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 the sirloin roast had no fat.  That is bec

65% of U.S. adults 21 and over drink alcoholic beverages.   This Gallup poll annual percentage dipped to 55% in 1958 and rose as high as 71% in the 1970s.   However, for households annually earning $100,000 or more, this rate is 80% for 18 and over adults.  Those homes earning less than $40,000/year has a rate of 49%. While in 1992 beer was favored by 47%, with 27% for wine and 21% for spirits, in 2022 this disparity narrowed to 35% beer, 31% wine and 30% spirits. Drinks international released its annual list of the  most popular liquor ( or distilled spirits ) brands  in the world.  In this list of the top 30, only 2 gins made the cut.  Here are a few of them, and you will be surprised. #30 Aperol:  a bright orange Italian bitter, it was created in 1919 and is used in spritzes. #29 Jagermeister:  a German digestif, I noticed it was able in South Korean movie theaters. #28 Gordon's Gin:  dates back to 1769, a bottle is sold every six seconds. #24 Ballantine's Scotch Whisky. #23