The Chinese New Year celebrated the arrival of the loathsome - rat!
Well, images can be deceiving. Actually, in the Chinese Culture, the rat is welcomed in ancient times as a protector and bringer of material prosperity.
The Year of the Rat is associated with the earthly branch symbol 子.
The first of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese Zodiac, the rat (or mouse) is associated with aggression, wealth, charm, and order; but, is also associated with death, war, the occult, pestilence, and atrocities.
Also, the little rodent portends change; it is an auspicious time to access values, and likewise, instigate changes in one's life
With that essentially being the "sound bite" in the Presidential Race in recent weeks, it is evident, therefore, that Americans got a jump start on the "trend".
The key word is "change", and Obama's got it - right?
Actually, a face-reader was asked to take a glance at a handful of photographs of the presidential candidates, and render an impromptu "reading" on the fly.
The wise old sage noted that wrinkles at the corners of Obama's eyes indicated warmth and intelligence - appealing qualities that resonate to many - to say the least. We'll see how far it gets him.
Meanwhile, Hillary's wide face and full cheeks suggested the ability to win people over and charm! Keep going, girl!
The spacing between Mitt Romney's nose and eyes apparently inferred a "complicated" man. If that is the perception of him by the American voters, then maybe he needs to articulate himself a little better to fair better at the polls, eh?
Surprisingly, the insightful soothsayer noted that candidate Huckabee was "not favored" by the Gods. Well, perhaps by his own particular brand of deity, in view of the large vote-count rustled up by a handful of Evangelicals in his midst.
Curiously, the old sage predicted health problems for John McCain, after pointing out black and white coloring in his eyebrows, which allegedly suggested weakness in the physical aspects of his body.
Well, look what all the rigorous campaigning did to Bill Clinton. On occasion, he nodded off into dreamland during keynote speeches - in spite of the fact - the rousing gatherings were inclined to uplift most in the room. And he, a much younger man, than the old maverick.
At McCain's towering age, the strenuous regimen he's caught up in, may prove a bit costly. Who the heck knows!
Slow down, John.
You want to throw your feet up on the desk in the Oval Office sometime in the future, don't you?
