Tributes To White

From Parade:

“The Very Best Tributes to Betty White: 'You Blew a Huge Hole in This World That Will Inspire Generations' “

The death of beloved actress Betty White, even though she was nearly 100 years old, came as a shock and a heartbreak to Hollywood, just as it did for us all. Oscar winner Viola Davis may have spoken for the entire world when she tweeted of White’s passing, “RIP Betty White! Man did I think you would live forever. You blew a huge hole in this world that will inspire generations. Rest in glorious peace….you’ve earned your wings.” Ryan Reynolds, who immediately began trending on Twitter after White’s death was first reported, wrote, “The world looks different now. She was great at defying expectation. She managed to grow very old and somehow, not old enough. We’ll miss you, Betty. Now you know the secret.” Reynolds and White were friends for years after co-starring together in The Proposal and frequently traded good-natured barbs in the press, with Reynolds frequently referring to White as his ex-girlfriend. In an interview released just days before her death, White cracked that Reynolds couldn’t “get over” her and that Robert Redford was “The One.” Reynolds responded by retweeting a link to the interview with the comment, “I’m absolutely sick of the media exploiting past relationships just to drive clicks.”

Numerous Twitter users shared a video of Reynolds and White pretending to beef behind the scenes of The Proposal, with Sandra Bullock intervening. President Joe Biden called White’s passing “a shame” and said the actress was a “lovely lady,” while first lady Dr. Jill Biden remarked, “Who didn’t love Betty White?” Valerie Bertinelli, who co-starred with White on Hot In Cleveland, wrote, “Rest in peace, sweet Betty. My God, how bright heaven must be right now.” TV writer David A. Goodman recalled a moving meeting with White. “During my 2 seasons on Golden Girls, I only spoke to Betty White once,” he wrote. “20 years later she came in to Family Guy, I walked up to her and said ‘I’m sure you don’t remember me…’ and she said ‘Of course I remember you, David Goodman! I loved the writers!’ No one better. RIP.” Outlander star Caitríona Balfe tweeted, “RIP Betty White. What a unique soul she was …. Thank you for all the laughs x.” Big Brother host Julie Chen-Moonves tweeted, “Rest In Peace Betty White. You were such a light in this world to so many of us. Grace and class always. Heaven shines brighter today and forever with you there with our Lord.” Activist, feminist, and writer Roxane Gay wrote, “RIP to Betty White who was charming, delightful, hilarious, talented and unproblematic for 99.9 years.” Comedian Christopher Titus lamented, “Really 2021?!! BETTY WHITE TOO? Damn this year to hell. RIP to one of the funniest most lovable stars of our lives.” Holly Robinson Peete expressed shock at White’s passing being so close to her birthday. Boy George mourned the icon, writing, “Gd bless Betty White. R.I.P. 99 is amazing!” The Book of Boba Fett star Ming Na-Wen was as devastated as the rest of us, writing alongside crying and broken heart emojis, “Nooooooo!!!!! I am so heartbroken. RIP Betty White. Condolences to her family, loved ones & pets.” ESPN reporter Ed Werder, fresh off mourning an NFL legend just days earlier, wrote, “John Madden and Betty White in the same week? I’m done with 2021.” George Takei, ever eloquent, wrote, “Our national treasure, Betty White, has passed just before her 100th birthday. Our Sue Ann Nivens, our beloved Rose Nylund, has joined the heavens to delight the stars with her inimitable style, humor, and charm. A great loss to us all. We shall miss her dearly.” He added, “When midnight strikes tonight, let us all raise a toast to Betty.” Veteran news anchor Dan Rather tweeted, “A spirit of goodness and hope. Betty White was much beloved because of who she was, and how she embraced a life well-lived. Her smile. Her sense of humor. Her basic decency. Our world would be better if more followed her example. It is diminished with her passing.” Kathy Griffin recalled how her friendship with White began when she accidentally parked in White’s spot while filming Suddenly Susan, noting their friendship endured for years. “Betty White: [It] is very hard to absorb you are not here anymore.. But the memories of your deLIGHT are,” Henry Winkler tweeted. “Thank you for [your] humor, your warmth and your activism .. Rest now and say Hi to Bill.” Andy Cohen, host of CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live, tweeted, “Tonight we will raise MANY glasses to the WONDERFUL legacy of Betty White!!!” Ellen DeGeneres tweeted, “What an exceptional life. I’m grateful for every second I got to spend with Betty White. Sending love to her family, friends and all of us.” Dionne Warwick, herself a national treasure, wrote, “Another brilliant talent has made her transition. I had the pleasure of getting to know Betty White and shared a few giggles with her. May she rest in well-earned peace.” “So sad to hear about Betty White passing. I loved watching her characters that brought so much joy,” Reese Witherspoon tweeted. “Thank you, Betty, for making us all laugh!” Activist Glenn Greenwald posted an article about White’s work for animals, writing, “Everyone loved Betty White for a million different valid reasons, but I’d like to celebrate her decades of activism, advocacy and devotion on behalf of animals and animal welfare, something she learned as a child and made a central part of her life. #RIP.” Songwriter Diane Warren echoed the sentiment for four-legged friends, writing, “A few yrs ago at an animal charity event I bid on a day at the zoo with Betty White. Not only was she a legend but a fierce advocate for animal rights. Both the humans and the animals are so sad today Betty.” John Cleese cracked, “I’d like to point out today that the wonderful Betty White once played the role of Sybil Fawlty in a disastrous American adaptation of Fawlty Towers I felt very proud she was involved and wish to apologise [sic] to her for the experience.” Halle Berry tweeted, “Thank you for being a friend, Betty! Your INCREDIBLE legacy lives on forever. You set the standard for so many to follow. May you rest in eternal peace our forever golden girl.” West Side Story star Ariana DeBose had the perfect idea to pay tribute to White: Cheesecake, the signature Golden Girls dessert!

^ She was loved and respected by so many (Human and Animal alike.) ^

https://parade.com/1316416/jessicasager/betty-white-tributes/

Betty White

From the BBC:

“Obituary: Betty White, the Golden Girl with a heart of gold”

Betty White was US television's Golden Girl with the heart of gold, celebrated for her comic acting abilities from TV's early days up to the 21st Century, while remaining committed to her animal activism. "I have to keep acting so that I can afford to keep doing my charity work!" she joked to The Hollywood Reporter in 2018. Born in Illinois in 1922, White became one of America's original screen stars, enjoying a career that encompassed eight decades and earned her many accolades. As an only child, she moved with her family to Los Angeles during the height of The Great Depression, and in the late 1930s began working as an actress and model. Her fledgling career had to be put on hold, though, during the Second World War, when she went to work with the American Women's Voluntary Services. After the war, White continued with her showbiz ambitions with mixed success, before landing her own radio show and then appearing on Al Jarvis's Hollywood on Television variety talk show. She died on Friday, weeks before her 100th birthday.

