“Boss. Twiggy keeps running away.”
“Isn’t that what tag is all about?”
“Not when one gets older it isn’t.”
“You’ll be fine. Go get her.”
It is Friday again and the beginning of that period of rest that we all need. I hope your week went well.
We all learned that the CDC issued some revised guidelines for mask-wearing. They advise mask-wearing even if fully vaccinated in public places, indoors in those areas where there is a high and substantial level of Covid transmission rates. This covers about 225 million Americans or about 63% of the population. So if your area has between 50 and 100 new cases per 100,000 population or a positivity testing rate of 8% to 10%, then you are in a substantial to high transmission rate area.
Also, the CDC is recommending those school-age children in grades K through 12 wear masks when they go back to school. This has caused so much confusion in the school districts here in Texas. The governor issued a directive that school districts and communities are not allowed to mandate mask-wearing, so at best, any decision on masks has to be an advisory position. Texas shares the no-mask mandate with Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Montana, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Makes your head spin.
We also learned this week that eating foods high in flavonoids can help beat cognitive decline. To all you youngsters out there, this knowledge has little relevance. To we old codgers, what it means is all the strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, cherries, red cabbage, onions, peppers, kale, parsley, black tea, oolong tea, green tea, wine, chocolate, soybeans, and citrus, that we have consumed is keeping our cognitive abilities from diving into the dirt. This was a study done over a 25 year period with 75,000 participants, and results were published in the American Academy of Neurology journal. So keep eating and drinking that stuff, and if you are not eating or drinking it, you should start.
Today’s JohnKu talks about cognitive decline. I hope you have a super weekend.
Cognitive Decline by John W. Howell © 2021
To protect the brain,
Flavonoids are wonderful . . .
Give me some more wine.
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Cheers, John! I think we all need more. 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend yourselves. X
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You as well, Dina. The dark chocolate is calling me by name. 😁
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I stopped drinking wine five years ago, John, but I’ll go along with the rest of the advice. Have a good weekend. We’re off to the zoo on Sunday, and I shall be driving south to my old haunt at The Hawk Conservancy Trust next week (210 miles, which means two recharging stops each way).
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How long does a recharge take?
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I’ve only ever charged at home so far; this will be my first long trip. From what I’ve read, it should be about 30 minutes.
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Okay, so you can stretch your legs, have a cuppa and then be on your way. Do they charge you a fee?
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Some charging points are free but most make you pay. Either way, I wouldn’t expect more than about £20. The same journey in Clare’s very economic diesel estate would cost more than £50.
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They are mostly free here.
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It will take more than that to tempt me to move to Texas, John 🤠
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I think you are well placed where you are, Keith. Texas ain’t your kind of town.
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Knew all that wine and chocolate would turn out to be a good thing!😉
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Yes indeed, Lori. Sounds like we should do more. 😁
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Good to know about the hedge against cognitive decline!
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I thought it was interesting and shareable. Thanks, Liz.😁
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You’re welcome, John.
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I with you! Cheers!🍷
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Hahaha 🛢
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Wine and chocolate are healthy? Finally some good news.
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Yes, good news for sure.😁
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I immediately seized on the wine and chocolate news. Take the wins where we can! Have a great weekend.
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Yes indeed. Have a great weekend as well, Staci. 😁
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Chocolate and wine! You just set me up for an amazing weekend 🤣. If anyone questions me, I can blame it on that author guy in America 😂 Great haiku. Have a wonderful weekend, John and everyone 🍷🍷🍷🙂
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Yes blame me for sure, Harmony. I stand behind the research and a huge bottle of wine. 😁 Have a super weekend.
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I like your plan with the wine, but that gives me a stomach ache – so…. I’ll have a bowl of fruit with my cocktail and I should be covered!
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You can marinate the fruit in the cocktail for a change up. Thanks, GP. I think you’re covered. 😁 Have a dark chocolate bar just to make sure.
