by zbicyclist

The Odyssey

The distance from Troy (near modern Çanakkale, Turkey) to Ithaca is a bit over 600 miles. At a rowing speed of 4 to 5 knots, that’s not a terribly long journey, without the involvement of the gods.

If we went from Troy, New York to Ithaca, New York by water (Erie Canal, then portage to Seneca Lake) it would be about 250 miles — shorter, but the same order of magnitude.

One person decided to use the modern Turkish city and make up alternative lyrics to City of New Orleans.

I just finished re-reading the Odyssey. I used the Samuel Butler translation, which is prose and emphasized the story more easily because it abandons any attempt at poetry. I’m also cheap: it’s available for free at Project Gutenberg.

Yesterday, I saw the movie, which didn’t disappoint. Highly recommended. Of course, there are many plot points which diverge from Homer, but overall I think that improves the flow — especially the ending.

by multipleciduers

Sunday Funnies – LOLs – July 26, 2026

There’s limited continuity expected in a gag strip, particularly between Sunday and the rest of the week, but there’s an interesting contrast between the Sunday strip and the Monday strip here: (7/12 and 7/13)

Reminds me a bit of that meme where you are supposed to punctuate this sentence:

Woman without her man is nothing.

Are trust falls still a thing in workshops? I do remember one time when the person doing the catching was surprised when the person fell sooner than they anticipated, and they both hit the ground. Luckily, the damage was limited to bruises and future teasing.

Mitch4 sends this in:

My favorite are the historical markers that talk about towns that WERE there at one point, but there is no current sign of the town. Nothing to see here, folks!

by zbicyclist

The Very Loving Caterpillar

Yes, this comic is often confusing, but to me this one should be understandable (except the life cycle of caterpillars is often too short; 7 to 14 days is common). Is this some mythical creature?

My first thought was that this was part of a series, but this is the previous one, which has no connection (and could be treated as a CIDU in its own right). Guau translates as wow or woof.

Or, maybe the next one is part of a series. But no, although this one’s more straightforward.

The artist lives in Mexico City, if that explains any of the cultural references.

by zbicyclist

Two-door Cat

I get “Tudor Cat” out of this, but are Tudor Cats a thing?

A quick search pulls up this gruesome information:

“Cats were not a popular Tudor pet due to their association with the Devil and witchcraft. In 1484, Pope Innocent VIII decreed in his bull against witches that cats were unholy creatures and were to be burned along with the witches that owned them, although I haven’t been able to find that instruction in the bull myself. When witches were burned at the stake it was often said that a black cat leapt out of the flames.

“At the coronation of Elizabeth I in January 1559, a dozen or so cats were stuffed into a wickerwork effigy of the Pope and paraded through the streets of London before being burned on a bonfire. Their dying shrieks were said to be the devils inhabiting the Pope’s body. Horrible!”

On a more positive note, that same web page notes this history of having a cat at 10 Downing Street.

“The resident cat, used as a “mouser” today, in 10 Downing Street, the British Prime Minister’s residence in London, is thought to date back to the time when Cardinal Thomas Wolsey placed his pet cat by his side, on a cushioned chair, while undertaking his duties as Henry VIII’s Lord Chancellor. A bronze statue of Wolsey in his hometown of Ipswich in Suffolk features a cat peering out from behind his chair and clinging to his robes. It’s a beautiful feature of his statue.”

Larry, the current cat at 10 Downing Street, has served since 2011, through several prime ministers: Cameron, May, Johnson, Truss, Sunak, Starmer, and likely Burnham soon.

Still, it seems quite a stretch for Nate Fakes to be referring to these cats of Elizabethan times. Is there something closer to the 21st century I’m missing?

by zbicyclist

Donuts

Hinches sends this in: “I think it has to do with the doughnuts being the crime scene, The white circles were drawn by the cop with the white marker in his hand around the alleged dropped donuts. The look on his face seems to suggest after drawing the circles, either he or both of the cops explaining what happened ate the evidence. However, why is the ground under the white circles so dark? Does that have some meaning?”

by multipleciduers

Sunday Funnies – LOLs – July 19, 2026

Mitch4 sends in the LOL (and Geezer Alert):

From 1954.

Usual John sends this in:

This appeared yesterday, so that makes today Ice Cream Day. I plan to celebrate!

by zbicyclist

Saturday Morning OYs July 18, 2026

Mitch4 sends this in: “Somewhat disappointing that at the end he seems to give up at disguising the names when he just outright names the presidential libraries.”

I’m missing whatever’s hidden in “I’m just saying I’m going to forbid encampment anyways ’til this is done.” The phrasing seems Taylor-made for having some president hiding.

Mitch4 sends this in: “A spelling-based pun, with the extra step that a ringing telephone doesn’t actually emit the word “RING”.”