MythTickle by Justin Thompson for February 20, 2009

Nature needs no muse; She is always inspiring, and the font of all creativity.

“It’s not nice to fool with Mother Nature”.

Cats and water usually don’t mix - but I have one who likes to sit in the shower with me. Abyssinians, Somalis and Turkish Vans actually like to swim.

Depends on the Abyssinian. The one I had hated, hated, hated water. Of course, she hated almost everything else, too. Strange cat.

Does anyone know what the reference is, here? Muse = cat? Most often, Justin’s references are clearer than that.

See the light bulb on Muse’s collar? Perhaps Thomas Edison had a cat named “Muse”?

What sound does a cat make? why it muse of course.

that’s something every good rat mom teaches all of her babies.

Muse isn’t the author, she is the inspiration. So once again Muse has prevailed, and inspired a quick little rhyme from Ms. Nature.

Perhaps it has something to do with there being 9 muses and cats having 9 lives?? Just a thought.

I’ve been trying to figure it out myself. Nine muses, daughters of Mnemosyne and Zeus… a few lightning bolts, but no cats so far… Nope, no luck.

Justin, how ‘bout a hint or two?

Call a dog, he comes. Call a cat; she takes a message and MIGHT get back to you!

Remember: Dogs have owners; Cats have staff!

Yeah, this is surely not a classical Muse, but the characterization is apt for the wayward ways of inspiration – it does not come when called, and just when you most want to commune with it it wants to be elsewhere. Or to nap.

Muse = Mews (meow meow)

Burgundy2, it IS amusing, but sometimes the joke is even better if you understand the background. Calliope, Erato and Polyhymnia were (are) the three muses for the different types of poetry (had to look it up, I thought the cat might be a reference to Clio, or Cleo)… so maybe the folks who are saying Muse = Mews are right-on, after all.

OK, here’s the deal. Screamingdolai in her infinite wisdom and beauty is absolutely correct: It’s a cat simply because ‘mews = Muse’ in the sound. That’s all really, other than mivins’ insight into the nature of cats. He/she says “it does not come when called, and just when you most want to commune with it it wants to be elsewhere. Or to nap.” and that is right too. In deciding the personification of Muse, the cat was a logical choice because of (1)the obvious sound and (2) the nature of ‘inspiration’ being no-one’s master. The light bulb around her neck is the lightbulb of comic strip “ideas’, or inspiration. Please keep in mind not to look TOO deeply into the way I usually personify these Mythological misfits. It is just a comic strip after all, and not meant to tax anyone’s brain too much. But I really do admire the intellectual efforts of you guys. It make me feel more comfortable in going further with these conceptual ideas and personifications. You’re letting me know that you can handle it. Thanks.

A dog looks at its human and thinks, “He feeds me, he pets me, he takes me for walks; he must be a god.”

A cat looks at its human and thinks, “He feeds me, he pets me, he cleans my litter; I must be a god.”

Justin, I can handle it. Really. You hear me? I CAN HANDLE IT. I can, I can, I CAN! How DARE you insinuate that I can’t handle it?

Well, I can handle it as long as there’s someone there to explain it to me.

Muse = mews. God, do I feel dumb now.

Ah, that’s an idea / light bulb pendant! Ding! The drawings are fine observations of feline anatomy, which is hard to get right. And I am a she, and tickled to be noted by a cartoonist I admire. Merci, Justin-san! I recognize Greek, ancient Chinese, and, hmmm, Japanese? characters on the chalkboard. Any linguists present?

This one is one of my favorites. And I love all the comments..including Justin’s.

So, then, there would seem to actually be three mews' ..? ;-)   A passel of three kittens running about the strip would, indeed, be inspiration for a lot of comedy & energy.   @Justin – You’ll find that, like Pibgorn, Mythtickle draws an educated and imaginative crowd. Feel free to do your ‘worst’ .. uhr, best. Even when we don’t necessarily ‘get it,’ it doesn’t take the joy & appreciation out of it.   Thank you for a wonderful and challenging strip!

Justin Thanks for the Intro to Symbology 101 lesson for us symbology challenged readders. And thanks for the interesting, thought provoking strip.

I’m surprised that the light bulb on Muse’s(mews’) collar didn’t light up when Ms. Nature inspired him to open the book.

Even though I don’t comment here very often, for me, Mythtickle has earned a place in my top ten list.

Pibgorn 9 Chickweed Lane Mythtickle Bloom County, Opus, etc… Calvin and Hobbs Safe Havens Girl Genius Looking for Group Gunnerkrigg Court Yenny

Too many others to list.

Not on your top ten list, there aren’t.

mivins, I have a degree in linguistics - linguists are more concerned with the sounds of a language than the squiggles used to write them down. We all use something called the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet). For scripts, you need a palæographer.

@KingRat - Muse/Mews? I think that’s rather clever.

Of course, if Muse is an alley cat then she lives in the mews.

Hi Runar, Merci bien! I’m happy to learn. The IPA must be an amazing set of symbols. I’ve heard that human babies make all the sounds in all languages until they reach six months or so, and then they discard the sounds they haven’t heard the local grown-us make. C’est vrai? Justin, would you care to tells us about the scripts on the blackboard? Nebulous Rikalau, is your icon a Snow Leopard? Pretty!

I know it’s kind of late in this thread to past (today is Monday the 23rd), but what the hey. Todays comic, and many of the posts, remind me of the old Kipling story ‘The Cat who Walked Alone’. If you havent read you should. Check it out. If you like that one read Mark Twains ‘The Diary of Adam and Eve’ Another good tale.

I’m a dog you’re a flower I lift my leg to give you a shower. Bet you didn’t write that one either.