Curtain Raiser

So much bad news, friends! The Amazon rain forest news might be the most distressing! We need to pressure Brazil into positive action, before it’s REALLY too late. — YUR

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I Am Because You Are, Colltalers

As Haiti is set to bury assassinated President Jovenel Moïse while First Lady Martine, wounded in the attack, greets Haitians, the first 500K Covid shots arrived in the 11 million-plus nation. In Cuba, the westward island next door, dueling pro and anti-government rallies all call for a lift of U.S. sanctions.
The dream of a post-apartheid South Africa’s at risk for widespread unrest, looting, and killing of civilians, triggered by ex-President Zuma’s refusal to testify at a corruption probe. And in the front of new threats, humanity has just acquired a newer one: the Amazon Rainforest now emits more CO2 than it absorbs.
We begin with the virus that came to dine on us, Covid, and the one crucial reason for Haiti and other developing nations to have had almost no access to vaccines: Big Pharma’s monopoly over drug patents, many acquired after the…

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Curtain Raiser

The more things change . . . the more things stay the same! — YUR

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The Truth Is No Safe Haven, Colltalers

After 12 years, Benjamin Netanyahu is no longer Israel’s Prime Minister. Successor Naftali Bennett has a similar mindset about the Palestinians, but there may be an opening for a reset in the region. The G7 just ended another purpose-free meeting by both ignoring Israel and the climate emergency.
Atmospheric carbon dioxide just hit its highest level in four million years as the U.S. braces for a record-setting drought. Don’t count on the Supreme Court though: it’s busy ruling on vote restrictions. Or the rich, having fun with tax-free rockets. But do count on Darnella Frazier to make us humans.
We start with two letters: one, an open “Letter Against Apartheid” signed by 1,600+ international artists, expresses solidarity with Palestinians and their plight for decolonization. The other is by a group of House Democrats to Attorney General Merrick Garland about the role the Justice Department…

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Jumble Spoiler – 06/16/21

Visual Description:  The tasting room.

MIGER  =  GRIME,  SURHE  =  USHER,  DMLEUO  =  MODULE,  PZRIEP  =  ZIPPER   —   Giving us:  IMURMOUPE

Clue/Question:  The vineyard’s new retail store that offered free samples was an – – –

Answer:  “EM–POUR–IUM“

(This Jumble pun has earthy tones.  I’m sensing notes of blackcurrants, and a hint of green peppercorn.  Good nose!  Everything I know about wine I got from watching “Sideways”, with Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh.  My favorite line:  “No, if anyone orders Merlot, I’m leaving. I am NOT drinking any fff-ing Merlot!”  Wow.  That Virginia Madsen was always easy on the eyes.  That movie is about 14 years old now!  Time flies.

There were no nouveau clue words today.  They are all well-aged.  Three of the jumbles appear to be uncorked, but we’ve already had a round, or two, of “miger” before.  I was able to suss them all out tout de suite.  The answer letter layout was a nutty nine letter jumble.  Supremely cryptic!  It took me a minute, or two, to pick up on the visual clue, to get the final answer.

Fine as wine cartoon, showing a winery’s tasting store.  With a classy looking, marble topped bar, and a wonderful view of the vineyard.  I like wine, but I’ve never been to a winery before.  I wonder, since you’re cutting out any middle men, are the bottles of wine cheaper than buying them in a store?  If anyone knows I’d be happy to hear from you.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Images courtesy of Google

Happy birthday to Eddie Levert of The O’Jays!

Cryptoquote Spoiler – 06/08/21

“I never knew whether to pity or congratulate a man on coming to his senses.”   —   William Makepeace Thackery

(Being logical and rational definitely has its place.  But sometimes you got to let yourself be a little crazy.  It’s good for the soul.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Image courtesy of Google

Happy birthday to both Boz Scaggs, and Mick Hucknall of Simply Red!

Curtain Raiser

News of the world, folks! (In case you missed it, or are slaves to the corporate media.) — YUR

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Bleak Outlook & Yet We Rise, Colltalers

Israel’s long-sitting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may lose his seat to a political coalition. Palestinians, however, are not counting on support from his challengers. Life in Gaza and occupied territories remains miserable. But there’s an opening and the U.S. and the UN should seize it at once.
Rallies against Brazil’s president, a decision against Dutch Shell, ExxonMobil and Chevron woes, and the horrifying discovery of bodies of native kids mass buried in Canada rocked the week. But today’s 100 years of the Tulsa Massacre, an entire Black neighborhood razed but to be never forgotten again.
In Germany, speaking of unforgettable 20th-century massacres, the government has formally recognized atrocities against Namibia’s Herero and Nama people and pledged to “recognize the immense suffering inflicted.” Regardless of how much such gestures resonate within both nations, it’s fair to expect that they should be coming in cascades from…

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Curtain Raiser

Especially for those of you who still believe the American corporate media’s mythology of Israel’s virtue! — YUR

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We All Desire Life, Colltalers

The first crack in the up-to-now overwhelming support for President Biden suddenly exploded like, and due to, Israeli strikes in Gaza, which shocked the world for their viciousness and unrestrained violence. For a change, public opinion is turning and more Americans now care about the Palestinians.
Thousands around the globe rallied to decry Israel’s apartheid policies even as the U.S. stands firmly to its side. We’re on our own again. For if not, this week would be marked by a serious pipeline hack and in Brazil, by a Congressional inquiry into President Bolsonaro’s disastrous handling of Covid.
A Senate panel is trying to establish a timeline of Brazil’s failures to contain the virus and the still current lack of vaccines to cover every citizen. The probe however is unlikely to change what’s already public knowledge: the president downplayed the crisis until it was too late…

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Jumble Spoiler – 05/13/21

 

Visual Description:  Bros being bros!

