OT WE 31 JAN 25 ~ End of the year
If you take a trip to Ecuador for New Year’s Eve, get ready to see lots of fire! People construct effigies of cultural icons, such as politicians and famous fictional characters, and then set them on fire. Many people will also fill their effigies with paper and old photographs.
As the paper maché effigies go up in flames, Ecuadorians say goodbye to painful memories and banish bad fortune. Mentally cathartic I suppose.
The first place on earth to observe new year is Christmas Island (CXT) ~ = THA (Thailand)
translates to GMT and EST (here on the east coast) then PST for you west coasters. If that is
not confusing enough, a conversion is required for the mid - country dwellers. It is a good
mental exercise. The sun is impartial, as its' orbit relative to earth doesn't change so much.
But that is just confusing the calculations further.
Therefore, if the first place on earth to experience midnight( New Year) is Christmas Island
(CXT) somewhere in the Pacific, which is the same time zone as Thailand (THA),
(easier to find on a world map). So if you go east from London (time-wise) you would add
seven hours to equate to the same time as GMT. Or, reflexively, if you start at Christmas Island
(+7) at New Year, it is only 0500 GMT in London (the previous day). Whew!
I have struggled with this for hours. Perhaps Janis B could help out here. She tried to explain
the time difference from NZ to BOS once, but it didn't stick. Somehow days change the formulae.
If my calculations are correct, when New Year occurs in Christmas, Island it is only 0200
local time (EST). 2400 - 7 - 5 = 10? Which is different from the 0200 value. Faggatabitit.
Correct me if I am wrong, but that means when New Year hits that Island,
we won't have the same time until 12 hours later? It is all a bit too complicated for this
internal computer. The keyboard does not have that many keys.
Best guess it is about day and a half before the ball drops in Times Squared?
Weird anyway. New year (in my mind) should be the same world-wide. Huh
Is there a universal standard time? Like 'star date' on Star Trek perhaps.
Time to update the calendar I guess.
That is like squeezing toothpaste from an empty tube. Hope it makes some sense to you.
-
Enjoy your celebrations. Open Thread, so please add whatever you have.
See you in the very old year. And perhaps the next. When does 2026 arrive in your
neighborhood?
Comments
Hey, narrowing time down now
.
17m ago
05.32 EST
New Zealand’s Chatham Island is now in 2026. The remote archipelago, in the Pacific Ocean,
(home to about 600 people). Guess it has already begun somewhere for some.
- and -
Kiribati becomes first country to welcome in the new year, as clocks strike twelve in island of Kiritimati
An atoll in the remote Pacific Island nation of Kiribati – Kiritimati – has become the first to usher in the new year (at 10:00 GMT). We will bring you pictures as soon as we get them in.
That at least explains the bump-out on one of the TZ maps east of AUS/NZ of otherwise
parallel lines.
Other parts of Kiribati will be welcoming in the new year over the next few hours.
Kiribati – made up of 33 atolls (islands) – controls more than 3.5 million sq km (1.4m sq miles) of Pacific Ocean.
In 1994, Kiribati – pronounced “Kiribass” – changed the time zone across the international date line, so all 33 islands would have the same date (there were previously some islands on the eastern side of the international date line).
At least that explains the bump-out on the TZ maps east of AUS of otherwise parallel lines.
Zionism is a social disease
Oooh! Oooh!
The Ecuadors have a great idea. We should make big effigies of cultural icons and politicians, but stuff the real politicians and Kardasians in them, then set them on fire.
Been thinking, Trump is kind of a gift. Where we are now has been building, I think since Clinton.The graft, patronage, nepotism and corruption started in earnest, and is way out in the open. Democrats may start out as pols of the people, but as they accumulate wealth more and more, the more they become republican. After all, republicans are the party of the wealthy, dems voting to help the little guy would take away from the higher ranking dems wealth (looking at you Pelosi), so the dems won't vote against their own interests. So we have wishy washy lil bit legislation designed to pass through money to donors, make a publicity splash, and deliver little. Plus a lot of pious bullshit to pander to voters.
So, Happy New Year to C99 and hope it's kinder than the last. Me, I'm putting a couple of pie plates under the back pockets of my jeans 'cause 2026 will probably kick my ass, as usual.
I like the pie plates idea
.
I'm making apple slabs today for a gathering tomorrow
along with a good luck ham and bean soup concoction.
