WOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOO!!! Yes! Yes yes YES! Awwwwwww YEAH! Yeah, buddy buddy buddy! Yee-haww!

This is the sound, ladies and gentlemen, emitted by a Boston-based online soap opera production staff upon learning that negotiations are complete, and our modest little burg has emerged victorious in its struggle to wrest its rightful booty back from the clutches of the Big Apple. By which we mean, of course, that six years after its defection to New York City in 1998, the mid-year Macworld Expo will indeed finally return to Beantown come the summer of 2004, as reported in a Boston Herald article pointed out by faithful viewer Zalix. For the full effect, you'd also need to see us doing our Funky, Funky Butt Dance of Joy while deliriously singing snippets of "Celebration" and, inexplicably, "It's Raining Men" at the tops of our voices. (No, QuickTime footage will not be made available. Deal with it.)

Note, however, that as we've stated numerous times in the past, we have nothing in particular against New York; in truth, we love the place. We've had a blast visiting the city multiple times ever since the Expo bailed on Boston five years back. The museums kick much booty. The Southern Fried Cutlet at Kate's Corner in the Village haunts our dreams on a semi-regular basis. The Chocolate Ambrosia at Zenith on 8th Avenue is the cocoa-derived equivalent of a brick to the temple (in a good way). And where else on earth could we ever have seen Luke Perry of 90210 fame cavorting in his underwear while Dick Cavett swore a blue streak at out-of-towners? (The Rocky Horror Show on Broadway, or just a random sighting on the street in Midtown? That's for us to know and you to find out.) Our only complaint-- aside from the expense, the traffic, and occasionally the smell, pretty much all of which applies in various degrees to Boston, too-- is that it's not here.

Yes, as we've also stated on numerous occasions in the past, we're lazy and cheap. And a Boston-based Expo means that we get to forgo the airfare, hotel, taxi, and restaurant bills incurred by a yearly New York trip, and you all know what that means: more cash on hand for scratch tickets and strip clubs. Let's hear it for the city of Boston and other involved parties for their blindingly desperate concessions to IDG World Expo in return for moving the show back here, to wit: use of Beacon Hill's Parkman House and the Boston Public Library courtyard; banner advertising on city lamp posts; and free rent at the brand-spankin'-new convention hall in South Boston. Well, it's not actually new just yet-- it's still under construction. In fact, we drive past it every weekday as Katie, AtAT's resident fact-checker and Goddess of Minutiae, sallies forth to her day job. But we're sure it'll be lovely when it actually exists. (Added bonus: the Expo will be just a couple of blocks away from Katie's office. Heck, she won't even need to use any vacation time.)

Note that the move doesn't happen until the year after next, so 2003 will be a last hurrah of sorts for Macworld New York. We assume the city will be mature about this and won't intentionally sour next year's shindig just because of the future change of venue. In truth, we can't help but feel a teensy bit bad for New York, especially given all that it's been through in the past year-- and we can definitely sympathize with New York-dwelling Mac users who now face the prospect of dealing with a Boston trip every year. It's a hassle, we know.

But that won't stop us from saying "WOOOOO-HOOOOOO!!! Yeah, baby! Weee-haaaaa!..."