Jumble Spoiler – 08/04/17

Visual Description:  Learning the hard way.

WTISF  =  SWIFT,  STFIH  =  SHIFT,  VATDEN  =  ADVENT,  ZARNBE  =  BRAZEN   —   Giving us:  SWISHFDNTRAEN

Clue/Question:  He lost after going “all in” and had to give his wife the – – – 

Answer:  FIRST–HAND NEWS

(A very clever pun.  I have to admit it had me stumped for a couple of minutes.  For me, maybe because of the excellent answer letter layout, I did not see the word NEWS, but I did see the word DRAW.  I went with DRAW for a bit, but couldn’t think of what SISHFNTEN could do for me.  With only three vowels, out of thirteen letters, this also made the solve a little difficult.  Of course I also considered the word DRAWN, for the first word.  The hyphen saved me from trying to go with DRAWN-SENT FISH.  Once I got over DRAWN – that reminds me, I have to check my account balance before paying some bills – I came upon the word NEWS!  With ISHFDNTRA I was able to see the FIRST-HAND pun.  It’s nice seeing an answer that comes off as original.

No new clue words today, however all of the jumbles came up as new.  I already mentioned the great answer letter layout.  Fun cartoon too.  I always like it when Jeff puts himself and Kathy into them.  The other characters around the poker table are classic!  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

PS.  I’ll never grow up.  Dogs playing poker still cracks me up!   —   YUR

Cryptoquote Spoiler – 08/04/17

“The first problem for all of us, men and women, is not to learn, but to unlearn.”   —   Gloria Steinem

(Okay.  We all know what she is talking about here.  But, besides the long held notions and biases about the sexes, I wonder if she also considered what the communists attempted to do when it came to religion.  They wanted all the people to be loyal only to the state, so they banned all religion.  They may have succeeded with many, but nowhere’s near enough for them to consider it a true success.  That’s because it so hard to unlearn what has been ingrained over countless generations.  People feel very secure in their traditions.  They don’t want to give it up just because they are told to, even when told of the logic and benefits of doing so.  It’s a form of cognitive dissonance.  Just like the people who want to believe that their government only does good, and that the system works just like the “Founding Fathers” designed it.  Various forms of racism have been completely acceptable for thousands of years, as have anti-Semitism and other hatreds of various religions.  Thankfully, for much of the world at least, these ideologies are shunned by mainstream thinking, and it’s more the fringe groups that embrace the ideologies of superiority, and/or the hatred of others.  But, like so many things, it is handed down – learned – behavior and beliefs.  Unlearning is so much harder than learning, but it is something that we all need to do to make the world a more just place to live.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR