A New Day for America or Blame the Rat
November 5th, 2008 by RodneyWow. What an historic election. I'm happy the local boy done good. Geev' Um Barry!
The way that things were shaping up throughout this year was ugly. The downturn in the economy. The lay-offs and closing of stores. The rise in gas prices and traveling costs.
The logical side in me said that the U.S.A. was apprehensive. And until a new president was elected, the economy will suffer. We now have a new president.
The cultural side in me said that it's because of the Year of the Rat. Chinese folklore says that the Year of the Rat is never a good year. After all, it was the Rat that tricked the Cat and didn't wake him up - thus there is no Year of the Cat.
Rats are keen and unapologetic promoters of their own agendas. This Sign is motivated by its own interests, which often include money; greed can become a problem if the Rat isn't careful to keep its priorities straight.
Sounds just like Wall Street, doesn't it?
So when the year of the Ox is ushered in, it'll get better right? Not so fast:
Unfortunately, it is an Earth year and the Earth drains Ox luck. This is not the time to take risks, especially those that are unnecessary or can be avoided. Hard work is more your style anyway. The first six months are likely to be the most challenging, so be patient.
I guess the first 6 months will be a transitional period.
In my attempt to remain optimistic, I'd like to believe that the Year of the Rat has peaked and everything will only get better. Slowly, but surely. We have a new president-elect with a positive attitude to bring this country together again. Gas prices have come down. Wall Street is gaining confidence. The Honolulu Advertiser newspaper readership is up (now if only subscriptions would go up too - hint, hint).
So what do you think? Have we turned the corner? Is the light at the end of the tunnel getting brighter? Don't give up hope yet. It'll be a slow process, but like the Ox, with hard work, we will endure. Keep the faith.
Tags: Barack Obama, Better economy, brighter days, Midlife Crisis, president, Year of Ox, Year of Rat
November 5th, 2008 at 5:43 am
Right On. Like any new adventure, gotta give it time to settle in. Test the waters. I truly hope things will get better for all of us. Everyone is affected. Those at the HA and even where I work. Spooky to see our company's name in the news all the time. Bad news. How much more can they cut from us? We are already at rock bottom.
Gotta have faith. "Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld."
Let's work together for a a better community and country.
November 5th, 2008 at 6:07 am
Just some Chinese zodiac info for entertainment only - President-elect Obama was born 1961 (Year of the Ox) and will be inaugurated in the Ox year.
The Sign of the Ox: Invariably solid and dependable, Ox people are excellent organizers. Oxen are systematic in their approach to every task they undertake. They are not easily influenced by other's ideas. Loyalty is a part of their make-up, but if deceived they will not forget. Oxen do not appear to be imaginative though they are capable of good ideas. Although not demonstrative or the most exciting people romantically, they are entirely dependable, and make devoted parents. Oxen are renowned for their patience, but it has its limits - once roused, their temper is a sight to behold.
November 5th, 2008 at 6:23 am
UR, regarding 'Tizer readership, does high readership translate to making money or do they rely solely on subscriptions? I have been getting my news more and more online and through your website and less with the paper...please forgive me, but my wife had canceled our M-Thurs HA subscription and we now receive Friday-Sunday only. I didn't know she did that. I'll talk to her about it today when I get home...besides my favorite cartoon, Pickles is in the 'tizer...but in SB on Sunday only...wat's w/dat? We have been getting both dailies up to now.
ok...stones can be thrown my way...
November 5th, 2008 at 6:50 am
I remember reading that the reason there is no year of the cat is that the cat was distracted and killed a mouse while making the final visit to the Buddha's death bed. (Incidentally, zodiac animals are listed in the order in which they reached the Buddha's death bed.) The rat got there first because he hitched a ride with the ox, then jumped off a few yards ahead to be first.
"Year of the Cat" by Al Stewart is an awesome song, however (and a reference most MLCers will get)!
November 5th, 2008 at 7:21 am
It's always the Year of the Cat on "The Daily Dish"...
I'm a "Snake"..
