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August 31, 2025 – Wisdom From the Almanac

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ᴵⁿ ᵗᶦᵐᵉˢ ᵒᶠ ᶜˡᶦᵐᵃᵗᵉ ᵉᵐᵉʳᵍᵉⁿᶜʸ https://climateclock.world/ As the summer days wind down into the crisp promise of autumn, there's no better companion than the Old Farmer’s Almanac, a treasure trove of practical knowledge and profound insights that have guided generations. On this August 31, 2025, let's dive into its gems—from the simple art of knowing when your garden's bounty is ripe to timeless proverbs that remind us to build resilience in an unpredictable world. Join me as I share these entries, laced with my own thoughts on how they echo in our modern lives. Today's Old Farmer's Almanac entries carry small lessons that stretch far beyond the farm field. Here's what caught my eye, along with my own reflections. 🌱 Question of the Day How do I know when onions are ready for harvesting? Almanac's Answer: When the tops of the onions start to turn yellow and begin to fall over, it is time to harvest them. My Note: While onions offer real benefits, i...

Banking Crisis 1998–1999: Aftermath – Pivot to Construction and Disappointed Diaspora

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ᴵⁿ ᵗᶦᵐᵉˢ ᵒᶠ ᶜˡᶦᵐᵃᵗᵉ ᵉᵐᵉʳᵍᵉⁿᶜʸ https://climateclock.world/ 🔹 In the late 1990s, Croatia faced more than just a financial collapse — it faced a crisis of trust. When banks fell and savings disappeared, the government needed a new path forward. What came next was not a revolution in finance, but a revolution in concrete: the building of the A1 motorway and the Adriatic–Ionian highway projects. The Croatian banking crisis of 1998–1999 marked a turning point not only for the country’s fragile financial system but also for its economic direction. When banks collapsed under the weight of bad loans, political ties, and poor oversight, confidence in financial institutions evaporated. The state stepped in, but instead of reforming financial engineering toward transparency and innovation, it turned the nation’s focus elsewhere — onto concrete and asphalt. The love between an economist and an engineer often ends in financial engineering: numbers meet structures, models marry mech...

Key Biblical Highlights (Chronological)

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ᴵⁿ ᵗᶦᵐᵉˢ ᵒᶠ ᶜˡᶦᵐᵃᵗᵉ ᵉᵐᵉʳᵍᵉⁿᶜʸ https://climateclock.world/ In a world increasingly shaped by technological advancements, it's more vital than ever to anchor our progress in timeless wisdom. Our newest article offers a compelling journey through pivotal moments in biblical history—from God's enduring promises marked by the Rainbow Covenant to the transformative message of the New Covenant. We then bridge the ancient with the contemporary, inviting you to consider how these profound spiritual and ethical foundations can illuminate our path forward with Artificial Intelligence. Here are four key highlights from the Bible, presented in chronological order, illustrating major covenants and turning points in the narrative: 1. The Rainbow Covenant 🌈 After the great flood, as recorded in Genesis chapters 8 and 9, God established a covenant with Noah and his descendants, and with all living creatures. God promised never again to destroy all life on Earth with a flood. Th...

🌍 EES vs. ETIAS: Know the Difference for EU Travel! ✈️

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ᴵⁿ ᵗᶦᵐᵉˢ ᵒᶠ ᶜˡᶦᵐᵃᵗᵉ ᵉᵐᵉʳᵍᵉⁿᶜʸ https://climateclock.world/ Planning a trip to the Schengen Area as a non-EU citizen (e.g., from Serbia or the Western Balkans)? Here’s the lowdown on EES and ETIAS —two systems affecting your travel: EES (Entry/Exit System) 🛂 Starts : November 10, 2024 Cost : FREE What : Automatically tracks entries/exits with biometrics (fingerprints, facial image) at borders, replacing passport stamps. Key Feature : Monitors your 90-day stay limit in 180 days. How : Register via app/website or at border kiosks. Data valid for 3 years. When you use it : At the border, starting Nov 2024. No pre-application needed. ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) 📋 Starts : Late 2026 (TBD) Cost : €7 (free for under 18 or over 70) What : Pre-travel authorization for visa-exempt travelers. Valid for 3 years or until passport expires, allowing multiple 90-day stays. Key Feature : Security pre-screening before you board. How : Apply online via ...

