Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/GoodNews

~ John W. Howell ~ 89 Comments
Coral reefs restored at Mars in South Sulawesi with the Reef Stars – credit The Ocean Agency.

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

Full Recovery for Coral Reef Within 4 Years–The Speed of Restoration They Saw was ‘Incredible’

By

Andy Corbley

In a truly monumental discovery, scientists studying coral restoration in Indonesia found that artificially restored coral reefs can regrow as fast as naturally occurring reefs just 4 years after the initial transplantation.

With many reefs around the world believed to be threatened by stronger storms and acidic seas, the finding shows that as long as corals can survive in the water, humans can quickly rebuild reefs that are damaged.

The study was conducted at the Mars Coral Reef Restoration Program in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, one of the largest restoration projects in the world, and included an international team of marine biologists. The site was turned from a colorful reef to rubble 30 to 40 years ago from dynamite fishing.

At the project site, “reef stars” are first affixed to the seafloor. These small, recycled metal scaffolds provide a foundation for the coral larvae to glom onto and begin building their hard bodies.

“Corals constantly add calcium carbonate to the reef framework while some fishes and sea urchins erode it away, so calculating the overall carbonate budget basically tells you if the reef as a whole is growing or shrinking,” says Ines Lange of the University of Exeter, UK.

“Positive reef growth is important to keep up with sea-level rise, protect coastlines from storms and erosion, and provide habitat for reef animals.”

Four years after coral transplantation onto the metal reef stars, net carbonate budgets have tripled and are indistinguishable from healthy control sites. The only drawback is that because branching coral is preferred for reef restoration, the overall species diversity is lower in restored reefs than in natural ones.

“The speed of recovery that we saw was incredible,” said Lange. “We did not expect a full recovery of reef framework production after only four years.”

The carbonate budget method of calculating reef restoration has never been used before, and the team believes it offers a simple, surefire way to assess whether a reef is growing, static, or in decline.

Tim Lamont, a study co-author at the Lancaster University Environment Center, UK, said that while a longer-term assessment of restored reefs is needed to fully understand its capability, the success at Mars shows that if humanity can stabilize the climate, we have the tools to undo some of the damage that climate change has wrought on coral reefs.

The good news in Today’s story is that even fully destroyed coral reefs can be regrown. Today’s JohnKu talks about humankind’s responsibility to repair damage caused by human behavior. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Step Up by John W. Howell © 2024

Humans devastate,

Fixing the devastation . . .

Is human duty.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy Gets Her Wish – Tempeste Is Here

~ John W. Howell ~ 167 Comments

“Okay, Tempeste. We need to start some instruction today.”

” I’m so glad you are going to teach me.”

“Hmmmm. I’m wondering about you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, was that statement sincere, or are you trying to butter me up?”

“Gee, I don’t even know what buttering you up means.”

“Okay, I’ll accept that. I think you might be too young to be political.”

“Is that a good thing?”

“Believe me, it is a perfect thing.”

“So you’ll teach me what I need to know?”

“Yes, but first a pact. You do as I say, right?”

“Of course I will.”

“Great. Now we can start. Where are you going?”

“I thought I would try these black thingys.”

“These are several lessons off. Let’s start with the game-playing basics.”

“That sounds good to me. Let’s begin at the beginning.”

“Yeah, that’s what basics mean. Okay, this is a play bow.”

“That looks friendly. How’s mine?”

“It looks good. Now, we choose your animal. I’m a vicious puma, and you are a panther.”

“You do look vicious. Is the panther vicious, too?”

“OMG, I would say the panther could be even more vicious than the puma.”

“I like the feeling. Grrrrrrrrrr.”

“You are going to be fun.”

Here is a close-up of Tempeste. She was in her puppy mill mama, which Dog Ranch Rescue in Anna, Texas, saved from that situation. She is a brindle French Bulldog, eight weeks old, and born in freedom. Her mom has a forever home as well. The producer picked her up on Saturday. She lives up to her name and has us all wrapped around her paw.

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #423 by Keith Channing

~ John W. Howell ~ 72 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.

Here is a link to Keith’s post. https://keithchanning.wordpress.com/2024/03/11/kreative-kue-423/

The photo.

Why? By John W. Howell © 2024

“You need to look me in the eye.”

“Why?”

“So I know you are not lying to me.”

“I never lie to you.”

“Well, trust has to be a two-way street, and I’m not feeling it right now.”

“I certainly don’t know what you are talking about.”

“You don’t? Take a look at what came out of the e-g-g.”

“I’m not blind.”

“So, can you explain it?”

“Someone must have slipped an, eg —, er um e-g-g into the nest.”

