doom-and-gloom free article (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/winter-solstice-2012-myths-and-facts-about-the-shortest-day-of-the-year/2012/12/20/8de8339e-4aca-11e2-a6a6-aabac85e8036_blog.html) also includes some informative charts and whatnot.