage next to their work place? I need to get that book.

Thats the only one allowed to have your pic taken with.

The real ones are much bigger and taller. Life Size

Yesterday I went to the Houston Museum Of Natural Science. It was awesome. We went and saw the Terra Cotta Warriors. They were amazing, such detail went in to each soldier. It really made me think of how at any time something could happen to us and what would be rediscovered thousands of years later. I bet it wouldn't be as amazing as the Terra Cotta Warriors though.

Also don't you all wish you could have a clock this big? It isn't mechanical but it certainly isn't run by some microchip. This thing was big. If only I knew how to tell time on it.

Holy Crap I JuST Need a Desk

2009-06-09T13:02:00.006-05:00

I have been trying to keep up with Mike and the JuST WriMo here but my lack of desk is killing me. I have been still able to keep up my word count. Yesterday I needed a day to re-coop though. It drives me crazy sometimes knowing what you want to write in your head but fear the actual starting where you left off. Usually to overcome that I leave off at a part where I know I can pick right back up. Sometimes mid sentence. That way I have an easier time getting started again the next day. It leaves me with time to think and inspiration to keep chugging along. There is usually less of a chance for writers block the next day as well. I just now need to figure out the desk/table situation. After moving across the country I am left with little to no money and desk-less. I am wondering if a Walmart has a little Tv dinner table or something like that for cheap. My poor SM9 is hiding under the bed right now wondering what is going on. Fortunately the height of the Selectrics keys are just right. But because of it the SM9 has seen less use lately. Its keys are lower and I feel after ten minutes of writing like my wrist is going to fall off. But either way I look at it is a painful process. Sitting on the floor for a prolong period of times does a number on your hips. I am young and can handle it but damn. I should probably get back to work. No more slackin and seeing if there are any blog updates. I have almost 25 pages to my left of this story and need to make that pile a little bigger. What do ya say

Houston's 20th annual Accordion Kings and Queens

2009-06-07T13:07:00.006-05:00

Yesterday I went to the 20th annual Accordion kings and queens. It was pretty cool actually. It was an outdoor picnic while they played. There were some really good musicians that really could play the squeeze box. I am italian so I can remember my Nono (grandfather) playing all the time. It was amazing to see and hear all of these pro accordion players really rock out. I caught a quick video that came out half way decent. Unfortunately it's the end of one of the contestants playing. Some of the other videos weren't really worth putting up. But it gives you a good idea of what it was like. I brought my notebook and got some good writing done after we ate. It was quite the scene. Check it out. The Big Squeeze 2009

JuSt Write going strong

2009-06-04T21:46:00.005-05:00

Chuging away all day trying to get a good start on Mikes JuST Write. I seem to have a good idea of where I want to go with this story. I have noticed yesterday that they had closed the pool for our apartments. I can't believe it!! It's so nice to go down and get some good work done. There is a small rock waterfall. I just love having the background noise of rolling water. I seem to always have some kind of background noise. Especially when writing. I either have some kind of soft music going, the slight noise from the ceiling fan or the ticking of a clock. It all seems to keep me in both worlds. I am able to go into the characters world and feel like when I do finally come back to reality its the sound of the background noise that makes me keeps me relaxed and able to fall back and forth. Well I guess back to work before its time to hit the hay.

Typecast: Move to Houston

2009-05-27T18:11:00.002-05:00

Sorry I don't have a scanner out here yet but I plan to get one in the near future.

Using my 10MP digital for now I guess

Miss My Skyriter

2009-05-22T18:13:00.002-05:00

Wow do I miss these Guys. I moved from Cape Cod Massachusetts to Houston TX and could really only bring with me my Olympia SM9. Sadness, I might just have to have my skyriter sent out here though. Its one of my better small portables. I like it better than my Singapore smith corona deluxe, Its like mclemens' blue one but mines tan. I had a blue one when I was a kid It was the first typewriter I personally owned. Its gone though I looked and looked. They are probably about the same mechanics wise but the Skyriter is better IMO. Can anyone tell me what to use for typewriter oil? I heard that Sewing machine oil is good but I was wondering what everyone else used. I used some stuff I had around the house back home and I think it made things worse. It worked good at first and then must have dried up. I hope to see my good old Skyriter soon!!!

SM9 Questions?

2009-05-22T17:13:00.004-05:00

Does anyone know if it is rare to have a Olympia sm9 with chrome plates on the sides and black keys. It was my understanding that when they made the keys black that they also made the sides white instead of chrome. I know there was a model with grey keys but this isn't it. This has black keys and many features that the sea green and white key model has with out the colors.

