Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Company

November 1, 2025October 31, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 65 Comments

A coffee machine is not such good company until it spills forth that heavenly elixir that could be called the natural healer. When one’s brain is thumping on the innermost top of the skull, one sip can quell the monster trying to get out. As the machine delivers the goods, my mind wanders to a place where I wonder what it would be like without coffee. A shudder brings me back in time for that first sip. As the cup leaves my lips, the unmistakable cacophony of the combination of Westminster chimes and baying of the Baskerville hounds demands action before every window in the place is broken. A knucklebone thrown into the soundproof room, followed by the slamming of the door, brings back peace to the valley.

So another idiot could not read the DO NOT RING THE DOORBELL sign. Checking the security monitor, it is plain to see that the idiot is a large dog looking very much like Goofy. The usual conversation takes place over the intercom, and the predictable conclusion is that if I want my envelope delivered, I have to sign for it. I make preparations to turn off the security system.

The SWAT team needs to be put on standby. A quick text to the leader confirms that status. Also, the flight of A-10 Warthogs must be diverted. Another call to the commander puts that worry to rest. The SEAL team needs to be called off, and a call to the leader makes that possible. A call to the tow truck driver stops the deployment of an M1A1 Abrams Tank. The control panel simplifies the shutdown process of the security system. The boiling oil vats are put on standby, the turret mortars disengaged, the Trebuchet on safety, the concertina wire rolled, the Claymore mines reset, the tower Gatling guns on safety, the moat net dropped, the alligators fed, and the IEDs and shoulder-held rockets put away. The Proton torpedoes switched off. The gamma ray beams covered. The high-powered maser guns switched to standby, and the nanorobots chained in the basement. The locks on the door are thrown. And the door opened.

I’m handed a clipboard and asked to sign on line twelve. In exchange, I get my envelope. The goofy-looking character holds out his paw in the classic tip-request mode. “Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will,” I say as a tip before I slam the door. The envelope has a message from Linda Hill. It reads:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “company.” Use it as you see fit. Have fun!

To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link https://lindaghill.com/2025/10/31/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-nov-1-2025/©

“I thought you were going to talk about a business.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because the prompt word is company.”

“I just thought I would go in a different direction.”

“I saw that. A real quick use in the opening.”

“Yup.”

“How about you and I spend some time in the. Company of VooDooRangers?”

“Sounds good to me. Uber?”

“Right over there.”

“Now we’re talking. A nice Corvette.”

“Just one thing, though.”

“Of course there is. What is it?”

“We have to pay for the gas.”

“I thought that was included in the trip price.”

“Normally, yes. When I ordered the car, I said I wanted something fast.”

“Okay.”

“That puppy burns 110 octane fuel.”

“Oh. So a surcharge?”

“Yup. $10 a gallon.”

“Not bad. How many gallons could that monster possibly burn between here and the pub?”

“How far’s the pub?”

“Ten miles.”

“Yeah, that will be about five gallons.”

“Idiot.”

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News

October 31, 2025October 30, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 63 Comments

Today’s good news story comes from the Associated Press. Thank you to Noelle Granger for sharing the story with me.

One of the world’s rarest whales that makes the Atlantic its home grows in population

Scientists have reported an encouraging trend in the population growth of the North Atlantic right whale

By PATRICK WHITTLE Associated Press

PORTLAND, Maine — PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — One of the rarest whales on the planet has continued an encouraging trend of population growth in the wake of new efforts to protect the giant animals, according to scientists who study them.

The North Atlantic right whale now numbers an estimated 384 animals, up eight whales from the previous year, according to a report by the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium released Tuesday. Whales have exhibited a trend of slow population growth over the past four years.

It’s a welcome development in the wake of a troubling decline in the previous decade. The population of the whales, which are vulnerable to collisions with ships and entanglement in fishing gear, fell about 25% from 2010 to 2020.

The whale’s trend toward recovery is a testament to the importance of conservation measures, said Philip Hamilton, a senior scientist with the New England Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life. The center and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration collaborate to calculate the population estimate.

New management measures in Canada that attempt to keep the whales safe amid their increased presence in the Gulf of St. Lawrence have been especially important, Hamilton said.

“We know that a modest increase every year, if we can sustain it, will lead to population growth,” Hamilton said. “It’s just whether or not we can sustain it.”

