best job and best party
October 15, 2018 3:04 AM Subscribe
Possible best job: Cat caretaker in Zelenogradsk. Also cats in the news: Sadly cancelled, US Embassy apologises for cat pyjama party email.
Like a "Mary Poppins", Svetlana Logunova was given a bicycle and uniform, including a bright green jacket, black bow tie and hat. Her role? Cat Chief of Zelenogradsk, caring for the stray cats in the city. (a worthwhile video, sadly on facebook, from SBS.)
And the Cat Pyjama party: a training email accidentally got into the wild from the US Embassy in Canberra inviting people to a 'Cat Pyjama' party. The email, titled "meeting", featured a photo of a tabby cat wearing a blue Cookie Monster outfit and holding a plate of choc-chip biscuits, beneath the title "cat pajama-jam". (At least it was a much friendlier training error than the kind that caused Hawaii to panic.)
Like a "Mary Poppins", Svetlana Logunova was given a bicycle and uniform, including a bright green jacket, black bow tie and hat. Her role? Cat Chief of Zelenogradsk, caring for the stray cats in the city. (a worthwhile video, sadly on facebook, from SBS.)
And the Cat Pyjama party: a training email accidentally got into the wild from the US Embassy in Canberra inviting people to a 'Cat Pyjama' party. The email, titled "meeting", featured a photo of a tabby cat wearing a blue Cookie Monster outfit and holding a plate of choc-chip biscuits, beneath the title "cat pajama-jam". (At least it was a much friendlier training error than the kind that caused Hawaii to panic.)
Wars have been started over much less.
posted by dr_dank at 4:21 AM on October 15, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by dr_dank at 4:21 AM on October 15, 2018 [9 favorites]
Best cat-themed diplomatic incident of the 21st century.
posted by doctornemo at 5:09 AM on October 15, 2018 [20 favorites]
posted by doctornemo at 5:09 AM on October 15, 2018 [20 favorites]
To help her with the task, she was given a bicycle and uniform, including a bright green jacket, black bow tie and hat.
That's all the salary I would need for that job.
posted by pracowity at 5:19 AM on October 15, 2018 [5 favorites]
That's all the salary I would need for that job.
posted by pracowity at 5:19 AM on October 15, 2018 [5 favorites]
Correction: The United States is no longer "the cat's pyjamas". The Department of State regrets the error.posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 5:22 AM on October 15, 2018 [20 favorites]
Cat.
Pajama.
Party.
With chocolate chip cookies.
Suddenly, I can, indeed, imagine world peace.
posted by darkstar at 6:48 AM on October 15, 2018 [16 favorites]
Pajama.
Party.
With chocolate chip cookies.
Suddenly, I can, indeed, imagine world peace.
posted by darkstar at 6:48 AM on October 15, 2018 [16 favorites]
At this point, wouldn't it be easier just to fulfil their moral obligation to hold a cat pajama-jam? How much could a couple of party trays of chocolate chip cookies and a couple dozen rental cats cut into the embassy budget?
posted by The Underpants Monster at 7:30 AM on October 15, 2018 [25 favorites]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 7:30 AM on October 15, 2018 [25 favorites]
If there are no MeFi meet-ups with a cat pajamas jam, then we're doing something wrong!
At the very least, we should do a Friday MetaTalk with pics of cats in pajamas. Amirite?
posted by BlueHorse at 8:18 AM on October 15, 2018 [7 favorites]
At the very least, we should do a Friday MetaTalk with pics of cats in pajamas. Amirite?
posted by BlueHorse at 8:18 AM on October 15, 2018 [7 favorites]
At this point, wouldn't it be easier just to fulfil their moral obligation to hold a cat pajama-jam?
I was thinking the Canadian consulate should step in and host it. Because Canadians can have nice things.
posted by srboisvert at 8:22 AM on October 15, 2018 [11 favorites]
I was thinking the Canadian consulate should step in and host it. Because Canadians can have nice things.
posted by srboisvert at 8:22 AM on October 15, 2018 [11 favorites]
the email also contained a section of Latin
I understand that journalism has evolved greatly over the last few decades, but did this writer just not recognize lorem ipsum for what it was when they saw it? Alternatively, they knew exactly what it was, but felt the reader wouldn't, in which case, c'mon, the best reporting educates as well as informs. Though it could have actually been some other Latin passage, in which case, that's an interesting detail that would have made an awesome story even better.
posted by radwolf76 at 8:58 AM on October 15, 2018 [15 favorites]
I understand that journalism has evolved greatly over the last few decades, but did this writer just not recognize lorem ipsum for what it was when they saw it? Alternatively, they knew exactly what it was, but felt the reader wouldn't, in which case, c'mon, the best reporting educates as well as informs. Though it could have actually been some other Latin passage, in which case, that's an interesting detail that would have made an awesome story even better.
posted by radwolf76 at 8:58 AM on October 15, 2018 [15 favorites]
>>with pics of cats in pajamas
Better alert our local hospitas with our blod types and estimated need.
Edit: fuck it, blod can stay
posted by b33j at 8:59 AM on October 15, 2018 [5 favorites]
Better alert our local hospitas with our blod types and estimated need.
Edit: fuck it, blod can stay
posted by b33j at 8:59 AM on October 15, 2018 [5 favorites]
CatPajaJaFilter: fuck it, blod can stay
posted by GenjiandProust at 9:13 AM on October 15, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by GenjiandProust at 9:13 AM on October 15, 2018 [7 favorites]
Though it could have actually been some other Latin passage, in which case, that's an interesting detail that would have made an awesome story even better.
