My Autobiography: David Balleza K(C)atague

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

New Years Eve Celebration All Over the World

Fireworks, New Years Eve, Sydney, Australia

https://www.facebook.com/reel/882453860906981

New Years Eve Fireworks in Dubai and in the Philippines

https://fb.watch/ElznVmAjtq/

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1928790971395058

Fireworks at Edinburg Castle, Scotland

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1242707227751331

New Year Eve Fireworks in Tokyo, Japan

https://www.facebook.com/reel/2078598562978890

New Year Eve Fireworks at Westminster Abbey, London

New Year's Eve Fireworks form Hawaii

New Years Fireworks from Paris, France

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1557314032052448

Meanwhile,

Christianity remains the world’s largest religion by total number of followers. Countries such as United States, Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines host some of the largest Christian populations globally. These patterns are closely tied to colonial history, missionary activity, and long-standing migration flows that shaped religious identity across the Americas and parts of Asia.

Islam, meanwhile, is the fastest-growing major religion, with its largest populations found not in the Middle East, but in South and Southeast Asia. Indonesia leads worldwide, followed by Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. This distribution reflects historical trade routes, early religious expansion, and dense population growth in the region.

Africa adds another important layer to the picture. Nigeria ranks among the countries with the largest populations of both Christians and Muslims, highlighting a shared social space where multiple faiths coexist within the same national borders. Several other African nations show similar overlaps, shaped by diverse histories and rapidly growing populations.

Lastly, My Photos of the Day-Look Carefully

Tonight is the Last Night of 2025

Tonight! On the Last Night of 2025: The Moon & The Seven Sisters- A Celestial Farewell 

As we bid farewell to 2025, tonight promises to be a night of breathtaking beauty and cosmic wonder. The Moon and the Seven Sisters (Pleiades) will align in a stunning celestial display, creating a moment to remember as the final moments of the year unfold. 

The glowing full moon will shine brightly in the night sky, casting its soft light on the landscape below, while the Pleiades cluster will sparkle like a necklace of stars above.  This rare alignment is a perfect reminder of the vast, unchanging beauty of the universe, marking the end of one year and the beginning of another with awe and wonder.

As we witness this celestial event, let it be a time for reflection and gratitude, embracing the beauty of the moment and looking forward to the endless possibilities of the new year. 

December 31, 2025, offers us a chance to witness this mesmerizing connection between the moon and the Seven Sisters, making this night an unforgettable farewell to 2025. 

Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime spectacle, look up, take a moment, and connect with the cosmos as the year closes.

Meanwhile, here's the AI Overview on the above Topic:
Tonight, on the last night of 2025 (December 31), skywatchers can enjoy 
a magnificent natural light show featuring the waxing gibbous moon, the planets Jupiter and Saturn, and several twinkling constellations and star clusters.
Celestial Highlights
The Moon: The moon will be a bright, 95%-lit waxing gibbous, visible halfway up the eastern horizon after sunset. The last full moon (the "Cold Moon" supermoon) occurred earlier in December.
Star Clusters and Constellations:The delicate light of the Pleiades open star cluster can be found to the upper right of the moon.
The constellation Orion will be visible twinkling low on the eastern horizon, directly below the moon.
Planets:Jupiter, the brightest point of light to the left of Orion, shines in the constellation Gemini, near its bright stars Castor and Pollux.
Saturn's steady light can also be spotted shining halfway up the southern horizon around this time.
Other Happenings
Lottery Jackpots: The Mega Millions jackpot was not won on December 30. The next jackpot, for Friday, January 2, 2026, is estimated at $157 million. The Powerball jackpot also grew after no winner was announced for the December 29 drawing.
Reflection and Renewal: The period around the winter solstice (which occurred on December 21, 2025) often symbolizes a time for pause, reflection, and renewal as daylight slowly begins to return in the Northern Hemisphere.
Finally, the top five news of the Day 
1. Global New Year’s Eve celebrations and reflections
World communities welcomed 2026 with fireworks, ceremonies, and moments of remembrance, including commemorations in Sydney, Seoul, Rio, and New York, despite recent tragedies in some regions. Reuters
2. Zelenskyy urges Trump to visit Ukraine to help end the war
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested U.S. President Trump should travel to Ukraine as part of diplomatic efforts amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. ABC News
3. Search mission resumes for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370
A renewed marine robotics search expedition has been launched to locate the long-missing MH370 wreckage, reigniting global interest in one of aviation’s enduring mysteries. AP News
4. Russia orders continued military push in Ukraine
Russia’s top general instructed forces to expand “buffer zones” in Ukraine’s Sumy and Kharkiv regions, signaling sustained conflict dynamics. Reuters
5. Xi Jinping emphasizes reunification with Taiwan in New Year address
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a New Year’s Eve speech affirming China’s aim to “reunify” with Taiwan, underscoring rising cross-Taiwan Strait tensions. The Guardian
My Photo of the Day-Northern Light on November 11, 2025

