All posts by b nice

Semper Doctrina—we are always improving and adapting.
Fun Holidays

Make Up Your Mind Day

“Make Up Your Mind Day” is celebrated every December 31st—a fun, unofficial day dedicated to decision-making! It’s the perfect time to tie up loose ends, resolve indecision, and finalize plans before the new year begins. Whether it’s deciding on New Year’s resolutions, big life choices, or even small things you’ve been procrastinating, this day encourages you to commit.

Ideas to Celebrate:

  1. Tackle One Big Decision – Pick something you’ve been indecisive about and make a firm choice today.
  2. Make a Pro-Con List – Use this tool to weigh the options and help you decide.
  3. Reflect on Past Decisions – Look back on choices you made this year. Celebrate the good ones and learn from the tough ones.
  4. Help Someone Else Decide – Be a sounding board for a friend who’s struggling with their own choices.
Holidays

New Year’s Eve in Japan

New Year’s Eve in Japan and KFC on Christmas Eve are two fascinating aspects of Japanese culture and modern traditions. Here’s a breakdown of each:

New Year’s Eve in Japan (Ōmisoka, 大晦日):

New Year’s is one of the most important holidays in Japan, steeped in tradition and spiritual significance.

  1. Spiritual Preparation:
    • People clean their homes thoroughly (called Ōsōji, 大掃除) to purify the house for the coming year and to sweep away the bad luck of the past year.
    • Many visit temples or shrines for Joya no Kane (除夜の鐘), where temple bells are rung 108 times at midnight to cleanse participants of the 108 earthly desires in Buddhist belief.
  2. Food Traditions:
    • A popular meal on New Year’s Eve is Toshikoshi Soba (年越しそば), a bowl of soba noodles symbolizing longevity and the cutting away of misfortunes from the old year.
  3. Family Time:
    • Families often spend New Year’s Eve together, watching TV specials like Kōhaku Uta Gassen (紅白歌合戦), a famous singing contest.
  4. Midnight Visits:
    • Many people make their first shrine or temple visit of the year, known as Hatsumōde (初詣), right after midnight.

KFC on Christmas Eve in Japan:

This quirky tradition stems from an incredibly successful marketing campaign by KFC in the 1970s.

  1. Origins:
    • In 1974, KFC launched a campaign called “Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii” (Kentucky for Christmas). It was marketed as a way for foreigners in Japan to enjoy a “traditional” Christmas meal, which wasn’t a widely celebrated holiday at the time.
  2. Why it Caught On:
    • Japan doesn’t have a native Christmas tradition, and turkey isn’t readily available. Fried chicken became an easy and festive alternative.
    • The idea of a Western-style holiday meal appealed to families and couples.
  3. The Tradition Today:
    • Many Japanese families pre-order buckets of KFC weeks in advance to enjoy on Christmas Eve. The meal often includes fried chicken, cake, and sides like salad.
    • Some stores offer special “Christmas Chicken” sets with festive packaging.

Why It’s Special:
These traditions showcase how Japan has blended its cultural heritage with unique modern adaptations of Western influences. While New Year’s is a time of reflection and spirituality, Christmas Eve (and KFC) has become a lighthearted celebration of togetherness and fun.

 

local

What’s open and closed

As New Year’s approaches in Saint John, New Brunswick, here’s a summary of what’s open and closed:

Banks:

  • New Year’s Eve (December 31): Most banks operate with reduced hours, often closing early. For instance, some branches may close at 3 p.m.
     
  • New Year’s Day (January 1): Banks are closed nationwide.
     

Federal Services:

  • Service Canada Offices: Closed on January 1.
     
  • Canada Post: Post offices are closed, and there is no mail delivery on January 1.
     

Municipal Services:

  • Saint John Transit: Typically does not operate on New Year’s Day.
     
  • Garbage and Recycling Collection: Services are usually rescheduled if they coincide with New Year’s Day; check the city’s official website for specific details.

Retail and Grocery Stores:

  • New Year’s Eve: Many stores may operate on reduced hours.
  • New Year’s Day: Most retail stores and grocery outlets are closed.

Liquor Stores:

  • New Year’s Eve: Typically open but may close earlier than usual.
  • New Year’s Day: Generally closed.

Recreational Facilities:

  • New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day: Many public recreational facilities, such as swimming pools and community centers, may have altered schedules or be closed; it’s advisable to check with individual facilities for their holiday hours.

For the most accurate and up-to-date information, it’s recommended to contact specific businesses or services directly or visit their official websites.

 

 
Sunday Stuff

CNN’s Ratings Hit Rock Bottom

CNN’s Ratings Hit Rock Bottom: Is the Network on the Brink of Collapse by 2025?

Once a titan of cable news, CNN is now facing what many are calling its most turbulent period in history. With historically low ratings, a shrinking audience, and mounting credibility issues, the network is struggling to stay afloat in a rapidly changing media landscape. Could this be the beginning of the end for CNN? Some insiders believe a collapse by 2025 isn’t out of the question.

Plummeting Ratings

CNN’s audience numbers have reached record-setting lows, with some programs barely scratching the surface in viewership. In certain time slots, CNN’s competitors like Fox News and even smaller outlets are leaving the network in the dust. This sharp decline in ratings raises serious concerns about its future viability, especially as advertisers gravitate toward platforms with higher engagement.

To make matters worse, the network’s struggles aren’t confined to ratings alone. Reports have surfaced of internal shake-ups, staff layoffs, and key personalities quietly jumping ship. “The rats are fleeing the sinking ship,” as one anonymous insider put it.

A Legacy of Mistrust

One of the biggest hurdles CNN faces is its eroding trust among viewers. Over the past decade, the network has been called out for publishing misleading stories or pushing narratives that later turned out to be false. A list circulating online highlights over 100 pieces of “fake news” CNN has published in recent years. Examples range from botched stories about political events to highly publicized retractions following public backlash.

Here are a few notable examples:

  • The infamous Russia collusion hoax, where the network spent years pushing an unproven narrative.
  • A report that President Trump had advance knowledge of WikiLeaks releases, which turned out to be entirely false.
  • Misleading coverage of high-profile trials and events, often criticized for bias or selective reporting.

Critics argue that CNN has prioritized sensationalism and ideological narratives over journalistic integrity, leading to an erosion of trust even among longtime viewers.

The Changing Media Landscape

CNN’s woes are emblematic of a larger issue plaguing traditional media outlets. As audiences increasingly turn to independent content creators, podcasts, and decentralized platforms, the appeal of cable news is rapidly fading. Younger viewers, in particular, are flocking to YouTube, TikTok, and other digital-first platforms for their news.

Even former CNN loyalists seem to be abandoning ship, citing frustration with the network’s editorial slant and repetitive coverage. Trust in mainstream media is now at an all-time low, and CNN has arguably become the poster child for this growing skepticism.

Looking Ahead: Will CNN Survive Past 2025?

The question on everyone’s mind is: can CNN survive this crisis, or is it too late for a turnaround? While some believe the network can still reinvent itself, others argue that its reputation and audience base are too far gone. With competition growing fiercer by the day and public trust dwindling, CNN faces an uphill battle to remain relevant.

If things don’t improve soon, 2025 could mark the end of the road for what was once a dominant player in the media industry.