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

October 4, 2024October 3, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 71 Comments

Today’s story comes from the Good News Network.

People Happy with Their Lives Are Less Likely to Suffer Heart Attack or Stroke

By Andy Corbley – Oct 3, 2024

The analysis of health records of more than 120,000 adults in the UK with an average age of 57 found that people who are happy with their lives are significantly less likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke.

They were also less likely to develop coronary artery disease, suffer a heart attack or heart failure, or have a stroke than those with lower levels of well-being, according to the study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Researchers suggest that a holistic approach to life that includes regular physical activities, social activities, and/or stress management techniques is an effective way to enhance personal well-being.

The study found that, compared to adults with a low sense of well-being, the overall risk of developing cardiovascular disease was 10% to 21%—being lower for people with the highest well-being scores.

Compared to adults with a low sense of well-being, people with the highest well-being scores had a 44% lower risk of coronary artery disease, a 45% lower risk of stroke, a 51% lower risk of heart failure, and a 56% lower risk of heart attack.

“Our findings support a holistic approach to health care, where enhancing a person’s mental and emotional well-being is considered an integral part of preventing heart disease and stroke,” said study senior author Professor Wen Sun of the University of Science and Technology of China.

“Health care professionals might consider including strategies to improve life satisfaction and happiness as part of routine care, such as recommending regular physical activities, social activities or stress management techniques as effective ways to enhance personal well-being.”

It is well-known that life satisfaction, or well-being, can increase mental health.

But, until now, the influence of well-being on cardiovascular health was less clear.

After reviewing questionnaires from more than 120,000 participants in the UK Biobank database, the Chinese research team assessed well-being related to satisfaction with family, friendships, health, finances, and general happiness.

They analyzed the potential connection of well-being with the development of four major cardiovascular diseases: coronary heart disease, heart attack, heart failure, and stroke.

The study also examined the impact of well-being on lifestyle factors and inflammatory markers.

“These results underscore the profound impact that emotional and psychological health can have on physical well-being, shedding light on intricate biological mechanisms that were not fully appreciated before,” Professor Sun said.

“They add to the growing body of data that psychological health can impact cardiovascular risk,” said Professor Glenn Levine of Baylor College of Medicine, who was not involved in the study, said of the findings. “Much of the focus on psychological health has understandably been on negative factors such as depression and stress.”

“This study emphasizes the importance of positive psychological health, including the more global factor of a person’s sense of well-being.”

The good news in this article is that we can control our physical health through our mental health. Today’s JohnKu talks about mind over matter. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Research shows the mind,

It is an effective health tool . . .

Needing care, as well.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Tempeste Back From Surgery

October 3, 2024October 2, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 118 Comments

“What was the surgery for this time?”

“Tempest had an elongated soft palate that, if not taken care of, would cause problems later. She will be able to breathe better and not have issues with gagging later in life.”

“Is she going to be okay?”

“Yes. She is a little sleepy from the anesthesia.”

“Come on, Dad. Give it to me straight. She doesn’t look okay.”

“This is perfectly normal. Her body needs to rest, and traces of the anesthesia cause her to be sleepy.”

“I guess I’ve never seen her so still. When can she play?”

“Her recovery time is going to be at least three days. Playing will be based on how she feels after that.”

“Three days? How are we going to keep her quiet for three days?”

“For one, you can help by not engaging in any incidences of ruckus.”

“I can do that. You must know, though, that she’s the one who usually starts it.”

“I do know that, but you’ll be a big sister and not engage even if she tries.”

“Okay, I will do my best.”

“That’s all we can ask.”

“I must admit I like her as an awake panther better.”

“It won’t be long, Twiggy. She’ll be attacking you before you know it.”

“Don’t tell her, Dad, but I hope you’re right.”

Guest Post – C.S. Boyack – #newbook – Tracks of Infinity

October 2, 2024September 24, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 66 Comments

I am happy to have Craig Boyack on my blog today. Craig is a very creative writer who has written some of the best speculative fiction books. His stories are unique, and his characters are likable and memorable.

