If there was ever a need for coffee, it is now. Fingers drumming on the counter fail to rush the dreaded AI in charge of brewing the life-restoring beverage. Finally, a wheeze indicates that the aromatic liquid will begin its journey from the bowels of the fickle machine to my very welcoming cup. Yes, the trickle has started, and soon, the crema layer will form. Time for a sip and new awareness of the need for the clock.
Clock in hand set for March 30, 1924 for a duration of two hours. The plunger is pulled and we are tansported to Toledo Ohio. The US has enacted the eighteenth constitutional amendment that bans the sale and consumption of alcohol.
We have arrived in Toledo to witness the tradegy of 12 people poisened to death consuming denatured alcohol at a party. Denatured alcohol is used as a solvent and has additives that when injested are fatel. The police shief says it is a shame these folks didn’t know that they were drinking poisen. “It’s plain to see that whoever organized this party is responsible for these deaths.”
The alarm goes off and like a flying plane my carcuss is lofted to the couch for a soft landing. My text signal goes off and I see it is from Linda Hill. It reads:Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “plain/plane.” Use one, use ’em both, bonus points if you get ’em both in your post. Have fun! If you would like to see what other bloggers do with the prompt visit Linda’s post. Here is the link: https://lindaghill.com/2024/03/29/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-march-30-2024/
Plain/Plane by John W. Howell © 2024
“Well you got the bonus points.”
“Yes I did.”
“You sure hauled out of there though.”
“I made a slight miscalulation on the time.”
“Well, that explains it.”
“Sad about those people.”
“Yeah. There was a lot of that.”
“It was plain stupid to drink that stuff.”
“Thos people ended up on a different plane.”
“Not like good old Voo Doo Ranger.”
“Speaking of which.”
“Ordered the Uber. It’s right over there.”
“Goodness what is that?”
“A 1906 Stanley Gentlemans Speedy Runabout.”
“How in the heck did you find that one.”
“The Stanley company went out of business in1924. I thought it would be a good tie-in to your post.”
“Okay then. Let’s go.”
“I call the running board.”
“Well if that’s what you want, you got it.”
Fiction Favorites 
How awful about those poor people, poisoned like that!! What a tragedy.
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Yes indeed. An example of the results of government interference in everyday life
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The Runabout looks like a fun ride, John.
I take it, that solvent didn’t taste that bad, eh?
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I guess it went down okay. Maybe they flavored it with something.
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That’s a pretty cool ride. Just don’t hug the trees with him on the running board. Sad about those people. I’m guessing they weren’t the only casualties of bad alcohol during prohibition.
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A lesson in allowing the government to get carried away by pandering to minority wishes. (Hmmm I wonder if anyone’s paying attention,)
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We never learn from history, John.
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Sad thing too.
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Somehow, I don’t see the 1906 Stanley Gentlemans Speedy Runabout as “speedy. “
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Ha ha ha. I think it is all relative. Of course one Stanley model took a land speed record at 126 MPH in the 20s.
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Good point. speediness is relative.
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Love the car!
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I could see the wind in the hair. 😁
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Definitely a tragedy. I’m guessing stuff like that happened a lot during that era.
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I’m sure it did. Result of Government making minority wishes rules.
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That’s a great ride to the pub! The 18th Amendment caused so many problems.
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I hate to say it, Tim. But minority wishes (Temperance folk) raised hell with majority desires. I wonder if folks can see the same thing happening now?
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What a terrible tragedy! There would be more before Prohibition was repealed. On the bright side, I’d take a ride in THAT Uber in a cold minute. What a gorgeous old car!
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I think it is the pips too, Noelle. Thanks.
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Now that is an Uber ride I would take!
It’s so sad about those 12 people who died. Did that happen a lot during Prohibition?
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Yes it did not to mention the thousands put in jail.
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Great job with the challenge and way to organize a terrific looking ride guaranteed to bring a smile along any ‘plain’ road. Cheers this Easter weekend.
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Thank you, Monika. A smile for sure in that buggy. Cheers back to you this weekend.
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Stanley Steamer. Gives a whole new meaning to the term, “warm up the car.”
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Maybe that was the beginning of the term.
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Cool car! You do get cool rides for these stories.
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Sadly I make all this up and no one gives me a cool ride. Thanks, Deborah.
