It’s cold, extremely cold and the fact that it started all of sudden, with a steep dip reminiscent of the New York Stock Exchange in its worse - so far - days, made it feel even more painful. The chilly wind penetrates our clothes like X rays and unlike the airport security machinery, there is nothing that you can really cover from its reach!

But enough with the cold already, let us all rejoice this season and celebrate the fact that we (almost) made it into one piece this (almost) past turbulent year. We all deserve a thick, room temperature dark beer, a thick, maduro, well bitten cigar and a special reserve Metaxa to balance the tobacco bitterness with its implicit, muscatel (from the variety of grapes they use) sweetness. And not just one, perhaps two and why not three or four (but, let me warn you, it’s expensive)!

Well, until then, we are happy that another December issue came to a close and although we know it’s not going to be any break, since the big (hopefully) January issue is already under way, we can stop and take a deep breath.

Those of you who wanted but did not get to place an ad this time, don’t panic! You can do so in our January issue which is the real celebratory edition every year. Please call and invite your friends to contribute their ads or Happy New Year messages. We need your help more than ever, as we just inaugurated our 24/7 radio station, Radio NEO, which already has won throngs of fans all over the US. We have live programs in English and Greek from New York, Athens, Chicago, Los Angeles, Austin TX, and soon Nicosia, Cyprus. But more on that later. For the moment just tune in online www.radioneo.us and enjoy what our producers are preparing for you on a daily basis.

Before space is up, let me wish you a very Merry Christmas, full of meaningful joy (like being with the people that you really want to be with), uncompromised good spirits (and I’m not referring to alcohol only) and …plenty of innocent guilt!