Earth People are Weird these days…
It seems like most people would include most of the following in their answer if you asked them “What’s up?” and they were feeling chatty…
They, their family, or someone they are involved with:
*is suing someone
*is getting a settlement
*is going to get rich quick
*gambles and buys lottery tickets
*is involved in crime
*has someone trying to harass or hurt them
*is in an abusive relationship
*has a dread modern disease
*has had a bad, freak accident
*has a disability
*has children with modern disabilities (ADHD, CFS)
*knows all kinds of self-help, medical and legal lingo
*is crazy and on heavy meds
*is wild and on drugs
*is working overtime
*is in big debt
*is getting divorced
*is fooling around
*is sullen
*is depressed
*is upset with job, neighbort, church, family, school
*is involved with religion in a desparate way
*is estranged from family
*lives a long way from hometown
*drives a lot and is not a trucker (1000 miles a week)
*is involved with pricey, driving-involved consumer hobbies
*is really busy
*is not getting much sleep, can’t sleep
*has a tremendous amount of stuff
*has personal cell phone and pager
*has new cars, truck, camper, motor-toys, tools, & high tech equipment—none of   which is used much besides the car, TV and phone
*******
What kids are exposed to today. What they see.
What should be in a modern children’s book, so that the kid can recognize the world being described as similar to his own? As distinct from children’s books of the past which told stories mostly about farms and animals and a world which is largely unrecognizable now…
complex plastic toys
tv
cars, semitrucks, minivans
subdivisions
service economy—clerks, insurance, banking atmamchines
computers
phones
wires in the sky
airplanes everywhere
noise
construction
polebarns
minimalls
money
entertainment–videos, videogames, travel, Disney, brand names
moving every day
moving your home
lots of driving
fast food
drive up windows
reduced nature
reduced hometown
reduced craftsmanship and tradecraft
reduced neighbors
reduced sandlot sports
reduced treeforts and exploring
busy roads
pavement
liability
no trespassing
increased security measures
safety
electronics
divorce
ad hoc temporary ‘families’
sex diversity
extreme voluntary segregation
close proximity to people you’re afraid of
lying
superficial tolerance
major sports spectating
drugs, legal and not
legalism
busyness
school pressure
nasty restaurants
chains and franchises
debt and credit
wants—what does Johnny want today
ego oriented
lots of work for both mom and dad
children’s fashion
intense marketing to children
nonfunctional pets
daycare
tests
skill
performance
speed
facts and information
chemicals
