Inexplicable

I am strangely intrigued with all sorts of secret or closed societies, from the innocuous (sororities) to the seriously whacked-out (North Korea).

Fortunately for my mental health, but unfortunately for my curiosity, the closest I ever came to membership in a secret society was back in middle school with the "flower power" club.

My fascination probably can be traced to Dad, who with his college friends once was chased by a pack of guard dogs at Gimghoul Castle, at the edge of the UNC campus. They were trying to spy. I might have the story mixed up, but I believe that incident actually took place several years after he graduated from college -- with Mom and baby me waiting in the getaway car. Dad, correct me if my version of this story is completely wrong.

I would absolutely love to be a fly on the wall and watch what goes on inside North Korea, any number of religious cults and sects, Skull and Bones meetings and Delta Force recruitment, training and missions.

While we're on the subject of my inexplicable obsessions, an unrelated one is hearing and reading about the rules of student behavior at the most conservative Christian colleges. I'm equal parts intrigued by a) the rules themselves and b) the fact that students voluntarily agree to follow them.

I always wonder how strictly and consistently they're enforced, and how seriously students take them. I bet that even if you start out thinking they're ridiculous, pretty soon you realize your life will be easier if you just go with the flow. Either that or you transfer.