"Fathers then and now" (spend on vs. spend at)

[Nessie]

Hi, please have a look at these jokes:

In 1900, a father gave a pencil box for Christmas, and the kid was all smiles.
Today, a father spends $800 at Toys 'R' Us, and the kid screams: "I wanted Sega!"
=> I've heard:
spend time doing sth
spend time on doing sth
spend money on sth

but I've never heard "spend money at sth", so I guess this "Toys 'R' Us" must be a place (shop), mustn't it?
******
In 1900, a Father's Day gift would be a hand tool.
Today, he'll get a digital organizer.
=> What is a 'digital organiser'?
******
In 1900, fathers said, "A man's home is his castle."
Today, they say, "Welcome to the money pit."
=> What is a 'money pit'?
******
By the way, these sentences are cited from a series of jokes named "Father then and now". Do you think it's a suitable name? (I've never heard of 'then and now', just 'now and then'

Many thanks in advance
Nessie
_________________
... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know..

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

[Atomos]

Hi,

"Toys 'R' Us" is a globally operating toy store chain. It is the second largest toy store chain in the United States (Wal-Mart being the largest). Obviously, he couldn't have bought "Toys 'R' Us" for $800 so "spend on" cannot be used here. "At" is a good choice since "Toys 'R' Us" is a place.

[Nessie]

Thanks, Atomos, and how about the others?
_________________
... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know..

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

[Torsten]

Hi Nessie,

Atomos answered your question perfectly. What exactly is that you don't understand? By the Atomos, welcome to english-test.net and many thanks for your great support.
Regards,
Torsten
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Yankee]

Hi Nessie

A 'digital organizer' would be something such as a Palm Pilot.

A 'pit' is a large, deep hole. Calling a house a 'money pit' means that the person is viewing the house as something into which a lot of money must constantly be "dumped" (i.e. there are never-ending costs).

Saying 'then and now' means 'in the past and now'.
Saying 'now and then' usually means 'occasionally'.
.

[Nessie]

[Yankee]

Hi Nessie

Very basically, a digital organiser is a digital appointment book (diary) which has a number of other functions. You might also call one of these a PDA:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_digital_assistant
.