Views of the Neighborhood – Potpourri and A 4th of July Search

June 30, 2024June 29, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 75 Comments

Today, we are going to see numerous things, including some random, some cute, and some hard to describe. We will also look to see if there are any decorations for the Fourth of July. We are catered by Birdies of Austin. Our entertainment isSeals and Crofts

Fixed Menu

Summer spoon salad with melon, avocado + dill
Spicy watermelon + feta salad with cardamom, pepper + basil Focaccia with house labneh
Marinated chickpeas with nigella seed
Spiced eggplant with pomegranate molasses
Shrimp + shishitos with sage + rose
Sweet corn + pickled peppers
Chicken skewers with pine nut-pepper schmear + tomatoes

(Veg Option Available Upon Request)
—
Olive oil cake with roasted peaches + cold almond cream

Corn soft serve + crunchy candied buckwheat

Picture of an old time school bus

So let’s go.

This is a close-up of a Texas purple sage bush. When it blooms, they say rain is seven days away.

Mama and her two fawns.

A bright pink set of crape myrtles.

Daddy buck with his velvet antlers.

A giant white crape myrtle.

Mama looking for a handout.

Airconditioner box – First sign of summer.

Lawnmower at the curb – First sign of lawn trouble.

Dining room chairs at the curb – First sign of a redo.

Office chair and kiddie pool at the curb – First sign that working from home is over.

A chair that looks like it came from a Mustang convertible and pallets—the first sign of orders from She Who Must Be Obayed.

House with 4th decorations

Nice bunting.

Uncle Sam.

Lakeway lines all its significant roads with flags for the 4th. Here is an example.

I hope you enjoyed the tour. It is now time to relax and enjoy the food and music.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Chicken or Egg

June 29, 2024July 12, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 56 Comments

Banging on the machine has no effect. It is clear the foamer is on the fritz. There is no reason to make a Cappuccino without milk foam. It makes one wonder which came first, the milk foam or the coffee. Clearly, a cup of coffee without milk foam is just a cup of coffee. Milk foam without coffee is just hot milk with a mustache possibility. What is a person to do? The best thing to do is reset and be grateful for a cup of coffee and then get a new machine.

With coffee in one hand and the clock in the other, it is time to head out for another adventure. The clock is set for June 29th, 1914. The location is Sarajevo, Bosnia. The duration is for an hour. When the plunger is pulled we land on the street in Sarajevo. It is 11:00 AM, and two shots have taken the life of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Sophie the Duchess of Hohenberg, his wife.

The shooter is a student, Gavrilo Princip, a Serb separatist who is immediately arrested along with 22 accomplices. Pandamonium breaks out, and our alarm goes off. Back on the sofa, the text from Linda Hill comes in. It reads. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “chicken or egg.” Use the “which came first” conundrum in your post, whether about the chicken and the egg or about a real-life situation that fits the question. Or just talk about chickens and eggs! Enjoy!

To see what others did with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2024/06/28/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-june-29-2024/

“That was some visit. I noticed you went back to 1914. Why?”

“For one, nothing was going on in 1924 but the Democratic convention. I could not pass up the event that triggered World War I.”

“Gotta wonder how that was the trigger.”

“Well, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, and allies of each country declared war on each other. It was a mess.”

“What happened to the shooter?”

“He eventually was found guilty and sentenced to twenty years of hard labor in prison. He was too young for the death penalty, but his accomplices were all put to death. He died in prison in 1918.”

“Whoa, Karma at work.”

“Something like that.”

“Speaking of Karma.”

“I suppose this is a run-up to a pub visit.”

“Well with a name like VooDoo Ranger what else would Karma be?”

“Dis you call Uber.”

“Yup, he is waiting over there.”

“What a sweet ride. A 1966 VW Beetle. Wait, there is already a passenger.”

“Yeah, that’s old Virginia. I’m afraid she misunderstood me when I mentioned the VooDoo Rangers.”

“What do you mean?”

“She’s into VooDoo and wanted to meet the ranger and swap methods.”

“For heaven’s sake. Couldn’t you clear it up?”

“I tried, but you know how it is.”

“No, I don’t.

“Let’s just say when Virginia gets something in her mind, it is best to go along. Especially if she asks for a lock of your hair.”

“Your hair?”

“No, yours.”

“I see what you mean. Let’s go.”

