Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF and Good News Friyay

~ John W. Howell

It is Friday again, and we are so grateful that we didn’t miss it. Today is also Good News Friyay, and we have two stories.

The first story is about the preliminary test of the Boyan Slat ‘Jenny’ Ocean clean-up system.

Photo courtesy of The Ocean Cleanup

Boyan Slat’s team removed 20,000 pounds of plastic debris from one of the significant “plastic islands” in the Pacific on the first trial of his System 002 nicknamed “Jenny.” It is a system where two boats pull a  u-shaped collection device. (pictured) “The Great Pacific Garbage Patch can now be cleaned,” announced Dutch entrepreneur Boyan Slat, the wunderkind inventor who’s spent a decade inventing systems for waterborne litter collection. This means the 1.4 trillion pieces of plastic down to 1mm in size can be removed from the oceans by 2040.

Photo courtesy of the Ocean Cleanup

A shot of the plastic picked up. See any of your stuff in there?

Our second story is just plain good news for one person Randy Bachman of The Guess Who and Bauchman Turner Overdrive. Of course, we can all feel good about one guy who heard the story of Randy having his guitar stolen out of his hotel room and searched the world till he found it.

Photo courtesy of Randy Bachman

William Long is a fan of Bachman’s and he heard that Randy had worked long and hard as a kid to buy the $400.00 1957 Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins model in Western Orange. The guitar was stolen in 1976 and Long did some internet work and found it in Tokoyo Japan. Long reached out to Bachman who in turn had his Japanese daughter-in-law contact the current owner. The owner was more than pleased to return the guitar to Bachman if a replacement could be found. Bachman went to work and found one that was made at the same time on the same bench. This was out of the 40 Gretsch’s known to exist. An exchange is being arranged. The good news of this story is someone cared enough to look for the guitar and another cared enough to return it to it’s original owner.

Today’s JohnKu talks about helping each other. I hope you have a grand weekend.

Help by John W. Howell © 2021

When we see someone,

Who needs help out of trouble. . .

Do we lend a hand?

 

 

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Published by John W. Howell

I have been working in business for over forty years and now have the time to work in special areas of interest. My passion has always been to create compelling stories of fiction. I have authored six novels and am working on my Seventh. The first novel is still in manuscript form and being utilized as a door stop in the laundry room. The second is a contemporary fiction novel of 89,000 words and is complete and I am currently seeking a publisher. I also write poetry but have not had the guts to share any with anyone. The one time I read a piece to a person their only comment was, “it doesn’t rhyme.” I will continue to write and hopefully my blog, Fiction Favorites at www.johnwhowell.com will provide some entertainment and an interesting thought or two. I live in the Austin area with my wife Molly and an assortment of loving pets.

92 thoughts on “Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF and Good News Friyay”

  2. Two splendid stories John. Enough to lighten almost any mood. I think if we can help someone in need, it’s our duty to do so. Pay it Forward as we never know when it might be us.
    Have a Great Weekend.
    Hugs

    Liked by 2 people

  3. I was going to write about that garbage patch clean. What a great idea, by a kid. Which just goes to show that all the talk about how the current generation doesn’t have a clue, well . they most certainly do.

    I really love that you include these stories on Friday now, Boss.

    Liked by 2 people

  5. I’ve read about some other, smaller cleaning techniques. I think one was installed in a U.S. city. Creativity is a great thing. And who doesn’t love the return of a guitar? That it came back to Bachman’s even better. BTO’s always been one of my favorite groups; it makes me happy to know that little bit of history was restored to its owner.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Yes it is a good story about Randy. Ocena Clean-up is now looking at smaller ways to clean rivers. Once the ocean is clean the rivers are the main sources of the plastic.

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  8. With the plastic waste i remember a lot of things. Its definitely not deposed by the citizens of Atlantis. 😉 Whats a guitarist without his beloved instrument. Great, that he got it back. Thanks for the entertaining as well als highly informative posting, John! Enjoy a nice Friday! xx Michael

    Liked by 4 people

  9. Both stories give me more reason to hope, John. Hope for the planet and hope for mankind. There are good people out there, and there are smart people coming along. Thanks for starting my Friday on an up not. I hope you kick off a great weekend today.

    Liked by 4 people

  10. It makes me feel good to see people cleaning up the oceans!!
    Happy endings to 2 stories, John, you do good work here! We get enough bad news on the media!!

    Liked by 3 people

  12. Two great stories, John. I’m really enjoying this new friday approach. I think anything to reduce plastics is welcome and am glad to see someone is trying. I also like the idea of finding the guitar after decades of it missing.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. They have some electronic gear which allows them to avoid fish. It is very complex and one of the problems that had to be solved before it was workable solution. They are very proud that they have worked it out. BTW they are producing glasses frames with the plastic recycle and other products to come. Thanks, Charles.

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  20. I love your new addition of feel-good stories, John (And I’m gonna tell you that no way does Marc feel you are stepping in any toes!) I remember hearing about this kid and wondering if the world was gonna take him up on his invention. You have made my day by letting me know yes.

    Love the Randy Bachman story. He had a show on our national radio station (so bummed it is no longer a thing – he did it for so long, I can understand but we always want more, eh?). Anyway, he mentioned the losing of that guitar more than once. How fantastic that someone made this effort just because he is a good person.

    Perfect JohnKu.

    Have a joyous Friday, John!

    Liked by 2 people

  21. What fantastic and uplighting stories, John. I love that Randy got his guitar back after all this time, and it’s great seeing a light cast on the problem with plastic pollution in our oceans. Are you familiar with 4 Ocean? Those guys are doing great work, too.
    Thanks for the wonderful Friday feel good shares. Have an awesome weekend!

    Liked by 3 people

  23. That ocean clean up story gives me hope. Had not heard about it. I hate seeing how much trash goes into our oceans and bays. Two more good stories – you are doing your part, John, to focus on the good. TGIF to you!

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  25. I love both stories, John 🙂 I’m relieved we are cleaning up the ocean and inspired that things we love make their way back to us.

    Liked by 1 person

  27. Wonderful stories, dear John! So necessary for our time. The plastic idea is brilliant. However, I always wonder those who throw garbage in rivers, lakes, seas or oceans. Are they insane? Have a nice eco week-end. I suppose that Twiggy’s new ball is still in trend. 🌸🌸🌸

    Liked by 1 person

  30. Two feel-good stories. I would love to see the Jenny in action. Not to be a downer, but one has to consider the fuel it takes to retrieve the waste.

    I haven’t heard of BTO in decades yet. I played one of their vinyl albums forever. How can we forget You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet?” Very cool that Randy got his guitar back.

    Liked by 1 person

  34. What an incredible invention to remove all the human garbage from the ocean. If only they could invent something for the big cities. Such a feel-good story about the guitar. It’s great to know there are still good people in the world. And such a powerful JohnKu! Thank you for sharing!

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  35. Fab stories, John. I just wonder, now that all that plastic is cleaned up, and back on dry land, what will be done with it?
    You’re JohnKu is more than poignant. Amazing how a few simple words can send a mind spinning!

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