The fireworks at midnight bringing in the new year is now a shadow of what it once was when the local government clamped down because of noise, air pollution and injuries.  However, below you can see some photos I took of that moment last night, and there were some major fireworks out there, much of it probably illegally brought into the state.  One of these accidents at one home  killed at least two, with 20 more seriously injured .  It happened in the Salt Lake area of Honolulu, where I took most of the shots.  But this photo to the left was sent to me.  That must have been the incident. In New Orleans, a 42-year old Texas man, rammed a pickup truck New Year's revelers on Bourbon Street,  killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens more .  Apparently, the driver was flying an ISIS flag, so authorities are calling an act of terrorism.  It's possible he had partners.  A lot more will be coming on this tragedy.  The Sugar Bowl gam...

   But first, a terrible beginning for Japan.  On New Year's Day, a   7.5 earthquake struck Japan . So far, 57 have perished, and roads into the Noto Peninsula remained unaccessible.  The highest tsunami hit 4 feet, so nuclear powerplants were not affected. Then later in the day, at Haneda Airport, an Airbus 380, Japan Airlines JL516, while landing from a Sapporo flight, collided with a Coast Guard plane on it's way to bring supplies to the earthquake area.  Five crew members on the DHC-8 JA7221 ( photo to the left ) were killed, and the pilot is in critical condition.  Amazingly, everyone, all 400 or so crew and passengers, safely escaped the burning super jumbo-jet, which is a total loss.  The plane has a value approaching  half a billion dollars .  Of course, what is human life worth? We have a lot of rainbows at 15 Craigside, where I live.  Yesterday. On New Year's Eve, we had a special dinner followed by poker. Note above that ...