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

June 28, 2024June 27, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 53 Comments

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

Pioneering Zero-Emissions Hydrogen Fuel-Cell-Powered Ship Successfully Tested in Japan

By Andy Corbley – Jun 27, 2024

A consortium of Japanese firms has successfully demonstrated the first-ever zero-emissions ship above 20 gross tons.

Sailing 30 kilometers between the Port of Kokura and the Shirashima Offshore Wind Farm, the HANARIA was powered entirely by hydrogen fuel cells.

An island nation, 10.25 million tons of carbon emissions from Japan’s transportation sector came from coastal shipping and transport. In 2015, former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga outlined carbon neutrality by 2050 as a major component of Japan’s development strategy, in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, and significant steps must be taken to achieve that.

The Nippon Foundation, a research and development fund dedicated to passing the riches of the sea intact to future generations, worked in tandem with manufacturers and shipping operators to develop a suite of hydrogen-powered, zero-emission vessels for use in shipping and coastal transport.

Hydrogen is manufactured by using an electrical current to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. The pure hydrogen can then be used as a substitute for heavy engine fuels like diesel and kerosene in a fuel-cell vehicle. If the hydrogen is manufactured with green energy, it’s known as ‘green hydrogen.’

A passenger ship, HANARIA spans 108 feet (33 meters), weighs 248 gross tons, and is equipped with a hydrogen fuel system. She is expected to transport personnel to the offshore wind farm and conduct site tours.

During the demonstration, she registered zero CO2 emissions using hydrogen fuel from her departure to her arrival and return.

A zero-emissions research or yachting ship to be tested in 2026 – The Nippon Foundation, released.

“The realization of a hydrogen society requires not only technological development but also city and social design, and we look forward to moving ahead with all parties involved,” said the project’s chief leader, Yoshihiko Hamamura, who also holds a post at the Toyota Motor Corporation’s Hydrogen Factory which supplied the hydrogen tanks for HANARIA.

The Nippon Foundation has been carrying out the Zero Emission Ships Project since January 2022. The project plans to test two other vessels by the end of fiscal year 2026, including a yacht and a hydrogen-powered tanker.

The executive director of the Nippon Foundation, Mitsuyuki Unno, said that they hope to help Japan lead the world to zero-emissions shipping.

The good news in this story is that real advancements are being made with hydrogen-fueled vehicles. Today’s JohnKu talks about technology advances. I hope you have a great weekend.

Every day, there’s more,

Great minds working to advance . . .

Stewardship of Earth.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Puma and Panther Showdown

June 27, 2024June 26, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 85 Comments

” The puma wanders into the territory of the panther.”

“The panther strikes the famous poisonous black frog pose.”

“The puma is not fooled. She calls out the panther for a winner-take-all cage match.”

“The panther gets low to the road in preparation for the fatal strike.”

“The puma matches the move and keeps the panther at bay.”

“The panther slowly prepares for a counter move that will surprise the puma.”

“The puma is caught off guard by the swift maneuver of the panther. It’s too bad there is an audience to see this.”

“The panther stikes while the iron is hot and adds the famous stink-eye insult for good measure.”

“The puma can’t help but laugh at the stink-eye comment.”

“The panther keeps the puma pinned using its rear legs.”

“The puma is up and ready to rumble. Throws the your mother wears combat boots insult at the panther.”

“The panther laughs off the insult and calls the puma Porkey.”

“The puma warns the panther that body shaming is not how to survive.”

“The panther picks up the pace and asks how many Frenchies does it take to screw in a light bulb?”

“None, the puma answers. We get the uprights to do it.” Now you die.”

“The panther struggles to free herself from the jaws of the warthog.”

“The puma doubles down on the pressure and orders the panther to take back the hog insults.”

“The panther declares she would rather die than take back her comments.”

“Hey, you two. You are getting too rough.”

“The puma tells the panther that they were saved by Dad.”

“The panther looks at Dad as if to say,’ I had her. Why did you interrupt?'”

“You two need a nap.”

“The puma agrees and invites the panther for 40 winks.”

“The panther gladly accepts and reminds the puma that there will be another day.”

“The puma chuckles.”

Guest Post – D.L.Finn- #newbook Sounds in the Silence

June 26, 2024June 18, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 112 Comments

I am so happy to welcome Denise here today. She has a wonderful new book to tell us about.