“Oh, sure. How did you come up with that?”

“Look at the others. Not near as big and still unhatched.”

“Okay I’ll admit that does make sense. What does this thing eat?”

“I suppose the usual regurgitate.”

“Well, if not, I don’t know what we will do.”

“Why is it just standing there.”

“I’d say the open mouth is a clue. Remember how our chicks always did that?”

“But it’s not peeping.”

“Which leads me to believe someone owes us big time.”

“Given the fact that they snuck this thing in here, I doubt we will ever get payback.”

“It has pretty eyes.”

“I guess we will have to keep it.”

“When do you think it will be ready to fly?”

“Do you see any wings?”

“No.”

“My guess is we are in it for the long haul.”

“Suits me. I’ll start the roadkill lessons in the morning.”

“In the meantime, I’ll give it some breakfast.”

“We’re gonna need a name.”

“Yeah let’s think on that for a while.”

 

 

 

 

 

Top Ten Things Not to Do If You Have a Winning Mega Millions Ticket

~ John W. Howell ~ 80 Comments
Photo by dylan nolte on Unsplash

 

This post ran on January 8, 2018. Since there are still Mega Millions winners, it might be useful.

* * *

This post was inspired by the fact that this week, single-winning tickets were sold for the Mega Millions and Powerball Lotto games. Since you and I don’t have to worry about how to handle these winnings, I guess this post is dedicated to those two winners of over $400 million each.

10 If you have a winning Mega Millions ticket, do not Xtweet, “Yay, I just won $400 million. If you do, at best, you’ll only have ten followers. At worst, your tweet will go viral, and you will now have a million close and personal friends. (It looks like everyone needs a loan, huh, Carmichael?)

9 If you have a winning Mega Millions ticket, do not hire Tiny, the WWF champ, as a bodyguard. If you do, at best, you’ll have to hire another to watch Tiny. At worst, Tiny cannot resist helping himself to your winnings even though he is a graduate of an intensive self-help course for kleptomaniacs. (You should have known when he showed up at your door offering his services, Carswell.)

8 If you have a winning Mega Millions ticket, do not give a press conference on national TV. If you do, at best, it will take you hours to get home because of the traffic jam around your house. At worst, you will be asked for money every place you go since you are now well-known. (Who’s bright idea was that conference, Casimero? Oh yeah, the lotto company.)

7 If you have a winning Mega Millions ticket, do not answer your phone. If you do, at best, it might be your aunt, Mary. At worst, it will be your cousin Vinny reminding you of the five-dollar bet you had back in high school. (Vinny believes that the interest on the bet now makes it worth $500,000. Told you not to answer the phone, Cassian.)

6 If you have a winning Mega Millions ticket, do not claim your prize without consulting a tax attorney. If you do, at best, you can afford the tax hit. At worst, the new tax laws will put you in a bracket called the 110 percent bracket. (Good luck in raising the extra $4o million you owe, Caster.)

5 If you have a winning Mega Million ticket, do not go out and buy everything on the planet. If you do, at best, you’ll come to your senses while there is still money left. At worst, you’ll realize too late that there is no return guarantee on yachts, planes, castles, jewelry, and art. (Now that you have all this stuff, Cavan, maybe it is time for a garage sale.)

4 If you have a winning Mega Million ticket, do not let it out of your sight. If you do, at best, it will still be where you left it last. At worst, the ticket will ride in your shirt pocket through the wash. (Those tickets sure come out clean, don’t they, Chadburn? You would hardly know it used to be worth $400 million.)

3 If you have a winning Mega Million ticket, do not quit work. If you do, at best, the ticket is genuine. At worst, your ticket is not the winner due to a computer error. (So much for telling the boss where he could shove your job, huh Chiko?)

2 If you have the winning Mega Millions ticket, do not forget to look both ways before crossing the street. If you do, at best, the traffic will be light. At worst, your heirs will be enjoying the fruit of your lotto win. (It’s hard to tell where that truck came from, right, Cal?)

1 If you have the winning Mega Millions ticket, do not fail to set aside some for charity. If you do, at best, you’ll be labeled a cheap skate. At worst, you won’t get a charitable deduction, and the world will be no better off having you in it. (You wonder why dogs growl and cats hiss when you come by, Scrooge?)

Views of the Neighborhood – In Search of Spring

~ John W. Howell ~ 95 Comments

Today, we will drive the neighborhood to see if spring is making its presence known. We are catered by Eberly of Austin. Our entertainment is Elvis Presley.

