Provided you accept all the formalities and realize his authority.

August 28, 2017 8:53 PM

Kot Blini (Кот Блини) Literary Analysis (English subtitles). Take a 1:49 break to give a picture of cat with a plate of blinis exactly the amount of contemplation it deserves.

English Transcript:

My friend has been sending me this picture a lot. Which is why I see it a lot more often than it probably deserves. Well. Nevertheless... We had a little so called argument. What emotion does this cat's face portray. This is what my friend says. Quote.
Firstly, it shows his absolute superiority: He has a plate of blins and smetana, and you don't. Still, he is welcoming you to share the dinner with him. Provided you accept all the formalities and realize his authority.
However, I think that there's more to it than it seems. Maybe... His face portrays a request. A request. Because even though those blins are so close yet they are so far. Since, nobody would, most likely, let him taste them. It's a complicated question. What does this cat want to tell us? What kind of idea? Through this grimace? (laughter) Anyway. I can't disagree that his face is quite expressive and charismatic. Beautiful cat. Beautiful picture. And it does have this... atmosphere of warmness... Feeling of home comfort. Because everything here feels so alive. See? Those blins. Freshly prepared hot blins. And there's such a great cat.
This is the dream of any person. Who of us wouldn't like to have a plate full of blins and a cat nearby. I have neither. Which is why when I look at this picture I'm quite satisfied.

According to this FAQ, the cat is called Jazz.

posted by automatic cabinet (17 comments total)

IM ON METAFILTER AND I CAN OVERTHINK A PLATE OF BLINIS!
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 9:07 PM on August 28, 2017 [6 favorites]

There was a cat in that picture?
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:12 PM on August 28, 2017 [2 favorites]

Actually, I think it is a remarkable photo because the expression on that cat's face is clearly pride. Not condescension, not superiority or boredom, but unabashed pride. LOOK I HAVE A PLATE OF BLINIS AND I DONT KNOW WHAT I DID TO DESERVE THIS BUT I DESERVE THIS LOOK AT MY PLATE OF BLINIS!
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 9:12 PM on August 28, 2017 [7 favorites]

Russia has eclipsed Japan in cat-cuteness!
posted by The Underpants Monster at 10:02 PM on August 28, 2017

I freaking love this cat's facial expression, and I freaking love this video. And I guess now I love automatic cabinet.
posted by wintersweet at 10:17 PM on August 28, 2017 [1 favorite]

This is the dream.

It sure is.
posted by louche mustachio at 10:56 PM on August 28, 2017 [1 favorite]

If a cat not getting blinis is too much tension for everyone, here's a video of a feral kitten meeping, and then eating. (And then getting adopted, according to comments.)
posted by sebastienbailard at 12:44 AM on August 29, 2017 [7 favorites]

This is the very best and everything feels so alive.
posted by dmh at 2:11 AM on August 29, 2017 [1 favorite]

That kitten is loud! Amazing blue eyes. And you know it's a good meal when you need two paws in the dish and lots of nom nom noises.
posted by kitten magic at 3:08 AM on August 29, 2017 [2 favorites]

> Kot Blini (Кот Блини)

Why you make up this "Кот Блини"? Is not Russian! Title is Кот с блинами 'cat with blinis'; блинами (blinami) is instrumental case of блины (bliny), plural of блин (blin), though in English you don't talk so much about one blin. Probably because you don't see one blin, only many bliny. But never mind that: important thing is, there is no such thing as "блини." Please not to pervert great and powerful Russian language!
posted by languagehat at 8:26 AM on August 29, 2017 [11 favorites]

This image can give us more insight into the cat's reaction to the blini.
posted by TrialByMedia at 10:23 AM on August 29, 2017 [5 favorites]

Probably because you don't see one blin, only many bliny.

I'm amused by the subtitler (quite logically) thinking that the English plural is blins instead of blinis.

(See also: pierogis not pierogs. Language contact is fun!/Finding morpheme boundaries is hard!)
posted by damayanti at 10:35 AM on August 29, 2017

Jazz always reminds me very much of my own kitty, Hennessey.
posted by radwolf76 at 10:50 AM on August 29, 2017 [1 favorite]

Probably because you don't see one blin, only many bliny.

Mnogo smetana tozhe.
posted by Pyrogenesis at 12:02 PM on August 29, 2017 [1 favorite]

I hope the Russians love their pancakes too
posted by thelonius at 12:36 PM on August 29, 2017 [4 favorites]

Why you make up this "Кот Блини"?

Ask the YT person from whom I copy and pasted!
posted by automatic cabinet at 1:24 PM on August 29, 2017 [2 favorites]

> Ask the YT person from whom I copy and pasted!

Comrade Cabinet, you will get nowhere pointing at another comrade and saying "But it is that comrade who first perverted great and powerful Russian language! I only perverted great and powerful Russian language because of that person!" You have both perverted great and powerful Russian language and you will both do extra labor for the people on Saturday.
posted by languagehat at 5:27 PM on August 29, 2017 [6 favorites]