ion, my kids are giving a Chinese New Year Assembly on Friday. We're telling the story of how the years got their names and doing a rather fabulous lion dance. (I'm in charge of the play part, not the dance part.)

Ooh! Wallybee is heading to Shanghai for family celebrations for the Chinese New Year. This year is the Year of the Golden Pig. The pig is a rockin' sign in Chinese astrology (the character for family is a pig under a roof), and the golden pig is the rockingest pig of all. So this is, like, the most auspicious year for 60 years or something. It's Big Pig.

I still prefer last year, which was of course the Year of the Penguin. But I think it'll be good mojo with the rellies to be getting married this year.

I am still thoroughly entertained by the fact that I've got the Monkey saying "Go monkey! Choose monkey!"

Hee. Let us know if anyone "gets it".

billytea, are you guys getting an astrologer to select auspicious wedding dates? That might help also.

I am still thoroughly entertained by the fact that I've got the Monkey saying "Go monkey! Choose monkey!"

Awesome.

About 4 years ago someone sent me a vid of a guy lip-synching to a Romanian techno-dance song, Dragostea din tei. The vid was called "Numa Numa" (the chorus of the song). I thought nothing more of it until someone I've never met sent me a note that's a journal assignment from a high school teacher in NYC. The assignment is to watch every vid of Numa Numa - of which there are thousands - and write about which is your favorite and why.

a. Turns out we have a mutual friend, who didn't explain why I'd be interested.

b. This is why I wasn't a good teacher. My journalling assignments were never that bizarre.

c. Good God, how does something propagate like that, to where manga cats are being animated by Japanese kids as drunken salarymen to a Romanian clubbing song? Or an Israeli boy band covers it?

d. The internet, bringing people together.

e. I really miss canton pop. (I'm sure there's a less perjorative name for it, but I don't know what it is). I don't miss Romanian dance music, although I kind of like Zdib & Zdub, "Moldova's Cake."

f. On topic? Who cares!

Hah, that is AWESOME. I was only introduced to "Numa Numa" this past New Year's; I had no idea it had been around for four years. What rock was I living under? Regardless, I now know what I'm going to write about for this week's topic in my Technology in the School Library Media Center class, so thanks!

billytea, are you guys getting an astrologer to select auspicious wedding dates? That might help also.

We have in fact rejected(!) the astrological advice, on the grounds that I'd already booked my flight. The planning committe (i.e. her relatives) seem to be understanding.

I think the appeal of the Numa Numa song is that it is so frankly ridiculous. It demands imperious cats or something to give life to the incredible silliness of it.

Oh Fay, I'd hate to give the impression I was rolling my eyes at the misplaced apostraphe conversation; I enjoyed it. It's just something I'd be useless to spot.

Look who else should be abed!

Well, I'm on Guatemala time.

That's my excuse for my entire life.