Happy New Year 2017

I wish all my readers a very happy new year! 

May all our altruistic hopes for a better, safer and more accepting world come true, despite worrying signs of growing bigotry, confrontation and discord.

Picture of the Day - 498

"New Year comes" by Koii Hallison

If you wish to see more of Koii's photography, please visit his Flickr photostream by clicking the name under the picture.

2016

I will not miss you, 2016, you were a horrendous and worthless year with only a few redeeming qualities. 

I will not delve into all shit you caused, but I will drop a few names. Donald J. Trump, Vladimir "Little Father" Putin, Bashar Al-Assad, Julian Assange and, last but not least, Aleppo.

Among the few redeeming factors were Tomais, Dej, JJ, Pook, Kevin (previously known as Knox) and the Smith Boys, Kahvy and Garrett. I must also add Ebbe Linden and Bento and the welcome extra prims.

Let us all hope - and join forces - to fight for a better 2017!

Dude, You're My Angel

To Gnussa - A Swedish Variety

As this blog's intrepid ethnologist and reporter from the regions around the Arctic Circle I will today share a report on a relatively modern phenomenon in Swedish dancing. I only heard of it myself last week.

Wikipedia informs us (translated to English by yours truly):
"To gnussa is a variation of or addition to the couples dance Foxtrot. When dancing the foxtrot most couples do this with their heads next to each other, eyes straight ahead, cheek to cheek. To "gnussa" the couple instead support their foreheads lightly against each other. As their feet move the couple roll their foreheads smoothly against each other. The couple always look in the same direction and always in the direction in which they are moving. If the couple has a big difference in height the shorter partner can instead support their forehead against the taller partners lips or chin.

To gnussa probably originated in the area around Sundsvall, Sweden, and arose early in the 1990s. From there it spread to the rest of Sweden, with growing popularity."

Let's let Jonathan and Lisa demonstrate the moves for you.

Thank You, George!

George Michael, singer, gay icon and pop music's reigning star during the 1980s and ´90s, was found dead on Christmas Day at his home in England. He was only 53.

A police statement said that the death is being treated "as unexplained but not suspicious". while Michael Lippman, George Michael's manager, said that George Michael died of heart failure "in bed, lying peacefully".

Rest in peace, George.

Holiday Shower Snapshots