Comments on: No more pancakes for Oolong

No more pancakes for Oolong

Katemonkey — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 07:57:38 -0800

Oolong, the rabbit well known for wearing items on his head, has died. Pour a 40oz of pancake syrup for respect.

By: mkelley

mkelley — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 08:01:39 -0800

Every bad post on MetaFilter will be in his memory.... he....will be missed

By: konolia

konolia — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 08:03:53 -0800

Don't click on the first link if you are particularly sensitive or sentimental.

By: thomcatspike

thomcatspike — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 08:04:31 -0800

By: rory

rory — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 08:06:30 -0800

Requiescant In Pannekoeken, Oolong.

By: four panels

four panels — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 08:07:38 -0800

What a sad litany of images. A heaven of clover awaits.

By: PinkStainlessTail

PinkStainlessTail — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 08:08:22 -0800

Awwww man. That was one well loved rabbit.

By: PinkStainlessTail

PinkStainlessTail — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 08:17:04 -0800

English speakers: hovering over the pictures gives an alt text description of Oolong's last days. Sad as hell.

By: mathowie

mathowie — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 08:22:20 -0800

Oolong will be missed. sidenote: Now I know where Dean gets his inspiration for daily Oliver pics. Compare: 2003 and 2003

By: cachilders

cachilders — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 08:22:44 -0800

that's pretty hard to look at near the end. so this is what technology has become, making me feel sad for dead rabbits someplace else in the world. excellent.

By: lotsofno

lotsofno — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 08:23:32 -0800

dang... i didn't care much when strummer died, but... this hits me.

By: gottabefunky

gottabefunky — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 08:23:37 -0800

Jeez, that's awful. thought those were his ears sticking out of the ground there for a minute...

By: yhbc

yhbc — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 08:24:33 -0800

Oh my, that's sad. Farewell to Oolong and sympathies to his owner from far, far away.

By: jennyb

jennyb — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 08:24:45 -0800

Those pancake pictures still make me smile. I am surprised at how sad I am about this. Bye bye bunny.

By: Pretty_Generic

Pretty_Generic — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 08:30:33 -0800

No more ¡¡¡SUUPER HEADPERFORMANCE!!! Farewell Oolong.

By: dreamling

dreamling — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 08:34:37 -0800

oh, poor bunny. still, 7 or 8 years old, and such a performance artist...

By: fletchmuy

fletchmuy — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 08:35:55 -0800

That series of images is devastating. I too am surprised by how sad I am about that little rabbit. My sympathies to his owner. So long, Oolong!

By: thewittyname

thewittyname — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 08:51:30 -0800

R.I.P. Oolong. Enjoy the Infinite Lettuce Patch in the Sky little buddy.

By: jazon

jazon — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 08:53:29 -0800

[This is Sad]

By: swerve

swerve — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 08:58:44 -0800

Oh, no, Oolong! Farewell, little rabbit, and thanks for all the smiles.

By: britain

britain — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 09:04:04 -0800

I think Konolia means don't click on the last link -- i.e. the "died" link.

By: jsonic

jsonic — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 09:09:43 -0800

I had a rabbit as a pet for awhile. They can be very messy and thoroughly enjoy eating wooden baseboards (much to my chagrin since I was renting at the time). But despite all this, they are so cute and funny to watch. Especially fun times can be had when the rabbit decides to run around the house at full speed (quite fast actually) performing aerial leaps of acrobatic proportions. They evidently enjoy this as a form of practicing escape from predators. I'll miss my Momo dearly.

By: dong_resin

dong_resin — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 09:13:17 -0800

Anyone else befuddled by the fact of the little Oolong .gif's ability to return the same amount of distance in one hop it takes him to advance in two?

By: ParisParamus

ParisParamus — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 09:13:29 -0800

Pauvre lapin. WTF with that last photo? This reminds me of a former girlfriend's relationship with a guinea pig.

