Top Ten Things Not to Do While Making a Top Ten Things Not to Do List

July 29, 2024July 30, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 49 Comments

This post was run on June 25, 2018. It still may make some sense.

Top Ten Things Not-to-Do While Making a Top Ten Things Not-to-Do List

10 If you are making a top ten things not-to-do list, do not search the internet for top ten ideas. If you do, at best, your creativity will be stilted. At worst, you’ll start duplicating others’ work without knowing it. (Looks like that plagiarism charge is going to stick, Elder. There goes the old writing career.)

9 If you are making a top ten things not-to-do list, do not ask Tiny, the WWF champ, to preview the ridiculous stuff you wrote about him. If you do, at best, Tiny left his reading glasses at home. At worst, Tiny just left his self-esteem support group and is now taking everything you wrote literally. (I wouldn’t worry about getting your shredded paper back, Elia. I think I would begin to move towards the door.)

8 If you are making a top ten things not-to-do list, do not check with a loved one to see if it is funny. If you do, at best, you’ll be disappointed with the response. At worst, you’ll get a reminder about how beautiful it would be if you had a real job. (You can’t expect everyone to like your stuff, Ellery. Keep looking; maybe you’ll find one person who does.)

7 If you are making a top ten things not-to-do list, do not stare at people who will eventually end up on the list. If you do, at best, one may ask you, “Are you looking at me?” At worst, you might be taken for a stalker and have to explain yourself. (As you can see, the police have no interest in your list-making career, Elson. They just want you to come quietly.)

6 If you are making a top ten things not-to-do list, do not make the subject so obscure no one will get it. If you do, at best, your readership may drop. At worst, you will be explaining your meaning for the next ten years. (So why do you suppose nobody got the Top Ten things not to do in a Barnyard, Emery? I thought it was fascinating.)

5 If you are making a top ten things not-to-do list, do not make a list so familiar that everyone will think you did these things. If you do, at best, you’ll look like a fool. At worst, the FBI opens a file about you, and you get this strange feeling you are being followed. (Don’t look now, Emilin, but there is a black SUV at the end of your block.)

4 If you are making a top ten things not-to-do list, do not think the subjects will come to you if you drink more. If you do, at best, you can run one you published before. At worst, you will actually hit publish without waiting until the morning after to proofread the work. ( You know those seven words George Carlin said can’t be used on the radio? Well, Emrys, you used each one in your post. They aren’t allowed there either.)

3 If you are making a top ten things not-to-do list, do not think you have to be practical. If you do, at best, your work will be as dry as unbuttered rye toast. At worst, you’ll get mail from folks more practical than you telling you how your list is impractical. ( just shows to go ya, Endymion. You can’t please all the people all the time. Gotta stick with fiction.)

2 If you are making a top ten things not-to-do list, do not stop until you have ten things. If you do, at best, you’ll look like you had a bad night. At worst, folks will be looking for the tenth item and will assume you are holding out on them. (Okay, so it is not such a big deal, Enrico, but some of your regulars are talking about a boycott. Who advertises ten and then publishes only nine? Crazy people, that’s who.)

1. If you are making a top ten things not-to-do list, do not think you will be discovered someday. If you do, at best, you’ll still work in the dark. At worst, you will create a false expectation that your lists are the key to fame. (It looks like another day has passed without that million seller, Ericson. Maybe you need to make another list.)

Views of the Neighborhood – Deer and Other Stuff

July 28, 2024July 27, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 79 Comments

The first is one of the sculptures in Lakeway fully operational with water.

Dad and lad with sister.

The mailbox topper is in the foreground with a sightline to another sculpture in the background.

The family enjoying carrot treats.

Our old friend, the Armadillo, with flag.

Dad is babysitting.

Cow and pig Talavera.

Dad and lad in another venue.

Dachshund on a mail tower.

That is the tour. Now, it’s time to relax and enjoy the food and entertainment. I hope you have a super week.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt- Itch

July 27, 2024July 26, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 56 Comments

The coffee machine saluted me smartly as I walked into the kitchen. This highly unusual event made me think there was trouble afoot—maybe a better phrase would be trouble brewing. A shaking finger brought the brewing process to life. The aroma of the Columbian beans being pulverized into a powder made my nose itch and caused every salivary gland to empty faster than a bilge pump on the Titanic.

At last, the brew is ready, and one sip sends me to the clock. The setting is July 26, 1924. The destination is Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The duration is one hour. When the plunger is pulled, we watch Argentine pilot Pedro Zanni and mechanic Felipe Beltrame begin attempting to fly around the world, departing Amsterdam in a Fokker C-IV biplane named Ciudad de Buenos Aires.

