The Cat Cafe

Austria is taking a leaf out of Japan's book - or should that be a whisker from its cat basket - with the opening of Europe's first 'cat cafe' in Vienna.

Customers at Cafe Neko (which means cat in Japanese) can order a purrfect cup of tea and relax while feline residents Sonja, Thomas, Moritz, Luca and Momo settle on their laps, or pad about underneath the chairs and tables.

-- Daily Mail/LJ

Isn't that sweet? Maybe we should put our cats to work, but Coco, Ash, and Sammy would probably just sulk behind a counter. Although our cats are not feral and are certainly fine with us, they are not the most sociable cats around.

I remember a very humble, independent book store in which the owner would let her cat run about freely. I definitely thought it added to the atmosphere. Unfortunately they were not able to stay open long. Nothing to do with the cat, I don't think. Just no business. And this was before the Amazon.com days. It was just an enterprise of the heart, I think. But money cares not for dreams.


_ _ _

Takako Ishimitsu, the cafe’s 47-year-old owner, is originally from Japan where there are now around 40 such establishments in Tokyo alone since the first cat cafe opened in 1998.

Pets are often forbidden in apartments in Japan, and the cafes have proved hugely popular among stressed-out workers and families seeking animal companionship. Some even 'specialise' in particular types or breeds of cat.

Ms Ishimitsu spent three years negotiating with Vienna city officials over hygiene issues before being granted permission to open the establishment.

She explains how she launched the cafe in Europe in order to give people who couldn't have their own pets an opportunity to come into contact with cats. Each of the five animals was rescued from a local animal shelter.

In Japan, however, the authorities have thrown the cat among the pigeons with the introduction of new legislation.

The popularity of cat cafes is being threatened by a new law which prevents the public display of animals after 8pm.

The law was introduced after the Japanese environment agency received more than 155,000 complaints from the public about the treatment of animals in Tokyo's entertainment districts.
Animal welfare campaigners believe that excessive stroking from strangers is causing the animals stress.

Cat cafe managers, who often stay open late to cater for after-work trade, may have to close at their peak trade times as the law comes into force.

As yet, there is no such law enforcement in Austria, but the cafe will always uphold one particular rule.

As it clearly says on the door, there is a strict ‘no dogs’ policy.

-- Daily Mail/LJ

The Cat Cafe

Austria is taking a leaf out of Japan's book - or should that be a whisker from its cat basket - with the opening of Europe's first 'cat cafe' in Vienna.

Customers at Cafe Neko (which means cat in Japanese) can order a purrfect cup of tea and relax while feline residents Sonja, Thomas, Moritz, Luca and Momo settle on their laps, or pad about underneath the chairs and tables.

-- Daily Mail/LJ

Isn't that sweet? Maybe we should put our cats to work, but Coco, Ash, and Sammy would probably just sulk behind a counter. Although our cats are not feral and are certainly fine with us, they are not the most sociable cats around.

I remember a very humble, independent book store in which the owner would let her cat run about freely. I definitely thought it added to the atmosphere. Unfortunately they were not able to stay open long. Nothing to do with the cat, I don't think. Just no business. And this was before the Amazon.com days. It was just an enterprise of the heart, I think. But money cares not for dreams.


_ _ _

Takako Ishimitsu, the cafe’s 47-year-old owner, is originally from Japan where there are now around 40 such establishments in Tokyo alone since the first cat cafe opened in 1998.

Pets are often forbidden in apartments in Japan, and the cafes have proved hugely popular among stressed-out workers and families seeking animal companionship. Some even 'specialise' in particular types or breeds of cat.

Ms Ishimitsu spent three years negotiating with Vienna city officials over hygiene issues before being granted permission to open the establishment.

She explains how she launched the cafe in Europe in order to give people who couldn't have their own pets an opportunity to come into contact with cats. Each of the five animals was rescued from a local animal shelter.

In Japan, however, the authorities have thrown the cat among the pigeons with the introduction of new legislation.

The popularity of cat cafes is being threatened by a new law which prevents the public display of animals after 8pm.

The law was introduced after the Japanese environment agency received more than 155,000 complaints from the public about the treatment of animals in Tokyo's entertainment districts.
Animal welfare campaigners believe that excessive stroking from strangers is causing the animals stress.

Cat cafe managers, who often stay open late to cater for after-work trade, may have to close at their peak trade times as the law comes into force.

As yet, there is no such law enforcement in Austria, but the cafe will always uphold one particular rule.

As it clearly says on the door, there is a strict ‘no dogs’ policy.

-- Daily Mail/LJ

Ligotti and the Suicide Answer

“Nature proceeds by blunders; that is its way. It is also ours. So if we have blundered by regarding consciousness as a blunder, why make a fuss over it? Our self-removal from this planet would still be a magnificent move, a feat so luminous it would bedim the sun. What do we have to lose? No evil would attend our departure from this world, and the many evils we have known would go extinct along with us. So why put off what would be the most laudable masterstroke of our existence, and the only one?”

