‘Twas the time before Christmas, in a contrasting 2023 Not that anything artificial was stirring, not even with GPT; The stockings of influencers, clouded pink with dyed blond(e) hair, In hopes of somehow uncaging St. Nicolas memes here and there; Some children nestled snug, teaching to fish gave a life of good stead, While visions of mullet haircuts danced upon years of laughter ahead And Mama Russia still had its chief, with hammer, sickle, and cap, Had this made the Middle East not wake peacefully from its nap— When in public any perceived antisemitism sports such a clatter, Even if barefoot, serving nasi goreng could be a protesting matter. Away from windows, there are crises at sea and points of flash, Torn open volcanoes, storms, floodwaters with crocodiles, ash. The silver spoon is decoded enigma-like via costly labels at a co., Gave lustre to division, no middle, just those above ...

‘Twas the time before Christmas, in the uncertain year of 2022 Not a creature went without stirring, not even a new normal too; The stock of Twitter, Elon did acquire with care, In hopes that billions paid had a value still there; Boxes of classified documents nestled snugly under beds, While visions of 2024 ran sweetly plumb through some heads And political chiefs, and of the energy expenses they tried to cap, Unsettling gas price rises were making for a cold winter’s nap– When out of the Kremlin, naughty little Vlad had made such a clatter, Wanting to play with the nice kids’ former Soviet blocs was the matter. A way before, farewell Queen and welcome King, not in a flash, Torn open, Harry’s new book, if title-less, he might need the cash. To the moon no more, the fallen stars of crypto, Fraud fried the fad lacklustre, watch out ...

‘Twas the time before Christmas, having quarantined thro’ much of 2021 Not a question of shaken or stirred, had World War C only just begun; The stocks and logistics of supplies found disruptions despite the greatest of care, Hopefully there’d be a solution, changing rules, seasonal workers here and there; The children were home and unsettled, parents smuggled contraceptives to bed, While visions other than eating turkey or ham caused a spike in protein instead And America with a new Commander in Chief, not fond of tweets or wearing a cap, Had settled some conspiracies, but not of his brains, and old, did he need a nap– When out in the world arose questions of change, the Ukraine, and Russian clatter, Alleged forced disappearance made boycotting Chinese Olympics a political matter. Away from spotlights a British consort and German leadership changed in a flash, Torn between reopeners and stay shutters, ...

‘Twas the time before Christmas, yet nearly all thro’ 2020 Not only stirring creatures, but viruses, problems a-plenty; Stockings where hung like chads, courting interpretive care, Hopes aside, for most it had been a turducken of a year; People were quarantined, in lockdown, nestled not snug in their beds, While masks wrapped many faces with visions of stopping the spread Although some stood vigil without ‘kerchief, and clutching a MAGA cap, For they could not settle their brains, it was more nightmare than nap– When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, Carollers singing of the colour of lives that matter. Away from the window some drew, fearing its smash, Was it rebellion or looting, and what of government cash? Deficits to the moon seemed the solution to show, Gold had lustre, interest rates near naught and below; When, the reflection of frankness in a mirror did appear, ...

‘Twas the time before Christmas, and hence almost thro’ 2019 Not only a year-end occurring, now even a decade has been; Stockings have been worn by males and females, but don’t stare, Hopes of inclusion and flames of division were seen here and there; Children rallied against climate change, quilts not on their beds, While Time’s Person of the Year brings with her a sense of dread And Frosty the Snowman, once in a magical land where ice did nap, Had just wished it no warmer, lest he melt leaving only his cap– When out on the streets there arose still more clatter, Protests in Hong Kong, democracy and China the matter. Away from America Huawei phones were sent in a flash, China tore things up, threw foreign PCs and software in the trash. Trade war talks stalled at Phase 1, plus mention of quid pro quo, Disney said Marvel’s ...

‘Twas the time before Christmas, near the end of 2018 Not surprisingly these lines stir, repeat what has been; Though Khashoggi was not quite hung with care, Mr. Miyagi waxed on popular culture to go there; Investors got nervous, some blamed trade wars, others the Fed, But Yellen was gone, no point in calling for off with her head And Hondurans plus more in their caravan large, at a border did nap, Calls to “build the wall” made wearing a Make America Great Again cap– Barbara and George passed, sadness, a dignified clatter, Deaths worth two Bushes in the hand for that matter. A way with turkey, a question of whether to carve or to cut? Yet ask the bird and it will tell you to go get– Ducked any profanity, since it’s a family show, Add a chicken, that’s a turducken of innuendo; When, Harry married Meghan, a Royal ...

‘Twas the time before Christmas, reflecting back on 2017 Not much had worked, from what has been seen; Politicians fired rockets and taunted without care, National security, sovereignty, diplomacy was where; People once thought concerts were safe as a bed, Bombings and shootings, sugar plum visions fled Hillary still held her ‘kerchief, and Bill his cap, Supporters unsettled, maybe in 2020 they’d be back– On the internet things were said with such a clatter, Put a hashtag on any opinion and surely it must matter. Those within range fear a North Korean ICBM flash, Batten down the shutters, and what is this rash. The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow, The line above unchanged, relevant to what’s below; When, from Tinsel Town they came to say #MeToo, A cause to slay, power abused by more than a few, Thinking with that little old driver, so lively and ...

Known as man’s best friend, dogs have increasingly become part of many people’s lives. Often viewed as more than simply pets, they are companions and valued members of the family. Then, there are times when dogs will get sick and may need to go to the vet. However, while dog owners are likely aware of this, they may be unaware that sick dogs may also require blood transfusions. Much like there are human blood donors, dogs can also become blood donors to help save the lives of their fellow canines. To do this the dog must meet specific criteria. For example, in Australia, VIC, the U-Vet Canine Blood Donor Program requires that the dog: Weighs 25kg or more. Be aged between one and seven years old. Be fully vaccinated. Be regularly wormed. Never have received a blood transfusion itself. Has a known history of good health. Be of calm temperament. ...

LEGO and tape goes together like crowd and funding. Such is the idea behind Nimuno Loops – The Toy Block Tape. Bumps on one side and sticky on the other, using the tape allows almost any surface to be turned into a LEGO-compatible building block land of fun. There’s also the Receiver Tape which acts like the base of LEGO-compatible building blocks, allowing for an expanded range of taping and block building activities. Whether it’s accessorising toys, sticking building blocks to walls, or getting closer to helping answer what you might look like as a LEGO character, the adhesive LEGO-compatible tape has got things covered. Probably literally. Since it’s being crowdfunded, jump on board and order a few rolls of the Nimuno Loops to help make the LEGO-compatible sticky tape a reality. Excessive use of the LEGO-compatible tape could be a sign of either necessity, ingenuity, desperation, or senility. It ...

Nintendo’s latest video game hybrid console the Nintendo Switch is doing well, doing what it does. It’s not without a few design issues. Including the issue of the Joy-Cons de-syncing. As for the docking mechanism, effectively to charge the portable handheld and turn it into a more conventional home video game console with added HDMI and USB, it is quick and efficient. If not somewhat lacking in the potential nostalgia factor. Fortunately a tech-savvy someone has taken to YouTube, where Tettzan Zone has modified a Nintendo 64 to use instead of the usual Switch dock. USB ports now substitute in place of the controller ports. While the N64 mod, the Nintendo Switch 64 dock, doesn’t allow for the Joy-Cons to be attached to the Switch while docked, it may be a small trade-off for some big nostalgia.