“How about a game of tag.”
“Sounds good. It’s Friday after all.”
“I’ll give you to the count of three.”
“Make it five and you have a deal.”
Another Friday is in the history book. This has been an unusual week.
We saw space tourists, riots in South Africa and Cuba. Flooding in Germany. More fires in California and a big brouhaha over the wearing of masks when the kids go back to school.
The Surfside Flordia Condo collapse toll rose to 95, and the rescue efforts have turned to recovery. A little prayer for those who lost loved ones.
The Texas State Democratic representatives walked out of the special legislative session and flew to Washington on a chartered airplane. They are attempting to halt election reform legislation. Unfortunately, they have also stopped other bills whose intent is to serve the people of Texas. The only comment I have is that if you are an elected member of the legislative branch, you should be willing to serve and not just bug out when things don’t go your way.
COVID cases are on the rise. 11,000 last week, 25,000 this week. Deaths are still stable but are expected to rise along with the new cases. As long as people refuse to get vaccinated, this will be the norm after every holiday.
The news has not done much with the story, but BLM leadership on their official Twitter account has condemned the US for its economic sanctions against Cuba. It also came out in support of the Communist regime in Cuba even as folks are dying who oppose the government there. Gotta think something is wrong with that stance.
As I mentioned quite a week. Today’s JohnKu talks about the news. I hope you all have a great weekend.
The News by John W. Howell © 2021
It all can’t be good,
But when bad it is awful. . .
Have to move forward.
Fiction Favorites 
Dear John.
thanks for John’s News Service.
The floods in Germany are disastrous. It’s the biggest catastrophe after WWII. My sister is safe but living in Cologne she is directly confronted with the disasters in the Rhine valley.
Wishing you a relaxed weekend
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Having visited Cologne regularily when I worked for Bayer, I can relate. I pray your sister remains safe.
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Dear John,
from my sister’s bedroom one can see the ‘Bayer-Kreuz’ on the main factory in Leverkusen.
Fortunately my sister is safe but without electricity and she can’t leave her house because her part of the city is a kind of an island. She told me yesterday that it’s in a way unreal like in a horror movie as there are cars, parts of houses and lot of trees etc. drifting high speed down the Rhine. Hanne has a friend at one of the tributaries of the Rhine. Half of her little town has vanished and those few houses which still stand are not save. The problems are now the dams in the Bergische Land that are in danger to break. Another problem are the roads. In some parts of Germany roads and motorways were gone within minutes. So it’s a big problem for rescue teams to reach places where help is necessary and there are not enough helicopters. Well, it is desastrous and sounds like war.
In the part of Cologne where my sister lives police and the firebrigades are driving around asking people for food and clothing.
Anyway, that’s the situation in Germany right now. Everybody hopes that all the dams (die Talsperren) will hold otherwise there will be even much more desaster.
Thanks a lot for asking.
Wishing you a relaxing weekend
Klausbernd
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Thank you for sharing, Klausbernd. A prayer for all.
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Thank you very much
The Fab Four of Cley
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Prayers for the safety of your family
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I watch the news every morning and am increasingly sickened by what I see. I’m starting to think I’d be in better spirits during the day if I stopped watching. I know I’d be anxious not knowing what’s going on, but I’m anxious KNOWING what’s going on, so that’s probably not much of a change in status.
Have a great weekend, John.
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I know what you mean. I feel the same and get a helpless feeling as well when these events unfold. Moving forward is the best we can do, Thank you, Staci. 😊
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I feel the same as Staci. I want to stay informed, but watching the news is creating a lot of anxiety for me. I wonder if I walked out on my job, if I’d still get paid? Politicians, no matter the party affiliation act like a bunch kids. Let’s put politics aside and enjoy are weekend!
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Great idea, Jill. I would like to quit worrying about this crap for two days. Let’s do it. 😁
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We live in a crazy, mixed-up world. I have a friend of Cuban ancestry who lives in Miami. People should listen to the stories from her family who escaped the Communist regime or hear the horror stories from those who still live there.
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I agree, Joan. Anyone who believes Communism/Socialism is a good thing also should take a look at what happened to Venezuela. It’s frightening.
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There are plenty who hate our Democracy and don’t have the foresight to look at history or the effects of the loss of individual freedom. Sadly the US is going to be a very different place in the future if those that cherish individual rights don’t speak up and not be muzzled by ideological intimidation.
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You have to feel for those folks. They have been living with this since 1959 when Fidel took over. It is time for a change there and freedom loving people are giving up their lives to try and make it happen.. Thanks for sharing, Joan. 😊
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Unquestionably a crazy week – but if everyone just had the life of Twiggy and Lucy.
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They are living under a benevolant regime for sure. Thaks, Frank.
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We were warned so long ago about this. Humans just don’t wish to ‘put themselves out’. Now we all pay the consequences.
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Agreed, GP. Going along with the crowd is a dangerous path.
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This is why I take pictures of wildlife.
It has been a crazy week, John. Hopefully you can enjoy the weekend. Maybe sit under that new tree and have a glass of news-be-gone.
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News be gone is a great drink, Dan. I think I’ll do just that. Have a super weekend as well. 😁
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With all of this going on in the world, my brain needs a time out. I’ll take one of those chairs beside Lucy and Twiggy. Have a great weekend, John!
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Thank you, Teri. We all need a time out for sure. Have a great weekend as well. 🍸😁
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What a week indeed… Having visited Cuba, I can tell you that their life is not fun. When you tip your waitress from your favourite bar and she asks you instead to buy her shampoo that she is not allowed to, you see first hand what Communism means. When you go into the grocery stores the locals are allowed to shop in and see empty shelves meagrely stocked with only one brand of each item, you see it again. Flooding on one side of the world and fires on the other. Scary…
That said, I shall wish for you a Happy Friday and raise a glass of cheer!
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I wish everyone could have your experience, Dale. Most of the people who want to throw away our way of life have no idea. Thanks for sharing. Happy Friday to you and a raised glass too.
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Some see only what they want, anyway 🙂
I raise mine to yours. Chin-chin! 🍻
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Chin-chin.
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If the “woke” would wake and our paid representatives would represent us, we’d have a different world. Like everyone who’s responded, I’m deeply saddened by all that is going on. I turn to prayer and nature. The first involves my choice and my heart, the latter is my (our) reminder of all that is dear. We all need to stay close to our hearts, extend love as much as we can, and otherwise embrace God’s beautiful world on which we visit — as we move forward. 💗
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You have the best attutude, Gwen. I hope we are all not like a frog who can’t detect the rising temperature of the water before it is too late.🍸❤️
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Yeah. The world is definitely falling apart. I’m really at the point where I figure it’s just going to get worse before it even tries to get better. Too many egos and bloated opinions flying around instead of attempts to compromise or see the other side as human. And people wonder why aliens don’t come near this planet?
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Hahaha. They are wise to stay away. The minute they land someone will ask for a handout.
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You’ve capsulized the week’s news nicely, my friend. Things are definitely crazy. I no longer watch a steady stream of news (partially because I’m not in the news biz anymore and partially because it’s just too depressing/worrisome). But hey, your tree looks good — and seeing how BIG it is, no wonder it took so many workers to get it there and planted!
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Thank you, Debbie. At my age I don’t have time for a seedling for sure. 😁
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The news is not good. BLM has shown its true Marxist colors and the Biden administration is now partnering with Big Tech to weed out any public messaging that is at odds with that of the administration. I hate to say it but it’s beginning to look a lot like Venezuela, Cuba, North Korea, China, Russia, and the Nazi regime. What next, I wonder?
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I have to agree. The BLM story was cut off Twitter trending.
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I’ve always thought we needed an alternative news channel. One that covers positive things like scientific discovery or achievements in other areas. That way we could take a break from the regular news for a day or so.
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CBS Sunday Morning used to be that kind of program. Haven’t watched for years so don’t know if it is still the same.
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The world sure is in turmoil, John. The floods in Germany have been terrible.
Looks like you have some shingle to spare. Can I have some? I’m a few shovel-fulls short for the drain I’m laying. Have a good weekend.
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Should I send Fedex? Have a great weekend.
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I now know that when I’ve missed watching the news, I can tune into the JohnNewsBroadcast! What a world! The fires stress us out here in CA, but strife all over the world is heartbreaking. Thanks for the update and great words, John! ❤️
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Thank you, Lauren.
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Subscribing, John. Your weekly summary is about all I need.
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Lucky for my readers the other six days are more fun. Thanks, Jacqui.
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Couldn’t agree more. Have a wonderful weekend, John. I’m trying to figure out what ‘the frog, the hog and the dog’ are up to next😉
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It will come to you I’m sure.
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I try to stay informed but have had to limit my news time. It stresses me too much. So much going on, I wish more of it was good. It seems there is one disaster after another lately.
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I agree.
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There’s so much going on in the world, it’s hard to keep track. I wish government leaders had to spend even a week in some of the conditions they expect their citizens to survive in, maybe it would open some eyes.
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Good idea, Jacquie.
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As usual, your Johnku is on point. There’s so much going on this week it’s overwhelming. Like you wrote, there isn’t much we can do but move forward. Have a peaceful weekend, my friend. ❤
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Thank you, Vashti. 😊
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A strange week for sure, John! I agree that our Democratic legislators should not run away from their job just because they don’t get their way. Our rep is GOP. Our senator is a Democrat (female!) and has stayed to fight and do her job. It is going to be a long, hot summer! Stay cool! TGIF to you. Cheers!
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Yes it is, Jo. Try to stay cool.
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Twiggy Resort is a place of true peace in our hot times. Be it so, dear John! After almost three weeks of +35 hell, the weather is going to have mercy. However, heavy showers are expected. What a summer worldwide! 🌊🌊🌊⛱⛱⛱
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This is one summer we expect above 32 for the next few weeks. Sorry about your +35 hell. Do you have air conditioning?
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😑😑😑 Unfortunately, no! We are looking forward to install it soon! Such weather was rare exotic for us before…but this season has changed everything. So, we use some Russian archaic ways! 😁😁😁
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Like a bowl of ice and a fan?
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😋😋😋 Ice-cream & kvas, a traditional Russian rye drink perfect for the heat. 🍺
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The situation in Germany is devastating. I admit I can only handle news in small doses these days. I used to watch it faithfully but often find myself avoiding it—too depressing, too confusing, can I even trust it? I do like what you said–“If you are an elected member of the legislative branch, you should be willing to serve and not just bug out when things don’t go your way.” It’s a crazy world, and news reports do little to make it better. I wonder what Walter Cronkite would think of the state of reporting these days.
Happy Friday, John!
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I think Walter would walk off the job if he was asked to report the news like the current broadcasters. Thanks, Mae
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I’m in complete agreement, John!
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Humans are complex and frustrating creatures. Not everything in life is a giant conspiracy. You’ve managed to live through 80 years of this nonsense, John.
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And at times I wondered how. Thanks, Pete.
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It does feel biblical.. floods, fires, pestilence… is anyone watching to see if the frogs are breeding excessively?
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Or the locusts?
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Never let it be said we’ve forgotten the locusts
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They wouldn’t like that for sure.
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Reblogged this on NEW OPENED BLOG > https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thank you for the news, John! Great to have tree on his place.. I am sure Twiggy and Lucy will enjoy the shadow too. 😉 Have a beautiful weekend! xx Michael
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Thank you, Michael. Have a beautiful weekend as well.
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After reading your recap of the news, I think I hear the thundering hoofbeats of four horses.
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Can’t be too far away. 😁
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I’m afraid so . . .
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I can smell the oats on their breath
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Very busy week, full of not so good stuff. I wonder the same thing about our elected representatives. We ain’t paying them for a theatrical production. And as for BLM, their ideology is not something to rally behind.
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I agree, Marc. Thank you. BLM showed its Marxist side for sure. I hope people are paying attention.
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Sadly, these organizations sprout up during unrest. You gotta read the fine print though. . .
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So true. 😊
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Oh my goodness, John! There is so much turmoil in the world. I always feel like that somehow it all has to come to a head, but it never does. So, as you say, we keep moving forward. Love the JohnKu!
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That is all we can do. Thanks, Jan
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Yeesh. What a week. I stopped watching as much news as I used to, John, because I was getting so stressed out. Now I feel out of touch! Thanks for the updates!
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I know how you feel. Thanks, Diana
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Whew!!
Canada is burning down, too. We have a smoke advisory in Toronto, yet the fires are way up north.
Big fires, big smoke.
Lovin’ the Johnku.
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Sad thing too.
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I agree John, we can’t always focus on the bad. There is still plenty of good.
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One has to be a half-full person these days.
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Your JohnKu was spot on.
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