Those familiar with our print edition know that each issue features a Ridiculous detailing overpriced merchandise or outrageous celebrity behavior--oftentimes, both. Well today I ran across fameroute.com. Basically you (or more likely, someone who is actually rich) pay Fame Route to be treated like a king, queen or something equally royal. As the website states, "For our members, plush amenities are not necessarily extravagances, but often essential for efficiency and privacy."
(Insert sarcasm) I for one, work much more efficiently when being pampered with plush amenities in a non-extravagent and essential way.
Fame Route charges a $550 non-refundable application fee (that has to hurt if you get turned down). Once accepted as a Fame Route member, $1,000 monthly membership fees follow. From there, the costs and service are up to you. Fame Route offers three services, which are each charged on a pay-as-you-go system.
- Concierge 360. Concierge 360 gives you a team of Service Specialists that arrange and implement "every detail of your travel experience with accuracy and perfection." This is done with services such as: In-flight catering, helicopter pickups, luxury hotel accomodations, and exclusive social events. Prices for Concierge 360 aren't listed.
- Chartered jets. Chartered jets will shuttle you around in private or semi-private opulence. This service starts at $1,350 for turbo props and ranges up to $8,000 for heavy jets or "Call For Price" for an airliner.
- Motorsports. This service hooks you up with whatever sick whip you feel like hitting the town in. Prices aren't listed, but a Bentley can't be cheap.
Fame Route isn't the bad guy. They wouldn't exist if people didn't want to pay for a make-me-feel-special club. There's nothing wrong with being rich, but what you do with your money says a lot about who you really are as a human being.
I think we can do better than throwing money away to stroke our own egos. That goes whether we're rich enough to afford Fame Route or--regardless of income--spend all of our expendable cash on ourselves.
Here's one idea to give a little to help someone else. A record 1 billion people are now malnourished worldwide--read the details at npr.org. For only $35 a month, World Vision allows you to provide a child with nutritious food, clean water, health care and education. For $15 a month, UNICEF can provide 20 packets of highly nutritious biscuits to starving kids. There are plenty of other opportunities out there.
I'm not trying to be preachy, but I think we can all lend a helping hand with a little spare cash. Or go the extra mile and volunteer some of your time and energy. I guarantee that helping others will change your life.
--Jens
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