Barney’s in the dog house

Published 10:55 pm Friday, November 7, 2008

Stay, boy, stay: Forget picking a secretary of state or treasury; the White House press corps wants to know what kind of dog President-elect Obama and his family will be getting.

Obama said the choice will be limited to a shelter dog but one that won’t aggravate his daughter’s allergies, such as a poodle or terrier.

We also note that President Bush’s Scottish terrier, Barney, nipped at a TV reporter who spooked him.

If Obama is serious about including Republicans in his Cabinet, we suggest that he offer the position of First Dog to Barney. Barney’s already shown an ability to handle the press corps.

Two-bit aloha: The U.S. Mint will release the last of the 50-state quarters, Hawaii, on Monday.

If our rain starts to get to you, hold one in your hand and imagine standing on an island beach.

What’s German for “Hand me a towel”? Herald travel columnist Rick Steves recounts his experience among naked Germans in a spa in Baden-Baden.

Steves writes that he doesn’t understand Americans’ reluctance to shed inhibitions and clothes in the spas.

If a German spa is anything like the men’s locker room at the YMCA, we’ll ditch our skivvies, but we’re keeping our line of sight up and away.

Jon Bauer, Herald Staff