Hollywood trailblazer Clearly a burgeoning talent, she took over the reins of the TV show in the early 1950s, and was subsequently nominated for her first Emmy Award for best TV actress in 1951. It was the new awards' first ever category to recognise the achievements of women on the box. Next came the TV sitcom Life with Elizabeth - a show she launched herself, alongside George Tibbles. "He wrote and I produced," she explained. "I was one of the first women producers in Hollywood." White kept her profile high with many chat show appearances, and met her third husband (and "love of my life") Allen Ludden on the game show Password in 1961. The couple were married from 1963 until Ludden's death in 1981. The actress's biggest role so far came as Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show in the 1970s. Her sharp-witted character, who had an eye for the men, worked alongside the sitcom's titular star in a fictional Minneapolis television newsroom. The job won White two more Emmy Awards and set her up for what would become her most famous role, as the naive-but-loveable Rose Nylund in The Golden Girls, which carried her through the 1980s and 90s. Nylund was a Norwegian-American who moved to Miami after the death of her husband and formed a later life bond with three other women, played by Beatrice Arthur, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty. In 1986, it won the Emmy for outstanding comedy and White scooped the individual award for best comedy actress. "I am the lucky one who gets to come up and pick up this beautiful golden girl," she said in her acceptance speech. "But Estelle and Rue and Bea and I all thank you - we're a match-set, you can't split us up."

After The Golden Girls went off air in 1992, White - who was by then also a published author - appeared in the short-lived spin-off Golden Palace. She also had a recurring role on soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful from 2006 to 2009, and hosted several other entertainment shows, including the prank show Betty White's Off Their Rockers. But her career caught fire again in 2010, when she starred in another sitcom, Hot in Cleveland, opposite Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves and Wendie Malick. "It's just a terrific show. The chemistry between the girls is so great," White told Newsweek. The same year, the veteran also became the oldest ever host of Saturday Night Live, following a Facebook campaign to get her on the prime-time show. Her 90th birthday in 2012 was marked with an all-star television special featuring her old co-star Tyler Moore, Ellen DeGeneres and Carl Reiner, as well as Tina Fey and Ed Asner.

'Luckiest old broad alive' Still making movies into her 90s, White joined an all-star cast in 2019's Toy Story 4, voicing a tiger teething toy named Bitey White. Animals (real ones, not toys) were always a passion, and she worked closely with the Los Angeles Zoo and the Morris Animal Foundation for more than four decades. "I'm actually the luckiest old broad alive," she said. "Half my life is working in a profession I love and the other half is working with animals." In 2015, she was honoured with a lifetime achievement Emmy Award - her eighth Emmy in total. "She is one of the most beloved female performers in the history of television," said Bob Mauro of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, who described White as an "American institution". "Betty's career as a female pioneer has followed television from literally the beginning of the medium, winning her first Emmy Award in 1952, to the digital-streaming future, winning again in 2010." Emmy vice-president David Michaels went on to say that White was "also one of the nicest women in showbusiness".

^ She was a really amazing and funny woman. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-53723448

KSAR: Bea

From the Kabul Small Animal Rescue’s Facebook:

Four months and a few hours ago, I walked out of the Kabul airport carrying a scrawny little bent wristed runt of a dog with useless legs and big soft eyes. I didn't know what would happen to us, what would happen to our dogs that had been 'released'--an innocuous word to apply to the cruelty of that decision--or the organization that we'd struggled so hard to become. We walked out into a different country, the same air but unfamiliar.

These have been the longest days I've experienced, and I still don't have all the answers. Bea and I managed to get home, but we are still missing over a dozen dogs, beloved pets that were entrusted to us as well as our own rescues raised by hand. We have struggled to rebuild our rescue, but it will be months before we can get out of a constant crisis mode, putting out fire after fire. But Bea has pulled through beyond our wildest dreams and is now a strong young dog with a wiggle to her run and muscle in her legs. Taking her back to the airport seems unimaginable, but I know that this time she will make it out, and I'll never be so happy to see someone I love go away. We will finally get our animals to safety, to warm homes of their own. We need your help to get them there, your family, your friends, your high school crush.

Please stick with us through the new year, and remind everyone that we are a registered 501c3 and donations are tax deductible.

We are close. The mountain of logistics and preparations and paperwork, so many pounds of paperwork, every nut and bolt and 'live animal' sticker, we are close, but we are counting on your help to get us there. As Frost put it, "But I have promises to keep / and miles to go before I sleep."

^ Please use the links to donate and share. ^

https://www.gofundme.com/f/32vmsq-lets-get-them-home

https://warpaws.org/.../kabul-small-animal-rescue...

paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/4319332

https://cuddly.com/donate/4896426/kabul-small-animal-rescue

2022 Terms

 

British New Year's

 

Spanish New Year's

 

French New Year's

 

Italian New Year's

 

German New Year's

 

Polish New Year's

 

Russian New Year's

 

My Plans

 

Новогодняя

A New Year’s Tradition I’ve done for Decades (since hearing it when I was in Russia in 2000) is listening to Дискотека Авария (Disco Accident)’s song «Новогодняя» (New Year.”)

Here are the words to go with the video:

 

Новый Год к нам мчится,

Скоро все случится,

Сбудется что снится,

Что опять нас обманут, ничего не дадут.

Ждать уже недолго,

Скоро будет елка.

Только мало толка,

Если Дед Морозу песню дети не запоют.

 

Привет, с Новым Годом! Приходит Новый Год к нам.

И можно свободно ожидать чего угодно.

Только где носит того седого старика,

Который детям подарки достает из рюкзака.

Эй, Дед Мороз, приходи, тебя заждались мы.

И песню твою меня заказывать достали.

Покажись нам, не нервируй детей,

Мы крикнем: Дед Мороз, э-ге-гей!

 

Новый Год к нам мчится,

Скоро все случится,

Сбудется что снится,

Что опять нас обманут, ничего не дадут.

Ждать уже недолго,

Скоро будет елка.

Только мало толка,

Если Дед Мороза дети хором не позовут.

 

Ну а теперь все вместе

Давайте позовем Деда Мороза!

Нет, вам надо кричать очень дружно! Три-четыре!

- Дед Мороз!

Еще!

- Дед Мороз!

- Слышу, слышу!

- Дедушка Мороз!

 

Собственно!