Thank you for having me here today, John, to help celebrate my latest release, Sounds in the Silence. 😊

Sounds in the Silence was written in two decades that were forty years apart. In 1965, Maria woke up in the old house soon-to-be inn, and heard a female voice pleading to be found. Maria is startled but not frightened … yet. The next night, Logan and Maria hear the ghost’s request and see a misty outline of a woman. The problem they run into is no one wants to discuss their house’s history.

When they weren’t working on the house or hunting ghosts, Logan, and Maria would practice singing popular songs, including Blowing in the Wind and Sounds of Silence, as well as their own originals, to perform for their guests. They had big dreams that didn’t include a ghost or someone breaking into the barn and killing the chickens. This leads them into an unwanted mystery.

Great music, bell-bottom pants, and long hair in the 1960s make for fun writing material. I had an enjoyable time grocery shopping in 1965, spending less for two full carts of food than I would for one bag of groceries now. It was nice to reminisce through Logan and Maria while they visited the micro-machines at the library, ate bologna sandwiches, and received welcome baskets from the neighbors. The sixties are a favorite decade of mine to explore and write stories in.

Blurb

A dual timeline where murder has consequences 40 years later for the living—and deceased.

Maria and Logan Davis stumbled upon the perfect old house by a secluded lake—a prime candidate for their dream inn. They knew a renovation was involved but didn’t expect a persistent ghost that pleaded to be found. Determined, Maria delved into the mystery, only to uncover a haunting love story and murder from the Roaring Twenties. Yet, the young couple’s curiosity shifts to fear when they realize someone has taken a dangerous interest in their barn. With time ticking away, they must unravel the secrets of their home’s past before it’s too late.

Amazon Link

Fun Finn Facts

I’ve always been fascinated by the moon.
Yes, I do believe we get messages from angels and ghosts.

Author Bio

D. L. Finn is an independent California local who encourages everyone to embrace their inner child. She was born and raised in the foggy Bay Area, but in 1990 she relocated with her husband, kids, dogs, and cats to Nevada City, in the Sierra foothills. She immersed herself in reading all types of books but especially loved romance, horror, and fantasy. She always treasured creating her own reality on paper. Finally, surrounded by towering pines, oaks, and cedars, her creativity was nurtured until it bloomed. Her creations include children’s books, adult fiction, and poetry. She continues on her adventure with an open invitation to all readers to join her.

D. L. Finn Links

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #437 by Keith Channing

June 25, 2024June 24, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 65 Comments

In Keith’s words.

“Using this image (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really. Either put your offering (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before the end of the week. If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please do also mention it in a comment here. Thank you for taking part.

Link to Keith’s post. https://keithchanning.wordpress.com/2024/06/24/kreative-kue-437/

The photo.

“So Monica, I hear you have a job offer already.”

“I do. I’m so excited.”

“Who is the company.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Leslie, but I can’t identify them yet. I have an NDA until my first day. Once I start, I can tell you everything.”

“At least you can tell me where you will be located.”

“Humm. Yes, I guess I can tell you that. It’s in Singapore.”

“Singapore? You never told me that.”

“We have been so busy, darling, I haven’t had a chance.”

“But Singapore. That is so far away.”

“I know it, sweet one. Don’t worry; you can join me there.”

“I have a job here.”

“But you can get another.”

“We need to talk about this.”

“Do you two need some time alone?”

“Thanks, Leslie, but I don’t think so. You are a close friend, and we can talk freely in front of you.”

“Speak for yourself, Monika.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I just learned two minutes ago that you are going to Singapore, and you expect me to drop everything and follow you there.”

“Yeah, so?”

“I think we need some private time to discuss this.”

“I don’t see what there is to discuss.”

“Our future together. My job. Who should give up what? I think there is a whole host of things to discuss.”

“Alright. Let’s start with the paycheck.”

“Huh?”

“How much does your job pay?”

“That doesn’t mean anything. It’s the opportunity, the future, the goals, the rise in the corporate structure, the long game.”

“I start at $500,000.”

“When do we move?”

Top Ten Things Not to Put Off When You Have a Lot to Do

June 24, 2024June 23, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 88 Comments

This Post was published on May 17, 2018. I think it is still relevant.

Top Ten Things Not to Put Off When You Have a Lot to Do

Living long enough to experience what happens when things are put off inspires this list. Not all of these things have occurred, but enough to give me the title of Consultant on What Not to Put Off.

