What Exactly Is Discovered When You Study History?

 February 28, 2026

   I have always been struck by how close the lawful and the lawless were in The Old West. Especially along the Mexican border. This is the theme of a story I am noodling about an American outlaw and a Rurale who confront both sides of redemption in the foothills of the Sierra Madre.

   Come to think of it, I have never been at a loss for story ideas. It's the finishing of them that has been the problem.

   He rode a mammoth jack sixteen hands high and when he crossed at Nogal, the buzzards followed along.

   At Window Rock the Apache Kid and Beauty barely escaped as a 45/70 zinged near their feet.

Daily Whip Out: "Killer Angel"

"When you study history you realize people have been this stupid for thousands of years."
—Old Vaquero Saying

Daily Whip Out: "Old Vaquero Side Glance"