Knight: Every day should be a 'dog day'

As the government shutdown vanishes for a few weeks, the lack of even superficial relationships on Capitol Hill makes one long for some positive parallel in constructive interactions.

Even connections that may be partly illusions.

Take dogs. For millennia, human beings across oceans and continents have had dogs. They helped with hunting. They helped with herding when farming developed. They helped with guarding when people set up homes.

We have needed them.

But, do we? Especially in the 21st century?

"Need" is a loaded word. "Want" is OK. (People NEED decent-paying jobs; we WANT nice bosses.)

Some eggheads — probably prospering on government Grants Studying the Obvious — conclude that dogs have evolved to become adept at shaping people's behavior. To them, dogs are just skilled liars.

Like politicians, you say?

No, no — SKILLED liars.

A guy named John Archer, an evolutionary psychologist ("So, Mr. Triceratops, how did the tar pits make you FEEL?"), comes close to dismissing dogs as furry parasites, according to John Homans' book "What's A Dog For?: The Surprising History, Science, Philosophy and Politics of Man's Best Friend."

In a 1997 paper, Archer wrote, "Pets can be considered to manipulate the human species."

Really. Is that like a Ted Cruz filibuster or "man's inhumanity to man," only with more panting?

"Archer suggests that the 'infant schema' of a dog's face — essentially, the high forehead, big eyes, short snout and floppy ears — might have evolved to take advantage of humans' innate responses [since] these features elicit a human caregiver's response," Homans writes.

Hmm. Maybe. But if a parent walked in to some pediatrician's office cradling an infant with ears like my British lab, I think the waiting room would empty faster than Democrats excusing themselves at an NRA reception.

Others speculate that our attraction to dogs is physiological.

"An increasing amount of evidence points to oxytocin — mammals' amazing hormone that triggers positive feelings in people, such as the mother-child bond — as integral to the human-canine relationship. A 2009 study concluded that oxytocin was released after interactions between people and their dogs — especially the more we looked our dogs in the eye.

"A dog's willingness to gaze at a human is also one of the basic differences between dogs and wolves," Homans writes.

That approaches a decent conclusion. If a big old ironwood tree could bat a couple of eyes at a lumberjack, maybe more furniture would be made of metal. (On the other hand, hunters seem to have no problem with deer, whose eyes are like the runway models of the animal kingdom.)

I think communications, however clumsy, is more on target. (My aunt once remarked that if fish could scream in pain, our diets would be much different.)

My 3-year-old lab, Jake, communicates. He's a pal, an eager, forgiving buddy who doesn't talk but still gets the message across. Maybe like Joe Biden with laryngitis.

Jake huffs playfully, groans in-close-to-vocalizing ways as he yawns, and only uses his "big boy bark" when he's startled or sees a dog on our yard.

He frequently cocks his head as if to say, "Wait-what? Really? Huh?" (You know, like Ruth Bader Ginsburg when Antonin Scalia talks.)

Jake paws his water dish, alerting me not just to the absence of water, but the lack of COLD water.

He stares me awake when it's time to rise and shine and pee.

And he politely begs like some fuzzy Oliver ("Please, sir... More?"), drool dripping like a punctuation mark.

When he's on the sofa with me, he puts his paw on my forearm like I need reassurance. And he's indulged me so often when I watch TV that he now watches on his own, mildly transfixed — as if he's struggling to make sense out of rapidly moving images, schedule grids, clicker mania — until an actual dog appears, when he darts to the set, nose near the screen, and whines like he's wishing he could save his tiny cousins from the light box — or scare them off.

Amazingly happy (some dogs quietly woof or slightly move their paws when they dream; Jake WAGS HIS TAIL when he sleeps), he's at least learned to mimic smiling by opening his mouth and locking eyes.

Jake can be a spoofer, too, greeting me at the door like he hasn't been out in HOURS although upon returning from a back-yard Squirrel Staredown I'm told he was in the yard just before I got home. And although he may have just finished a dog biscuit or a peanut butter-clogged Kong, a newcomer into the room often finds him dutifully staring at the cookie jar where treats are kept.

Manipulation works both ways, too. When I'm in the second half hour of a walk and Jake's piddling and rolling around rather than doing his doody, I say, "If you poop, we'll go for a ride in the car," and most of the time the dump occurs within minutes.

(OK, we also go for a short ride after we walk home, so he gets something, too, but still.)

The dog — my dog, Jake — is part of a mutually manipulative, positive relationship.

It's the mutual-ness, the connections, that makes it work.

If only Harry Reid had better eyes, or John Boehner had floppy ears. I'd love to see Aaron Schock rubbing Dick Durbin's belly.

Friizi Toon: Now that's politically correct!

Symphony to feature 'Yin and Yang' concert

Charles Yang will have the bright and positive side of the equation covered when he brings his considerable talents to the Peoria Civic Center on Saturday as guest artist for the Peoria Symphony Orchestra.

The PSO concert, titled "Yin and Yang," begins at 8 p.m. in the Civic Center Theatre, following a 7 p.m. pre-concert lecture.

But will there be a dark, feminine side — the "Yin" if you will — when the orchestra and Yang team on Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto and other music in the PSO's second concert of the season.

