HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The world welcomed 2010, each village and hamlet in its own quaint way.

• Sydney set off fireworks.
• Tokyo sent up balloons.
• In France, the Eiffel Tower did a disco light show.
• Rising waters flooded Venice at midnight. But in Venice, who can tell?
• New York lowered a crystal ball.
• Nashville lowered a 10 foot red guitar.
• Atlanta lowered an 800 pound fiberglass peach.
• Eastport, Maine, lowered an 8 foot wooden sardine.
• Mount Olive, North Carolina, lowered a 3 foot glowing pickle.
• Raleigh lowered a giant acorn.
• Basstown dropped a opossum.

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The Iranian Football (soccer) Federation sent a New Year greeting message to the Israeli Soccer Federation.

The Israeli Football Federation responded with a message saying "Happy new year to all the good people of Iran."

The Iranian Football Federation responded by announcing that their original message was sent by mistake,

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Lake Superior State University's Word Banishment Committee added these to its banned phrase and word list for 2009.

• bromance
• chillaxin
• czar
• sexting
• shovel ready
• teachable moment
• unfriended

In past years the committee banned "behind closed doors," "flat-out" and "meaningful dialogue." These bans generally do not work.

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The Library of Congress added some "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant movies of the last century to its National Film Registry. Among these were Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video (1983), "The Muppet Movie" (1979) and "The Incredible Shrinking Man" (1957).

I shudder to imagine what future centuries will think of us.

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On New Year's Day, the Walt Disney Company bought Marvel Entertainment. So now Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck will be hanging out with Spider Man and the Hulk.

If Goofy and the Flash can't save, who can?

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