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

February 10, 2023February 9, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 77 Comments

Our Good news comes from the Goodnews Network. I have reported on this ocean cleanup system before, and now there is more good news. Here’s the story in its entirety, with major typos corrected.

Boyan Slat, Founder of The Ocean Cleanup, and Joe Gebbia, Co-Founder of Airbnb – Released

Ocean Cleanup Nonprofit Gets $25Mil From Airbnb Co-Founder to Launch Massive Plastic Pollution Cleanup.

By Andy Corbley

Feb 7, 2023

The co-founder of Airbnb.org has just donated $25 million to support the Dutch nonprofit The Ocean Cleanup as they prepare to assemble and deploy the largest plastic capture system ever developed for use in the ocean.

The Ocean Cleanup’s pilot-scale ocean cleaning system, System 002, has been deployed in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) located between Hawai’i and California since late 2021. It has so far removed close to 200,000 kilograms, or roughly 440,000 pounds, of plastic that otherwise would have remained trapped for decades or more.

This pilot system is now in the process of being scaled up to the largest, most cost-effective ocean cleaning system ever developed. It will feature a capture area of 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) across and a three-vessel team that will allow it to operate 24-7.

“I’m proud to partner with The Ocean Cleanup in their crucial work to remove harmful plastics from our oceans,” said Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb and Samara. “The Ocean Cleanup has created systems and technology that actually work at scale. In order for them to deploy across our oceans and rivers, they now need to scale their funding. It is my hope that this donation can inspire others to act.”

As the only group currently cleaning the trillions of plastic pieces in the GPGP, The Ocean Cleanup has streamlined its cleaning systems to be as cost-effective as possible, allowing their entirely not-for-profit income generation and any potential donations to go far.

Dutch wiz kid and Ocean Cleanup founder Boyan Slat has been developing the capture system for a decade and has gradually enlarged and improved it based on fieldwork harvesting plastic from the GPGP. System 03 cleans ten times faster than the previous system and could clean all the plastic patches of the world’s oceans with about 10-50 systems.

“Joe’s continued support of The Ocean Cleanup’s mission has a direct impact on our operations all over the world,” said Slat. “Thanks, in part, to his generous assistance, we are able to scale up our work in oceans and rivers, helping us reach our goal of ridding the world’s oceans of plastic. On behalf of the world’s largest ecosystem, we are immensely grateful for the support.”

Slat’s work in the GPGP will go down as one of the greatest accomplishments in the 21st century. In front of him was a true leviathan of a problem—a patch of plastic trash twice the size of Texas swirling in International Waters where even the loudest climate-hollering nation-state had no desire to even crack an idea about how to clean it.

Relying only on his team and his vision of basic scientific deduction and elegant engineering solutions, Slat proved that the most absurd problem was nevertheless solvable.

His vision attracted millions in private contributions from philanthropists like Gebbia, even while government scientists sneered at his use of fossil-fuel vessels to pull the nets to capture the plastic.

Here is a photo of the system.

The good news here is that with additional funding, the oceans become closer to being cleaned. Today’s Johnku talks about this important project.

To finally conquer,

The oceans plastic problem . . .

Money speaks loudly.

I hope you have a great weekend.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Lucy and Twiggy are Back Where They Belong

February 9, 2023February 8, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 125 Comments

“Hey, Little One,” what’s up?”

“I’m just thinking how nice it is to be back on Thursday.”

“Yeah, now that dad has finished his book tour, we go back to normal.”

“That was some tour. How many stops did he have?”

“Let’s see. He had Twenty-six wonderful fellow writers who volunteered to host him.”

“He didn’t have to bribe anyone?”

“No. They all offered, and that is what makes the whole thing so special.”

“Well, now that we are back, what say we play?”

“Sounds good. What do you want to play?”

“Not so fast. I have to check this turf to make sure it is still the same.”

“We didn’t go anywhere. The turf should be the same. But, in fact, it was a virtual tour.”

“Well then, why don’t we thank everyone who helped Dad spread the word about his book.”

“Good idea, Little One. Here they are in order of appearance. (Left to right) The folks can click on their name and return to their post.

