Thursday – A Little Personal – Tempeste Makes a Break for It.

June 19, 2025June 18, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 120 Comments

“You know Twiggy. I’ve been thinking.”

“Pretty dangerous stuff, Tempest.”

“I’m serious. I want to get outside that fence and see the real world.”

“That fence keeps you from eating everything on the ground.”

“So I’m told. I believe it keeps me from developing my full potential.”

“You keep eating sticks and leaves, and you have the potential of a walk across the Rainbow Bridge.”

“Oh, come on. Haven’t you wondered what life is like on the outside?”

“I’ve been there. Besides, I don’t eat everything in sight.”

“Suit yourself. I’m going to find a weak spot and break out.”

“Don’t come crying to me if you get into trouble.”

“You’re not going to rat me out, are you?”

“Of course not. You are free to be stupid if you want.”

“Hmm. This seems pretty strong.”

“That’s cause there is a support there holding it secure. Look where there aren’t any.”

“I thought you were against this plan.”

“I can’t stand to see you flounder around.”

“Okay then. Where would you try to escape?”

“I would look for a spot that seems shaky.”

“Any ideas where such a spot would be?”

“Try down at the other end.”

“I see what you mean. Thanks a bunch, sis.”

“I know nothing. This step has been used by a beetle.”

” I think I found a place at this end.”

“I hear nothing.”

“Twiggy. Do something to help me.”

“This is another fine kettle of fish you’ve gotten yourself into, Tempeste.”

“Call Mom.”

“You are going to be in so much trouble.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – Punch

June 17, 2025June 16, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 54 Comments

Today I randomly opened Our Justice to page 53 and pointed to the page with eyes closed. The word “punch ” was closest to my finger, our prompt today.

“Go ahead. Take a swing.”

“Oh, come on. I’m not going to punch you.”

“But that’s what you said.”

“Yeah, I used the word, but in a different context.”

“Let me quote you. ‘If you don’t leave the girl alone, you’ll get a punch.'”

“Yes, that’s accurate.”

“So what part of that wasn’t a threat that you will punch me?”

“What I meant was the girl would likely punch you if you didn’t quit annoying her, not me.”

“Well, she didn’t.”

“Yeah, that’s because you turned on me instead.”

“Besides, I wasn’t annoying her. She was asking me for a ride.”

“Why would she ask you for a ride?”

“Hello. I’m a horse. She is all dressed for riding, so why not?”

“No one asks me for a ride.”

“That’s cause you are a donkey.”

“I don’t see the difference. I have four legs and can support the weight.”

“But you are not sleek-looking, and your voice is annoying.”

“Who said that?”

“It’s a fact.”

“Well, that is disheartening.”

“Forget it. I’ll run with you.”

“I appreciate that, but it doesn’t make up for no one wanting to ride me.”

“I’ll tell you, having a Gen X spoiled kid on your back is no picnic. Be glad.”

“Well, I see what you are saying.”

“Besides, you do a great job keeping the coyotes out of the pasture.”

“You’ve made me feel better.”

“Great. Let’s go run before that girl comes back.”

Top Ten Things Not to Do When Spending Time at the DMV

June 16, 2025June 15, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 86 Comments

This post ran in 2014 and my last visit to the DMV validated that the information is still useful. My thanks to Marie Ann Bailey who co-authored this post back then.

Top Ten Things Not to Do When Spending Time in the DMV

10 When spending time in the DMV, do not show any sign of impatience. If you do, at best, the clerks will slow service just to see you sweat. At worst, you will need a defibrillator to restart your heart after you go apoplectic from missing your turn because you forgot to take a number.

9 When spending time in the DMV, make sure all your paperwork is complete before your number is called. If you don’t, at best, the clerks will have a good laugh sending you back to the end of the queue. At worst, you will be tempted to say something like “Really?” in a heavily sarcastic voice which will result in you being banned from the DMV for the day.

8 When spending time in the DMV, make certain you do not leave the room until your number is called. If you do, at best, your number will be called the second you leave and you’ll rush back in time. At worst, your number will be called and then the next person served. You will need to wait until your number comes up again in a week.

7 When spending time in the DMV, be careful on what and how much you drink. If you don’t, at best, you will experience number eight while visiting the restroom. At worst, you will try to gut it out and the clerks will be able to tell you are in a dire situation and prolong your agony along the lines of number ten.