"We're playing your song — from Tchaikovsky to the Beatles! A concert inspired by great melodies with the help of a rock star violinist," said a news release from the Peoria Symphony Orchestra,

Ticket prices $26, $36, $46 and $51 for adults and $11 for students. They can be reserved by calling (309) 671-1096 or purchased at the PSO box office, 101 State St., open through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets will be available to the Civic Center box office starting at 7 p.m. the night of the concert.

The concert will also feature the world premiere of Covers: Concerto for Popular Culture and Orchestra by composer Armand Ranjbaran and co-created by Charles Yang.

In a note on the PSO website Ranjbaran thanked George Stelluto, music director and conductor of the Peoria Symphony Orchestra for the idea of the collaboration. "Charles Yang and I had a fun, rewarding experience co-creating this composition that arranges and pays homage to three incredible songs: 'Hotel California' by The Eagles, 'Blackbird' by The Beatles and 'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Queen," he wrote.

"When these song choices were proposed to me, I realized that each song would need a unique approach for its adaptation to the symphony orchestra. Our take on The Eagles' 'Hotel California' is written in the tradition of dramatic violin concerto first movements while slowly revealing the melodies and harmonies of The Eagles' timeless song. Our rendition of 'Blackbird' embeds the original song's beautiful melody within a simulated forest soundscape complete with instruments imitating bird calls. Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' was already symphonic in nature and we chose to maintain its innovative structure while building a virtuosic solo violin part over that structure.

" We hope you will enjoy our renditions of these songs that we hold in such high regard," Ranjbaran said.

The Peoria Symphony has played Ranjbaran compositions in the past.

Another feature of Saturday's concert is that the Central Illinois Youth Symphony will play alongside the PSO on Tchaikovsky's Festival Overture.

In his "From The Podium" message on the PSO website Stelluto emphasized the youthful aspects of the concert, including the fact Yang and Ranjbaran are both in their 20s, the performance by the Youth Symphony and the youthful qualities of Tchaikovsky compositions. Tchaikovsky was only 26 years old when he wrote the Festival Overture, Stelluto said.

"So, we have on this concert the expressions of a youthful Tchaikovsky, the youthful exuberance of the CIYS, the youthful virtuosity and innovation of Charles Yang and Armand Ranjbaran, favorite songs of our culture, and the great PSO — 116 years young! It's Cool man!" Stelluto wrote.

Stelluto, Yang and Ranjbaran will present a panel discussion after Saturday's concert in the theatre lobby. "This is a unique opportunity to hear about the music and the performance you just heard and to ask questions," the PSO said.

Finally, as part of his community outreach Yang will perform Thursday night at Kelleher's Irish Pub, 619 SW Water St., from 8 to 10 p.m. He will perform will local songwriter Jared Bartman.

The event is open to the public.

Local real estate market deemed stable despite drop in Q3 sales

Despite what it called a slight drop in third quarter home sales from a year ago, the Peoria Area Association of Realtors said Tuesday that there is stability in the local housing market.

That, new PAAR President Tonya Burris said, bodes well for the future.

"We are right where we should be in some aspects, including in inventory, and we are starting to see signs of the market continuing to pick up," Burris said. "Our indicators are that we will continue to have a healthy, stable market in the Peoria region."

The association reported that there were 1,396 homes sold during the third quarter, a decline of 4.3 percent from the third quarter of 2012 when there were 1,458 homes sold. The third quarter figure was only slightly ahead of the second quarter sales of 1,390 even though the third quarter is typically the busiest of the year for Peoria area realtors.

But Burris said the fourth quarter may show improvement because there was a late influx of homes sold but not yet closed at the end of the third quarter. The Association of Realtors doesn't record a house as sold until after it has closed. There also was an 11.6 percent increase in new listings.

"We are also seeing a lot of homes getting offers right now, and in some cases multiple offers. New construction is now starting to fill the inventory gaps, as well," she said.

Burris also noted that more houses were sold in the $75,000 or less segment than any other segment, something she said is unusual but a good indicator. "That, to us, indicates those sellers are moving up in their range, which will help the inventory," she said.

However, the association noted in its report, that also was the cause for the average and median sales prices dropping during the third quarter from their levels of a year ago.

The median sales price — which means half of the houses sold were above the price and the rest were below it — was $122,000 during the quarter, an 8.4 percent decline from the third quarter of 2012. The average price fell from $156,324 to $143,778.

Inventory was down by 3.1 percent was now, Burris said, is in a range — about six months supply — that shows better stability. "This isn't a buyer's market or a seller's market right now," she said.

"In spite of the slight fluctuations downward of several factors, this continues to be a positive real estate market. Buyers are buying, sellers are selling, and lendors are lending. Inventory is still well-priced and interest rates are still at historic low levels. This remains a great time to buy or sell a home," Burris added.

While feeling positive about the fourth quarter, Burris acknowledged the government shutdown is worrisome. "Like everyone else we continue to monitor the government shutdown. We have no experience with government shutdowns and we hope it doesn't last long enough for us to find out. We have seen little impact to date. And despite the possible slowed closing process, the real estate market in central Illinois is extremely stable and positive — and the forecast for the last quarter suggests the momentum will continue," she said.

As long as the government shutdown continues, Burris said PAAR expects loans to take a little longer to process; some may be delayed longer than others. The association has been advised that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, (quasi-governmental corporations that securitize mortgage loans) will continue operating normally, as will their regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, since they are not reliant on appropriated funds. Both Fannie and Freddie have announced relaxed procedures that will permit closings to go forward. However the relaxed requirements do not apply to loan modification re-financings, the association said.