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1. Interesting...the New York Times attempts to explain what "BREXIT FINALIZED" means...


Brexit, finalized
More than four years after Britain voted to leave the European Union, new travel and trade rules will go into effect tomorrow, concluding a saga that has divided Britons and dominated British politics.

The two sides reached an agreement last week, after nearly a year of trade negotiations. Yesterday, Britain’s Parliament approved the deal. Tomorrow brings the end of free movement of people between Britain and the E.U.

I talked to Mark Landler, The Times’s London bureau chief, about what it all means and what comes next. (Our conversation has been edited for brevity.)

( interview between British Reporter Covering Brexit and New York Based Reporter on what Brexit means...for those of us who have no clue )

I have to admit Brexit never made any sense to me. Even after I had lengthy conversations with people about it. ( confusing discussions about Brexit )

Brexit is finally finalized, but it is already out of date

2. Mother called while I was typing the above.

Mother: You're father is funny.
Me: Oh.( Read more... )

Mother is worried - apparently one of her friends called her after having an odd text exchange with someone on FB messenger. The individual was posing as my mother. And after a few texts, suggested her friend apply for a grant, which she'd just applied for. The friend found that to be out of character and phoned mother, who said no, it wasn't her. Now mother doesn't know what to do. She also has this odd security thing on her phone she can't quite get rid of. All of this happened after she gave in - in a weak moment - to watching a video that was sent in FB messenger. She changed her facebook password, but not her apple password.

I've no clue what to do. The change of the FB password should have worked.

3. News bits.. or links

* The Ball will drop but for the first time in decades, there will be no one to greet it in Times Square - it's all virtual this year

* The New Penn Station Opens tomorrow - it hosts the LIRR and Amtrak leaving the subterrean world of the subway far behind

"New York is set to open its grand expansion of Penn Station, the Moynihan Train Hall, on Friday. The new station looks nothing like its dingy, subterranean cousin: It has an acre of glass that lets the sun pour down and permanent installations by celebrated artists."

* How Pop Music Fandom became Sports, Religion, Politics and All-Out War

I can't say pop music fandom makes sense to me. My taste in music is varied, and I rarely can remember the names of songs or who performs them.

( excerpt )

Off to make lunch and hopefully a quiche. I will not doomscroll today. The NY Times briefing was painful enough.

Day #288? - Hasta La Vista 2020 (New Year's Eve)

Except for me, 2020 didn't really begin until March 9. So it will be over on March 8. I go by my birthday. Works better that way - and guess what this year it kind of makes more sense than most. The roller-coaster ride won't be over until March, when the vaccine is more readily available and Trump and Republican party sail out of office for the most part to face State and International criminal investigations.

I'm baking today. I decided to see the year out on this crisp rainy day, by baking. I made a spinach, sharp cheddar, and fresh spinach quiche, and a pumpkin pie.

Tonight, I'm broiling a lobster tail filet mignon, and possibly having green beans and sweet potato. I don't think I can't do a lobster tail and a filet mignon. So saving the lobster tails for tomorrow night, perhaps. Or will flip them. [ETA - the lobster tails are still frozen because I bought them on Tuesday and put them in the freezer and forgot to take them out until 12 noon today.]

And I have cans of pink sparkling wine - Sofia, which I like. I don't like champagne and it does not like me - tends to give me a headache and gas.

Me: My vacation or staycation has gone by so quickly!
Mother: And you thought you'd be bored and struggle to find things to do..
Me: Apparently I have no problem doing nothing. I actually kind of enjoy just sitting and watching television shows, playing on the internet, working on my writing, taking long walks around a cemetery, and talking on the phone or watching stuff on Zoom. This is not a problem for me at all. It was very relaxing.
Mother: And you were so worried.
Me: I should have known better. I'm well-suited to this actually. I like routine. I don't need to busy. It's other people who make me feel that I have to be busy, silly people.

Also sleeping until 9, and staying up until 12:30, probably helps.

A found farewell to the rollercoaster ride that was 2020 - here's to 2021, which will hopefully be less topsy-turvy.

Found this to be an interesting analysis of what's been happening politically since well the 1980s..ie, the Regan era or the era of pronounced individualism.

Heather Richardson Cox is a Political Historian who sums it up as follows:
( excerpt )

Here's photos of my quiche and new garden..







Unfortunately, no lobster tails tonight, will have to be for new year's day. Since they aren't fully defrosted yet. That's all right. I'll have filet mignon instead.

Per the NY Times briefing:

As of this writing, 2021 has already arrived in much of the world, from a New Zealand free of the coronavirus to an England in lockdown.

In most cities, there are no roaring crowds, no gatherings for fireworks shows and, let’s hope, no strangers kissing at midnight. But people around the world are still toasting the start of the New Year. Here’s our live coverage.

In Australia, a fireworks show went on as usual. Big Ben, long silent while under renovation, chimed at midnight, as Britain left the European Union. The ball will still drop in Times Square.

Good news?

And on Friday, 20 states and 32 cities and counties will raise their minimum wage, which will reach or exceed $15 an hour in 27 of them. More places will join them later in 2021, bringing what was once a fringe idea into widespread reality.

Here's hoping for a better 2021.

Year end meme...2020

2020 is a bit of a blur, and I don't remember a lot. This is what stuck.

STUFF I WATCHED OR READ

movies

[Weirdly I didn't watch that many or remember them...]
( movies )

shows

new for me in 2020:
( Read more... )

[Those were the memorable ones.]

ongoing series:

* The Expanse - still need to see S4 and S5
* The Mandalorian - season 2
* The Crown - S6 (I think)
* General Hospital
* Grey's Anatomy (although on my last legs)
* Virgin River (assuming it gets a third season)
* Stranger Things
* Great Pottery Throw-down - if it gets another season
* Titans
* His Dark Materials (on Season 2)

re-watches:
Great British Baking Show

books
I didn't read nearly as much this year as in years past (working remotely took away reading time, also I found it difficult to focus after February, I've not been able to finish "reading" a book that was not a graphic novel/comic book since February.). But I did get some audio in - mainly due to audio books.
( books and comic books )

Did you watch or read any of these? If so, let's chat about it!

***

Books, Television Shows, Movies - to see next year:
( Read more... )

Everything else is up in the air, as it should be.