Wouldn't it be great if it were "Cattus Petasatus"?
Wouldn't it be great if it were "Cattus Petasatus"?
Imber totum diem fluit Urcretim semper pluit. Taedet intus nos manere: Numquam potest sol splendere, Desidesque sic sedemus, Nec ridemus, nec gaudemus. Fore finem quiescendi Mihi spes est et sedendi Frigas vetat firas ire Caelum vetat lascivire. Domi sumus quiescentes, Nil omnino facientes. Dum sedemus otiose Somnulenti, stomachosi Dico Sarae displicere Mihi semper sic sedere.posted by sbutler at 11:10 AM on October 15, 2018 [4 favorites]
Another diplomatic blunder by Trump administration officials
posted by bgrebs at 12:23 PM on October 15, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by bgrebs at 12:23 PM on October 15, 2018 [1 favorite]
Further proof that the whole country is in the pockets of Big Dog.
Or, I mean, would be in their pockets, but they can't figure out how the pants go on yet.
posted by Kadin2048 at 12:49 PM on October 15, 2018 [6 favorites]
Or, I mean, would be in their pockets, but they can't figure out how the pants go on yet.
posted by Kadin2048 at 12:49 PM on October 15, 2018 [6 favorites]
Another diplomatic blunder by Trump administration officials
Sorry to cut short the Two Minutes Hate*, but a quick web search or perusal of anything happening attributable to the USA but outside the USA (be sure to check media for whether today is Oceania or Eurasia that's backwards and Not Like Us) would inform y'all that ambassador posts have sat empty for going on two years now. Australia is among them. There is no US ambassador to Oz currently.
*Anyone who tells me I'm misapplying the Two Minutes Hate will fall on tired ears, as the point is not Who Is The True Enemy, it's that y'all honest-to-goodness have Two Minutes Hate. On whichever/any/all/both sides.
posted by fraula at 1:51 PM on October 15, 2018 [5 favorites]
Sorry to cut short the Two Minutes Hate*, but a quick web search or perusal of anything happening attributable to the USA but outside the USA (be sure to check media for whether today is Oceania or Eurasia that's backwards and Not Like Us) would inform y'all that ambassador posts have sat empty for going on two years now. Australia is among them. There is no US ambassador to Oz currently.
*Anyone who tells me I'm misapplying the Two Minutes Hate will fall on tired ears, as the point is not Who Is The True Enemy, it's that y'all honest-to-goodness have Two Minutes Hate. On whichever/any/all/both sides.
posted by fraula at 1:51 PM on October 15, 2018 [5 favorites]
Apropos of nothing much, Zelenogradsk is the birthplace of my paternal grandfather, back when it was Cranz in East Prussia. No idea if they had all the cats then.
posted by DiscourseMarker at 7:23 PM on October 15, 2018
posted by DiscourseMarker at 7:23 PM on October 15, 2018
Being a sophisticated observer of bureaucracies, I can tell you it was not a "mistake" the same way most "leaks" are not unintentional.
The pro-feline wing of Foggy Bottom is clearly frustrated by being managed by a bunch of rats, they are trying to get public support for their pet initiatives.
posted by mark k at 8:12 PM on October 15, 2018 [2 favorites]
The pro-feline wing of Foggy Bottom is clearly frustrated by being managed by a bunch of rats, they are trying to get public support for their pet initiatives.
posted by mark k at 8:12 PM on October 15, 2018 [2 favorites]
I, for one, welcome our new feline ambassadors. Will make sure Tommy and Niko get all their shots for rabies, distemper, and diplomatic immunity.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 11:45 PM on October 15, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 11:45 PM on October 15, 2018 [1 favorite]
(Also, just noticed that if the pajama-jam cat had shorter mittens she'd be the doppelgoogler of my dear departed Steve.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 11:51 PM on October 15, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 11:51 PM on October 15, 2018 [3 favorites]
My job includes putting emergency notices on our organization's main website if needed. Our practice is to use ridiculous emergencies in testing so that just in case there's a horrible error and an emergency notice goes live that shouldn't have, we'll just look like bozos instead of looking like bozos and causing panic.
Test emergencies have included a Giant Kitty Attack.
posted by Zed at 11:17 AM on October 16, 2018 [9 favorites]
Test emergencies have included a Giant Kitty Attack.
posted by Zed at 11:17 AM on October 16, 2018 [9 favorites]
Attention all personnel!
We have an emergency Giant Kitty Attack
Prepare to defend with Cat Dancers and Feather Whirls
Open the canned Tiki Cat Puka Puka Luau Succulent Chicken in Chicken Consomme and fill all dishes
Whew! Another tragedy averted.
posted by BlueHorse at 6:05 PM on October 16, 2018 [2 favorites]
We have an emergency Giant Kitty Attack
Prepare to defend with Cat Dancers and Feather Whirls
Open the canned Tiki Cat Puka Puka Luau Succulent Chicken in Chicken Consomme and fill all dishes
Whew! Another tragedy averted.
posted by BlueHorse at 6:05 PM on October 16, 2018 [2 favorites]
It pays to be prepared!
*makes sure laser pointer is within reach, confirms extra batteries on hand*
posted by darkstar at 6:22 PM on October 16, 2018 [2 favorites]
*makes sure laser pointer is within reach, confirms extra batteries on hand*
posted by darkstar at 6:22 PM on October 16, 2018 [2 favorites]
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That is because you are a monster. Surely, reneging on a Cat Pajama-Jam invite is in the lowest possible taste.
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:33 AM on October 15, 2018 [28 favorites]