525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear. 525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year? In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee. In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife. In 525,600 minutes - how do you measure a year in the life? How about love? How about love? How about love? Measure in love. Seasons of love.
…the big news of CNN and NBC NEWS today, along with most people’s New Year’s Eve newsfeed, is the Vermont electric company claiming Putin’s Russia hacked into their system..
Various government spokespeople began to paint a picture of sanctions pushed personally by a bitter man. These were Barack Obama’s sanctions, not Donald Trump’s — not even U.S. sanctions. They were the sanctions pushed in a final, futile burst of hatred by a lame-duck president. Even Secretary of State John Kerry was a “good man,” undermined by an emotional president, according to the Foreign Ministry’s Zakharova.
The surprise came around 4 p.m. local time, via a statement was published on the Kremlin’s website. Russia would resist even the minimum expected diplomatic response of retaliatory expulsions, the statement read: “[Russia] will not resort to irresponsible ‘kitchen’ diplomacy but will plan our further steps to restore Russian-US relations based on the policies of the Trump Administration.”
Putin even invited the children of U.S. diplomats to his New Year’s party.
With that statement, the Russian president marked a complete about-turn of his traditionally petulant diplomacy. Tactically, it was a triumph. Suddenly “Obama’s sanctions,” designed so as to be untouchable by a future Trump administration, no longer seemed so irreversible.
“It is a very smart move,” Lukyanov says. “It will humiliate Obama even more.”
An orchestral director lost his job at the Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome after telling an audience filled with children that the man in the red suit who delivers gifts to good girls and boys does not, in fact, exist.
The news agency ANSA said Saturday that Giacomo Loprieno lashed out at the young audience for failing to applaud following a performance of “Frozen” on Thursday.
The theater underlined the severity of the offense with a Facebook posting of the production’s new orchestral director alongside Santa Claus.
On social media, the firing has been both applauded for protecting children’s fantasies, and derided for punishing someone telling the truth.
The New Year’s Eve event began in 1904. That was the year the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue was renamed Times Square, after The New York Times built a new headquarters there. It had previously been called Long Acre Square.
To celebrate the official opening of the One Times Square building, newspaper owner Adolph Ochs decided to throw a big New Year’s Eve party.
For the first three years, Ochs shot fireworks off the top of the building to signal the new year. But in 1907, the city banned fireworks.
That’s when the ball drop came in. Inspiration was drawn from the “time balls” first used in the early the 1800s to help ship captains tell time and precisely set their navigation tools while out at sea.
The New Year’s Eve ball has been dropped every year since 1907 — with the exception of 1942 and 1943, because of World War II’s “dimout” restrictions. Crowds instead held a moment of silence to honor the new year.
The first ball weighed 700 pounds and featured 100 light bulbs. The current one, which is permanently housed on top of the One Times Square building, weighs 17 times as much and features roughly 32,000 LEDs.
The building that started Times Square’s New Year’s Eve celebration now stands mostly empty — except for a Walgreens.
Most of the men and women Comas interviewed showed a zest for life and an interest in pastimes from amateur dramatics to playing the piano. Many also continued to carry out daily duties from farm work to caring for a disabled child.
Pedro Rodriguez, 106, plays the piano every day in the living room of his flat in Asturias, northern Spain, where he lives with his wife who is nearly 20 years younger than him. Their daughters visit them often.
“The nuns taught me how to play the piano as a child,” he said after giving a rendition of a Spanish waltz.
The majority of these elderly people were surrounded by family or had loved ones calling in on them daily showing how Spain continues to be a closely-knit society, where family ties are paramount.
It showcases that maybe things we value in the Western world aren’t really of much value at all.
When considering your New Years resolutions, give consideration to the story linked here.. think it through. Picture yourself at 100 and wonder, what would matter to you most then? ….social media following? Vacant friendships..? Or maybe a zest for something that actually is important in life..
Maybe playing the piano in your living room every day when you’re 106 is really what matters the most of all..
(CNN)A Vermont electric company said Friday it had found on a company laptop the same kind of malicious software that US authorities believe was used by Russian hackers in an attempt to influence November’s election.
Burlington Electric said it found the code after utility companies nationwide were sent an alert by the Department of Homeland Security.
From the Pottsville REPUBLICAN HERALD.. Marrones has been a staple in my local coal region for decades.. Very important events have occurred there for families for years.. It has been the place for half price pasta on Mondays and endless memories for those who were there at any point.
It has been an important place. A well-known place..
.. It is now closing after 83 years in existence..
The Twilight Zone marathon will be serving up frights continuously from Dec. 31-Jan. 2…. SYFY channel in case you’re interested.
And yes, I know about ‘on demand’ and Netflix and boxed sets on BluRay. But there is just something special about watching something on TV, knowing others across the nation are watching the same exact thing as you at the same exact time.. something very communal about it..
And I just love the fact it’s the Twilight Zone..
Find your favorite episode in the list .. and enjoy..
Mushroom in Kennett Square The “Mushroom Capital of the World” celebrates by dropping a 700 pound stainless steel mushroom. The event will have food and entertainment as well. Button in Carlisle A 50 pound aluminum-framed button, accented with LED lights will dropped at midnight. Visitors and residents are encouraged to design the button, and over 140 children entered the contest last year. The First Night Carlisle celebration starts at 5 p.m. and includes musical performances, art exhibits and fireworks.
