Sighs of Relief...Everywhere!

Things sure have changed since I was last here at the Earthen Bowl! I've
spent my holidays bracing, yea, girding my coins, for the holiday season. It is not my favorite time of year--winter solstice aside--for all reasons I've lathered about previously. January is a far greater "season." For one thing, it owns the authentic "new" year. Only the Eastern world takes notice of our Lunar sister's part in our own "new" year. And, like the fellow for whom the month is named, there's space in January to look both ways, at what's past and what's ahead. I like that. It makes sense. Life isn't just about what's on the front burner.

So, how about a quick inventory of what's past and ahead.
> Most obvious to everyone and everything on this planet. George W. is thankfully, finally past. You can hear the sighs of relief. Historians of all flavors will spend much ink on this ignorant man and his flunkie relationship with Cheney. Ahead is an opportunity to shift the post-war paradigm. Obama. Diplomacy, not long lists of random sanctions and preconditions. Incentives to move our economy toward sustainability and conservation. Of note, a few days before leaving office George W. signed a waiver so Myanmar can sell its rubies and jade in the US. As is widely known, the sale of those gems directly support the Junta. George W.'s reason for doing this at the last moment? "In the interest of US national security.
> A deep sigh of relief from those folks studying Mars. This planet has been the party site for erosion and volcanic activity. Erosion is water's handiwork. And volcanism...well, you know what causes that. Since landing on the surface, there's no water to be seen, only frozen CO2, and nary a gas burp from the volcanoes. Consequently, Mars was claimed to be a dead planet. But all that is past. The Mars' people now have evidence of water. It's not on the surface (duh) but buried beneath. And plumes of methane have been observed. Methane is an organic goodie that presages the evolution of life. What's ahead? New science textbooks!!

More past-ahead...coming.