Yep. Tuesday night or Wednesday morning however you parse it, the end of the year will be coming. Do not expect anything earth shaking or cataclysmic. Some where about that time a cute cat will crawl into bed and under the covers with me. At some point he will do something cat like and will become air borne for a few seconds. Thus will be the change of years be commemorated in our household.

Now for something entertaining: the comedy stylings of Cat and Dog: (10 minutes)

Now is the calm before the storm. So let’s relax while we can.

A) New year’s day is not the last of the major winter holidays. What major winter holiday(s) are yet to come next week?

B) in what could be a bad sign for things to come, gofundme said posts for requests to pay personal expenses rose by what multiple between last year and this year?

C) According to the BBC, how many mass shootings took place in the US in 2024?

D) Before becoming president, Trump has already threatened some form of action against which western hemisphere countries?

E) we’ll do some looking back in this quiz – What were the names of the two hurricanes that devastated the US east coast in August and September?

F) The House Ethics Committee released a report last week on what former congress member?

G) A war of words seems to have broken out between what right wing “influencer” and what unelected Trump advisor?

H) Few people realize that because Australia is in the southern hemisphere they will be celebrating what holiday this Wednesday?

I) Biden gives us the bird. Biden is still president and last week he signed a bill to make what bird the official national bird?

J) The owner of a restaurant that specializes in what kind of meat died after contracting rabies from cooking one of his dishes?

K) In 2024 what former candidate for president was associated with a bear, a brain worm and a whale?

L) Last April 8th a swath of the US from Texas to Maine was engaged in what activity?

M) In a crazy Christmas tweet Trump claimed who was operating the Panama Canal?

N) World Weather Attribution and Climate Central said how many days of dangerous heat were added to the world in 2024 due to climate change?

O) President Biden commuted the death sentences of all but how many prisoners on federal death row last week?

P) Trump tried to convince what Canadian to run for that country’s premiership in the next election?

Q) What country made a public statement saying they would like to buy the US?

R) NASA has a probe making a really close pass at what object it was sent to study?

S) How fast is that above mentioned probe going as it nears its objective?

T) When did the tradition of dropping the ball in NYC’s Times Square begin?

Trump Says Bone Spurs Will Prevent Him From Participating in Seizure of Panama Canal. – Andy Borowitz

Answers:

A) January 6, the Epiphany. January 7, Orthodox New Year 

B) 4 times greater than 2023

C) 488

D) Greenland, Panama and Canada

E) Helene and Milton

F) Matt Gaetz

G) Laura Loomis and Elon Musk

H) New Year’s Day just like us – except it is summer down under

I) the bald eagle

J) dog meat (and some cat meat)

K) RFK, jr.

L) watching a full solar eclipse

M) Chinese soldiers

N) 41

O) 3

P) Wayne Gretzky

Q) Denmark in retaliation for Trump’s remarks about the US buying Greenland

R) the sun

S) 430,000 mph

T) 1907

FUN FACT: President Biden has never said “MAY THEY ROT IN HELL” as part of a Christmas message. In fact, NO incoming or outgoing President in their right mind has ever done so.   “In their right mind.” – mmpaellan