Scientists have cautioned in recent years that the whale’s slow recovery is happening at a time when the giant animals still face threats from accidental deaths, and that stronger conservation measures are needed. But there are also reasons to believe the whales are turning a corner in terms of low reproduction numbers, Hamilton said.

The whales are less likely to reproduce when they have suffered injuries or are underfed, scientists have said. That has emerged as a problem for the whale because they aren’t producing enough babies to sustain their population, they’ve said.

However, this year, four mother whales had calves for the first time, Hamilton said. And some other, established mother whales had shorter intervals between calves, he said.

In total, 11 calves were born, which is less than researchers had hoped for, but the entry of new females into the reproductive pool is encouraging, Hamilton said.

And any number of calves is helpful in a year of no mortalities, said Heather Pettis, who leads the right whale research program at Cabot Center and chairs the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium

“The slight increase in the population estimate, coupled with no detected mortalities and fewer detected injuries than in the last several years, leaves us cautiously optimistic about the future of North Atlantic right whales,” Pettis said. ”What we’ve seen before is this population can turn on a dime.”

The whales were hunted to the brink of extinction during the era of commercial whaling. They have been federally protected for decades.

The whales migrate every year from calving grounds off Florida and Georgia to feeding grounds off New England and Canada. Some scientists have said the warming of the ocean has made that journey more dangerous because the whales have had to stray from established protected areas in search of food.

The good news in this story is after decades of being on the endangered list the North Atlantic right whale is holding its own and increasing in population. Today’s JohnKu talks about perseverance. I hope you have a lovely weekend.

Building Rome took time,

Saving a species does too . . .

Patience is required.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy and Tempeste Face a Weather change

October 30, 2025October 30, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 84 Comments

“Wow, Tempeste. What a difference a day makes.”

“Catch that refreshing air. This is going to be fun.”

“I agree. Looks like a good Panther/Puma day. What are you looking at?”

“Shush. It’s Dad with the iPhone again.”

“That’s okay. Just ignore him. He thinks he has to record our every moment.”

“Well, sometimes we should have our privacy. Say, what is the temperature out here?”

“Hey, Dad. What’s the temperature now?”

“Hold on, let me look.”

“Okay. It is 52 degrees (11.11 °C) right now.”

“That’s a little chilly for us. Thanks, Dad.”

“So let’s play. The puma spots the panther across the prairie.”

“The Panther starts to stalk the Puma, being careful not to make a sound.”

“The Puma waits in hiding for the Panther to get closer.”

“The Panther senses danger and decides it is time to strike.”

The puma hears a twig snap and gets ready for battle.”

“The Panther leaps at the unsuspecting Puma.”

“The Puma scores a direct hit on the Panther’s jaw.”

“The Panther is stunned for a moment.”

“The Puma roars in hopes of driving the Panther away.”

“The Panther pretends to be frightened.”

“The Puma figures the Panther is faking being frightened.”

“The Panther gets low to the road in preparation for another strike.”

The Puma gets ready for another onslaught of Panther aggression.”

“Snarling the Panther comes in low for a throat chomp.”

“Again, the Puma deflects the attack, and the crowd goes wild.”

“The Panther snaps, hoping to catch an ear.”

“The Puma floats like a butterfly.”

“The Panther stings like a bee.”

“What are you pausing for?”

“Do you ever get the feeling you are being watched?”

“Well, yes. That’s the whole idea of the blog.”

“It is concerning sometimes.”

“You just have to get over it. Let’s continue.”

Tuesday Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – Throat

October 28, 2025October 27, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 62 Comments

Today I opened Detour on the Eternal Road to page 69. With eyes closed, I pointed to the page. My finger fell on the word “we are,” but the visible words were “her” and “throat.” I made an executive decision and chose ‘throat’ as our prompt. Also, I apologize for the blurry words. My iPhone was set incorrectly, so I got a nice, clear shot of my hand, but the background took a hit.

“You have a lovely throat.”

“Oh, stop. Do you know how many times I have heard that line?”

“You must believe it then.”

“Well, it is graceful.”

“And so pure looking.”

“What is with you anyway?”

“Please pay no attention to me. I have a neck fetish.”

“But you mentioned my throat.”

“Well, that goes hand in hand with the neck thing.”

“How did you happen to get like this?”

“It’s a long story.”

“I have plenty of time.”

“It may be a bit disturbing.”

“Look at me. Do you think I frighten easily?”

“I must say you do exhibit a lack of fear.”

