For the full beauty of this image and quote, click photo to enlarge

I love how the perception of cats remains constant in time as reflected in this quote by Jules Champfleury, a French art critic and novelist who was born in 1820. I for one could watch a napping cat for hours, completely mesmerized by the simple beauty of the act. My cats, of course, are only too happy to indulge me in that capacity as witnessed by my sweet little Mia who models with absolutely perfect beatitude.

Jules François Felix Fleury-Husson (1820 Laon, Aisne – 1889 Sèvres), who wrote under the name Champfleury, was a French art critic, novelist, and a prominent supporter of the Realist movement in painting and fiction. His novels were among the earliest Realist works and in 1870 his book, Les Chats, a series of essays about cats including portrayals of cats by prominent artists of the time, was published by Librarie de la Societe Botanique de France. (Wikipedia)

Given the media’s propensity towards the clever, chic, hip, and trendy, it is no wonder the story of the numerous charming cat cafes in Tokyo, the reverent worship of the Maneki Neko (a cat sculpture known as the “Beckoning Cat” that is said to bring good fortune to the owner), the infamous “Cat Island,” and cats dressed up in designer outfits is so popular with mainstream social outlets as to how the love affair between the Japanese people and cats are portrayed. Truth be told, it makes great copy and what cat lover wouldn’t want to visit a cat café or an island of cats? Disaster and tragedy, however, is not glamorous and the public can only tolerate the brutal images and reality for so long before they change the channel or turn the page to something lighter and less mentally taxing.

These perennially endearing little Neko sculptures can be found in any number of retail shops in Japan.

That is why the aftermath of the Japanese disasters of last March 11th is such a complex and difficult story to tell – it just does not make sense that so many cats were homeless and abandoned in a nation of such devoted cat loving people. As I continued my interview with Japan Cat Network (JCN) volunteer, Jennifer Koca, the only thing that remained clear, was that nothing was black and white, simple, or easy to understand, especially when it came to this sensitive issue. Read more

Well, it’s hereby been officially decreed by our cat Rolz, that March 17th is forever more going to be called St. CAT-rick’s Day!! Whoo hoo! He is so excited in his own bored and aloof way to let you all know that his photo won first place over at his pal Brian’s blog for the “2012 Nimbus Memorial St. Patrick’s Day Photo Contest.”

Rolz won’t admit it, but I will. ALL of the photos were AMAZING and every one of them was a winner to me. We are thrilled too, that our good kitty pals Cody and Sammy & Moosey placed! Plus, just the fact that you’re a cat, makes you all even more special to me! Thanks for the votes every one and Happy St. Pat, opps, I mean, Happy St. CAT-rick’s Day!!!

Any one who loves cats, knows just how true this quote by Jenny de Vries is, and it needs little explanation. One look at Rolz, Mia, and Peanut, and it would appear to be one and the same cat at quick glance. However, Rolz and his sisters could not be any more different in personality, almost as if they were born of different parents on different dates.

Most amazingly, however, is that once you think you have each individual cat figured out, they will change like the wind, with no ryhme or reason whatsover. That is the beauty of a cat – they just are what they are and there is no room for debate.

I wish I could properly credit the author of this well-shared quote, but I cannot seem to find a spec of evidence to give proper homage to her words. If anyone has any insight, please feel free to share!

There are certain events in life that cause one to pause and reflect where they were at that moment. I remember for me, March 11, 2011, the date of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan and the resulting Fukushima nuclear meltdown, that it was a Friday and I was already at work before I realized what was going on around me. The chain of events began unbeknownst to me at 12:45 am, EST, which translated to Friday, 2:26 pm in Japan. I originally found out from Dan via a text message that there was an earthquake – we did not have a television in my office and the enormity of the situation did not hit me until I got home and saw the news footage replaying the same devastating scenes over and over.

At first glance, this image looks like a jigsaw puzzle of matchsticks strewn haphazardly on the floor. In reality, this is an aerial view of the resulting debris from the earthquake and tsunami that struck northern Japan on March 11, 2011.

For the hundreds of thousands of people along the northern coast of Japan, first came the roar and rumble of the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that had skyscrapers swaying in the wind and buckled highways, followed by gigantic waves as high as 30 feet that rushed ashore, whisking away cars and carrying buildings set ablaze by fires towards factories, fields and highways.  Read more