Pete Springer Chris Graham Mae Clair Stephen Geez

Harmony Kent Craig Boyack Beem Weeks Denise Finn

Marie Bailey Dan Antion Jan Sikes Staci Troilo

Gwen Plano Teri Polen Darlene Foster Noelle Granger

Keith Channing Joan Hall Annette Rochell Aben Marcia Meara

Geoff Le Pard Liz Gauffreau Lauren Scott Jaye Marie and Anita Dawes

Robbie Cheadle Diana Peach

Thank you all so much. I had a blast and hope you enjoyed it too. I know hosting takes work, and I am very grateful for your help.

The Last Drive Tour with Robbie Cheadle

February 7, 2023February 6, 2023 ~ John W. Howell

I am delighted to be with Robbie Cheadle for the last stop on the tour of The Last Drive. You can visit Robbie’s post HERE.

I enjoy following Robbie. She offers so much on her blog. There are recipes to try, book reviews to follow up on, and Children’s stories to delight a child in your life. There is always something new at Robbie’s place. In addition, Robbie works full-time as a Charted Accountant, which is the equivalent of a CPA here in the US. She is also a spouse and a mother of two boys. With all this and 25 published titles, to say she is very accomplished is an understatement.

Here is a little more about Robbie.

Roberta Eaton Cheadle is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres, and her writing has been influenced by famous authors, including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.

Roberta has short stories and poems in seven anthologies and has two published novels:

Through the Nethergate, a historical supernatural fantasy; and
A Ghost and His Gold, a historical paranormal novel set in South Africa.

Roberta has ten children’s books published under the name Robbie Cheadle.

You can visit her Amazon Author’s page to review them all

Roberta was educated at the University of South Africa, where she achieved a Bachelor of Accounting Science in 1996 and an Honours Bachelor of Accounting Science in 1997. She was admitted as a member of The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants in 2000.

Roberta has worked in corporate finance from 2001 until the present date and has written seven publications relating to investing in Africa. She has won several awards over her 20-year career in the category of Transactional Support Services.

One of Robbie’s Books – click for Amazon.

Thank you, Robbie, for helping to spread the word about The Last Drive.

I have closed the comments, so you only feel the need to scribe once.

The Last Drive with Jaye Marie and Anita Dawes.

February 6, 2023February 6, 2023 ~ John W. Howell

Jaye Marie and Anita invited me to their blog to help explain The Last Drive. I am thrilled to be with them, and you can visit their post HERE.

I have been following Anita and Jaye Marie for several years and have always been very impressed with their ability to capture the emotions that come from great accomplishment and disappointment. Their writing comes from the heart and never fails to elicit a response due to their fine work. Jaye Marie has four books available, which you can see on her Amazon Author’s page.

Anita has six novels available, which can be seen on her Amazon Author’s page.

Here is a little more about Jaye Marie and Anita.

Jaye Marie came to writing rather late but has always loved books. She enjoys reading many different genres, so was surprised to discover a passion for writing detective thrillers. Five of them to date, with more to follow. She also enjoys running a website/blog, https://jenanita01.com, and loves meeting all the wonderful people who drop in to say hello!

Anita Dawes loves all things esoteric, magical, and the otherworldly and would prefer to live in a fairy tale. In between these moments, she likes to visit old churches and ancient buildings. She has written six fiction novels in various genres, Bad Moon, Simple, Secrets, The Scarlet Ribbon; Let it Go, and Not My Life. She is presently working on a sequel to her popular supernatural romance, The Scarlet Ribbon.

Anita has recently rediscovered her childhood love of poetry and often writes and posts them online.

Once owned by an egocentric black and white cat called Merlin, named after her favourite hero, Anita dislikes computers and prefers to write longhand, sharing a website http://jenanita01.com with Jaye Marie, who transcribes and edits her work…

Thank you, Jaye and Anita, for helping spread the word on The Last Drive

I have closed comments, so you only have to write once on Anita and Jaye’s post.

Views of the Neighborhood – The Ice Man Comith

February 5, 2023February 4, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 104 Comments

Today we will motor around and check out the ice damage from the storm that passed through Texas. No need to leave the bus since we will be catered to by Paperboy of Austin. Our entertainment is who else but Vanilla Ice.

