Mark Kausler’s CatBlog

Thank You for Your Empathy!

Gosh, thanks, readers, six of you especially, for helping my friend Greg Ford and his continuing problems with the horrible fire that burned out his and Ronnie Scheib’s apartment in New York. They say that the computer, with it’s instant communication, email, Facebook, Twitter, etc., social networking sites in general, has a tendency to mute the sense of empathy with our fellow human beings. At least here, my readers have proven that even though you read and interact with computers, you have not lost empathy or compassion for folks in need, like Greg and Ronnie. You may continue to donate, as this problem will be ongoing for quite some time. My paypal address is kausler@att.net, and you may contact Greg directly at: Greg Ford, 115 West 30th St., Suite 1204, New York, N.Y. 10001. Thanks again, everyone.

Felix this week (11-9 to 11-15-1936) has the little round cat trying to find out what makes the disembodied “Clutching Hand” move about the old house. In the 11-14, Tanglefoot the detective and all the cops leave Felix to face the Hand alone! In the Sunday, we get a beautiful Messmer chicken joke, Felix picks up another enemy, trying to secure the chicken coop for the winter.

Krazy, from 4-29 to 5-4-1940, takes up the ongoing saga of Mimi the French Poodle’s impact on Coconino. This week, everybody wants to wear a top hat and a cane to impress Mimi, even Krazy. When Krazy gets involved from 5-2 on, Offissa Pupp won’t interfere with his romantic designs on Mimi. Ignatz just won’t take Krazy seriously, jamming his top hat down over his head in the 5-4.

 

In Patrick, from 1/31 to 2/4/1966, Patrick seems to be pre-figuring Donald Trump, seldom smiling, taking pleasure from greed. I like the psychiatrist’s couch and Patrick’s extremely conditional love for his Mother, expressed in the 2/4.

In keeping with the oral tradition I’ve started, here is another humorous short story from Dorothy Parker, “Mrs. Hofstadter on Josephine Street”, featuring a manservant named “Horace”. This story flirts with Black stereotypes, 1934 style, but Horace is a fascinating character, entirely revealed by his own continuous monologues about himself. This story was a lot of fun to read, especially the brief scenes between the Colonel and Horace. The New Yorker originally published it, on August 4, 1934. It runs about 17 minutes, so load up and enjoy, I’m using Archive.org now, and there are no annoying ads like over on ZShare. Go here: http://www.archive.org/details/Mrs.HofstadterOnJosephineStreet2

Remember to boycott BP oil, Arco here in the Southland, as they continue to kill the Gulf and fiddle clumsily with their various containment gadgets while the fishermen burn. Let me know what you think, my empathetic readers!