Я Дед Мороз, борода из ваты,

Я уже слегка поддатый.

Мне сказали меня здесь ждут,

Значит, будем догоняться тут.

Налейте мне вина побольше,

Мне везти подарки в Польшу

С мешком в руках

И в скороходах-казаках.

Танцуем рядом с елкой,

А может быть сосной.

Простите, только нет сейчас

Снегурочки со мной.

Мы вместе шли с Камчатки,

Но она ушла на

Значит будем без нее,

Что же делать, е-мое!

 

Новый Год к нам мчится,

Скоро все случится,

Сбудется что снится,

Что опять нас обманут, ничего не дадут.

Ждать уже недолго,

Скоро будет елка.

Только мало толка,

Если Дед Мороза дети от беды не спасут.

 

Как же быть, что же делать,

Будем без Мороза Деда,

Ведь я может быть умру,

А мне еще в Чили и в Перу,

Мне в Алжир, в Ниагару,

Мне в Одессу и Самару,

На Тибет, на Тайвань,

На Кавказ и на Кубань,

В Аргентину, Нидерланды,

Пожалейте мои гланды.

Граммов около двуста,

Можно даже без тоста.

Чтобы по миру метаться,

Надо потренироваться,

Тут нальют, там нальют,

Не узнают да убьют.

Вы уже все в форме,

Значит, надо быть и мне,

Щас шампанского оформим,

Будем с вами наравне.

А когда станет жарко,

Начнем дарить подарки.

Славный праздник это вот:

Здравствуй елка - Новый Год!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRUynCn2CEQ

Ball Drop

From TimesSquareNYC.Org:

“ABOUT THE NEW YEAR'S EVE BALL”

Each year, millions of eyes from all over the world are focused on the sparkling Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year's Eve Ball. At 11:59 p.m., the Ball begins its descent as millions of voices unite to countdown the final seconds of the year, and celebrate the beginning of a new year full of hopes, challenges, changes and dreams.

BALL FUN FACTS The Ball is a geodesic sphere, 12 feet in diameter, and weighs 11,875 pounds. The Ball is covered with a total of 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles that vary in size, and range in length from 4 ¾ inches to 5 ¾ inches per side. For Times Square 2022, 192 Waterford Crystal triangles introduce the new Gift of Wisdom design represented by a central wheel with wedge cut petals of knowledge growing ever forward. 192 are the Gift of Happiness design of a sunburst of bright cuts radiating outward like a beautiful sunny day brings warm smiles and happiness. 192 are the Gift of Goodwill design represented by three pineapples signifying the traditional symbol of hospitality and goodwill. 192 are the Gift of Harmony design of small rosette cuts flowing into each other in beautiful harmony. 192 are the Gift of Serenity design of butterflies flying peacefully above a crystal meadow capturing the spirit of serenity. 192 are the Gift of Kindness design of a circle of rosettes symbolizing unity with the fronds reaching out in an expression of kindness. 192 are the Gift Of Wonder design of a faceted starburst inspiring our sense of wonder. 192 are the Gift of Fortitude design of diamond cuts on either side of a crystal pillar to represent the inner attributes of resolve, courage and spirit necessary to triumph over adversity. The remaining 1,152 triangles are the Gift of Imagination design of a series of intricate wedge cuts that are mirrored reflections of each other inspiring our imagination. The 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles are bolted to 672 LED modules which are attached to the aluminum frame of the Ball. The Ball is illuminated by 32,256 LEDs (light emitting diodes). Each LED module contains 48 LEDs — 12 red, 12 blue, 12 green, and 12 white for a total of 8,064 of each color. The Ball is capable of displaying a palette of more than 16 million vibrant colors and billions of patterns that creates a spectacular kaleidoscope effect atop One Times Square.

HISTORY OF THE NEW YEAR'S EVE BALL Revelers began celebrating New Year's Eve in Times Square as early as 1904, but it was in 1907 that the New Year's Eve Ball made its maiden descent from the flagpole atop One Times Square. Seven versions of the Ball have been designed to signal the New Year. The first New Year's Eve Ball, made of iron and wood and adorned with one hundred 25-watt light bulbs, was 5 feet in diameter and weighed 700 pounds. It was built by a young immigrant metalworker named Jacob Starr, and for most of the twentieth century the company he founded, sign maker Artkraft Strauss, was responsible for lowering the Ball.

As part of the 1907-1908 festivities, waiters in the fabled "lobster palaces" and other deluxe eateries in hotels surrounding Times Square were supplied with battery-powered top hats emblazoned with the numbers "1908" fashioned of tiny light bulbs. At the stroke of midnight, they all "flipped their lids" and the year on their foreheads lit up in conjunction with the numbers "1908" on the parapet of the Times Tower lighting up to signal the arrival of the new year. The Ball has been lowered every year since 1907, with the exceptions of 1942 and 1943, when the ceremony was suspended due to the wartime "dimout" of lights in New York City. Nevertheless, the crowds still gathered in Times Square in those years and greeted the New Year with a minute of silence followed by the ringing of chimes from sound trucks parked at the base of the tower—a harkening-back to the earlier celebrations at Trinity Church, where crowds would gather to "ring out the old, ring in the new." In 1920, a 400 pound Ball made entirely of wrought iron replaced the original. In 1955, the iron Ball was replaced with an aluminum Ball weighing a mere 150 pounds. This aluminum Ball remained unchanged until the 1980s, when red light bulbs and the addition of a green stem converted the Ball into an apple for the "I Love New York" marketing campaign from 1981 until 1988. After seven years, the traditional glowing white Ball with white light bulbs and without the green stem returned to brightly light the sky above Times Square. In 1995, the Ball was upgraded with aluminum skin, rhinestones, strobes, and computer controls, but the aluminum Ball was lowered for the last time in 1998.

For Times Square 2000, the millennium celebration at the Crossroads of the World, the New Year's Eve Ball was completely redesigned by Waterford Crystal and Philips Lighting. The crystal Ball combined the latest in lighting technology with the most traditional of materials, reminding us of our past as we gazed into the future and the beginning of a new millennium. In 2007, for the 100th anniversary of the Times Square Ball Drop tradition, Waterford Crystal and Philips Lighting crafted a spectacular new LED crystal Ball. The incandescent and halogen bulbs of the past century were replaced by state-of-the-art Philips Luxeon LED lighting technology that dramatically increased the brightness and color capabilities of the Ball. The beauty and energy efficiency of the Centennial Ball inspired the building owners of One Times Square to build the permanent Big Ball weighing nearly six tons and twelve feet in diameter. The 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles are illuminated by 32,256 Philips Luxeon LEDs. This Big Times Square New Year's Eve Ball is now a year-round attraction sparkling above Times Square  in full public view January through December.

