Summer’s Over: Fine Friday Links for 9/18/09
But first, a story about a cat.
I grew up with four cats, which I cleverly named in matching pairs: Sugar, Spice, Thunder and Lightning. Back then, when I was nine years old, this with the national criteria for genius and the most reliable harbinger for future success (that and creating small musical instruments out of soap). It’s because of my extensive experience with cats that I am allowed (and qualified) to say this: cats can be spooky.
Many of you who are mysteriously drawn to cats will argue this, and that’s fine. You might need more than my deep, intuitive knowledge that cats will eventually spiral you into a haze of depression and regret. If so, no worries.
Meet Oscar, the Death Cat. Oscar is a cat who is preternaturally attuned to the onset of human death. Oscar resides within the dementia unit at Rhode Island’s Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where he makes his rounds, quietly selecting victims and sending them off into the nether.
After about six months, the staff noticed Oscar would make his own rounds, just like the doctors and nurses. He’d sniff and observe patients, then sit beside people who would wind up dying in a few hours. Dosa said Oscar seems to take his work seriously and is generally aloof. “This is not a cat that’s friendly to people,” he said.
Strangely, the nurses and parents of the victims at Steere House have developed a fondness for this cat that skulks around and kills people who otherwise could be – what’s the word? – oh yeah, living.
Chances are you’re shaking your head, slowly backing away from the computer, refusing to believe what you are reading. Need more proof, do you?
If Oscar really is a furry grim reaper, it’s also possible his behavior could be driven by self-centered pleasures like a heated blanket placed on a dying person, Dodman said.
So, bottom line: if you’re not feeling very well and a cat starts chumming you up and staring at you for extended periods of time and crawling into your lap because it’s still warm, bad news.
Anyway.
Here is the best of the Internet this week:
- From Taco Bell to drug kingpin: the story of Nate Norman and how he built an unlikely drug empire.
- My Life As a Line Cook – a story about how a very talented home chef spent one night in a restaurant kitchen on the line. Makes you appreciate how difficult restaurant work really is.
- Turns out that I’m completely guilty of hyperforeignism. Are you? (Via kottke)
- Great insight from Gary Vaynerchuk: “Someone with less passion and talent and poorer content can totally beat you if they’re willing to work longer and harder than you are.” Bottom line: talent isn’t enough. Hustle matters, big time.
- How is Dubai’s multi-billion dollar property deal (called “The World”) doing? Not so well.
- One of the most universally powerful weapons against H1N1? Washing your hands.
- Finally, if you want to know what football games are going to be televised in your area this Sunday, check out these NFL TV distribution maps.
Have a great weekend, everyone.
