The Miller Report 07242025

 Greetings, fellow detectives, to Miller's Mysteries blog, where warm weather means the goats across the street are now on my list of “Frequent Blog Commenters”! It seems their bleats are all about my patio dining preferences—who knew they were food critics too? 

With my cats looking out like they own the place, I’ll be basking in the sun at Senior Center Shows and AMC films. And yes, the goats may even demand to join me for mini-golf games! So pull up a chair, and let’s chat about the goats’ latest critiques!


  • Across my Desk!!
Why did the chicken join a band?
Because it had the drumsticks.

In a major breakthrough, scientists have successfully grown human vocal cords in the lab.
The results speak for themselves.

🎣 Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day...
Teach a man to fish, and suddenly he’s got to buy himself $3k worth of rods, reels, flies, and waders - then a boat, AND a truck! 🚤🚗💸

What is a deer's favorite appetizer?
Fawn-Doo.

Greetings from the urn:
"I’m just here to remind you—life is short, eat dessert first!"





  • The Reader
  Late Night Escape

The glow of her bedside lamp illuminated the room, filling it with an inviting warmth as Michele settled into her sleep sanctuary on the couch in her RV trailer. The clock quietly ticked past ten o'clock, but she was not yet ready to sleep. A steaming mug of peppermint tea rested on her nightstand, and she lovingly tucked her fluffy blanket around herself. 

Ready to cozy up with her favorite blog, she opened Mindmyst Tales, paper and pencil in hand to underline anything particularly inspiring. The soothing rhythm of a gentle rain outside lulled her into the perfect reading mood. With a few chocolate-covered almonds beside her, she was prepared for a private adventure in her own little world. Each tale unraveled a new thread of creativity, leaving her immersed in thoughts that danced on the edge of her mind.
  
  
 • Game of the Week

1    The Circular Fountain
    A beautiful circular fountain lies at the center of a park, with a radius of 12 feet. Surrounding the fountain, the park has a landscaped circular flower bed that extends 5 feet beyond the fountain's edge. What is the area of the entire flower bed, including the fountain?


2  The Picnic Rectangle
A group of friends wants to lay out a rectangular picnic blanket in the park. The dimensions of the blanket are 8 feet by 10 feet. They find that there is a designated picnic area in the park that is a rectangle, measuring 25 feet by 15 feet. What percentage of the picnic area can be covered by the picnic blanket?

3  The Triangle Slide
At the park, there is a triangular slide that has a base of 6 feet and a height of 4 feet. An adventurous child is determined to slide down, and another child stands at the top of the slide, holding a kite on a string. If the string is extended to the ground at a point that is 8 feet away from the base of the slide, forming a right triangle, what is the length of the string?


4  The Playground Swing
A swing at the park hangs from a point 10 feet above the ground and swings in a circular arc. If the swing reaches a maximum horizontal distance of 8 feet from the point it hangs, what is the circumference of the circular path traced by the swing?

5 The Tree Canopy
There is a giant oak tree in the park with a canopy that spans a circular area of 50 feet in diameter. A picnic area is set up beneath the tree. If the party has a total of 20 people sitting under the canopy, what is the area available for each person to enjoy the shade?




 • Now, This Week's Exciting Story

Growing up with Technology

It has been a wild ride, transforming the way we communicate, learn, and entertain ourselves. I still remember when our family had a landline phone, a bulky device that felt like a relic from the Stone Age compared to today's sleek smartphones. Our home phone was an object of mystery, tucked away in some corner of the living room, and it was equipped with a long, tangled cord that served as a trip hazard and a listening post for the entire family. None of us were allowed to hog the phone for too long—especially if someone was trying to call! The only convenience? The thrill of picking up the receiver and knowing it was either an annoying telemarketer or your friend not-so-secretly wanting to know if the latest crush had called.

One of my fondest memories was when my friend and I would hastily dial each other's landlines, playing a game of "Whack-a-Mole" with the call-up timing, praying no one from our families would pick up and ruin the fun. The real kicker was our parents’ insistence on using our full names to ask who we were calling—seriously, Mom? How can I maintain my mysterious aura if you announce my intentions to the entire house? We would shout back, trying to sound casual, “Just asking if Sam wants to come over!” while secretly sweating it out and hoping that Sam's mom wasn't lurking nearby.

Fast forward to today, where the world seems to revolve around the magic of smartphones. I can’t help but chuckle when I see kids around me struggling to function without Google Maps. Forget memorizing routes or reading physical maps—technology has spoiled us to the point where I suspect some kids wouldn’t even be able to find their way out of their own neighborhoods. GPS is now a lifeline. I can vividly picture young teens going into a full-blown panic when their phone batteries dwindle, crying out for help like they were stranded on a deserted island. If they could, they’d probably send out a distress signal via social media, hashtagging their plight, desperately hoping for a “Call for Help” to trend!

The Internet has also profoundly altered the landscape of childhood. Remember those days before YouTube? Kids would spend hours outside, playing capture the flag or creating imaginary worlds. I often wonder how kids today comprehend boredom without Googling instant solutions. Back then, we made up our games; now I can barely keep track of the number of YouTube videos giving a detailed tutorial on how to build a treehouse or bake cookies—but nobody showed me how to deal with ants crashing the party! Rainy days were spent playing board games or doing crafts, while kids today would likely stare at a blank wall, wondering if their favorite streaming service is back online.

I often thought those non-tech days were an exercise in creativity and ingenuity, much like an episode of “Survivor”—a competition to see who could endure boredom the longest without a digital device nearby. Now, kids whip out their phones the minute a conversation lulls, connecting to friends halfway across the globe while simultaneously ignoring the ones sitting right next to them. That's probably why today’s kids might struggle to communicate face-to-face without needing a little digital crutch!

And let’s not talk about the art of actual research. I can vividly recall afternoons spent in dusty libraries, armed with a library card and a stack of index cards. We had to slog through encyclopedias like ancient explorers just to find answers for school projects. The “book dig” could be an expedition worthy of a reality show, complete with the occasional, dramatic “lost-in-the-shelves” crisis. I imagine today’s students looking at me in disbelief if I tell them about physically hunting for answers amongst the stacks. They’ll likely shout, “Wait, you didn’t just Google it?”

The whimsical fairy tale of growing up without instant gratification has its charm, though. There was an elegance in waiting for that special moment when you had to rework a telephone number on a piece of paper or, in a dramatic turn of events, when you finally succeeded in figuring out the instructions to set up a video game console. That rush was glorious! The sense of achievement from getting everything just right after a few trial-and-error rounds is hard to match when all you have to do now is tap an app.

So here we are, living in a brave new world flooded with technology, where teaching kids about the delights of life without it feels like recounting a mythical epic. The digital age has transformed so much, but sometimes I wonder if we lost a little bit of the magic that came with growing up with technology on the periphery of our lives rather than in the limelight. And as I reminisce about the days of landlines and limited internet access, I can't help but feel nostalgic for a time when the simple joys of childhood came without the screens!

Where's my phone?


===========SHADOW
During an intense seismic event that rattled New London, frightened families reported seeing bizarre silhouettes high above, illuminated by the fiery glow of the earth's rage. As the ground trembled, deep cracks opened, revealing a mysterious, pulsing light that beckoned them toward the chaos. Eyewitnesses recounted hearing whispers resonating from the fissures, urging them to join whatever lay beneath. By dawn, the ground was calm, but the townsfolk vanished, swallowed by the very earth that had promised to protect them.
SHADOW by Joseph Miller
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B4Z36PS3


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============ sponsor

KelDel Creations
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090364412851

Join Kelly at the craft fair and experience the joy of handmade artistry firsthand! Her booth is a treasure trove filled with unique handcrafted items, from vibrant home decor to personalized gifts that show you care. Each piece reflects her dedication to quality and her passion for creativity, ensuring that you'll discover something truly special. Kelly believes that handmade items have a soul, and she loves to share the stories behind her creations with visitors. Bring your friends and family and immerse yourselves in the vibrant atmosphere of creativity. With engaging demos and interactive design experiences, there’s something for everyone! Come support local artisans and leave with a unique find that you can cherish forever.

We'll be there again on July 25th.  We look forward to seeing you again!!  Don't forget to ask for one of Joe Miller's great books.  it will be autographed.


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Thank you for stopping by! 

I can’t thank you enough for stopping by! Summer roads leading to my home were filled with hope and excitement for our time together. The smell of hot black coffee brewing made everything feel just right as we settled in. Sitting by the fire pit, sharing stories and warmth, was a perfect way to reconnect. I hope the hot soup was just what you needed, filling your heart as much as it warmed your body. Our snuggling cat added a delightful touch, ensuring we had a cozy atmosphere. Until we meet again, may your days be bright and your heart be light!

 

Please do write a comment.  You could, if you dare, ask me a question, or be the first to send me a short, summer story! (500-1000 words). If I like it, I'll publish it right here in Miller's Mysteries Blog!
[send to mindmyst@yahoo.com]

Until next Thursday,    
Happy July!!! 

Joe Miller 🍻🍻 🦈️⛳️⛵🇺🇸️

Quick question:  If you could only wear one outlandish outfit for the rest of your life, what would it be, and would you embrace the weird looks or run for your life? I'd personally rock a giant chicken suit, just for the sheer joy of seeing people do double-takes! Plus, free eggs for breakfast, am I right?


Weather Forecast: Brace yourselves, folks: a heatwave is pushing temperatures to new heights, making pavement sizzling enough to fry eggs—literally! In other news, scientists claim that they've concluded that “Saturn is just a giant disco ball” after extensive cosmic parties. So, if life gets too hot, you can always request a cosmic dance party!