It was a Barry day . . .
. . . and my birthday

So, what did my cheeky daughter and her evil English husband send me? Don't strain your cervello. I should have seen it coming.

This is the outside.

Diabolical thinkers that they are, they bought it three months in advance because they were afraid it wouldn't be available after the election.

Diabolical, indeed.

New Year's Eve . . .

. . . in Napoli

I did not expect this, so my camerawork sucks. I had to run to the basement, dig up my camera and put in a charged battery, but I believe I caught it at its peak. It's now 12:45, and it's still going on.

The Italians will launch fireworks on just about any special occasion, but I've never seen anything like this.

My English connections . . .

. . . redux

Most of my family tree has its roots in England, Ireland or Scotland - notwithstanding the Lowdermilk (Lautermilch) branch of my grandmother.

I suppose there is a horsethief or madam or grifter somewhere in the line, but I have found none. However, one of the more interesting finds is Sir Leonard Halliday, Lord mayor of London from October 29, 1605 to October 1606.

Leonard was knighted on July 26, 1603 by King James I, and later became one of the 124 merchants who formed the East India Company.

For those of you with a little knowledge of English history, you will remember, remember the 5th of November 1603. Just seven days after Leonard's investiture as Lord Mayor, Guy Fawkes was found guarding 36 barrels of gunpowder under the house of lords. Sir Leonard went on to great success as a merchant. Guy Fawkes and his cohorts did not fare as well.

Portrait by unknown Flemish artist - Ca. 1575.

Leonard's coat of arms is blazoned: Sable, three helmets Argent garnished Or, within a bordure engrailed of the second.

Translation: On a black shield, three silver helmets trimmed in gold,within scalloped silver border.

It's none of my business . . .

. . . but which of these is the picture of health?

2003

or 2010

What does Kelly Ripa see when she looks in the mirror?

I hab . . .

. . . a code (sniffle)

Or a least, I did. I thought it was on the way out.

But . . . I took Mrs. B to the clinic today because I gave her my cold. She asked the doctor to take a look at me while we were there.

Good news: My cold is almost gone.

Bad news: Strep throat.

At least, I appear not to have leprosy.

The Christmas present I mentioned.

Cameo by De Paola in Napoli

(The photo doesn't do it justice)

$13,868,461,000,000 of debt . . .

. . . 308,745,538 People

If we split it evenly, my share of the U.S. National debt is $44,917.43.

I would write a check tomorrow, iff:

1. Everyone else in the USA would do the same (or Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, et. al. would do it for them).

2. The bastards in DC would quit spending more than we give them.

I would.

Really.

By the way, "iff" is a very precise mathematical/logical term.

In military terms, it means "Identify Friend or Foe."

Although - considering the subject - that definition is relatively appropos, I use it in the context of a biconditional logical connective.