ABOUT "TIME-BALLS" The actual notion of a ball "dropping" to signal the passage of time dates back long before New Year's Eve was ever celebrated in Times Square. The first "time-ball" was installed atop England's Royal Observatory at Greenwich in 1833. This ball would drop at one o'clock every afternoon, allowing the captains of nearby ships to precisely set their chronometers (a vital navigational instrument). Around 150 public time-balls are believed to have been installed around the world after the success at Greenwich, though few survive and still work. The tradition is carried on today in places like the United States Naval Observatory in Washington, DC, where a time-ball descends from a flagpole at noon each day - and of course, once a year in Times Square, where it marks the stroke of midnight not for a few ships' captains, but for over one billion people watching worldwide.

HISTORY OF NEW YEAR'S EVE New York in 1904 was a city on the verge of tremendous changes - and, not surprisingly, many of those changes had their genesis in the bustling energy and thronged streets of Times Square. Two innovations that would completely transform the Crossroads of the World debuted in 1904: the opening of the city's first subway line, and the first-ever celebration of New Year's Eve in Times Square. This inaugural bash commemorated the official opening of the new headquarters of The New York Times. The newspaper's owner, German Jewish immigrant Adolph Ochs, had successfully lobbied the city to rename Longacre Square, the district surrounding his paper's new home, in honor of the famous publication (a contemporary article in The New York Times credited Interborough Rapid Transit Company President August Belmont for suggesting the change to the Rapid Transit Commission). The impressive Times Tower, marooned on a tiny triangle of land at the intersection of 7th Avenue, Broadway and 42nd Street, was at the time Manhattan's second-tallest building—the tallest if measured from the bottom of its four massive sub-basements, built to handle the heavyweight demands of The Times' up-to-date printing equipment. The building was the focus of an unprecedented New Year's Eve celebration. Ochs spared no expense to ensure a party for the ages. An all-day street festival culminated in a fireworks display set off from the base of the tower, and at midnight the joyful sound of cheering, rattles and noisemakers from the over 200,000 attendees could be heard, it was said, from as far away as Croton-on-Hudson, thirty miles north along the Hudson River. The New York Times' description of the occasion paints a rapturous picture: "From base to dome the giant structure was alight - a torch to usher in the newborn year..."

The night was such a rousing success that Times Square instantly replaced Lower Manhattan's Trinity Church as "the" place in New York City to ring in the New Year. Before long, this party of parties would capture the imagination of the nation, and the world. Two years later, the city banned the fireworks display - but Ochs was undaunted. He arranged to have a large, illuminated seven-hundred-pound iron and wood ball lowered from the tower flagpole precisely at midnight to signal the end of 1907 and the beginning of 1908. On that occasion, and for almost a century thereafter, Times Square sign maker Artkraft Strauss was responsible for the ball-lowering. In 1914, The New York Times outgrew Times Tower and relocated to 229 West 43rd Street. By then, New Year's Eve in Times Square was already a permanent part of our cultural fabric.

In 1942 and 1943, the glowing Ball was temporarily retired due to the wartime "dimout" of lights in New York City. The crowds who still gathered in Times Square in those years greeted the New Year with a minute of silence followed by chimes ringing out from sound trucks parked at the base of the Times Tower. The New York Times retained ownership of the Tower until 1961, when it was sold to developer Douglas Leigh, who was also the designer and deal-maker behind many of the spectacular signs in Times Square, including the famous Camel billboard that blew water-vapor "smoke rings" over the street. Mr. Leigh stripped the building down to its steel frame, then re-clad it in white marble as the headquarters for Allied Chemical Corporation. 

Today, New Year's Eve in Times Square is a bona fide international phenomenon. Each year, hundreds of thousands of people still gather around the Tower, now known as One Times Square, and wait for hours in the cold of a New York winter for the famous Ball-lowering ceremony. Thanks to satellite technology, a worldwide audience estimated at over one billion people watch the ceremony each year. The lowering of the Ball has become the world's symbolic welcome to the New Year.

https://www.timessquarenyc.org/times-square-new-years-eve/nye-history-times-square-ball

KSAR: Furry Dogs

From the Kabul Small Animal Rescue’s Facebook:

Cookie and Bella are gorgeous and furry dogs now, a far cry from the tiny bald skeletons that came in several months ago. Watching them blossom into this handsome playful boy and goofy girl has been a joy. Help them get to a better life!

https://www.gofundme.com/f/32vmsq-lets-get-them-home

https://warpaws.org/.../kabul-small-animal-rescue...

paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/4319332

https://cuddly.com/donate/4896426/kabul-small-animal-rescue

^ These are some cute dogs. ^

Ирония судьбы

 I just watched «Ирония судьбы, или С лёгким паром!» (“The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!”) it’s a Soviet/Russian Movie from 1976 that is shown every New Year’s.

FYI: There’s an American Remake called “About Fate” that is coming out in 2022.

Ending The Year

5 Ways to End the Year Right

The end of the year can be bittersweet. It is dual in nature, a dying of the old and the beginning of something new. It can put our accomplishments and failures in sharp focus, and force us to reflect on how we’ve spent the year. For me, the transition from autumn to winter—the cold nip in the air descending into chill, the trees shedding their glorious heads of red and gold, the sunlight prematurely creeping into night—has always triggered re-evaluation, and lots and lots of mixed emotions. Are you struggling with year end blues? Here are five tips to help you kiss 2015 goodbye and greet 2016 with a huge smile.

1. Go ahead, look back. Say it with me and Socrates: “An unexamined life is not worth living.” It’s healthy to sit down and take stock of events and choices that led us to where we are in life at this particular moment in time. Was there anything you could have done better? Are there self-destructive habits you need to let go of? When we look back, we not only take time to acknowledge our actions and learn from them; it also helps us notice certain situations, people, or patterns that may no longer serve us. “Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back everything is different.” (C.S. Lewis) “It’s okay to look back at the past. Just don’t stare.” (Benjamin Dover)

2. Highlight the successes Though looking for ways to improve is a good thing, there is nothing wrong with giving ourselves a pat on the back for a job well done. Perhaps you were able to lock down the apartment of your dreams this year. Or finally got around to starting a small savings account or investment fund. Maybe you quit smoking or stuck to your gym regimen. No matter how trivial it may seem, personal successes and accomplishments are worth toasting to. So clink, clink! “Define success on your own terms, achieve it by your own rules, and build a life you’re proud to live.” (Anne Sweeney) “Celebrate your success and find humor in your failures.” (Sam Walton)

