W. Johnson
@wjohnson68.bsky.social
A cog in the wheel of public service. The kind that often requires a helmet. Aspirations outpacing capacity. Veteran of war and peace and then a bit more war.
Engine 23 standing by for your various Thanksgiving Day mishaps, St. Louis.
November 27, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Engine 23 standing by for your various Thanksgiving Day mishaps, St. Louis.
This would be the time to have someone competent in the consoler-in-chief role, but I’m afraid we’re going to get the opposite.
November 26, 2025 at 9:19 PM
This would be the time to have someone competent in the consoler-in-chief role, but I’m afraid we’re going to get the opposite.
Buildings covered in bamboo scaffolding. Like kindling.
Thirteen people were killed in a fire that spread across seven high-rise apartment buildings in a Hong Kong housing complex. About 700 people have been evacuated to temporary shelters.
13 people killed in fire engulfing Hong Kong high-rise residential buildings, fire services say
www.npr.org
November 26, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Buildings covered in bamboo scaffolding. Like kindling.
“Sorry, can’t make it tonight. My cells are too tired from Gulf War illness” is going to be my go-to excuse from now on.
* dark humor alert
* dark humor alert
A new medical study found that the wide-ranging symptoms of Gulf War illness appear to be caused by a failure of cells to produce adequate energy, bringing experts a step closer to finding the root cause and a treatment. www.stripes.com/veterans/202...
Texas researcher narrows path to finding root cause of Gulf War illness
A new medical study found that the wide-ranging symptoms of Gulf War illness appear to be caused by a failure of cells to produce adequate energy.
www.stripes.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:47 AM
“Sorry, can’t make it tonight. My cells are too tired from Gulf War illness” is going to be my go-to excuse from now on.
* dark humor alert
* dark humor alert
Shopping for dinner tonight at my local grocery store and noticed neck bones and rib tips (sans the rest of the ribs) on the shelf, and thinking about how, with this economy, these are increasingly relevant options.
November 24, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Shopping for dinner tonight at my local grocery store and noticed neck bones and rib tips (sans the rest of the ribs) on the shelf, and thinking about how, with this economy, these are increasingly relevant options.
“The 28-point blueprint drawn up by the U.S…” better written as translated from the original Russian by the U.S.
Top U.S. and Ukrainian officials said they’d made progress toward ending the Russia-Ukraine war but provided scant details after discussing the American proposal to achieve peace.
In Geneva, US and Ukraine officials report progress on ending Russia’s war but offer few specifics
www.stripes.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:11 AM
“The 28-point blueprint drawn up by the U.S…” better written as translated from the original Russian by the U.S.
Not sure when this happened but I’ve long thought that it isn’t a good idea to have the school playground near a busy intersection. Not in this town.
November 22, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Not sure when this happened but I’ve long thought that it isn’t a good idea to have the school playground near a busy intersection. Not in this town.
Looking in the mirror after a fire when I think I might have a little soot on my face
November 21, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Looking in the mirror after a fire when I think I might have a little soot on my face
Reminded today of a FB post I made on this day in 2011. Things took a decidedly different turn.
September 7, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Reminded today of a FB post I made on this day in 2011. Things took a decidedly different turn.
“Ba-dee-ya, say, do you remember?
Ba-dee-ya, dancin' in September
Ba-dee-ya, never was a cloudy day”
A seasonal ear worm. You’re welcome.
Ba-dee-ya, dancin' in September
Ba-dee-ya, never was a cloudy day”
A seasonal ear worm. You’re welcome.
September 4, 2025 at 3:35 AM
“Ba-dee-ya, say, do you remember?
Ba-dee-ya, dancin' in September
Ba-dee-ya, never was a cloudy day”
A seasonal ear worm. You’re welcome.
Ba-dee-ya, dancin' in September
Ba-dee-ya, never was a cloudy day”
A seasonal ear worm. You’re welcome.
The modern stoicism movement is a failed cry for help and a defiant acknowledgment that help is not on the way and you will handle that shit or die.
September 1, 2025 at 11:18 PM
The modern stoicism movement is a failed cry for help and a defiant acknowledgment that help is not on the way and you will handle that shit or die.
Thermometer popped out of the roast and for a minute I thought it might be slightly overdone.
August 23, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Thermometer popped out of the roast and for a minute I thought it might be slightly overdone.
Bellerive Park, neglected for years, used to be a place my grandparents and I often visited when I was a kid. Even though the brush has been cut back to once again allow a view of our majestic river, it remains an encampment for drug activity. Such a loss.
August 20, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Bellerive Park, neglected for years, used to be a place my grandparents and I often visited when I was a kid. Even though the brush has been cut back to once again allow a view of our majestic river, it remains an encampment for drug activity. Such a loss.
The STL tornado was devastating. I am thoroughly captivated and moved by this photo by Laurie Skrivan and the accompanying quote. The stoicism and “stiff upper lip” that is conveyed is both inspiring and heart wrenching.
August 17, 2025 at 11:56 PM
The STL tornado was devastating. I am thoroughly captivated and moved by this photo by Laurie Skrivan and the accompanying quote. The stoicism and “stiff upper lip” that is conveyed is both inspiring and heart wrenching.
Moved the youngest into St. Louis University today. Very impressive reception. Not a bad view from his room either.
August 16, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Moved the youngest into St. Louis University today. Very impressive reception. Not a bad view from his room either.
Passing along a message from my Ring: “Your chickens are out on the road at Gravois and River Des Peres”
August 14, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Passing along a message from my Ring: “Your chickens are out on the road at Gravois and River Des Peres”
Sad to see this STL resource just sit and decay. Particularly fond of it because I was born there when it was Lutheran Hospital.
Gravois Park neighbors win key round in quest to seize St. Alexius | St. Louis Magazine
For almost a year, neighbors in Gravois Park have been trying to wrest control of the shuttered St. Alexius Hospital away from an owner they believe has been
www.stlmag.com
August 13, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Sad to see this STL resource just sit and decay. Particularly fond of it because I was born there when it was Lutheran Hospital.
Humped the hills and plateaus of this province for a year. Got shot at frequently, but also built a lot of relationships. Wish things had gone differently.
🇦🇫 VIDEO: Water extremes drive displacement in Afghanistan
Successive wars displaced Afghans over forty years, but peace has not brought total reprieve, as climate change-fuelled shocks drive people from their homes and strain livelihoods.
Successive wars displaced Afghans over forty years, but peace has not brought total reprieve, as climate change-fuelled shocks drive people from their homes and strain livelihoods.
August 13, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Humped the hills and plateaus of this province for a year. Got shot at frequently, but also built a lot of relationships. Wish things had gone differently.
Some of y’all are just determined to add to first responders’ PTSD
St. Louis resident Thomas Robinson couldn’t believe his eyes last weekend while having dinner nearby—people sitting on top of the vacant Millennium hotel. https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/video-shows-people-on-roof-of-vacant-stl-hotel-sparking-safety-concerns/
August 12, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Some of y’all are just determined to add to first responders’ PTSD
Weather app: “No worries. Go ahead and hang your freshly washed linen outside.”
Me: “I dunno. Those clouds look awful dark.”
Weather App: “You’ll be FINE, mate. Trust me.”
#stlwx
Me: “I dunno. Those clouds look awful dark.”
Weather App: “You’ll be FINE, mate. Trust me.”
#stlwx
August 10, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Weather app: “No worries. Go ahead and hang your freshly washed linen outside.”
Me: “I dunno. Those clouds look awful dark.”
Weather App: “You’ll be FINE, mate. Trust me.”
#stlwx
Me: “I dunno. Those clouds look awful dark.”
Weather App: “You’ll be FINE, mate. Trust me.”
#stlwx
Update: still alive, stings *sting* a bit less, and given the unusual amount of energy I felt during this morning’s exercise, I think I may have had a Peter Parker-esque transformation. Humor me. This has been traumatic.
Trimming bushes and disturbed a bee’s nest. Got swarmed and stung several times. So, incidentally, when is one out of the window for anaphylactic shock?
August 10, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Update: still alive, stings *sting* a bit less, and given the unusual amount of energy I felt during this morning’s exercise, I think I may have had a Peter Parker-esque transformation. Humor me. This has been traumatic.
Trimming bushes and disturbed a bee’s nest. Got swarmed and stung several times. So, incidentally, when is one out of the window for anaphylactic shock?
August 9, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Trimming bushes and disturbed a bee’s nest. Got swarmed and stung several times. So, incidentally, when is one out of the window for anaphylactic shock?
Our youngest graduated from an SLPS high school. Rated one of the best in the state, but not because of the district. In spite of the district. Its success came from those inside its own walls.
Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick initiated the inquiry last August in response to financial discrepancies under former SLPS Superintendent Dr. Keisha Scarlett, who was fired last fall. https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/slps-audit-school-board-asleep-at-the-wheel-auditor-says/
August 5, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Our youngest graduated from an SLPS high school. Rated one of the best in the state, but not because of the district. In spite of the district. Its success came from those inside its own walls.
We’re no longer the reliable ally, but maybe being the exploitative weapons dealer will still have some some positive effect.
NATO has started coordinating regular deliveries of large weapons packages to Ukraine.
Two deliveries of equipment, most of it bought in the United States, are expected this month.
Two deliveries of equipment, most of it bought in the United States, are expected this month.
NATO to coordinate regular and large-scale arm deliveries to Ukraine. Most will be bought in the US
www.stripes.com
August 5, 2025 at 5:13 PM
We’re no longer the reliable ally, but maybe being the exploitative weapons dealer will still have some some positive effect.