Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – “Move”

~ John W. Howell

A picture of a string with drops of water- the logo for SoCSA move to the coffee machine is necessary to find out what is taking so long. An investigation turns up the cause. The communication screen clearly asks if a regular cup or something special is required. Neglecting to make a choice sends the machine into hibernation. The original settings called for a regular 10 oz delivery. The machine must have taken some advice from the WordPress Happiness Engineers and decided to do something different. So the question is answered, and in a happy moment, the cup is delivered.

The clock is at hand, and after a sip of soothing syrup, the setting is May 24, 1924. The time is two hours, and the location is the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC. The plunger is pulled, and we arrive just in time to witness Calvin Coolidge signing the Immigration Act of 1924.

The act limited immigration in response to public and political anxiety about the country’s rapid social and demographic changes. The 1924 act supplanted earlier legislation by vastly reducing immigration from countries outside the Western Hemisphere: Immigrants from Asia were banned, and the total annual immigration quota for the rest of the world was capped at 165,000—an 80% reduction of the yearly average before 1914.

The law was passed in both houses of Congress with very few dissenting votes. A strong West Coast lobby effort designed to limit Asian immigration proved successful in the final passage of the law. The 1924 act would define U.S. immigration policy for nearly three decades, until being substantially revised by the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 and ultimately replaced by the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. The 1924 act also made provision for the founding of the US Border Patrol.

The act incensed the government of Japan, and some believe it laid the groundwork for the attack on the US in 1941.

It is a lovely day in Washington, and the signing ceremony on the South Lawn is brief. Our alarm goes off, and the couch becomes the new destination. A text notification comes through. It’s from Linda Hill and reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “move.” Use it as a verb or a noun; write the first thing that comes to mind. Have fun!

Move by John W. Howell © 2024

“Boy, times have changed.”

“I know. Can you imagine banning an entire culture in this day and age?”

“Yeah, I don’t even want to comment on that.”

“Wise man.”

“I see you snuck the prompt in early.”

“I had to. There was the opportunity, and I took it.”

“Speaking of opportunity.”

“You want to move to the pub?”

“You are a mind reader as well.”

“It doesn’t take a mind reader to figure out your move on a Saturday.”

“Bam. He does it again.”

“Uber?”

“Over there.”

Pixabay photo

“I would say you’re kidding, but I know that is not true.”

“Fully air-conditioned. Room for three. Yes, I’ll stand.”

“What did this cost?”

“Nothing. A friend of mine owns it. We just need to deliver a hay bale, is all.”

“To the pub?”

“No, there’s a farm a little bit out of the way.”

“How far out of the way?”

“Two hours.”

“Aw, man. Let’s just get a car.”

“And miss the fun?”

“I know I’m going to regret this.”

“It’ll be fun.”

“I’ve heard that before. Okay, Let’s go.”

“You won’t be sorry.”

“I think I already am.”

 

 

 

 

55 thoughts on “Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – “Move””

  2. We’re having mid-90’s to high 90’s temps this weekend, so I would nix the Uber this week – I need the AC for any trip, but 2 hour-long one?!! 😣🥵

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Riding to the pub in a John Deere would be interesting, since it’s air-conditioned. Whether it’s worth it to have a longer ride is a matter of opinion. Have a good weekend, John. 😉

    Like

  8. BAM! Direct hit!

    “The original settings called for a regular 10 oz delivery. The machine must have taken some advice from the WordPress Happiness Engineers and decided to do something different.”

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Sadly, it would seem that our immigration policy isn’t all that different from the Coolidge days. For a country of immigrants, some aren’t the slightest bit bashful about their biases.

    As always, you’ve met the challenge and dispatched it to the win column. Well done, John. You’ve earned a bonus VooDoo with this week’s edition.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Monika. I think there will come a time that folks will become more concerned about the open border policy that exists now. Thank you for allowing me an extra VooDoo. Maybe I’ll cash in next week. 😁

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Love those rolls of hay. They are massive.

    Actually, one could roll over a Voodoo Ranger with one, and that would be that for that one there, anyway.

    No, I’m not talkin’ a bottle of beer, I’m talkin’ the real deal!

    🧟‍♂️⚔️🧟‍♀️⚔️🧟⚔️

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The real deal is scary. I think it would take more than a bale of hay. Made me laugh through.
      🧟‍♂️⚔️🧟‍♀️⚔️🧟⚔️🧟⚔️

      Like

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