| Dear Friend, Jim is off to spend time with the family as 2016 comes to a close, which means you are in my meaty and sweaty hands, briefly. Offer this up for the souls in Purgatory. Google says: 100 years ago today, Charles, the last Habsburg Emperor, was crowned King of Hungary, in the traditional scepter-and-all-that ceremony in Budapest. Word has it they all went out for beer and goulash after the bishop's final blessing. Within a few years, Karl (an Austrian) would be dead, and the Empire, once Holy and Roman, would be kaput, as Europe took a breather to prepare for the next World War.  I mention the centennial because it serves as a little springboard, for those ancient NR readers, to have a thought about Erik Maria Ritter von Kuehnelt-Leddihn, for many years the author of the magazine's "Letter from the Continent." Remember this image that appeared in hundreds of issues of NR?  Too bad Dos Equis Dude: EVKL was, according to Bill Buckley, "the world's most fascinating man." In the early 80s, I had the pleasure to dine with him on three occasions, and, yeah, he was that and more. In a paragraph he could talk about Patagonian flies, decline a Japanese sentence, and expose Napoleon's bastard son while reciting the Acts of the Apostles in Norwegian. But what was truly fascinating about him was this: He was the last Knight of the Habsburg Empire (that "von Ritter" wasn't his Confirmation name) and if you want to stretch it, of the Holy Roman Empire. What does this mean for Trump? Or Israel? Or New Year's Day? Or the Sixth Day of Christmas, my apologies to the a-laying geese? Nothing. Consider it a weird, fun NR item that might prove of wistful mirth for those who have been around these parts since the Goldwater campaign. This Jolt is written a day early, so I have zero clue what is up and fresh this morning on NRO. But I would like you to make sure you read our editorial on John Kerry, who truly is a reprehensible public figure, and Andy McCarthy's take on the Botox-enhanced secretary's speech assailing Israel. Do that, please. Would you also heed my appeal to help NR in its battle to defend free speech in the face of a lousy court ruling in the Mann v. National Review case? Thanks, I knew you would (although you can skip reading it and go straight to the donation page). Time to abdicate: An early Happy New Year to you all, whether a reader of NRO, a subscriber to the magazine, a donor to NR or to the National Review Institute, a cruiser or a wanna cruiser, a friend, a kvetcher, some or all of the above. I thank you for your love for or interest in National Review, and I hope the God of Us All gives you and your family His Graces and Blessings, and true peace and health in the promising-to-portentous year ahead. Best, Jack Fowler Publisher | 
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