The coffee machine detects the reality of being away for a while. She asks about the nature of my coffee drinking for the past week. Hemming and hawing did not forestall the answer long. The confession of drinking coffee brewed elsewhere brings a silent rebuke from the machine. “I hope you have a doctor visit on your calendar soon,” is the message scrolling across the touch screen.

Confirming the appointment date breaks loose a cup of the heavenly brew. On the first sip, the clock comes to mind. The setting is for March 21, 1925, and the location is the state of Tennessee. The duration is one hour, and the plunger is pulled.

We arrive in Dayton, Tennessee, which will be the location of the famous Scopes trial in July 1925. For now, though, we arrive just as the Butler Act takes effect.

In the U.S. state of Tennessee, the Butler Act, prohibiting school teachers from denying the Biblical account of man’s origin, took effect as it was signed by Governor Austin Peay. The Act provided that “it shall be unlawful for any teacher in any of the Universities, Normals and all other public schools of the State which are supported in whole or in part by the public school funds of the State, to teach any theory that denies the Story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals,” had been passed by the state House of Representatives, 71 to 5 and by the Tennessee Senate, 24 to 6. The Act would remain on the books until its appeal on May 17, 1967. Maybe we’ll get back for the trial after John Scopes is indicted for teaching evolution, but the alarm goes off, and we fall flat on the couch.

There is a text from Linda Hill. It reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “calendar.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post.Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2025/03/21/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-march-22-2025/

Calendar by John W. Howell © 2025

“I love how you sneaked calendar into the early p[art of your story.”

“I wanted to get it out of the way.”

“Well, you did that for sure. What made you pick that destination?”

“I have always been fascinated by the idea of passing a law forbidding the teaching of science. The fact that fundamental extremists could  influence a state legislature to do so has amazed me since school.”

“So the fundamentalists only wanted the bible version of creation taught?”

” Well, they didn’t want evolution taught. The law didn’t say anything about the bible version.”

“I can’t believe anyone was prosecuted under such a law.”

“High school teacher John Scopes was.”

“Yeah. Did he go to jail?”

“No, he was found guilty and fined $100 by the judge, but that was set aside by a higher court ruling that judges cannot assess a fine above $50. That has to be done by the jury.

“I hope someone doesn’t decide Voo Doo Ranger needs to be outlawed.”

“So if they did.”

“Hello, hoosegow.”

“You call Uber?”

“Right over there.”

“Look at that a Camero. At last, a ride in which we can be proud to be seen.”

“We can be proud to be seen.  There’s only one problem.”

“What’s that?”

“No engine.”

“What?”

“The guy rebuilt the car and ran out of money.”

“So, how are we supposed to get to the pub.”

“Push.”

“Push?”

“Yup. As you know, the pub is in the valley, so well, just push the car till it gets rolling, hop in, and coast to the pub.”

“Sounds more like a you job than a me job. I’m getting in.”

“Maybe we should call a cab.”

“Up to you. I’m comfortable.”

 

 

The coffee machine leaves a message to watch the time after pressing my order. The 10 oz coffee order is pressed and the cup is filled in ten seconds. A message comes back that the machine will try for a new record tomorrow. With a shoulder shrug and a sip, the clock is the next item of concern. The setting is for Chicago on March 8th, 1925. The duration is an hour. The plunger is pulled and we find ourselves at the Chicago Department of Public Health.

Dr. Herman N. Bundesen, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health announced in an article in the Department’s weekly bulletin that the ongoing crossword puzzle fad caused no ill health effects from headaches or eye strain, as had previously been feared, and was beneficial to health in general. The Commissioner reads from the bulletin to the employees gathered in the cafeteria. In a feature titled “Cross-Worditis”, Bundesen humorously noted, “The savage little cross-word microbe may be largely explained by the fact that part of our lives and much energy must be put into amusement, to satisfy the play instinct within us. Therefore, any game with a mental ‘kick’ in it is quickly accepted and eagerly pursued. A collective sigh went up from the crowd, and all continued drinking coffee and working on their crossword puzzles.

The alarm goes off and we end up on the couch. A text has come in from Linda Hill. It reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “open book, close eyes, point, write.” When you’re ready to sit down and write your SoCS post, open the closest printed matter, close your eyes, point to a word, and use it as your prompt. Use it any way you’d like. Have fun! Following directions, I open and point at a page of GQ Magazine. My finger lands on the word “watch” in a Cartier Timepiece Advertisement.

