Things from the Daily Mail that I can't wrap my brain around:

• Getting back to a life after abduction
• Not just the same species--the same region.

You've got people like Angelina going to Africa and dedicating time and money to causes.

Hey, you probably pay more attention than I do--what's your take on the story that they closed down Namibia so Angelina could have Shiloh in peace?

Hm, I never heard that. It probably happened. I don't think Angelina is a saint or anything, it's just that the Aniston thing seems like such a ploy to be taken seriously or something. Plus she has just always irritated me.

she has just always irritated me.

Heh. I hear you.

My sister was grilling me for my Brangelina in Namibia opinion, and I failed to have enough of one. She's pissed at the Pitts, I'm reeling at the idea that the government of any country would roll over like that for movie actors.

If that's how it went down, I think the govt. probably did it because the Pitt clan being there brings such publicity to the region. Good for Namibia. From what I remember seeing, it wasn't them requesting it - it was the govt. putting the word out. "Hey, we're celebrity friendly! Come have your babies here in peace!"

it was the govt. putting the word out. "Hey, we're celebrity friendly! Come have your babies here in peace!"

That's what bothers me, honestly. I just can't see that particularly playing out in the interests of the average Namibian.

Yeah, I'm not so sure it's good for Namibia, just that I could see the govt. thinking it is. Also, if I'm remembering correctly, it was the invasion of the paparazzi from other places (not Namibia) that the govt. was reacting to. Meaning, not so good for Namibia to have all these fools running wild. However, they were spending money there on food, lodging, etc. I feel like I'm arguing with myself. I hate when that happens.

I feel like I'm arguing with myself. I hate when that happens.

At least you get to win.

Unfortunately you also get to lose.

My sister's super-sensitive about the rolling over and begging for the US because we generate so much of our foreign exchange from tourism, and it can be hard to walk the line.

they closed down Namibia

The whole country?? ...Actually, I had a friend who did her Peace Corps in Namibia, and she kept having to be evacuated due to UNITA rebels being rebellious on the border, so I presume it's actually kind of impossible to shut down the whole country for any reason at all.

Windhoek, maybe -- reschedule all the flights for that day, detour the traffic away from [wherever]. But yeah, I'm not sure I understand why. Trying for tourist dollars, you kind of want to appeal to a big market, you know? Celebrities, while individually lucrative, just aren't a large number of people.

Trying for tourist dollars, you kind of want to appeal to a big market, you know? Celebrities, while individually lucrative, just aren't a large number of people.

I totally understand using two of the most watched celebs to promote your sensitivity--tourist destinations are going to be more desirable the more stars there are there--either by people who want to brush shoulders with celebs, or by people who want to keep up with the Jolie-Pitts.

That part totally makes sense to me.

What I don't like is the degree to which a gesture like that can make the country beholden to the celeb, and it's not a good long term investment.