This is our cat "Comet". So-named because his fur makes him look like a dirty ice ball, he has a huge tail, he tends to fly off somewhere and then reappear without warning, and that name starts with a "C" and ends with a "T", just like "CAT".
Anyway, he went missing in early January. We would let him go outside so as to burn off some energy. Our temporary house sitter, however, was instructed not to let him out while we were gone, but did so anyway. Comet vanished the second time the house sitter let him out. We searched the area, put out flyers, posted on missing pet sites, called all the animal shelters within 25 miles, etc. But there was no trace of him.
There were several sighting reports, but all those proved to be different cats. Eventually, we had to give up.
Then a week ago the Humane Society from the next town south of here called. They scanned a cat that was brought in and the chip matched Comet.
The story that we got indicates that he started showing up occasionally in the yard of an elderly lady's house in May, about 4 miles from here. The only way to get back here from there is to go through a shopping center, or across a dam that separates two reservoirs. She fed him some, but didn't try to catch him or bring him inside her house. Eventually she did get him when he was in a box that she put out for him to sleep in. At that point she took him to the Humane Society (last week).
So somehow this little cat survived in the wild for 7 months through several snowstorms, sub-zero temperatures, packs of coyotes roaming around, bobcats, foxes, stray dogs, bears, and even mountain lions. Now if only he could talk (English).
@dcarr said:
So somehow this little cat survived in the wild for 7 months through several snowstorms, sub-zero temperatures, packs of coyotes roaming around, bobcats, foxes, stray dogs, bears, and even mountain lions. Now if only he could talk (English).
In typical cat fashion, he's blaming you for his ordeal.
@dcarr said:
So somehow this little cat survived in the wild for 7 months through several snowstorms, sub-zero temperatures, packs of coyotes roaming around, bobcats, foxes, stray dogs, bears, and even mountain lions. Now if only he could talk (English).
In typical cat fashion, he's blaming you for his ordeal.
Well yes, although that picture was taken BEFORE he ran off.
Technically, he is a teenager (in cat years). So that may explain the attitude.
OK, here are selected photos taken during the last few weeks while traveling in Japan on a Japan Festivals Tour.
The visited locations included Japanese Summer Festivals held in Akita (Kanto or Pole Lantern Festival), Aomori (Nebuta Festival), and Kochi (Yosakoi Festival) Japan.
The below are photos from the first of the three festivals, the Kanto Festival in Akita Japan.
Some background regarding the Kanto Festival:
Originated in the Edo period with recorded references as early as 1789 the festival evolved from a summer ritual to drive away bad spirits and illness. Eventually the idea of using lanterns hoisted on poles evolved as the festival focused more on praying for a good harvest. The lanterns represented bales of rice and when attached to the poles symbolized rice growing on a stalk.
After the festival not going forward in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID (or Corona as the Japanese term it), last year's resumption was restrained and participants were not allowed to voice the traditional chant of "dokkoisho, dokkoisho" and instead a recording was played. This year saw the return of voiced chants and the unmasking of many of its participants. In addition the number of participating groups increased to 67 and at 256 there was close to a record number of lantern poles being paraded through the streets. The largest of these contained 46 lanterns hoisted on a single pole as high as 52 feet. The assembled lanterns and pole weighed up to 110 pounds and each were hoisted by a single performer who balanced them on either the shoulder, hip or head.
First, the approximate 110 pounds of lanterns attached to a bamboo pole are balanced on the hip in a daytime balancing competition:
Then on the shoulder:
And finally on the head:
As night approaches the candles in the lanterns are lit and they are lined up for the evening procession:
Anticipation builds as the time for raising of the lanterns approaches:
One can also view lighter pole lanterns being readied for hoisting by youngsters:
Then in one full swoop the multitude of pole lanterns are lifted and raised In unison:
As the sound of drums beat and chants are heard, the pole holders maintain their lanterns aloft, some balancing them on their hips, others on their shoulders, and even some on their heads:
Yes sometimes the performers lose balance of the poles and the lanterns have been known to veer into the mass of spectators lining the street, and yes there is a constant concern with regard to fire. It would be a challenge to replicate such a festival in the United States with the potential liability concerns here. (That said, there reportedly was at least one attempted replication of the festival in San Diego in 1976.)
OK, here are photos taken within the past two weeks of the second Japanese Festival that was attended on the Japan Festival Tour. This festival, The Nebuta Festival, was held in Aomori Japan, the largest city in northern Honshu and is the most widely attended one in its area, the Tohoku Region, with up to 3 million visitors attending.
Here is the history and background regarding not only the festival itself, but also the details relating to this year's event. As to this year's rendition it stands out as being the first in four years to be held without restrictions. In 2020 and 2021 it was cancelled in its entirety and last year allowed to go forward with a number of restrictions including limitations on the number of participants. Noteworthy is the fact that the local residents spend an entire year working on and making the large colorful floats known as Nebuta which highlight the festival. The floats are typically 9 meters wide, 7 meters deep, and 5 meters high and are constructed out of Japanese Washi Paper which is stretched over bamboo and wire frames and then painted in vivid colors with translucent paint that allows light from within to make them glow in the dark.
While the characters depicted on the floats vary and are generally depicted in Kabuki theatre style, the faces of ancient warriors on many reflect the historical origin of the festival which celebrated the preparation for war. (A neighboring festival in the city of Hirosaki, the Neputa Festival, is more subdued with smaller floats as it celebrates the victorious return from battle while impliedly recognizing the lives lost.). In the early 2000s groups of protestors attempted to disrupt the Nebuta Festival although it is not clear if their motivation was related to anti-war sentiment.
The Festival itself originated from the mid Edo Period and evolved from a tradition of releasing candle lit lanterns into the river to float out to sea. By 1716 dancing was added and the lanterns were carried by hand. Eventually those hand held lanterns evolved into huge candle lit floats which today are illuminated by generator powered lights. (Given the extensive wooden structures in Aomori, the candle lit floats posed such a fire hazard that in some years the festival itself was cancelled on occasion due to the concern.)
While the Nebuta Festival extends over a period of several days, it is only on the last and final day that a daytime parade of the floats is held and that a Nebuta nighttime Sea Parade is added along with a fireworks display at the festival's grand finale. Up to half a dozen of the winning floats are lighted and put on boats to form the Sea Parade as a canopy of fireworks goes off overhead. My photos below were taken on this last and final day of this year's 2023 Nebuta Festival.
As to the fireworks display it continues on for up to an hour with local businesses and organizations competing against each other to put on the most dramatic fireworks. Being a Rotarian I was pleasantly surprised to learn that one such sponsoring organization was the local Aomori Rotary Club.
Each of the three festivals we attended had their own individual chants. For the Nebuta Festival the chant is, "Rassera, Rassera" and it is voiced by the individuals dancing along with the Nebuta floats. The word "Rassera" is actually a local dialect for the Japanese word "irashai" meaning "welcome" or in this instance, "come join us."
At least 15 of the full-sized Nebuta Floats participated in this year's festival.
Pictured first is the greeting by the locals as our ship arrives at the Aomori Port:
It looks like the Viking Cruise line's ship moored next to us must have arrived first though.
Then it was on to the daytime Nebuta Festival Parade route as we had our first glimpse of an approaching Nebuta float preceded by a corps of Taiko Drummers:
Then the floats and dancers followed:
Following the parade some of the floats were offered for public display at a venue close to the harbor:
And the public began to gather in anticipation of the upcoming Sea Parade:
Then it was on to the evening Sea Parade in which the winning Nebuta Floats were illuminated from within and placed on boats to circle the Aomori Harbor:
The evening Sea Parade was accompanied by a canopy of Fireworks:
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Initially, it was for just Fridays, but that has changed to all days.
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This is our cat "Comet". So-named because his fur makes him look like a dirty ice ball, he has a huge tail, he tends to fly off somewhere and then reappear without warning, and that name starts with a "C" and ends with a "T", just like "CAT".