10 If you have a number of things going on, do not put off buying an anniversary present. If you do, at best, you’ll have to spend more to find a gift. At worst, what you want to give is no longer available, and your second choice falls way short. (That pair of rubber dish gloves just didn’t have the same panache did it, Emanuele?)

9 If you have a number of things going on, do not put off paying Tiny, the WWF champ, the ten bucks you borrowed. If you do, at best, you won’t run into Tiny. At worst, you’ll meet Tiny just after he leaves his financial planner with the news that he is broke. (Right now would be a good time to have that ten spot out where Tiny can see it, Emesto. There won’t be time once he grabs you by the throat.)

8 If you have a number of things going on, do not put off responding to that traffic ticket. If you do, at best, you can cover the late fee. At worst, a rookie police officer will see you drive by and will have memorized the license plates of all the outstanding warrants for this week. (Yes, those lights and sirens mean to pull over, Emo. You better hope someone can come and bail you out. Oh, and don’t worry about your new car. The wrecker folks got that name for a reason.)

7 If you have a number of things going on, do not put off paying that final notice on the water and electric bill. If you do, at best, you might get a grace period. At worse, you planned on filling the bathtub and buying some candles but were caught by surprise. (How do those shins feel after hitting that coffee table five times, Enceladus?)

6 If you have a number of things going on, do not put off filing your taxes. If you do, at best, you will remind the IRS agent of his father. At worst, you will remind the IRS agent of her ex-husband. (Why do the terms ‘delinquent, fine, and jail term’ keep coming up in the discussion, Eoin?)

5 If you have a number of things going on, do not put off renewing your auto or driver’s license. If you do at best, a wait at the DMV is the only penalty. At worst, just when some eyewitness of a bank robbery described a car like yours, a state police officer pulled in behind you. (Don’t think these guys aren’t going to have guns drawn, Eren. The bank robber will probably get a lighter sentence than driving with expired plates and license.)

4 If you have a number of things going on, do not put off sending your house insurance premium. If you do, at best, your banker will remind you. At worst, the rare piece of space junk entering the atmosphere and landing on your house will remind you of the forgotten check. (Don’t worry, Erin. Insurance companies have huge hearts and will likely forgive your oversight. Believe that, and I have an underwater lot I think you would like.)

3 If you have a number of things going on, do not put off making those airline reservations to attend the mandatory company seminar. If you do, at best, you’ll have a center seat on a packed plane. At worst, you’ll be on standby, and as luck would have it, there are no seats available. (Who would have thought that Dubuque, Iowa, was such a popular destination, Erskine? You can tell by the tension in the voice that the boss is not going to forgive and forget.)

2 If you have a number of things going on, do not put off paying that credit card bill. If you do, at best, you’ll rack up a big late fee. At worse, just when you are trying to impress someone by grabbing the dinner check, the waiter comes back and tells you in a loud voice that your card has been denied. (You can try all you want to explain a bank error, Eske. Your soon-to-be ex-client isn’t believing your story.)

1 If you have a number of things going on, do not put off double checking your parachute before your skydive this weekend. If you do, at best, it was done right. At worst, you will find yourself in a position of having to hope the spare will do the job. (After all, Estanislao, you have gained a few pounds. Oh, and that go-cam recording should be hilarious, so let’s hope you are there to enjoy it.)

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – “Water”

June 22, 2024June 21, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 64 Comments

A hot, steaming cup of Columbian Dark Roast and water meets my lips. The brain shouts hallelujah as the liquid races through the pounding nerve endings, quelling the revolt and opening the neurons so that rational thought can resume. The clock is set for June 22, 1924. The location is Long Island, New York. The duration is one hour. The plunger is pulled, and we find ourselves at Mitchel Field near Garden City, Long Island.

Army First Lieutenant Russell Maughan is preparing his Curtiss P-1 Hawk for a dawn-to-dusk flight across America. He plans to be the first to fly across the North American continent in one day. The takeoff is scheduled for 3:58 AM tomorrow morning. He plans to land at Crissy Field near San Francisco before sundown. If so, the flight of 2670 miles will take 20 hours and 48 minutes.

In talking with the Lieutenant, he plans to make fueling stops at Dayton, Ohio; St. Joseph, Missouri; North Platte, Nebraska; Cheyenne, Wyoming; and the Bonneville Salt Flats at Salduro, Utah.

