It's been a revelatory day here in bloggerville, as two articles address the effect of money on the human mind and body. Mankind is no stranger to the wealth imperative, but few would argue that it's ramped up a bit since the onset of online trading did so much to deconstruct the stock market. (Remember that E-Trade commercial with the guy washing his boat and vintage cars?) So now that we're so much wealthier as a culture, what are we humans turning into?

Apparently, we're becoming less considerate, less helpful, and less hard-up.

First, a new study indicates that mercenary people tend to offer less help to others and wait longer to ask for help for themselves. Therefore, you can spin the results any way you want: Either you're more independent and focused, or you're just a self-absorbed jerk. The headline -- "Does money make you mean?" -- is a misnomer, because the answer turns out to be "No." But researchers who compared separate groups of college students -- one "money-primed," one not -- have concluded that people who are dollar-focused have "a sense of social cluelessness." They don't disdain other people; rather, they just don't recognize other people's existence.

Until, that is, those people land in your bedroom. In survey results that will surprise exactly no one, more money is a direct path to better sex. The conclusion isn't all that shocking, but some of the numbers will make you look twice. For example, the 600 respondents were all independently wealthy and had a mean net worth of $89 million. While 80% were married, 75% of the women said they'd strayed sexually, compared to only 50% of the men. Women also said their sex lives became more adventurous and exotic, and 72% said they had joined Mile High Club. (Naturally, it helps when you own the plane.)

So to sum up, having (or wanting) a lot of cash lets you make more sexytime with multiple partners, and then you can ignore them as they dress and leave your house. Is that such a bad thing?