Wishing you better in the coming year Snode. Not sure if
the trumpet is a blessing or a curse? Depends on which
side of the bed he gets up on. Random.
Zionism is a social disease
@QMS Turkey soup and
Turkey soup and popovers here.
T's prob both. He shines a big light on where we are. Problem is what you see makes you want to vomit. His breaking government shows there can be big changes. Unfortunately no one is going to make big changes that benefit us. Not the dems. But maybe not. If big changes can happen.....who knows. Maybe it has to get worse before there is enough pain to get us off our butts.
Good morning...
A chilly 25 this AM, but the sun is out and the solar collectors are generating heat...not quite enough to totally heat the house at this time, but it will in another hour or two.
Got the black eyed peas cooked last night. Still have some ham from Xmas and some pork I cooked at Thanksgiving that I pulled out of the freezer. Better half is cooking collards from the garden today.
So as usual we'll eat well today.
Hope everyone has a nice New Years eve, and thanks for the OT!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
similar fare here
.
although substituted kale for the collards
because we had some in the freezer to use.
Just being able to clean-out storage of the old
to make way for the new is the idea today.
Thanks for all you do on this site thru-out the year.
Cheers!
Zionism is a social disease
Seoul is 14 hours ahead
So it's 00:30 Jan 01, 2026 there. I just missed it. I should have started reading your OT earlier Q.
Reuters cut the live feed.
새해 복 많이 받으세요!
新年快乐
Happy New Year!
Same time in Okinawa. It's 14 hours difference there too. We figured that out on Christmas because one of the active duty in laws is there.
己所不欲，勿施于人。
what is confusing to me
is not so much time zones as it
is the date-line thrown into the mix.
Remember one year flying back to the states
from Singapore on my birthday. Got to "celebrate"
my birthday twice, but only aged about a day instead of
the normal year.
Prosperity wishes for you.
Zionism is a social disease
That's breaking the rules Q
Celebrating the same birthday twice!
In the Chinese lunar new year myth, the 年 nyun is a monster that comes on new year. It will destroy everything, if not deterred with loud noise, fire, and red talismans. So the custom of firecrackers and red cloth and banners.
己所不欲，勿施于人。
Well, that explains a lot
.
of the ensuing consequences.
Thought I had some jade to ward-off the evil spirits,
but that may have been a different trip.
Zionism is a social disease
I think jade will work Q
Wow, I didn't know all the myths surrounding jade. I knew carved jade pendants traditionally were favored ornaments in privileged classes in Korea and China, but now I know why. Good for health and well being. Taiwan is famous for jade. We still have an incense burner carved from jade which is remarkable. Didn't keep the floods away.
The decorative ornament sometimes with jade hung on traditional woman's dress is called norigae in Korea. Can't find a noncommercial pic.
己所不欲，勿施于人。
Funny thing was
.
whenever I purchased the jade,
asked the proprietor where it was
sourced from. He said Canada!
In their shop, they just shaped, polished and set it
in gold or silver. Told the spouse it is good luck.
Imagine that.
Zionism is a social disease
We were in Taiwan
...visiting a long time ago. That's where we bought it in one of those touristy gift shops.
Our "guide" wasn't with us at one point when we were just walking around, and some thief ripped a family heirloom a gold heng 幸 good fortune pendant right off Ms. So's neck in broad daylight. He got away too! This is why travel groups are the preferred way to go.
己所不欲，勿施于人。
I was in Sydney at New Years Y2K
and flew out at 2:20 am January 1st but crossed back across the International Date Line en route to San Francisco arriving just in time to celebrate New Years twice.
Only a planeload of us had that honor.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
that's cool
.
Aren't you glad the world didn't end as predicted?
Zionism is a social disease
15 minutes to go in Beijing
live coverage
己所不欲，勿施于人。
The Chinese sure like their fireworks
.
read somewhere Sydney uses 20 tons of explosives to
ring-in the new year. Think it was the Guardian.
But the celebration of ringing in the new year is quite the spectacle
with the huge gong! Year of the horse.
Thanks for the link.
Zionism is a social disease
thanks Q
I didn't get it about the horses, till you said that.
己所不欲，勿施于人。
Would not have known either
.
but the spouse informed me
(being a self proclaimed Sagittarius).
Which brings up more confusion.
