Roberto Benigni as saying of Berlusconi, "He wants to be the star. There is a meeting, he talks. He goes to a wedding, he wants to be the bridegroom. He goes to a funeral, he wants to be the deceased."

I read about game theory research where they tested the influence of emotional attachments on financial decision making.

It turns out that people who have a particular type of brain damage that cripples the part of the brain that creates emotional attachments do far better than normal people at investing games.

I can understand this. I remember my own behavior during the dot-com bubble. I held on to Macromedia stock for reasons that in retrospect I recognize were really emotional, because I loved using Flash so very very very much.

So I didn't sell it when I should have. People who didn't feel that attachment did better financially because they cut it loose long before I did.

This research provides a possible scientific explanation for certain aspects of the behavior of Berlusconi and a lot of other people who have been wildly successful at making money while being wildly unsuccessful at relating to other humans.

He's so good at making money because he doesn't feel too attached to anything -- or anyone. Not even his wife.

This research explains a lot about the world, I think.

Maybe it's just in some people's genes to get rich and not feel empathy or attachment in the process. It's not a decision for them. It's just how their brains were built to act.

I just saw Das Dheingold and Die Walkure at the LA Opera. The Ring cycle is all about the conflict between attachment and wealth.

Berlusconi could easily play Alberich. That's the role his brain cast him in probably before he was even born.

Too bad Benigni lifted it from Alice Roosevelt Longworth, describing her father Theodore.

"Too bad Benigni lifted it from Alice Roosevelt Longworth, describing her father Theodore."

Maybe he did, but comedy is always about great timing, knowing exactly when the line will fit.

I always want Berlusconi to be the deceased at the funeral, too.

I just read "I'm not sure you can consider any outcome that involves still being married to Silvio Berlusconi a "win"

Now, THAT'S genuinely funny.

thank you, Ms. Harding

Sincerely,

David Terry

www.davidterryart.com

... so clearly she's fed up.