The Standing Room

Contemporary Opera: A Feline Perspective

Tiny Kitten says, "Wachoo talkin bout, Justin?"

"If only the Met enjoyed commissioning new operas as much as I like jumping in the bathtub!"

(You see why Tiny and I get along so well.)

Feline Foto Friday: TGIF Edition

Hooray!

Via Bitch Ph.D.

Feline Foto Friday: Pure-bred Burmese

I was just thinking, it's been a long time since we've had a good ol' fashioned round of Friday cat posts! And then I wake up and find Sarah's Cecilia curled up with Don Giovanni. Herein lies my offering for the day, with no musical content whatever:

JUMPING CATS!

These magnificent cats live in the aptly named Jumping Cat Monastery (Nga Phe Kyaung) on Inle Lake in Burma. Is it a tourist trap? Unquestionably. But I don't care, because they're delightful!

You show up in a rowboat, and wait for other tourists to arrive. When a minyan has gathered, one of the monks gets up, indicates to everyone to get the cameras ready, grabs a hoop, scoops up a cat, sets him on the ground, raises the hoop, and...

ALLEY-OOP!

This is repeated a few times with a couple other cats, many flashes go off simultaneously, the monk scatters some peanuts on the ground, the cats have a little snack, the tourists leave, and everyone settles back down to rest.

Top photo courtesty of M. R-

Feline Foto Friday: Cute Kitten Overload

Thanks to Mlle D M for this link!

Feline Foto Friday: Rejoice in the Cat

From Benjamin Britten's cantata Rejoice in the Lamb, a setting of a text by Christopher Smart, who (according to Walter Hussey) was "an eighteenth century poet, deeply religious, but of a strange and unbalanced mind." Britten used only a tiny excerpt (below); the complete and utterly delightful text here.

For I will consider my Cat Jeoffry.
For he is the servant of the Living God, duly and daily serving him.
For at the first glance of the glory of God in the East he worships in his way.
For this is done by wreathing his body seven times round with elegant quickness.
For he knows that God is his Saviour.
For God has blessed him in the variety of his movements.
For there is nothing sweeter than his peace when at rest.
For I am possessed of a cat, surpassing in beauty, from whom I take occasion to bless Almighty God.

Feline Foto Friday: Our Dear Leaders

Having close feline relations seems to be a prerequisite for blogging. Herewith are my credentials.

OMC caught them in an intimate moment yesterday. M. B- is the gentle fellow on the left. The imperious lady on the right is Mme T.K-. They are both 17, and still mighty frisky.

UPDATE: For further feline fun, you must check out Bjork's new video for Triumph of a Heart.

Two Great Tastes: CDs & Cats

In case you still haven't found enough reasons to vote on Tuesday, here are two more:

- Rock the Vote at Amoeba!  Or Musical Theater the Vote, if you want.  Just vote.  As long as it's not for Nader... Please, Ralph. Please.

- But while you're voting, remember this:

If those scary Cheney pillows don't sway you, you're a heartless bastard.