FOR THE TABLE

charcuterie & cheese – artisanal meats & cheeses, accoutrements, housemade bread, crostini

chickpea fritter – white cheddar mornay, roasted carrots, chili garlic crisp

crab cake –  parsley aioli, lemon-fresno gastrique

mussels –  green curry broth, serrano, thai basil, sourdough

broccolini – dill vinaigrette, aged white cheddar, crispy leeks

crushed potatoes – hot sauce powder, yuzu kosho aioli

charred cabbage – dijon mustard, crispy shallots, pecorino

MAINS

halibut – pomme purée, pepper relish, red mustard greens

salmon – crispy rice cake, romanesco, citrus, chive beurre blanc, trout roe

eggplant milanese – basil purée, toasted almonds, charred zucchini & tomato salad

half chicken – parisian gnocchi, caper-brown butter jus, arugula

short rib –  smoked carrot purée, shiitake mushrooms, pickled leeks, crispy carrots

pork chop – confit potatoes, spinach, mustard seed-bacon glaze

NY strip –  creamed kale, crispy leeks, bordelaise

Picture of an old time school bus

Hop on the bus.

Lovely Carolina Jasmine starting to bloom.

A young redbud giving it all.

The vinca is waking up.

A Bradford pear in full bloom.

A quince getting started.

The mountain laurel bursting with grape kool-ade scented blooms.

A bee taking advantage of the abundant nectar.

A record year for the cross vine blooms.

An older redbud doing its best.

The first rose with more on the way.

A beautiful grandad redbud.

A very rare white mountain laurel.

It looks like spring is here. Time now to relax and listen to the music and have some food. I hope you have a great week.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Signa

~ John W. Howell ~ 64 Comments

A picture of a string with drops of water- the logo for SoCS

A new drink today. To test the machine to the maximum, a cappuccino is ordered. A smile on the control panel assures me this was not a challenge for the crafty AI entity inside the machine. After a bunch of hissing and spitting, a lovely signature cappuccino is produced. One sip and it is to the clock. The clock is set for March 9, 1924. The location is the Elysee Palace in France. The duration is two hours. Once the plunger is pulled we find ourselves in a meeting of the French Cabinet..

The French Cabinet is holding an emergency meeting to consider extraordinary measures to stabilize the collapsing franc, which dropped to 117.60 francs against the British pound sterling. fro reference in 1919 shortly after WWI the Frank stood at 25 Franks to the pound.
How the French got here is a matter of trying to extract reparation from Germany for the costs of WWI. When the Germans got behind on payments the French and Belgium took over the Ruhr industrial regon of Germany. In response the German government began printing money to pay reparations but was only successful in causing runaway inflation. The French cabinet now needs to approve a plan to get inflation undercontrol. It will not be until 1924 that the Dawes plan set up a payment schedule that brought back normaacy to France and Germany.
The plan was named for Charles Dawes an American who devised the plan and revieved the Nobel Prize since it averted financial collapse of both German and France. We were here to see the beginning of the recognition that such a plan was needed. The alarm takes us to my couch where no plan is needed dfor a nap. My text alert goes off and I see it is Linda Hill. Here text reads. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “signa…” Find a word that starts with “signa” and use it in your post. Enjoy!
If you want to see how other bloggers handled the prompt go to Linda’s post. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2024/03/08/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-march-9-2024/
Signa by John W. Howell © 2024
“Well that was an interesting history lesson.”
“You mean it?”
“Of course I do.”
“Yurn around.”
“Why?”
“I want to see if your fingers are crossed.”
“You don’t think I could uncross them as I turned around?”
“You are a lot of things but not a cheat.”
“Okay I had them crossed.”
“I don’t know why you don’t recognize the signaficence of history?”
“I do it’s just that I’m focused on the here and now.”
“I can vouch for that.”
“Speaking about here and now.”
“VooDoo Ranger right?”
“Signaficent mind reader.”
“Uber here?”
“Ober there.”
Photo by Dan Antion
“Oh, my goodness. Now I’ve seen everything.”
“I think maybe there are more things for you to see.”
“What is that thing?”
“It’s a Rarie.”
“A dump truck?”
“No a Tip-a-Rarie.”
“Fell for that.”
“Like a rank amateur.”

Sally Cronin shares A Good News Story

~ John W. Howell ~ 2 Comments
Smorgasbord Posts from Your Archives 2024 #Potluck – #Goodnews #TGIF – Fri-Yay/GoodNews by John W. Howell

Sally has a feature where she highlights posts from blogger’s archives. Today she is featuring a Good News story from September 28th 2023 from Fiction Favorites.

Sally is. the biggest supporter of Indy authors on the planet and her site is worth a visit to check out how you can participate with her help. She is also a talented author and her books are worth visiting as well.

Thank you so much for this feature and review, Sally.

