2007: The Year of the Platypus

Fortunately, there is an alternative to the unclean pig. It so happens that the marvelous platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus ("Anna" for short), is mentioned in the Torah, Koran, and Bible not once. It is for that reason that we propose to make 2007 "The Year of the Platypus."

The ancient Japanese made platypus-shaped origami, but it is unknown whether they revered the Australian marsupial or were just screwing around. (Image, right)

With their rounded beaks, webbed feet, and egged progeny, the platypus do resemble ducks, which were kept out of the Chinese zodiac despite their equal if not greater culinary importance than the ones that made the list. Replacing the pig with the platypus would begin the process of healing for all round-billed creatures.

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