Anyway, he went missing in early January. We would let him go outside so as to burn off some energy. Our temporary house sitter, however, was instructed not to let him out while we were gone, but did so anyway. Comet vanished the second time the house sitter let him out. We searched the area, put out flyers, posted on missing pet sites, called all the animal shelters within 25 miles, etc. But there was no trace of him.
There were several sighting reports, but all those proved to be different cats. Eventually, we had to give up.
Then a week ago the Humane Society from the next town south of here called. They scanned a cat that was brought in and the chip matched Comet.
The story that we got indicates that he started showing up occasionally in the yard of an elderly lady's house in May, about 4 miles from here. The only way to get back here from there is to go through a shopping center, or across a dam that separates two reservoirs. She fed him some, but didn't try to catch him or bring him inside her house. Eventually she did get him when he was in a box that she put out for him to sleep in. At that point she took him to the Humane Society (last week).
So somehow this little cat survived in the wild for 7 months through several snowstorms, sub-zero temperatures, packs of coyotes roaming around, bobcats, foxes, stray dogs, bears, and even mountain lions. Now if only he could talk (English).
I have no comet.
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Happy Friday!
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.
Because there is only one Comet !
.
In typical cat fashion, he's blaming you for his ordeal.
1938 & 1939
http://www.pcgs.com/SetRegistry/publishedset.aspx?s=142753
https://www.autismforums.com/media/albums/acrylic-colors-by-rocco.291/
Well yes, although that picture was taken BEFORE he ran off.
Technically, he is a teenager (in cat years). So that may explain the attitude.
This NGC got a "star" designation. (NGC 6611 or Messier 16)
Remember to stay in line
Lafayette Grading Set
Remembering RickO, RIP!
Shiny things distract me.
Employees back in the day really enjoyed their jobs
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For this Friday's posting - Views from yesterday Friday at the Opening Day of the State Fair:
Who's the guy in the middle??
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Heres looking at you
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OK, here are selected photos taken during the last few weeks while traveling in Japan on a Japan Festivals Tour.
The visited locations included Japanese Summer Festivals held in Akita (Kanto or Pole Lantern Festival), Aomori (Nebuta Festival), and Kochi (Yosakoi Festival) Japan.
The below are photos from the first of the three festivals, the Kanto Festival in Akita Japan.
Some background regarding the Kanto Festival:
Originated in the Edo period with recorded references as early as 1789 the festival evolved from a summer ritual to drive away bad spirits and illness. Eventually the idea of using lanterns hoisted on poles evolved as the festival focused more on praying for a good harvest. The lanterns represented bales of rice and when attached to the poles symbolized rice growing on a stalk.
After the festival not going forward in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID (or Corona as the Japanese term it), last year's resumption was restrained and participants were not allowed to voice the traditional chant of "dokkoisho, dokkoisho" and instead a recording was played. This year saw the return of voiced chants and the unmasking of many of its participants. In addition the number of participating groups increased to 67 and at 256 there was close to a record number of lantern poles being paraded through the streets. The largest of these contained 46 lanterns hoisted on a single pole as high as 52 feet. The assembled lanterns and pole weighed up to 110 pounds and each were hoisted by a single performer who balanced them on either the shoulder, hip or head.
First, the approximate 110 pounds of lanterns attached to a bamboo pole are balanced on the hip in a daytime balancing competition:
Then on the shoulder:
And finally on the head:
As night approaches the candles in the lanterns are lit and they are lined up for the evening procession:
Anticipation builds as the time for raising of the lanterns approaches:
One can also view lighter pole lanterns being readied for hoisting by youngsters:
Then in one full swoop the multitude of pole lanterns are lifted and raised In unison:
As the sound of drums beat and chants are heard, the pole holders maintain their lanterns aloft, some balancing them on their hips, others on their shoulders, and even some on their heads:
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coinJP, Outhaul ,illini420,MICHAELDIXON, Fade to Black,epcjimi1,19Lyds,SNMAN,JerseyJoe, bigjpst, DMWJR , lordmarcovan, Weiss,Mfriday4962,UtahCoin,Downtown1974,pitboss,RichieURich,Bullsitter,JDsCoins,toyz4geo,jshaulis, mustanggt, SNMAN
Yes sometimes the performers lose balance of the poles and the lanterns have been known to veer into the mass of spectators lining the street, and yes there is a constant concern with regard to fire. It would be a challenge to replicate such a festival in the United States with the potential liability concerns here. (That said, there reportedly was at least one attempted replication of the festival in San Diego in 1976.)
