We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
Had a print of that painting in the house I grew up in along with several others of the same style including this one.
http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~tjb25/harnett2.jpg
I love the painting, but it gives me the willies to see books 'tromped' like that. The irony of that is those books look read, loved, and touched......... just as they should be.