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

~ John W. Howell ~ 79 Comments

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

Priceless Video Shows US-Russian Group Hug in Microgravity When Astronauts Arrive at the ISS

By Andy Corbley –

NASA’s Crew-8 spacecraft recently docked with the International Space Station on its mission to deposit three US astronauts for a sixth-month stay. Their arrival was recorded with a video of a pile-on group hug in microgravity.

Yet there was another passenger on board—Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin.

It isn’t editorializing to say that US-Russia relations are the worst they’ve been since the worst days of the Cold War. Yet despite their differences, there’s one long and grand tradition they have always shared: peaceful cooperation and coexistence in space.

In the video, thrilled that their colleagues made it to the ISS safely, and thrilled, one would imagine, with the mere presence of new faces, Crew-8 mission commander Matthew Dominic is mobbed by NASA Crew-7 mission commander Jasmin Moghbeli and Soyuz-24 mission flight engineer Marina Vasilevskaya.

The three astronauts’ group hug begins to float toward the ceiling when Dominic realizes just in time that they will all get a nasty bump on their heads if he doesn’t stop them.

Dominic then moves to greet Soyuz-24 mission commander Oleg Kononenko while the rest of his crew follow behind, hugging those wearing the red, white, and blue and the white, blue, and red.

NASA astronauts Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps arrived in the Crew capsule Endeavor with Grebenkin for a six-month stay to relieve the Crew-7 mission team that arrived in the Crew Dragon spacecraft Endurance. 

The mission was the fifth flight for the Endurance, and is the first SpaceX Crew Dragon to reach that milestone. Currently, the craft is rated for a maximum of five flights, but Space News reports that the company has sat down with NASA to study extending that certification to as many as 15 flights based on performance.

Astronauts have a unique way of seeing the world, figuratively and literally. Looking down on our home from low-Earth orbit day after day, they realize (and they all say they do) that space is an incredibly harsh environment, and everything we humans have and need is concentrated on this single planet with no alternative.

The video shows what they think of the current tensions in US-Russia relations, and perhaps we should all take a leaf out of their book.©

The good news in this article is that humans with a common goal can accomplish much, regardless of their differences.  Today’s John Ku talks about cooperation. I hope you have a beautiful weekend.

Together by John W. Howell © 2024

Separately, work’s hard,

But together makes a job . . .

Easier to do.

WATCH the micrograv group hug below… 

 

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy’s Wish.

~ John W. Howell ~ 125 Comments

Hey Twigs. What’s going on?

“I was just thinking about Lucy and that photo you took of us running on the new Turf.”

This one? Taken three years ago?

“Yes. We were sure happy. I miss having Lucy with us.”

“Mom and I miss her too. Of course, you have us.”

“I know, Dad. I hate to tell you, but fur and skin people are different people.”

Well, I do know that and know I’m no substitute for Lucy.”

“I know you try your best, but I have a hard time seeing you as a water buffalo.”

“I wonder what we can do to help you?”

“I’m not sure either. There is no way to wish Lucy back with us .”

“If you had another wish, what would you say it would be?”

“One that I have said many times. You know I can’t say it, or it won’t come true.”

“Here’s a deal. I’ll make a wish, and hopefully, it will be the same as yours.”

“That would be swell, Dad. Do you think Mom would join us in a wish?”

“I’m certain she will.”

“I hope we are on the same page. If so, I think it’s time  to smile.”

“I think so too, Little One.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #422 by Keith Channing.

~ John W. Howell ~ 66 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.”

Keith’s post https://keithchanning.wordpress.com/2024/03/04/kreative-kue-422/

The image.

Dog Thoughts by John W. Howell © 2024

“Here, boy.”

Sigh. Another call to duty.

“Where are you, boy?”

Right here, of course.

“Time to go out.”

Gotta wonder why he thinks that trick will work?

“I’m going to count to three.”

Yeah, that always motivates me.

“One.”

Son of a gun.

“Two.”

Chew your shoe.

“Three.”

Now, where he be?

“Okay, this has gone on long enough. You need to come down here.”

Or what?

“This is the last time I’m going to call you.”

Heard that before.

“You want a treat?”

Ah. The magic word. Not biting.

“Okay then. It’s your loss.”

I’ll tell him what isn’t my loss. That bath he has planned, he can just take it himself.

“Last chance.”

I’ll risk it.

“Pretty please with sugar on top.”

He’s getting desperate. I’ll bet mama is heading home and my bath was the one thing he was to do. Gotta feel sorry for the uprights. So much pressure. Okay, I’m coming down.

“There’s my good boy.”

I can hear the flop sweat in his voice.

“Here’s a treat.”

Make sure the water’s warm, will ya?