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From Our Outfit... February 2010 Notes

This month we’ll be looking at the seventh and last of the "Living the Code" precepts as found by clicking on the “Living The Code” plank above..."Be a good friend and neighbor."

When I think of being a good neighbor, like many of you, I think of Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan. For the people of that time it was a dramatic illustration.

During the three hundred years that the United States had a frontier…even though the pioneers were the strong, independent type…they realized they needed the help of their neighbors and their neighbors needed them. With neighbors miles away, people still got together for cabin raising, barn raising, log rolling, clearing fields, corn huskings and quilting bees.

Today we have fences in common with neighbors who we barely know. We want to believe this is because we work and commute such long hours. I can assure you that frontier people worked longer hours and a five-mile commute in wagon or on horseback to the closest neighbor was more difficult than walking next door.

The big reason for neighbor not knowing neighbor is that we no longer need our neighbor to survive. We hire someone to build our house and maintain our yard. We go to the grocery store and buy food semi or completely prepared.

We may not need the labors of neighbors. But, there is a greater, even more important need for good neighbors and friends. Recent surveys show a large percentage of people are what the surveyors classify as “significantly lonely.” And that number is growing. To paraphrase Henry David Thoreau; many of us are living lives of quiet desperation.

Even though the frontier life was difficult, the pioneer was confident in the future. They believed it was limitless. Hospitality and generosity was a natural outcrop of that confidence. Today we’re living in financially difficult and politically divisive times.

During these times, we need more than ever to be a good friend and neighbor. The interesting thing is that being friendly; smiling at a stranger; asking someone, with conviction, “How are things going?”…and then listening, not only helps the recipient, it helps the giver. Even walking around with a smile on your face, makes people feel better. If nothing else, they’ll wonder why you’re smiling.

So, let us resolve that no matter how bad things may be going, we should be friendly and be a friend. It may not help your situation. But, I can assure you; it won’t hurt it.

Returning to the Good Samaritan parable…A problem I’ve dealt with over the years is people who come up to me in a parking lot or on the street and ask for some money for food. Part of me wants to help them. Another part of me says, “They’ll just use it for booze, drugs or cigarettes.” If I don’t give them anything, I spend the rest of the day feeling guilty. If I give them something, I feel like a sucker.

I think I’ve come up with a solution. McDonalds has $1 gift certificates in books of five. I keep a couple of the $1 certificates in my wallet, and when I’m asked for food money, I give the person a certificate or two. That makes sure they spend it on food…even if it isn’t the healthiest food…and there’s a McDonalds on virtually every corner.

Again, in 2010, especially during these difficult times, we need to be a good friend and neighbor.

May God always be at your side.

P.S. Don't forget to send me a picture of you reading Chronicle of the Old West! You can send your photograph by regular mail or as an attachment via Email. With the picture, we need your name and address, along with information on the location where it’s taken.

Hi! I'm Dakota Livesay the publisher of the Chronicle of the Old West the newspaper, narrator of Chronicle of the Old West the daily radio show, and host of the hour-long weekly show, Chronicle of the Old West Weekly Edition.

Below are the various elements of the Chronicle of the Old West organization. Our objective is to educate people about the Old West in an entertaining way. Our hope is that as you surf through our web site you'll be inspired to learn more about a time that was very important to the development of America...a time of great contradictions.

It was an age when men had high standards in dealing with each other. Yet, it was also a time when some of the harshest crudities to our fellow man took place. We look at the Old West, as it really was, warts and all. Below is a brief rundown of the Chronicle of the Old West organization.

Click on the various headings to learn more about us....

When we started Chronicle of the Old West over five years ago, we had no idea how unique the publication was, and how well it would be received by Old West enthusiasts, as well as people who are interested in America's history.

Chronicle of the Old West contains reprints of 1800's articles and current articles about Old West events written as if they just happened. We also have a section that tells readers about places to go and activities to attend to enjoy the Old West today.

We call Chronicle of the Old West "a transporter" in that when you read it you'll be transported back to the 1800's. Each month contains articles about events that took place during that month.

