The German parliament has voted in favour of starting negotiations for a bailout deal with Greece, and Greek banks are expected to open July 20 after being closed for weeks. But it may not be time for Greeks to breathe a sigh of relief just yet because, as if their economic woes weren’t bad enough, it now appears as though wildfires are spreading across the southern part of the country.
In a scene that is all too familiar here in British Columbia, residents to the northeast of Athens and in surrounding areas have been forced from their homes due to smoke. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is urging calm but may be understandably distracted.
Here in B.C., some residents are dealing with what has now been declared a Level 4 drought in a creative way by hiring companies to paint their brown lawns green.
Speaking of green, scientists at Oregon State University have created a new strain of seaweed that has twice the nutritional value of kale – and it tastes like bacon. May make for some interesting breakfast smoothies.
I’d like to mention in passing that a flyby by the New Horizons has provided us with some spectacular images of Pluto. But the debate continues – is Pluto a planet, or isn’t it?
As far as astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson is concerned, the argument is settled . “Dear Pluto, lookin’ good. But you’re still a Dwarf Planet – get over it. Love, Neil deGrasse Tyson,” he tweeted July 14.
But Stephen Colbert begs to differ.