To see what others have written visit Linda’s blog. Here is the link: https://lindaghill.com/2025/03/07/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-march-8-2025/

Watch by John W. Howell © 2025

“That was an interesting trip. Can’t imagine folks getting concerned about crossword puzzles.”

“Well you know how some feel anything enjoyable must be bad for you.”

“Lucky you had that GQ magazine near.”

“I had been reading it before starting to write the post.”

“You still read that mag.”

“I must admit the editorial mission of GQ has moved beyond me.”

“How so?”

“Take the watch as an example. I have an Apple watch that does everything, including calling the authorities if I fall down and can’t get up.”

“Okay but there are other things.”

“Yeah like shoes that cost a thousand bucks, not to mention grill work for my front teeth.”

“Grill work?”

“A lot of the features are with guys who have a lot of gold and silver teeth.”

“That can’t be true.”

“Besides, I think the age demographic is more around my grandkids’ age.”

“I could see you hanging out with a gold grill, Cartier watch, neck chains, and Louboutin shoes.”

“Yeah right. Try wrangler jeans, t-shirt, and bare feet.”

“Not a pretty picture, old man. Why do you get the mag anyway?”

“I think staying current is understanding what is current and not necessarily joining in.”

“Speaking of current.”

“Did you order an Uber?”

“Right over there.”

“Hold on. We all have to sit upfront.”

“Unless you want to sit in the bed.”

“That door looks strange.”

“It does. It is off a GMC Denali.”

“Gotta admit the guy is resourceful.”

“He gave us a break on the fare.”

“What’s the catch?”

“We have to help him deliver some mulch.”

“Not so bad.”

“Good let’s go. Oh by the way.”

“What?”

“It’s really manure.”

“Figures. Those Rangers are going to go down easy after this.”

“My thought exactly. Also, we might need hip boots.”

 

An explanation is in order. Last week, there may have been some confusion around the fact that the coffee machine communicated with me. To be clear, the machine does not talk. She sends messages through a mounted menu screen. The screen also has a touch pad, so no external mouse is needed. It wouldn’t be right to think that the machine has the human ability to speak. She has reasoning ability through her AI construct, which leads to her being able to ask questions. For example, today, she wondered if she should make coffee to go.

Declining the to-go cup and ordering the standard was the prelude to grabbing the clock. The time was set to March 1, 1925. The location is New York City and the duration is one hour. A pull of the plunger and we land in New York City. We are just in time to witness the founding of Viking Press.

The publisher Viking Press was founded in New York by Harold K. Guinzburg (formerly of Simon and Schuster) and George S. Oppenheimer, advertising manager for Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. The Viking Press is an American publishing company that specializes in bringing books to a wide audience. It was formerly known as Viking Penguin and Viking Books. The Penguin Group acquired the Viking Press in 1975. Today, Penguin Random House owns the Viking Press. 

After one glass of champagne, the alarm goes off and we find ourselves on the couch. There is a text from Linda Hill. It reads:

To see what others have done with the prompt visit Linda’s blog; here’s the link:  https://lindaghill.com/2025/02/28/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-march-1-2025/

Mouse by John W. Howell © 2024

“I guess visiting a publisher is interesting for your author readers.”

“You didn’t find it interesting?”

“Well, I would say no for one who can barely do a comic book a year.”

“Well, seeing such an established firm remain successful after 100 years was fun.”

“Maybe a cake and candles would be appropriate.”

“I think we can just let it go.”

“A good idea. No sense making a cat and mouse game out of it.”

“What does that mean?”

“You’re trying to defend visiting an author-centric place and trying to convince me that it is interesting.”

“Oh. I see. Yeah cat and mouse is not on the agenda today.”

“So what is?”

“A quiet place where we can relax.”

“That serves peanuts?”

“I suppose.”

“And has a shuffle board?”

“Yes.”

“Pool table and darts.”

“Very nice.”

“And has Voo Doo Ranger Imperials on ice?”

“Yup Order an Uber.”

“Already did. He’s over there.”

“I can’t believe it. We struck gold this time.”

“I thought you would be mad.”

“Oh, heck no. That van is from a beverage supplier.”

“Yeah so?”

“I’ll bet he has a few VooDoo Rangers in there.”

“Never thought of that. I just wanted cheap.”

“Looks like we have both worlds. Let’s go.”

 

 

 

 

Finally back to a normal schedule, it was good to see the coffee machine in person. She wanted to know where I had been. Rather than go through a long story, the simple answer was,”Out.” Never to be left in the dark the machine asked,”Where?” My response stopped the discussion right then and there, “Reproductive problems.”

