Welcome 2007

2006 saw somethings end, never to be seen again and the start of new things that will be with us for many years. 2007 we can expect more new things to start and hopefully get rid of some old things that need to go. Some of these, ok many of these, will be of little importance to the 2 readers of this blog, but I find them interesting or important.

1. We are finally making use of our 37 inch LCD TV. We moved it from the living room to the family room and wall mounted it. In the first 7 months we owned the TV (May to December) we used it about a total of 10 hours, from Dec 30 through Jan 1, we probably used it about 12 hours, think it will get more use now. Next step will be getting the high def package but that will wait for now.

2. We reconfigured the stereo system in the living room and finally got the tape player and the PHONOGRAPH up and running. For the first time since the early 1990's I played a record. Or as my 5 year old nephew called the phonograph "an early IPod".

3. Sadam won't be around to cheer on the bad guys in Iraq as he is worm food now. Good bye and not sorry to see him go.

4. Tower Records is no more (at least in the US). They got caught in the changing market (from Records to CD's to downloads) and were not able to keep up with the market demand. Apple figured it out, but Tower Record went the way of Music Land and others.

5. The Airbus 380 was supposed to be flying but we are still waiting for the first delivery.

6. The KC-135 tankers were supposed to be replaced by the Boeing 767 tanker version, Japan and Italy are getting theirs, but the USAF is just restarting the contracting bid.

7. The first F-35 airframes were delivered, but the program is over budget. Hopefully they solved the weight problem and will keep it solved.

8. The first F-22 squadron was deployed in Langley Virginia.

9. AT&T purchased Bell South so the AT&T phone system is almost put back together. Remember, SBC purchased Ameritech (Midwest Baby bell), Pacific Bell, AT&T and now Bell South. Verizon purchased the New York baby bell and setup a large cell system so we now basically have two land line phone providers in the US, as well as various cell phone providers, some who are owned by the various phone companies.

10. Phone companies are spending lots of money to re-do their networks with fiber optic cables so they can provide TV as well as phone and Internet access. Lomita is the first city in the South Bay (Los Angeles area) to provide this service, Q1 2007.

11. Foxtrot comics went from a daily to only a Sunday strip. It was one of my favorite and sorry to see it happen.

That's all I can think about for now.