Also it has the white color type bar plate. My other thing was the case. I am sorry I forgot to take the picture but the color of the hard case is the grey and yellowish cream color. I really don't know if there is any site besides Mr. Ts site that really says the evolution of the sm9. Just curious I guess. Let me know what you think. Thanks

My 25 jumping on the bandwagon

2009-03-05T21:36:00.002-06:00

Well I guess everyone is doing their 25 so why not, I am a little late though.

1.) I am 21 years old and have lived on Cape Cod MA for 14 years of my life.

2.) I have been with my girlfriend soon to be wife for almost 5 years now.

3.) About 8 months ago she moved to Texas with her mom where I plan to move very very soon. I am so lonely with out her. Long distance relation ships are the hardest things ever to deal with.

4.) It is hard for me to save money sometimes because sometimes I tend to have expensive taste.

5.) I love Macintosh computer and couldn't even imagine going back to a PC.

6.) Like "Little Flower Pedals" I am overly obsessed with old technology.

7.) I collect Mac Computers, Typewriters, Records, Record Players and anything Retro.

8.) I am catholic and have been confirmed

9.)I am the oldest of four brothers.

10.) My parents split up when I was six and hardly ever talk to my dad.

11.) I have done my share of experimenting with things (not good at all)

12.) I need to quit smoking Cigarettes again eh emm

13.) I am a scorpio

14.) I Love riding my bike. I have a Fixed gear actually two that I built when I worked at Bike Zone. (Fixed means you don't coast so you don't need breaks)

15.) My only true blood brother is the exact opposite than me.

16.)I like warm weather and can't wait to join everyone in Texas

17.) I love the color white

18.) I want to go back to school for Graphic Design or Multimedia

19.) I lost my license for a while and my poor Toyota Tacoma has to sit

20.) I now love reading all of my Ebooks on my Ipod

21.) Right now I am working as a mechanic still

22.) As much as I love cars I don't want to do it for ever

23.) I love music

24.) I want to fly a plane someday and get my pilots license

25.) I wish I typed this on one of my typewriters

New Old Computer

2009-03-05T21:18:00.003-06:00

So I figure I needed a desktop computer to f-ing start putting up some of my typecasts and what not that are lingering around the house. I got a G4 Emac to go along with my G5 MacBook. They are both about three years old but work like a charm. I just got 2GBs of ram to go in my Emac that I bought off ebay last week. The thing is the greatest! It reminds me of my first love my G3 I mac which looks just like the Emac but is waaay slower. That is part of the reason for getting it and the fact that I really needed a desktop because being on a laptop all of the time gets on my nerves real easily. I am a Mac enthusiast and have collected many many computers over the years most of which are thrown out but some still alive and well in my basement. The oldest I have to say is my Mac Plus with no hard drive at all and 1MB of ram. It still boots up fine the only problem is unfortunately I can't use it for writing purposes because of the out dated ports and corrupt word processing software. Although it cries to be used for a science fiction piece like you wouldn't believe. Other than that my Emac now sits on my desk with my Olympia Sm9 right next to it with a towel for a dust cover over it when not in use. What a happy family, I wish. But I love this Emac, it is perfect and is probably my main digital writing device to go along with my Alphasmart, my MacBook with a dead battery and and my collection of typewriters. But other than that I will not be spending anymore money anytime soon so I will be working with what I have for now which is more than most, I am very grateful.

Typer of the woods

2009-01-09T18:33:00.003-06:00

The other day I have been wanting to take a nice walk in the woods across from my street. Its the conservation area and I figured that with the weather warmer than it has been that yesterday would be a nice day to go for a walk. I grabbed my back pack my travel typewriter (Skyriter) and some note pads and my fountain pen just in case. I brought with me also a camp chair so that I could write comfortably. I trekked the woods for a good while looking at all of the beautiful forest scenery and soaked up the peace and quiet. I have in my house a bunch of younger brothers (4year old 11year old and a 18year old) and it can be pretty hectic for nice writing situations. There was a little bit of snow still on the forest floor and made for a picture perfect hike.

I finally after walking for about an hour back tracking a little found a nice place to set up and get some writing done. It was really windy so the typewriter worked better than my notepad in this case. I was planning on using my typewriter anyways but it just so happened... Anyways I thought to myself after a little while that if someone somehow was walking the same path that I was off of and heard the clacking of a typewriter they would of thought I was insane for sure. There was no one though that was out that day and I am now wanting to go back out later on and do some more poetry and writing. I think it will be a great plan for even later on when it warms up a bit to go out and do some nice peaceful writing in the woods. Call me crazy but in a tiny house with six people anyone would die to find a place like that to write.

-James

Looking for the time

2009-01-04T22:17:00.001-06:00

I have been getting everything all planed out mentally for this blog I just need a little bit of time real soon to begin. I was trying to get all started today but I ended up falling asleep after work. I need to get everything all scanned in and post up some of my thoughts. I will be getting to all of this as soon as possible.

-James