“So tell me the story.”

“Okay. One night I was walking by the lake—”

“This lake?”

“As a matter of fact, yes.”

“Go on.”

“I decided to sit and rest since I had been walking for a while. While looking at the full moon reflected in the water, I felt a presence—”

“A ghost?”

“No, it turns out it was someone who looked very much like me.”

“This is getting good. Go on.”

“When I turned, there he was. Very handsome with an air of royalty —”

“He had a crown?”

“No, it was the way he held himself. Very regal and confident. He asked my name and then asked if he could sit with me. Something made me say yes, and so he sat. I can barely recall our discussion, but at one point he leaned over and I thought he was going to kiss me —”

“Wait. A guy was going to kiss you?”

“Yes, as it turned out, that didn’t happen.”

“What happened?”

“He bit me on the neck.”

“What?”

“You heard me. He bit me, and I passed out. When I woke, he was gone.”

“You must have been terrified.”

“Actually, I was at peace except for the side effects of the bite.”

“What side effects?”

“I can’t stand the daylight or garlic, and I have this overwhelming desire to bite others on the neck.”

“You are a vampire?”

“Yes.”

“No wonder you liked my neck.”

“Such a beautiful neck.”

“I think you’ll have to excuse me now. I need to get going.”

“I fully understand. I hope to see you around.”

“Not if you keep drooling over my neck.”

“I promise.”

“Lovely to meet you then. Ta ta for now.”

Top Ten Things Not To Do If You Go Into a Car Dealer

October 27, 2025October 26, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 90 Comments

Here is a list authored by Marie Ann Bailey and me. It was posted on January 14, 2014. Since there is still a need to go to a car dealer, it may be helpful

Top Ten Things Not To Do If You Go Into a Car Dealer

10. If you go into a car dealer, make sure you really want to buy a car. If you don’t, at best, you may walk away from a car that you fell in love with but can’t afford. At worst, you might end up paying for that car for the rest of your life.

9. If you go into a car dealer, do not say anything regarding your like or dislike of a car. If you do, at best, you will tip your hand. At worst, you may end up with the one you dislike since it is priced so well.

8. If you go into a car dealer, do not drink a big gulp before arriving. If you do, at best, you may need to interrupt your negotiations at a bad time. At worst, the sales rep may detect your uneasiness, interpret it as a sign of weakness, and hammer the negotiations until you agree to everything just so you can make a break for the bathroom.

7. If you go into a car dealer, do not wear any clothing with designer labels. If you do, at best, you will impress everyone in the showroom. At worst, you may pay thousands more for a car than the people at JCP.

6. If you go into a car dealer, do not bring the children. If you do, at best, they will get hyped up on the sugary donuts the salespeople will feed them. At worst, the kids will want to sit in your lap just as you try to negotiate a good deal and tell the salesperson that you are just kidding.

5. If you go into a car dealer, do not park your car where it can be seen. If you do, at best, the condition will tip off the salesperson as to your trade-in before the deal. At worst, the salesperson will get a heads-up on how badly you need transportation.

4. If you go into a car dealer, do not accept anything to eat or drink if offered. If you do, at best, you’ll take on extra calories you don’t need. At worst, you may feel you owe the dealership something, and you don’t want to get talked into a thousand-dollar cup of coffee.

3. If you go into a car dealer, do not sign anything before you read it. If you do, at best, you may have some expensive surprises when the car is delivered. At worst, you may have sold your home for a dollar.

2. If you go into a car dealer, do not demand to see the manager if you’re unhappy with the deal the salesperson is offering. If you do, at best, you may be embarrassed to learn that the salesperson is the manager. At worst, the employees will use the videotape of you ranting at the company party as the leading entertainment.

1. If you go into a car dealer, do not even think of special ordering a car. If you do, at best, you may end up paying too much. At worst, you may be riding around in something that lost fifty percent of its value the minute you drove it off the lot, since Habanero Orange is not everyone’s favorite color.

Views of the Neighborhood – Halloween Decorations

October 26, 2025October 25, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 95 Comments

I know it looks scary, but it will get us there.

Welcome to the neighborhood from a friendly witch

Whew. A not so welcome from a ghoul

Happy Ghosts and skellies.

Big ole spider ridden by its last meal.

Almost headless teamster.

A gaggle of ghostly characters.

More mayhem.

A large happy skeleton.