November 5th, 2008 at 7:54 am
Morning MCL'ers,
I think with our new President things will be changing for the better, but we still have to give it some time.
Me being in the constructions industry the slowing of the economy is begining to show, the bigger companies we do work for are taking a wait and see approach. They are starting to cut back on some work and trying to do it in house instead. (Ynaku that's why we're not in Hilo)
Now since loans are harder to get residentual work is starting to slow down also.
Like a few years ago, we gatta just be a little more conservative with our hard earned money and wait and be patient, things will come back, but we must be able to endure till then.
Sorry if I sound depressing, just want to speak my mind about the economy.
Have a "GREAT" day everybody
(NKHEA would love to hit Megabucks now)
November 5th, 2008 at 8:00 am
I'm looking forward to the "Change", but we need to be patient, it's not going to happen overnight...
November 5th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Given the choices, I think the country did right. It's not going to be easy. Everyone will need to pitch in and be patient. Our issues will take time, collaboration and careful planning to get back on track the correct way.
November 5th, 2008 at 11:25 am
The mood in the air (and online) is definitely jubliant today. Now that our country has a fresh start, my diet should get a fresh start. I ate too much of Diane Chang's Famous Clam Dip with Ruffles last night when I was going berserk, celebrating!
November 5th, 2008 at 11:27 am
NINTH!
Cheee-hooo!
And yes, the economy will slowly start it's upswing with a new President-elect.... unfortunatly so will gas.
November 5th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
BL:
Gas - the human version or the petroleum by-product ?
November 5th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Okay, so why did Wall Street tank today. Obviously they don't read my blog.
@Ynaku - that's the attitude
@hemajang - Barack is year of Ox? The traits sounds promising. As for the newspaper, no need apologize - you still subscriber to the weekend - that helps Thank you. Actually, as for making money - more subscriptions results in more circulation which results in more ads been seen. It's the advertisements.
@KAN - I read that the rat and the cat planned to go together but the rat decided not to wake up the cat - that's why cats hate rats. Then the rat talked the Ox into letting him ride on the Ox's head. When the got close, the rat jumped off the front of the Ox's head to be first. That's why the year of the Ox follows the Rat.
@M - yup, we have our own "Cat".
@NKHEA - I agree, we just have to be patient - and hope the companies can be patient with us and not RIF us.
@visitor - I just hope nobody does something stupid to president Obama. IYKWIM. I pray for his safety so he has a chance to lead us and make the change.
@Melissa - Yes, a new start. Or you could wait until he's sworn into office. That way you can enjoy the holiday eating. Have you heard about this lemonade diet...
@BL - Bruddah, 10 = Tenth.
@anklebiters - natural gas.
November 5th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Patience and optimism are the words to live by this coming year.
November 5th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Ohhh interesting about the year of the rat and year of the ox, thanks Rodney! I've never heard the story of how there is no year of the cat too! That's funny! I think things are looking up. One giant milestone already accomplished with an African-American President-elect, anything could happen now yah?
November 5th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
I'm also Year of the Snake like M!
And Rodney, I'm like you. Let's remain optimistic and hope things will turn around for the better!
November 5th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Snake = anklebiters year too
November 6th, 2008 at 1:59 am
hmm... do i hear slittering????
interesting points about the chinese zodiac... and good add by hemajang, bringing up the ox angle.
i'm cautiously optimistic about the year ahead. i'll be patient and hopeful that a fresh perspective will be good for all of us. it is a little scary, too, though. i can't deny that i wasn't confident any candidate could do a good job of digging us out of the hole we're in right now. however, if everyone is ready for change and is ready to work for it, all the better!!
November 6th, 2008 at 10:42 am
"Year of the Cat" is one really really great song. But what the heck is it about? A fantasy? A ho? Drugs? A reflection on an old movie? An affair? That instrumental section plays like a sexual encounter or an artificially enhanced dream.
November 6th, 2008 at 11:07 am
@Goodbeer - Patience & optimism is right.
