St. Louis Sun: April 15, 1993  ~  There’s one, I whispered. See the black patch over one eye, funny-looking black hat, the gold front tooth, dangling earring and stumpy peg leg? One hand caressing the handle of a saber sword, the other clutching necklaces shimmering with pearls, diamonds, emeralds and rubies. Look, another one! See the dark-colored [...]

St. Louis Sun: December 4, 1989  ~    “All I want for Christmas is a diamond, an emerald, a maid and a side of beef.”  Usually.  This year I’ve changed my mind. It’s not that engineering and aerodynamics are “in” gifts this year. I’m not really hip on “pinnacles of luxury and performance.” Nor do [...]

St. Louis Sun, October 30, 1989  ~  It seems like school just got started when WHAM – a teachers’ conference! Not that teachers shouldn’t confer – is just that it’s hard finding a house sitter. The kids are too old to be left alone. I have to protect the innocent – the house. Unsupervised teenagers [...]

St. Louis Sun: October 23, 1989  ~  In 1714 Henry Mill patented the typewriter. By 1886, it was well-distributed and faster than writing—the business world rejoiced. But soon, fast was not fast enough, ribbons were messy, keys would stick, accuracy was a recurring problem – something had to be done. Then, other men made better [...]

St. Louis Sun: October 9, 1989  ~  History repeats itself. Ancient Troy was doomed when it opened the gates of the fortified castle to accept a magnificent horse–which cleverly concealed enemy soldiers. A Trojan horse, dubbed the Columbus Day virus, reportedly has infiltrated DOS-based computers. Once activated, the “horse” leaves a trail (no pun intended) [...]

St. Louis Sun: October 2, 1989  ~ So, what’s the big deal? What is the matter with kids these days? They actually prefer playing computer games to watching TV. They’re missing Saturday cartoons, Batman and Vanna White. It’s just not – well, American.  Why is it the new generation prefers computers over television? How can [...]