Wiki

If you don’t know stuff, do you “do a Google”, or look up “Wiki”?

What do you know about “Wiki”?

Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia that anyone can edit, and millions already have. Wikipedia's purpose is to benefit readers by presenting information on all branches of knowledge. Hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation, it consists of freely editable content, whose articles also have numerous links to guide readers to more information.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:About  

How did you spend Christmas? 

Did you ignore the doom-mongers, the killjoys, the snobs? Did you let your week of freedom be clouded by the wailing of upper-class neurotics who think the world will end if we get to do what we want?  

Or did you eat, drink and – the greatest rebellion of all – be merry?

And did you catch a glimpse of Santa Claus?  His image has certainly changed over the years: here’s Santa Claus on the cover of Puck magazine in 1896, which is pretty much how we see him today. 

However Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children and the Christian origin for Santa, almost certainly did not resemble his modern depiction at all. The 4th century Greek Christian bishop of Myra on the Mediterranean coast of modern Turkey was known for his piety and his generosity with gifts.

New Year Resolutions

They’re called resolutions, because they are re-solutions. They didn’t work last year, but Hey! let’s try them again this year!

BTW French authorities have hailed New Year’s Eve as a success for having a “calm” night in which only 745 vehicles were set on fire and nearly 400 people were arrested.

The Bookworms

The Bookworms are busy, chewing away at “Light Over Liskeard” by Louis de Bernières:

Sometimes we must look to the past to survive the future. Q wants a simpler and safer life. His work as a quantum cryptographer for the government has led him to believe a crisis is imminent for civilisation and he's looking for somewhere to ride out what's ahead.

Would you like to have a holiday read, and join their next discussion?  Rumour has it that the Bookworms have big plans for 2024.

Meanwhile, acclaimed author J.K. Rowling just keeps on winning. Despite the combined forces of left-wing critics and woke dissemblers, the Harry Potter creator has defied all efforts to cancel her and can sit back and enjoy seeing her bank balance rise.

Over the past 12 months Pottermore publishing —  publisher of Harry Potter books and affiliated Wizarding World titles — experienced a surge in sales, soaring from approximately U.S. $7 million to more than U.S. $11.9 million over the last fiscal year.

Critics sought to banish the British author in 2020 after she voiced her stance on protecting sex-based rights for women. Both she and her family faced threats from critics simply for expressing her own views rather than conforming to the perceived wisdom of those who opposed her.

The Daily Sceptic’s 2024 Almanac of Bad Futurology

These predictions bear out the wisdom of Niels Bohr’s famous quote – or was it Yogi Berra? – that predictions are very difficult, especially about the future.

Heavier-than-air-flying machines are impossible. (Lord Kelvin, 1895)

Everything that can be invented has been invented. (Charles H. Duell, Commissioner of the US Patent Office 1899

Peace for our time. (Neville Chamberlain 1938)

I think there is a world market for maybe five computers. (Thomas Watson, Chairman and CEO of IBM, 1943)Heavier-than-air-flying machines are impossible. (Lord Kelvin, 1895)

Everything that can be invented has been invented. (Charles H. Duell, Commissioner of the US Patent Office 1899

640K ought to be enough for anybody. (Bill Gates in defence of the just-introduced IBM PC’s 640KB usable RAM limit in 1981)

We’ve just 96 months to save the world. (King Charles, 2009)

https://dailysceptic.org/2023/12/31/the-daily-sceptics-2024-almanac-of-bad-futurology/

ClubRunner Webinar

Have a think about joining the ClubRunner Webinar on Saturday 3rd February, won't you?  Our roles in Rotary change from year to year, and communication within Rotary remains important. 

The current Webmaster and Bulletin Editor will not remain in office forever, so your skill with ClubRunner may end up being an asset. 

Register at https://www.trybooking.com/CNSGO

The Marx Brothers

The brothers are almost universally known by their stage names: Chico, Harpo, Groucho, Gummo, and Zeppo. There was a sixth brother, the firstborn, named Manfred, who died in infancy. 

However, a New Year is a good time to recognise the unheralded sister of that family, the inventor of the starting gun: Onya Marx.

Royal Visit

“King Charles is planning to visit Australia and New Zealand in October,” a diplomatic source told the Sydney Morning Herald on Tuesday.

No doubt Phil Stewart will keep us up-to-date on his friend’s movements.

Vocational Service Month

As you are no doubt aware, January is Vocational Service Month, and our Vocational Service Chairman Vincent Chen leads the way with an inspirational story of a trip to New Zealand with his daughter Sara. 

You may recall Colin Muir when he was DG, describing Vocational Service as “The forgotten arm of Rotary Service.”

The Vocational Committee has introduced a Vocational  Program:  “How my occupation has changed." A few members have agreed to write something about this, and we hope to publish one each month.

So what's new in your vocation?  Please tell us about it!

2024-25 Annual Theme Revealed
Rotary International President-elect Stephanie Urchick announced the 2024-25 theme, The Magic of Rotary, at the International Assembly on 8 January. The assembly is Rotary’s annual learning event for incoming governors and leaders. Urchick, a member of the Rotary Club of McMurray, Pennsylvania, USA, called on members to use the magic of Rotary to recognize and amplify the organization’s power to save lives. She also called on them to make their Rotary clubs “simply irresistible.”

The Hawthorn Rotary Bulletin

Special thanks to Ian Bentley for editing and producing “The Bulletin” over the past couple of months. Ian demonstrated his digital dexterity wasn’t confined to his Webmaster duties, as he seamlessly supplied members with their Rotary news. 

Also, my sincere thanks to members for their thoughtful support while I was out of the action. 

Gordon Cheyne - Editor.