Wrench in Mechanicsburg The tradition honors the borough’s founders who were mechanics who repaired and crafted wagons in the early 19th century. The celebration starts at 9 p.m. Hershey’s Kiss in Hershey The “Sweetest Place on Earth” celebrates by dropping a Hershey’s Kiss at midnight. The event starts at 9 p.m. and ends with fireworks. Strawberry in Harrisburg A giant, lit strawberry descends in the state Capital. There is live entertainment, dancing, children’s events and fireworks during the event.
Red Rose in Lancaster A symbol of the War of the Roses between Lancaster and York, the celebration takes place at Binns Park. There are performances throughout the evening and fireworks to cap the night.
White Rose in York The rose will descend in Continental Square. There is also a children’s celebration from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Bologna in Lebanon A 16-foot Lebanon Bologna descends from the sky at midnight. Marshmallow Peep in Bethlehem A giant lit replica of the Marshallow Peep will drop at midnight. There will also be art and music in the evening. Sled in Duncannon A ten foot sled, modeled after the Lightning Guider sled manufactured at the Standard Sled Facorty from 1904 to 1990, is dropped. The celebration starts at 10 p.m. and is concluded with a fireworks display.
Yuengling Beer Bottle in Pottsville The home of the oldest brewery in American raises a Yuengling beer bottle to the top of a flagpole for their celebration.
Beaver in Beavertown A life-size Bucky the beaver is hoisted to the top of a 75-foot ladder and slowly lowered to the ground.
Kettle in McClure A cast iron kettle will be lowered at midnight in honor of the McClure Bean Soup Festival. There will also be food, dancing and kids activities. Pickle in Dillsburg A pickle will descend into a barrel and then fireworks will end the celebration.
Breeches in Lower Allen Township Lower Allen Township will be “lowering the breeches” at midnight. The celebration begins at 8 p.m. with food and music. There will also be a smaller pair of breeches for children to lower.
Anchor in Shippensburg “Drop the Anchor” is held at the center of town. The celebration will start at 8 p.m. with carriage rides, entertainment and party favors.
Rockville Bridge in Marysville A replica of the Rockville Bridge made by Cub Scout Pack 56 will be dropped. Huckleberry in New Bloomfield A huckleberry will be dropped from the Courthouse clock tower at midnight. The celebration starts at 10 p.m. with food and entertainment.
Hard Hat in Newport The hat, which is about three feet by six feet, is dropped from the top of Turnbaugh’s Place. Pac-Man in Hanover The TimeLine Arcade lowers an eight-foot, lit Pac-Man at the top of the building. The celebration begins at 6 p.m.
Raising of the Cigar in Red Lion A lion holding a cigar is raised in the town square, honoring the once booming cigar industry of the town.
Recycled Ball in Pittsburgh The city of Pittsburgh drops a 1,000 pound, illuminated orb made of recycled materials at midnight. The ball symbolizes Pittsburgh’s efforts to be a “green” city, according to the Pa Department of Community and Economic Development. The celebration starts at 6 p.m., with a parade at 8 p.m., performances throughout the evening and a fireworks show to cap the night.
Coal in Shamokin A Styrofoam lump of coal will be dropped at midnight. Lightbulb in Sunbury From the top of the Edison Hotel a lit outline of a light-bulb is dropped at midnight. The hotel was wired by Thomas Edison in 1883 to demonstrate his invention. Shoe in Akron A large shoe is dropped at midnight. Haydn’s Jug in East Petersburg The celebration starts at 10 p.m.
That means, minus a year of my life, I have relied in some part on Tom Clark to tell me if I would be missing school, or work, for about my entire life..
He has had some famous bombs.. like the mis-guided Blizzard of 93 and 96 prediction.. he has also been somewhat lampooned in local media for a few decades.
But he has been there.. strange hats and coats.. and giant umbrellas..
And just about anyone in Northeastern Pennsylvania who longed for days off of school during the winter time knew the exact time during each news hour that Tom Clark would do the weather.
Filmmakers are tapping advances in digital technology to resurrect characters after a performer dies, most notably in “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” The film, in theaters now, features the return of Grand Moff Tarkin, originally played by a long-dead actor.
The trend has sent Hollywood actors in the here-and-now scrambling to exert control over how their characters and images are portrayed in the hereafter.
“Celebrities are increasingly involved in making plans to protect their intellectual property rights,” said Mark Roesler, an attorney and chairman of CMG Worldwide, an agency representing celebrity estates. “They understand that their legacy will continue beyond their lifetime.”
This is going to be the newest trend in movies.. Expect old stars to come back. Be kind.. rewind.. go back.. the past is coming to the future.
I will say this: Grand Moff Tarkin, live in living color on the big screen, was as creepy as could be. The digital enhancement was evident.. But somehow it was flawless. The final scene with Carrie Fisher–may God rest her beautiful soul–was equally clumsy as much as it was breathtaking to see..
We are in the beginning of a new age of digital amazement.. The most amazing part may be the fact that stars we loved during their prime will be suddenly in their prime again.
But … is it creepy/ Is it weird?
I sort of think so. However, it’s all eventual. In a few movies and TV shows it will be as normal as a robot taking your manufacturing job.
Welcome to the future. Sit back and grab the popcorn.
I always think humor goes a far way .. unless you’re a page that needs to maintain a serious tone. I liked this post, however.. People completely dismiss the importance of a 404 page..