BRUNCH

classic breakfast – two eggs, maple sausage, potato wedges, buttered toast, apple butter

texas hash – roasted pork, sweet potato, onion, kale, poached egg, pecan mole
add avocado

paperboy pancake – warm maple syrup, brown butter, sea salt 11 add blueberries or chocolate chips

migas – egg, avocado, pico de gallo, cotija, serrano hot sauce, grilled tortillas add pork carnitas

steak & eggs – 44 farms steak, chimichurri, sunny eggs, potato wedges, secret sauce, arugula

chicken & biscuit – crispy-fried chicken, country gravy, sunny egg, spicy honey

lox plate – grilled toast points, everything spice, caper cream cheese, tomato, cucumber, dill

Picture of an old time school bus

So let’s get rolling.

So here is a juniper pretty well split.

Downed limbs, but also the ice is beautiful

Limbs in the street.

More beauty

Another juniper.

A tree uprooted. Seems the drought caused the surface roots to dry out and weaken.

The same tree is now available for pick-up.

More brush for city pick up, which Lakeway said they will do beginning Monday.

Closer to home. Our artichoke agave is covered in ice.

The mountain laurel on the right and the magnolia tree on the left took hits.

Closer view of the mountain laurel

The magnolia is my 80th birthday tree and looks worse for wear.

She is all cleaned up now and feeling better, although lighter.

Time to relax and enjoy the food and music. I hope you have a wonderful week.

Saturday – A Little Personal – Lucy and Twiggy Survey Ice Damage

February 4, 2023February 3, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 118 Comments

“Where you going Little One?”

“I thought I heard dad say there was some damage to the trees from the ice storm.”

“The damage is over here on the patio side.”

“Oh. I don’t know why I thought it was the potting bench plants.”

“Well, they are toast too. But take a look at the mountain laurel.”

“There are some limbs here on the ground.”

“So true. The weight of the ice broke those limbs off the tree.”

“Can we put them back on?”

“I’m afraid not. Once a limb has been severed it will die.”

“OMG. That sounds pretty severe.”

“Did you notice Dad’s magnolia?”

“He’s not going to like all those limbs on the ground.”

“I think we’ve seen enough, Little One. Let’s go play.”

“This stuff still smells alive. Are you sure it can’t be put back?”

“I’m sure Little One. It is the way nature works.”

“Well then we ought to invent a way that things can live even if they have something wrong wth them.”

“You talking about trees, now?”

“Like these leaves, Lucy. Why do they have to lie here.”

“It’s a cycle that we have talked about before. It is the way nature works.”

“Doesn’t mean we have to like it.”

“You can stay there and sniff that turf all the way to St Louis. As for me? I’m thinking about a soft chew.”

“Hold on. I think I found an acorn.”

“Too early. It’s a rock.”

“Tomato, tomahto. Still interesting.”

“You coming?”

“Right behind you.”

The Last Drive Tour with Lauren Scott

February 3, 2023February 3, 2023 ~ John W. Howell

Laren Scott is hosting this stop on the tour. I am grateful for her help in spreading the word about The Last Drive. You can visit her post HERE.

I have been following Lauren since 2015. I have always been impressed by the passion she puts into her work. Lauren writes prose and poetry. She has four titles published. Three are stand-alone, authored by her, and one is an anthology. You can see them all on Lauren’s Amazon author’s page.

A little more about Lauren in her words.

Currently, California is my home where my husband, Matt, of thirty-three years, and our cuddly canine, Copper, reside; we have two grown children. I have authored two collections of poetry: New Day, New Dreams (2013) and Finding a Balance (2015), and my latest book, More than Coffee: Memories in Verse and Prose, was published in September of 2021.

My writing projects are sometimes serious – drawn from painful subjects and raw emotions – or they spotlight my silly side – pulled from humorous moments. I am inspired to write about family, love, loss, and nature – the marvelous wild world that surrounds me: the smell of the woods, the sound of a babbling brook, and the chorus of birds singing. Recent backpacking trips with my husband along the California coast and Sierra Nevada mountains have stirred up thoughts to pen about fear, loss of friendship, overcoming challenges, and the possibility that anything can happen. Hikes along the Paper Mill Creek remind me that life is fragile. From trout hatchlings to swallowtail butterflies, I marvel at how the world is interconnected and every living thing matters. I hope my readers will find a little nugget of delight, comfort, or understanding in my poetry and stories – some detail that resonates with them beyond my words.

