NotHardUp1
What? Me? Really?
In almost related news, I'm visiting Asheville next week with a friend, and she wanted to tour the Biltmore, although she is from that area, so it escapes me why. Touring the castles of billionaires who kept servants as practically serfs isn't exciting or impressive to me. It would be like admiring the Sacklers' mansions. As if.
Vanderbilt, for the record, was notoriously NOT philanthropic, and only left $1M to charity when he died with his $100M fortune, and after a long life of uncharitable living. To this very day, the Biltmore is owned by the family, not some charitable historical society.
I declined the opportunity some 20 years ago when in Boone, as it was ridiculous then to pay almost $40 for an unguided tour.
Fast forward to 2021 and the going price for an unguided tour is over $100, and the guided tour $350. I balked and she was glad, as she's on a fixed income, recently widowed, and doesn't have that kind of money to blow. We'll spend just as much on something less wasteful, and less billionaire-o-phile. If I get a hankerin' to stare at the trappings of Xanadu, I'll visit Google.
Can't put enough billionaires in space soon enough for my tastes.
Vanderbilt, for the record, was notoriously NOT philanthropic, and only left $1M to charity when he died with his $100M fortune, and after a long life of uncharitable living. To this very day, the Biltmore is owned by the family, not some charitable historical society.
I declined the opportunity some 20 years ago when in Boone, as it was ridiculous then to pay almost $40 for an unguided tour.
Fast forward to 2021 and the going price for an unguided tour is over $100, and the guided tour $350. I balked and she was glad, as she's on a fixed income, recently widowed, and doesn't have that kind of money to blow. We'll spend just as much on something less wasteful, and less billionaire-o-phile. If I get a hankerin' to stare at the trappings of Xanadu, I'll visit Google.
Can't put enough billionaires in space soon enough for my tastes.