Hey Friends!

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a safe and happy new year’s weekend.

Anyone got resolutions? I’ve had a few the past couple of years that I’ve really enjoyed. Some of mine have been more of of the “I love me” variety: light more candles, take more bubble baths, do more things that are good to me. To quote my mom, “Are you taking care of Justin?”

What good things happened to you in 2015? Let’s look back at some of our 2015 highlights:

• Oil prices fell to their lowest in almost a decade. The price of a gallon of gas went under $2 this year. According to NPR, the average American saved $700 on gas in 2015.

$700 in your pocket!

• Tesla announced its plan to change how the world uses energy with the “powerwall home battery” which could eventually help end the energy crisis! I actually wrote a post about this when it first happened, which you can read here.

BAM! Solar power!

• The Supreme Court ruled that gay marriage is now legal across the United States. As a theater guy and fine arts major in college, I’ve made many gay/lesbian friends; I was proud to see their marriage photos all over Facebook. As President Obama said, “We can say, in no uncertain terms, that we have made our union a little more perfect.”

How some of my friends look in their engagement photos.

• Myanmar held its first free election since 1990! CNBC said it was their “biggest stride yet in a journey to democracy from dictatorship.”

Imagine if America hadn’t had free elections in 25 years.

• I announced my partnership with clothing retailer Combatant Gentleman! This is more of a personal achievement, but still pretty awesome to think there’s a clothier that gives librarian discounts. That’s right, entering BRASH15 at checkout will give you 15% off your entire order! You can read more about the partnership here.

• The 2015 Climate Change Summit saw 195 countries endorse the Paris agreement to limit climate change, including new climate commitments and greener goals worldwide. I’m all for efforts to save the planet and keep the world from looking like Fallout 4 in the distant future.

It’s a post-apocalyptic game, in case you weren’t familiar.

• The new Star Wars came out! Not exactly a monument of achievement, but still culturally important. To my library, it was important enough to build a display for it.

Oh yeah, and a Christmas tree or something.

Got any moments or resolutions you want to share? Let me know on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and get them featured! That’s all for this week, make it a good first Monday of 2016!

Justin Brasher, Brash Librarian