Curtain Raiser

Beyond the tipping point??? (A VERY good read.) — YUR

CollTales

Heat & the Fire Next Door, Colltalers

The heat is on. But that has little to do with current high temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere. Unlike those, climate change, and related global warming, is man made, a concept only reinforced by disturbing recent news. In fact, heat is the least of your concerns.
For the Olympics-unchallenged, who keep count of everything, mankind’s already low score in the fight to reverse climate change has just sunk lower: melting permafrost has triggered a deadly anthrax outbreak in Siberia, and exposed U.S.’s radioactive waste in Greenland.
The (bad) news adds up to an already alarming trend caused by the Arctic’s diminishing ice cap, reported last year: the exposure of ancient pools of methane, a heat-trapping gas that, when released into the atmosphere, packs more heat than fuel fossil-produced carbon dioxide.
Mankind’s count is down because, despite major steps to counter the effects of climate…

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photo essay #53: Kamakura, Japan

A marvelous travelog! I’ve always wanted to go to Japan.

P e d r o L

travel with other photo essays

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Cryptoquote Spoiler – 08/15/16

Portrait drawing of U.S. poet James Russell Lowell (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“Let us be of good cheer, remembering that the misfortunes hardest to bear are those which never come.”   —   James Russell Lowell

(That’s being highly optimistic/philosophical!  But, I guess there’s always someone who’s got it it worse than you do, or your problems could be much much worse.  So, be grateful for what you have.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

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Jumble Spoiler – 08/15/16

minigun on Humvee (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Visual Description:  Humvee’s BIG brother.

PRAAT  =  APART,  KIKAH  =  KHAKI,  GNUUSF  =  FUNGUS,  LEEPTL  =  PELLET   —   Giving us:  PATKHIFNULLET

Clue/Question:  To refuel the armored combat vehicle, they needed to – – –

The HMMWV is a 4WD/AWD that powers all wheels evenly (continuously) via a manually lockable center differential, with Torsen differentials for both front and rear. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Answer:  FILL UP THE TANK

(Not that you CAN buy them, but if you COULD, you just know some no-dick d-bag WOULD buy a friggin’ tank!  You know it!  There were no new clue words today, but three of the jumbles came up as new.  We’ve seen “praat” before.  I always have to check myself with “khaki”.  I keep wanting to spell it “kakhi” like in Gandhi.  The answer letter layout made for a wonderful jumble, but Jeff’s great cartoon, and the very carefully worded clue/question made this wonderfully long answer a gimme.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

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• Veteran gets second chance thanks in part to ‘A Warrior’s Wish’ program (wcti12.com)
• Kevin Hart is releasing a rap album (businessinsider.com)