I didn't know Daria's Sick Sad World was real

We live in a sick, sad world. The news is quick to not let us forget it.

I usually don't even really fully recognize the amount of depressing news I ingest ever day. Of course I comprehend the subject matter of the articles I read, and I do realize that I am in fact reading non-fiction. But to a certain degree, it seems so surreal.

It's because I'm a college student. I know all these things are important and have large effects on life, but it doesn't quite hit home completely.

I'm not amongst the chaos and danger in Iraq, I'm not looking to sell or buy real estate and I certainly do not have children that would be affected by SCHIP. I know all of these things are reality, but because I'm not directly linked to them in some way, they call come across almost fiction-like.

Only in college are you still on your parents' dime (for the most part) and still able to live an independent, adult life. Your life consists of keggers, a work-study job where you get paid to do your homework, approximately 15 hours of lecture a week, a community consisting of young, ambitious 20-somethings from all over the country (and world) and good, clean fun (sometimes).

The world is a full of responsibility, bills, stress and working until you're retired. I know there's a less depressing view of the real world out there, but just don't look to the front page of the New York Times to find it.

Today's NYT Front Page, which I found particularly depressing:

• "Plan Would Ease F.C.C Restriction on Media Owners" One step forward for Rupert Murdoch, one step back for protecting media values & the fight against monopolies
• "Turkey Resolves to Give Go-Ahead for Raids in Iraq" As if there wasn't enough violence in Iraq, Turkey wants to fuel the fire
• "Teachers Agree to Bonus Pay Tied to Scores" Even more incentive to teach students to ace standardized tests, but fail at providing them with useful lessons
• "U.S. Concerned as Iraq Awards Power Deals to Iran and China" I thought the U.S. was only concerned with Iraq becoming a stable government, not who they trade with?

ps -- hi chels. i can't wait to seee you!