3. Forgive yourself. This piece of advice is something I constantly have to remind myself to practice. I am my worst critic. It’s so easy to beat ourselves up for our so-called failures. So maybe you didn’t get the promotion you were expecting. Or maybe you feel like you didn’t work hard enough to achieve your goals. Perhaps a relationship you put so much energy in ended. Sometimes, we can be so kind to other people but so hard on ourselves. We are all perfectly flawed. And we have to love and forgive ourselves despite our faults and flaws in the same way that we love and forgive others in spite of their imperfections. “Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could have been any different.” (Oprah Winfrey) “Detach from needing to have things work out a certain way. The universe is perfect and there are no failures. Give yourself the gift of detaching from your worries and trust that everything is happening perfectly.” (Orin)

4. Give thanks. Make a list of everything you are thankful for this year. Gather friends and family ’round the table, and let them know how lucky you feel to have them in your life. The habit of thankfulness is like a muscle that needs to be exercised. The more we focus on what we’re grateful for in life, the more we notice the abundance of blessings around us. “Happiness isn’t about getting what you want all the time. It’s about loving what you have and being grateful for it.” (Asher Roth) “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but a parent of all the others.” (Cicero)

5. Celebrate! Lastly, get those dancing shoes on and shake that booty on the dance floor! You are alive here and now, and the future is blazing in front of you. Shake it to the left for the 365 days you lived in 2015. Shake it to the right for the 365 days of newness up ahead. Let 2015 go and open your heart wide wide wide for all the loving, learning, and living that’s in store for you this new year! “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1) “Live life like everything is rigged in your favor.” (Rumi)

https://www.lifehack.org/345377/5-ways-end-the-year-right

No Bad Terms

 

New Years On/Off

From MSN/CNN:

“Cities canceling their big New Year's Eve events around the world”

For awhile there, it appeared we might be able to ring in New Year's Eve in major cities across the planet with something resembling the huge celebrations of yore. Another Covid-19 surge and the rapid spread of the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus have dashed those hopes -- at least in some part of the world. In New York City, the New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square will be "scaled back," with fewer revelers and everyone required to wear a mask, Mayor Bill de Blasio's office said last week. But some major cities in Europe, where the spread of Omicron has been startling, have already announced they're flat-out canceling plans. Other cities around the world with traditionally iconic celebrations still plan to host their events but with safety precautions in place. On Wednesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci repeated his warning that people should avoid large New Year's Eve gatherings and stick with small gatherings of vaccinated family or close friends. Fauci is director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and President Joe Biden's top medical adviser. As of 5 p.m. ET December 29, this what some of the world cities with traditionally huge New Year's Eve events were doing.

Canceled events The following cities (or nations) have already announced they're canceling their big shindigs:

ATHENS No fireworks show over the Acropolis this year. Health Minister Thanos Plevris said during a news briefing on Thursday, December 23, that all public Christmas and New Year celebrations planned by municipalities are canceled. All travelers arriving in Greece will be strongly advised to take Covid-19 tests on the second and fourth days after their arrival, on top of the existing requirement to provide a negative test result to enter Greece. Starting at 6 a.m. Thursday, December 24, masks will become mandatory again in both indoor and outdoor spaces. For supermarkets and public transport, a double mask or a high protection mask will be required. The measures will last until January 3, when according to Plevris, more restrictions might be put forward concerning sport and entertainment venues.

ATLANTA Georgia's capital city is canceling the New Year's Eve Peach Drop at Underground Atlanta because of the rising number of Covid-19 cases, according to a tweet from Underground Atlanta. "While we are saddened to miss this year's party and musical acts, we are very excited to bring the Peach Drop back next year and better than ever. Stay healthy everyone!," the tweet reads.

BERLIN Germany will impose strict contact restrictions to curb the spread of Covid starting on December 28 and prohibit New Year's Eve gatherings, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on Tuesday, December 21. That means no big fireworks gathering in Berlin, the capital, nor in other big gathering spots such as Munich and Frankfurt. From December 28, a maximum of 10 people will be allowed to meet in groups, regardless of whether they are vaccinated or recovered, Scholz said. Children 13 and younger are exempt from the new contact restrictions.

EDINBURGH Public New Year's Eve celebrations in Scotland will be canceled, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Tuesday, December 21. In a statement, Sturgeon explained details for post-Christmas restrictions on large events to blunt the spread of Omicron. Sturgeon said the move will "also mean unfortunately that large-scale Hogmanay celebrations -- including that planned here in our capital city -- will not proceed. I know how disappointing this will be for those looking forward to these events."

LONDON A planned New Year's Eve event in London has been canceled over Covid concerns, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan tweeted on Monday, December 20. "Due to the surge in Covid cases, we've taken the difficult decision to cancel our NYE event in Trafalgar Square," said the tweet from Khan's verified account. "The safety of all Londoners must come first." A statement attached to the tweet said the celebration had been expected to host 6,500 people in Trafalgar Square. Instead, a program will be broadcast at midnight on BBC One, Khan said.

NEW DELHI The government of India's union territory of Delhi, which encompasses the national capital of New Delhi, has announced a ban on all social, cultural, political and festival gatherings until further notice because of a rise in Covid-19 cases, CNN's New Delhi Bureau reports. All officials "shall ensure that no cultural events/gatherings/congregations take place for celebrating Christmas or New Year" in the region, according to the Delhi government's order. Bars and restaurants will be allowed to operate at only 50% capacity.

PARIS Paris has canceled its traditional fireworks display over the Champs-Elysées Avenue to welcome the New Year because of the renewed coronavirus surge. "The fireworks will not take place, nor unfortunately will there be any DJ sets," the mayor's office told AFP in a report on France24.com. French Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Friday, December 17, that major public parties and fireworks would be banned on New Year's Eve and recommended that even vaccinated people take a self-test before getting together for year-end parties, according to Reuters.

ROME In Italy, Rome is among several cities that have decided to cancel festivities over Covid health concerns. Large New Year's Eve celebrations across the country have been canceled, including open air concerts and fireworks in Venice. Nightclubs will be closed for the month of January as well. The Campania region has also banned feasts and alcohol consumption in public areas from December 23 to January 1.

Events still scheduled 

Not all the world's cities have called off their celebrations. Here are some of the cities traditionally renowned for their exceptional fireworks and big New Year's Eve events that were still moving forward with their plans as of 5 p.m. ET December 29. Click the links to get details, including pandemic safety measures:

BANGKOK Thailand's capital will hold its celebrations, but with some some safety caveats. According to the Bangkok Post, only open-air venues are allowed. Attendees must be fully vaccinated, tested within 72 hours and registered to attend.