With stops planned in Baghdad and Hanoi, Hong Kong, Fuzhou, and Shanghai, we now know that it was necessary to change planes after the first one was destroyed. The two would get as far as Tokyo before abandoning the trip on October 11 upon discovering that a British and American team had completed the first aerial circumnavigation on September 28.

Oh well. The champagne was warm and flat and lucky for us, the alarm dropped us onto our comfortable couch. Linda Hill texted the prompt for today, which reads.

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “ends with ‘itch.’” Find a word that ends with “itch” or use the word “itch.” Enjoy!

Visit Linda’s post to see what other bloggers did with the prompt. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2024/07/26/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-july-27-2024/

“So those guys gave up, huh?”

“They sure did.”

“I’ll bet they were itching to win.”

“After destroying one plane, I’m sure they were.”

“I’m glad you gave the result of the rest of the story.”

“We covered the American trip a few posts ago, so I thought everyone would enjoy knowing what happened to these two.”

“Not to switch gears, but I think my lips are cracking.”

“From the lack of bottle moisture, I imagine.”

“I also have an eye twitch.”

“Sounds like we ought to get to the pub. Uber?”

“He is already here. Look over there.”

“We are going to the pub in a food truck?”

“Hey, how easy will it be to have a snack or two with the VooDoo Rangers?”

“I know, but doesn’t the guy need to keep his truck open for customers?”

“Well, I told him we would cover him for an hour of revenue.”

“We? I love how you use the royal we when you pitch an idea.”

“It will be fun.”

“They said.”

“Oh, come on.”

“Fine, let’s go.”

“Atta boy. Wait until you taste his burger. It is bitchin’.”

“Gratuitous use of the prompt.”

“You think?”

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

July 26, 2024July 25, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 61 Comments

Today, good news comes from the Good News Network.

City Experiments with Reusable Cups at Starbucks, Taco Bell, and 30 Other Restaurants–with Return Bins all over town

By Andy Corbley – July 25, 2024

A consortium of small firms is creating a renewable revolution within the boundaries of a small city in Northern California. The city will be the testbed for a use-and-return concept for fast food drinks.

Around 50 billion disposable drink cups are used every year in the US, but in the city of Petaluma, we will see if Americans have the discipline to reduce this footprint.

The city has around 60,000 people and will participate in the Reuseable Cup Project. The aim is to furnish 30 local restaurants, from Starbucks to Taco Bell, with identical, durable plastic drink cups. Customers and diners can use these cups and then either leave them on the table or deposit them in a network of dropoff bins around the city.

NextGen Consortium, led by the Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners investment firm, asked the city government for help identifying partner restaurants. A firm called Muuse will provide professional cleaning and distribution services to redeliver the cleaned cups back to the locations.

“What they’ve told us they like about Petaluma is that there’s already a spirit of sustainability in Petaluma and [an] interest in trying to reduce the amount of waste that we’re creating collectively as a city,” Patrick Carter, assistant of the city manager who oversees the program, said in a phone call with FOX Business.

“They liked the combination of kind of a denser downtown, more businesses together that are serving these drinks, these beverages, but with a smaller population.”

Located between Santa Rosa and San Francisco, Petaluma’s residents will not be charged a penny more for their drinks and are only asked to drop them off in one of the networks of bins when they are finished. A map showing the locations of the bins can be found on the project website.

Along with reducing cup waste, it should also reduce the number of throwaway hot drink sleeves since the cups themselves are more durable and less conductive to heat.

A three-month trial starting on August 5 and running into November will provide NextGen with the data it needs to understand whether such a program can be used in larger cities.

The good news in this article is that the government, community, and individuals are all working together to eliminate waste. Today’s JohnKu talks about cooperation. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Projects done alone,

Require increased energy . . .

Better to have help.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy and Tempeste Miss Our Sister

July 25, 2024July 24, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 104 Comments

“So Twiggy. When is Our Sister coming back?”

“It is hard to tell. She lives in Indiana.”

“It was so nice meeting her and playing. I loved her visit.”

“Yes, it is always nice when family comes over, and she is fun.”

“That’s the door she went out.”

“Yes, it is. She just left with Dad.”

“Where is she going?”

“She has a meeting in Dallas, so they are headed to the airport.”

“Airport? I don’t know what that is.”

“Well, they have these things that fly through the air, and people get on them to go to different places. They start at an airport.”

“So, back to my question. When is she coming back?”

“After Dallas, she is going home again. I don’t think she will be back for a while.”

“Well, in that case, I will sit here and wait.”

“I don’t think that is a good idea, Little one.”

“Why not?”

“Well, it takes a lot of time to be human, so it may take a while.”

“Alright then. I’ll just lay here then.”

