Chris Marker‘s Bestiaire, three short video haiku:

Bestiaire 1. Chat écoutant la musique
Bestiaire 2. An owl is An owl is an owl
Bestiaire 3. Zoo Piece

Simple meditations that reveal a more intimate side to the enigmatic director, best known for La jetée (1962) (which later inspired Terry Gilliam’s Twelve Monkeys) and Sans Soleil (1983). Marker has said of his work:

‘The process of making films in communion with oneself, the way a painter works or a writer, need not now be solely experimental. Contrary to what people say, using the first-person in films tends to be a sign of humility: All I have to offer is myself.’

Now in his nineties, Marker the “mercurial international man of semiotic mystery” continues to work, details of which can be found here.
 

 
More animal haiku, plus bonus documentary, after the jump…
 

 
An accidental Google search (don’t ask) led me to a rather odd subculture/phenomena in Google images: cats and mushrooms. There’re cats pictured with Cremini mushrooms, Porcini, wild mushrooms and even the psychedelic kind. (I’m in no way endorsing ‘shrooming your cat, btw.)

According to an article on NPR’s website titled Mystery Solved: Why Cats Crave Mushrooms, cats are attracted to the glutamate chemical in mushrooms. Vets warn though, cats probably shouldn’t be eating the fungi. Some could poison them.
 

 

 
More photos of cats and mushrooms after the jump…

 
I’ve never seen a cat loathe somebody, as much as this cat, Sashimi, hates YouTuber “Soezimax.” Sashimi hates him so much, he/she actually attacks him like a rabid Rottweiler!

Here are Soesimax’s thoughts on incurring the wrath of Sashimi:

I am disliked by a cat.The name of the cat is “sashimi”. She attacks me at the risk of life.The fear! The seriousness of the animal! Why would it be it in such a thing?

 
More Sashimi after the jump…

 
Before there was Keyboard Cat, there was this little guy playing “Jesus Loves Me” on the 1950s children’s TV show Andy’s Gang. As Robert Popper puts it, “Well, I’ve seen many things in my life, but…”
 

 
(via The Daily What via Robert Popper )

 
Charley says… was a series of Public Information Films, shown in the UK during the 1970s and 1980s, in which a talkative cat, Charley, advised a young boy, Tony, about everyday safety issues. Along with my fellow generation of young things, I learnt not to go off with strangers, never play with matches, and beware the dangers of tables. Sadly, these days charlie usually advises me to do all of the above.

The voice of the incomprehensible ginger tomcat was supplied by Kenny Everett, while the boy was voiced by the child of one of producer Richard Taylor’s neighbors. The Charley says… animations were so popular that they were voted the UK’s favorite Public Information Film, and came in at number 95 in Channel 4’s 100 Greatest Cartoons in 2005.
 

 
More miaows of wisdom from Charley, after the jump…
 

 
(via The Daily What and reddit)

 
In The Cat Inside William Burroughs paid a great compliment to his favorite animals:

“My relationships with my cats has saved me from a deadly, pervasive ignorance.”

Now, isn’t that a true thing? That our relationship with animals can have such a benevolent influence. I’m spending the week looking after a friend’s dog (a cute, wee strawberry-blonde, Lakeland Terrier), who has, over the years, taught me much about myself, for which I will always be grateful.

In thanks for that, here is a small selection of some interesting people and their lovely animal companions.
 

James Dean and his cat, Marcus, a gift from Elizabeth Taylor, who took custody of Marcus after Dean’s death.
 

Frank Sinatra and Ringo.
 
More animal pics, after the jump…
 

 
If you liked the house that looked like Hitler, then you might appreciate these snaps of cats that look like Der Fürrer, taken from the website Cats That Look Like Hitler (yes, there’s a site for this kind of thing…). It’s managed by Paul Neve, who explains, on the FAQs page, why Kitlers:

Most cats possess that typically feline facial expression that implies a secret longing for world domination. All cats want to rule the world, that’s part of the nature of the species, but to be a genuine Kitler there has to be some other similarity when compared to that ever popular German/Austrian dictator. We’re looking for that toothbrush ‘tache, that most unfashionable of facial adornments. Or the flock-of-seagulls hairdo. Perhaps an evil glint in its eye, or maybe a Kitler will be Sieg Miaowing their paw all the way to their dinner plate. Of course, the best Kitlers will have all of the above.

A website about cats that look like Hitler. Are you mental or what?
Yes. Next question.

Alright, let me rephrase that last question. WHY a website about cats that look like Hitler? Where did the idea come from?
Originally, a Dutchman called Koos Plegt stumbled on the very first Kitler in his hometown of Zwolle in Holland. Once he’d picked himself off of the floor from laughing, he set up a quick blogsite with other examples of the Kitlerian species to entertain his mates. I (Paul Neve) saw that blogsite and once I’d picked myself up from the floor laughing, spoke to Koos about collaborating on a proper website devoted to that laudable example of feline prowess, the Kitler. The result is the CatsThatLookLikeHitler.com you all now know and love. Or hate. Koos has unfortunately disappeared into a subspace vortex or something (or certainly he’s ignoring all contact) so it’s just me all on my lonesome now.

Aren’t you glorifying Hitler?
Let’s get this straight. Hitler was an arsehole. Hitler was a disgusting, pus-ridden lump of excrement from the devil’s own anus. Before we go any further, let’s just reiterate that. As such, I think it’s entirely appropriate to reduce him to an object of ridicule by comparing his physical appearance and styling to a bunch of fluffy, cute moggies.

More Kitlers can be found here.
 

 
More pix of Mein Kats after the jump…
 
Previously on DM

The house that looks like Hitler…apparently

Astounding clip features cat contestants lifting an increasingly heavy series of weights aka fish. Nice!

(Via Pat Fish aka The Jazz Butcher)