@HNL2LAS - A giant milestone - yes. Like you said, anything could happen now!
@Shauna - another Snake?
@anklebiters - Whoa. What's going on here? You too, a snake?
@snow - Hssss... LOL. I was pretty confident that Obama was going to win. But when the first couple of counts came up close, I was starting to worry. What other country do I want to live in? But when I was driving home from work, I heard it announced on the radio that Obama took California, immediately followed by a text message from The Honolulu Advertiser that Barack Obama was our new president-elect.
November 6th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
UR:
We snakes are beautiful people
November 6th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
My handbook of Chinese Horoscopes, by Theodora Lau, says of Snake-Year People:
"Graceful and soft-spoken, he loves good books, food, music, the theater; he will gravitate toward al the finer things in life. The most beautiful women and powerful men tend to be born under this sign. So if you are one of the Snake people, you are in good company."
But it also says:
"Elegant in speech, dress and manners, the Snake person does not like indulging in useless small talk or frivolities. He can be quite generous with money, but is known to be ruthless when he wants to attain an important objective. He has no qualms about eliminating anyone who stands in his way."
Word to anyone attending the triad party! Don't stand between Rodney and the pupus! (j/k)
I'm Year of the Dragon with the appropriate temper to go with it.
November 6th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
M and anklebiters: Woo-hoo, my fellow snakes!! Hsss... We're beautiful and powerful and like to hang out in the same circle. Heehee!
Thanks, KAN, for sharing that. I love reading horoscope stuff.
I actually had a lot of friends who are Year of the Dragon (year older than me) and we get along great! Hope to see you at the party. Just don't stand between me and my noodles. Hah! Kidding! 
November 6th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Alas, I cannot attend the party since I'm in Seattle (and I've used up all my vacation time for the year). Wish I could, though - 11/21's my mom's birthday. Somebody please taken plenty of pictures!
November 6th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
@KAN
I was born in the year of the Dog. Very loyal and obedient. Now if someone throws a pupu pup and yells "Go Fetch"...
November 6th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Ooops! Our youngest daughter was born in the Year of the Rat. Let's hope Chinese folklore didn't apply in August!
What about the Year of the Pig? That's when our oldest daughter was born.
I heard that the Chinese use the animal zodiac when they want to know how old someone is but they don't want to be rude and ask the age directly. So they ask about the animal sign and then they estimate which 12-year span it refers to and get the age from there.
November 6th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Hey Largo -
I'm a dog too! Year of the dog, that is (you BEE quiet, Shauna!
)
Very interesting reading about the Chinese horoscope stuff. I didn't know the origins of it all. Cool!
Looking forward to the Triad Pah___!
w00t!
November 7th, 2008 at 3:28 am
Here's another rendition for snakes:
People born in the Year of the Snake are deep. They say little and possess great wisdom. They never have to worry about money; they are financially fortunate. Snake people are often quite vain, selfish, and a bit stingy. Yet they have tremendous sympathy for others and try to help those less fortunate. Snake people tend to overdo, since they have doubts about other people's judgment and prefer to rely on themselves. They are determined in whatever they do and hate to fail. Although calm on the surface, they are intense and passionate. Snake people are usually good-looking and sometimes have marital problems because they are fickle. They are most compatible with the Ox and Rooster.
GREAT WISDOM, FORTUNATE and GOOD-LOOKING
Hey Shauna, did you hear that? See, snakes are beautiful people, smart, and fortunate. 
November 7th, 2008 at 7:44 am
Sorry Rodney - I don't know why I thought you were Year of the Snake.
Dragons and dogs aren't supposed to get along well at all, but my Year-of-the-Dog sweetie and I have been together over 13 years. Oh well, somebody's gotta buck the trend.
November 7th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Kan,
my first granddaughter is a golden dragon, once every 60 years. she is awesome!
when you notice pictures and statues of dragons and they are throwing a ball or a glowing pearl, that is the world they are playing with... they are real special.
the five times each sign comes in 60 years are all named different. i am a wood horse, and my Haole Boy is a metal tiger.