Wacky Humans

I was going to write this ode to Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates. I saw their interview with Charlie Rose and I have to say I was struck by how optimistic they are - and how cynical I've become. I blame my attitude on the bush administration. It is good to see there are wealthy people out there who still believe in their ability to do good for others and who don't want their children to be the richest white trash around.

But, this morning, I heard the very start of a story on NPR that had me flipping the radio off in disgust. It was an article about how much americans spend on "doggie day care." Apparently, some households spend as much or more on day care for their dogs as they would for actual human children. The story started with the announcer introducing the story with the amount people spend on doggie day care - and then went to the article which opened with a tail of woe from a couple who just doesn't have enough time to have a dog --- which is when I flipped it off.

The Phenom and I have several critters. Including one very hyper dog. When we leave town for over night - we do send dog to "doggie spa" -- also known as boarding at the vet. We do this largely so he'll get dinner. I was immediately annoyed at the thought that people seem to think that having a pet (or a child) is a social sort of thing with out consideration for the effort it takes to maintain and care for the pet (or child). I think you make your priorities. The Phenom would tell me that having money means you have more options for priorities. That may be the case, but gees -- hundreds of dollars a month so pooch can be picked up for day care in a limo?

On totally unrelated but karma building news, I see that in the latest photos of britney spears, she seems to have a) stopped showing off her thong and b) is keeping both hands on the baby. But, that was before the nudie pictures for harper's mag. The body in the photos has been airbrushed so much that it might as well be a look alike rather than "the real thing." Remember folks, when you look at the photos, she had a c-section (or that, um, operation, you know, where you don't have to like have all the pain of like labor) less than a year ago. But, she must have had a magical doctor because there is no scar what so ever. How do you tell the media to leave you alone and then pose for nudie pictures?

People, can't live with them, can't stuff them in a sack - to paraphrase the phenom.