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The Year of 2009 is the Year of the Ox

According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of 2009 is the Year of the Ox. The Ox, or the Buffalo sign symbolizes prosperity through fortitude and hard work. Those born under the influence of the Ox or Buffalo are fortunate to be stable and persevering. The typical Ox is a tolerant person with strong character. Not many people could equal the resolution and fearlessness that the Ox exhibits when deciding to accomplish a task. Ox people work hard without complaints at work or at home. They know that they will succeed through hard work and sustained efforts, and do not believe in get-rich-quick schemes.



Famous Ox People: Barack Obama, Catherine Freeman, Heather Locklear, Jane Fonda, Jack Nicholson, Juliette Lewis, Margaret Thatcher, Meg Ryan, Meryl Streep, Princess Diana, Vivien Leigh and George Clooney.

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.

People born under the sign of the Ox or Buffalo usually have strong codes and work ethics. This can lead to a tendency to be a workaholic, and they should make an effort to relax more. Ox people are usually strong and robust, and according to ancient wisdom, they should be blessed with long lives.

The Ox home is his castle where he finds relaxation and peace from the everyday hustle and bustle of his career or responsibilities. He also enjoys spending much time in planting gardens and trees. He generally prefers to decorate his home comfortably with nature colors.

Able, ethical and aware, co-workers of the Ox can depend on their eyes for details. Because they are so well-organized, they are better-suited for specialized positions and prefer to work in large companies. They work best when they work alone since they can be unhappy when participating in a large group.

The Nintendo Reveals The DSI

Apple CEO Steve Jobs recently said the iPod was the best portable device for gaming. Looks like Nintendo took offense to that. The typically tight-lipped company had a plethora of new announcements today at its simultaneous fall conferences in Japan and the U.S., not the least of which was the introduction of the Nintendo DSi, a remodled version of its DS handheld that features MP3 and camera playback.
The new model hits Japanese stores Nov. 1 but won't come out in the States until late 2009. Priced for the rough equivalent of $180, the new DS will be 12% smaller, and feature slightly larger screens, music playback with an SD card slot for storage, and two 3.0 megapixel digital cameras with the ability to edit pictures using the handheld's signature touch screen. Full compatibility with the older DS games was a given, but missing is the Game Boy Advance slot (which spells trouble for a game like Guitar Hero: On Tour, which uses the GBA slot to connect its guitar peripheral).

Recently named the top game developer in the business, Nintendo seems hellbent on proving itself after only debuting Animal Crossing: City Folk, Wii Music and Wii Sports Resort at its widely-panned E3 conference this past summer. Here's a brief rundown of the top three most significant new Wii and DS game announcements:

1. Punch-Out!!: A Wii incarnation of the venerable NES and SNES classic. It's high time the Wii was treated to a high-quality boxing title (Wii Sports doesn't count), the type of game that should perfectly integrate motion controls. Punch-Out!! is due sometime in the first half of 2009. Now how about a Mario Tennis title?

2. Sin and Punishment 2: A definite surprise, but perhaps it shouldn't have been because the N64 original was the first game Nintendo took the effort to localize for the Wii's Virtual Console. Sin easily fills a niche (shooter games) Nintendo is missing on the Wii...at least until the new Star Fox hits.

3. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time: The Nintendo-only Crystal Chronicles series continues with its fourth installment, this time a sort of DS/Wii hybrid game. Many of its specifics are still unknown, but the game will allow up to four players to play on the DS and Wii at the same time (online, to boot). Sounds interesting, but what about The Crystal Bearers? Is it dead?