Question of the Week 01/15/03:

It is our sad duty to inform you all that Oolong, the Pancake-Balancing Bunny, has passed away. To quote her owner:

It is abrupt, but January seventh, as for the (Oolong?) you died.
When, the origin it does not change and being to be very vigorous, it does, but 14:30 time, condition to become the (unknown) suddenly, gradually the body stopping being able to move, 19:30 time, with in the arm of the owner In order to sleep, to pull breath gently and take, a little more than 8 year 5 months the life when it is full in venture was closed.
Since establishing this HP, the Japanese country from the first the inside of the world The empty it receives the support from the extent many people who are not believed, this much, it isn't the happy rabbit not to be?
You think. Truly, thank you.
To take still, because there is a photograph which is accumulated, already for a while this HP continues. Here eternally as for (Oolong?) living continuing you can be. Even from now on, (Oolong?) please may.

For the full details, go to:
http://sokaisha.hp.infoseek.co.jp/030108/030108.htm

To commemorate Oolong and the strangeness of her head-performance, we would like you to take a moment to reflect with us:

WHAT *DIDN'T* WE KNOW ABOUT OOLONG?

In addition to balancing pancakes, she was balancing the books for the Yakuza.

She tried to blackmail Peter Jackson into producing a three-move epic version of "Watership Down."

The CSI team discovered an unusually large quantity of Bisquick on the scene.

Lived a life of violent rabbit crime.  Now balancing searing coals on head.

She really DID lay Cadbury's Eggs.

Had been scheduled to compete in the food-wearing contest on Man vs Beast.

The sordid details of her affair with the Trix Rabbit.

Oolong's first brush with fame was a "hop-on" role in William F. Claxton's 1972 horror flick "Night of the Lepus," starring DeForest Kelly.  She balanced a severed hand on her head.

I sit and ponder
Pancakes on a rabbit's head
Now a feast for worms

Oolong has become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.  But she mostly still keeps pastries on her head.

I'm not sure about Oolong, but I think all our base are belong to her former owner...

Balanced Filet-of-Fish Sandwich on head until 1997, when her contract was bought out by IHOP.

She plays a major role in "The Matrix Reloaded."

E! True Hollywood Stories talks about Oolong's meteoric rise to fame, her slow decent into drugs, and finally her comeback just after her death.  Of course, the pictures are all going to be of Elvis, and the name 'Oolong' will be in a different voice than the rest of the narration.

That rabbit's got a mean streak a mile wide!

Rose again on the third day, balancing the sins of the world on her head.

Her owner used to balance a TV antenna on her head in order to get better reception.

Look at the BONES!!!

That her owner is, well, kind of creepy.

Born Peter Cottontail, it was years before she finally saved enough for the operation.

Oolong secretly replaced with Folger's Pancake-Wearing Rabbit...

She died while in the midst of negotiating a lucrative deal with Aunt Jemima.

She was using Velcro the whole time.

Can be seen beneath a piece of lembas in LotR: Two Towers

She preferred the crisp, refreshing taste of Vanilla Coke to the berry-blasted flavor of Blue Pepsi.

Secret to her success?  Two words: Roofing nails.

She preferred Max Factor over Mary Kay.

Once shot a man in Reno just to watch him die.

From the depths of hell, Oolong stabs at thee!

She was the last known secure location for Dick Cheney.

It is highly healthful tea for the free radicals and polyphenol in the drinking and crafted by tea masters for outstanding craftsmanship.

Was actually Oolong, not Zero Mostel, portraying Kehaar in "Watership Down."

One of many bunnies who married (and quickly divorced) publisher Hugh Hefner.

Oolong was little teas. Truly.

Long affair with Topo Gigio.

She wrote the Book of Love.

Responsible for balancing United States' budget, circa 1999.

Lived a life of quiet, ricecakey desperation.

Secretly longed for the occasional waffle.  I mean, would it have been too much?   Do they not *have* waffles in Japan?

C'mon, people, I think we all know that Sam Gamgee killed Oolong for making a move on Frodo.

Oolong was tea'd off from all the tea-sing...

It was Professor Higgins who taught her that pancake trick.

Once tried out for Seigfried and Roy, who thought the burning candle trick was just too edgy.

She has a writing credit on the new movie, Kangaroo Jack.

She was THIS close to becoming the official mascot of IHoP.

Died of pancake allergy.

Had a long-time relationship with Aunt Jemima.

Was in negotiations for a new reality series, or possibly an appearance on the soon to be revived Gong Show.

Drew the line at wearing cabbage and beans

Nothing

The rabbit sequence in "Monty Python And The Holy Grail" was based on Oolong's family history.

Oolong served as the muse for John Updike.

Oolong was a gifted character actor, but felt constrained by typecasting in such movies as "Fatal Attraction", "The Gangs Of New York", and serving double duty as a brace of coneys in "The Two Towers".

During the sexual revolution, Oolong turned Trix.

Oolong was very bitter about "Watership Down".  "Lies!  All lies!"

Her father was celebrated for the 'old gun in the rabbit trick' on "Get Smart".

Michael Jackson once dangled her over a hotel balcony in Sarasota Springs.

Oolong never understood her motivation as an actor in the "Tele-Tubby" videos but she needed the work and the money......

Oolong was offered one of the leads in "Starsky's Hutch".

Oolong was included in the cover design for "Sgt. Pepper", but at the last moment, Oliver Hardy was placed in front of her.

When you play that Beatles song backwards, it's not "I Buried Paul".   Instead, you can hear "I Balance Pancakes".

Oolong turned down the chance to work with Gary Sinise and John Malkovich - and wisely so.

Before she got sick, Oolong was supposed to be "The Bachelorette".

Despite what the tabloids would have you believe, the affair with Ellen DeGeneres ended amicably.

Oolong's pancake balancing act was an inspiration for the latest Broadway production of "Hedda Gabler".

Balancing pancakes on rabbits' heads will be an Olympic event.

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