Yes, there were spectacular Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) displays on and around November 11, 2025, caused by a powerful solar storm (a G4 "severe" geomagnetic storm) pushing the aurora far south, visible even in states like Florida, Alabama, and Indiana, with reports from people across the US and Northern Ireland. This rare event happened as a solar flare interacted with Earth's atmosphere, creating vibrant colors, and more activity was expected the following nights due to continuing coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the sun. 
New Year Eve in the Philippines, Manila  
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1557550558623677

Reflections on the Last Day of 2025

Earlier this spring, I wrote, almost in passing that three of my blogs had crossed a milestone I never imagined when I began writing years ago: over one million page views. Numbers can feel abstract, but that figure represented something deeply personal to me. It meant that stories shaped by memory, faith, family, public service, and quiet reflection had found their way into the lives of others. At my age, that kind of connection feels like a blessing, not an achievement.

Beau David-one of my great grandson born July 7, 2025

Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Duo Gadjo at THD New Years Eve Bash

From the THD Website: We’re ringing in the new year together at Newton’s with great company, music, and a celebration that feels just right for our community. Join us as we welcome 2026 with smiles and a night to remember. 

Wednesday, December 31
  New Year’s Eve Party – 7:00 PM (Newton’s)
 Celebrate the new year with joy, laughter, good friends, and Champagne! 

 Learn more about what were doing at: theheritagedowntown.com/newsletter
#SeniorLivingCommunity #NewYearsEveParty #ActiveSeniors #CommunityLife #WalnutCreekEvents

"Duo Gadjo's music is inspired by the sounds of the 20's and 30's, when jazz was the thing and Paris was the place to be. Their style is generally called 'French Cafe' or 'Gypsy Jazz' as pioneered by the french gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt. Their repertoire spans from Bal-Musette to Edith Piaf, and Serge Gainsbourg, but also includes selections from the Great American songbook. They accompany themselves on guitars, and the Melodica, but the real feature is Isabelle Fontaine's sultry vocals. Their version of La Vie En Rose from their album Meet Me In Paris is one of the most popular streams on Pandora and Spotify in the French Cafe Music category. They perform as a duo, trio (add upright bass,) or a quartet (add violin, or accordion)." For Details on the Music Accomplishment of the Duo read:

ISABELLE FONTAINE

Isabelle Fontaine was born and raised in the French countryside with the voices of Edith Piaf, Charles Trenet, and Yves Montand ringing in her ears. Growing up, she spent endless hours listening to the family's old records and although she had no intention of becoming a professional musician, she loved singing. During her college years, her life took an unexpected turn when she joined a group of friends and started performing as a vocalist. She abandoned her plans of teaching English and instead spent the next twenty years singing and playing the snare drum throughout France, with trips to Spain and over the Alps to Switzerland. During this period, she developed an unconditional love for the Ladies and Dukes of the Big Band Era, and the great composers of the American Songbook. She was eventually drawn to the gypsy swing of Django Reinhardt and The Hot Club of France, the perfect union of her French cultural heritage and the world of Jazz. Somewhere along the way, she picked up the guitar and applied her impeccable sense of rhythm to the stringedinstrument. In 2004 she moved with her family to the San Francisco Bay Area and has since become sought after not only for her singing but for her rhythm guitar playing as well.

