Champagne is one of the elegant extras in life.

Ringing in the New Year is the perfect opportunity each year to celebrate National Champagne Day.



It is obviously observed on December 31st (although I've seen it listed as being celebrated on October 18th.) Drink Champagne for breakfast today! It's a new year tomorrow. While we still need to social distant, let's focus on bringing an end to this pandemic once and for all. Wear your mask until we all get our boosters.


It's the Seventh day of Christmas. Today's gift count (84 gifts): you currently have Seven Swans a' swimming, 12 geese a' laying, 15 golden rings, 16 calling birds, 15 French hens, 12 turtledoves and 7 partridges in their respective pear trees.

The seven Swans A-swimming usually signifies the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (Wisdom , Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of God,) and /or the seven sacraments (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the sick, Marriage, and Holy orders.)



I can't begin to imagine the amount of bird waste you are removing at the point. But keep shoveling, you don't want the EPA on your tail (so to speak.) You may want to consider contacting your local garden store: fresh guano can garner a pretty price.


For those playing the home version - Tonight's the Sixth night of Kwanzaa.

Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah) signifies Creativity: To do always as much as one can, in the way one can, in order to leave their community more beautiful and beneficial than they inherited it.


December 31, 1923 -
On New Year's Eve, 1923, BBC engineer AG Dryland climbed onto a roof opposite the Houses of Parliament with a microphone to record the chimes of Big Ben. The sound he captured has been broadcast on BBC radio ever since.



From February 17th, 1924, the bell of Big Ben could regularly be heard on BBC radio, along with the Greenwich 'pips'.


December 31, 1966 -
The Monkees' I'm A Believer, hit #1 in America on this date. The song stays at the top for seven weeks.



Neil Diamond wrote this song. He had his first big hit earlier in 1966 with Cherry, Cherry, which got the attention of Don Kirshner, who was looking for material for The Monkees. Kirshner was sold on I'm A Believer, and as part of the deal, allowed Diamond to record the song as well. Diamond's version was released on his 1967 album Just For You. The Monkees version benefited from exposure on their television series.


December 31, 1969 -
Walt Disney through its Buena Vista Distribution Company released The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, starring Kurt Russell, and Cesar Romero on this date.



It’s the first motion picture to use the word “computer” in its title.


December 31, 1995 –
Cartoonist Bill Watterson ends his Calvin and Hobbes comic strip on this date.

Calvin and Hobbes debuted in 1985 and featured the adventures of Calvin, a hyperactive, overly imaginative, bratty six-year-old, and his best friend, the stuffed tiger Hobbes (who is also an actual tiger.)


Years may come and go


Today in History:
December 31, 1907 -
For the first time a ball drops at Times Square to signal the New Year on this date.



The New Year’s Eve Ball first descended from a flagpole at One Times Square, constructed with iron and wood materials with 100 25-watt bulbs weighing 700 pounds and measuring 5 feet in diameter.


December 31, 1909 -
The Manhattan Bridge, the last of the three suspension bridges built across the lower East River, was opened to traffic on this date (although not officially completed until 1912.)



This must have made it quite an interesting crossing.


December 31, 1935 –
Charles Darrow of Pennsylvania was issued the patent (US Patent #2,026,082) was issued for the game of Monopoly on this date; he assigned the patent to Parker Brothers.

Since that day, it has been translated into 37 languages and evolved into over 200 licensed and localized editions for 103 countries across the world.


December 31, 1936 -
Dr. Rolla Harger, a professor of biochemistry and toxicology, patented the Drunkometer, a balloon-like device into which people would breathe to determine whether they were inebriated in 1936. Just in time for New Year's Eve, the first practical use of the device in the field by Indianapolis police was conducted on this day.

The Drunkometer worked by having the person blow into a balloon. The balloon would be attached to a tube of purple liquid - a weak solution of potassium permanganate in sulphuric acid.. The darker the result, the more alcohol the person had in their system. In 1954, Robert Borkenstein, a colleague of Dr. Harger, invented a more portable tool called the Breathalyzer.


December 31, 1958 -
Rebels forces lead by Fidel Castro, marched triumphantly into Havana, Cuba on this date. Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista fled the country with 180 of his supporters and personal fortune of more than $300 million dollars amassed through graft and payoffs.



Meanwhile, Michael grasps Fredo tightly by the head and gives a kiss, telling him "I know it was you Fredo; you broke my heart." Michael appeals to his brother to join him in leaving the country, but Fredo runs away, frightened.



But that's another story ...


December 31, 1999 -
The large Ferris wheel, the London Eye (also called the Millennium Wheel), was built in celebration of the change of millinia, opened on this date.



It went on to become a famous London landmark, and attracts thousands of tourists a year.


ACME would like to wish everyone the Happiest and Healthiest New Year. Hope you all have wonderful plans for this evening, even if it's just sitting at home.



Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians played Auld Lang Syne as a New Year’s Eve song for the first time on this date in 1929.


Somehow it has become the last page of the calendar.

I've often made the comment that it's taken me many years not to think of this as the middle of the year and think of summer break as one long New Years Eve but I can't wait to see this year go. This has been a tough year for most of us - hopefully the upcoming one will be a better one for us all.


December 31st By Richard Hoffman

All my undone actions wander
naked across the calendar,
a band of skinny hunter-gatherers,
blown snow scattered here and there,
stumbling toward a future
folded in the New Year I secure
with a pushpin: January’s picture
a painting from the 17th century,
a still life: Skull and mirror,
spilled coin purse and a flower.

Bunkies, thank you for indulging me for another year.

Please, as your ole' friend the doctor implores you every year, the only advice I can give you is worth repeating - Drink til you drop and drop where you drink - Don't drive drunk - I can't afford to lose readers.


And so it goes