I've got a friend who is a teacher in a small town in Southwest VA. According to her, half her ninth grade class is completely gay and the other half routinely looks up phrases in German at the library and draws swastikas on their desk because they are in the KKK. My next question is this : when will the two sides start a war?

She also says that since her town is relatively poor, it's not uncommon for parents to adopt kids for the money. I believe this completely, given the amount of people I encounter at work who I believe do not need state-funded resources, such as Medicaid, but are definitely on it. I say I do not believe they are in "need" because they all drive crazy nice cars - most of them NEW, expensive SUVs, live in relatively wealthy areas, and dress in designer clothing while talking on their Blackberrys.

Half of us at work keep saying we are going to apply for Medicaid and food stamps, since it seems there really are no criteria for receiving them. Since it's coming out of our paychecks anyway, it's not like we aren't contributing to the (faulty) system.



In other thoughts, I've come to the conclusion that people (especially college age kids) do insane things just so they have stories to tell. Here is an example: every year there is a horse racing event held that everyone and their mom (sometimes literally) attends. Here's what ends up happening at this event: everyone leaves early in the morning, already beginning to to augment their BAC and proceeds to spend the entire day in either 90 degree weather, sunburning the hell out of themselves and making themselves sick or they spend the day in torrential downpours, falling down in the mud. These people are in their Kentucky-derby best, mind you - suits, sundresses, HEELS. Why on Earth would you put yourself through this experience?? It's all about the stories. It's like there is some invisible level of insanity that you have to achieve during your prime years or you haven't "lived".

This is usually the ideal when it comes to alochol and college students, though. Unless you are completely wasted and streaking somewhere, you probably aren't having any fun. Who makes these rules??