JEFF MAGIDSON

Jeff Magidson was born in San Francisco. His parents, both musicians, taught him to read music and play the piano at an early age. Throughout his childhood he was exposed to many different styles and became proficient on a number of instruments, (piano, guitar, drums, bass, harmonica). In 1983, as a Cal student on a year abroad program in Poitiers, France, he was drawn to the local music scene and ended up staying 20 years, thereby making his impact on the French blues scene. With a variety of groups, or as the leader of his own formation, he had the opportunity to perform on countless festival and club stages throughout Europe, releasing three albums of his own compositions, and a dozen more as a contributing artist. It was in France that Jeff was first introduced to the music of Django Reinhardt which he describes as ‘a life changing experience.’ Jeff was drawn deep into the world of Gypsy Swing culminating in the formation of Duo Gadjo with Isabelle. From 2005-2015, Jeff was a member of the much revered Hot Club of San Francisco. Jeff still performs with the Hot Club occasionally and was the producer of their most recent album ‘John, Paul, George, and Django’. He also performs with his own band ‘The Jeff Magidson Blues Band.’ He is the author of a Gypsy jazz instructional book published by Hal Leonard.

https://www.duogadjo.com/about

Meanwhile, here's the top five news of the Day:

🌍 International & Conflict

China launches massive military drills around Taiwan — China has encircled Taiwan with live-fire exercises and showcased new assault ships, a clear signal amid rising tensions over U.S. arms sales to the island. Reuters+1
Saudi Arabia bombs Yemen port city (Mukalla) — Riyadh says it struck a shipment of weapons allegedly bound for separatists, increasing tensions in the Yemeni conflict and complicating Gulf regional dynamics. AP News

🚆 Travel & Local Disruption

Eurostar cancels all services through the Channel Tunnel — Major disruption hit rail connections between the UK and mainland Europe, stranding travelers and prompting delays on the eve of New Year’s Eve. Fox News

🇺🇸 U.S. Domestic News

Officials push back on Minnesota daycare fraud claims — State officials and a daycare manager are countering viral video allegations of fraud, calling the claims inaccurate. Fox News

🌫️ Environment & Health

India issues air quality alerts as pollution remains high — Major cities in India are reporting “unhealthy” to “very unhealthy” air quality, prompting health warnings and travel impacts. IQAir
My Photos of the Day, Featuring My marble lamp from the Philippines and Indoor Plants

Finally, Looking Forward to our New Years Eve Dinner( see attached menu)

Highlights of My Professional Career

In my more than 40 years of professional career, I have experienced both working rank and file, as well as supervising the work of subordinates. I have worked in four private firms and the Federal Government, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where I retired. I enjoyed the challenges and difficulties of both types of job situations. This is the highlights of my work experience story.

My first job after completing my doctorate degree was a Chemist for Chemagro Corporation in Kansas City, Missouri. It was a subsidiary of Bayer Corporation, a German conglomerate. I worked for the analytical chemistry department comprised of about fifty people; half that number was either chemists or biologists. My specific task was to develop analytical methods for the detection of pesticide residues in plant and animal tissues. I worked on my own, similar to six other bench chemists, and we all reported to the same supervisor.

The firm sponsored my visa conversion from a student to a permanent resident, and I was able to legally work and reside in the United States with my family. The company generously took care of its employees. At the end of each successful year, everyone received a 13th month salary bonus. The employees and their families celebrated wonderful annual Christmas parties in a downtown Kansas City hotel, with dancing and free drinks for the whole night.

Inasmuch as I enjoyed and loved working for Chemagro for five years, I found a new job which offered a substantially higher pay. Due to my exemplary work performance, my supervisor preferred and lobbied for me to stay with the company. I had to turn him down because they could not match the package presented by my new employer. It was also a chance for me and my family to move and live in the US west coast, where the mild winter climate is bearable compared to the Midwest.

My next job was at the agricultural research division of Shell Development Company in Modesto, California. I was a Research Chemist, and again I worked individually, same as five other chemists who all reported to a supervisor. My specific duty was similar to my previous job. I worked for them for five years, until the company decided to get out of the pesticide business. They closed their research facility affecting the jobs of more than 200 employees.

My third industrial job was with the agricultural research division of Stauffer chemical company, located in Richmond, California. I was a Senior Research Chemist doing the same project as my two previous jobs. I worked for twelve continuous years for the company, with outstanding annual job performance. I became a Principal Research Chemist, the highest attainable non-supervisory position.

One day in 1986, my supervisor informed me that my job had been eliminated, and I had one day to vacate the facility. It was the most dreadful lay off experience in my life. I felt anger, sadness and humiliation to be dismissed from work with one day notice, after all the years of hard work invested for the company. This was an unforgettable incident and was the gloomiest point in my professional career.
The company terminated sixty research employees, who were upset of the bad news.

