First Fun on the Beach  Why are years more important than
moments? As any Buddhist will tell you, there is no molecular
reality in time. It's just a way our species sorts and measures
-- a feeble grasp at the intangible. The calendar in use by
modern society is arbitrary, random, borderline nonsensical.
Leap year? Thirty days hath November, April, June and September?
Months named for Roman despots? Good Lord, no wonder so many
people drink themselves stupid every December 31 through January
1. We measure our lives like we're playing Lotto.  Then again,
days-weeks-months-years is probably better than coffee spoons.
For those who presume to transcend time, there is art.
Creativity, not time, is the soul of the world. Revolutions
(industrial, technological, whatever) come and go, but the need
for creativity within the species endures. It's, uh, timeless.
All of which leads to the notion that instead of celebrating
time (both its passing and its promises), New Year's might as
well be devoted to celebrating art.