CAPE TOWN South Africa's beautiful seaside city is still allowing NYE events for its residents, according to its tourism website, but with lots of safety checks in place. Those include early venue closings and strict curfews. Find more details of South Africa's safety measures here.

DUBAI The pyrotechnics at the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, are still planned, according to VisitDubai.com. The emirate is requiring visitors who want to be at the celebration to register using the U by Emaar app to receive individual QR codes that will allow access.

LAS VEGAS America's gambling magnet still plans to launch fireworks from the top of eight hotel-casinos on the Strip for eight minutes, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal. A downtown Las Vegas fireworks show will also be held.

RIO DE JANEIRO After canceling its New Year's Eve celebrations earlier this month, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's party capital, reversed course this week. "We want to celebrate the end of the year in a calm, safe and organized manner. We met with the Scientific Committee, which confirmed that it would be safe to hold the city's New Year's celebrations under the provisions presented by the city government," Mayor Eduardo Paes said. Revelers are encouraged to stay close to their homes to "avoid unnecessary travel."

SYDNEY Sydney's famous New Year's Eve fireworks display is set to continue despite a mounting daily Covid-19 caseload in Australia's largest city. A total of 11,201 new cases were announced on Wednesday in the state of New South Wales, almost twice the tally of 6,062 from the previous day. Speaking to reporters Wednesday, the organizer of the fireworks display said Covid-19 safety measures would be maintained in public spaces around Sydney Harbour. "We have six vantage points that are all in outdoor parks, but we are operating those on a one person per two square meters basis," Stephen Gilby, executive producer of New Year's Eve celebrations, said.

TAIPEI The largest city on the island of Taiwan plans on holding its annual countdown show and fireworks at the towering Taipei 101 skyscraper, according to the Taipei Times, Taiwan Scene and other local media.

Watch from home Admittedly, it's not the same as watching fireworks and big shows in person, but you can catch all the action from the comfort -- and safety -- of a crowd-controlled home. CNN'S New Year's Eve Live show will stream live for subscribers via CNNgo (CNN.com/go and via CNNgo apps for Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, Chromecast, Samsung Smart TV and Android TV) and on CNN mobile apps for iOS and Android. The special will be available on demand via cable/satellite systems, CNNgo platforms and CNN mobile apps.

^ As I have for many years now I will watch the Ball Drop from Times Square on TV. ^

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/cities-canceling-their-big-new-years-eve-events-around-the-world/ar-AAS34K8

Maxwell Guilty!

From Reuters:

“Ghislaine Maxwell convicted of setting up girls for Epstein sex abuse”

Ghislaine Maxwell was found guilty by a U.S. jury on Wednesday of helping the late financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse teenage girls, sealing a remarkable fall from gracefor the British socialite. Maxwell, 60, was accused of recruiting and grooming four teenagers for Epstein between 1994 and 2004. Her former boyfriend Epstein killed himself in 2019 in a Manhattan jail cell while awaiting trial on sex abuse charges of his own. She was convicted on five of six counts. After the verdict was read, Maxwell pulled down her face mask and poured herself a glass of water. Along with the trials of movie producer Harvey Weinstein and singer R. Kelly, Maxwell's case is among the highest-profile trials to take place in the wake of the #MeToo movement, which encouraged women to speak out about sexual abuse by famous and powerful people.

During the trial's closing arguments in federal court in Manhattan a prosecutor said Maxwell was Epstein's "partner in crime." "Ghislaine Maxwell made her own choices. She committed crimes hand in hand with Jeffrey Epstein. She was a grown woman who knew exactly what she was doing," Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Moe said. Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, applauded the verdict in a statement that said Maxwell was convicted of "one of the worst crimes imaginable." "The road to justice has been far too long," his statement said. "But, today, justice has been done. I want to commend the bravery of the girls – now grown women – who stepped out of the shadows and into the courtroom." Maxwell's attorneys had argued she was being used as a scapegoat for Epstein and sought to portray the accounts of her four accusers as not credible, saying their memories had been corrupted over the decades and that they were motivated by money. "Epstein's death left a gaping hole in the pursuit of justice for many of these women," Maxwell's defense lawyer Bobbi Sternheim said. "She's filling that hole, and filling that empty chair." Maxwell dated Epstein for several years in the 1990s, when the pair attended high society parties and traveled on luxurious private jets. A few months after Epstein's death, Maxwell purchased a home for $1 million in cash in Bradford, New Hampshire where she remained out of the limelight until her July 2020 arrest. An FBI official said Maxwell had "slithered away." Maxwell, a daughter of British press baron Robert Maxwell, had been accustomed to opulence all her life. Her father founded a publishing house and owned tabloids including the Daily Mirror. He was found dead off his yacht near the Canary Islands in 1991.

GRAPHIC TESTIMONY U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan did not say when Maxwell would be sentenced. She said she appreciated the jury's work in the face of surging COVID-19 cases. "Let me say my sincere thanks on behalf of the court and the parties and myself for your attention, time and service," the judge said. The jury deliberated for five full days before reaching the verdict. During the trial, jurors heard emotional and graphic testimony from four women, two of whom said they were 14 when Epstein began abusing them. Three of the women said Maxwell herself had inappropriately touched them. Prosecutors displayed for the jury a green massage table that was seized from Epstein's Palm Beach, Florida, estate in 2005. Three of the four accusers said they gave Epstein massages that escalated into sexual activity. A woman known by the pseudonym Jane testified that she was 14 when Epstein first abused her in 1994. Maxwell sometimes took part in her sexual encounters with Epstein and acted as if it was normal, Jane testified. "It made me feel confused because that did not feel normal to me," Jane said. "I'd never seen anything like this or felt anything like this." Moe said during her closing argument that Maxwell's presence made young girls feel comfortable with Epstein. Otherwise, receiving an invitation to spend time with a middle-aged man would have seemed "creepy" and "set off alarm bells," Moe said. "Epstein could not have done this alone," she said. Moe reminded jurors of bank records they saw at trial showing that Epstein paid Maxwell millions of dollars over the years. She said Maxwell was motivated to do whatever it took to keep Epstein happy in order to maintain her luxurious lifestyle. Defense attorney Laura Menninger countered during closing arguments that Maxwell was an innocent woman and that prosecutors had not proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Maxwell was aware of or involved in any crimes Epstein committed.

