Happy New Year from Minnesota Monitor!

Today marks the last day of 2007, while tomorrow begins the first day of 2008.  Here are a few facts to wow the folks at your party with, or to read through quietly on Tuesday morning.

• 3.3 million students will graduate from high school this summer.
• Mark your calendars now: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day will be observed on January 18.  President’s Day will fall on February 21.  Memorial Day will be observed on May 26. 
• Independence Day will fall on a Friday this year, making for a perfect four-day weekend.  Labor Day is celebrated on September 1, so the kids will be back to school early. 
• It will be a short shopping season next year, as Thanksgiving falls on November 27.  Christmas 2008 will be on a Thursday, and the year will end on a Wednesday.
• Election Day 2008 will fall on Tuesday, November 4.  Up for election will be the presidency, all of the U.S. House of Representatives, and 1/3 of the U.S. Senate, including the seat held by Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn.  The Minnesota House of Representatives will also be up for election this year.
• 2008 is a leap year, meaning there will be 366 days this year.  The extra day will fall on February 29, as it does every four years.
• Able to celebrate their birthdays this year for the first time since 2004: recording artist Ja Rule, actor Antonio Sab