Cryptoquote Spoiler – 11/11/16

“Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears.”   —   Les Brown

(Unfortunately, this is too true.  Fear leads to stagnation.  It’s just so hard to break free from it.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Veteran’s Day Jumble Spoiler – 2016

Visual Description:  Changing disciplines.

NATDS  =  STAND,  BIREB  =  BRIBE,  XLAEEH  =  EXHALE,  ORUPTO  =  UPROOT   —   Giving us:  SNDIBEEHLURT

Clue/Question:  The martial arts master started learning Judo because he had Karate – – –

Answer:  UNDER HIS BELT

(Excellent pun!  I can still remember taking my son, Derek, to Karate lessons when he was around seven years old.  He was such a natural athlete, and so in to it.  He was such a fast learner.  At times they would let a student get up in front of the class to lead a routine.  He’d only been studying for a couple months, but when the instructor asked if he wanted to lead the class Derek leaped at the opportunity.  He started with the basic punches and kicks, and he was very crisp and precise.  When he heard the polite oohs and aahs of the parents, students and instructors suddenly it was show time!  He proceeded to these jumping kicks and spinning kicks, like out of a Bruce Lee movie.  He was going full Fists of Fury.  He punctuated his routine with a perfect jump into a split, and then slowly rose, just by using his leg muscles.  All the parents’ jaws dropped, and someone said:  Who is this kid?  I puffed out my chest, and said:  That’s my boy!  He stayed with it for about four years, or so.  Got his third or fourth stripe on his brown belt, decided he didn’t want to go for his black belt, and just quit the game.  Funny kid.

No new clue words today.  But, all of the jumbles came up as new.  I had a little trouble with “orupto”.  I wanted to go OUTPOUR, but I was lacking a U, and apparently it’s not a compound word until it’s “outpouring”.  Go figure.  It didn’t take me too long to default to “uproot”.  The answer letter layout was wonderfully cryptic.  I didn’t see the answer right away, but the leading nature of the clue/question quickly got me to the answer.  The cartoon is a lot of fun.  It must be humbling for someone with a black belt to be handed a white belt.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR