January 2, 2019
Dearest Readers,
Yesterday we talked about how the first of the year is a wonderful time to focus on new goals. The second day of the New Year is the time to start getting to work. Now, goals are not achieved in a day, so it won’t be done all at once, but every day we must take steps toward our goal’s accomplishment. The longest journeys begin with a single step.
Today I am starting work on my new novel, Katy and Markie: Love and Lust. What small steps are you taking today?
MORNING BRIEFING
Here are some things you may find interesting to know:
Newsmaker Line
Our government’s budget impasse continues. House Democrats, who take control Thursday, unveiled a series of bills designed to re-open the government, but don’t hold your breath.
We should be surprised at none of this. This past November a fractured and bickering America reelected a fractured and bickering government and we can only blame incumbents and the media so much. The fault for this is ours. We elected it and we got it; none of this should be a bulletin because We long ago stopped holding our elected leaders, or ourselves, really, accountable. Freed from accountability, our leaders will ensure fiascos like this will continue until we start demanding otherwise.
Almanac
In 1860 – The planet Vulcan is announced at a gather of scientists in Paris. Theorized to be in orbit between the sun and Mercury for reasons that would make no sense to you or me, Vulcan’s existence wasn’t entirely disproven until a solar eclipse in 1919.
In 1974 – Having nothing better to do as his administration collapses, President Richard Nixon signs a bill making the national speed limit 55 mph. A law that could not have been more ignored had they given prizes for non-compliance, its repealing would begin in 1987.
Your Hit Parade
#1 songs on this date in 1982:
Hot 100 – Physical…Olivia Newton-John (7th of ten weeks)
Soul Chart – Let’s Groove…Earth, Wind and Fire (6th of eight weeks)
Country Chart – Love in the First Degree…Alabama (2nd of two weeks)
– Chart data courtesy of Billboard.
Numbers Racket
10,606: the continuous number of days the US has been at war.
$21.910: the number of dollars, in trillions, of America’s national debt. – Source: usdebtclock.org
672: days until 2020 election.
Philosophy 101
When will the world learn that a million men are of no importance compared with one man?
– Henry David Thoreau
This life is very personal. Of course, we all have family and friends and their attendant obligations, but at its core, we must live our own life. No one can do it for us. Those that get on in this life are those that realize this and work to make something happen for themselves. Successful people have the wisdom to know the life they were meant to live, the courage to go and live that life and patience to see it through to the very end.
Each of us has a responsibility, to ourselves and our fellow humans, to do this. Our lives and our planet works better when we do.
Have a good day, and many thanks for reading.
Kaitlyn