Are you still here?

Happy Mayan New Era: If you're reading this, then the world did not end Friday with the conclusion of the 13th baktun of the Mayan calendar, literally set in stone some 5,125 years ago.

Credit belongs to action this week by the Snohomish County Council to ban animal sacrifice and burnt offerings, at least of horses, and the Everett City Council to discourage the smoking of ritual herbs.

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Cliff notes: With his Plan B proposal to avoid the "fiscal cliff" rejected by fellow House Republicans, Speaker John Boehner, R-Plan C, Anyone?, said it was the Senate's turn to act. The House will not meet again until after Christmas.

You know, if the Mayans were only right about Congress and all that's left there this morning is a grassy field, we'll consider converting.

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Hoity and toity: Classical crossover soprano and Broadway star Sarah Brightman has rescheduled a March 22 performance in Everett at the Comcast Arena, moving it to October at the Paramount Theater in Seattle to allow fans time to listen to her new album, "Dreamchaser," prior to the performance.

We're going to try hard not to take this as criticism of Everett's cultural scene and hope that Comcast Arena can book a show of equal class and sophistication to replace Brightman, like a tractor pull or a mixed martial arts cage match.

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