What Madame G. Contemplates, From Her Pedestal

from a New York Times article on cuteness, by Natalie Angier:

"The human cuteness detector is set so low, researchers said, that it deems cute practically anything remotely resembling a human baby or a part thereof, and so it ends up including the young of almost every mammalian species; fuzzy-headed birds like Japanese cranes; wooly bear caterpillars; a bobbing balloon; even a :-) typed in succession.

The greater the number of cute cues that an animal or object possesses, or the more exaggerated the signals may be, the louder and more italicized are the squeals provoked.

Cuteness is distinct from beauty, researchers say, emphasizing rounded over sculpted, soft over refined, clumsy over quick.

Beauty attracts admiration and demands a pedestal; cuteness attracts attention and demands a lap. Beauty is rare and brutal, despoiled by a pimple. Cuteness is commonplace and generous."