We wish him well just as the alarm heaves me into the down softness of the couch. I have a text from Linda Hill. It reads. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “water.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

To see how others have used the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2024/06/21/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-june-22-2024/

“So you snuck water in there up front.”

“Didn’t want to miss the opportunity.”

“How come you didn’t stay for the takeoff of the Lieutenant?”

“It is complicated.”

“Try me.”

“Okay. The flight took place on the 23rd of June in 1924.”

“Yeah, so?”

“Today is the 22nd. I didn’t want to go another day.”

“Ah. Your obsessive compulsiveness made you want the time to be exactly 100 years.”

“Right.”

“I hope you get help with that. Well, did he male it?”

“Yes. He flew and arrived one minute before sundown on the West Coast, setting a record as the first to fly transcontinental in one day.”

“I guess that was important at the time.”

“Of course, it was. Aviation was new, and records were just waiting to be set.”

“Care to go for a new record?”

“Does this involve VooDoo Ranger by chance?”

“Well………”

“You call Uber?”

“Check it out. He’s over there.”

“OMG.”

“What?”

“Thant’s a 1966 Ford Fairlane two-door sedan.”

“How do you know that?”

“My first job was as a sales representative, and I had a company car like that, only blue.”

“I can’t imagine you as a sales rep. Door to door?”

“Aw, come on. I represented the company brands at retail.”

“Stores, you mean?”

“Yup. I ensured all was good so the consumer wouldn’t be disappointed by an out-of-stock item.”

“So you carried the company’s water.”

“Sure did.”

“Did they make water?”

“You are an idiot, you know that. Let’s get to the Voo Doo Ranger.”

“Right behind you. You can have shotgun too.”

“Since I’m buying, I hope so. Oh, I almost forgot. There will be no Views of the Neighborhood tomorrow. Going to be busy. I hope everyone has a peaceful Sunday.”

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

June 21, 2024June 20, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 79 Comments

Michael Chacon, Madison Morrison, Andrew Palacio, and Leen Alfaoury – credit WILL KIRK JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

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

Students Invent Leaf Blower Silencer Attachment–Corporation Expects to Be Selling Them Soon

Andy Corbley –Jun 20, 2024

Engineering students at Johns Hopkins have created a silencer module for the campus leaf blowers, reducing the devices’ overall noise pollution by 37%. At the same time, they succeeded in almost completely eliminating the high-pitched whining that annoyed them the most.

The design is patent-pending, and Stanley Black & Decker, who sponsored the students, expects to sell them in two years.

It’s not uncommon for leaf blowers to be banned by homeowners associations or following apartment tenant protests—their endless, up-and-down caterwauling of various frequencies is the delight of no one, and worse, landscapers often use them in the early morning to avoid the heat of the day.

“The sound that comes out of this leaf blower is very complicated, and it contains a lot of different frequencies,” said team member Andrew Palacio. “A lot of different notes on a piano would be a good analogy.”

The Johns Hopkins campus currently uses battery-powered leaf blowers, which are already quieter than gasoline-powered ones. Since last September, Palacio and his team members Michael Chacon, Leen Alfaoury, and Madison Morrison have examined the devices in depth—how many sounds are there and what is causing them.

Overall, they have workshopped more than 40 versions of leaf blower silencers. Many of them worked but diminished the power of the air coming out. They eventually came up with an easy-to-secure suppressor that functions much like the ones fitted to firearms.

“Our product takes in a full blow of air and separates it,” Alfaoury told Johns Hopkins. “Some of that air comes out as it is, and part comes out shifted. The combination of these two air sections makes the blower less noisy.”

“It ultimately dampens the sound as it leaves, but it keeps all that force, which is the beauty of it,” adds Chacon.

It’s one thing to come up with trumps in a class project, but this invention isn’t designed to win them any science fairs, but rather for going on Home Depot or Lowe’s shelves.

“It’s not just some cool theoretical thing that will sit on a shelf and never be heard from again—this is ready to be mass manufactured,” said Nate Greene, senior product manager at Stanley Black & Decker, who graduated from Johns Hopkins in 2017 with an engineering degree. “This is a scarce and dramatic level of success.”

WATCH the story below from JH University Press…

The good news in this story is that a problem that is not Earth-shattering has been solved through hard work. Although leaf blower noise is a first world annoyance it is good to see it has been overcome. Today’s JohnKu talks about solving problems.

Its not world hunger,

But a problem worth solving . . .

Shows genius at work.