-- Thomas Ligotti, "The Conspiracy Against the Human Race" (2010)

You first, Mr. Ligotti! This can seem like a squicky way to make money: selling people on the idea of killing themselves. But he seems to be a genuine writer, with some real skill and craft in the art. Maybe he is letting his horror fiction bleed into his non-fictional philosophical thought. Still, he can seem as though he is part of the conspiracy he writes of.

I can appreciate the exercise of the suicide option; we can never know where another is at in his struggle and pain. It's just that I suspect suicide is often a tragedy that should have been averted, if only there were the right help and the needed attention.

As much as I can sometimes fancy the idea of suicide, I also cannot help thinking that death will come soon enough, whether one invites it or not. So why not make the most of this weird occurrence and fantastic accident that is our life, while we have it, this wondrous dream born out of nothingness? It will not be very long before we have no choice but to let go of life and fall back into that empty and utterly dreamless nothingness.

Ligotti and the Suicide Answer

“Nature proceeds by blunders; that is its way. It is also ours. So if we have blundered by regarding consciousness as a blunder, why make a fuss over it? Our self-removal from this planet would still be a magnificent move, a feat so luminous it would bedim the sun. What do we have to lose? No evil would attend our departure from this world, and the many evils we have known would go extinct along with us. So why put off what would be the most laudable masterstroke of our existence, and the only one?”

-- Thomas Ligotti, "The Conspiracy Against the Human Race" (2010)

You first, Mr. Ligotti! This can seem like a squicky way to make money: selling people on the idea of killing themselves. But he seems to be a genuine writer, with some real skill and craft in the art. Maybe he is letting his horror fiction bleed into his non-fictional philosophical thought. Still, he can seem as though he is part of the conspiracy he writes of.

I can appreciate the exercise of the suicide option; we can never know where another is at in his struggle and pain. It's just that I suspect suicide is often a tragedy that should have been averted, if only there were the right help and the needed attention.

As much as I can sometimes fancy the idea of suicide, I also cannot help thinking that death will come soon enough, whether one invites it or not. So why not make the most of this weird occurrence and fantastic accident that is our life, while we have it, this wondrous dream born out of nothingness? It will not be very long before we have no choice but to let go of life and fall back into that empty and utterly dreamless nothingness.

Girl Power

Girl Power

1984 (2,8) The Book

Julia has left, and before Winston goes too, he and O’Brien finish up business.

_ _ _

'There are details to be settled,' he said. 'I assume that you have a hiding-place of some kind?'

Winston explained about the room over Mr Charrington's shop.

'That will do for the moment. Later we will arrange something else for you. It is important to change one's hiding-place frequently. Meanwhile I shall send you a copy of the book' -- even O'Brien, Winston noticed, seemed to pronounce the words as though they were in italics -- 'Goldstein's book, you understand, as soon as possible. It may be some days before I can get hold of one. There are not many in existence, as you can imagine. The Thought Police hunt them down and destroy them almost as fast as we can produce them. It makes very little difference. The book is indestructible. If the last copy were gone, we could reproduce it almost word for word. Do you carry a briefcase to work with you?' he added.


'As a rule, yes.'

'What is it like?'

'Black, very shabby. With two straps.'

'Black, two straps, very shabby -- good. One day in the fairly near future -- I cannot give a date -- one of the messages among your morning's work will contain a misprinted word, and you will have to ask for a repeat. On the following day you will go to work without your briefcase. At some time during the day, in the street, a man will touch you on the arm and say "I think you have dropped your briefcase." The one he gives you will contain a copy of Goldstein's book. You will return it within fourteen days.'

They were silent for a moment.

'There are a couple of minutes before you need go,' said O'Brien. 'We shall meet again -- if we do meet again -'

Winston looked up at him. 'In the place where there is no darkness?' he said hesitantly.

O'Brien nodded without appearance of surprise. 'In the place where there is no darkness,' he said, as though he had recognized the allusion.

-- “1984” by George Orwell

_ _ _

Of course, O’Brien probably does recognize the allusion, as I imagine he has read Winston’s journal and even has its contents memorized.

1984 (2,8) The Book

Julia has left, and before Winston goes too, he and O’Brien finish up business.

_ _ _

'There are details to be settled,' he said. 'I assume that you have a hiding-place of some kind?'

Winston explained about the room over Mr Charrington's shop.

'That will do for the moment. Later we will arrange something else for you. It is important to change one's hiding-place frequently. Meanwhile I shall send you a copy of the book' -- even O'Brien, Winston noticed, seemed to pronounce the words as though they were in italics -- 'Goldstein's book, you understand, as soon as possible. It may be some days before I can get hold of one. There are not many in existence, as you can imagine. The Thought Police hunt them down and destroy them almost as fast as we can produce them. It makes very little difference. The book is indestructible. If the last copy were gone, we could reproduce it almost word for word. Do you carry a briefcase to work with you?' he added.


'As a rule, yes.'

'What is it like?'

'Black, very shabby. With two straps.'

