The Year of the Ox

ESOTERICA

The Chinese Year of the Ox begins today, and as one who was born during a Year of the Ox, I take an amused interest in what that means.

The basic characteristic of an Ox is methodical and calm, hardworking, dependable and patient, materialistic and an ambitious character.

Babies born in the Chinese New Year of Ox [are expected] to have the following traits: Dependable with leadership qualities, patient, strong and responsible, and they will be great in organizing. They are also honest, reliable and logical; that is why people go to them for advice.

Unfortunately, balancing these positive characteristics of the Ox are some negative traits associated with them. People born in this year are also said to be stubborn, narrow minded, and with low public relations skills.

That's fantastic because it's just so true. Anyway, here are some things we can expect in this bovine annum:

[O]il prices are expected to begin rising again, while gold could again break through $1,000 an ounce ... Former U.S. treasury secretary Henry Paulson will become the boss of Citigroup, while Iceland will challenge the Philippine and Indian dominance of the call-center industry as it rebuilds its crisis-ravaged economy.

It should be an exciting year.