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Just putting my shoes on to go buy all the fruit and chocolate I can. Damn the diabetes. Have a Great Weekend John.
Hugs
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Sorry about the no wine deal. Good luck on the other stuff though. Thanks, David.
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Finally! A health benefit for all the tea I’ve been drinking. My memory should last as long as I do.
Happy Friday, John.
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Yes it should. Maybe switching to wine will make that memory hum. 😁
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And pass the chocolate.
Have a great weekend, John.
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Thnaks, Dan. Have a great one as well.
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Of course the States with the no-mask policies are also the ones with the highest levels of transmission rates. Maths seems pretty darn simple to me.
As for the flavenoids, I nod as I eat my yogurt with blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and look at my snack bag full of cherries. Chocolate is always within reach and wine, well, hello? Of course! All those veggies are on my list. The only place I am lacking is in the tea department. Hmmm…
Happy Friday to you, you highly cognitive gent (I ain’t using old codger)…
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A nice iced green tea would do the trick. (with a sprig of mint)
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Oooh… Now you’re talking. Of course, today, I just about near froze (a slight exaggeration) on my morning walk in the rain. Warm tea would have been better – though coffee was what I had!
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Yeah I’m sitting in 79 degree soon to be 100 temps. I forget about the Northern territory. Stay warm then.
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Yeah… that ain’t in our sights for the next good while, it appears. Bummer. Tomorrow is my mother’s surprise 80th birthday shindig and we are only expecting 73 with mostly sun – mind you, that is rather comfortable just not conducive to using the swimming pool!
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Your mom and I are the same age. Happy Birthday, Mom.
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Indeed! Her official birthday is August 5th, but we are surprising her tomorrow 😉
And thank you 🙂
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Nice.
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Flavonoids? Maybe I can make them into an alien species in a story. Black market pets that make you smarter.
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Go for it.
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Chocolate is the answer to almost everything. I keep it close at hand and thanks to you, I now have another reason to reach for a bite. Have a wonderful weekend, John. 😊
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Thank you, Gwen. Have a wonderful weekend as well. Those Dove darks are the answer. 😁
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You are SO right about the confusing mask/no mask mandates, John. I hate to see our children have to go back to having the masks on all day for school, as we will see another rise in strep throat. The doctors all agree that breathing the bacteria back in is the cause. I don’t know. It definitely is enough to make the head spin. Love the JohnKu and the flavonoid advice! I will continue to consume these wonderful brain foods and drinks! Here’s to chocolate and wine! The perfect combo!
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I agree on the chocolate and wine combo. Have a super weekend, Jan. 😁
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You know, eating and drinking all the “right” stuff can still result in cognitive decline. But at least that list is tastier than Lima beans and cauliflower, right?!? Happy weekend, John!
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Yes. Cognative decline has many causes. You are right about the taste though. Let’s see. Limas or wine. Tough choice. 😁
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Your side yard is gorgeous, John. I know the girls are enjoying it. I do like wine and various berries, so I’ll just keep at it!
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Good idea, Noelle.Keep it up.
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Wine and chocolate…my personal favorite flavonoids but your list includes some other tasty things.
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Yes we have been eating a lot of berries and enjoying them.
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What…no wine or chocolate? 🤣
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Those are a given.
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This is interesting, John. My sons have been wearing a mask every day for school since last year August when the lockdown ended. They have not been sick once since they started wearing them to school. I don’t have any problem wearing a mask and also prefer it because I too have been illness free. I am glad we have to wear masks here, they are very sanatory.
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Colds and flu are spread just like COVID. I have been wearing a mask on airplanes for years.
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I raise my glass of wine to each of my brother and sister authors! Have some chocolate, sip the wine, enjoy the sun and the wonders of nature…and laugh! Those are the sure cures for anything and everything.
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Wonerful toast, Karen. Thank you. ❤️
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Great news about wine and chocolate, John. You made my day! 🙂 Cheers! 🍷😁
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Glad to help, Lauren.
