Tag Archives: professor judge e dog

Are dogs furry kids?

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I (somewhat) recently read a piece from Smithsonian Magazine that posed the following question: Are Dogs Now Just Furry Kids? I figured it would be your typical article about how people spend a lot on their dogs, dress them up, and do crazy things like blog about them.

I was wrong.

Instead, it was all science-y and stuff. Researchers have found that the human-dog bond is in some ways very similar to a parent-child bond.

Now, I’m not one who considers myself a mom to my pups (I don’t really know what word I’d use), but I thought I’d do my own non-scientific analysis as to whether dogs are simply furry children. (Being an English major, my “scientific analysis” is really just an imaginary debate I had in my own head. Just roll with it, okay?)

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In 2013, you wanted more puppies, more puns, and… more cats?

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Today, on the last day of the year, I’m taking the totally original approach of reflecting on 2013. I don’t see a lot of this out there, which I find surprising – I mean, you’d think it would be a natural fit. I can only hope that my trailblazing example will inspire more reflection in the future as one year passes the torch to the next.

Sarcasm duly noted? Good. Because I know every website on Earth (and perhaps Mars?) is doing the same thing… and I don’t care. Nostalgia is my absolute favorite kind of -algia, and I finally put down a deposit on a nice little bungalow on Memory Lane. (It just makes good financial sense.) Let the reflecting begin! Continue reading →

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Forget the shutdown with a muttdown

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So, as you probably know, the U.S. government is busy doing this:

In times like these, I think we can all use a little cute to get us through the day. (After all, clever memes about the Mean Girls of Capitol Hill – while genius – can only do so much.)  A world full of closed doors isn’t very much fun, after all.

via giphy.com

It feels a bit like we’re all on a really unpleasant merry-go-round.

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Not only that, the situation is pretty uncertain. Who knows what will happen next?

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With that in mind, I decided that a muttdown would be way better than any sort of shutdown. Let’s muttdown the shutdown! Who’s with me?

What exactly is a muttdown? Um… good question. I’m not quite sure, but If I had my way, we’d just replace the shutdown with bunch of puppies instead. Like this:

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Or this:

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Or maybe this:

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In any event, if you’re affected by the shutdown (or even if it’s just bumming you out), might I recommend that you find a furry face to snuggle? Shut down your anxiety over the shutdown (at least for a few minutes) with a muttdown. It’ll do you good.

(That’s it! Henceforth and forevermore, using puppies to shut down your anxiety shall be known as a muttdown. With dog as my witness, I’ll never stop trying to make muttdown happen. No matter what Regina George says.)

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The right way to ask people when they plan to have kids

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Okay, students. Professor Judge E. Dog is back today with another useful lesson. You may have friends or family members who seem stubbornly unwilling to shout their reproductive plans from the rooftops. When interrogated asked, they give “cute” answers such as “When we’re ready, we’ll let you know” or “I just want more puppies.”

I’m going to let you in on a little secret. There are countless articles out there advising people how to evade your questions and hide this important information. These devious masterminds have a host of skillful dodges at their disposal. What’s a Nosy Parker to do? It’s just not fair. You’re just embracing your inner Mary Worth. Where are the tips about the right way to ask this question? (Here. Those tips are here.) Continue reading →

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Follow-Up Friday: Hide your kids, hide your dogs edition

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I’ve got something a little different for you today. Instead of my usual No Frown Friday, I’m changing things up a bit. (However, I may still have some linky goodness in store for you in the near future.)

This week, I have the pleasure of co-hosting Heart Like a Dog‘s Follow-Up Friday. It’s the blog hop that lets you wrap up your week and leads you right into the weekend.

Let’s get to it! We’ll start with some quick hits on my posts this week, and then end with the great comments I received about whether you have to choose between having a dog or having kids. That post led to quite a bit of discussion!

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Do you have to choose between having a dog and having kids?

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No.

*declares post complete, closes laptop, goes to the kitchen, eats a cookie in celebration of a job well done, eats a second cookie in celebration of how good that first cookie was, reconsiders answer, returns to computer*

Here’s the thing. The answer is really that simple… and yet, it’s not. All at the same time. Allow me to explain.

I don’t believe that “you” (in the broadest sense) have to choose between kids and dogs. I don’t think it’s a zero sum game. At the same time, do “you” (in the narrowest possible sense) have to choose between kids and dogs? I can’t answer that one. However, I have thoughts. Lots of them. Continue reading →

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Spam comments I have known, loved, and been confused by

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Never underestimate the enjoyment you can get from occasionally reading your spam comments. I know – we’re all pretty busy, and it’s hard enough to find the energy to check to see if a real comment was mistakenly imprisoned in spam jail.

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As some of our friends have demonstrated in the past, however, these comments can provide a needed chuckle. The extra effort is sometimes worth it.

There was once an extended time period during which a spammer (or two) kept leaving me spam comments in the form of Harry Potter quotes. For example:

“I thought there was a Ministry of Magic?” asked Vernon Dursley abruptly.”

I was so charmed that I almost approved all of those comments. Almost.

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In any event, I miss them now. Come back, literary spammers!

I guess I’ll have to make do with this spam instead… Continue reading →

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7 dogs you might not want to invite to your summer barbecue

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Memorial Day weekend is almost here. It’s time to dust off the patio furniture, call up a few friends, and fire up the grill. It can be hard to decide who to invite, so here are seven dogs you might want to “accidentally” leave off the guest list…

The dog who who tells everyone that he can grill better than you.

Dinner Time

via Flickr user Extra Zebra

source | terms

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Repeat after me: “Hello. May I pet your dog?”

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I happen to be a Jezebel reader. I may not always agree, but they almost always get me thinking. Today’s post is inspired by one of those thinking moments.

Recently, Jezebel published a post about the Yellow Dog Project. (Have you heard of it? It’s a pretty neat concept – for dogs that need space, owners tie a yellow ribbon around the dog’s leash or collar to signal to others that they should not approach the dog without asking. It’s as if the dog is wearing a caution sign.)

The post was actually rather complimentary about the Yellow Dog Project, but there was something about it that kind of stuck in my craw.

(As an aside, what exactly is a craw? Do I actually have one or is it just a figure of speech? Sounds like I’ve found my next Google project.)

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Don’t be crusty – it’s Pi Day!

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I couldn’t decide which of the two videos below to share with you in honor of Pi Day. (Do you celebrate?)

The first one is short, cute, and kind of about pie (the yummy kind). The second is longer, actually about pi (the non-yummy kind), and features Dog Hamlet (although you have to wait for his appearance).

Rather than choosing one, I’m just giving you both. It’s a little something for everyone, pleasing to every palate. Kind of like pie.

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