Today I want to write a bit about excess. Recently, I have come across several articles discussing the most outrageous levels of personal consumption. For example, several restaurants in Seattle serve drinks that cost $100 or more due to expensive ingredients such as vintage champagne or decades-old cognac. Or, there are now several luxury vacation clubs that charge membership fees between $50,000 and $425,000, plus several thousand dollars a year in dues so that members get access to luxury vacation properties around the world. Then there are the hotels that charge $600/night and up. Plus, we all know about cars that cost $75,000 or more. Or 10,000+ square foot houses costing millions of dollars.

Have the consumers of these goods and services gone crazy? Have they no clue whatsoever about the standards of living of most of the people on this planet? I enjoy travel, a nice restaurant and a comfortable lifestyle as much as the next person. But this is absurd!

I'll calm down.

There is an interesting debate going on in the anti-malaria community. It centers around the potential renewed use of DDT. I don't know enough about the science to have an opinion on this particular issue. But it does seem clear to me that we must provide more funds for anti-malarial bednets and education (teaching people how to minimize mosquitoes by eliminating standing water, for example).

It seems that the upcoming U.S. congressional elections will result in continuing disregard of the tragic Darfur situation by the Bush Administration. They are so focused on damage control from the Iraq war, Foley scandal, Woodward book, National Intelligence Assessment, etc., that they will not do anything that does not have potential Republican votes attached to it. Sadly, most Americans will not cast a vote with even a thought to the people dying in Darfur.

What a world.