Dog vs. cat IQ death match

According to the Daily Beast, dog wins.

They are more intelligent than cats -- even if cats act like they're smarter.

I have to admit, I have mixed feelings about this.

On the whole, I think I'm probably more of a dog person than a cat person. (Although I'm allergic to both.)

I was bitten by a dog when I was a kid which pretty much soured me on dogs for my entire childhood. But, now that I'm less afraid (although not entirely cured) I like a dog's enthusiasm; I like their unqualified affection; I like the fact that a dog is accepting and loving.

Cats have way too much of a glib, what-have-you-done-for-me-lately sort of attitude.

Many years ago, Ron Rosenbaum made the argument that this was actually a case for feline superiority -- you have to earn your cat's love. The fact that a dog will love anyone who feeds him makes their love essentially worthless. (My favorite line in the piece is, "After 11 years, I'm still not sure if I have the love or respect of my cat Stumpy.")

It's an interesting point... but I'm not sure pet/human relationships really should center around such things. You didn't buy a cat so that you could woo this cat into loving you, did you? Don't you just want to come home to something that holds you in high regard? Who is grateful for the food and water you put out? Who is happy to see you?

I mean, how much work is Rosenbaum really proposing putting into this relationship?

The only real reason youtube exists?

I usually hate passing around youtube videos...

Moreover, I am not a real dog lover. (I like 'em better than cats. They've got character. But I was bitten when I was a kid which made me permanently jaded. Also, I'm allergic.)

But this would make a dog lover out of anyone. Amazing! Adorable! (Could it be a hoax? I don't see how.)

What's my Line?

I haven't updated you guys on my NY Post real estate activities since Italy, so here goes...

Last week, I let loose my inner-vaudevillian with possibly the schtickiest blog post that the real estate site has seen in quite some time (which is saying something.)

In fairness, the posting was about a new eco-friendly (and ridiculously designed) doghouse... so I sort of couldn't help myself. But my gracious editor let me slip in a tremendous amount of corny copy. (I.e., "Talk about putting a nice woof over your head.)

But last week I also did an actual piece about New York's High Line. (You haven't heard of the High Line? Read my piece!)

And the week before that, I wrote my semi-regular eco-friendly buildings article.

Enjoy!