'Black, two straps, very shabby -- good. One day in the fairly near future -- I cannot give a date -- one of the messages among your morning's work will contain a misprinted word, and you will have to ask for a repeat. On the following day you will go to work without your briefcase. At some time during the day, in the street, a man will touch you on the arm and say "I think you have dropped your briefcase." The one he gives you will contain a copy of Goldstein's book. You will return it within fourteen days.'

They were silent for a moment.

'There are a couple of minutes before you need go,' said O'Brien. 'We shall meet again -- if we do meet again -'

Winston looked up at him. 'In the place where there is no darkness?' he said hesitantly.

O'Brien nodded without appearance of surprise. 'In the place where there is no darkness,' he said, as though he had recognized the allusion.

-- “1984” by George Orwell

_ _ _

Of course, O’Brien probably does recognize the allusion, as I imagine he has read Winston’s journal and even has its contents memorized.

Dowding the Church

This is America. We don’t hunt heresies here. We welcome them.

-- Maureen Dowd at The New York Times

Ms. Dowd has a nice piece this morning on the Georgetown controversy that we posted about a couple of days ago, as Catholics are seeking to enforce an absolutist ban on anything and anyone that is in anyway connected to abortion rights. Dowd takes on the growing intolerance in general of the Catholic Church, inviting Mario Cuomo to speak on the matter.

Cuomo sounds really good, and one wonders why we have not been hearing from him. It has been years since I have come across anything from the man. Could it be that he does not want to crowd out his son, who is now trying to make the most of his political chances? Well, it's good to hear him now.


_ _ _

Twenty-eight years ago, weighing a run for president, Mario Cuomo gave a speech at Notre Dame in which he deftly tried to explain how officials could remain good Catholics while going against church dictums in shaping public policy.

“The American people need no course in philosophy or political science or church history to know that God should not be made into a celestial party chairman,” he said.

I called Cuomo to see if, as his son Andrew weighs running for president, he felt the church had grown less tolerant.

“If the church were my religion, I would have given it up a long time ago,” he said. “All the mad and crazy popes we’ve had through history, decapitating the husbands of women they’d taken. All the terrible things the church has done. Christ is my religion, the church is not.

“If they make the mistake of saying that a politician has to put the church before the Constitution on abortion or other issues, there will be no senators or presidents or any other Catholics in government. The church would be wiser to take the path laid out for us by Kennedy than the path laid out for us by Santorum.”

Absolute intolerance is always a sign of uncertainty and panic. Why do you have to hunt down everyone unless you’re weak? The church doesn’t seem to care if its members’ beliefs are based on faith or fear, conviction or coercion. But what is the quality of a belief that exists simply because it’s enforced?

“To be narrowing the discussion and instilling fear in people seems to be exactly the opposite of what’s called for these days,” says the noted religion writer Kenneth Briggs. “All this foot-stomping just diminishes the church’s credibility even more.”

This is America. We don’t hunt heresies here. We welcome them.

-- Maureen Dowd at The New York Times

Dowding the Church

This is America. We don’t hunt heresies here. We welcome them.

-- Maureen Dowd at The New York Times

Ms. Dowd has a nice piece this morning on the Georgetown controversy that we posted about a couple of days ago, as Catholics are seeking to enforce an absolutist ban on anything and anyone that is in anyway connected to abortion rights. Dowd takes on the growing intolerance in general of the Catholic Church, inviting Mario Cuomo to speak on the matter.

Cuomo sounds really good, and one wonders why we have not been hearing from him. It has been years since I have come across anything from the man. Could it be that he does not want to crowd out his son, who is now trying to make the most of his political chances? Well, it's good to hear him now.


_ _ _

Twenty-eight years ago, weighing a run for president, Mario Cuomo gave a speech at Notre Dame in which he deftly tried to explain how officials could remain good Catholics while going against church dictums in shaping public policy.

“The American people need no course in philosophy or political science or church history to know that God should not be made into a celestial party chairman,” he said.

I called Cuomo to see if, as his son Andrew weighs running for president, he felt the church had grown less tolerant.

“If the church were my religion, I would have given it up a long time ago,” he said. “All the mad and crazy popes we’ve had through history, decapitating the husbands of women they’d taken. All the terrible things the church has done. Christ is my religion, the church is not.

“If they make the mistake of saying that a politician has to put the church before the Constitution on abortion or other issues, there will be no senators or presidents or any other Catholics in government. The church would be wiser to take the path laid out for us by Kennedy than the path laid out for us by Santorum.”

Absolute intolerance is always a sign of uncertainty and panic. Why do you have to hunt down everyone unless you’re weak? The church doesn’t seem to care if its members’ beliefs are based on faith or fear, conviction or coercion. But what is the quality of a belief that exists simply because it’s enforced?

“To be narrowing the discussion and instilling fear in people seems to be exactly the opposite of what’s called for these days,” says the noted religion writer Kenneth Briggs. “All this foot-stomping just diminishes the church’s credibility even more.”

This is America. We don’t hunt heresies here. We welcome them.

-- Maureen Dowd at The New York Times