Of course the reproduction mentioned was a book tour but the machine decided not to pursue the subject. My coffee was delivered hot and fragrant. One sip and my mind went to the clock. The setting is for February 21, 1925. The location is New York city, and the duration is one hour. A pull of the plunger and we find ourselves in the offices of the New Yorker at 25 West 45th Street in Manhattan. The staff is celebrating the first issue.

The New Yorker was founded by Harold Ross (1892–1951) and his wife Jane Grant (1892–1972), a New York Times reporter, and debuted on February 21, 1925. Ross wanted to create a sophisticated humor magazine that would be different from perceivably “corny” humor publications such as Judge, where he had worked, or the old Life. Ross partnered with entrepreneur Raoul H. Fleischmann (who founded the General Baking Company) to establish the F-R Publishing Company. Ross edited the magazine until his death in 1951. During the early, occasionally precarious years of its existence, the magazine prided itself on its cosmopolitan sophistication. Ross declared in a 1925 prospectus for the magazine: “It has announced that it is not edited for the old lady in Dubuque.”

Just as the Champaign was openede the alarm too me back to the couch. A text from Linda Hill has come in. It reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “in person.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

To see what others have done with the prompt visit Linda’s blog. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2025/02/21/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-feb-22-2025/

In Person by John W. Howell © 2025

“So you visited the offices of the New Yorker in person.”

“Nice job on nailing the prompt early.”

“Since you were gone, I thought about how to do that early in the discussion.”

“So we could concentrate on other matters I suppose.”

“How clever you are. How was the tour?”

“Terrific. All the volunteers did a fabulous job. There is one more stop on Wednesday the 26th but we are pretty much back to normal.”

“I missed out trips to the pub.”

“Yeah, Ill bet. Speaking of that did you manage to find someone else to go with you.”

“No. I stayed at home.”

“Doesn’t sound like you.”

“Well without you there is no reason to go.”

“Dear me. Okay let’s get going. Uber?”

“Right over there.”

“Now this looks appealing”

“Yeah, we get a couple of cheese steaks with the ride.”

“i don’t eat beef.”

“I know. You’ll have a cheese steak with no steak.”

“A toasted cheese then.”

“Yeah. You got it.”

“Okay let’s go.”

“You’ll enjoy it. I promise.”

 

 

One of the more difficult tasks here at the house is keeping the coffee machine in line. Although it is not alive there are suspicions that deep within it’s bowls rests an alien being. It coud be simply AI instaled at the Swiss facory but knowing the Swiss there would be a warning displayed somewhere on the machine.

Keeping it in line is a simple operation. A yank of the plug sets everything to rights again should the little devil decide some nafarious activity.Now that my cup is ready it is time to take a little trip. The clock is set for January 24, 1925. The location is Chicago and duration one hour. A pull of the plunger lands us on State street in time to hear the news.

Chicago Outfit gangster Johnny Torrio survived an assassination attempt when Hymie Weiss and Bugs Moran jumped him as he and his wife were returning to their apartment from a shopping trip. Torrio was shot multiple times, but Moran’s gun clicked empty when he tried to deliver a coup de grâce to Torrio’s head. Johnny did survive but turned ober control of the Chicago Outfit to Al Capone. He moved to New York and then to Italy.

Trying to stay warm in the freezing cold the alarm goes off and the cozy couch saves the day. My text tone let’s me know a text has arrived. It is from Linda Hill. It reads:

Your prompt for #JusJoJan the 25th and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “in line.” Use it any way you’d like! Enjoy!

To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda Hill’s post.  Here is the link

In Line by John W, Howell © 2025

“That was some story.”

“The way gangsters kept each other in line was pretty brutal.”

“So that was the end of Johnny Torrio?”

“Nope he returned from Italy to eventually establish the National Crime Syndicate with Lucky Luciano, Longy Zwillman, Joe Adonis, Frank Costello, and Meyer Lansky. He stayed active until he was jailed for tax evasion. He lived quietly after his release in 1941 until his death in 1957.”

“I can’t believe he lived that long.”

“He was in charge of  activities that netted over a billion dollars a year in today’s money. I’m sure he saved a little for his old age.”

“Just a shock that in his case crime paid.”

“You just never know. Maybe he wasn’t very happy.”

“I know what would make me happy.”

“Did you order an Uber?”

“Right over there.”

 

“That looks like a Ford Taurus from the 80s.”

“A classis.”

“Don’t vclassic me. Does it run?”

“Of course. How else did it get here?”

