project proposal

Underwood Renovation (working title)

Riley Pittenger

3/6/12

     Project Proposal

      I am proposing to reconstruct, clean and renovate a 1970’s Underwood typewriter back to working condition. Fixing an outdated machine carries less of a priority in a constantly evolving skill marketplace where the value of software and electronics constantly push old tools and one another into the grave. I propose that a niche market still exists for obsolete technology and its repair stemming from nostalgia, mythos, and artistic functionality.

     Researching the process of renovation requires the skill and compliance of subject matter experts in office repair and maintenance. Facilities capable of repairing obsolete technology disappear faster than the technology itself as more upgrades to and from accelerated technological development create ever-changing shifts in demography.

     The components of the project are as follows:

• Research

• History-uncovering the history of the specific typewriter and its relation to other machines across production chronology. Additional study into typewriters of notoriety.
• Subject Matter Experts-locating and interacting with a specialist in typewriter repair and function. Additional resource location for the restoration step will also be addressed.
• Niche Market-study and location of communities still using and discussing typewriters. Online and local sources combined with personal investment ideally highlights the remaining market for typewriters
• Restoration
• Location-finding and accessing a facility capable of repairing, cleaning and restoring.
• Refurbishment-learning how to incorporate all previous research and advice of subject matter expert in the reinvigoration of this typewriter.
• Implementation
• Training-familiarizing myself with the necessary skills to maintain and operate successfully the restored typewriter
• Writing-composing and editing three to four page short story or play in true anachronistic typewriter style for tangible submission

Breaking the Sandwich Barrier.

Somewhere in Texas...This is an appetizer.

The Abbot in full effect.

Risky Brisket post-sandwich. He did not stand for another half hour.

High quality layering and exact compression elevate sandwichery to the next level.

Rockefeller demonstrating the o qualities of meat.

Breaking the Sandwich Barrier

     It was on February 17th, 2012 that research and testing began at an undisclosed location to break the Sandwich Barrier using the latest in snack technology. The following researchers and sandwich-testers were on hand to experience this never before achieved level of sandwich construction.

Call signs: Nasty, Dick Dastardly, The Abbot, Rockefeller and Risky Brisket where all on hand to participate in the construction and subsequent consumption of the forerunning meal advancement project.

     Construction began with the searing of ground beef patties that had been blended with (Censored for National Security) seasonings for maximum meat absorption. Simultaneously, a comparable fleet of bacon and tomato were pan-seared to perfection in compliment to the rich, carnivorous centerpiece. While burgers grizzled and bacon sizzled, a greasy and fantastic griddle was covered in a layer of butter-painted white bread, referred to in France as “Le Pain Au Biscuits Blanches.” The upper layers of this stratus were then interlaced with a complicated and classified latticework of alternating Pepper jack and American or “Honkey” cheese singles.

     Following the initial base layer of cheese, bacon was added in a single layer to the first bracketing foundation of sandwich. This first contingent of bacon-grilled cheese sandwiches (hereby referred to as sandwich layer one or SL1) was then removed from the freak-nasty griddle and placed under a heating lamp for freshness. Immediately after the griddle became free, a second sandwich layer (SL2) was then constructed on the well-buttered plain of griddle. Similar in composition to SL1, SL2 received a heavier portion of cheese and replaced the bacon component with blackened tomato slices. After completion of SL2 the final stages of sandwich construction began.

     Beginning with a foundation of SL1, the burger patties (Primary Sandwich Layer or PSL) were then added to the individual man-stacks atop the initial layer of intermediate cheese added to SL1. Another layer of cohesive cheese-matter was then applied to ensure the safety of all testing personnel, as it is not the practice of this country and its researchers to endanger brave scientists with a potential breakdown of sandwich stability. Finally SL2 was added to the sandwich stack to complete the fabrication process and usher in a new era of man’s relationship to sandwich.

   It is of note that at this point, Callsign Nasty attempted (at great peril to himself and the research team) the construction and consumption of a prototypical sandwich model designed to break the proceeding barrier of sandwich. Safe to say, none were injured in the testing of such devices though its practicality of consumption leaves much to be desired and studied at a later date.

     Successfully established as the forerunners of sandwich technology, the team retired to their laurels and bowel impactions before moving on to the next stage: actually working.

On Record

On Record.

     Anachronism is a hard concept to find. Many find it primarily within elders: parents incapable of understanding a computer or the proper facebook etiquette required to keep offspring as “friends.” Anachronism on the technological tip is something far more rare than the misgivings of chronologic familiarity. Those that look back to find the meaning of “lost” medium are the focus of these photos.

     As humans we accumulate any bizarre assortment of things from concepts to objects and even ideologies for our personal collection. Concerning personal preference many define a personal brand and mixture of media to define a collection. Collectors, particularly record collectors, have this same mentality: holding onto fragments of recorded sound however obscure and inefficient, creates a community. There is no absolute way to define and isolate the mentality of a record collector, like the numerous discs haunting our shelves we are far too eccentric and numerous to be entirely understood without a lifetime of digging.

     To be entirely understood is itself an impossible concept demonstrated mellifluously by a true record collection. The people and records included in these photos are testament to unique perception and catalog. Every record on display carries a story exemplifying a good enough reason for collection to the owner, when the story behind a special disc is told or presented a personality is laid bare. Every human has a rhyme or reason for the things they carry and the personality of a collection can be seen through its components whether focused on rarity, sentimentality or just one beautiful inner fold lined with incredible artwork.

     Hardrives crash, emails fail and even texting can leave one devoid of success when it is most crucial. Records themselves are even more notorious for failure (many a DJ lacking vigilance can attest to the disruptive power of dust or a drunken elbow.) Many complain that records are nowhere near the efficiency and durability of digital formats and no argument can be made in retort. Durability and efficiency do not enter the equation to those holding crates, the focus is on sentimental rarity and invested love of music that can be literally touched.

Many A Photo, All The Little Things.

These are the photos I find myself having time to take. Having a smartphone is nice sometimes, it facilitates my personal brand of image capture; the private and seemingly unimportant items in my life. I enjoy little things as much as the next bloke so I have collected the private few from my life.

 I live alone and love it that way. I make sure to spend time being social as often as possible, but when i have an unexpected chunk of free time or half day to spend at my leisure, it always comes back to me. Walking alone, digging into the catacomb of books in my hobbit hole and maintaining my personal standard of social interaction: i.e. not much. The first photo is a reprint from last week.


I was walking in the new snowfall and intertwined my path with someone else in an obvious hurry about five minutes earlier, so I wound my steps around theirs. A small gesture only noticeable for probably a few hours after I finished, a little thing that no one but myself got to enjoy in the strange silence after the crust settles..

 A long day of avalanche education and cold weather is capped by frosty beers in the Bridger Parking lot and some good old fashioned, man-powered bullshitting. This was one of those rare occasions when i spent time with people/

 This one speaks for itself. An amusing simulacrum in my mind, that of a bachelor with very little time for fun or gosh forbid, hanging out with real women.

 Longest functional relationship, best roommate ever and worst butler in existence.

 One of the greatest underground hip hop gems from the '90s. Rare grooves are probably my favorite singular pastime. Polishing, spinning and scratching records has been a favorite hobby of my for close to two years and I see no end in sight. It seems that these images ended up being not just little things, but indicators of how I retain sanity through my busy and daily haze of neurotic disagreement with the world at large and manic struggle to become what I consider a functional man.