AI vs Crypto Energy Use: ChatGPT, Bitcoin, and Ethereum Compared

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ᴵⁿ ᵗᶦᵐᵉˢ ᵒᶠ ᶜˡᶦᵐᵃᵗᵉ ᵉᵐᵉʳᵍᵉⁿᶜʸ https://climateclock.world/ In recent discussions it’s been claimed that “people send over 2.5 billion messages to ChatGPT every day.” That level of usage raises a natural question: what is the environmental cost? Let’s break it down and compare ChatGPT, Bitcoin, and Ethereum in terms of energy use and carbon footprint . ChatGPT Energy per prompt : estimates vary, but a typical query may consume around 0.3 to 0.34 watt-hours of electricity— a small amount , comparable to an LED bulb for a minute or two. ( Epoch AI , Dev Sustainability , DEV Community ) Scaling up : one source estimated total daily consumption could be tens of millions of kWh per day , but this depends on model efficiency and usage patterns. ( Business Energy UK , Best Brokers ) If there are indeed 2.5 billion prompts per day , even at 0.3 Wh each , that’s ~750 million watt-hours → 750,000 kWh per day , or about 0.75 GWh/day . That would scale to roughly 270 GWh/year . Compa...

Banking Crisis 1998–1999: Important Lessons

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ᴵⁿ ᵗᶦᵐᵉˢ ᵒᶠ ᶜˡᶦᵐᵃᵗᵉ ᵉᵐᵉʳᵍᵉⁿᶜʸ https://climateclock.world/ The Croatian banking crisis of 1998-1999 carries a set of important lessons that are quite specific to Croatia and the broader post-Yugoslav, post-transition region. Here are the key messages: 1. Rapid Expansion Without Oversight is Dangerous When Mesić ran for president, he promised to recover funds lost in the 1990s banking scandals and privatization corruption schemes (roughly 1–1.5 billion USD at the time). In the 1990s, many Croatian banks grew aggressively after the war, with limited regulatory oversight. Credit was extended too easily, sometimes politically motivated, and risk management practices were poor. This reflects a broader regional problem: post-socialist states liberalized their financial sectors before institutions were strong enough to supervise them. 2. Privatization Created Weak Foundations Banks were privatized or newly established quickly, often with politically connected owners. Many lacked lo...

Banking Crisis 1998–1999: Bankrupt and Disappeared

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ᴵⁿ ᵗᶦᵐᵉˢ ᵒᶠ ᶜˡᶦᵐᵃᵗᵉ ᵉᵐᵉʳᵍᵉⁿᶜʸ https://climateclock.world/ Introduction The Croatian banking crisis of 1998-1999 shook the country's financial system and revealed deep structural weaknesses. Several banks collapsed completely, never returning to business. Unlike Dubrovačka banka or Croatia banka, which were rescued, the following institutions went bankrupt and disappeared from the market. Some banks showed irresponsible management… sometimes even criminal activity, granting a large part of their loans to connected persons, resulting in liquidity problems. Glumina Banka Glumina Banka was one of the first major casualties. By mid-1998, its potential losses were several times higher than its capital base. Payment obligations were repeatedly missed, and the Croatian National Bank (CNB) refused to support its rehabilitation. In March 1999, bankruptcy proceedings were officially launched, ending the bank's operations. Komercijalna Banka (Zagreb) Komercijalna Banka face...

Balancing Local Security in a Globalized World

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ᴵⁿ ᵗᶦᵐᵉˢ ᵒᶠ ᶜˡᶦᵐᵃᵗᵉ ᵉᵐᵉʳᵍᵉⁿᶜʸ https://climateclock.world/ The familiar proverb "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" is a timeless lesson in pragmatism, caution, and valuing what is tangible over what is merely potential. In an increasingly interconnected world, this wisdom takes on new layers of meaning when applied to the complex and often unpredictable process of globalization. It challenges us to reconsider whether the immediate, known benefits of local and national economies are being sacrificed for the speculative, often distant, promises of a fully globalized one. 🔹 Key Insight: The fundamental question is no longer "to globalize or not to globalize," but rather "how to globalize with prudence, preserving what is essential to our local stability while engaging with the wider world." Globalization, in this context, can be seen as the "two in the bush"-a vast, alluring, and somewhat undefined promise of interconnected mark...