“I think you will be more comfortable waiting somewhere else.”

“You are the smartest, Twiggy.”

“I certainly try Tempe. I certainly try.”

On Break until Tomorrow. See you then

July 23, 2024July 20, 2024 ~ John W. Howell

On Break until July 24. See you then

July 22, 2024July 20, 2024 ~ John W. Howell

On a break until July 24. See you then.

July 21, 2024July 20, 2024 ~ John W. Howell

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – A Repeated Story

July 20, 2024July 19, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 51 Comments

A punch of the Latte button produces an 8-oz-tall bit of heaven. The first sip brings back memories of the clock. Today, it is set for St Louis, MO, July 19, 1924, and lasts an hour. When the plunger is pulled, we are in St Louis stadium.

We witness the celebration of pitcher Herman “Hi” Bell of the St. Louis Cardinals, who started and finished a doubleheader baseball game, pitching all 9 innings of a 6 to 1 win over the Boston Braves and all 9 innings of the second game of the day, a 2 to 1 win. Bell was the last Major League Baseball pitcher to pitch all 18 innings of two games on the same day.

The beer flowed like water, and before we had one too many, the alarm went off, and our trusty couch cushioned the fall. A text is received from Linda Hill and reads; Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “a repeated story.” Include in your post a story you’ve repeated again and again or a story you’ve heard again and again. Or write about the phenomenon itself. Have fun!

If you want to see what others have done, here is a link to Linda’s post. https://lindaghill.com/2024/07/19/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-july-20-2024/

“That was a repeated story for sure.”

“Funny how the prompt worked right into our schtick, right?”

“Sometimes you have it too easy.”

“Oh, come on. I have to do the research and find things to write about.”

“I hear your oldest daughter is coming for a visit.”

“So true. She arrives today.”

“That will be nice.”

“Yes, we always enjoy her visits. In fact, I will be taking a break from blogging.”

“Another break? Man, what must we do to keep you at the keyboard?”

“I will be showing her around, so the break will be from Sunday to Tuesday.”

“No Views of the neighborhood?”

“Nope.”

“Top Ten and the prompt with Keith Channing.”

“Nope, to both. I will be posting on Wednesday, though.”

“That is a normal day off.”

“Yeah, but I have an announcement that I need to make.”

“A good announcement?”

“I’m putting out a call for beta readers for my next book.”

“I thought it might be something like free VooDoo Rangers.”

“Well, that wouldn’t be much of an announcement for you. You call Uber?”

“He’s right over there.”

“A 1941 Packard Convertible? What a ride.”

“Nothing’s too good for you.”

“Since I’m buying, right?”

“Well, as long as you said it, I’ll take it.”

“Let’s go.”

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

July 19, 2024July 18, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 61 Comments

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

These 2 Northern Virginia High School Students Just Got a $15,000 Grant to Use AI to Prevent Deer from Running into Cars

By Andy Corbley – Jul 18, 2024

Every Virginian over 30 you could hope to meet will know someone who has collided with a deer in their car: the state is in the top ten nationwide for deer-related crashes.

These two high school seniors have just received a large grant to pursue their research into a device that detects cars and deer via artificially intelligent cameras and helps both avoid collisions.

Shaurya Jain and Anmol Karan from Thomas Jefferson High School in Fairfax County received $15,000 after presenting their prototype.

The money came from the Animal Welfare Institute as a part of the Christine Stevens Wildlife Award, leaving the two young men feeling “honored.”

“Not everyone would trust a bunch of high schoolers with this kind of money,” Jain told WTOP.

Positioned on the side of the road, if the device detects cars and deer in the vicinity, it emits high-frequency pulses and animal sounds to deter the deer from attempting to cross at that moment. If positioned in places with high deer traffic, the boys hope it will stop them from impacting traffic, especially at night when visibility is low and deer are most active.

In 2022, 6,100 traffic collisions, or 15% of the total number in the state, involved deer, an incident ratio that left 500 people injured.

Mr. Jain says he was inspired by his religion, Jainism—which holds all animals to be sacred and carriers of souls, while Karan was moved to action by the news that his uncle had collided with a deer in his car at night in Loudon County and was severely injured.

“Seeing him caused me to just feel that there probably is some type of method that we can use to keep on these roads to prevent such accidents from happening,” said Karan.

The Virginia Transportation Research Council applauded the students’ idea and wrote letters of encouragement to them. They are still collecting data on deer injuries and hope to start roadside testing soon.

The good news in this article is that two young men felt strong enough about a problem to do something about it. Today’s JohnKu continues the theme of embracing people who are called to action. I hope you have a terrific weekend.

A problem exists,

Some would simply ignore it . . .

Others take action.