Another year ended, and a new one begun. So far, the weather has been schizoid, unseasonably warm one day, and frigidly cold the next.  The lake and the snow have gone through at least three cycles of thawing and refreezing, and we're in the midst of another snowstorm. Bush has given his last ever (constitutionally speaking, anyway) State of the Union address, and the economy is on the brink of free fall.

Still, we can hope for the best, that we humans do what is right and good, rather than what is merely expedient and profitable, for a change.

The world might have a chance yet.

So, good luck to all of us in the New Year – I suspect we're going to need it!