Here's wishing you and yours a happy, healthy, joyful and prosperous New Year.

Irene and I get to have a low-key celebration tonight, which will consist mainly of watching Ken Burns' Civil War on tape and eating Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia. Which is just one more of the many advantages of being happily married and having children in the house.

And if it's gratuitous excitement you seek, may I recommend the first Carnival of the Vanities for 2003, over at Solonor's place