Craig is here today to talk about his latest book. So Craig, the post is yours.

Thanks for the invitation, John. It’s been a while since I did any serious promotion, but it is nice to get out.

I have a new book called Tracks of Infinity. This one involves the search for proof that we are not alone in this universe.

My main character is Jenny Hughes. She was a very young military widow, and was left alone with a new infant. Jenny being a baby faced blonde had its advantages, and she scored a job as an on-camera news reporter.

When the story opens, Jenny is pushing 40. Her station got a directive to get more diverse, and award bonus points to applicants who could make their on-screen presence younger at the same time.

Jenny experiments with Botox, Spanks, teeth whitening, push up bras, and more to stay in the game.

After twenty years of reporting, it isn’t like she has much of a marketable skill set. Her editor takes pity and offers her a different position.

Her dream of one day becoming an investigative journalist dies hard. This station focuses on flash and gossip more than real news. Now she’s off camera completely.

The new job comes with a shared secretary. Jenny learns the basement is full of old news stories, most of them gathered up by mergers and acquisitions over the decades.

With all this upheaval, her now adult son is failing at college. Cody is a good kid, but needs a science credit. Somehow he wound up in a geology class. After a night of opening old manila envelopes and scouring for stories, she decided to give up and help Cody by making a drive in the country. It was Cody who chose the location of one of the long-forgotten news stories to work on his science project.

What Jenny and Cody discover is nothing short of amazing. They may have solid proof of extraterrestrial visitors to Earth. If only she had a mentor who knew how to assemble a story like this.

Turns out she finds one, but he is difficult to work with. I’ll save that for another post.

During all this, Cody finds a new girlfriend. She isn’t exactly Jenny’s kind of people, and that adds another bit of stress to her routine.

I wanted to get all the troubles and issues of the modern world out there for your fans. Jenny is an interesting character and is doing the best she can in the modern world. I hope your readers can relate to her. They might not have the same issues, but my hope is that Jenny is a relatable character to guide them through this story.

Blurb:

Jenny’s life is in upheaval. Her only child, Cody, is getting on with his young adult life, and has a girlfriend Jenny is unsure of. Her career at the news station is in jeopardy in a push to get more diverse and younger at the same time.

She wants to be an investigative reporter, but it seems they’ve been relegated to the Stone Age. Gossip, celebrities, and local interest is the order of the day.

In desperation, she accepts an off-camera job to retain her paycheck at all. This is when she discovers that mergers and acquisitions over the decades have left the station with a long history of old news tales in the basement. Could a cold case be something she could focus on in her spare time?

She and her son glean through ancient manila envelopes to find something of interest. Cody needs to make a drive in the country to pass college geology, and decides they might as well go to the location in one of the old stories. Mother and son make a day of it.

What they discover isn’t something either of them expected. Who can she turn to for help and guidance in the dying art of investigative journalism? Will Jenny be able to market a story like this at all? Who are the strange thugs that seem to be tracking their every move, and what are they up to?

The answers to these questions and more are revealed in Tracks of Infinity.

One more time, in case you missed it: Tracks of Infinity.

***

Thanks for the invitation, John. You’re always welcome at my site, and I hope we get some fun comments today.

Always a pleasure to see you here, Craig.

Craig’s bio

Craig’s contact links

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Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – Hot Water

October 1, 2024September 30, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 57 Comments

I randomly opened the book His Revenge to page 109. Without looking, I pointed to the page, and the closest word to my finger was a tie between hot and water, so I used both.

“What are you reading?”

“A fascinating book about scientific experiments.”

“Really. You don’t look like the science type to me.”

“Oh yeah. I have been interested in science ever since I was little.”

“Funny you think you know someone, and then they surprise you.”

“Well, it’s not like I’m a dolt, you know.”

“I didn’t mean to imply you were. I’m just surprised, is all.”

“Okay. I can see that.”

“Any experiments touch your fancy?”

“Yes. One in particular stood out for me.”

“What was it.”

“It was where a frog was put into some water and gradually heated.”

“Oh, I remember. The frog finally was boiled in the hot water.”

