Cuteness

 lim_{you→this cat D.N.E.}

_{To those naive few who still think that we don't need urgently to contain the epidemic of Cute propagating from Japan, I submit the above picture and rest my case.}

The photo is from an online slideshow of a Tokyo exhibit called "Pet Museum 2008."  In addition to the 31,417 photos on display (the article is very specific), there was a petting corner where real animals were submitted to the cute-seeking Japanese public.

I found the site through a link on the Asahi Shimbun's website--indeed, the whole thing seems to be part of the paper's "Leisure" section.  To put this in context: this is roughly the equivalent of the New York Times publishing an online slideshow of cooing babies reaching for the mobiles above their cribs.

Also, here are three more pictures along with their captions (Keep in mind that in the meantime, the New York Times Magazine is typesetting The Ethicist.)  You can watch the slide show yourself here.

Gentle, gentle now.

I said, that's enough petting!  It's hard on us popular cats.

And my favorite:

Why, this perfectly round face is irresistably charming!