That’s my traditional Japanese New Year greeting. Or, a little more properly: 明けましておめでとうございます!
The romaji for that is akemashite omedeto gozaimasu, which translates to something like “Congratulations for a New Year.”
Most of the Japanese characters in the phrase 明けましておめでとうございます represent syllables, but the first — 明 — is a Chinese-derived kanji that combines the symbol for the sun 日 with that of the moon 月, and the meaning is that of exceptional brilliance. In the context of the New Year, this connotes a new hope, new beginnings, a new dawn.
So, as 2012 dawns, I give you my wish for new beginnings and hopes. Happy New Year!
When I listed new bike blogs of 2011, I failed to mention a couple of new notables.
The first is GRID Chicago by my friend Steve Vance. He and John Greenfield cover sustainable transportation for Chicagoland.
The other — Cyclivist in Melbourne, Australia — was started after Mike Stevens moved into the city and discovered how crazy people are for bikes there. He doesn’t own a car, but Stevens is not car free: as news editor for The Motor Report, he always has a review car available. He writes of himself and his motivations: “I’d like to at least be a regular cyclist, and creating this blog is part of what I hope will keep me inspired to build and maintain a passion for the pedals. I don’t know anything about cycling, really. So in 2011, I’ll be aiming to meet other cyclists, explore Melbourne more, get fit (I’m probably carrying an extra 20 or 30kg here!) and make this the life.”
The blog itself didn’t get far, but he’s get plenty of activity at Twitter and Tumblr.
More bike news
What’s wrong with this picture? [Photoshop Disasters]
Grist debunks 10 common bicycle myths.
Bookshelf includes a built in bike rack.
Barbie rides a bicycle: “Check out the stable foot platform, and the stiff yet compliant bottom bracket area.” H/T to Ariella.
Jonathan in Portland OR bikes across the Golden Gate Bridge.
Bicycle Design wants new ideas for a bike design competition for 2012.
Intercity bus boom.
Bike paramedics in Boca Raton.
Inflammation is your friend.
More rules for cyclists in New York.
The tiny town of Vernon, California (population 112), which outspent big oil in lobbying Sacramento lawmakers and spent millions more fighting various legal battles in the aftermath of a pension scandal, now doesn’t have enough cash to operate basic city services. Via Planetizen.
Nothing’s wrong with the picture. Ride no hands, get a $120 fine.
ha ha!