“That’s the one.”

“Wait a minute. You are sitting in water.”

“Yeah, and it’s becoming hot water.”

“You should get out.”

“But it doesn’t feel hot to me.”

“Hello. That’s cause you are a frog, and you’ll end up dead.”

“I guess you are right. It is amazing how our bodies adapt to the changing temperature, isn’t it?”

“Amazing and dangerous. I only find that trait useful when it gets freezing.”

“Now that I’m out of there, it seems cold.”

“Well, duh. No more temperature experiments, okay?”

“I could use a coffee.”

“Good idea. Let’s hit the Lilly Pad Thai place.”

Top Ten Things Not to Do on Your Significant Other’s Birthday

September 30, 2024September 29, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 79 Comments

This post ran on April 1, 2019. Since there are still birthdays to consider, I hope it is useful now.

* * *

If your significant other is having a birthday, there are things that you should not do. Yesterday was my significant other’s birthday, except for one thing: I managed to avoid the other stuff on the list.

10 If your significant other is having a birthday, do not take a lot of time writing a Ten Things Not to Do list. If you do, at best, there is still time for other activities. At worst, you will run out of time to celebrate the birthday. (Now you are in deep yogurt, Ghoukas. What happened to the cake, presents, and good wishes? You better pray for understanding.)

9 If your significant other is having a birthday, do not go to the gym with Tiny, the WWF wrestling champ. If you do, at best, you’ll only have sore muscles from sparring with him. At worst, Tiny will show you his latest helicopter spin and drop maneuver. (Hard to celebrate from the ER, huh, Giancarlo? Don’t worry; someone will call and let your significant other know you won’t attend the party.)

8 If your significant other is having a birthday, do not think a packet of beef jerky from the convenience store is the perfect gift. If you do, at best, your significant other will take it as a joke. At worst, you’ll be dining alone tonight. (That beef jerky helps cover the taste of the crow, Gili. Better luck next year.)

7 If your significant other is having a birthday, don’t forget to cancel your participation in the weekly bowling event. If you do forget, at best, you’ll stay home. At worst, you’ll go to the event and suffer dire consequences. (Did no one ever tell you about life choices, Gilvaethwy? You now must live with the results of your neglect. Please remember it was Fido’s house before you moved in.)

6 If your significant other is having a birthday, do not think going to your favorite place is the best experience for a birthday. If you do, at best, none of the usual crowd are there. At worst, your bowling team members and the local motorcycle club are having a beer-chugging contest. (You could have made a reservation at a beautiful place, Giovany. But no, your significant other is being cheered on as she downs a quart bong. Tomorrow is not going to be a good day for you.)

5 If your significant other is having a birthday, do not expect a home-cooked meal instead of dinner out. If you do, at best, you’ll get cold cuts. At worst, your significant other will cook something and leave it with a note telling you a restaurant visit was expected. (It looks like your significant other and a bunch of friends are having more fun than you, Girvin.)

4 If your significant other is having a birthday, do not offer to bake a cake unless you know what you are doing. If you do, at best, you can still have time to call the bakery. At worst, the suggestion will be made to use your masterpiece as a doorstop. (Never knew frosting would get that hard, did you, Glaucus? Maybe NASA would like to know about your formula.)

3 If your significant other is having a birthday, do not buy a card with a message that is obviously not a natural expression of your feelings. If you do, at best, your significant other will get a chuckle. At worst, the inscription, “Roses are red, Violets are blue, I want to run away, How about you?” will be taken the wrong way. (You were talking about a trip together, Gobrwy. What the heck are you doing in court?)

2 If your significant other is having a birthday, do not give a gift you know is unsuitable. If you do, at best, you might be able to keep it. At worst, you might be wearing it. (They say to give a gift you would like to receive, Godric. I’m not sure your significant other had a cordless weed trimmer in mind as the perfect gift.)

1 If your significant other is having a birthday, do not invite guests who your significant other does not know to the celebration. If you do, at best, some new friendships will be made. At worst, you will get no kudos for the uncomfortable feeling your significant other will have in a room filled with strangers. (It seemed like a good idea at the time, Gofraidh. You better get over there. It looks like your significant other and your boss are having some kind of argument.)

Views of the Neighborhood – Trash and Treasure

September 29, 2024September 28, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 78 Comments

Today, we are going to explore the neighborhood and check out what some consider trash. Is there treasure? You can decide. We are catered by Arlo Grey of Austin. Or entertainment is Mary Heather Hickman.

OLIVE OIL POACHED HALIBUT
cioppino broth, clam escabeche, kennebec potato, tarragon, baby carrot

BRICK HALF CHICKEN
sweet pepper puree, butterscotch squash, romesco, celery & pickled pepper salad

16 OZ GRILLED BERKSHIRE PORK CHOP
field pea, scallion & apple salad, sunflower seed, ginger pork jus,
TX summer squash

17 OZ PEELER RANCH WAGYU RIBEYE
crispy crepe, turnip, little gem, pickled mushroom, yukon potato, beef fat aioli

AG BURGER & SALAD
caramelized onion, pickles, mayo, whipped potato, greens
sub fries, add bacon

BUCATINI
toasted corn sauce, black truffle, corn nut, chanterelle

MAFALDINI
champignon sauce, pearl onion, parmesan

CRISPY RICE
saffron aioli, crab, bacon, cucumber, cilantro, haricot vert

So Let’s go.

Good looking pool float chairs.

Aw, come on. A perfectly good chair,

Baby seat looks new.

A lounge chair. You do have to wonder what’s under the cover.

This looks like it will still work.

Okay a mattress might not be good used.

Kitchen sink.

An attic pull-down stairway. This might be trash.

Okay, more trash.

Nothing wrong with that dolly that a bit of paint and fresh rope couldn’t cure.

Just needs to stand up and a game of horse is instant.

Plastic wrap headboard. Just waiting for a bed.

Time now to enjoy the food and music. I hope you have a great week.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – “i before e”

September 28, 2024September 27, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 58 Comments

The desire for something different led to punching the Latte button instead of plain coffee. Had to stand back as the machine did its work. Much hissing and bubbling produced a tall glass of delightful milk foam and a layer of golden nectar. Someone called out my name, so I knew it was ready. While taking a big sip and noting the foam mustache, the Westminster chimes of the doorbell caused an instant eruption.

Twiggy and Tempeste were all about barking the intruder to St. Louis. Getting them settled was not easy. The question of what idiot would ring a doorbell when there is a sign to not do that is still unanswered.

Moving to the security system, the shutdown process begins.

The turret machine guns are set to stand by, the boiling oil cauldron tipping mechanism is turned off, and the automated arrow launching pods are unarmed. In addition, the Trebuchet, ballista, and falling rock device are switched to manual. The claymore mines are set to manual, the mote net rolled back, and the concertina wire retracted. The Iron gate is raised, and the bolts are thrown on the front door.

Standing there is a character who looks very much like Elmer Fudd. I ask what he wants, and he responds, “Have you seen a wabbit around here?”

“No, I have not seen a Wabbit.”

“If you do can you give me a call?”

“Might I ask what business you have with the Wabbit?”

“I want to shoot him. Here’s my card.”

“Okay Thanks. I’ll call if I see him.”

The guy turns around and heads off the porch. My mental note reads “No way Jose.” After dumping the card and touching the security activate switch the text tone causes me to check my phone. The text reads Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “i before e.” Find a word that has an “i” before an “e” even if there’s a letter between them, and use it for your prompt word. Have fun!

To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2024/09/27/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-sept-28-2024/

“I missed it.”

“What?”

“Your i before e word.”

“Yeah I snuck it in there.”

“Mind telling me where?”

“The first sentence.”

“For goodness sake. I believe you fooled us all.”

“I doubt that. There are efficient readers who will catch it right away.”

“Well I’m not one of them.”

“You are sharper at other science subjects.”

“Like what?”

“The benefits of a good VooDoo Ranger.”

“You said it not me.”

“Call Uber.”

“Already done. He’s over there.”

“A 1965 Shelby Cobra. We are going to need two trips.”

