Chinese New Year 2008: The Year of the Earth Rat

Discussion in 'Chit-Chat' started by chris-ccc, Jan 8, 2008.

  1. chris-ccc

    chris-ccc Regular Member

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    Greetings,

    WELCOME TO YEAR 2008 !!! :):):)

    Hope that everyone@Badminton Central has enjoyed 2007.

    Our ctjcad has reminded me to start this thread, just because I did one for last year. :)

    Checking with Wikipedia, 2008 is The Year of the Earth Rat. And below are some information found.

    Cheers... chris@ccc
    :):):)

    ====== ====== start Wikipedia ====== ======

    The Rat
    The rat was welcomed in ancient times as a protector and bringer of material prosperity. It is an animal associated with aggression, wealth, charm, and order, yet also associated with death, war, the occult, pestilence, and atrocities.

    The attributes of persons born in the Year of the Rat
    Being the first sign of the Chinese zodiac, rats are leaders, pioneers and conquerors. They are charming, passionate, charismatic, practical and hardworking. Rat people are endowed with great leadership skills and are the most highly organized, meticulous, and systematic of the twelve signs. Intelligent and cunning at the same time, rats are highly ambitious and strong-willed people who are keen and unapologetic promoters of their own agendas, which often include money and power. They are energetic and versatile and can usually find their way around obstacles, and adapt to various environments easily. A rat's natural charm and sharp demeanor make it an appealing friend for almost anyone, but rats are usually highly exclusive and selective when choosing friends and so often have only a few very close friends whom they trust.

    Behind the smiles and charm, rats can be terribly obstinate and controlling, insisting on having things their way no matter what the cost. These people tend to have immense control of their emotions, which they may use as a tool to manipulate and exploit others, both emotionally and mentally. Rats are masters of mind games and can be very dangerous, calculative and downright cruel if the need arises. Quick-tempered and aggressive, they will not think twice about exacting revenge on those that hurt them in any way. Rats need to learn to relax sometimes, as they can be quite obsessed with detail, intolerant and strict, demanding order, obedience, and perfection.

    A valuable lesson for Rats is to learn to consider others before themselves, at least sometimes, and to avoid forcing their ideas onto others. Rats are fair in their dealings and expect the same from others in return, and can be deeply affronted if they feel they have been deceived or that their trust has been abused. Sometimes they set their targets too high, whether in relation to their friends or in their career. But as the years pass, they will become more idealistic and tolerant. If they can develop their sense of self and realize it leaves room for others in their life as well, Rats can find true happiness.

    According to tradition, Rats often carry heavy karma and at some point in life may face an identity crisis or some kind of feeling of guilt. Rats are said to often have to work very long and hard for everything they may earn or have in life. However, a Rat born during the day is said to have things a bit easier than those who are born at night. Traditionally, Rats born during the night may face extreme hardships and suffering throughout life. Rats in general should guard themselves against hedonism, as it may lead to self-destruction. Gambling, alcohol and drugs tend to be great temptations to Rat natives.

    ====== ====== end Wikipedia ====== ======
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    #1 chris-ccc, Jan 8, 2008
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2008
  2. ctjcad

    ctjcad Regular Member

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    I heard...

    ...from a few people, and based on rat's "characteristics", this yr could be a "prosperous" year for those so-called _ o r r u p t e r....:eek::(:p..
     
    #2 ctjcad, Jan 8, 2008
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2008
  3. chris-ccc

    chris-ccc Regular Member

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    32 new threads posted each day@Badminton Central

    .
    While checking the link of our last year's thread located at: http://www.badmintoncentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39485 ,
    it was found that 11,750 new threads were posted in the past 370 days. This gives us an average of 32 new threads posted each day@Badminton Central.

    We can appreciate how much time and effort kwun and our 4 moderators have spent here in order to allow us to enjoy this wonderful site. :):):)
    .
     
  4. chris-ccc

    chris-ccc Regular Member

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    ctjcad to explain his word ... 'o r r u p t e r'

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    Don't understand what you mean, ctjcad...... this word 'o r r u p t e r'. :confused::confused::confused:
    .
     
    #4 chris-ccc, Jan 8, 2008
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2008
  5. ctjcad

    ctjcad Regular Member

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    That's..

