For the record, I am old enough to remember how typewriters worked, but young enough that I never used a quill and inkwell... As a matter of fact, my last two years of high school were spent in typing classes. Hey, I was one of only two guys in these daily sessions, and I blew up a transistor radio in my Electronics class, scarring me emotionally for most of that week. Typing class brought me peace during those trying times....

The point is, with either a manual or electric typewriter, you could see the keys lifting up to strike the paper, so you knew exactly how the process worked. If there was ever a problem, you generally needed to take a few simple steps, and you'd be back typing away in no time.

Sitting here today, with my laser printer in several pieces on the floor, I see no keys. As a matter of fact, I may have been a little hasty in my efforts to dismantle it.

Some cylinder filled with a black powder exploded like that old transistor radio when I shook it, and the powder is still settling about my office like spring pollen.

There was some sort of track with a moveable box on it, but once taken apart, showed no evidence of keys or font imprinting devices. How does this magical printer work?? Or more importantly, how DID it once work??

I should have been more suspicious, come to think of it, when I never ever did hear the sound of the keystrokes during printing.

So, perhaps I should have gotten back on that horse in my old Electronics class, and I could now figure out how this pile of plastic and cheap metals goes back together. However, that's water under the fridge, like they say. I have to bite the bullet, and find a box that can transport this debris field to some wizard versed in these amazing modern products...

Chow for now!!