For those of you who haven't been paying attention to Chinese astrology, 2008 will be the year of the rat. Here in NYC, home of the rat race, it makes sense that one of the premier events to welcome in the new year is in fact a race — The New York Road Runners' annual Emerald Nuts Midnight Run in Central Park (and the sponsor is Emerald Nut rather than a comment on what happens to the male anatomy during a run in freezing weather) will be jammed and includes or all things a costume contest and parade, dancing and fireworks following the four-mile run. As Lily Tomlin once noted, the problem with winning the rat race is that you're still a rat.
Meanwhile AFP is reporting that in Moscow pet shops have run out of rats to sell as Muscovites in hopes of good luck in the New Year hope that the qualities of the rat year will rub off on them. As opposed to say, the hanta virus. As if Moscow didn't have enough problems:
Veterinarians have warned of the possible consequences of this new craze: "Not everyone is going to be delighted to get a real rat as a present, and those that can't house them will either return them to a shop, or release them in the streets," one Moscow vet said.
Too bad it's too late to send them some of ours. I am sure there's a Taco Bell in lower Manhattan that would like to export their little rodent problem. Well. With that, I share a marvelously snarky bit of New Year's greeting created by art director Alexei Zagdansky (a Russian emigré in NYC who is no doubt laughing at his former comrades):
With that I wish you a most happy new year. Akemashite omedeto gozaimasu. Kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.
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