This & That, Ceci et Cela

In a land where silicone and Botox are as common among the rich as rice and beans are for the poor, it didn’t take long for some savvy veterinarians to offer such treatments for aesthetically challenged pets. According to a report in Folha de S. Paulo, a newspaper, one Sao Paulo surgeon has performed 30 ear lifts. this year to perk up mummy’s darlings at a cost of $67.50 per lobe. Some residents are surely doing their best to boost the pet luxury-goods market: in 2003, it hit $4.6 billion, according to dog-food manufacturers. Tiffany’s offers a silver, bone-shaped identification tag for $122, about $36 more than the monthly minimum wage there. (Economist)