If you would like to view the first page and see the highlights for this month's Chronicle of the Old West Newspaper, CLICK HERE.

If you're interested in the writer's guidelines for the Chronicle of the Old West Newspaper, CLICK HERE.

Chronicle of the Old West is also two syndicated radio shows about our American West.

Five days a week, Dakota tells a story about a person or event from the Old West. As with the newspaper, the stories are aired in the month in which they took place.

To find out if the Daily Show is aired near you, click HERE.

You can see what is playing this month or listen to a selected story from the current month by clicking HERE. This month's featured story is "Nat Love." If you would like to browse through a list of daily featured AUDIO TRACKS click HERE. (Updated 11-08-09)

We also have a weekly hour-long show called Chronicle of the Old West the Weekly Edition. This show also hosted by Dakota Livesay, contains interviews with Old West experts about people and events from the 1800s, great cowboy music, and information about the Old West that will entertain and educate the listener about our Western history.

You can view information on our CURRENT WEEKLY hour-long show by clicking HERE. Some of the highlights from February 8-14, 2010: "Vigilantism in the Old West" and "The Death of John Tunstall."

To check out what will be featured NEXT WEEK, click HERE.

You can also view information about our PAST WEEKLY radio shows by clicking HERE.

If you would like to browse through a list of weekly featured AUDIO TRACKS click HERE. (Updated 11-08-09)

To find out if the Weekly Edition is aired near you, click HERE.

If you know of a radio station in your area that may be interested in reaching people like you with information about the history of our American West, go to our contact page and e-mail us with information about the station.

This section is for those of you who enjoy contests. Each month Chronicle of the Old West, the newspaper, has a "Bronco Sue's Old West Trivia Shootout" and "LouisLAmour.com" trivia contest with some great prizes. You can enter them through our web site, even if you aren't a subscriber.

Because of radio time constraints, Dakota is not always able to tell the full story, so we decided to take a theme and record a series of stories around that theme, without any time constraints. Our first one "Gunfights of the Old West" is currently available.

Our long-anticipated and newest CD is finally off the presses and is now available for purchase. Dakota has always been intrigued with the roll women played in taming the west. That’s right, it was women who tamed the west. Although tradition says Samuel Colt’s 45 tamed the west. It wasn’t a pistol - it was a petticoat. Our second CD "Women of the Old West" is now available.

Also, because it may be a while before everyone can hear the DAILY and WEEKLY radio shows on their radio, we’ve made it possible for everyone to be able to hear the shows on their CD player. By clicking HERE you can get information about the Weekly shows that we have for sale. By clicking HERE you can get information about our Daily Shows (a month's worth at a time.) We’ve tried to make the shows as affordable as possible.

Here's our most fun page... You will find pictures of our travels as we attend events and do research for the newspaper and radio show. If you've seen us "On the Road", your picture might just be there!

We're also on the social network Facebook.
Facebook allows us to share a lot more information on a more timely basis.

To find our page go to www.facebook.com.

Above (left) Dakota is standing in front of a simulated Chronicle of the Old West office at Old West Main Street in Williams, Arizona.

We have added a calendar of events for you to consider attending. Some of these we will be attending and some we wish could attend. Check out our calendars and if you know of an event that people who enjoy the Old West would like to attend, email us with the information.

Incidentally, we have two versions of our calendar. One is a Chronicle of the Old West Google calendar and one is our regular Chronicle of the Old West calendar. Click on the links and they will take you to additional information. The Google calendar will give you a map and a description of the event and our calendar links will take you to the event website!

Chronicle of the Old West "The Chuckwagon..."

In our search for articles in libraries across the country, we come across recipes and tips that were printed in the 1800's. Amusing, entertaining, and occasionally delicious we thought we would pass them on to you.

We hope you enjoy our newest page - The Chuckwagon.

Our featured recipe for this month is: "Chuckwagon Terms"

At the beginning of each month, Dakota will have a new story to help inspire each of us to... "Live the Code."

Click HERE to read the current month's featured story. "Gifted Children"

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