…to quote my old friend Arthur Wellesley.
I know that you guys like starting the year with a fireworks image, but this time you went very close to not having one—because we went very close to not having any fireworks.
Given the catastrophic fire conditions in the country, there was a strong push for cancelling our usual NYE celebration, and for very cogent reasons; and an equally strong push back for keeping it. Some people, in the current circumstances, found the display disrespectful; some were for keeping it more or less as an act of defiance, of refusing to buckle under. Others, sensibly enough, pointed out that we have quite enough smoke in the air already.
In the end, the winner was probably pragmatism: the display had been fifteen months in the planning, and was fully paid for and was ready to go; while as always, thousands of people had travelled in from all over the world to see it. It is an event that pours some $140 million into the economy: money which hopefully goes without stint and without delay to our emergency services.
So it is with slightly mixed feelings that I post our usual New Year’s greeting.
What is not as all mixed, however, is our gratitude to all of you who visit this blog and our sites. Your continued support means more than we can say.
Liz Kingsley is the insane genius behind And You Call Yourself a Scientist!
#1 by Alaric on December 31, 2019 - 7:57 pm
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Happy New Year! I was halfway suspecting you might not do your usual New Years post this time. I’ve been following the controversy about the fireworks on the BBC website (generally the best place for us Americans to get international news). The new year just wouldn’t be the same for us B-Masters-followers without this tradition, though. And that’s a spectacular picture. I hope you have a truly great year.
#2 by The Rev. on December 31, 2019 - 8:06 pm
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Agreed; it’s a gorgeous shot. And I’m glad we got our traditional early New Year’s from Lyzzy.
I hope everyone’s 2020 is better than their 2019. Happy New Year, all.
#3 by lyzard on January 5, 2020 - 12:57 am
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I hesitated, but I’m pragmatic too. 🙂
#4 by GalaxyJane on December 31, 2019 - 10:10 pm
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Happy New Year, Liz!
#5 by lyzard on January 5, 2020 - 12:58 am
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Thank you, Jane!
#6 by goddessoftransitory on January 2, 2020 - 2:44 am
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I’ve been worrying about you and all your fellows so much! Exxon wishing the people of Australia a Happy New Year was more tone deaf than any firework could ever be.
#7 by lyzard on January 5, 2020 - 1:00 am
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They’re not alone in that sort of thing, unfortunately.
#8 by Richard on January 4, 2020 - 12:40 pm
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Are there places we can send money to if we want to help? This is the only list I’ve come across so far:
https://lifehacker.com/how-to-help-those-affected-by-the-australian-wildfires-1840776297
#9 by lyzard on January 5, 2020 - 1:11 am
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Oh, Richard, thank you!
There are a number of different ways, depending on what you’re aiming for; probably the simplest is directly to our local Red Cross (here and @RedCrossAU).
As an alternative the Intrepid Foundation is matching donations to the Red Cross, here.
The Rural Fire Service is accepting donations of behalf of the families of the firefighters who have been killed (here).
WWF Australia also has a ‘donation match’ fundraiser going (here); their koala work is here.
#10 by Richard on January 6, 2020 - 8:02 pm
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A more comprehensive list:
https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/bushfire-relief-how-you-can-help-those-in-need/news-story/a0476ac3538b8c373f281ea6be204421