ˢᵃᵛᵉ ᵗʰᵉ ᵖᵒᵒʳ A Call to Save Lives and Address Global Crises

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ᴵⁿ ᵗᶦᵐᵉˢ ᵒᶠ ᶜˡᶦᵐᵃᵗᵉ ᵉᵐᵉʳᵍᵉⁿᶜʸ https://climateclock.world/ Wars, hunger, displacement, and the climate emergency are not isolated issues — they are interconnected threads in the same global fabric. If we fail to address them together, none of them can be solved. Please save the people of Gaza and the kidnapped Israelis. Save the poor in Ukraine and Russia. Every day, around 700 million people—mostly in Africa—go hungry, many fearing they will not live to see the morning. The scale of human suffering is staggering, and the challenges are deeply intertwined. Conflict worsens poverty, poverty fuels displacement, and displacement magnifies vulnerability to climate change. Meanwhile, climate breakdown itself undermines food security, health, and stability — pushing millions more into desperation. If we cannot solve these urgent crises, how can we hope to defeat climate change? How can we achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? These challenges are interconnected, reminding us of t...

The Value of Persistence in Digital Publishing: Journey Since 2017

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ᴵⁿ ᵗᶦᵐᵉˢ ᵒᶠ ᶜˡᶦᵐᵃᵗᵉ ᵉᵐᵉʳᵍᵉⁿᶜʸ https://climateclock.world/ Introduction In an era where online voices rise and vanish overnight, building a consistent digital presence is a remarkable achievement. Since 2017, I’ve poured thousands of hours into blogging, publishing, and curating digital work across platforms — not for vanity metrics, but for the long-term value of having an authentic, searchable record of ideas, projects, and creative energy. The Weight of Continuity Unlike fleeting posts lost in algorithm-driven feeds, a body of work that spans years becomes more than content — it turns into a personal archive of growth . Each URL represents a fragment of thought, whether it’s a Strava activity, a piece of digital art, a photoblog entry, or a deeper essay. Strava activities → ≈ 800 URLs Free Digital Art → ≈ 300 URLs Nature+ Photoblog → ≈ 400 URLs 🐦 ✨ X | sourceforge.net | AI-syn → ≈ 5000 URLs Medium stories → ≈ 55 URLs YouTube Channel →  ≈ 50 URLs Official Bl...

India, Motorcycles, and Pollution: The G20 Country with the Highest Motorcycle Percentage

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ᴵⁿ ᵗᶦᵐᵉˢ ᵒᶠ ᶜˡᶦᵐᵃᵗᵉ ᵉᵐᵉʳᵍᵉⁿᶜʸ https://climateclock.world/ Motorcycles are more than just vehicles in India – they are a way of life. With over 260 million two-wheelers on the roads and more than half of households owning one, India leads the G20 in motorcycle percentage by far. At around 185 two-wheelers per 1,000 people , India surpasses even Italy, which has around 120 per 1,000. No other G20 nation comes close. But this dominance comes with a hidden cost: pollution. Air Pollution in Indian Cities Air pollution in India’s urban centers is a severe public health challenge. Delhi , for instance, ranks among the most polluted major cities globally. Urban air quality issues lead to millions of premature deaths annually. The major contributors to particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and overall air pollution include traffic emissions, road dust, industrial sources, household fuel burning, and seasonal agricultural practices. Traffic congestion further worsens the issue, as vehicles in ...

Banking Crisis 1998–1999: Dubrovačka and Croatia Banka Bailouts

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ᴵⁿ ᵗᶦᵐᵉˢ ᵒᶠ ᶜˡᶦᵐᵃᵗᵉ ᵉᵐᵉʳᵍᵉⁿᶜʸ https://climateclock.world/ The late 1990s marked one of the most turbulent financial chapters in modern Croatian history. As the country transitioned into a market economy, it faced growing pains that exposed deep flaws in the banking sector. The collapse of major banks such as Dubrovačka banka and Croatia banka forced the state to step in with costly bailouts, reshaping public trust in financial institutions. The bailouts were not just financial rescues; they were warnings about the fragility of Croatia’s post-transition economy. Background: A Fragile System In the years leading up to the crisis, many Croatian banks expanded aggressively, often without proper risk management or oversight. Dubrovačka banka, once a strong regional institution, and Croatia banka, among the country’s largest, both became entangled in risky lending practices, political connections, and internal mismanagement. When non-performing loans piled up and liquidity dried out...