OSBNI  =  BISON,  LYNVI  =  VINYL,  ASYLIE  =  EASILY,  RRLEAG  =  LARGER   —   Giving us:  BINVYLESILRGER

Clue/Question:  When the competitive identical twins celebrated their birthday, it was – – – 

Answer:  SIBLING “REVELRY“

(They likely started fighting in the womb.  And, it will probably continue til they’re in the tomb.  But they’ll do just about everything together.  Identical twins have a kind of inseparable bond.  I guess it’s because they started from a single egg.  I cannot imagine having a twin, let alone an identical one.  I’m pretty sure my parents were glad they didn’t have twins.  Although, my Dad was a twin.  But he was a fraternal twin.

All of today’s clue words are regulars to the Jumble game.  Surprisingly, all of the jumbles have come up as new.  It took me a few looks to see “larger”.  Don’t ask me why.  Just a good jumble, I guess.  The answer letter layout was a very ambitious fourteen letter jumble.  A little intimidating at first.  But there were enough clues in the cartoon and the clue/question to make for a swift solve.

Great birthday party cartoon!  I was going to guess that the brothers were thirteen, but then I counted the candles on both cakes.  They’re twelve!  I guess today’s final answer was a semi-homophonic pun.  Just different vowels.  A lot of great birthdays today.  I’ll just throw two at you:  Harvey Keitel is 82, and Stephen Colbert is 57!  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Images courtesy of Google

Happy birthday to Stevie Wonder!

Jumble Spoiler – 05/12/21

Visual Description:  Inspired by a town in Somerset County, NJ.

DBYUD  =  BUDDY,  FNOTE  =  OFTEN,  UGATOE  =  OUTAGE,  SBPHIO  =  BISHOP   —   Giving us:  UDDOTNOTBIO

Clue/Question:  The baby bunny that was finally able to jump over the creek was – – –

Answer:  BOUND TO DO IT

(A Jumble with a Mama and baby bunny could never be called stinky!  They’re too friggin’ cute, fer Chrissakes!  In case any of you are wondering about my unusual Visual Description, the name of the town it brought to mind is Bound Brook, NJ.  Once upon a time I used to work very close to that town, in Bridgewater.  Now, aren’t you glad you asked?

All classic Jumble clue words today.  Three of the jumbles appear to be new, but David L. Hoyt has resurrected one of my all-time favorite jumbles, in “ugatoe”!  It just looks like it could be a real word.  The answer letter layout was an eloquent eleven letter jumble.  It did a fine job of disguising the final answer.  But I’m sure we were all determined to get it! 

A lovely pastoral cartoon scene.  The baby bunny blissfully bounded the bucolic babbling brook, to the bravas of dear Mama!  This is what happens when mothers instill confidence in their children.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Images courtesy of Google

Happy birthday to Billy Duffy, of The Cult!

Curtain Raiser

Complacency time is over, folks! There is a lot going on outside the U.S., and he barely scratched the surface of the C.F. that is going on in India. — YUR

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Satellites Crash, Ideals Don’t, Colltalers

A police massacre in Rio, political unrest in Bogotá and Jerusalem, and a blast in Kabul; some capitals had a hell of a weekend. Speaking of it, as rich countries walk to full Covid immunization, impoverished ones still suffer from lack of vaccines, even if drug patterns may be temporality lifted.
An assassination attempt against the Maldives’ former president and environmentalist Mohamed Nasheed rocked the tiny archipelago. Which made a  surprising second appearance in the week headlines: as it turned out, the out-of-control 10-store Long March 5B Chinese rocket crashed off its waters.
In the U.S. there’s a growing concern that, unless Congress axes the filibuster, much of the Democratic agenda won’t be even voted on, or it will but after being washed out. The party that controls the presidency, the House, and the Senate hasn’t yet passed any of the badly needed plans outlined in Biden’s campaign and first 100…

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Cryptoquote Spoiler – 03/31/21

“Don’t focus on the pain, focus on the progress.”   —   Dwayne Johnson

(Does this quote sound familiar to you guys?  I think we had a Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson quote just a little while ago, but I couldn’t find it Googling.  Maybe since I haven’t posted in a while Google has dropped me in their ranking scheme???  Anyway, it’s a great sports kinda quote that can apply to all areas of one’s life.  I’ve watched a few episodes of “Young Rock”, and it is done VERY well.  The actors playing the various wrestlers in his life are very close to the real ones, even the young guy who plays the teenage Rock.  Very entertaining.  Maybe Dwayne will actually run for President in 15 years!  Why not?  We’ve had a wrestler Governor, in Jesse “The Body” Ventura.  A body builder/actor Governor, in Arnold Schwarzenegger.  And an actor President, in Ronald Reagan!  I think Dwayne would be better than that “Reality Star” train wreck that we just . . . barely . . . survived!  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Image Courtesy of Google