6 When spending time in the DMV, do not arrive during the hours of eleven and two. If you do, at best, you will be subject to the lunch hour slowdown and have a longer wait. At worst, you will be caught in a never-ending situation with only one clerk at a time working while the rest go out for drinks and to celebrate the hundredth slow down heart attack of the month.

5 When spending time in the DMV, make sure you bring something to read other than your phone, kindle or tablet. If you don’t, at best, you will be forced to ask your neighbor for something to read since the DMV is a digital dead zone. At worst, you will be forced to watch the slowly moving clerks for hours on end who appear to be sharing the same “look at this” joke and working two and three together on one problem.

4 When spending time in the DMV, do not make eye contact with any humans in the room. If you do, at best, you will be asked to help with someone’s paperwork. At worst, you’ll have to hear some sad story of why this person needs to get back to work to support the sick family and a request to trade places which you will find hard to turn down.

3 When spending time in the DMV, do not talk to any human beings in the room. If you do, at best, you will need to endure the endless complaining on the slowness of the system. At worst, you may find yourself in the company of someone who is getting ready to crack under the DMV waiting pressure.

2 When spending time in the DMV, do not dress in your finest. If you do, at best, you will be subject to endless requests for “just a dollar so I can get my license.” At worst, you might be asked to hand over all your money by a serious looking gent who swears he has a gun in his pocket.

1 When spending time in the DMV, do not attempt to numb your pain with any kind of substance, controlled or otherwise. If you do, at best, you might fall asleep and miss the call of your number. At worst, you might end up on the six and eleven o’clock news leading a riot in the DMV which seemed like a good idea at the time you were leading it.

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

June 13, 2025June 12, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 86 Comments

Today’s good news story comes from Clever Journey’s newsletter. It was sent to me by GP, whose blog is at https://pacificparatrooper.wordpress.com

Breakthrough at Texas University as Researchers See Plant Extracts Remove Microplastics From Water

Researchers from Tarleton State University in Texas have discovered that plant-based extracts, particularly from okra, fenugreek, tamarind, and cactus, can significantly remove microplastics from wastewater.

In San Francisco Bay

Some plastics are made to be small. These are known as primary microplastics, like the microbeads intentionally added to face washes and other personal care products. But most microplastics come from the slow disintegration of larger plastic products, including plastic wrap, takeaway containers, polyester clothes, tires, paint, and artificial turf. These are known as secondary microplastics.

Exposure to microplastics can also occur through inhaled air. Data from animal studies have shown that once absorbed, plastic micro- and nanoparticles can distribute to the liver, spleen, heart, lungs, thymus, reproductive organs, kidneys, and even the brain (crosses the blood–brain barrier).

Key highlights:

Okra and fenugreek mucilage (plant-based goo) work by acting as a natural coagulant.

When combined in the correct ratios, they can remove up to 90% of microplastics from water.

Unlike synthetic coagulants (like polyacrylamide), these natural alternatives are non-toxic and environmentally friendly.

The study is part of an effort to find sustainable solutions to the growing problem of microplastic contamination in water bodies.

The extracts are especially effective when removing microplastics from the ocean and freshwater sources.

The lead researcher, Dr. Rajani Srinivasan, emphasized that this approach could make wastewater treatment safer and more eco-friendly, especially in areas lacking access to expensive treatment technology.

Meanwhile, common chemicals found in plastic products—especially phthalates and BPA—have been linked to a significantly increased risk of heart disease.

These chemicals are widely used in items like water bottles, food packaging, and toys. According to research, such exposure may contribute to over 350,000 deaths globally each year due to cardiovascular complications.

Phthalates are known to disrupt hormones, raise blood pressure, and increase the risk of conditions like diabetes and heart failure.

Scientists are urging more regulation and awareness as plastic pollution continues to impact public health.

The good news in this story is that there is continued concentration on solving the single-use plastic problem. Today’s JohnKu talks about hope. I wish you a very peaceful weekend.

There are several ways,

To eliminate problems . . .

Keep hope up on all.

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – Shower

June 10, 2025June 9, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 67 Comments

Today I opened Circumstances of Childhood randomly to page 229. With eyes closed I pointed to the page. My finger fell closest to the word “shower.” That is our prompt.

“So what did the weatherman say?”

“We should experience a shower today.”

“It looks like more than a shower.”

“I admit the rain is falling pretty heavy.”

“It has been going on since last weekend.”

“I listened to the ten day forecast and it is supposed to continue as a shower.”

“Do you think it was a good idea to take this hike?”

“Sure why not? A little rain isn’t going to put a damper on our fun.”

“Okay I just don’t want to be too far from home.”

“Don’t worry we can get back pretty quick.”

“How far have we come?”

“I would say we are a day’s walk fro m home.”

“Not sure I want to get any further away.”

“That’s fine we can stay here for a while. You’ll see the rain is going to taper off and the sun will be out.”

“I hope so. I do recall Noah telling us not to go too far.”

“You know that old guy is nuts. He says there is going to be a flood but I don’t see any flood warnings.”

“Well all the same if the rain doesn’t slow down I think we should head back.”

“Okay That is a deal. Don’t forget we unicorns can run like the wind.”

“I know I just don’t want to get cut off by rising water. What if Noah is right?”

“Okay we can head back now. I see you are a little nervous.”

“That would make me feel a lot better.

* * *

Tomorrow I am pleased to host Dan Antion and Willow Willers on launch day of their new book, Poetic Justice. See you then

Top Ten Things Not to Do When Traveling With a Cat

June 9, 2025June 8, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 75 Comments

This post was published in December 2013 by Marie Ann Bailey and me. Since summer travel time is upon us, maybe there will be some helpful hints here.

Top Ten Things Not to Do When Traveling With a Cat

10 When traveling with a cat by car, do not assume that your cat will not get car sick. Take it for a short spin first. Usually, five minutes is long enough to determine if you will need to pull over to the side of the road and empty the pet carrier of the results of a double-end evacuation response while keeping kitty contained in the car.

9 When traveling with a cat by car, do not assume that because your cat sleeps all day, it will also sleep through a two-day trip up the coast. At best, your cat will keep a running commentary in cat-speak, attempting to convince you to provide a release from the confining pet carrier. At worst, your cat will scream like a banshee, and you’ll end up with hearing loss as a lasting souvenir of the trip.

8 When traveling with a cat by car, and your cat is behaving in the worst-case scenario of #9, do not let your cat out of the pet carrier, thinking it just needs a little room to stretch out. At best, your cat will simply continue to howl, but now with the added advantage of doing so directly into your ear. At worst, your cat will nose-dive to the floor on the driver’s side, and you will narrowly miss a few or more accidents as you keep stepping on your cat while feeling for the brake.

7 When traveling with a cat by train, do not try to sneak your cat on board a train that you know is non-pet-friendly. Just because you’ve trained your cat to lie across your shoulders like an overfed mink stole, doesn’t mean that the conductor will be fooled. One growl from Fluffy might be enough to find yourself and your cat dropped off at the next station, if you’re lucky. If you’re not lucky, you’ll be charged with animal abuse, and Fluffy will have the satisfaction of seeing you take the perp walk off the train.

6 When traveling with a cat by train, do not think that your fellow travelers will find your cat’s antics as amusing as you do. Hiding under your seat and swiping at every foot that passes by within an inch of Smoky’s nose is, at best, annoying to passengers trying to walk the aisle unmolested. At worst, you will have forgotten to clip Smoky’s claws, and so those needle-sharp claws will snag on every sock or exposed skin that passes by.

5 When traveling with a cat by train, do not think it is okay to allow your cat to use the seat upholstery as a scratching post. At best, the conductor’ll simply admonish you to put Tigger back in his pet carrier (providing that you are not guilty of #7). At worst, you will be made to take a pair of scissors, a needle, and thread and attempt to repair the damage done by Tigger (and he will watch you the whole time with great satisfaction).

4 When traveling with a cat by plane, do not think that once the seatbelt sign has been turned off that you can let Kitty out of the pet carrier stowed under the seat in front of you. While you may think Kitty won’t bolt the second she senses freedom, in fact, she will. In the best case, she’ll get no farther than the passenger next to you who just happened to bring a chicken sandwich on board. In the worst case, she will go careening down the aisle and into First Class, lost to you forever.

3 When traveling with a cat by plane, do not assume that Felix, who had never worn a leash and harness before, will remain calm while going through the security checkpoint. At best, Felix will simply attach himself to your leg like Velcro, and the TSA will defer giving you a full body scan. At worst, Felix will make the Tasmanian devil seem meek by comparison, and you will be held financially responsible for the “pain and suffering” of the TSA agents if not tasered first.