My studies in celestial navigation determined
the sun was in a different 'house' when the zodiac
was developed than it is now. According to present
star charts, I was told I was a Taurus, but more likely an Aries?
Precession or some such cosmic evolution.
Zionism is a social disease
Does that mean
I may no longer be an Aries (early April)?
Oh noes! I'll have to get rid of my gold Aries pendent, my tattoo, and worse, change my entire demeanor.
Thanks for hosting the OT.
Have a great New Year.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
If the theory holds
.
you can figure out what it means to be a Gemini!
Zionism is a social disease
Good morning, Cap'n!
I had a hunk of jade, but as luck would have it, I can't find it. sigh...
I intend to prepare some Hoppin' John, a batch of turnip greens, and some honey sweet yellow cornbread for tomorrow and days afterwards, since Dear One doesn't eat any of the aforementioned delicacies.
Our blockade down in the Caribbean is only effective to kill fishermen in tiny boats and to stop ships that voluntarily stop. Exactly who regards our military might as formidable?
What a world, Cap'n. I hope and dream of a good year to come, beginning at various times, or already begun here and there.
Hat tip to all who can cross the International Date Line and not be in a daze for the next 2 weeks!
Enjoy your cooking, family, and friends, dear friend!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Same for you
.
It is a veritable miracle we can maintain any kind
of sanity in the constantly shifting time constraints.
Time zones, DST, Date Lines and other constructs
are simple-minded human diversions. The sun comes
up, the sun goes down (from our perspective). The
seasons change on a regular basis (except if you happen
to live on the equator).
Would love to sample your Hoppin' John to compare with
mine, but alas the hour glass is almost empty. Good excuse
as any at this point in time.
Just got an awesome 2026 wall calendar at my local bank.
It is a collectors edition as this is their 175 year anniversary.
Good luck!
Zionism is a social disease
Aloha, Cap'n Q et. al. Rain, but not horrible, today.
No hopping john here, schnitzel tonight and navt bean soup tomorrow. I've got a piece of California Jade here somewhere, however, Big Sur is lousy with the stuff. As a substitute for all such talismans I will periodically belt down some mezcal con gusano, making sure to ingest the gusano. Had my first serving at 16, have a bottle stashed for my 80th next year, but will then have to backfill my stash. Possibly this febuary.
Have been fighting with my phone all morning, it refuses to do some stuff and all the fixes I can find instruct one to activate settings I don't seem to have. Ah well ... Wait'l next year, as they say.
Meanwhile not much happening out here today but weather as far as I've heard, but that could always change with the stroke of somebody's pen. One bit of grief is WayMo automated vehicles. Someplace down south (Santa Monica) tried to get them to shut down a couple of charging stations from 11 pm to 6 am because they make a horrible amount of noise backing up and local residents can't get ant sleep. Baturally the company is suing the city. If they try to bring them to your area be warned and insist thar their charging stations are in some industrial zone or out in the swamp or something.
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Hey, El!
I hope you have good weather for the holiday...and the year!
I had not heard of charging stations being so noisy! The nearest place one can charge up an ev is 32 miles from my home. I will pass this info along to the mayor and my precinct commissioner. We have enough noisy trucks, motorcycles, atvs, and burro herds as it is!
I am going to cook up my turnip greens and cornbread today. The Hoppin' John comes tomorrow.
We are enjoying a History Channel series called "The Rise of Texas". Gen. Sam Houston swung from stupid disasters at The Alamo and Goliad, and we are now at The Battle of San Jacinto, which he won by a miracle.
Enjoy your New's toast! We will have a bit of Amarula, just because why the hell not?
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
The cars make a very loud beeping noise when baking up
and it appears that there are enough of them doing it at any time that it is essentially continuous.
happy new year
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
I like the idea of using swamps
.
as charging stations. They are prolly stoopid enough
to back down and get stuck. But the good thing is they
could send an automated tow truck out to get them.
AI will hallucinate enough to not realize that they too will get stuck.
Wasn't programmed into the op systems. The price paid for taking
humans into their equations?
Here is to your 80 th milestone. I think a serious stash of tequila is
a great idea, all things considered.
Good luck!
Zionism is a social disease
Happy New Year everyone. I just posted in Joe's News
amd Blues from two days ago. Man am I late. Going to block quote it here.
In one hour and five minutes it will be 2026 for us here in France Central European Time (CET).