By: ginz

ginz — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 09:14:52 -0800

Perhaps we could ask Clonaid....... Maybe his ghost will return to haunt us. heh. (bye bunny)

By: PinkStainlessTail

PinkStainlessTail — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 09:17:09 -0800

dong_resin: Study the turns. The turns are the key.

By: ParisParamus

ParisParamus — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 09:23:32 -0800

Ginz: very funny. I can just imagine an interview with Clonaid. The interviewer very seriously interviews the CEO for several hours about the scientific and ethical implications of their breakthrough. Then the interviewer says. " You know, nothing you've said makes sense, or sounds legitimate, and I suspect you are a fraud. But just in case, here are some cells from my deceased pet bunny. Call me when you've brought him back."

By: matteo

matteo — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 09:33:37 -0800

rabbits are very delicate creatures, if they get sick they can die very quickly even with good vet care. it's sad but interesting how you end up being close to your pets like they're members of the family, and you kind of mourn their passing like the passing of a relative who was dear to your heart I bet right now Oolong in bunny heaven is balancing awesome amounts of warm pancakes on his furry cute head (and, like thomcat eloquently said, he's eating lots of carrots and hay and veggies in his free time) What about a commemorative "Oolong" Mefi baseball shirt? He really was a honorary member of this community, wasn't he

By: konolia

konolia — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 09:47:53 -0800

Yeah, it was the last link. I don't think I could have taken that set of pics, myself.

By: blue_beetle

blue_beetle — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 09:48:48 -0800

Why, Oh why didn't we plan ahead?

By: KnitWit

KnitWit — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 09:49:43 -0800

I will not cry over the pancake rabbit's death. I will not cry over the pancake rabbit's death. I will not cry over the pancake rabbit's death. I will not cry over the pancake rabbit's death. Goodbye Oolong.

By: JoanArkham

JoanArkham — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 09:59:53 -0800

*teary now*

By: Shadowkeeper

Shadowkeeper — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 10:11:30 -0800

That made me a lot sadder than I expected.

By: tommasz

tommasz — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 10:11:32 -0800

I don't look forward to dealing with this when my rabbit (now 12 and in good health) moves on. Man, this is bothering me more than I'd like. I hope that Oolong is running free with Hazel and El-ahrairah.

By: maudlin

maudlin — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 10:24:11 -0800

Damn. I was OK until I looked at the alt text over the series of pictures. Once you lose a pet, you're absolutely primed to react to something like this. My sympathies to Oolong's owner.

By: Guy Smiley

Guy Smiley — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 10:34:43 -0800

Tough times for bunnies.

By: blissbat

blissbat — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 10:36:24 -0800

The last photo is a grave marker made from carrots, for those who didn't catch that. Goodnight, Oolong.

By: grabbingsand

grabbingsand — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 10:38:50 -0800

strange how things we thought were simple curiosities turn out to hold a surprising amount of sentimental value. there is a lesson here. one about compassion and admiration, even in the most unlikely of places. a fellow and his bunny. you and your neighbor.

By: rough ashlar

rough ashlar — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 10:48:39 -0800

7 years is a very elderly rabbit. When a bunny gets that old, you might be called on to wipe the bunnies bum because they have trouble keeping clean. So if you think the bunny hat pictures are somehow offensive, would you rather have his pictures of bunny cleaning?

By: Grangousier

Grangousier — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 10:56:50 -0800

The original thread came, quite literally, from gentler times. Oddly affecting, the passing of rabbits. I was also touched by Robert Fripp's tale of the unnecessary death of Beaton Bunnerius Bun in his DGM diary.

By: fuq

fuq — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 12:26:18 -0800

he is clearly balancing all of heaven upon his head. balance on oolong, balance on FOREVER

By: ParisParamus

ParisParamus — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 12:49:46 -0800

Pauvre, pauvre lapin.

By: dglynn

dglynn — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 13:38:03 -0800

Remembering Oolong in better times. That second picture is pretty sporty. Handsome rabbit, that Ooolong. Oddly affecting, indeed, Grangousier.