The jury also saw images depicting Maxwell's and Epstein's intimate relationship during the 1990s. The never-before-seen digital photographs showed Maxwell kissing Epstein on the cheek or rubbing his bare foot. Maxwell's lawyers aggressively pushed back on the accusers' accounts during the trial, arguing that their stories had shifted over the years. Under cross-examination by Menninger, Jane acknowledged that she did not initially tell the FBI everything about Maxwell's involvement because she was not comfortable sharing all the details. "I was sitting in a room full of strangers and telling them the most shameful, deepest secrets that I'd been carrying around with me my whole life," she said. Maxwell's defense said the women were motivated by money to implicate Maxwell since all four had received million-dollar awards from a compensation fund for Epstein's victims. But the women disputed those characterizations, saying they decided to testify out of a desire for justice, not money. "Money will not ever fix what that woman has done to me," testified one woman, known by her first name Carolyn.

^ it’s great to see this horrible woman, who helped a Monster, be found guilty. I only hope she gets to spend the rest of her life behind bars instead of the luxury she is used to. ^

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/maxwell-jury-resume-deliberations-after-judge-warns-omicron-risk-2021-12-29/

Veteran Freeman

From Military.com:

“Morgan Freeman Turned Down an Acting Scholarship to Join the Air Force”

There are a couple of facts that might surprise moviegoers about Morgan Freeman's acting career. The first is that he hasn't been a big name for all that long. The second is that he almost didn't become an actor at all -- he began his career in the U.S. Air Force. Freeman, recipient of the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award, didn't get his first big break until age 49. This came in 1986, when he was cast in the film "Street Smart." Since then, he's made more than 50 films. "It didn't have to happen at all," he told AFI in 2011. "I'm very lucky and very grateful that I had a career ... if it happens right away, it's gonna stop right away and that's a foregone conclusion."

As a young man living with his grandparents in Mississippi, Freeman was enthusiastic about drama and acting. He performed in a number of school plays in his youth and, at age 14, won a statewide drama competition. He was even offered a scholarship to Jackson State University to study drama. He turned it down, however, because he had another love: flying. Part of his interest in acting in those days came from Hollywood's war movies, especially those about planes and fighter pilots. He would spend his summers in Chicago with his parents, where he would scrounge for change to go to the movies. Those movies kindled a desire to learn to fly, so when he graduated from high school in 1955, he joined the Air Force instead. In fact, three of his four brothers also joined the military.

Freeman became a radar repairman in the Air Force while waiting for a chance to become a pilot. He worked on tracking radar stations that would align radar antennae toward an incoming target, such as a missile or aircraft. He spent more than a year sitting at a desk before he got the chance to audition for a pilot's slot. When he finally sat behind the stick of an Air Force fighter plane, a feeling of disillusionment came over him. This dream wasn't going to be what he thought it would. "When I was getting close to being accepted for pilot training, I was allowed to get in a jet airplane," he told AARP Magazine. "I sat there looking at all those switches and dials, and I got the distinct feeling that I was sitting in the nose of a bomb. You are not in love with this; you are in love with the idea of this." After nearly four years of service, Freeman left the Air Force to pursue his other passion, the one we know him for today: acting. It would be a long road, but one he would pursue with much more zeal and patience.

His next stop was Los Angeles, where he studied acting at the Pasadena Playhouse and learned to dance in San Francisco. He worked as a relatively unknown actor on stage and television for more than 20 years before landing his breakout role in the acclaimed Christopher Reeve film, "Street Smart." From there, he was cast in a string of critically acclaimed films that would lead him to prominence: "Lean On Me," "Driving Miss Daisy" and the Civil War drama "Glory."

It was a wise career move, not only for the notoriety, fame and financial security of being a celebrated Hollywood actor. His tracking radar repair skills would become obsolete by the 1990s with the rise of GPS-guided munitions.

^ I didn’t know Morgan Freeman is a Veteran. This was interesting to learn. ^

https://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/career-advice/military-transition/famous-veteran-morgan-freeman.html

KSAR: Cats

 From the Kabul Small Animal Rescue' Facebook:

We are fortunate and proud to have staff that care so gently and attentively to our animals. We haven't ever had the funds for a large, purpose-built facility, so we have houses close to our clinic where we keep our animals. All of our kitties get to stay in big cozy rooms with wood heaters and spend their days getting cuddles and playing with the tons of donated toys we've brought in. While we think this is a great life for an Afghan cat, we can't wait to get each of them to a family of their own. Please keep sharing our fundraisers--we can really see it pick up speed with all the shares and tags, and couldn't do it without you!

https://www.gofundme.com/f/32vmsq-lets-get-them-home

https://warpaws.org/.../kabul-small-animal-rescue...

paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/4319332

https://cuddly.com/donate/4896426/kabul-small-animal-rescue

^ They continue to work hard with the cold and snow, the coming evacuation of over 300 animals and continuing to take care of new and abandoned animals. ^

Adding To Bill

From the BBC:

“Grandad wants more inclusion in Down's syndrome bill”

(Ava with her grandfather Chris)

A man whose granddaughter has a rare genetic disorder wants a larger group of vulnerable people to be included in a new Down's syndrome bill. Chris, from Somerset, said he welcomes the bill, but that four-year-old Ava is being "discriminated against". He said the bill, which offers life-long care to those with Down's syndrome, should be inclusive of other syndromes, disorders, and disabilities. He has set up a petition which has more than 2,000 signatures. Ava has Williams syndrome which is a genetic disorder and struggles with day-to-day life. Her grandfather, who lives in Radstock, said the condition affects her muscle tone which means she cannot walk, she does not speak due to developmental delay and her hearing is over-sensitive.

The Williams syndrome foundation said the condition affects around one in 18,000 people in the UK. Ava's mum, Lizzie, said her daughter has "not had an easy four and a half years". "Even when I was pregnant I was told to consider a termination just before 24 weeks due to her head being small and she's been poked and prodded since she was little," she added. Chris said: "My initial reaction [to the bill] was surprise, and I was angry and thought 'but what about Ava, why are they missing out Ava?'. "Then I had time to process it and realise it's a much bigger picture. "It's not just Ava, there's countless other people with Williams and other syndromes and disabilities, why should they be excluded?"

The bill was drawn up by north Somerset MP Dr Liam Fox who said it would "lighten the burden" on parents who worry about what would happen to their children after they died. He said that because legislation has to be sorted out within a year, it has to be specific, which is why it is solely for Down's syndrome. But, he added, the hope is that it will pave the way for other conditions to get help too. However, Chris said he hopes people in power, like Dr Fox, realise "it was a mistake to miss out everyone else". "If a bill was passed that was to help blind people but not deaf people... there would be a huge uproar, this is the same thing, helping [people with] Down's syndrome but not people with Williams and other syndromes and disabilities." Lizzie added: "There'll be a point where I can't [look after] Ava and knowing there would be some sort of care for [her], it would be really reassuring."

