New York is famously overpriced, from apartments to hamburgers to…students? Yep, nowadays you just pay more for less. According to the Census Bureau, New York and New Jersey ranked highest in the nation for spending per student and yet both states’ student achievement ranked in the bottom five in the country. At $13,000 a kid, that calls for a refund. But the New York Post points out that certain businesses are now contributing to the taxpayer’s burden, shelling out free stuff in an attempt to bribe kids to hit their scholarly stride. And I bet complimentary Krispy Kremes, Sbarro pizza, and movie tix to Crown Theaters are incentive enough to hit the books. If not, maybe mom and dad will throw in a snazzy car for insurance. One thing that isn’t

being offered in exchange for good grades, are cigarettes (I’m sure much to Hillary Clinton and Bloomberg’s relief), but they smoke them anyway. According to a New York Health Department study, the television show Sex and the City influences teen girls to smoke. Who knew? Approximately 11 percent of teenagers are in the habit, the highest rates being among Caucasian, frizzy-haired, Manolo wearing girls. Well, actually, the Health Department only reported that they’re white, but the rest seems to follow if they’re truly die-hard Carrie fans. I’m so glad HBO taught young women to smoke as well as sleep around. Equipped with those skills and poor grades, who knows what great new heights New York’s youth will reach?