Lio by Mark Tatulli for January 24, 2010

Cybil looks quite fetching in her Samurai armor.

I found 10 different editions of that book at Barnes and Noble. Apparently it’s out of copyright and anyone can publish a translation of it.

The only nitpick for me is that ‘The Art of War’ is of Chinese, while the armour is Japanese.

But I guess Chinese armour and sword would not be as distinguish.

The dogs certainly can’t tell the difference.

Don’t fool yourself, the Japanese were well aware of the book in the samurai era.

Everything is made in Chine now anyway.

Samurai Cybil in an action-packed, thrilling, fight with the Dog Gang!

I feel sorry for the doggies. Can Lio save them?

The best translations are good reading. The Japanese studied it thoroughly before World War II, went to war and lost their atrocity - committing butts. They apparently only gave the book lip service.

Cybil has a sword and she’s not afraid to use it.

Looks like Lio picked up the book at a point where Cybil was only halfway through it. Hope she at least made it to Chapter 7 (of 13)–Military Maneuvers.

Lio better stop her before we have filet o’ pup!…

and the punchline is Siamese cats (she’s a red point, isn’t she?) are from Thalland anyway. really mixing metaphors. like the kid with a fragment of native american blood that reads up on the wrong tribe since they told him th wrong one and he tries to become one or something

I have a Siamese like that …

Her stance is wrong, the sword should be on the right side of her body…

Looks like Cybil already got to one of those pups…

(Who came up with the idea of docking a puppy’s tail and cropping its ears? What for?)

Not necessarily. If the sheath is on her back and she’s planning to do a horizontal left-to-right throat slash or decapitation, she will be able to put the katana away immediately.

She wouldn’t have learned sword techniques from that book. Nor any actual battle techniques, actually.

By reading that book, she should have had the dogs attacking each other, but few would have understood the gag and most people haven’t a clue what the book is about.

Cute one, Mark.

I’d suggest those dogs stop looking and start running.

For a “bonus joke” they should be Pekingese dogs…..I’ve never read it but I’ve heard that “The Art of War” is more about grand political maneuvering and long-range strategy than about any actual battle techniques. I do know both politicians and football coaches try to impress people by quoting from it.

Know your kitty and know yourself, and you will never be used as a scratching post.

“Inuyasha - SIT!!!”

Lio has violated a timeless dictum - never arm a cat.

Look out Liō - Cybil’s been reading Sun Tzu! You’d better get her food straight, or she’ll be using it on you next!!!!!!

Cybil is the greatest!!

I wonder what mighty cat cry Cybil yowled to alarm lio?? lol

For fighting one on one it is the Japanese Book of Nine Rings

My avatar says it