Somewhere I heard or read that the celebration on the Champs Elysées was to be canceled. But it ain't so. We are going all out at the Arc de Triomphe. So here is my report for Christmas and New Year. I surely do hope that the gods will treat us better next year than this one.
Well we are going to see what sustained freezing can be like in an old stone house. Our pellet stove keeps the ground floor underfloor piping and the first floor (second floor for USians) radiators warm. The kittie and dog love the warmth. Birds are going through black sunflower seed and fat balls so so fast. We keep water dishes out for them as things are fairly well frozen.
We have been eating so well: for Christmas dinner, which is eaten on Christmas eve (we almost missed our get together as we were shopping for all the ingredients for our part of the meal and got home to guest waiting for us. ohh, ohh. It did work out very well but we really forgot the Christmas dinner is the day before.) Back to food...fois gras and tangy four citrus preserve with champagne for starter or as we say apero; for entrees crisp apples with mandarin oranges and fresh super bon bread. For plats or main course we had chicken provençal oh so yummy, rice with olives, a tangy cranberry sauce made with tiny orange chunks, triple sec, noilly prat, fine brown sugar, maple syrup, cardamom. Wines were a Bordeaux and a Burgundy. Cheese course was Chevre cream, a blue from Montbrisson, and Comté. Sweets were chocolate Revillon papillots and local carmels beurre sale. We finished with Pain d'Épices toasted with butter. Like a ginger bread. I think I forgot a thing or two but it was good, we were warm and played Christmas music in the kitchen.
Our motto for the time from third week of Advent until Epiphany on January 6th is to eat what ever strikes our fancy. It's our gift to us each year.
Well you all, Thank you for your good hearted island of sanity and wishing us all a good new year.
A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit. Allegedly Greek, but more possibly fairly modern quote.
Consider helping by donating using the button in the upper left hand corner. Thank you.
sounds yummy!
.
amazing that your culture enjoys so many courses
separately with wine pairings to boot. Cheese and crackers
are just a warm-up for us. The main meal is the focus.
Guessing the new year has already passed thru your neighborhood
or will shortly. Hope your 2026 is better than the previous iteration.
Zionism is a social disease
@QMS Thanks Q. It took us
Thanks Q. It took us awhile to give up cheeses before a meal. Here it's only afterwards.
The villages all around us are blowing up fireworks. We can see them from our house. Woohoo.
Have a great New Year.
A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit. Allegedly Greek, but more possibly fairly modern quote.
Consider helping by donating using the button in the upper left hand corner. Thank you.
Hope the critters don't get freaked out
.
by all the noise. Cows may pause
in their milk production with udder
sphincter reactions with boom booms.
Which could (possibly) slow down the
cheese productions for a spell.
Zionism is a social disease
Hi Q
I'm sure I didn’t explain anything from a scientific point of view, as understanding time is an enigma to me. I might have been saying how I translate the time difference between here and america, for the purpose of talking with family and friends at a reasonable hour for both. First I calculate that my Thursday is your Wednesday. Then I add 3 -6, or 5-8 hours to the time here, depending on seasonal and local time changes.
Happy new year everyone. I wish us time that is valuable and enduring in the new year..
Yes, I believe that is correct
.
If the day does not matter, the time can be worked-out
pretty easily. Perhaps I make it sound more complicated
than it actually is, which is is me in a nutshell. Thanks and
hope the coming attractions are enjoyable for you!.
Zionism is a social disease
Actually,
I think you usually condense and simplify thoughts, in a haiku kind of way, direct and uncomplicated.
Happy new year in real time ; ).
Thank you Janis
.
I write like I think. Concise and direct.
Perhaps it requires more processing to
understand the logic behind the verbiage?
As long as the idea is not lost in the process,
attempting to express a developing idea.
BTW, in this time zone, we have 'officially' pulled the cover
over what was the date/time of the previous year!
Good luck to you and blessings for a continued beneficial existence.
Zionism is a social disease
Happy New Year's Eve!
I really like what Ecuadorians do. I have decided to do something similar, at least in words and thoughts, if not in action (no fires). Out with the old and in with the new, banish bad thoughts and memories, it's time to live!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Agree with your sentiments
.
not sure how to express these ideas in an
understandable fashion for y'all but
sending good wishes is paramount.
Hope the future is bright for you and yours.
We've about 3/4 hour left to figure it out.
Zionism is a social disease