Dog Art Today

Tag: wife

  • Charles Darwin: A Wife is Better than a Dog Anyhow

    Charles_darwin_wife_dog

    The pros and cons of marriage by Charles Darwin, age 29, London 1838

    Darwin writes:

    This is the Question

    Marry

    Children (if it Please God)
    Constant companion (and friend in old age) who will feel interested in one
    Object to be beloved and played with. Better than a dog anyhow
    Home, & someone to take care of house
    Charms of music and female chit-chat
    These things good for one’s health—but terrible loss of time
    My
    God, it is intolerable to think of spending one’s whole life, like a
    neuter bee, working, working, and nothing after all—No, no, won’t do
    Imagine living all one’s day solitary in smoky dirty London House
    Only picture to yourself a nice soft wife on a sofa with good fire and books and music perhaps
    Compare this vision with the dingy reality of Great Marlboro Street, London

    Not Marry

    Freedom to go where one liked
    Choice of Society and little of it
    Conversation of clever men at clubs
    Not forced to visit relatives and bend in every trifle
    Expense and anxiety of children
    Perhaps quarrelling
    Loss of Time
    Cannot read in the evenings
    Fatness and idleness
    Anxiety and responsibility
    Less money for books etc.
    If many children forced to gain one’s bread (But then it is very bad for one’s health to work too much)
    Perhaps my wife won’t like London; then the sentence is banishment and degradation into indolent, idle fool

    Marry, Marry, Marry Q.E.D.

    I had to look up what Q.E.D. means; From latin, "quod erat demonstrandum," in English, "that which was to be demonstrated." 

    Via 3QuarksDaily with some interesting thoughts on Darwin's analysis by Alta L. Price.

    P.S. Happy Anniversary to my parents who just celebrated their 47th year of marriage.

  • Picasso & Lump Photos

    Picasso_lump_photo_1 wp_IMG
    Lump isolates his target: lunch.

    Recently while searching for some photos of Picasso and his Dachshund, Lump, I discovered the blog Habitually Chic written by a “stylish young woman living in New York City and working for a top interior designer.”  Well, I got a case of blog envy.  Or post envy.  This stylish young woman had the best collection of Picasso and Lump photos I had seen so far.  So with a nod to her and a high recommendation to stop by her lovely blog, I am borrowing them for mine today.

    Look closely and watch the classic Doxie technique for getting what one wants…

    Picasso_lump_photo_2 wp_IMG

    Lump makes his needs known with big brown eyes and perhaps a paw to the knee.   See him pouring on the charm just below Picasso’s left elbow (click on image to see larger size).

    Picasso_lump_photo_3 wp_IMG

    Target acquired.  Leftovers neutralized!

    Picasso_lump_photo_4 wp_IMG

    Bestow kisses as if this is the best thing that has ever happened in the history of the world. Ignore the horrified expression of master’s wife (Jacquelin Roque).

    All photos are by David Douglas Duncan, Lump’s original owner.  Read about the Dachshund who stole Picasso’s heart in Duncan’s book Picasso & Lump: A Dachshund’s Odyssey available here.

    BTW, “lump” is German for “rascal.”

  • Dennis Kucinich: Frida Kahlo’s Itzcuintli Dog and Me

     

    In case you haven't been paying attention, Rep. Dennis Kucinich is married to a stunning 6 foot tall, pierced-tongued young Brit named Elizabeth.  Her mother is a healer.   She frequents thrift stores for her wardrobe needs.  She worked with mother Theresa in India.   And she's 31 years younger than Kucinich.

    Dennis_elizabeth_kucinich

    I think he is perfectly depicted as this Itzcuintli Dog, standing proudly in the shadow of another statuesque, worldly woman, Frida Kahlo.

    Kahlo22

    This 3000-year-old Mexican breed is thought to have mystical healing qualities and accompany souls to the next world.  Kucinich mirrors such mysticism through his friendship with Shirley MacLaine and his belief in UFOs.  He may be small in stature, but he's never afraid to stand strong for his often unpopular beliefs like his anti-war stance right from the start.  He's also not afraid to believe in the cosmic possibility of finding one's soul mate and falling in love in an unlikely, magical way.  Read more about his policies at Kucinich for President.