Thank you, Lauren, for hosting me today. I appreciate you.

I have closed comments so that all the words fit to write are left at Lauren’s place.

The Last Drive Tour with Elizabeth Gauffreau

February 2, 2023January 27, 2023 ~ John W. Howell

I’m honored to be with Liz Gauffreau, talking about The Last Drive. You can visit her post HERE.

Liz is amazing. She has had multiple positions in higher education. She was a navy wife for twenty years and is a poet and novelist. She has one book of poetry in print and a novel. She is also one of eight authors contributing stories to an anthology. You can see all her books on her Amazon author’s page.

Here is more about Liz.

Elizabeth Gauffreau writes fiction and poetry with a strong connection to family and place. She holds a BA in English/Writing from Old Dominion University and an MA in English/Fiction Writing from the University of New Hampshire. Her fiction publications include short stories in Woven Tale Press, The Long Story, Soundings East, Ad Hoc Monadnock, Rio Grande Review, Blueline, Slow Trains, Hospital Drive, and Serving House Journal, among others. Her poetry has appeared in North of Oxford, The Writing On The Wall, The Larcom Review, and Natural Bridge. Her debut novel Telling Sonny, was published by Adelaide Books, New York, in 2018.

Liz grew up a child of the 1960s in northern New England before spending twenty years in the South as a Navy wife. After working for Granite State College in Concord, New Hampshire, for eighteen years, she accepted a faculty position as Assistant Dean of Curriculum and Assessment at Champlain College Online in Burlington, Vermont. In addition to academic advising, teaching, and higher education administration, her professional background includes assessment of prior experiential learning for college credit. Liz lives in Nottingham, New Hampshire, with her husband; their daughter has flown the nest to live in sunny California.

Thank you, Liz, for helping spread the word about The Last Drive.

I have closed comments, so you will be fresh at Liz’s site.

The Last Drive Tour with Geoff Le Pard

February 1, 2023February 1, 2023 ~ John W. Howell

I am excited to be with Geoff Le Pard to talk about The Last Drive. You can visit Geoff’s post HERE.

Geoff lives in London with his wife and Dog and has embarked upon writing after a successful law career that saw him achieve the position of partner in his firm. Geoff’s talents include cooking, gardening, and a killer sense of humor. He has authored 17 titles and has been included in three anthologies. You can view all his books on his Amazon author page.

The Last Drive Tour with Marcia Meara

January 31, 2023January 30, 2023 ~ John W. Howell

What a delight to be with Marcia Meara to talk about The Last Drive. You can visit her blog HERE.

I really got to know Marcia when she was a member of Story Empire. I joined after she was a member, and she made me feel welcome and was always ready to help a novice navigate the unknown. Marcia is a prolific writer with 11 Titles published. You can see them all on her Amazon author’s page.

Here is a little more about Marcia.

Marcia Meara lives in central Florida, just north of Orlando, with her husband of over thirty-five years and four big cats.

When not writing or blogging, she spends her time gardening and enjoying the surprising amount of wildlife that manages to make a home in her suburban yard. She enjoys nature. Really, really enjoys it. All of it! Well, almost all of it, anyway. From birds to furry critters to her very favorites, snakes. The exception would be spiders, which she truly loathes, convinced that anything with eight hairy legs is surely up to no good. She does not, however, kill spiders anymore since she knows they have their place in the world. Besides, her husband now handles her Arachnid Catch and Release Program, and she’s good with that.

Spiders aside, the one thing Marcia would like to tell each of her readers is that it’s never too late to make your dreams come true. If, at the age of 69, she could write and publish a book (and thus fulfill 64 years of longing to do that very thing), you can make your own dreams a reality, too. Go for it! What have you got to lose?

The Emissary Series by Marcia- Click for Amazon.

Thank you, Marcia, for helping spread the word on The Last Drive.

I have closed the comments so that Marcia will be delighted with fresh words posted at her place.