Scandal!

* I now own a bookbag with Chairman Mao's face on it. Photos up sometime later this week.

* A scandal erupted on a Vanpool trip that I was not on. Accusations have been made that Barbara tried to pocket $20 when handing money up to Charlie. She has denied these allegations.

"I saw her put the $20 in her wallet," this young Indian guy says. "Then she tried to flip the script and say I didn't pay. Heh! If I had a chance to steal $20 every chance I got, I'd be a millionaire."

He pauses.

"I manage $800 million in a personal services account alone. You think they'd give me a job like that if I stole $6?"