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Going to the Dogs

I've finally come the the conclusion that either the world has gone barking mad or I have...
Today on the radio I heard someone announcing the "Pet a Porter" Fashion Show for four-legged fashionistas at Harrods in London. The catwalk has become a dogwalk for what is apparently the fifth year, with the theme this year being "Diamond Dogs" where leading designers, including Vivienne Westwood, Issa and Ben de Lisi have created canine fashion items incorporating pearls, sapphires, rubies and,of course, lots of a girls best friend on mans best friend. They are even launching a new dog perfume called (wait for it) "Sexy Beast."

Now many who know me will know that this man is not a dog's best friend at the best of times... but surely the most dedicated dogophile must think that this is beyond the pale... It is only a bit of fun you may cry... But it is a ludicrously expensive and pointless bit of fun. The fashion world is bad enough with the obscenity of models starving themselves to become size zero, while children clothed in rags starve to death in the developing world... and other children work for a pittance in sweatshops to produce high street copies of high fashion designs that retail for hundreds if not thousands of pounds. But pouring money into this is one step beyond...

But then, when I was googling to check out info on this event, on the same page of "View London there was advertised "The Penis Show" an exhibition of... well, it does exactly what it says on the tin... They even had a photo booth incase any visitors were inspired to leave a personal contribution. Sadly I have missed it as it took place in February... But this year London, maybe next year Belfast, if we are really, really lucky... Maybe we could combine both events and have a photographic exhibition of canine genitalia! We could call it the Dogs B.... or perhaps not...

These sort of events are defended on the grounds of "its only a bit of fun" or, by those who claim a higher purpose, as epitomising "freedom of expression". I'm not for curtailing such freedoms... just urging those behind such expression to grow up...

But I suppose it was ever thus. In the days of the Judges in the Bible it is said : "In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes." (Judges 21:25)
So if it isn't pooch parades or penis portraits there'll be something else next week...
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