Fire Rat: Metal Season: 3a

17 Oct ~~ 20 Oct

All hail the conquering hero. A time for leadership, when the people come thronging together to acknowledge their common lord. This energy may carry with it feelings of exuberance and exhilaration, as if almost anything were possible and even likely. Technological advancements and innovations are especially favoured -- the discovery of new tools for creation and invention that promise to improve our lives. As always in times of Wood, we must expect the unexpected: shocks, crises, storms, eruptions and the coming of something new.
The Fulfilment:
Funny I should have predicted storms for these three days. We got a windsotorm (Lili), a rain storm (New England) and a firestorm (Malibu)! Here's some more:
Russia: Yeltsin fires Alexander Lebed, citing him for stirring up trouble within the Cabinet and for campaigning while working. Lebed is very popular and Yeltsin's decision is greeted with shock. "Expect the unexpected: shocks, crises, storms, eruptions and the coming of something new."
France: One-day public sector strike today with five million participants: trains, post office, doctors. "Expect the unexpected"? "A time for leadership, when the people come thronging togather"?
UK: Scientists discover a direct link between cigarettes and cancer -- tobacco tar damages gene P53 responsible for suppresssing unchecked growth (tumours) in the body. Not a big surprise, but it's nice we can put a name to it now. :-) "Expect the unexpected: shocks, crises, storms, eruptions and the coming of something new." Technological advancements??
USA: Scientists discover that a modified version of the harmless adenovirus will kill cancer cells by taking advantage of a genetic difference in the abnormal cells. "Technological advancements and innovations are especially favoured -- the discovery of new tools for creation and invention that promise to improve our lives."
Canada: BC: Typhoon traverses the Pacific and hits Victoria, causing widespread wind and wave damage. A very unusual event, for BC to get a typhoon at full force. "Expect the unexpected: shocks, crises, storms, eruptions and the coming of something new."
Russia: American defence secretary Wm Perry addressed the Duma today and urged the legislature to pass the Start II nuke reduction treaty.
Korea: Pres Kim Young-Sam fires his defence minister and gives the military command a shake-down in wake of last month's infiltration by communists. "We must expect the unexpected: shocks, crises, storms, eruptions and the coming of something new."
Caribbean: Hurricane Lili sweeps along Costa Rica and Nicaragua and is now heading for Cuba as it strengthens. Many deaths from drowning along the shoreline. "We must expect the unexpected: shocks, crises, storms, eruptions and the coming of something new."
Russia: Yeltsin today fired General Kolesnikov as armed forces chief of staff. The new defence minister is hand-picking new military commanders. "We must expect the unexpected: shocks, crises, storms, eruptions and the coming of something new."
Japan: Shoko Asahara, on trial for the Sarin gas attack, suddenly speaks for the first time at his trial by saying "Regarding this case, I would like to shoulder all responsibility -- please stop questioning my disciples." This after six months of silence while the trial dragged on. "Expect the unexpected: shocks, crises, storms, eruptions and the coming of something new."
Zaire: Burundi Hutus are now fleeing the fighting between Zairean Tutsis and the Zairean military. "We must expect the unexpected: shocks, crises, storms, eruptions and the coming of something new."
Cuba: Hurricane Lili sweeps over the island, flattening homes and crops. "We must expect the unexpected: shocks, crises, storms, eruptions and the coming of something new."
USA: New England: Violent storm dumps several inches of rain on the area. Child killed by uprooted tree. "We must expect the unexpected: shocks, crises, storms, eruptions and the coming of something new."
USA: California: Wildfire near Big Sur forces an evacuation of people from the area. "Expect the unexpected: shocks, crises, storms, eruptions and the coming of something new."
Iraq: Struggle among Kurdish factions drags on as the pro-Hussein group is again taking the upper hand. "Expect the unexpected: shocks, crises, storms, eruptions and the coming of something new."
Caribbean: Hurricane Lili flattens the Bahamas and heads out to sea toward Bermuda. "Expect the unexpected: shocks, crises, storms, eruptions and the coming of something new."
Belgium: Some 325 000 marchers converged on Brussels today to demand reform of the justice system. All wore white as a symbol of youthful purity and innocence. Largest public demonstration in Belgium since the end of WW II. "A time for leadership, when the people come thronging together ... This energy may carry with it feelings of exuberance and exhilaration, as if almost anything were possible and even likely."
Japan: National elections today. PM Ryutaro Hashimoto is hoping to win a majority to carry him into the next century, but majority govt is missed by 12 seats due to low voter turnout. "This energy may carry with it feelings of exuberance and exhilaration, as if almost anything were possible and even likely."
Afghanistan: Taliban is holding back an advance on the capital by govt loyalists.
Nicaragua: National presidential vote today. Some chaos at the polls, but peaceful. Heavy turnout.
USA: New England: Winds at 100kph. Floods and power outages. Evacuations from low-lying areas. "Expect the unexpected: shocks, crises, storms, eruptions and the coming of something new."

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