Dear Readers. My blog’s look has changed because I was forced to switch themes to accommodate WordPress (Of Course). My old theme would not allow comments. I will be working to get it back to a more normal look. I had no notice and only knew about the change because a kind reader sent me a note
“Twiggy, wait up. Where are you going?”
“It’s a good day to be outside. Not too hot.”
“I agree. What are you looking at?”
“I’m not looking. More like feeling.”
“What do you mean feeling?”
“I have this feeling we are not alone.”
“Not alone? What are you saying?”
“Go over to the end of the fence and look around the corner.”
“Is this errand dangerous? What is over there?”
“I don’t think it is anything you can’t handle.”
“That doesn’t give me much comfort. Why don’t you come look?”
“I need to be your backup is why.”
“Okay, I’ve looked. There is nothing there.”
“Nothing you can see, you mean.”
“Nothing is nothing. What’s this all about?”
“I think we have had an interloper in the yard.”
”
“Well, you have me spooked enough. I’m going in.”
“Oh, come on. Like you said, it’s nothing.”
“Nope. I’ve learned that if you think it is something, it’s something.”
“Okay, I’ll confess. I was just getting you ready for Halloween.”
“Well, you did a good job of giving me the willies.”
“This is going to be a good year. You are so easy.”
Today I opened The Last Drive at random to page 199. With my eyes closed, I pointed to the page. The word closest to my finger is “Verification.” This is our prompt.
“I know, but verification is important; otherwise, I can’t let you in.”
“I just showed you my invitation.”
“All well and good, but verification is still needed.”
“I don’t have any ID.”
“Well then, sir, would you please step aside. You are holding up others.”
“Wait a minute. There has to be another way.”
“Don’t know what that might be.”
“Do you have a list of those invited?”
“Of course I do.”
“Then why not check the list with the invitation?”
“That won’t give me the verification that I need.”
“Seems silly. What’s one more at a feeding frenzy anyway?”
“If we let in every stray shark that comes by, there would not be enough prey to go around.”
“Okay. I guess I’ll miss this one then.”
“You know, on second thought, you have been nice about this. I agree the rules are a bit stringent. Go ahead in. Mackerel are the subject of the frenzy today.”
Yes, this week marks the anniversary of George Washington laying the White House cornerstone in 1792. I’m sure you want to be there, but before you go, take this list and avoid making social or time-travel mistakes. The original post was run on October 14, 2019.
Top Ten Things Not to Do at the Laying of the Cornerstone of the White House in 1792
10 If you go to the cornerstone laying, do not think the silver trowel is a souvenir. If you do, at best, a kindly George Washington will ask you to put it back. At worst, the Navy men in attendance who are also celebrating the founding of the Navy will help you put it back. (It seems as if those Navy boys have had a little too much rum, Jakome. They are serious about your yardarm swing.)
9 If you go to the cornerstone laying, do not sit in Tiny the WWF champ’s seat. If you do, at best, he will find another. At worst, Tiny, who missed his Anger Management support group that morning, will not be able to control himself. (If you can hold on for another minute, Jalen, Tiny will grow tired of spinning you around above his head. Of course, your landing after that helicopter experience might be a little rough.)
8 If you go to the cornerstone laying, do not carry a sign that says, “Federalists Suck.” If you do, at best, the Federalists will think you are joking. At worst, they’ll assume you don’t support the Constitution. ( You’ve done it now, Jamael. You have all those burly revolutionary veterans ready to run you out of town. )
7 If you go to the cornerstone laying, do not ask Alexander Hamilton for tickets to his show. If you do, at best, he’ll wonder, “What show?” At worst, he’ll have Aaron Burr meet you at dawn. ( Do not go through with the duel, Jamison. That guy knows his way around a flintlock. I’ll bet you have much to learn.)
6 If you go to the cornerstone laying, do not ask Washington what he thinks of “the wall.” If you do, at best, he’ll talk about clearing rocks out of the fields at Mount Vernon. At worst, when you describe what you are asking, he will have you committed. (You knew that was a non-subject, Jamshid. Gotta wonder why you would go there?)
5 If you go to the cornerstone laying, do not expect to find a Starbucks right next door. If you do, at best, you can handle disappointment. At worst, your caffeine cravings will get the best of you. (There was no reason to yell at that sweet old lady when she couldn’t tell you where the nearest Starbucks was, Jantzen. Now you have that big soldier over there looking crossly at you.)
4 If you go to the cornerstone laying, do not ask for directions to the Washington monument. If you do, at best, someone will point to George. At worst, whoever you ask will begin to suspect you are not from around there. (Since the monument wasn’t started until 1848, Janyd, you’ll gather a crowd who may not like your time-travel story.)
3 If you go to the cornerstone laying, do not ask about the Secret Service protecting the President. If you do, at best, no one will care. At worst, they might ask why you think the President needs protecting. (Since the Secret Service wasn’t established until 1865, Japhet, those police officers will wonder why you are so concerned. Maybe time to leave.)