    ..an avg. of just over 1 new thread per hr.:p:cool:
    ..uhm, you're supposed to fill in the blank space before the letter "o"..;)
     
  6. chris-ccc

    chris-ccc Regular Member

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    Another quiz from ctjcad

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    Hahaha... Another quiz ? :D:D:D
    .
     
  7. Birdwood

    Birdwood Regular Member

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    The year of rat has not officially started yet until early February. Chinese New Year is always big holiday for people in China, not sure about Chinese people or Chinese-related ones in other parts of the world. In US, Chinese schools will teach and organize some children's activities, and Chinese communities will host cultural performance, but no holidays for school children.

    The holiday is the time for reflection just like Christmas and New Year's Day in Western countries. People would want to reflect what they have done in the year just passed, visit your family and friends, and make a list of things you wish to do or happen in the new year.

    So according to that tradition, I'll wish everyone good health and luck and a prosperous year whether you're Chinese or not. I also want to wish everyone with more success in his/her badminton activities, including to find more time and places to play, and we'll have another year of exciting badminton matches to watch, to talk about, and to fight for :eek::mad::):D
     
  8. hkhung

    hkhung Regular Member

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    hang on, chris, i thought you are gonna start a thread for "chinese new year celebration dinner 2008"?!

    cos that's what thim and i supposed to start due to popular demand, rite? or was those people expect us to write an essay about badminton and rat and how they all come together. cos we can do that ....

    oh well, thought we could conned you to commit to organizing the CNY (chinese new year) CCC 2008 celebration.... he he

    then again, i doubt you would buy that.
     
  9. ctjcad

    ctjcad Regular Member

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    Sure..

    ..of course you can do that!!:)..We welcome your contribution, hkhung, if you want to write abt that...;)
    Btw, there's another sort of similar thread, which tied in pro-badminton players and CNY/chinese zodiacs, from last yr also. Check it out:cool: :D:
    http://www.badmintoncentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39570
     
  10. chris-ccc

    chris-ccc Regular Member

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    CCC = Chit Chat Column

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    Hi hkhung,

    This thread is not created for our CCC Badminton Club Chinese New Year 2008 Dinner. :):):)

    Our CCC activities are confined in our CCC Badminton Sub-Forum.

    This thread is in the Chit-Chat Column (OMG... it is still CCC). :D:D:D
    .
     
  11. chris-ccc

    chris-ccc Regular Member

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    A Prosperous New Year 2008 to all@Badminton Central

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    Wishing you too, A Very Good Year 2008, Birdwood. :):):)
    .
     
  12. ctjcad

    ctjcad Regular Member

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    What a coincidence..

    :p..and it rhymes, too : Chris at Chit-Chat Column (chris@ccc)..;):cool:
     
  13. chris-ccc

    chris-ccc Regular Member

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    CCC = Chit-Chat Column

    .
    Hahaha... And thanks to you for confusing hkhung about the thread for our CCC CNY 2008 Dinner. :D:D:D
    .
     
  14. Oldhand

    Oldhand Moderator

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    wikipedia sometimes hosts gargantuan nonsense :p
    charm and death?
    charm and atrocities?
    order and atrocities?
    Do these go together? :confused:
    Leaders, pioneers and conquerors?
    How on earth can these traits be associated with rats? :eek:
    Terribly obstinate, obsessed with detail, intolerant? :eek:
    Earlier, they were deemed 'practical'!

    Dangerous, calculative, downright cruel, quick-tempered, aggressive and vengeful?
    Yeah, that goes really well with 'charming' :D

    As a reference, wikipedia is sometimes riskypedia
    In this particular case, I'd also call it quirkypedia :p
     
  15. chris-ccc

    chris-ccc Regular Member

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    The 12 animal signs in the Chinese Zodiac

    .
    Well, what is found @Wikipedia are the contributions posted by their members... in a way quite similar to what is found @Badminton Central. We can get risky and quirky information. ;););)

    Let us now move on to read about how the 12 animal signs are placed in their order in the Chinese Zodiac.

    ====== ====== start Wikipedia ====== ======

    The 12 Zodiac animal signs (生肖 shengxiao) are, in order, the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep (ram or goat), monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. There are many legends to explain the beginning of the zodiac. One of the most popular reads, in summarized form, as follows:

    The rat was given the task of inviting the animals to report to the Jade Emperor for a banquet to be selected for the zodiac signs. The cat was a good friend of the rat, but the rat tricked him into believing that the banquet was the next day. The cat slept through the banquet, thinking that it was the next day. When he found out, the cat vowed to be the rat's natural enemy for ages to come.

