The calendar says the moon is only 12% waxing, but our godsdamned little nutball dogs and some of the BJ commentors are acting like it’s a full disc at apogee. Which means it’s time to introduce the Japanese reality tv sport of… competitive fish-lifting:
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It’s clear the mighty Tunch has some Oriental ancestry. Notice the Big White Brute is also the only cat who works out the balance mechanics sufficiently to implement gnawing his own carry-handle (on a fish that weighs almost as much as he does), rather than just grabbing the convenient built-in grip.
Wannabe Speechwriter
They revealed the identity of River Song. Not sure if anyone gets that reference.
Yutsano
This could explain why Jill the border collie was being a touch on the bizarre side tonight. At the same time I appreciate the sentiment.
Joseph Nobles
@Wannabe Speechwriter: HUSH!
Jewish Steel
That was a compelling watch, Anne Laurie. If it had gone on another 40 min I think I would have had to see it through. I’m glad it didn’t
jl
I just skipped to the end, so I could watch Tunch win!
Yay Tunch!
Why didn’t Cole post some pics, I though he would be proud.
jl
Ha ha. I was joking. I knew it wasn’t Tunch in the clip.
Looks like the biggest thing they put out was a bluefin tuna. Tunch is a lot bigger than that.
Triassic Sands
It’s good to see the Japanese are doing original, basic scientific research. I suspect they’re working on some kind of weapon.
Yutsano
@Triassic Sands:
FTFY. Though it does not necessarily preclude your conclusion.
opie_jeanne
@Annie Laurie
I love you. We watched the whole thing and giggled like mad people.
jane from hell
That was some must-see-TV!
Adding: there’s been some weirdness going on all week…
Warren Terra
@Wannabe Speechwriter: , I do get the reference – but I also don’t have cable, and I watch the show when Netflix has the discs for me. In about 9-10 months, probably (though I think Netflix has just lost all the copies of the Bonus Materials disc of the previous series). So, please, as Joseph Nobles said: hush.
Warren Terra
@jl:
I don’t speak any Japanese (let alone read the script), but I do eat moderately fluent Sushi, and when the biggest fish was on display it sure sounded like the announcer was saying “maguro” – so I think you’re right.
Mary G
Those kitties must have thought they died and went to heaven!
Joseph Nobles
@Warren Terra: Oh, wow. At least I can go home and watch it on the DVR. I’m not going to spoil anything to say that Neil Gaiman’s episode a couple of weeks ago was just as fantastic as you’d think it would be. My second-favorite ever, right behind “Vincent and the Doctor.”
funluvn
Okay, that video was hysterical. When they put the cat faces on the left hand side of the screen to show who had done what so far, and again at the end to show the winner, it was just too damn funny! Thank you for the time I can’t get back, but was glad to waste for once.
funluvn
Waxing or waning?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkVJWaPreSI
harlana
Why oh why can’t we have shows like this on American teevee??
Cats doing anything, much less fish-lifting, are much more entertaining and appealing than say, contestants on American Idol.
WereBear
Gosh, it looks like the cats are thinking and planning. Yet science tells us this is impossible!
The scientists who don’t live with cats, that is.
jeffreyw
Kitteh thread needs moar kitteh.
PeakVT
Possibly a repost: Florida Homeowner Forecloses on Bank.
Josie
@jeffreyw: Homer is growing up so handsomely. Hope Buddy is doing better?
harlana
New Homer pic! yay!
TheMightyTrowel
From Steve Benen, Nick Kristof goes there.
jeffreyw
@Josie:
Buddy’s blood tests positive for erhlichiosis, a tick borne disease that attacks bone marrow and blood cells. He’s started on a course of antibiotics, doxycycline, and will be on them for several weeks if not longer. They will do additional titers in three weeks to gauge the direction of antibody levels.
Symptoms include loss of energy, stiffness in joints, changes in behavior-all of these are also consistent with aging so that antibody screens are the only way to really pin down the diagnosis.
WereBear
@jeffreyw: Wow, sounds like a great catch on the diagnosis front. Are you giving him any probiotics? I open a capsule on our cat’s food once a week or so; he would need more.
cathyx
I’m really glad that the video was in a language that I couldn’t understand. It was probably very annoying and not even funny.
Katie5
To represent the dogs, I give you the sixth annual surf dog competition. The second one looks a bit like Lily.
JPL
@TheMightyTrowel: Thanks for the link. The entire Kristof article is worth reading and I hope that Balloon Juice readers will be able to link to the NYTimes to read it.
Sarah was on Fox news discussing tax cuts for corporations, medicare overhaul and drilling in ANWR and that was just the first five minutes. Five minutes is all I can take.
Anyone watching the French Open?
jeffreyw
@WereBear: No on the probiotics, I will mention them to Mrs J. She is food master and medicine woman.
Several years ago he became indifferent, it seemed, to going along with me when I took off on the quad for a ride. Ordinarily he would be eager for a run. Hell, going for a run was his favorite thing. He would go as far as the edge of the yard and peel off to return to his favorite shade tree. Our vet gets credit for suggesting a blood panel, it came back positive for Rocky Mtn Fever. We dosed him with antibiotics for that, and he shook off the lethargy and the disease. He regained his joy in the run. Alas, we started seeing the same behavior again.
Josie
@jeffreyw: I’m sorry to hear he has something so serious, but it is good that you have pinned it down and can do something about it. Please keep us posted. He is such a beautiful dog and a good friend to Homer.
WereBear
@jeffreyw: Yes, a dog who doesn’t want to go for a run is a sick doggie.
jeffreyw
@WereBear:
[update] Mrs J sniffs, and informs me that probiotics are an important part of the critter diet and of course they get them. She asked me, whilst tapping her foot, if I’ve had my yogurt yet today.
bkny
@harlana: exactly what i was wondering…
this was so funny to watch; notice how the kittehs look around to be sure the coast was clear before snatching and taking off for a fine dinner (or two).
also, too, their tails look shorter — are they cropped in japan?
gex
@JPL: I am. I woke up to Fed being up a break in the first. I’m in Fed’s camp this year. But it isn’t looking good…
bago
My favorite part was the KMFDM during the elimination of the cats.
bago
Sample KMFDM song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7_s0TUgwzM&feature=related
TheMightyTrowel
@gex: For some reason I always watch the tennis finals even though I have absolutely no understanding of tennis scoring.
inventor
I remember seeing Japanese television in the early 90s and thinking that those crazy-ass game shows that humiliate their contestants would never fly in the U.S.
Obviously I was wrong.
I expect to see the U.S. version of this show sometime next year.
tesslibrarian
@harlana: I’m with you. At first it was sort of silly, but by minute 6, I was thinking, “I’d totally watch this show, and set up the dvr if I wasn’t home when it was on.”
Though, I am not sure I’d want to hear English play by play. I’d like it with subtitles, so we could understand the post-contest panel discussion.
Thanks for posting, AL–that made my Sunday.
wormtown
th e video was great! Can we start a fund to send Tunch over to compete?