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The Stanley Gentlemans Speedy Runabout looks like a great ride. I hadn’t heard about those 12 people – so sad. Prohibition was such a crazy time. But — great job on the prompt!
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You can appreciate the fact that prohibition was a pandering move to a minority demand. I wonder if history taught us anything. Thanks, Gwen.
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History taught us something? If only… Happy Easter to you and Molly – and your pups.
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I wanted the running board! 😄
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haha! We’ll have to fight for it, Bruce. 😆 That looks like a blast!
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You both can fit. Just hang on and please sign this release before we start.
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🤣📝
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There is one on the other side. It’s yours.
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Gentlemans Speedy Runabout–I do hope they let ladies drive. This looks like such a fun ride–even on the running board!
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I’m sure ladies who want to can drive it. It does look fun. Thanks, Lois.
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What a horrid way to die; senseless. See? Making alcohol illegal is dangerous!
What a very cool set of wheels. Woot!! I fear I shall be alone toasting you tonight. Pilgrim is still on drugs to get rid of the cold I so generously gave him as a going-away present!
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Well that is one way to keep him under control. I hoe he feels better,
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Hahaha! There’s no controlling that one 😉 He says he does. 🙂
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That was a terrible and senseless time in American history. So many died needlessly. Love the Uber! Great post, John.
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Thanks, Jan. You are so right. It was needless.
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Such a sad story, and such a ridiculous amendment. On the bright side is that gorgeous Uber. Well done on the prompt, John.
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Thank you, Jennie.
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You’re welcome, John.
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😊
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It’s so tragical to these young people. Isn’t the state controlling everything? Why not the savety of drinks? ;-/ The denaturation of alcohol only for getting more tax is a hoax. Best wishes, Michael
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That was a real stupid time in American history and I hope we learned from it.
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What a way to go! Yikes!
As for the Uber, I think Imma stick to being inside that beauty, thank you.
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Problem with the running board is the June bugs
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Yeah, no bueno.
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Just don’t smile.
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No kidding.
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😁
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I’m coming back tomorrow!
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I’ll leave a light on for you.
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Well didn’t it take me forever to get back?
You might have turned the lights off now, so:
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Good song. Thank you.
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Canadian band. OX
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Of course. 😁X
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Gosh, those pointless deaths were awful. I’ve never heard of denatured alcohol. Is it like turpentine?
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It is a solvent. Denatured alcohol is ethyl alcohol with toxic or bad tasting additives that make it unsuitable for consumption. Since drinkable alcohol is heavily taxed the cheap alcohol that is untaxed is rendered undrinkable. The most common additive to denatured alcohol is 5 to 10 percent methanol. Methanol is highly toxic when consumed orally. Denatured alcohol is used in alcohol burner lamps and stoves as well.
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Gosh, fancy drinking that.
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No thank you.
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What a sad story.
Prohibition was surely not an answer.
I just read…(what hypocrisy) about Canada in the prohibition:
“Liquor could, however, be legally produced in Canada (but not sold there) and legally exported out of Canadian ports.”
No wonder some got rich running whiskey over the border. Also beer, but not VooDoo. No VooDoo!
🥃✖️ 🍹ꭓ 🍺Ẍ 🍷𝖃
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Detroit was a major import point for Canadian liquor and beer.🥃 X🍹X 🍺X🍷X
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Cars and booze…what could possibly go wrong? 🥃 X🍹X 🍺X🍷X 💋
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I know right? 🌹🥃 X🍹X 🍺X🍷X 💋
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YEAFQ! X🍹 🌹🐂 X🥃 🫶🤞 🥶𝔃𝖝 🚘💥
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You win on this one for sure. 🐂
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Thank you!
As you can see from the emojis I’m quite tanked, standing at the Windsor -Detroit border, don’t know which way Canada is and there’s a car coming at me.
I hope it’s a taxi so I can get to the next comment!
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Windsor Canada is due south of Detroit. (I know that sounds wrong but trust me.)
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I had a feeling kind of like …. Capt. Peter “Wrong Way” Peachfuzz.
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🤣X
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🍑X 🤣X
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Love the peach. 🍎X 🤣X
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🍎X🍎X
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🍎X🍎X🍎X🍎X
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AWW! 💋 (a big one)
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Another example of government meddling and unintended consequences.
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Yup. You would think we might have learned something.
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