2010 Year of the Tiger

VIPs AND CELEBRITIES BORN IN THE YEAR OF THE TIGER

1524
-- Marco Polo (September 15, 1254 - January 9, 1324) Italian trader and explorer.

1770
-- Ludwig van Beethoven (December 16, 1770 - March 26, 1827), German composer and pianist.

1818
-- Karl Marx (May 5, 1818 -March 14, 1883), German philosopher, political economist, historian, political theorist, sociologist, and founder of communism.
-- Emily Jane Brontë (30 July 30, 1818 - December 19, 1848), English novelist and poet.

1854
-- Oscar Wilde (16 October 1854 - 30 November 1900), Irish playwright, poet and author.

1866
-- Beatrix Potter (July 28, 1866 - 22 December 22, 1943), English children's book writer, illustrator, mycologist and conservationist.
-- H.G. Wells (September 21, 1866 - August 13, 1946), English science fiction author.

1890
-- Agatha Christie (September 15, 1890 - January 12, 1976), English crime writer of novels, short stories and plays.
-- Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (October 14, 1890 - March 28, 1969), 34th President of the United States and a five-star general in the U.S. Army.
-- Charles De Gaulle (November 22, 1890 - November 9, 1970), a French general and statesman.

1902 (Water)
-- John Ernst Steinbeck (February 27, 1902 - December 20, 1968), American writer.

1914 (Wood)
-- Sir Alec Guinness (April 2, 1914 - August 5, 2000), English actor.
-- Dylan Thomas (October 27, 1914 - November 9, 1953), Welsh poet, short story author, film and radio script writer.

1926 (Fire)
-- Queen Elizabeth II (born 21 April 1926), British queen regnant of sixteen independent states known as the Commonwealth realms.
-- Tony Bennett (born August 3, 1926), American singer of popular music, standards and jazz.

1938 (Earth)
-- Rudolf Nureyev (March 17, 1938 - January 6, 1993), Russian ballet performer.
-- "Kenny" Rogers (born August 21, 1938), American country music singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor and entrepreneur.

1950 (Metal)
-- William Hurt (born March 20, 1950), American actor.
-- Stevie Wonder (born May 13, 1950), an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer.

1962 (Water)
-- "Jim" Carrey (born January 17, 1962), Canadian-American actor and stand-up comedian.
-- Garth Brooks (born February 7, 1962), American country music artist.
-- Paula Abdul (born June 19, 1962)[3], American pop singer, record producer, dancer, choreographer, actress and television personality.

-- Tom Cruise (born July 3, 1962), American actor and film producer.
-- "Bill" Murray (born September 21, 1950), American comedian and actor.
-- "Demi" Moore (born on November 11, 1962), American actress.
-- Jodie Foster (born November 19, 1962), American actor, director and producer.

1974 (Wood)
-- Alanis Morissette (born June 1, 1974), Canadian/American singer-songwriter, record producer and actress.
-- Hilary Ann Swank (born July 30, 1974), American actress.
-- Leonardo DiCaprio (born November 11, 1974), American actor and film producer.

1986 (Fire)

1998 (Earth)

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Image Credit: hijoshboston@flickr.com

2010 - Year of the White Tiger

The Tiger (associated with good fortune, power, and royalty), is viewed with both fear and respect; hence, their protection and wisdom is sought after. Many people believe the tiger, and not the lion, as the true king of beasts.

Position in the Zodiac: 3rd

Chinese Name: Hu

Ruling Hours: 3:00 am - 4:59 am

Season/Month: Winter/February

Similar to Western Horoscope Sun Sign: Aquarius

Planet: Venus

Gemstone: Sapphire

Lucky Color: Green

Lucky Numbers: 2, 3

Direction of Orientation: East Northeast

Polarity: Yang (Male)

Fixed Element: Wood (But in 2010 - Metal)

Positive Traits: Agile natural leaders, alert, energetic, independent, far-sighted, charming, friendly, well-liked, loyal, intelligent, confident, courageous, powerful, strong, self-reliant, sacrificing, optimistic, relentlessly competitive, good strategists and tacticians

Negative Traits: Unpredictable, vain, distrustful, impatient, impulsive, quick-tempered, quarrelsome, rebellious, tend to risk their luck too often, often disregard others, are sensititive to criticism and have difficulty keeping their restless nature under control

Associated with Food: Bread, poultry

Associated with Human Anatomy: Respiratory system and lungs (Chinese Medicine)

Associated with Following Countries: Russia, Rumania, Spain, Turkey, El Salvador, North Korea

Very Compatible with Following Animals: Horse, Dragon, Dog and Pig/Boar

Incompatibile with Following Animals: Rabbit, Monkey, Snake, and Ox

Ideal Careers for Tigers: Music, Acting, Writing, Advertising, Management, Aviation, Travel, Entrepreneur, Politics

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Image Credit: Tiger - Chinese paper print illustration - cntmedia@flickr.com

The sign of the Tiger is associated with money. So, it's always nice to know that you can relax and keep your money safe (especially when the tiger's looking after it!)

