Leona Helmsley's dog inherits $12M

[huedell]

I don't believe it's possible for human beings to have unconditional love for other human beings with the exception of your children. If someone can honestly say they have unconditional love for their spouse, significant other, parents, or any other human being on the planet with the exception of their children, I salute you because I don't think it is humanly possible.

Actually, you're quite right---and a notion such as this was part of my point earlier,
avoiding the easy "copout" and accepting the challenge of being a responsible human--
--the measure of a man (or woman) so to speak (in this context) is to OVERCOME the
easy copout of such spiteful and self-centered actions as displayed by Helmsley in order
to better society (which starts "at home"/with your own family)

Sure, its easier to love your dog more than your grandkids if you so choose
(as explained earlier, a dog's love is unconditional, thus easier to reciprocate)-
--but its also detrimental behavior towards humanity----really, is THAT the kind of
example we want to pass down to future generations----that housepets should be
taken care of first before fellow human beings???---No, of course not

"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man."
--Mark Twain

The above quote is supposed to be interpreted as a reflection on the depths of the
depravity of men----yes---but, in my opinion, that's ALL that quote stands for.

----sure, man has the capacity to be quite evil----but man also has the capacity to
be good, and do great things

That potential has to be FED ------and not RIDICULED by such actions as Helmsley's will
----a will which left her dog a fortune ---and her human legacy nothing

[Adam West]

The above quote is supposed to be interpreted as a reflection on the depths of the
depravity of men----yes---but, in my opinion, that's ALL that quote stands for.

----sure, man has the capacity to be quite evil----but man also has the capacity to
be good, and do great things

That potential has to be FED ------and not RIDICULED by such actions as Helmsley's will
----a will which left her dog a fortune ---and her human legacy nothing

I agree the quote talks about the depravity of man but also is a reflection on the goodness of dogs especially since Mark Twain has a few other sayings using the dog/human reference:

"By what right has the dog come to be regarded as a "noble" animal? The more brutal and cruel and unjust you are to him the more your fawning and adoring slave he becomes; whereas, if you shamefully misuse a cat once she will always maintain a dignified reserve toward you afterward- you will never get her full confidence again." -

"Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in."

"When a man's dog turns against him it is time for his wife to pack her trunk and go home to mama."

[toys2cool]

For those unfamiliar with the dreaded "Queen of Mean", here's more information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leona_Helmsley

I read in her obituary the other day about her son Jay:
On March 31, 1982, her only child, Jay Panzirer, died of a heart attack. Leona then sued her son's estate for money and property that she said he had borrowed, and her son's widow Mimi received an eviction notice. Mimi Panzirer - the mother of Leona's four grandchildren - later said the legal expenses wiped her out and "to this day I don't know why they did it." These would be the grandkids she snubbed in favor of her dog. Wherever Leona is now, I'm sure she's staying nice and warm
George

wow that's crazy and sucks big time,I'm guessing those other 2 didn't like her much for that

[huedell]

I agree the quote talks about the depravity of man but also is a reflection on the goodness of dogs especially since Mark Twain has a few other sayings using the dog/human reference:

"By what right has the dog come to be regarded as a "noble" animal? The more brutal and cruel and unjust you are to him the more your fawning and adoring slave he becomes; whereas, if you shamefully misuse a cat once she will always maintain a dignified reserve toward you afterward- you will never get her full confidence again." -

"Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in."

"When a man's dog turns against him it is time for his wife to pack her trunk and go home to mama."

I for sure can't say you're wrong with those leanings---I don't know Twain
personally

I percieve that these Twain quotations are more commentary on things such
as the "faultiness of humanity" (again) and the definition of "nobility" rather
than the escalation of dogs above humans

Its a train of thought that I'm stuck on...

See--its a slippery slope once you DIMINISH your fellow man in favor of
other entities-- you only have so much attention you can give to the world-
----and I believe that above animals, and the environment--and everything
else on the planet, humanity deserves the most attention

-possibly because humanity NEEDS attention the most---can benefit from
that attention the most---and reflect that back upon the world in the most
profound way

You know the old saying: "you can't love others until you love yourself"

I think humanity has to take a lesson along those lines----and then
everything else on the planet will follow in good order

The dogs'll have better planet-mates as a result

[Hulk]

Lucky Dog!

I hope it enjoys its life of leisure, and manages to spend every cent of it. I do see it possibly doing well in the stock and real estate markets though, and possibly even creating a Charitable Trust of its own for other lucky dogs.

I also see a reality tv show in this dog's future. Endorsement deals. The sky is the limit. Ain't America great!

[Adam West]

I do hear that most dogs when given a stock market table can make picks that will beat 90% of actively managed mutual fund managers.

Of course sticking that $12M in a 5% money market fund will yield $600K of annual interest income without having to touch the principal.

I wonder how they handle tax situations like this since I would think the trust fund will generate some type of interest income.

[SlipperyLilSuckers]

With all respect---that's exactly the kind of copout I'm talking about.

And this is what I am talking about...that's your opinion, and that's all it is.