One of the chemists was distressed and expressed his outrageous anger by threatening the company and its workers. He told his supervisor of his intention to bomb and burn down the laboratory. He was immediately escorted by the security staff out of the building and into his car. He was informed to leave behind his personal belongings; they will be mailed to his residence. He was warned never to show up again near the company premises or risk getting arrested.

My supervisor was kind and allowed me to take my time to pack up my belongings. It took me two days to clear up my workplace, after toiling for a long period in the same jobsite. We were provided clerical help and office space, in preparation to look for another job, such as updating our resumes, and using the computer and copy machine. We were given six weeks of separation pay plus benefits.

Fortunately, with the help of a friend who is a Church parishioner, I found another job thirty days after leaving Stauffer chemical company. He hired me as a senior research chemist and as a group leader with two technicians to supervise. It was in the same field as my expertise in my previous three jobs spanning the last twenty one years. My new employer was Chevron Chemical Company, and which was located in the same area as my former employer.

This job gave me the introduction and basic knowledge of managing the work of subordinates. I worked for Chevron Company for four and a half years. The company decided to consolidate their research facilities in Texas, and lay off all its research employees. This time I had enough distress and agony from working, and eventually getting laid off from several private companies. To avoid going through any more miserable layoffs, I made a vow that I would never again work for a private company.

In my work experiences, there were noticeable and unavoidable jobsite occurrences. One can never miss the office romantic relationships between co-workers, both illicit and permitted. Though it was frowned upon, there was a boss and staff relationship, which was used as a ploy to get ahead in the company. Some relationships had chemistry, no pun intended, but some never worked out. Oftentimes, there was a sense of distrust among bench chemists for some workers who unjustly obtained preferred work assignments.

Some employees resorted to bribing superiors to get special privileges, such as being able to attend choice conferences and meetings in exciting venues or locations. Likewise, politics was always present at the worksites. It was during an era when various forms of harassment, equal opportunity and discrimination laws were not yet enforced in the workplace. Occasionally, an unexpected chemical explosion happens in a laboratory setting, where luckily no one got seriously hurt.

In the three private companies I worked for, I was able to publish scientific journals for some of the research studies and analytical methods which I developed for the respective companies of Chemagro, Shell Development and Stauffer.

After deciding and making a vow to avoid working in the private sector, I made my new goal which was either to work for the state of California, or the Federal government in Washington, D.C. Four months after I lost my job in Chevron, I was lucky and joyful to be hired by the Food and Drug Administration as a review chemist in the fall of 1990.

In 1994 I was promoted as an Expert Research Chemist with a GS-14 rating. My expertise was on Anti-malarial and Anti-parasitic drug products. In 1997, I was again deservingly promoted to Chemistry team leader, supervising the work of six Chemistry reviewers including five with doctorate degrees.

As team leader, I was responsible for prioritizing, assigning, and assuring the technical accuracy of all chemistry, manufacturing and control issues for all new drug applications submitted to the Division of Anti-Infective Drug Products, Center of New Drugs.

It was part of my responsibility to give advice, instruct and promote high morale and teamwork in my group. My work in the FDA is confidential, until the drug patent on the products I worked on has expired. There are manufacturing supplements that I have approved that are now open for the public in the Internet.

In 1998, I won the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Award. The citation reads, “For outstanding accomplishments in fostering the objectives of the EEO Program by hiring minorities and encouraging their professional growth while providing excellent leadership.” I have received numerous certificates of appreciation, awards in leadership and communications, commendation for teamwork and excellence in the accomplishment of the FDA mission. I have also received several letters of appreciation from private industry for my review work.

There are many good things working as rank and file while enjoying doing one’s job individually. It is a humbling, satisfying and productive experience, if one can work in harmony with one’s immediate supervisor. Working individually develops one’s skills in goal setting and scheduling. But in general, the financial rewards are less than a person who has supervisory responsibilities.

Managing the work of others has its challenges. Moreover, it develops one’s skill in handling and developing people, and the compensation rewards and benefits are better. Due to additional duties, responsibilities and leadership, supervisory work can be more stressful than working as a subordinate. However, supervisory jobs give one more personal growth and satisfaction, based on my personal experience. My work in FDA as a team leader managing the work of six scientists had been the happiest and rewarding work experience in my career in Chemistry. You might also like: