Quick hit - kawaii!!

From Jezebel: there are now more pet dogs in Japan than children under 10. Said dogs are mostly kawaii (tiny and cute) - when they're not inbred and deformed - and are pampered, adored and paraded around in prams. Like babies, only less demanding, and you can keep your job:

For Ms Horikoshi, sharing her life with dogs instead of babies is an active choice. She divorced her husband who had asked her to follow Japanese tradition and become a stay-at-home mum; she wanted to pursue her career. Her current partner has to accept that her dogs and her work are at the centre of her life.

A specialist in cataracts, Ms Horikoshi is now at the top of her profession and likes to spend her money on travel, her black Porsche and her dogs. Her friends share her choice.

"My friends - married, one poodle, no child. Married, two Chihuahuas, no child. Married, one Chihuahua, no child," she counts off her fingers.

According to ABC news (the Australian one), you can buy all sorts of stuff for them - bumble bee costumes, spa packages, silk-and-cashmere dog sweaters, kimonos, sushi, cookies... who knows what else.