AI Auto-Organizer Scripts for Linux: The Future of File Management on Desktop PCs and Laptops

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ᴵⁿ ᵗᶦᵐᵉˢ ᵒᶠ ᶜˡᶦᵐᵃᵗᵉ ᵉᵐᵉʳᵍᵉⁿᶜʸ https://climateclock.world/ Managing files on a Linux desktop or laptop can be both empowering and overwhelming. While Linux offers freedom and flexibility, users often face cluttered folders, scattered downloads, and confusing filenames. Enter the AI auto-organizer script: a powerful concept that brings intelligence and automation to personal computers, transforming everyday file management on desktops and laptops from chaos into order. How an AI Auto-Organizer Script Works in Practice An AI-driven script on Linux doesn’t just sort files by type. It can monitor specific directories, analyze file content, and apply machine learning to recognize what a file actually is . For example, a PDF could be detected as an invoice, an academic paper, or a resume, and then automatically moved into the right folder. This means desktop PC and laptop users don’t have to spend precious time digging through Downloads or Documents folders. Think of it as a p...

Rudeš, a Vibrant Community, is a Safe Haven for Everyone?!

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ᴵⁿ ᵗᶦᵐᵉˢ ᵒᶠ ᶜˡᶦᵐᵃᵗᵉ ᵉᵐᵉʳᵍᵉⁿᶜʸ https://climateclock.world/ Yes — Rudeš generally feels safe and functions much like the rest of Zagreb: low violent crime, walkable streets, and a lived‑in, neighborhood vibe rather than a tourist circus. Rudeš fits the classic Zagreb profile— quietly residential, well‑connected, and comfortable to walk —with everyday common‑sense precautions more than enough. Quick Context: Where and What Is Rudeš? Rudeš sits within Trešnjevka – sjever , west of the city center. It’s a patchwork of low‑rise housing, local shops, parks, schools, and sports grounds, served by buses and near major tram corridors. Expect local bakeries, neighborhood cafés, and the easy rhythm of a place people actually live in. How Safe Does It Feel Day to Night? Daytime feels relaxed and practical—parents on school runs, seniors with shopping trolleys, joggers cutting through. Nighttime is typically calm; main thoroughfares and tr...

Banking Crisis 1998–1999: Background to the Collapse

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ᴵⁿ ᵗᶦᵐᵉˢ ᵒᶠ ᶜˡᶦᵐᵃᵗᵉ ᵉᵐᵉʳᵍᵉⁿᶜʸ https://climateclock.world/ The late 1990s marked one of the most turbulent periods in Croatia's financial history. Between collapsing banks, fraudulent savings schemes, and betrayed depositors, the trust in financial institutions was shaken to its core. The 1998–1999 banking crisis not only wiped out fortunes but also reshaped the country's economic landscape for years to come.   Banking Crisis 1998–1999: Background to the Collapse By the end of the decade, Croatia's banking system was under immense pressure. Weak oversight, politically appointed managers, and risky lending practices had turned several financial institutions into ticking time bombs. In 1998–1999 alone, eight banks were pushed into bankruptcy —including Glumina, Gradska, Komercijalna, and Vukovarska banka—while Dubrovačka and Croatia banka had to be rescued through state-funded bailouts. This cascade of failures eroded public confidence, with billions of kuna drained in ...

Synthetic Collagen Deserves Global Support in Synthetic Biology Initiatives

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ᴵⁿ ᵗᶦᵐᵉˢ ᵒᶠ ᶜˡᶦᵐᵃᵗᵉ ᵉᵐᵉʳᵍᵉⁿᶜʸ https://climateclock.world/ Synthetic collagen is more than a biotech innovation; it is a path toward healthier lives, sustainable materials, and reduced environmental pressure. As the world invests in synthetic biology, this field must not overlook synthetic collagen. It deserves full financial and technical support for capacity-building, technology transfer, and research. Supporting synthetic collagen means empowering nations with tools for health, sustainability, and innovation. It is the right thing to do. Synthetic collagen production, based on engineered microbes or yeast, is a cornerstone of synthetic biology. It can replace animal-derived collagen in medicine, cosmetics, and industry, cutting dependence on livestock production that drives emissions and deforestation. International frameworks already call for capacity-building and technology transfer in synthetic biology. Synthetic collagen fits perfectly here: it requires skilled resear...

Top Ten Digital Artworks in the Spotlight | A Visual Journey Featuring the Latest by Luka Jagor – Free and Inspiring

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