Dog parties and disposable income

OH MY GOD! This is SOOOOOOOOO Todd and I! Same with our friends (well excluding Amy and Tad...they had to be "different":) No kids but plenty of dog parties. I love it! Check out this Post article.

By the way on Tues Oct 17th 2006 the US population will be 300 million! As an epidemiologist I find that quite remarkable:)

Back in the US of A

SO I made it. I survived a grueling (emphasis on) 23 hour journey home. My flight from BNE to LAX was 12 hours +2 hours of customs BS, then another 4.5 hours on home + 1.5 hours to moms house. I was so tired last night that I was having trouble dialing the phone. Seriously...no joke. It felt like I was 90ft underwater scuba diving trying to right my name on a waterboard. I popped a Xanax, washed it down with a Pinot Grigio and called it a loooooooong day. Then I woke up at 3am with the MOST excruiating back spasm (gee wonder how that happened?), it hurt so bad my eyes were watering and my legs were shaking. I called Todd to make me feel better and he informed me that he was cutting burrs out of Cappy's tail and he would love to take a break. At least things are normal back home!

Here I am in Winchester chillin, literally. In my bookbag I have 2 bottles of sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, a 4 kinds of lip balm depending on the strength of the sun. No need for ANY of that here. Geez it is friggin cold. After I take all my Brisbane gear out, I have a wallet and some poop bags (for the dogs...thank you dirty minds). It is good to be back and it is somewhat comforting to see that nothing has changed. There are more leaves on the trees than when I left but still the same ol same ol.

Mom bought me a very swanky purse as a coming home present. I will post pictures of it soon. Greta will be WAY jealous and I will have to try my hardest to keep it away from her:)

Australia's baby bonus

Well Australia, much like the rest of the developed world, is going through a population "slump". They have a fertility rate of about 1.5 children per couple which is well below the replacement rate of 2.1. Singapore has a f.r. of 1.06 among ethnic Chinese and Japan is hovering around the same rate. Anyway, to encourage people to have kids, the Australian government is offering a $4000 baby bonus to perk up some interest. The slogan goes "One for mom, one for dad, and one for the country!" according to Peter Costello the treasurer.

Now lets step back for a moment. First of all, like any public campaign..."Who do you intend to target?" Mmmm, yes... who are you intending to target Mr. Costello? The poor and uneducated? Yes, I was thinking the same thing. What about the boom of babies being born to unwed teenage mothers. Yes, that group would be nice too! So lets see, we have poor, uneducated, young people who are breeding now. How is that supposed to be good for Australia? They were proclaiming that the policy is working because there were 15,000 more births in 2005 then 2004. I see it as 15,000 more potential dole recipients. Someone should check the economic status of those people who are breeding. I can assure the government that educated people making a decent salary are not enticed by $4000. I am not enticed at least.

At least America is not alone in its quest for the award of "Most stupid public policy". It goes right up there with Ashcroft requesting that Lady Liberty's breast be covered up.

All I have to say is "What the fuck"

...and people ask when I am coming back to the states. If the Amish are not safe from our societies psycho's, why would I be? After reading the Post article, I don't think I want to come back.