So twin boys, our fathers, were born in the USA. Melchior and Peregrine. What names, eh? What delusions of grandeur went into the naming of them? If you shorten them to 'Mel' and 'Perry', they've got a democratically twentieth-century and transatlantic ring to them.

This overemphasis on the looks of a dog — whether it's up to the breed standard, whether it's adorable or whether it's in — is so undoglike.

Instead of engaging in motivated reasoning, they prefer to see where the evidence leads them.

Thus hath this pytous day a blyſful ende / For euery man & woman doth hys myght / Thys daye in myrth and reuel to dyſpende / Tyl on the welken ſhone the ſterres bryght / For more ſolempne in euery mannes ſyght / Thys feeſt was, and greater of coſtage / Then was the reuel of her mariage Thus hath this piteous day a blissful end / For every man & woman doth his might / This day in mirth and revel to dispend / Till on the welkin shone the stars bright / For more solemn in every man's sight / This feast was, and greater of costage / Than was the revel of her marriage]