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Image Credit: bubblefriends@flickr.com

In the world of classic commercials, there's only one "cat's meow" or "cat's pyjamas" -- "Tony The Tiger"!

The baby-boom generation who all grew up with "Big Bird" from Sesame Street, also can probably recall who sold them on the best cereal for kids!

"Tony The Tiger" (born in 1952) was probably the best salesman Kellogg's ever had -- especially "Sugar Frosted Flakes"! Let's face it, those boomers have done booming business for this breakfast food, after all, "Frosted Flakes have a taste adults have grown to love. They're grrreat!"

Regrettably in 2007, the marketing folks at Kelloggs decided that "Tony The Tiger" (had to be laid to rest, due to diabetic complications and a flurry irate carbohydrate complaints).

Frankly, if a tiger could sell cereal...some marketers wondered why they couldn't "Put a tiger in your tank", and have it power your car! So, that's exacly what happened in 1959, when Exxon-Mobil borrowed this powerful beast to boost its sale of petrol. With the help of promotional tiger tails which attached to the gas caps of all vehicles that filled up with their brazen brand, the company's gas sales went through the roof! However, after a series of legal spats between Kellogg's and Exxon-Mobil, and growing environmental concerns, the tiger found another habitat to hang out in.

And, like all good things in life, both tigers have now been trotted off to the "Happy Hunting Grounds" by the marketing folks. In this paradise of past products and people, where there are no bows and arrows, all creatures great and small now sing "Koom Bay Ah My Lord" with a big smile on their faces, (be they hefty-meat eaters or heavy-hitting veggie-lovers).
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Image Credit: xavi pinas@flickr.com

According to the United States Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), there are almost 400 places and land features with the name, "Tiger".

To make it easy, here are a few terrific tiger towns and tourist traps in the U.S.A. that all tigers should visit at least once in their life!"

-- Flying Tigers Airport (Texas)
-- Last Chance/Tiger Mine (Montana)
-- Royal Tiger Mine (Colorado)
-- Smiling Tiger Ranch (Arizona)
-- Tiger (populated place in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Ohio, Oklahoma and Washington)
-- Tiger Bay (town in Florida)
-- Tiger Bluff Landing (Louisiana)
-- Tiger Cat Dam (Wisconsin)
-- Tiger Cape (landform in Alaska)
-- Tiger Fork (town in Missourri)
-- Tiger Hammock (island in Florida)
-- Tiger Hole Swamp (Florida)
-- Tiger Island (Louisiana and Texas)
-- Tigerland Acres (populated place in Louisiana)
-- Tiger Lily (California)
-- Tiger Mine (Arizona)
-- Tiger Mountain (Georgia, Texas)
-- Tiger Peak (summit of mountain in Idaho)
-- Tiger Point (town in Florida)
-- Tiger-Poorman Mine (Idaho)
-- Tiger Tail (Tennessee town)
-- Tiger Tail Island (Florida)
-- Tiger Tail Park (California)
-- Tigertail Glacier (Alaska)
-- Tigertail Point (landfeature in Wisconsin)
-- Tiger Tank Farm (Oklahoma)
-- Tigerton (town in Wisconsin)
-- Tigertown (town name in Connecticut and Texas)
-- Tigerville (town name in Louisiana, South Dakota, South Carolina, and Texas)

"Calvin and Hobbes" is a comic strip written and illustrated by Bill Watterson focusing upong the humorous antics of "Calvin", an imaginative six-year old boy, (named after John Calvin, a 16th-century French Reformation theologian), and "Hobbes", his energetic, sardonic sidekick - albeit a stuffed-tiger, (named after Thomas Hobbes, a 17th-century English political philosopher).

Everyone needs a dog to adore him, and a tiger to bring him back to reality." (Anonymous)

"Every woman should have four pets in her life. A mink in her closet, a jaguar in her garage, a tiger in her bed, and a jackass who pays for everything." -- Paris Hilton (American model, actress, entrepreneur and socialite)

"When a man wants to murder a tiger, it's called sport; when the tiger wants to murder him it's called ferocity." -- George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950, Irish literary critic, playwright and essayist; 1925 Nobel Prize for Literature)

"'O Tiger-lily,' said Alice, addressing herself to one that was waving gracefully about in the wind, 'I wish you could talk!' 'We can talk,' said the Tiger-lily: 'when there's anybody worth talking to." -- Lewis Carroll (1832-1898, English logician, mathematician, photographer and novelist, especially remembered for "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland".

