Welcome to 2016. Mark will be starting the New Year guest-hosting America's Number One radio show, tomorrow, Monday, live coast to coast at 12 noon Eastern/9am Pacific. [UPDATE: No, he won't. Rush is coming back early.]
Meanwhile, in case you missed it, here's how the last seven days looked to Steyn:
The week began with a new episode of Mark's audio series, The Song Is You, featuring the guys behind a certain anthem to the city that doesn't sleep...
~On Monday Steyn observed that a number of Frenchwomen appear to be more eager to "start a family in Syria" than to start one in France.
~On Tuesday Mark returned to the Golden EIB Microphone to guest-host for Rush, and wondered why Bill Cosby is finished but Bill Clinton is "beloved". This throwaway aside was much taken up by media outlets, as he noted in our most-read piece of the week: "Predators for Hillary."
~On Wednesday Steyn looked at Sweden's societal Stockholm Syndrome - and the re-definition of identity.
~On New Year's Eve we rang out the old with some memorable movies, and Mark's rendition of a famous song for the season. He was also delighted to find himself among the Top 20 Quotes of 2015, and, in case you missed it, looked back at the auld year with our very first three-hundred-and-sixty-se'nnight of Steyn.
~For New Year's Day Mark closed the book on our Sinatra centennial observances with an audio special including the last song Frank ever sang.
~New Year also brings, in Her Majesty's Dominions, the New Year Honours, so, for our Saturday movie date, Mark celebrated a trio of brand new dames - Kiwi, Cockney and Cymru.
A new week at SteynOnline begins tonight with our Song of the Week.
Mark has been very touched to hear from cat-lovers, music-lovers and cat-music lovers delighted by Santa's choice of stocking stuffer this Christmas. Here's a recent five-star review:
This One Is The Cats Meow...
I was blown away. He has put together a very impressive group of talented musicians and back up singers that expertly serve up a 50's/60's jazz lounge sound. Steyn has a nice voice that flows with the arrangements. And the assortment of songs, from the 'Top Cat' cartoon theme song with a pinch of Flintstones theme song tossed in at the end, to my favorite, 'Cat Scratch Fever' with great trumpets, to Daffy Duck's, 'I thought I saw a puddy cat.'
Actually, that would be Tweety Bird's "I Tawt I Taw", although Mark's version owes more to Sting, circa 1983. Still, why quibble? As C Winkler says:
Get up and dance with your kitty!!!
Steyn's cat album keeps flying off the shelves at Amazon, so order while you can. And, of course, for instant gratification, it can be yours in seconds via digital download from Amazon or iTunes.
And finally for our readers Down Under: Don't forget to book early for Mark's Australian tour next month.