“A tow truck maye. Well at least there is a back seat.”

“Uh.”

“Uh what?”

“Two milk crates back there.”

“Of course there are two milk crates. Why am I not surprosed.”

“Shall we go?”

“I’ll bet five bucks he won’t be able to start it.”

“Ha. Got you there. It’s already running.”

“I give up. Let’s go.”

“Adventure ho.”

 

Waking up to WordPress’s elimination of the Classic editor made a cup of coffee more vital than ever. The machine didn’t disappoint, and the first cup was thrown back like a shot of cheap whiskey. The second cup brought to mind a workaround.

I found that clicking on the notification bell before opening a blank post still gave me the choice of which editor to use. Being sure this situation won’t last long, it is to be enjoyed while still here. This post was done in the Classic editor.

Now that the editor problem is solved, for the time being, the coffee gave me a brain teaser. “Peter Puck and Paul Peck used a pick on a mountain pock and found only a used hockey puck.”

My text notification goes off, and it is Linda Hill. It reads:

Your prompt for #JusJoJan the 18th and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “pack/peck/pick/pock/puck.” Use one or use ’em all for bonus points—it’s up to you! Enjoy!

Go to Linda’s post to see what others have done with the prompt. Here’s the link. https://lindaghill.com/2025/01/17/the-friday-reminder-for-socs-jusjojan-2025-daily-prompt-for-jan-18th/

Pack/Peck/Pick/Pock/Puck by John W. Howell ©2024

“What the heck?”

“What?”

“You didn’t do a security dismantle or time trip.”

“Faced with the editor challenge, I didn’t have time.”

“And that brain teaser?”

“Only thing I could think of.”

“This is going to be a rough day for sure.”

“No kidding. I don’t know anything about the other editor, and I have a tour coming up.”

“Now is the time to teach an old dog new tricks.”

“Easy for you young folks to say.”

“Come on, pops, you can do it.”

“I suppose. Did you call Uber?”

“Man, I’m the one usually bringing up the pub.”

“Well, I’m needy.”

“He’s right over there.”

“Aw, come on.”

“Pack your troubles in an old kit bag.”

“Not helping.”

“We love you a bushel and a peck.”

“A pock on you.”

“Pick yourself up.”

“Puck you.”

“The last one on the van is a weenie.”

“Childhood, here we come.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is the New Year, and the coffee machine has been working overtime on special coffee requests. With a visit of Son and daughter, there were lattes, flat whites, and dark black coffees. It’s the little things that make a visit so lovely. The machine had a few days off, so it delivered my cup in record time. Taking a sip while cuddled next to Twiggy and Tempest was a short-lived moment of peace. The Westminster chimes uprooted the sleeping dogs, and like the rule states, they should have been left to lie.

Feeling the tiny droplets of blood from shattered eardrums, it is imperative to silence the hounds of Baskerville. A large Benny bone tossed into the bedroom, followed by a slamming door, settled the matter.

Of course, the security system needed to be disengaged before going to the door. The control panel made the process simpler. The boiling oil vats were put on standby, the Trebuchet on safety, the concertina wire rolled, the Claymore mines reset, the tower Gattling guns disengaged, the moat net dropped, and the IUDs and shoulder-held rockets put away. The locks on the door were thrown. The final camera check picked up the image of a guy with a shotgun who looked very much like Elmer Fudd. The AI message was delivered, followed by the snarl of a sabertoothed tiger. “Put down the shotgun.”

He dropped it and threw his hands in the air. The door opened, and he said, “No wabbit, just this message from Linda Hill.” Giving him a hands-down motion allowed the message to pass. “Take your gun and go.”

The Fudd lookalike disappeared around the house. The message was clear. Your prompt for #JusJoJan the 11th and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “It’s the little things.” Take whatever the phrase “it’s the little things” brings to mind and use it in your post. Have fun!

If you would like to see what others do with the prompt, visit Linda’s blog. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2025/01/10/the-friday-reminder-for-socs-jusjojan-2025-daily-prompt-for-jan-11th/

It’s the Little Things by John W. Howell © 2025

“Why no history today?”

“Since this is my first Saturday post this year, and my friend Dan, who passed away  in 2024, loved the security dismantling stuff, I decided to do it.”

“I hope he enjoyed it.”

“I’m sure he did.”

“It’s the little things that mean the most.”

“You have become a philosopher?”

“No. I just thought it was a great place to toss in the prompt.”

“Yeah, that makes more sense.”

“So, how was your time off?”

“It was great. Got a lot of visiting in and had some great food.”