'Really struggled' Shadow Leader of the House of Commons Thangam Debbonaire said: "Disabled people have all sorts of different needs and there'll be all sorts of other disabled people watching this going 'well where's my bill?'. "I think what we need is proper disability rights equality legislation that's really strong and actually is backed up by decent resourcing. "People with disabilities for the last ten years have really struggled under successive layers of cuts but also a lack of recognition." Ms Debbonaire, who is Labour MP for Bristol West, said while she supports the bill she would "like to see the wider range of disabilities given greater attention". If approved by both the Houses of Commons and Lords, the Down's syndrome bill could become law by spring next year.

^ Hopefully other disabilities and illnesses will be added to this Bill so that those that need long-term medical care will be guaranteed that for the rest of their lives. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-somerset-59593258

20: Euro

From VOA:

“The Euro: How It Started 20 Years Ago”

As Europe rang in the New Year 20 years ago, 12 of its nations said goodbye to their deutschmarks, French francs, liras and pesetas as they welcomed the euro single currency. On January 1, 2002, euro notes and coins became a reality for some 300 million people from Athens to Dublin, three years after the currency was formally launched in "virtual" form.

Here is a recap of the event, drawn from AFP reporting at the time: In a far cry from the austere New Year’s celebrations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic 20 years later, fireworks, music and lights blazed at midnight into the early morning of January 1, 2002, to mark the biggest monetary switch in history. AFP reported that many people passed on their traditional New Year's Eve parties, choosing instead to queue up at cash dispensers in their enthusiasm to get hold of the first pristine euro notes. In Berlin, Germans said hello to the euro and goodbye to their beloved mark at a special ceremony at the Brandenburg Gate, as up to 1 million people thronged the streets for the traditional giant New Year's Eve street party there. The euro cash was also a hit in the coffee shops and red-light district of Amsterdam. Irish revelers were, however, less in a hurry to welcome the euro, continuing to pay for Guinness, Ireland's favorite tipple, in the national currency, leaving the headache of the changeover until the next day.

 As many feared, the euro switch provoked sporadic price hikes across Europe. From Spanish bus tickets, which jumped by 33%, to a Finnish bazaar, where "everything for 10 markka (1.68 euros)" was now "everything for two euros," many price tags were a bit heftier since the single currency became legal tender. The European Central Bank president at the time, Wim Duisenberg, who warned merchants not to take advantage of the euro launch to increase prices, said he had not seen signs of widespread abuse. "When I bought a Big Mac and a strawberry milkshake this week it cost 4.45 euros, which is exactly the same amount as I paid for the same meal last week," Duisenberg told reporters.

Europe surprised itself with the almost glitch-free transition to the single currency, AFP reported. The Germans — reputedly skeptical about the single currency and nostalgic for their mark — turned out to be among the most enthusiastic. An editorial in the popular German tabloid Bild proclaimed: "Our new money is moving full speed ahead. No problems whatsoever in saying adieu to the mark, no tears to be shed." Initial "europhoria" was, however, tempered as a few hiccups appeared, such as cash shortages and long lines in banks, post offices and at toll booths. France urged citizens to not rush all at once to the banks with their savings, often hoarded under mattresses and in jam jars, since they had until June 30 to get rid of their francs at commercial banks and until 2012 at the Bank of France. And the European Commission reported minor problems in getting small euro bills and coins distributed in most countries. Duisenberg said, however, he was sure that January 1, 2002, would be written into history books as the start of a new European era.

^ I remember travelling to Russia for New Year’s and had a stopover in Amsterdam in December 2001 where my Credit Card was charged in Euros and not in Guilders. Then when I returned from Russia and stopped-over again in Amsterdam in January 2002 I got my first Euro in cash. It was pretty neat at the time. Hard to believe it’s been 20 years. ^

https://www.voanews.com/a/the-euro-how-it-started-20-years-ago-/6372413.html

My Travels

My Travels

January:

February:

March:

April:

May:

June:

July: New York

August:

September:

October:

November: New York

December:

^ I haven’t gone too many places in 2021, but considering Covid and all the other issues I was lucky to go anywhere at all. ^

US Helps Ukraine

From Reuters:

“U.S. helps Ukraine to strengthen its border with Russia, Belarus”

(Members of the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service patrol along the Ukraine-Belarus border, near the border with Poland, in Volyn region, Ukraine November 16, 2021.)

The United States will finance projects including surveillance and monitoring equipment to strengthen Ukraine's borders with Russia and Belarus, amid continuing escalation with Moscow, Ukraine's border service said on Tuesday. Kyiv accuses Moscow of massing tens of thousands of troops near its borders in preparation for a possible offensive. Russia denies planning any attack but accuses Ukraine and the United States of destabilising behaviour, and has sought security guarantees against NATO's eastward expansion. The border service said in a statement the projects worth $20 million involved the purchase of video recording systems and drones, as well as personal protective equipment for border guards. Ukraine, which seeks to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), has since 2018 also received a series of consignments of U.S. ammunition and Javelin missiles, prompting criticism from Moscow.

^ The US and other countries need to help Ukraine protect itself from more Russian incursions and wars. ^

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/us-helps-ukraine-strengthen-its-border-with-russia-belarus-2021-12-28/

800 Rescued Birds

From the BBC:

“US animal shelter shocked after 800 parakeets handed over”

A US animal shelter said it was in shock after more than 800 parakeets were surrendered to them. "A Christmas present we were not expecting," the Detroit Animal Welfare Group wrote on Facebook. The birds, also known as budgerigars (budgies) were delivered in two batches by the son of their owner who had kept them in one room, in what the shelter called "a very unhealthy situation". "The irresponsibility of the owner is infuriating," the group wrote. A first batch of 497 birds - crammed into seven cages - were dropped off on 23 December. The owner's son then returned the day after Christmas Day with a further 339. "We were in shock," the group wrote, "but could not turn them away." Kelly LeBonty, the rescue group's director, told the Detroit Free Press that the son said his father had initially planned to breed only a handful of birds, but had ended up spending $1,200 (£890) a month on them. "They were barely moving. We had to get them out and into different cages," she said.

The birds will soon be put up for adoption The parakeets - a species of parrot - will be put up for adoption after they are assessed by a veterinarian, the group said. It added that "owning a parakeet is a 6-15 year commitment". "As any pet they should be part of the family."

^ This is extremely sad to hear. Abusing any pet is wrong. I just hope these 800 birds get adopted out to better homes. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-59806039