No Booze Decision
The Jets decision to ban alcoholic beverages at last night's win over Cincinnati really paid off. There were fewer fights in the stands, fewer drunk driving arrests, and fewer embarrassing incidents where fans misspelled the "J-E-T-S" cheer.



Novartis Deal
Drug giant Novartis has paid $28.1 billion for control of the eye care company, Alcon. Novartis hopes to destroy all of Alcon's products so fewer people will see just how much it's jacking up the prices on prescription drugs.



Yemen Embassy Closed
The U.S. has closed its embassy in Yemen. It's not clear if this is because of terrorism or because the embassy has the only working bathroom in the entire country.



Man U I.O.U
British soccer giant Manchester United is about a billion dollars in debt. The team is making plenty of money in ticket sales and marketing, but policing the drunks at its matches costs $75 million per hour.



TSA New Rules
The Transportation Safety Administration is imposing some new directives. They include extra screenings on passengers coming from Nigeria and Yemen, fewer bags allowed on flights, and the hiring of TSA workers who aren't drunk and stupid.




January 4th


1885: The first successful appendectomy is performed by William W. Grant on Mary Gartside. Grant actually was trying to do the first boob job... but whatever.


1962: T save money, New York City introduces a subway train that operates without a crew on-board... followed shortly by a subway train where all the passengers mug themselves as well.


1999: Former professional wrestler Jesse Ventura is sworn in as governor of Minnesota. But Ventura's term abrubtly ends two days later when he fails to tag his lt. governor before getting pinned by the legislature.

January 3rd

1496: Leonardo da Vinci unsuccessfully tests a flying machine. The machine actually did get airbourne, but da Vinci was unable to get through airport security.


1861: American Civil War: Delaware votes not to secede from the United States... guaranteeing the state will remain a decent place to pee when you're on your way from New York to Washington.


1925: Benito Mussolini announces he is taking dictatorial powers over Italy. No one in Italy notices because everyone is too busy arguing over dinner.

Going down

A young gull is about to land on the water

This Monochrome concept came from Aileni at Monochrome Weeend.

Weekend Reflections--Huh?

So where is the reflection in this Weekend Reflection? Well, come back in July and stand right there. No, maybe you'd better back up a bit as I am standing  ON Reflection Lake to take this picture. The cross country skiers are also ON the lake. In July, you would see the reflection of the mountain right where they are. It's that incredible reflection image you see on postcards. I'm just a little early--or else a bit late?

James does Weekend Reflections every week and invites us to join him here.

Winter in Wales

New Year Greetings from Wales where the snow gives Henrik and Helene a taste of Norwegian winter. The temperature is around zero while we here in Oslo are heading for minus 15 - 20 in the days to come. Enough clothing is the way to survive if you have to go out.

2010 - and I wish for you...

New Year's Midnight Blue Moon - 00:00:00 - 01:01:10

2010 and I wish for you a year filled with
love and laughter
peace and harmony
success and good health
joy and enlightenment
friendship and good fun.

I might look back on the last year - and the past decade - and see dark places and difficult times. Equally, I might look back and see a time of tremendous growth, challenges and opportunities. Mostly, I look back and see a time of balance, of profound learning and personal growth. And I realise then, in the immortal words of Robert Frost, I stood at the beginning of the new millenium and saw two roads diverge in the wood and I, I chose to take the one less travelled by - and that, indeed, has made all the difference.

And so where to now, eh?

Onward and upward?

Whichever way the road goes, it will bring with it more of the same - such is life. The scenery may change, the weather too (no, I'm not talking about climate change!), we will change - for to stagnate is to die, the world will change, for change is the one constant we can always rely upon - and yet, in many ways, all will remain the same, our human nature and our inability to learn from the past seems to ensure that. It depends, I guess, on how you look at it - whether you view the world from the high road or the low road.

But whichever road each of us takes - I still wish for all of us the very same - which is all and only the very best of everything - always.

They said last night was a blue moon. Down here we had shear winds too - blowing both from the north-west and the south-east and a cloud sky planted by Johnny Appleseed. There was powerful magic afoot and in line with the moon's promptings I followed the moonsong - and look what happened... Shall I take it as a sign of a time of still greater creativity...? I hope so!

I started with the New Year's Blue Moon...


Decided it really wasn't very blue - and headed into the digital darkoom...



I then wandered to the lounge and stared at the tree lights and started to play with the zoom lens...


I wondered about the moon again... and this is what happened...

Then I played with the tree lights some more...to create silent New Year's fireworks...


And then got this...


And called it "Ripley's Ride"... If this is anything to go by, it looks like it will be one helluva ride indeed! I'll see you on the other side, then, shall I...?

Have a wonderful, happy and prosperous 2010!

Once in a Blue Moon

Once in a Blue Moon the Moon is Blue - as it was yesterday when a partial lunar eclipse occurred. There was a slight haze in the air, but I did my best.