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Published on June 1, 2004 By blogic In Humor
Jennifer (the wife) and I went out to walk the street fairs, today.

When the weather is good, New York is rampant with street fairs, every weekend day. Of course, all the street fairs have the same kinds of junk. Crystal cubes with silvery air bubble buildings, airbrushes of the World Trade Center, and the pickle place. The pickle place has great pickles, three for two bucks.

Walking back, we passed a chinese food place with a big yellow cat statue on the counter, right paw raised in salute. What the hell is that? Jennifer tells me that the cat brings good luck (what is the deal with the Chinese and good luck symbols? Don't they have enough already?), but to me it's pretty clear it's a Nazi cat, saluting a future fuhrer and his thousand year reign.

I'm Jewish, so the last thing I need is some cat planning the extermination of my people. That cat terrifies me. It looks like a fascist Hello Kitty, and really, wasn't Hello Kitty already fascist enough?

Adam

Comments
on Jun 01, 2004
I am sure a British dog will kill that cat for you, and then an American mongrel will come and take all the credit.
on Jun 01, 2004
Heh, that's rather funny Peter...
on Jun 01, 2004
Actually, that was hilarious (bit slow today, medication slowly taking hold...)
on Jun 01, 2004
That was actually sort of hilarious. I do get the comedic quality of it... and I Just want you to know that before I provide actual facts.

I collect cats like that, The statue is called a Maneki Neko (Beckoning Cat... The paw thats raised is in a beckoning motion.) They are used in Japanese (Not Chinese.) businesses to bring luck and fortune. Typically different colors indicate different things that the cat is supposed to do for you. Yellow/Gold is for wealth I believe. Here is the "legend" behind it...

"In the 17th century, there was a rundown and poverty-stricken temple in Tokyo. The temple's priest was very poor, but he shared what little food he had with his pet cat, Tama.

One day, a wealthy and important man was caught in a storm while hunting and he took refuge under a big tree near the temple. While he waited for the storm to pass, the man noticed a cat beckoning him to come inside the temple gate. This was so startling that he left the shelter of the tree to have a closer look at this unusual cat. At that moment, the tree was struck by lighting.

As a result, the wealthy man became friends with the poor priest, and the temple became prosperous. The priest and his cat never went hungry again.

When Tama died he was buried in the Goutokuji Temple's cat cemetery with respect and love, and the Maneki Neko was made in honor of him. A Maneki Neko in your place of business, your home or on your website is said to bring in good luck and visitors. "

Anyways.. Just thought maybe you'd like to learn something today