Postcards from the Typosphere -- deadline coming up!

The deadline for contributing to Rob Bowker's project Postcards from the Typosphere is midnight on June 28, UK time.

Don't know what the project is?

Read about it here:
http://typewriterheaven.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/post-cards-from-typosphere.html

Typewriter Day 2013

Egad! It's nearly Typewriter Day! One hundred forty-five years since Sholes was awarded a patent for this lovely drawing that morphed into the machines we know and love.



The date sneaks up on me each year, preceded by a nagging sensation that something important is happening in late June... but what could it be? Clearly this is a serious oversight on behalf of the calendar markers of the world. June 23, everyone -- that's this coming Sunday.

I know a certain Mad Professor of Typewriterology who has a collection of missives from about the 'sphere. In honor of the recent non-shocking revelations about government-run data harvesting and wireless eavesdropping, how about marking the day with a typed postcard or letter to the good doctor, or to your own favorite rabble-rouser?
 
Please document the occasion with a photo, video, podcast, engraving, crayon sketch, or some other bloggable means and we'll gather them up and post on the page here on the site, linking back to you.

Bonus Typosphere Points* will be awarded for incorporating one or more of the following elements into your work:

• Colorful ribbons or other means of tarting up the result.
• Cryptic messages, symbols or iconography. Double points if a government bureau actually intercepts and intercedes with your missive (and owns up to it.)
• The wearing of tinfoil headgear or other hilarious folk remedies for shaking off the mind-control rays of The Man. Triple points if you manage to attract black helicopters overhead with your typing.

No time to waste, everyone!

* No monetary value. No redemption. No shirt, no shoes, no service. No woman, no cry.

Nine Years Might Have Been an Exaggeration

Here's a review of of DVD release of The Typewriter in the 21st Century, the closest many humble Typospherians may ever come to our fifteen minute allotment of fame. In the interest of full disclosure, I think I overstated the lifespan of that laptop and under-estimated the age of the typewriters. Doing arithmetic on-camera is stressful!

<soapbox>

Given the recent stink about the U.S. government's warrantless snooping security-minded PRISM program, I don't think the 'sphere is above inviting those partial to privacy into our fold. Typewriters: good for marshaling your thoughts, documenting them, and keeping them out of the hands and eyes of Uncle Sam, too. A shame the story didn't break sooner, or Chris and Gary could have also played up the paranoia angle. I, for one, look outstanding in a tinfoil hat.

Evolution of the Typewriter?

Interesting article, with some machines I'd never seen before. Sadly truncated at the electric typewriter in 1935, though.
Evolution of the Typewriter in Pictures

Cincy Typing Challenge, July 20 & 25, 2013

Read all about the Cincy Typing Challenge happening in the Cincinnati Museum Center on July 20 (qualifying round) and July 25 (final round). "The Typewriter (In the 21st Century)" will be screened on the 20th.

(I lent my Rooy for the creation of this video and have helped organize the event, but I'll be in London during the challenge itself.)