A haunting display in front of the Mary Kay Ash (the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics) original house in Lakeway.

A spider that goes with the decor.

A happy spider with eyes for you.

A happy dog skeleton and Haunted Mansion blowup.

An amazing display too big for just one photo. Two more to follow.

The second.

The third.

Well, there you have it. There are many more, but it is time to eat and enjoy the music. I hope you have a Happy Halloween and a terrific week.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Alarm

October 25, 2025October 24, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 69 Comments

The klaxon low caffeine alarm in my brain is making me beg for a quicker process for the first cup of coffee. Along with the annoying sound is flashing red lights behind my eyeballs. Mornings are not usually this tense but it has been twenty four hours since my last hit of the nerve medicine. Finally the cup fills and the first gulp is on its way to quiet the noise in my head. The second sip is just swallowed when the familar but dreaded sound of the Westminster chimes tone of the doorbell means another idiot can’t read the DO NOT RING THE DOORBELL advice just above the button.

A toss of a ham bone followed by slamming the door on the sound proof room renders the crazed Pterodactyl like barking of Twiggy and Tempeste into silence. (Where would he get a ham bone? This is fiction and you’ll have to go with it.) Anoter sip and a check of the monitor reveals a scarecrow, a lion, and a tin man on the porch. “Who dares approach the great wizard of Oz?” is the high volume message out over the intercom. The answer comes back that an envelope is needing a signature in order to be delivered. With a prolonged sigh the security shut down process is begun.

The SWAT team needs to be put on standby. A quick text to the leader confirms that status. Also, the flight of A-10 Warthogs must be diverted. Another call to the commander puts that worry to rest. The SEAL team needs to be called off, and a call to the leader makes that possible. A call to the tow truck driver stops the deployment of an M1A1 Abrams Tank. The control panel simplifies the shutdown process of the security system. The boiling oil vats are put on standby, the turret mortars disengaged, the Trebuchet on safety, the concertina wire rolled, the Claymore mines reset, the tower Gatling guns on safety, the moat net dropped, the alligators fed, and the IEDs and shoulder-held rockets put away. The Proton torpedoes switched off. The gamma ray beams covered. The high-powered maser guns switched to standby, and the nanorobots were chained in the basement. The locks on the door are thrown. And the door opened.

The tin man hands me a clipboard for a signature. After signing the scarecrow hands me an envelope. All three look like they want a tip.”If you pretend to be more confident, over time you’ll just become more confident and you won’t have to pretend anymore,” is my tip as the door slams.

The envelope has a message from Linda Hill. It reads:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “alarm.” Use it as a noun, use it as a verb or an adverb or an adjective, use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!

To see what others have done with the prompt visit Linda’s post. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2025/10/24/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-oct-25-2025/

“So another day of no tipping.”

“I gave them a tip. Besides I thik it was three kids dressed up for Halloween.”

“Then you should have given them some candy.”

“If folks continue to push that doorbell button then they are on their own.”

“You make Scrooge look like a philanthropist.”

“Well maybe if one of those visitors would knowck it would be a different story.”

“By the way I keep getting asked if you have a soundproof room?”

“I would remind you that this is fiction.”

“You mean the turret machine guns aren’t real.”

“Of course they are. You think I’m going to sit her unprotected?”

“Okay. Just thought I would ask.”

“No harm done. Where’s the Uber?”

“Right over there.”

“Goodness where did that thing come from?”

“I figured for Halloween it would be fun.”

“Halloween is next week.”

“I know but your next Saturday post is after so I thought we would celebrate early.”

“What do you mean celebrate.”

“Oh that. We are going to drive around on the way to the pub and pass out candy.”

“Where’s the candy?”

“In the back.”

“What kind?”

“Two hundred pounds of Twix.”

“Just Twix?”

“Yup. They were the only one who offered to pay for the endorsement.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Yeah, I am. I got Twix cause they are my favorite.”

“Okay I like them too. They don’t go well with VooDoo Rangers though.”

“I got some pork rinds for that purpose.”

“You are da man.”

“Thanks. Let’s go.”

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – FRI-Yay/Good News

October 24, 2025October 23, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 73 Comments

Today’s good news comes from the Good News Network.

Virus That Kills More Elephants Than Any Other Cause Is Finally Defeated

By Andy Corbley–Oct 23, 2025

Veterinary immunologists have developed a vaccine for a virus that’s one of the the leading killers of elephants in captivity and in the wild.

