Time - Monday marks the beginning of the Year of the Dragon, and Chinese communities around the world will celebrate with extravagant festivities, vibrant parades and an influx in consumer spending. But forecasters and health officials are anticipating another boost: a wave of births. State news agency Xinhua says China is expecting a 5% increase in the number of babies born in 2012, the BBC reports. The dragon, considered the most auspicious zodiac sign in Chinese culture, is often associated with good fortune and intelligence and is believed to be the sign of those destined for success. In places like China, an already densely inhabited country with 1.3 billion people, the potential increase might put pressure on parents who must adhere to the country’s one-child policy as well as compete for spots in the most elite schools.
See, this is why I'm not overly concerned (yet) about Asia and more specifically China, rising up and dominating the world. I mean, first off, they can't even keep track of when New Years is...Guys, that shit happened like 3 weeks ago now...I know the international dateline can be a little confusing, but at most its a 12 hour difference, not a fortnight. Try and keep up.
But secondly, they're still taking medical and financial advice from Chinese Food Restaurant novelty place mats and fortune cookies. How crazy do you have to be to be planning out your birthing schedule over a couple sides of dumplings and crab rangoon? You don't see white people sitting around in McDonald's enjoying a Big Mac and using the Monopoly game to plot huge life changing decisions, do you?