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I do like that list of what to eat… or drink. I’m all for it. I went back to wearing mask mainly to keep the grandkids safe.
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I’m wearing a mask mainly to keep me safe.
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Ah, chocolate and wine … that’s my cup of tea 😉
Ah, Texas and Florida, seemingly joined at the hip ;-(
Yeah, our county’s case positivity rate was at 15%, last time I looked. Meanwhile, FL’s governor has been hanging out in Texas and Utah.
We rejoined our gym a few weeks ago, before cases started to spike. The vaccination rate in our county is only 51% so we’re pretty sure that a lot of the unmasked people at the gym haven’t been vaccinated. Ick. We wear our masks at the gym, for the most part. When I’m on the elliptical or treadmill, I have to take it off otherwise I fear I’d pass out. But I keep my distance from others.
Oh, well, that month when we thought things were getting better was nice!
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Yes Texas and Florida. I wear my mask and also bring my own anti-viral wipes. If people get too close I cough. Usually gets them to vacate.
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Heh heh 😉
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Now that wine is officially in the game winning playbook, I’ll have to celebrate with a glass or two next weekend. Tonight’s drink, martinis, was already set in stone . . .
Have a great weekend Boss
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Yup. Make mine a Tanqueray on the rocks with three olives please.
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You know the drill.
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Here’s my bucket. Gin please.
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Oh, we’re talking buckets. You are my kind of company, sir.
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Hahaha.
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Ha, ha! Your Johnku is hilarious this week, John. Well, berries and citrus fruits are my favorite. I drink green tea with lemon every morning. I eat and drink everything on that list except for soybeans.
I’ll be wearing a mask in public places. Stay healthy and safe! ❤
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Soybeans are good. Try an Edamame recipe https://www.acouplecooks.com/easy-edamame/
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I’ve had them and they are good, but because of my UT cancer history my Oncologists advised me not to eat them. 🙂
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Good idea. Gotta stay ahead of that stuff. Best wishes, Vashti. 😊
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Thanks for the laughs, John. Can you believe we have to go through this again with the masks? Get the darn vaccination, people! 99% of the people dying are unvaccinated. This isn’t rocket science.
Can I get my strawberries in a daiquiri?🤣
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You bet on the daiquiri. I can’t believe these people who refuse to get vaccinated. Asking for trouble.
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Not to mention prolonging this thing for the rest of us. I’m usually pretty understanding of others’ choices, but this one is hard to wrap my brain around.
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Me too.
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Cheers, John. Your yard looks wonderful!
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Than you, Becky. 😁
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Here’s to an excellent list of what to eat and drink. Our school districts are up in arms and full of confusion on mandating masks for children.
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I can imagine. Glad I have no kids in school.
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It is very hard for parents.
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I would just mask my kid or keep them home.
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Good choice to mask the kid.
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Yes.
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Cheers to that list!
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😁
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Cheers for flavonoids, especially the wine! Thanks, John, as I had not seen the report. I need all the help I can get at this age.
Your yard looks great!
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Thank you, Jo. The wine is most important. 😁
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I say, dear John! Now I know why my brains functions well…yet. I take plenty of black tea everyday. Earl Grey is my favourite. The Green Turf Friday is certainly calling for a nice barbeque! 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Yes a barbeque would work well. 😁
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I hope fire is not dangerous for the artificial turf.
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Very dangerous. That’s why the grill is on concrete. 😊
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How about that…I’m drinking red wine! It’s the only alcohol I like.
As a vegetarian almost my entire life, I eat all the foods you talk about, aplenty!
Hmm, I could be so rich in flavonoids that I’m overly cognitive. I’ll probably still be cognitive in my urn!
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Your cognatation may be eternal. 🤣
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Oboy!!!
Hmm….????
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🤣
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[…] Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF […]
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Thank you for sharing.
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