2 If you go to the cornerstone laying, do not ask the architect why he forgot a fence? If you do, at best he’ll tell you there is no need since the President doesn’t keep cows. At worst, the idea will get passed around, and someone will suggest one be put in. (In effect, you caused a time tear, Jarah, since Thomas Jefferson helped build one in 1801)
1 If you go to the cornerstone laying, do not offer to help carry the stone. If you do, at best, it will arrive in one piece. At worst, it was a little heavier than you thought, and now it is lying in two chunks on the ground. (Yeah, I would say it is time to run, not walk, to the time machine, Jari. I think your work is done here, and about 200 folks would love to wring your neck.)
Today we are wrapping up the Lakeway Hispanic Heritage Walk. If you missed last week’s part 1, you can go HERE to catch up. We are being catered by Cafe No Se in Austin. Yes, they have catered to us before, but we enjoyed their food. Our entertainment is War.
The familiar routine of morning coffee, followed by bedlam, is comforting even though it’s annoying. A touch of the two coffee icon on the touchscreen brings the coffee machine to life. The first sip quells the jackhammer-on-concrete noise in my head from caffeine withdrawal. The second sip is accompanied by the Westminster chime of the doorbell and the simultaneous baying of Twiggy and Tempeste, obviously auditioning for guardians of the gates of hell. Two new toys tossed into the soundproof room, followed by the door’s slam, brings the kind of peace Leon Bridges describes in the song Peaceful Place.
A glance at the security monitor shows Horton the Elephant on a nest on the porch. He has an envelope and clipboard. Obviously, the security shutdown process needs to begin.
The B-2 bomber squadron and the F-35 escort must be called off. One call does it. The tank corps and gunboats are told to stand by. The Apache helicopters are rerouted. The electric shock fence is turned off. The drawbridge over the quicksand is lowered. The robot attack dogs returned to their charging station. The laser-guided machine guns on the roof are set to caution. The nest filled with rattlesnakes put away. The bucket filled with 1000 marbles is locked down. The tear gas canisters shut off. The electrified welcome mat set to off. The fall-away sidewalk into the pit filled with spikes is locked. The hornet’s nest closed. The water cannons are set to safety. Bear traps are set to off. Peregrine Falcons perched on the roof above front door fed. The vat of boiling oil set to warm. Monty Python’s Harmless Little Rabbit’s cage is closed. The front door is opened.
Horton passes me the envelope and clipboard. The signed document, with a fiver clipped to the board, is returned. The question, “How long are you going to sit on Mayzie’s egg?” goes unasked, and the front door closes.
The envelope is from Linda Hill. The letter inside reads:
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “familiar.” Use it the way you’d like. Enjoy!
Today’s Good News story comes from Facebook. Thanks to Tom Okragly for bringing it to my attention.
A 16-YEAR-OLD MEXICAN STUDENT HAS DEVELOPED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER THAT USES SOUND INSTEAD OF WATER OR CHEMICALS
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Ángela Karime Venegas Hernández, a 16-year-old student at CETIS 78 in Altamira, Tamaulipas, Mexico, developed an experimental device called “Vortex Tech.” According to the report, the prototype uses a 12-volt battery, a frequency generator, and a speaker that produces 30 pulses per second. The resulting vibrations reportedly disrupt the conditions around a flame by pushing oxygen away.
In tests described by the report, the device extinguished flames in approximately 5–8 seconds. Ángela reportedly tested it more than 100 times, and the article says it worked on wood, flammable liquids, cooking grease, and electronic equipment. The reported advantage is that the method produces no water or chemical residue.
What started as a school experiment has now become Vortex Tech, with Ángela reportedly selected to represent Mexico at an international fair. The concept uses acoustic energy to interfere with combustion rather than relying on conventional extinguishing agents.
Important: These performance claims come from the source report and should not be interpreted as evidence that the prototype can replace certified commercial fire extinguishers or handle large fires. Independent testing and technical validation would be needed before anyone could consider such a system for real-world fire safety.
Could sound waves become another tool for fighting fires in the future?
A bit of historical context: the underlying technology isn’t entirely new. DARPA ( Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) demonstrated acoustic fire suppression back in 2012 under its **Instant Fire Suppression** program, and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory later supported additional research into using acoustics to extinguish flames. George Mason University students also demonstrated a handheld version in 2015.
The good news here is seeing a 16-year-old take an established scientific principle and engineer her own functional approach. That deserves recognition. Today’s JohnKu talks about original discovery. I hope you have a lovely weekend.
I am at Teri’s place today. Bad Moon Rising is a feature now in its Eleventh year. An outstanding lineup of authors answers three of Teri’s fun questions and three about writing.
Teri Polen reads and watches horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. The Walking Dead, Harry Potter, and anything Marvel-related are likely to cause fangirl delirium. She lives in Bowling Green, KY, with her husband, sons, and black cat. Her debut novel, Sarah, was named a horror finalist in the 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.
Today I randomly opened Eternal Road – The Final Stop to page 143 and, with my eyes closed, pointed to the page. “Direct ” is the word closest to my finger. That is our prompt today.
“This next mission is going to be a tough one. I’ll need every one of you to do your best. Any questions?”