With no cure, and with a penchant for claiming the lives of elephant calves, elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) has been responsible in recent years for the deaths of five elephants at England’s Chester Zoo, which participated in the development of the vaccine.

The EEHV vaccine’s successful early trials have been heralded as a “landmark moment” for the protection of wild and captive animals in conservation herds.

Delivered in a two-dose set, with the first containing a harmless, dead version of the virus and a second providing a booster to increase the immune response, it was found to trigger a robust immune response against EEHV with no harmful side effects.

“This is a landmark moment in our work to develop safe and efficacious vaccines,” said Professor Falko Steinbach, senior author of the study and a veterinary immunology professor at the University of Surrey. “For the first time, we have shown in elephants that a vaccine can trigger the type of immune response needed to protect them against EEHV.”

The team behind the development of the vaccine, which included scientists from the University of Surrey, Chester Zoo, and the UK’s Animal and Plant Health Agency, published a study presenting the findings from the vaccine trial in Nature Communications.

It showed by comparing blood samples of vaccinated elephants vs non-vaccinated elephants that the drug should be able to prevent herd members from dying of EEHV, and support conservation breeding programs across the world.

“EEHV has taken the lives of so many elephants, both in human care and in the wild, but this vaccine offers hope,” said Dr. Katie Edwards, lead conservation scientist at the Chester Zoo. “We can’t yet say this will be the end of EEHV deaths, but we have taken a massive step towards that goal.”

The good news in this story is that medical research is for animals as well. Today’s JohnKu talks about priorities. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Research is not only,

To benefit humankind. . .

But all living things

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy and Tempeste Battle a Monster.

October 23, 2025October 22, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 110 Comments

A new robot cleaner has entered the jungle. Twiggy and Tempeste cope as best they can.

“What the?”

“Hey, Tempeste. Come up here. What is that thing on the carpet over there?”

“I just woke up. What thing?”

That black thing sneaking around.”

“OMG. I have no idea. I don’t like the sound of it, though.”

“We’d better set off the St. Louis bark alarm.”

“Wait. Let’s take a better look. It might be a new toy.”

“New toy? It’s moving around all by itself.”

“I see that. I take it as a threat.”

“The puma challenges the outsider to declare itself friend or foe. Tempeste, where are you anyway?”

“I’m behind the chair putting on my panther persona.”

“Well, get out of here. The thing has flanked me.”

“Not to worry. The panther will save the day.”

“I think it is caught. We can knock it out.”

“Look at that eye blinking. Did it have a stroke?”

“Just when I thought it was safe to walk away.”

“It came to life the minute you turned your back.”

“Big lesson learned. Don’t turn your back. Hey, you, the puma orders you out of here.”

“I can see it quiver in fear with those powerful words.”

“Powerful or not, it’s leaving.”

“I have to hand it to you. Your words did the trick.”

“Another lesson. Don’t mess with the puma.”

“And be very afraid of the panther.

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – Drive

October 21, 2025October 20, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 57 Comments

Today I randomly opened My GRL to page 167. With eyes closed, I pointed to the page. The word closest to my finger is “drive.” This is our prompt.

“So how far of a drive it it?”

“Not long.”

“How long is not long?”

“Well let’s just say we will need to sleep in the car.”

“That long?”

“Would you rather stay home.”

“Let’s not take it too far. I was just trying to figure out how long we would be cooped up.”

“Cooped up? You sound like a chicken.”

“You know how much I hate that back seat.”

“I’ll be with you.”

“That’s another thing. You always take more that yoyr share of the space.”

“I resemble that remark.”

“As you should.”

“Okay I’ll make a deal.”

“How much will this cost me?”

“Not that kind of deal.”

“What kind then?”

“I’ll make sure you have half of the back seat if you don’t whine about the trip.”

“I don’t whine.”

“Okay no complaining then.”

“You have a deal.”

“Can we sing that 99 bottles of beer on the wall song that Dad likes.”

“If we must. He will probably start it anyway.”

“Will Mom have treats?”

“She always has treats.”

“Okay then. I’m ready oh wait. One more thing.”

“What’s that?”

“We need to have a window down.”

“Why so you can hang your head out and bark at everything we pass?”

“Yeah. How did you know?”

“It’s the same with every trip.”

“Okay but this time I’ll try not to barf.”

“That would be sweet.”