Start the Year Learning Something

It took quite a long time before 1 January again became the universal or standard start of the civil year. The years of adoption of 1 January as the new year are as follows -

Country Start year
Venice 1522
Sweden 1529
Holy Roman Empire (Germany) 1544
Spain, Portugal 1556
Prussia, Denmark and Norway 1559
France 1564
Southern Netherlands 1576
Lorraine 1579
Dutch Republic 1583
Scotland 1600
Russia 1700
Tuscany 1721
Britain and
British Empire
except Scotland 1752
Thailand 1941

March was the first day of the numbered year in the Republic of Venice until its destruction in 1797, and in Russia from 988 until 1492 (AM 7000). 1 September was used in Russia from 1492 until the adoption of the Christian era in 1700 via a December 1699 decree of Tsar Peter I (previously, Russia had counted years since the creation of the world—Anno Mundi).

Autumnal equinox day (usually 22 September) was "New Year's Day" in the French Republican Calendar, which was in use from 1793 to 1805. This was primidi Vendémiaire, the first day of the first month.
-From Wikipedia


Happy New Year to all my loyal readers (you know who you are)!

Escape From the Holiday Hullabaloo

Here is a nice site full of fun distractions:

http://www.onemotion.com/

Christmas Greeting for Those Who Can't Open the Email

A Southwestern Holiday greeting from the Dale Chihuly exhibit at the Desert Botanical Garden.

Best wishes for a Great Christmas and a Grand New Year.
Doug, Kim and Melanie MacEachern

More Desert Chihuly

 
 
 
 

the Chihuly Exhibit at the Desert Botancial Garden Decembrer 2008/ Phoenix, AZ pHots by Mary Hayes

 
 
 
 

The Attributes of Netflix

One really cool aspect of this movie service is you can create your own film festivals. We have been on a Mira Nair jag. Her movies are each wonderful little works of amazement. We just finished the Perez family and it was delightful. We have also seen Monsoon Wedding, Full Frame Documentary Shorts, Hysterical Blindness, Kama Sutra, A Tale of Love, Mississippi Masala and we have been pleasantly surprised by how each one is its own little jewel. She uses some recurring actors but there are some really famous people in these too that obviously enjoyed making these gems. Highly recommended.

Married Gentlemen: You MUST Watch This Video BEFORE You Christmas Shop for your WIFE

http://adage.com/brightcove/single.php?bcpid=1370868150&bctid=3130509001