    Interestingly, the cat does make it into the Vietnamese Zodiac, in place of the rabbit (see below).

    Another popular legend has it that a race was used to decide the animals to report to the Jade Emperor.

    The cat and the rat were the worst swimmers in the animal kingdom. Although bad swimmers, they were both intelligent. They decided that the best and fastest way to cross the river was to hop on the back of the ox. The ox, being a naïve and good-natured animal, agreed to carry them across. However, overcome with a fierce competitiveness, the rat decided that in order to win, it must do something and promptly pushed the cat into the river. Because of this, the cat has never forgiven the rat, and hates the water as well. After the ox had crossed the river, the rat jumped ahead and reached the shore first, and it claimed first place in the competition.

    Following closely behind was the strong ox, and it was named the 2nd animal in the zodiac. After the ox, came the tiger, panting, while explaining to the Emperor just how difficult it was to cross the river with the heavy currents pushing it downstream all the time. But with powerful strength, it made to shore and was named the 3rd animal in the cycle.

    Suddenly, from a distance came a thumping sound, and the rabbit arrived. It explained how it crossed the river: by jumping from one stone to another in a nimble fashion. Halfway through, it almost lost the race but the rabbit was lucky enough to grab hold of a floating log that later washed him to shore. For that, it became the 4th animal in the zodiac cycle. Coming in 5th place was the dragon, flying and belching fire into the air. Of course, the Emperor was deeply curious as to why a strong and flying creature such as the dragon should fail to reach first. The mighty dragon explained that he had to stop and make rain to help all the people and creatures of the earth, and therefore he was held back a little. Then, on his way to the finish line, he saw a little helpless rabbit clinging on to a log so he did a good deed and gave a puff of breath to the poor creature so that it could land on the shore. The Emperor was very pleased with the actions of the dragon, and he was added into the zodiac cycle. As soon as he had done so, a galloping sound was heard, and the horse appeared. Hidden on the horse's hoof is the snake, whose sudden appearance gave the horse a fright, thus making it fall back and gave the snake 6th spot while the horse took the 7th.

    Not long after that, a little distance away, the ram, monkey and rooster came to the shore. These three creatures helped each other to get to where they are. The rooster spotted a raft, and took the other two animals with it. Together, the ram and the monkey cleared the weeds, tugged and pulled and finally got the raft to the shore. Because of their combined efforts, the Emperor was very pleased and promptly named the ram as the 8th creature, the monkey as the 9th, and the rooster the 10th.

    The 11th animal is the dog. His explanation for being late—although he was supposed to be the best swimmer amongst the rest—was that he needed a good bath after a long spell, and the fresh water from the river was too big a temptation. For that, he almost didn't make it to finish line. Just as the Emperor was about to call it a day, an oink and squeal was heard from a little pig. The pig got hungry during the race, promptly stopped for a feast and then fell asleep. After the nap, the pig continued the race and was named the 12th and last animal of the zodiac cycle. The cat finished too late (thirteenth) to win any place in the calendar, and vowed to be the enemy of the rat forevermore.

    ====== ====== end Wikipedia ====== ======
    .
     
  16. wilfredlgf

    wilfredlgf Regular Member

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    Not if you're the owner of a food warehouse.
     
  17. chris-ccc

    chris-ccc Regular Member

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    Melbourne Chinese restaurants have Maneki-neko at their entrances

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    Funny that you mentioned that ... because many Melbourne Chinese restaurants now have cats at their entrances.

    [​IMG]
    Maneki-neko
    .
     
  18. wilfredlgf

    wilfredlgf Regular Member

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    Maneki-neko is a symbol that beckons people to come and spend cash at a shop depicted by that koban in the right paw but I don't see how they are connected to rats except as natural enemies due to not being called for the celestial race?
     
  19. chris-ccc

    chris-ccc Regular Member

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    The cats were to drive away the rats

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    Oops... I thought the cats were placed there to drive away the rats. :D:D:D
    .
     
  20. wilfredlgf

    wilfredlgf Regular Member

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    Moving ones I'd imagine, not Made in China sorts.
     

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