"In each human heart are a tiger, a pig, an ass and a nightingale. Diversity of character is due to their unequal activity." -- Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914, American author, journalist and editor; well-known for his mirthful masterpiece, "The Devil's Dictionary)

"Better to live one year as a tiger, than a hundred as a sheep." -- Madonna (American actress and singer)

"Wooing the press is an exercise roughly akin to picnicking with a tiger. You might enjoy the meal, but the tiger always eats last." -- Maureen Dowd (American journalist)

Q: "What does the lion say to his friends before they go out hunting for food ? A: 'Let us prey.'"

"Neither man nor tiger can live on frosted flakes alone." (A reference to "Tony the Tiger" who, due to diabetic complications, is no longer the official spokesperson for Kellogg's Frosted Flakes)

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Image Source: whimsy studios@flickr.com

One English proverb says it all, "Tis hard to hold a tiger by the tail."

And, in the world of sports, there are plenty of Tigers who should never be grabbed by the tail under any circumstances!

"Tiger" Woods (born December 30, 1975), an American professional golfer one of the most successful in his field is currently ranked No. 1 in the world.

Detroit Tigers, American major league baseball team establised in Detroit in 1894, and winner of four World Series Championships.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats, professional Canadian football team founded in 1950 in Hamilton, Ontario, and winner of the Grey Cup Championship eight times.

Louisiana State University Tigers, American Varsity Football team, 2007 National Champions.

Image Credit: Tiger Eye Ring - Steampunk Jewellry - Catherinette Rings@flickr.com

TIGER EYE, (also known as "tiger's-eye", "tigereye", "Crocidolite Cat's-Eye" or "African Cat's-Eye"), has a rich yellow and golden brown stripes with a fine golden lustre when polished.

Tiger Eye is quartz that contains oriented fibres of crocidolite that have been replaced by silica. Significant deposits and gemstone mines are located in South Africa. It displays a vertical luminescent band like that of a cat's eye, and typically has rich alternating yellow and golden brown stripes and a golden lustre when polished.

The Tiger Eye is the anniversary gemstone for the 9th year of marriage. It is widely used in pendants, beads and rings.

The Tiger Eye is said to have certain healing properties such as lowering high blood pressure and is helpful in relieving some disease symptoms associated with bronchial asthma, kidney, rheumatic heart disease, otitis and psoriasis.

The Tiger Eye is also said to have certain mystical powers used to focus the mind, strengthen one's confidence and conviction, protect one during travel and provide soothing benefits those who are weak and ill. This gemstone was thought to be "all seeing" (due to its appearance) and was often worn by Roman soldiers to protect them in battle.

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Image Credit: RitaK@flickr.com

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Image Credit: Panama Birds@flickr.com

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Image Credit: Piet Grober@flickr.com

Image Credit: J.N. Stuart@flickr.com

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Image Credit: Lars Kirchoff@flickr.com

Being a powerful beast of nature, it is not surprising that the tiger would also become a powerful brand for products around the world.

Tiger Balm: Non-greasy topical remedy to relieve sore aches and pains.

Tiger Beer: Tiger Beer made in Malaysia and distributed to 11 countries.

Tiger Calcium Services: Manufacturer and distributor of calcium products (natural calcium chloride processed in a flake, pastille or liquid form) used for melting ice and suppressing dust, which are safe on the environment as well as easy on roads and vehicles.

Tiger/Line: U.S. Census Bureau product acronym for Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (TIGER) system.

Tiger Performance Products: Manufacturer of racing, communications and safety helmets.

Tiger Products: Manufacturer of pool and billiard equipment.

Tiger-Sul: World leader in the manufacture of bentonite Sulphur and bentonite micronutrients fertilizers for the agricultural, organic, turf and industrial markets.

Giant Tiger - All Canadian family discount store chain.

Paper Tiger Products: Australian-made recyclable cardboard furniture for small and large-scale events, festivals, product launches, and cafes.

Simply Grrrrrreat Grog!

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Image Credit: archanN@flickr.com

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Image Credit: www.flash-screen.com/1286940137_470x353_tiger-in-halloween.jpg

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Image Credit: thinkstockphotos.com/image/96125321

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Image Credit: Tiger Pumpkin Carving by Armuri - deviantart.net.