By: Cyrano

Cyrano — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 13:39:41 -0800

Has anyone thought to send Oolong's owner a link to this thread yet?

By: the_ill_gino

the_ill_gino — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 14:04:36 -0800

A single rabbit sized tear forms in my gland for the best litte patient internet rabbit ever.

By: y2karl

y2karl — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 14:16:13 -0800

I ran into Zoey, who lives with Ken, former owner of Antennaradio. When I started drylongso, I didn't even have a computer and I'd go over to their aprtment to record each show. They kept a lot of rabbits, some of their own and others they rescued or were placing. They're cute animals and adorable in thier own ways. Their lives are so short, though... This made me cry--it reminded me of when Gabby, my last cat got cancer and I had to put him down. He was 17, I'd had him my whole life and I didn't get another cat for another 16 years. I'm glad I got Nevada, but this just reminds me of the whole part of having a cat I dread. I did a lot of the same things as far as making a ceremony of it, not that it helped at all. I still miss him. I sent a note.

By: Ogre Lawless

Ogre Lawless — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 14:46:37 -0800

The last photo is a grave marker made from carrots, for those who didn't catch that. Thanks Blissbat. I thought I was going to go to hell for thinking "ears...he left the ears above ground...ears..."

By: aine42

aine42 — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 14:50:18 -0800

Weep. Bye bye, Oolong.

By: piskycritter

piskycritter — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 14:57:04 -0800

More meta Oolong remembering.

By: ParisParamus

ParisParamus — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 15:01:28 -0800

"for thinking "ears...he left the ears above ground...ears..." Me too. Thanks.

By: Mayor Curley

Mayor Curley — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 15:02:32 -0800

In The Brothers Karamzov, Dostoyevsky wrote "Love animals: God has given them the rudiments of thought and joy untroubled. Do not trouble their joy, don't harass them, don't deprive them of their happiness, don't work against God's intent. Man, do not pride yourself on superiority to animals; they are without sin, and you, with your greatness, defile the earth by your appearance on it, and leave the traces of your foulness after you-alas, it is true of almost every one of us!" Thanks to Oolong and his owner for forcing me to smile on some rotten days.

By: y2karl

y2karl — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 15:10:10 -0800

That was supposed to be I ran into Zoey... on the bus last week and told her about Oolong. They'd just lost a couple themselves--I asked her how long rabbits lived. She told me that rabbits outside in a hutch live 2 or 3 years but that they can live as long as 9 to 12 indoors. Outside of the monster size breeds like Great Danes and Wolfhounds, who top out at 12 years usually, dogs can live to be in their late teens and beyond, as can cats. I wonder how old Oolong was...

By: KnitWit

KnitWit — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 15:10:33 -0800

Thanks for that Curley

By: KnitWit

KnitWit — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 15:12:25 -0800

Oolong had just turned 8

By: mantid

mantid — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 15:30:14 -0800

this ruined my day. i actually found out about it RAW while looking for the hemp series: hemp

By: ac

ac — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 15:45:47 -0800

May his memory live on forever. Rabbits don't come as good as Oolong these days..sigh.

By: Pretty_Generic

Pretty_Generic — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 15:57:25 -0800

Automatic translation: The January seventh noon, suddenly, condition became the ‚í ‚é ‚. Power stops entering, the hand and foot is languidly so. A little, it increased only the water, but appetite at zero, is painful, is. And others so is, but coming out, it is possible only do. And... 19:30, the À ‚Á ‚Ä you put away gently. The eye opens. It was the last moment when it does not have pain. It seems like whether still you have lived of. It is surrounded in the companions. It is the abrupt separation. You just sleep, immediately it may occur be visible, can't help. The saxifrage slag attaching also the leaf of the dandelion of the favorite, it is burial. Way if, ƒE[ƒƒ".

By: Pretty_Generic

Pretty_Generic — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 16:06:08 -0800

And of course, just one more game of this...

By: y2karl

y2karl — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 16:26:55 -0800

Power stops entering, the hand and foot is languidly so. I wonder if Oolong had encephalitozoonosis.