A rather tight right turn - buckle up folks
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The calm before the storm. Newport Beach sunset last night. Light rain now.
My brother lives in El Cajon near San Diego and says it’s coming soon.
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My cat Molly. Shot late last night in a dark environment. This iPhone 13 does a great job with low lightning environments:
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OK, here are photos taken within the past two weeks of the second Japanese Festival that was attended on the Japan Festival Tour. This festival, The Nebuta Festival, was held in Aomori Japan, the largest city in northern Honshu and is the most widely attended one in its area, the Tohoku Region, with up to 3 million visitors attending.
Here is the history and background regarding not only the festival itself, but also the details relating to this year's event. As to this year's rendition it stands out as being the first in four years to be held without restrictions. In 2020 and 2021 it was cancelled in its entirety and last year allowed to go forward with a number of restrictions including limitations on the number of participants. Noteworthy is the fact that the local residents spend an entire year working on and making the large colorful floats known as Nebuta which highlight the festival. The floats are typically 9 meters wide, 7 meters deep, and 5 meters high and are constructed out of Japanese Washi Paper which is stretched over bamboo and wire frames and then painted in vivid colors with translucent paint that allows light from within to make them glow in the dark.
While the characters depicted on the floats vary and are generally depicted in Kabuki theatre style, the faces of ancient warriors on many reflect the historical origin of the festival which celebrated the preparation for war. (A neighboring festival in the city of Hirosaki, the Neputa Festival, is more subdued with smaller floats as it celebrates the victorious return from battle while impliedly recognizing the lives lost.). In the early 2000s groups of protestors attempted to disrupt the Nebuta Festival although it is not clear if their motivation was related to anti-war sentiment.
The Festival itself originated from the mid Edo Period and evolved from a tradition of releasing candle lit lanterns into the river to float out to sea. By 1716 dancing was added and the lanterns were carried by hand. Eventually those hand held lanterns evolved into huge candle lit floats which today are illuminated by generator powered lights. (Given the extensive wooden structures in Aomori, the candle lit floats posed such a fire hazard that in some years the festival itself was cancelled on occasion due to the concern.)
While the Nebuta Festival extends over a period of several days, it is only on the last and final day that a daytime parade of the floats is held and that a Nebuta nighttime Sea Parade is added along with a fireworks display at the festival's grand finale. Up to half a dozen of the winning floats are lighted and put on boats to form the Sea Parade as a canopy of fireworks goes off overhead. My photos below were taken on this last and final day of this year's 2023 Nebuta Festival.
As to the fireworks display it continues on for up to an hour with local businesses and organizations competing against each other to put on the most dramatic fireworks. Being a Rotarian I was pleasantly surprised to learn that one such sponsoring organization was the local Aomori Rotary Club.
Each of the three festivals we attended had their own individual chants. For the Nebuta Festival the chant is, "Rassera, Rassera" and it is voiced by the individuals dancing along with the Nebuta floats. The word "Rassera" is actually a local dialect for the Japanese word "irashai" meaning "welcome" or in this instance, "come join us."
At least 15 of the full-sized Nebuta Floats participated in this year's festival.
Pictured first is the greeting by the locals as our ship arrives at the Aomori Port:
It looks like the Viking Cruise line's ship moored next to us must have arrived first though.
Then it was on to the daytime Nebuta Festival Parade route as we had our first glimpse of an approaching Nebuta float preceded by a corps of Taiko Drummers:
Then the floats and dancers followed:
Following the parade some of the floats were offered for public display at a venue close to the harbor:
And the public began to gather in anticipation of the upcoming Sea Parade:
Then it was on to the evening Sea Parade in which the winning Nebuta Floats were illuminated from within and placed on boats to circle the Aomori Harbor:
The evening Sea Parade was accompanied by a canopy of Fireworks:
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