Year 4706 is about to start: The Year of Rat

According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2008 is a Year of the Rat (Earth). The Chinese year 4706 begins on Feb. 7, 2008 and ends on January 25, 2009. First in the cycle of 12 Animal signs, Rat Year begins the sequence and recurs every twelfth year.
It is a time of renewal in so many ways. From New Year to Valentine's Day, to the arrival of spring, may all the blessings and delights of the New Year be yours.
People born in the Year of the Rat are noted for their charm and attraction for the opposite sex. They work hard to achieve their goals, acquire possessions, and are likely to be perfectionists. In Chinese, the Rat is respected and considered a courageous, enterprising person. Their ambitions are big, and they are usually very successful. They have broad interests and strong ability in adapting to the environment and able to react adequately to any changes. Basically rats are thrifty with money. Rat people are easily angered and love to gossip. They are most compatible with people born in the years of the Dragon, Monkey, and Ox.
Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Affleck, Samuel L. Jackson, William Shakespeare, and Mozart were all born in the year of the rat.
Of course, the entire horoscope must be considered when making any personality assessment.

A Rat Year is a time of hard work, activity, and renewal. This is a good year to begin a new job, get married, launch a product or make a fresh start. Ventures begun now may not yield fast returns, but opportunities will come for people who are well prepared and resourceful. The best way for you to succeed is to be patient, let things develop slowly, and make the most of every opening you can find.