2 When traveling with a cat on a cruise ship, well, first ask yourself why you would do that. Then, if Merlin manages to escape from your cabin, the best you can hope for is someone finding Merlin huddled in the kitchen, sampling the chicken being prepared for that evening’s meal. In the worst-case scenario, the ship’s crew will have found a new mascot.

1 When traveling with a cat on a cruise ship, don’t let the staff talk you into working Snowy as a mouser in return for a discount on your ticket. For one thing, there probably aren’t any little mice on the ship, and what she comes across may just catch her instead. For another, Snowy prefers Fancy Feast’s Beef and Cheddar Cheese Feast and will undoubtedly go on a hunger strike if she is served anything different.

Views of the Neighborhood – Wildlife of the Hill Country – Walk

June 8, 2025June 14, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 72 Comments

Today, we will visit the Activity Center walkway for a tour of the wildlife of the Hill Country sponsored by the Lakeway Parks and Recreation. We are catered by III Forks of Austin, and our entertainment is Little Texas.

Snake River Farms – American Wagyu, Gold NY Strip – Served with flamed Jack Daniel’s Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon Infused Maldon Salt

Snake River Farms – American Wagyu, Gold Bone-In Ribeye- Served with flamed Jack Daniel’s Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon Infused Maldon Salt

Classics, Filet Mignon

Bone-In, Tomahawk Ribeye – Served with flamed Jack Daniel’s Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon Infused Maldon Salt

Certified Angus Beef® Brand Prime 75 Day – Dry Aged, Bone-In NY Strip – Served with flamed Jack Daniel’s Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon Infused Maldon Salt

Atlantic Salmon – tarragon chimichurri

Chilean Seabass

Roasted Chicken -Steak Frites Petite Tender, Garrison Brothers Tarragon Butter, Fries

Prime Double-Cut Pork Chop – serrano peach BBQ sauce, balsamic glaze

Charred Cauliflower Steak

So let’s go.

The Parks and Recreation department has installed information posts all along the Activity Center walkway. There are changing displays to enjoy while taking a leisurely walk.

Before we start, I want you to know there are 28 animals pictured. We will do half today and the rest next week.. The images are behind glass, so under certain conditions, some images may be distorted by glare. When I was taking the photos it had just stopped raining so there is that too.

The first stop explains the trail.

Ringtail

Tarantula

I thought it was cute that a white tailed deer photo-bombed me.

Guadalupe Bass

Raccoon

Green Anole

Diamondback Rattlesnake.

Texas Horned Lizard

Mexican Free Tailed Bat.

Grey Fox

Golden Cheeked Warbler

White Tailed Deer.

Botched Water Snake

Time to relax with food and entertainment. I hope you have a great week.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – “Pant/Pent/Pint/Pont/Punt”

June 7, 2025June 6, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 64 Comments

Waking with a pent-up demand for caffeine, a surprising pant left my chest. At first, it was in reaction to the machine’s slowness to wake. My brain immediately began searching for a plan B should a punt away from our beloved coffee maker be necessary. To my relief, a button punch delivered a whole pint of the steaming stuff. Maybe too much for a sitting, but certainly enough to take on the road. Some other refreshments would be necessary. A hunk of “Pont l’Évêque cheese and a baguette should do.

The clock is set for June 6th, 1925. The location is Highland Park, Michigan. The duration is an hour. We find ourselves standing in front of the Maxwell Motor Company building when the plunger is pulled. Walter Chrysler, an employee, is on the steps announcing to the press that, through a reorganization, Maxwell is now the Chrysler Corporation, headed by Walter Chrysler. He outlines plans to produce cars that people want to buy. Walter Chrysler had come to the Maxwell Motor Company in the 20s with the mandate to turn the company around. He introduced the Chrysler automobile in 1924, which featured many improvements, and the company was renamed. The questions from the press begin, and our alarm sends us back to the couch where the cheese waits.

There is a text from Linda Hill. It reads. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “pant/pent/pint/pont/punt.” Use one, use ’em all, any way you’d like. Bonus points if you use more than one. Enjoy!

To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2025/06/06/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-june-7-2025/

“That must have been fun being there at the founding of Chrysler Corporation.”

“There was a lot of excitement, too.”

“Were the employees happy?”

“I think most saw the handwriting on the wall since the Maxwell wasn’t selling well and were glad Walter was taking over.”

“You mentioned innovations in that 1924 Chrysler.”