By: y2karl

y2karl — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 16:37:06 -0800

More meta Oolong remembering. Well, I watched the dance before--but never with the sound on. Yipes.

By: ParisParamus

ParisParamus — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 20:00:57 -0800

I wrote to Daisy's owner, expressed my sympathies, and asked whether he/she had other rabbits and/or intended to acquire a new one.

By: biscotti

biscotti — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 20:56:38 -0800

Outside of the monster size breeds like Great Danes and Wolfhounds, who top out at 12 years usually, dogs can live to be in their late teens and beyond, as can cats. Actually, the giant breeds (including your beloved Bullies, which are considered giant) usually top out a whole lot younger than that, reaching 10 is unusual for a Dane (8 is average), and most giant breeds don't make it to 12. Average lifespan for most non-giant breeds is still less than 15 years (mutts and some small breeds can live longer, but average is still only around 15). Sorry :(. I'm surprised at how badly I feel about Oolong. I don't even like rabbits much. I think some of it is that his owner so clearly loved him, that it's sad to see someone lose something they cared about so much, there's also the meme quality Oolong had...I mean who could possibly not be amused by a rabbit who balanced things on his head? Still, 8 is a good age for a bunny, fragile little critters that they are. I hope there's an Oolong II.

By: mmcg

mmcg — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 21:06:43 -0800

Oh my God. I just got back to work, and normally I'm a completely emotionless (killing) machine, but that really brought me down. Jeeze.

By: y2karl

y2karl — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 21:12:23 -0800

I hope there's an Oolong II. Me too. I knew I was over-estimating on the big dogs--but then there was a 10 year old Scottish Deerhound in my old neighborhood and I'm told there's a breeder of Great Danes hereabouts who's got them up to 12 year life spans, which is a selling point.. My folks separated for awhile and the dogs were given away--I don't know how long our bulldogs lived. Is this true for French Bulldogs, too? That's my current dog of choice--I want something my cat can beat up.

By: gwint

gwint — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 21:47:49 -0800

Pretty_Generic, thanks for that computer translation-- what a weirdly beautiful and poetic eulogy.

By: biscotti

biscotti — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 22:35:32 -0800

Is this true for French Bulldogs, too? Sadly, yes. 8-12 years with 10 being average. But they're lovely little dogs (even if they do have a "help! I'm choking!" bark), and regardless of breed their lifespans are shorter than ours, so you enjoy the time you get. Unless you get a parrot or a tortoise (or you're very old already), you're going to (hopefully) see the end of any pet you have, it's just part of the deal. /derail And what gwint said. "It is the abrupt separation" indeed.

By: y2karl

y2karl — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 23:17:29 -0800

Parrots... Hmmm. Reminds me of a story I just heard. All things considered, I'd rather have a rabbit than a macaw, I think.

By: rushmc

rushmc — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 23:36:56 -0800

Some of you scare the hell out of me sometimes...you really do. Carry on....

By: kalessin

kalessin — Thu, 09 Jan 2003 05:50:21 -0800

I didn' t know Oolong before, but I'm glad I got to know Oolong today. Reminds me of an old house bunny I once shared with my ex-wife, by the name of Gossamer B. I hope Oolong and Gossamer B. snuffle noses sometime in the infinitie lettuce patch in the sky. Bye bye bunnies.

By: O9scar

O9scar — Thu, 09 Jan 2003 08:25:47 -0800

I actually found the pictures from last week to be more poignant and sad. We had to say goodbye to our beloved Sara (a basset hound) last year. Deep down I knew she had a good life with us, but it still broke my heart. Oolong had a wonderful life.

By: sparky

sparky — Thu, 09 Jan 2003 09:09:46 -0800

SO sad! What a sweet thread. I hope Oolong's dad will read this and know how much he was loved.

