For Those of You Wondering Where I've Been...

Salutations Typospherians,

That's right, a kitten has decided to take over my keyboard. Her name is Ophelia and she just arrived here. While she's not the only reason for my recent silence, she is one of them. Especially when she does what she's doing in the photo above. Expect to see her from time to time!

Also have a couple announcements to make: I had to turn captcha back on,because I was simply getting too much spam to deal with. My sincere apologies. I hate it as much as you do, but I see no other solution at this point. Also, I will most likely not be blogging for the entire month of November, due to NaNo. I want to throw all of my time and attention into the completion of the challenge. I will see you December 3rd! (I'll be here until 10/30, however). And I do have new machines I need to photograph and tell you all about, so that will be forthcoming. 

Kitties are weapons...of cuteness!

Anna.

A Little Obnoxiousness for the End of the World From A Grand Old Machine: Typecast From the Royal 10

Eulogy for A Starship: Spaceshuttle Endeavour Comes Home for the Last Time

Apologies for my gloominess with this one, folks. This is a topic that's put me in a broody mood since they began retiring the orbiters. I do have to admit that I got a good chuckle when I saw the photo of it passing the giant doughnut, however.

Image Source

I just heard that this had always been a local ship, built in the high desert, kept at a local AFB for most of its' life, and now retired in the state that it was born in. I remember when this shuttle took its maiden flight; I was ten and very much enamored with the space program. I've seen almost every single one of its launches...and returns. I've seen it piggyback on 747's on its way between bases, flying over my house. It will be sorely missed.   

Of Pool-Side Typing and Swimming in a Sea of Typewriters: Two Days, Two Typecasts, Five Typewriters

I didn't realize keys had been depressed when I took photos. Whoops!

This monstrosity was bought from a local photography studio that was downsizing...for $25. Works beautifully, for the most part. Typecast coming soon.

Sorry this is blurry. This badging is local.

Postscript: I'm not sure if frequency of typewriter usage or this Olympia is responsible for fewer typos today, but it seems the more I use manual typewriters, the less I have to rely on spellcheck on the computer. Seems Ryan Adney is spot on with his theory that typing on a manual typewriter improves spelling and grammar by heaps (I don't remember the exact number, but I do remember it was heaps!). Apologies for all the dirty machines; I've been cleaning them off and on all day...after photos, of course. Save for the KMM and QDL. They had already been cleaned.

A Different Sort of Manifesto

Salutations Typospherians,

As most of you know, I've been cooking up a way to re-key typewriters that have fallen victim to keychoppers. I've partnered up with another tlogger across the pond to begin collecting machines before they make their ways to the dump and we're going to throw several re-keying ideas at them and see what sticks. Our next course of action is to begin collecting machines, which is going to require contacting the sellers of cut keys and key jewelry, et cetera, and see if they still have any of the disfigured machines or would be willing to sell them to us in the future. Wish us luck on this.

While in the R&D stage of this project, I feel we're almost there, and we're anxious to get started. Last night (well, early this morning, to be technical) I got inspired to write a different sort of manifesto...an anti-keychopper manifesto. I had to write it out by hand, as Darling was sleeping, but I got it typed out this evening.

Please take it. Save it, share it, post it wherever you see fit. It was meant to be shared.

If you like it enough and feel strongly enough about its message, that is.

Brought to you by the Gray Ghost, the QDL with tombstone keys that has fast become my go-to machine.

LET'S TAKE BACK THE MACHINE!

-Anna.

A Typecast From the End of the World...Sort of

*POSTSCRIPT* It seems our internet was, indeed, contingent upon the electricity. Good to know for the future. Now, please enjoy typewriter photos.

The International Correspondence Initiative Round Two: Correspondent Pairing List

Salutations Typospherians!
The long-awaited pairing list of the ICI is now complete!

Correspondents are as follows:

Bell Stone / Ledoux

michaeliany / notagain

I9I4 Woodstock / Vikram

Cameron / Anna

Ryan / Dwayne

Ken / mcget

Karen / JP

Mark / Nat

Richard P / Karsten

C.C. / He Who Shall Not Be Named ;-)

And remember, some of you will be receiving random correspondence from me as well.

Ready...Set...Commence Typogrammification! And have fun!

-Anna.

The International Correspondence Initiative Round Two: Stay Tuned for Pairings Announcement

Salutations Typospherians!
The ICI2 pairings have been made. Emails shall be sent shortly to all correspondents with the name and address of their writing buddies. After that, I will post the pairings publicly with blog links!

Since we have an even number this time, I will be doing some random mailings to some participants. I will not inform you first, but don't be surprised if something from me arrives in your mailbox!

Ready...set...start Typogramming!

-Anna.

A Visitor, the Grand Old Machine and the Fashionably Late One: Olympia, Erika and Remington

My Erika that I have been waiting on for over two months arrived today. I was a bit surprised to discover a little secret about it...

That's right; she FOLDS! She won't advance for some reason though and I'm trying to figure out what the issue is.

And now for some photos of the Remington and it's enormous ribbon spools:

The machine isn't particularly large (a little on the tall side) but this ribbon and the spools are positively enormous.

Enjoy!

-Anna.