“That is always good.”

“Yes, it is.”

“Speaking of good.”

“Here it comes.”

“Whaddya say to a few Voo Doo Rangers?”

“I missed last week, so they sound pretty good. Uber?”

“Right over there.”

“Okay, this is weird.”

“Why do you say that?”

“We don’t get that much snow where we are in Texas.”

“All the more reason for a unique ride.”

“So the three in the front is doable.”

“Yup. Checked it myself.”

“Did you get a deal?”

“Free ride except for one stop.”

“What’s the stop?”

“A detour to Oaklahoma.”

“Great. Where there is snow, right?”

“Right. It’ll be a great weekend.”

“Pub first.”

“Of course.”

 

 

 

The coffee machine has decided to take some time off for the holidays, which finishes my year perfectly. Since AI is new to me, there was no way to negotiate any other outcome. This morning’s coffee is being made in a French Press. We are in the four-minute waiting period, which seems like four hours. Finally, the press is ready. A slow, steady pressure is applied, and the grounds are squeezed to one-quarter their size. The Costa Rican coffee aroma hits the nose, and the first sip brings back the memory of the clock.

The clock is set for December 29, 1924. The location is Hollywood, California, and the time is two hours. A pull of the plunger and we find ourselves at Grumman’s Chinese Theater. We are here in time to see the premiere of the silent movie Peter Pan.

The adventure film Peter Pan, directed by Herbert Brenon and starring Betty Bronson in the title role, was released by Paramount Pictures (at the time, Famous Players–Lasky). The film was an adaptation of the J. M. Barrie play Peter Pan, or the Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up, which had premiered almost 20 years earlier (on December 27, 1904) and which Barrie novelized in 1911 in the book Peter and Wendy.

After the movie, our alarm goes off, and we find ourselves on the couch with a tub of popcorn. A text from Linda Hill comes in. It reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “my year.” Use “my year” as the theme of your post. Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2024/12/27/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-dec-28-2024/

My Year by John W. Howell © 2024

“Well, that was a trip. Whatever happened to that silent movie?”

“After being considered lost, the film footage would be rediscovered at the Eastman School of Music in the 1950s and restored. In 2000, the Library of Congress selected the film for preservation in the National Film Registry.”

“I would like to see that movie.”

“I know you can buy it on DVD from Amazon.”

“Oh. I was more or less thinking of free viewing.”

“Ah. It is on YouTube. Here’s the link https://youtu.be/KregKeKX9as”

“Yeah, that is much better. Gotta keep room in the budget for the VooDoo Rangers.”

“You haven’t paid for a VooDoo Ranger in years.”

“I know, but this may be my year to do it.”

“You are running out of time. Did you call Uber?”

“Yup, he’s right over there.”

“You are joking, right?”

“Got a great deal.”

“I’ve said a hundred times we don’t need great deals on an Uber.”

“How’s free?”

“Really?”

“Yup, and all we have to do is hold some electrical wires for the guy.”

“Hold some electrical wires? You mean like up in the air.”

“Yeah, in the bucket while he splices them onto the power grid.”

“Power grid like a billion watts power grid.”

“Well, yeah. He said there’s nothing to it, and it is only a half hour of work.”

“Why I go along with this, I’ll never know.”

“Also, wear your rubber boots.”

 

 

 

Linda Hill’s prompt today is ‘wish.’ Here is what she says about it. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “wish.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy! If you want to see other posts on this prompt, go to Linda’s blog. Here is the link  https://lindaghill.com/2024/12/20/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-dec-21-2024/ 

I can only think of one way to use this prompt. Here it is.

Wish by John W. Howell © 2024

“That was an oldie.”

“I wanted to play the Jimminy Cricket solo, but Disney won’t allow it.”

“What do you mean?”

“The video owner won’t allow playing it on other venues.”

“Well, at least you got the song.”

“Yeah. When You Wish Upon A Star was a boyhood favorite.”

“It’s from the movie Pinocchio.”

“That was released a long time ago.”

“1940.”

“Before you were born?”

“Not long before. I was born in 1941. The movie played when I was a kid. I suppose it was a re-release.”

“It is a beautiful song. Makes me think of a wish.”

“Don’t even tell me, or it may not come true. Did you order Uber?”

“Yup. He’s right over there.”

 

“I see he some trees.”

“I think they are going with us to the pub.”

“Now that is festive.”

“Notice it has a back seat.”

“I’m so pleased. It will even be a warm ride.”

“Well, we must watch out for you oldsters after all.”