Author Archives: Shawn E. Bell

XP-82 Twin Mustang Restoration

The original XP-82 Twin Mustang, (AF s/n 44-83887), is currently being restored to flying status by the B-25 Group at Douglas Municipal Airport in Douglas, Georgia. Headed up by aircraft restorer Tom Reilly, the project is well underway. A hat-tip to Warbirds News for the reminder that there are many dedicated people out there keeping our aircraft history flying.

This aircraft is only one of two that still exist in civilian hands.

About the F-82 from Wikipedia:

The North American F-82 Twin Mustang was the last American piston-engine fighter ordered into production by the United States Air Force. Based on the P-51 Mustang, the F-82 was originally designed as a long-range escort fighter in World War II; however, the war ended well before the first production units were operational, so its postwar role changed to that of night-fighting. Radar-equipped F-82s were used extensively by the Air Defense Command as replacements for the Northrop P-61 Black Widow night fighter. During the Korean War, Japan-based F-82s were among the first USAF aircraft to operate over Korea. The first three North Korean aircraft destroyed by U.S. forces were shot down by F-82s, the first being a North-Korean Yak-11 downed over Gimpo Airfield by the USAF 68th Fighter Squadron.

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Hemingway’s Typewriter Up For Auction

One of the most important literary relics of the 20th century, Ernest Hemingway’s fully documented typewriter, on which he typed his last book, is being offered for auction by auctioneer Profiles In History.  It’s estimated to sell for between $60K and $80K.

The Halda Swedish-made typewriter is fully functional and comes with its original leatherette case exhibiting somewhat tattered transportation stickers from the American Export Line and the French Line. Both have crucial identification in an unknown hand, marked “E. Hemi…” on the American Export Line sticker, and “Hemingway” with destination of “Le Hav…” on the French Line sticker, each torn and scuffed from extensive travel. The typewriter was obtained from famed author A. E. Hotchner, Hemingway’s close friend, who wrote the definitive biography, Papa Hemingway.

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The ACTUAL Cost of an Electric Car

So the The U.S. Department of Energy has just released an online tool that allows you to see what the amount of electricity necessary to drive an average electric car as far as a gallon of gasoline would cost where you live. They call this the ‘eGallon’, and the U.S. average is $1.14. It goes as low as $0.83 in North-Dakota and as high as $3.69 in Hawaii where electricity is most expensive.

You can see the tool HERE.

But wait a minute. That can’t POSSIBLY be correct. I’m a big fan of EVs, but that site is a flat-out lie.

Let’s look at some numbers:

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From ALLi: What Successful Self-Publishers Do Well

ALLi is the Alliance of Independent Authors, the professional association for self-publishing writers.  They host an EXCELLENT self-publishing advice blog HERE.

Dr. Alison Baverstock and Alli are working together to come up with what is its that SUCCESSFUL self-publishers do well.  From the article:

Some months ago, ALLi worked with Dr Alison Baverstock on her most recent investigations into self-publishing, the findings from which will be published soon. Here she gives us a sneak peek at what the research revealed about indie authors.

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Happy 236th Birthday, American Flag!

Today is Flag Day!

On this day in 1777 the United States of America adopted the American flag through the Flag Resolution at the Second Continental Congress: “Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”

236 years later, the number of stars has increased to 50. The American flag remains a shining symbol of freedom throughout the world.