If you watched a lot of cartoons as a kid (and what Gen X-er didn't?), then you remember the classic Bugs Bunny cartoon where Elmer Fudd brings Bugs home for dinner (rather, as dinner) only to have the "wascawwy wabbit" dupe him into thinking there is a terrible outbreak of "rabbititus" and that they must be quarantined.

For years as a child, I always worried that if I saw the twirling red and yellow spots in the air like Elmer Fudd did, then I had contracted some strange disease and it was time to panic. Luckily, that never happened, but it is amazing what things make impressions on you as a kid.

Thinking of moments like that make me realize the tremendous impact today's scares of real life anthrax or smallpox could have on a child (if they can understand the news that is). You never realize how fortunate you are when you know that the worse thing to scare you about infectious diseases as a kid was a Bugs Bunny cartoon. But this is a blog for another day.

Nevertheless, my point is that the old concept of "rabbititus" came to mind again when I read this quote this past weekend: "If you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one." - Russian Proverb

While I'm certain this proverb has been around for a while (since how many people do you know chase rabbits? You'd just use a gun now), it has become valid in a new way. Chasing two rabbits and catching neither is American multitasking defined. It is the New Rabbititus. And I would bet 95% of our population is infected, including myself.

In one way or another, it could be said that the collective American attitude is to want it all. (Note the word 'collective' for you humble denialists out there.) For it's an absolute that no person would turn down the opportunity to be wealthy enough to live comfortably, to have and do anything they want, to help out their friends and family with their riches, and enjoy it all.