Happy new year

[BMAONE23]

It has been exactly 1 year since the Earth came to it's dramatic apocalyptic end on 12-21-12.
Perhaps next year we can have a year without Dire predictions that never come true.

Nah, never happen.

Someone is always there to preach Doom and Gloom

[Chris Peterson]

It has been exactly 1 year since the Earth came to it's dramatic apocalyptic end on 12-21-12.
Perhaps next year we can have a year without Dire predictions that never come true.

It did come to an end. Didn't you notice? In fact, every Planck time interval the Universe comes to an end, and a new one begins. Every moment, you die and are born again. That's the way the Universe works.

[Ann]

Chris Peterson wrote:
Every moment, you die and are born again. That's the way the Universe works.

The Star Trek transporter provides an unusually elegant demonstration of this universal principle.

Ann

[neufer]

<<The Tió de Nadal or Caga tió ("the pooping log"), is a character in Catalan mythology relating to a Christmas tradition widespread in Catalonia. Beginning on December 8, one gives the tió a little bit to "eat" every night and usually covers him with a little blanket so that he will not be cold at night. On Christmas day one puts the tió partly into the fireplace and orders it to defecate. To make it defecate one beats the tió with sticks, while singing various songs of Tió de Nadal. The tradition says that before beating the tió all the kids have to leave the room and go to another place of the house to pray asking for the tió to deliver a lot of presents.

Click to play embedded YouTube video.

Caga tió song:

• 
  "Caga tió,
  caga torró,
  avellanes i mató,
  si no cagues bé
  et daré un cop de bastó.
  caga tió!"
  
  poop, log,
  poop nougats (turrón),
  hazelnuts and mató cheese,
  if you don't poop well,
  I'll hit you with a stick,
  poop, log!

After hitting it softly with a stick during the song, it is hit harder on the words Caga tió!. Then somebody puts their hand under the blanket and takes a gift. The gift is opened and then the song begins again. The tió does not drop larger objects, as those are considered to be brought by the Three Wise Men. It does leave candies, nuts and torrons. Depending on the part of Catalonia, it may also give out dried figs. When nothing is left to "poop", it drops a salt herring, a head of garlic, an onion, or it "urinates" by leaving a bowl of water. What comes out of the tió is to be shared all by everyone present.>>

[saturno2]

A new year
A new opportunity of peace
A new opportunity of love
Happy New Year 2014 for ALL

[orin stepanek]

Hope everyone has a Happy New Year for 2014!

Click to play embedded YouTube video.

[Ann]

Thank you, Orin, that was lovely.

I have never really wondered about the lyrics of this beautiful song. Seeing them now, as the singer sang the words, was deeply nostalgic and fascinating.

Ann

[orin stepanek]

NYE"s Ball drops! Soon it will drop for 1014!

Click to play embedded YouTube video.

[Beyond]

If you're sober enough to click the video... HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Click to play embedded YouTube video.

Turn your sound down a little because of the music and watch full screen. It's 9-minutes long.

[geckzilla]

I wonder how many people think that is a real fireworks show?

[Beyond]

Shhhhh! It looks so good, who cares

[orin stepanek]

Really nice Beyond; The one who created this did a nice job!

[Beyond]

It looks better when you go full screen. I've got a 21 inch long screen. Beats the hell out of that itty-bitty youtube screen.

[MargaritaMc]

This IS a real firework display - a few hours ago, in Sidney

Click to play embedded YouTube video.

Best wishes for 2014, everyone!

Margarita

[geckzilla]

Nice! That's a fantastic display of pyrotechnic proficiency.

[MargaritaMc]

Nice! That's a fantastic display of pyrotechnic proficiency.

Yes, I'm not a great fan of fireworks (I'm not fond on loud noises!) But I thought that this was a superb display. I loved the effect that looked like a waterfall, flowing from the bridge. And I can't begin to imagine how they did it.

Well, it's past midnight here in Tenerife. The local (noisy...) firework display has blessedly finished. So I can now get to sleep!

M

[Ann]

Indeed, it was fantastic.

Happy New Year everybody!

Ann

[orin stepanek]

Thanks for the youtube displays! I was tired so I went to bed after the news!

[Chris Peterson]

Every year, a group of climbers hikes up Pikes Peak from Colorado Springs, with an overnight stop on the way, carrying fireworks on their backs. They set off the fireworks at midnight on New Year's Eve. From my house, 38 km from the peak, I have a great, although distant view. These shots were from my deck last night (with a 300 mm lens).

Happy New Year!

[Beyond]

Here's Dragon Fireworks from the Philippines.

Click to play embedded YouTube video.

[mckey]

Happy New Year Too. I enjoyed 31st Night very much