By: Summer

Summer — Thu, 09 Jan 2003 09:28:15 -0800

WAIL *leaps onto grave*

By: trillion

trillion — Thu, 09 Jan 2003 12:49:07 -0800

Why is this so depressing? :(

By: y2karl

y2karl — Thu, 09 Jan 2003 13:02:46 -0800

I'm sorry for this sudden news, Oolong passed away on January 7th. He was so well and cheerful as usual, but at 14:30 his condition changed suddenly, and he couldn't support himself less and less, seemed to feel dull. Then at 19:30, he softly stopped breathing in the arms of his ownerand completed his eight years and five months and more several days life filled with various adventure. Since opening this website, Oolong had gotten incredible lots of support from all over the world, not only in Japan, more than 25 countries. Surely he seems to be the best fortunate rabbit in the world. Thank you very much for your warmth. There is still some stock of Oolong's photograph not released yet, so this site will be regularly updated so far. Here he can live for ever. Wishing he can also live in hearts of you all, please. P.S. I'm receiving so many emails about condolences from over the world, please forgive me not to be able to send quick each reply. Thank you. Was this there yesterday?

By: lucien

lucien — Thu, 09 Jan 2003 13:21:38 -0800

Condolences from me too.

By: y2karl

y2karl — Thu, 09 Jan 2003 13:35:29 -0800

I would also submit the following Google searches: Oolong the rabbit Hironori-Akutagawa Sample quote from sample link: The happy days of Hironori Akutagawa and his rabbit I don't know what the site is actually called. The rabbit, Oolong, is a seven-year-old bunny from Hokkaido that has a knack for balancing objects on its head and likes hanging out in meadows. Hironori Akutagawa mostly stays behind the camera. Ninety percent of the site is in Japanese, and it doesn't matter. Just keep clicking on the list of pictures. There are more of them elsewhere on the site. Some are of Oolong (I quite liked this one); others are on other subjects: here, here, here, and here. I don't think I can explain why it cheers me up as much as it does. My bold.

By: ParisParamus

ParisParamus — Thu, 09 Jan 2003 15:14:46 -0800

Why do I associate the surname "Daisy" with our furry friend?

By: y2karl

y2karl — Fri, 10 Jan 2003 16:47:19 -0800

I went to defective yeti today, where I found "The rabbit of this day was observed this way." And so begins each entry in Oolong's photo diary. But first let me explain. I first discovered this website in June 2001. I had been searching for random images when I came across the photograph on the right. Evidently this all began with syberpunk, a quirky Japanese collection --with, best of all, the first three Oolong head balancing photographs.

By: kevspace

kevspace — Fri, 10 Jan 2003 21:08:59 -0800

I am sad, but I am also confused, as for exactly why I am so very sad for somebody's rabbit, and my head is spinning, because without the Internet, his headperformance would never have been known to me, and right now, I would not be sad. Uh... yeah.

By: thebabelfish

thebabelfish — Sat, 25 Jan 2003 16:37:06 -0800

I'm new-ish around here (been lurking a while) and I never knew the poor guy, but just the same, I'm sad, quite sad in fact. The more I go through the images, the sadder I become...I'll miss him, and I didn't even know the fellow... *sniff*

By: y2karl

y2karl — Tue, 28 Jan 2003 00:01:35 -0800

Got this in the email: Hello, Sorry for late reply. I'm quite cheered up and feel saved by your condolences. But I still mistake if Oolong is here, and sometimes call him unconsciously. I've bred rabbits for 23 years, so near the future I will get a new rabbit, I think. I'm going to let Oolong's homepage on if new update will be over. Since I'm a photographer, I wish to publish Oolong photo book if possible. Thank you for loving my Oolong so much! --- Hironori Akutagawa http://www.fsinet.or.jp/~sokaisha/rabbit/rabbit.htm

By: tr33hggr

tr33hggr — Tue, 28 Jan 2003 13:41:08 -0800

Yep, the alt text got me. I sit here in tears, and if I tried to explain why to my co-workers, well, they'd think me mad. Goodbye Oolong; I'm glad you were loved by so many.