Thecleverpup

LATEST ARTICLES ( 213 )

• True Halloween Love

  

  My son, suffering through a mild case of lycanthropy, and my dog Jersey circa 2008. Read more

  Posted on 31 October 2011 CULTURE, TRAVEL

• Napoleon

  

  crops up a lot in my Art History and Paris Salon classes. The 19th-century French exalted him and then seemed cringingly embarrassed by him. Hindsight is 20/20. Read more

  Posted on 29 October 2011 ART & DESIGN, CULTURE, TRAVEL

• Why is Life Worth Living? It's a Very Good Question. Um... Well, There Are...

  

  like what... okay... um... For me, uh... ooh... I would say... what, Groucho Marx, to name one thing... uh... um... and Wilie Mays... and um... the 2nd... Read more

  Posted on 28 October 2011 CULTURE

• On Rue Descartes

  

  photo: copyright Hazel Smith 2010Photo copyright Hazel Smith 2010Photo: copyright Hazel Smith 2010The gist of this poem by Yves Bonnefoy is that although we pas... Read more

  Posted on 27 October 2011 CULTURE, TRAVEL

• Le Temps Passe Vite

  

  I can't believe it's been a more than a year. Before winter falls, here are some more pictures of Giverny.I didn't see him until now. I'll just pretend he's a... Read more

  Posted on 25 October 2011 DESTINATIONS, TRAVEL, VACATION

• Jacques-Louis David, The Tennis Court Oath [1791]

  

  This pen and ink sketch by David was a precursor to a large scale painting that was left unfinished. It was to be painted on the basis of subscription and not... Read more

  Posted on 19 October 2011 CULTURE, HISTORY

• Jacques-Louis David, The Oath of the Horatii [1774]

  

  Another attempt to get names and dates firmly entrenched before my mid-term. I'm starting to dislike this uber-masculine painting; too much like Charleton... Read more

  Posted on 18 October 2011 CULTURE, TRAVEL

• Jacques-Louis David, Belisarius Receiving Alms [1781]

  

  While I don't like Neo-Classicism at all, "small R" republicans ate this stuff up in Revolutionary France. Here is Jacques-Louis David in full Neo-Classicism.... Read more

  Posted on 16 October 2011 ART & DESIGN, CULTURE

• François Boucher, The Chinese Fishing Party [1742]

  

  Boucher's painting, The Chinese Fishing Party, represents the exotic East and the luxury objects that were associated with it. In the 18th century Chinese... Read more

  Posted on 15 October 2011 CULTURE, LIFESTYLE, TRAVEL

• François Boucher, Toilet of Venus [1751]

  

  I've got to memorize 50 paintings for my Art History mid-term. I may as well kill two birds with one stone and feature my study notes here. François Boucher... Read more

  Posted on 14 October 2011 CULTURE, TRAVEL

• Raymore Drive: The Street That Disappeared

  

  Since I'm getting a huge number of hits for this story I originally posted in January of 2009, I thought I'd repost it. During the night of October 15, 1954... Read more

  Posted on 27 August 2011 CULTURE, HISTORY, TRAVEL, WEATHER

• The Best Prime Minister Canada Never Had

  

  Jack Layton, leader of Canada's New Democratic Party and leader of the official opposition succumbed to cancer early Monday morning. Read more

  Posted on 26 August 2011 SOCIETY

• Grow - Leadwort "Blue Plumbago"

  

  This spreading ground-cover is about to bloom in my garden and about time too. It's half-past August and the flowers arrive on Leadwort "Blue Plumbago" in the... Read more

  Posted on 25 August 2011 GARDENING

• Eat - Pear and Prosciutto Pizza

  

  picture thanks to hungrynovelist.wordpress.com It was called the C't Mang and they offered it at Terroni, Toronto's duo of traditional southern Italian... Read more

  Posted on 24 August 2011 FOOD & DRINK

• Go - Stephen Bulger Gallery

  

  Ruth Orkin “I’m totally contained. I’m self-assured. I own the street. I’m walking in total confidence. I’m not in the least flustered or bothered or ... Read more

  Posted on 23 August 2011 CULTURE, TRAVEL

• Partridge -no Pear Tree

  

  This is what was sitting on my fence Monday afternoon, just under the willow tree. It's a red-legged or chukar partridge. You know how fast things enter one's... Read more

  Posted on 05 August 2011 ANIMALS & WILDLIFE, CULTURE, TRAVEL

• French Tip Tippi

  

  Now here's a piece of modern cultural anthropology. Do you know who was the catalyst for the emergence of the Asian mani-pedi salons throughout North America? I... Read more

  Posted on 04 August 2011 CULTURE, TRAVEL

• On Order

  

  I've ordered these dresses from the English company Boden. Their stuff is just quirky enough for me and it fits. It's so nice to be able to order a 16 or an 18... Read more

  Posted on 03 August 2011 LIFESTYLE, SHOPPING

• "Denial" is Not Just a River in Egypt

  

  Americans among least-taxed citizens in the wealthy world Read more

  Posted on 03 August 2011 BUSINESS, CURRENT, DEBATE, SOCIETY

• Georgian Bay July 2011/Memorial Bench

  

  My brother Steve and I decided to dedicate a park bench to our parents Ray and Joan Smith, who died in 2007 and 2009 respectively. Read more

  Posted on 28 July 2011 SELF EXPRESSION, TRAVEL