“Yeah, but what a sweet ride.”

“Since you are the neediest, I’ll let you go first.”

“You are a mensch. Still buying, right?”

“Yes, I’m still buying.”

“See ya.”

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

September 27, 2024September 26, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 68 Comments

credit – Guillaume Blondel, Archaeological Service of the City of Eu

A team of student archaeologists in France was surprised while working on a site dating to Gaulic times.

The excavations, carried out under the direction of Guillaume Blondel, director of the municipal archaeological service of the city of Eu, delivered, among other things, a moving and very special testimony from the past.

Located in a previously investigated section of the site, a message was discovered in a small glass bottle from the 19th century accompanied by two coins: a “time capsule” buried almost 200 years ago, a statement from the service read.

“P. J. Féret, a native of Dieppe and member of various intellectual societies, excavated here in January 1825. He continues his investigations in this vast area known as the Cité de Limes or Caesar’s Camp.”

The message in a bottle had been carefully placed in a ceramic pot dating to a much earlier century so that future archaeologists would be sure to find it.

“It was an absolutely magic moment,” Mr. Blondel told the BBC. “We knew there had been excavations here in the past, but to find this message from 200 years ago… it was a total surprise.”

“Sometimes you see these time capsules left behind by carpenters when they build houses. But it’s infrequent in archaeology. Most archaeologists prefer to think that there won’t be anyone coming after them because they’ve done all the work!”

Local archives indeed record P. J. Féret in the area as a historical excavator when the letter was dated.

The work was funded and carried out in partnership with the Regional Archaeology Service to preserve archaeological sites endangered by the coastline’s decline. Already a part of the ‘oppidum’ or fortified Gaulic camp, has fallen away with the crumbling of the coastal hillside on which it was perched.

The Gauls were a series of interconnected feudal (at best) and tribal (at worst) societies that shared societal, cultural, and warrior practices and who inhabited most of central and western Europe during the time of the Roman Republic.

Gaius Julius Caesar waged a campaign to pacify Gaul, hence the name “Caesar’s Camp,” which brought Spain, France, and Belgium under Roman control.

The good news in this story is that the past has been preserved to be studied today. Today’s JohnKu talks about history. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

The past can teach us,

Many lessons about now . . .

If we want to learn.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy and Tempeste Expect a Visitor

September 26, 2024September 25, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 93 Comments

“So Twiggy, what makes you think someone’s coming?”

“I heard Mom mention a delivery.”

“FedEx or what?”

“Hmm. I think she said UPS. Maybe I’ll ask her.”

“If you ask, she’ll be on to us. We might be put in the no barking place.”

“Good thinking. I would hate to miss the opportunity.”

“I know. You taught me that barking UPS to St Louis is one of life’s pleasures.”

“The greatest is when UPS, FedEx, and Amazon all show up.”

I don’t think I have ever seen that.”

“No, but trust me. It will happen.”

“Are you sure you heard Mom correctly?”

“Well, yeah. I was standing by the sink, and she was looking at her phone.”

“Looking at her phone? You said she mentioned a delivery.”

“When she looks at her phone, it is usually a delivery on the way.”

“So you never heard her say ‘delivery.'”

“Give me strength. It doesn’t matter if she said it or not. A phone look is a delivery.”

“What about a text or something else?”

“Do you want to bark? Yes or no? If you do, you have to have faith.”

“Okay, I have faith.”

“Good. Stand by for a good bark, then.”

The Last Drive is Featured on Sally Cronin’s Blog Today.

September 25, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 39 Comments

I am so pleased to be featured on Sally’s blog today. She has a feature that gives an author the opportunity to share an excerpt for one of their books. The Last Drive is being featured with an excerpt starring the one and only Lucifer and the antagonist.

A visit to Sally’s place is a treat and worth the time to look around and experience all that Sally has to offer. Sally is a big supporter of Indie authors and a fabulous author too. Thank you Sally for your kind support.

Smorgasbord Book Promotions 2024 – Share an Excerpt – #Supernatural Adventure The Last Drive by John W. Howell