Meow meow or bow wow - the truth about cats and dogs

Most pet owners of cats and dogs can testify to the characteristics of their pets whether feline or canine particularly the independence and soliatary nature of cats and the steadfast loyalty almost dependency of dogs. After all, what else can testify to the differences between the species than the relative ease in training dogs and the almost impossible task when attempting the same with cats. When groups of people with disparate opinions fail to reach a consensus, its often described as 'being like herding cats.." 

In reality perceptions are grounded in scientific fact with sizeable differences between the brains of cats and dogs. The average dog brain at 64 grams is much heavier than the smaller cat brain of 25 grams but size is not everything. The smaller cat brain packs in much more information processing power however with over 300 million neurons in the cortex compared to the much more limited capacity of dogs which have, on average, only 160 million neurons. Fido is no competitor for kitty in these stakes with cats outperforming dogs in a variety of cognitive tasks. Where Fido has the advantage however is in the area of bonding with humans, problem solving and understanding tasks. 

Film Review - The Iron Lady

Meryl Streep in her role as Margaret Thatcher

Films which attempt to portray current living public figures whether still active or retired are difficult enterprises particularly as the subject matter may still engender many conflicting opinions without the benefit of dispassionate appraisal and historical perspective. 'The Iron Lady' is a very flawed film both in structure, story-telling construction and the technique employed to provide a small smattering of key events in Margaret Thatcher's long public life. What the film does confirm is the superb acting skills of Meryl Streep who is undoubtedly a consumate professional of her art form. The film would be better titled 'Margaret and Denis' as much of the film is set in this closing period of Baroness Thatcher's life (in fact its set over 3 days) where she reflects on a few key events through conversations with her long departed husband Denis. In fact the film is dominated and segmented by these odd appearances of Denis while the now elderly and faltering Margaret sorts througn her late husband's possessions for donating to charity.

Baroness Thatcher is still alive so this film does nothing to really examine her life in any meaningful manner particularly her 11 years as the United Kingdom's first and only (to-date) female Prime Minister. Both detractors and supporters of Margaret Thatcher will find this a very unsatisfying shallow film as will those with a genuine interest in politics, social theory, British history and world events of the era when Mrs Thatcher was Prime Minister.