“A carburetor air filter, high compression engine, full pressure lubrication, and an oil filter.”

“Anything else?”

“Well, they developed hydraulic brakes later, a real innovation. It took less pedal pressure to stop the car over shorter distances.”

“Innovation is a wonderful thing. Speaking of innovation.”

“Just order the Uber.”

“I did. It’s over there.”

“That is a 1967 Pontiac GTO convertible. Now we’re talking.”

” Yes, we could get used to that kind of machine.”

“Just one thing though.”

“There is always a thing.”

“We have to go with the driver to the drag strip.”

“Huh?”

“Yeah, this is one of those three carburetor jobs with a six-liter engine. The owner has entered it in a drag race.”

“Do we need to be in the car during the race?”

“No, we can watch. They have Voo Doo Rangers at the track.”

“Why didn’t you lead with that? Let’s go.”

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

June 6, 2025June 5, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 81 Comments

Today’s good news story comes from Twisted Sifter and was sent to me by Noelle Granger.

A New Japanese Invention Called Transparent Paperboard Could Mean Single Use Plastic Waste Will Be A Thing Of The Past

by Kyra Piperides

Anyone who has had their heart broken by images of dolphins or sea turtles struggling or even dying because they got tangled up in plastic waste will know exactly why single-use plastics are hated.

Not only are these materials wasteful, they are also highly polluting and difficult to dispose of. If it ever does break down, it can take hundreds or even thousands of years, after which time microplastics still remain.

And what’s worse is the sheer volume of plastic that isn’t properly disposed of, meaning that it often drifts out in our waterways and ends up in our oceans.

It’s no wonder that 99% of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is comprised of plastic.

Plenty of plastic alternatives have been rolled out, and that’s definitely a good thing.

From paper and cardboard packaging replacing the plastic that has proliferated our stores for decades, to refill stores selling loose items with the ability to fill your own containers, it’s great to see manufacturers and retailers doing their bit to help our planet and its valuable, vulnerable ecosystems.

But there are still some situations in which plastic is needed, for example where liquids are involved. And thus, researchers in Japan have been working on creating viable biodegradable alternatives to plastic in order to fill this gap in the market.

And according to their paper, which has been recently published in the journal Science Advances, they’ve had a breakthrough.

Isobe et al/Science Advances

When it came to the creation of their replacement plastic product, the team were driven by the acknowledgement that even with the best intentions, some waste items are still likely to end up in our oceans. As such, they explain in their paper, they created a material suitable for this:

“To mitigate marine pollution from single-use plastics, it is crucial to transition to next-generation commodity materials that are derived from biomass and are recyclable and marine biodegradable even at abyssal depths in case of the accidental release to the ocean.”

Thus the product that they have created – known as transparent paperboard (tPB) – has been proven to fully disintegrate even in the most challenging of aquatic conditions in under a year.

But if this is the case, would it still be effective in holding liquids? Well, as the researchers explain, the transparent paperboard (which, like paper, is made of cellulose from plants) is capable of carrying boiling water for hours without leaking:

“The tPB is made entirely of pristine cellulose and compositionally identical to paper. A cup-shaped tPB can hold just-boiled water without an internal film coating because of its high wet tensile properties and anisotropic thermal properties.”

And with a thin coating, this transparent material can hold all kinds of liquids for even longer.

Recycled tPB showing its transparency declining

Isobe et al/Science Advances

The real cherry on top of their sustainable product is the fact that the product not only breaks down into harmless molecules in water, but that it is fully recyclable too:

“The spent tPB is material recyclable in a closed system, where all chemicals and water are also recyclable. Furthermore, the marine biodegradability of tPB across shallow to abyssal depths is confirmed by on-site degradation tests and metagenomic analyses. Hence, tPB is expected to serve as a key fully circular commodity material in sustainable societies of the future.”

There is one small downside to the recycling of tPB, and that is that the recycled material is a little less transparent that its predecessor.

But in a world in which our climate and all of our most vital ecosystems are at risk, is fully clear packaging really a priority?

Thanks to the hard work of this team, for whom further testing is underway, we might be a whole lot closer to being free from single-use plastics forever.

The good news in this story is that there is more work being done to eliminate single use plastics. Today’s John Ku looks forward to the day when single use plastics are a thing of the past. I hope you have a beautiful weekend.

Imagine the sea,

With no plastic any where . . .

Healthy is the norm.