'Popular mainly among upper-crust Anglophiles': Brendan thinks the popularity of Labrador retrievers may have something to do with the supersizing of the American home. Probably and partially true. But I also think the popularity of Labs has something to do with why Labs were originally "popular mainly among upper-crust Anglophiles who liked the idea of owning a dignified hunting dog." ... Somehow, we're all preppies now. Or preppy wannabes. Or preppy hybrids. Don't ask me how or why. But it's just so. ... If the correlation between the size of McMansions and dogs was absolute, we'd see Mastiffs, St. Bernards and Great Danes higher on the pooch list. But I suspect they're not gentlemanly farmer enough, so ...

... And don't get me going on supersized kitchen islands (now available in multiple multi-level aircraft-carrier styles) and in-built stainless steel refrigerators ('An Impressive Design Statement, Without Standing out') and Great Rooms. ... Where the hell did "Great Rooms" come from? ... FYI: My spies in suburbia tell me that stainless steel refrigerators are most definitely out these days. In-built wood/fake-wood paneled refrigerators are in. ...  ¶ 6:24 AM