“Sir?”
“Yes, Jones.”
“You indicated that the plan is an all-out direct assault.”
“That’s right.”
“That’s going to be costly in terms of casualties.”
“We all signed up for that, Jones.”
“I know, sir, but I have an idea.”
“Oh, do tell.”
“Instead of a direct assault, we break up into groups and hit the target from several angles.”
“Hmm. Tell me more.”
“Well, in that way we neutralize the threat and at least save some of the troops for a later engagement should it be needed.”
“Are you sure separate attacks will neutralize the threat?”
“I have seen these kinds of attacks before. The enemy comes in with bravado and even killer gas. After a couple of hits, they pull back immediately. Deep down, they are very soft.”
“I must say you have seen more action than I have. Okay, let’s go with your plan. Okay, everyone, you heard it. We are going to attack the enemy in groups. Simpson, you and your troops are group one. Jones, you are group two. Kawolski, group three. Here are the targets. Any other questions?”
“Sir.”
“Yes, Kawolski.”
“What if this dope doesn’t retreat?”
“Just have your troops keep biting. Remember, you are fire ants, and those tall ones can’t stand for long. Besides, your target is the ankle, and that is the tender zone.”
This week marks the anniversary of the first live radio broadcast of a football game in 1921. The game was played at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Harold W. Arlin of radio station KDKA announced the game. The University of Pittsburgh Panthers beat the West Virginia University Mountaineers 21 to 13. (Not much has changed there. This rivalry began in 1895, and so far, the University of Pittsburgh has won the meeting more times than West Virginia University. It is called the Back Yard Brawl because the two schools are only 70 miles apart.) I think we ought to go to the game rather than listen on the radio. Well, bring the radio along too. It might be fun to see how close the announcer’s description is to the real action. As usual, there are rules to follow, so we don’t create a tear in the time continuum. Take this list with you. This list first ran on October 7, 2019
Top Ten Things Not to Do at the First Live Radio Broadcast of an American Football Game.
10 If you are at the game, do not think you can listen to the broadcast on streaming audio via Spotify. If you do, at best, those around you will be too interested in the game to notice your cell phone. At worst, the usher will spot your phone and ask you to follow him. (For heaven’s sake, Jacquez, don’t go. You really want to explain that you are from the year 2026? They’ll have a padded room reserved for you.)
9 If you are at the game, do not tell Tiny the WWF Champ and hot dog vendor that his hot dogs are old. If you do, at best, he will think you said “cold” and laugh at the joke. At worst, Tiny, who just left his self-esteem support group, will think you are criticizing him. (No matter what you say, Jad, you are in for an overhead pinwheel and body toss just as if you were in the ring. The landing on the bleachers, however, won’t be as soft.)
8 If you are at the game, do not wear your Mountaineer coon-skin cap while sitting in the Pitt section. If you do, at best, a kindly person behind you will ask you to remove it. At worst, a not-so-kindly person behind you will remove it. (There you have it, Jadrein. Your hat is back and filled with who knows what liquid. No, don’t drink out of your hat, you idiot. You have no idea what that is, even though it looks like beer.)
7 If you are at the game, do not suggest to the fans to burn a sofa when they get home to Morgantown. If you do, at best, WVU is ahead at the time. At worst, the fan will think you are a Pitt fan. (You see, Jael, WVU fans only burn sofas when they win. That big guy with the red eyes and WVU shirt thinks you are mocking him.)
6 If you are at the game, do not suggest to the Pitt fans that the game be played next year in Morgantown. If you do, at best, they will laugh at your joke. At worst, they will think you are a WVU fan. (The first game of the rivalry was not played in Morgantown until 1963. Is it any wonder these Pitt fans are now crowd surfing you to the exit, Jafari?)
5 If you are at the game, do not bring your Mountaineer musket into the stands. If you do, at best, most of the fans will clear out. At worst, you will come face to face with several Pitt fans all dressed as panthers. (What are you going to do now, Jagmeet? The way they are growling, they seem to be serious.)
4 If you are at the game, do not tease Roc the panther. If you do, at best, Roc will be used to it. At worst, Roc has made up his mind to bite the twelfth person who teases him. (Not-so-good news, Jahi. The eleventh just left.)
3 If you are at the game, do not sing the WVU fight song if you don’t know the words. If you do, at best, the noise will drown you out. At worst, your fellow WVU fans will realize you are different. ( Lucky for you, Jahnu, you now get to see the game from the parking lot.)
2 If you are at the game, do not try to find a plug for that old Philco radio. If you do, at best, you burn a lot of calories. At worst, someone will eventually come to believe you stole the radio. (Hauling it up and down the stadium stairs made you look very much out of place, Jair. Maybe you should just park it in the clubhouse. Wait, there’s a plug.)
1 If you are at the game, do not start quoting stats of the various players. If you do, at best, people will move away from you. At worst, they will think you are from a different planet. (In the 20s, hardly anyone paid attention to the stats, Jaison. It was a matter of win or lose. All those yards gained rushing and passing, as well as turnovers, were blurred by actually watching the game instead of a talking head.)
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