I know I haven't been updating much since I returned to Jackson, but I'm gonna try to pick up the pace at least a little bit. I think Beth and Rasa pinpointed why I haven't been updating recently: without being surrounded by my friends I don't have the constant influx of antecdotes to put up. I think that's part of it, but I've been known to dig up old stories in the past (especially over winter and summer vactions), so I think it's also that without being surrounded by friends who offer warm words of encouragement, I feel less compelled to put something up. I think I came to that conclusion at dinner while visitng Ramapo recently and a couple of people gave me compliments on the recent Pie2k posting. Although I often feel embarassed when someone gives me a compliment in public like that, but it also reminds me that there are people reading this and they actually enjoy it. I find that a very compelling thought.
     At any rate, I wanted to rant about something else tonight. I don't mean to sound like a cranky old man, but kids today are really really dense. Part of it is the influx of pop music over the Wawa radio, with its annoying vocals and absolutely vapid lyrics. But mostly, it's from listening to kids in this town say utterly retarded things.
     Sadly, they're not all "kids" either. Some of them are co-workers, who are all at least 16. It's not like they have no ability to reason, they just have an absurdly high level of ignorance. I've had lots of opportunities at Wawa to be labeled as "the guy who knows a lot of things" because I read a newspaper everyday and I talk about current events with customers and employees. Gay marriage is often a popular topic. Most people who mention it just say "it's sickening!" But I try to interject some reasoning. From the left: it's a matter of civil liberties, and homosexuals should have the same rights as heterosexuals. From the right: if marriage is altered to include homosexuals, why do we prevent polygomy, etc? It's a complicated issue, but most people around here just reduce it to either "That's disgusting!" or "Discrimination is bad!"
     The thing that takes the cake, though is something I overheard from a 12 year old. "I don't know who the holocaust is! It wasn't in my chapter!" Wow. Just wow. And later in that conversation with another kid. "I didn't know it was part of World War II. Who won that anyway?" "I think ... yeah ... we did."
     Logic and reason aside, these are facts that all children should be know. The only excuse is never having been taught, and if you've never been taught until you're 12, then the education system has failed you. These are defining events in history, and every child should be made aware of them as soon as they're able to grasp even the simplest parts of the situation.

     [ Edited by DJ -> There are two new pictures that Matt had me upload; they are located on the "Other Projects" page. Enjoy. I really like the Cat girl in snow. ]