I'm sorry, this may not be the most progressive of posts. But for serious, I'm looking for some answers to these ever-pressing questions.
-Has anyone seen those smencils?! They're selling them in my school as a fundraiser and I gotta say I think they're like the weirdest things ever. I mean seriously, who ever put the words 'gourmet' and 'pencils' into the same sentence?
-David Patterson. Seems like a good guy. I'm excited to see how my redneck school responds to a black governor. But I guess they better get used to it, because Barack Obama's on his way! Thoughts on David Patterson? Basically nobody in my life even knows who he is.
-Speaking of redneckness, Cleveland NY houses one of the largest (or maybe it's THE largest) KKK groups in New York State. Yup, it's a little town that's part of my school district. Scary and disgusting I say. Oh sorry, that wasn't a question. But it was bothering me.
-10,000 B.C. Has anyone seen this? Is it worth going to? I don't want to spend 10 bucks and be bored out of my mind. Thanks, but no thanks.
- I can't get into those vampire books. I've read Lord of the Rings. Any more ideas for what to do about my Harry Potter withdrawals?
-My school is hurting a lot. $300 for all the physics and chemistry classes, including College Physics and AP Chem, and there's almost 2000 people in my school. They're cutting 15 positions at the middle school. What's a school spiraling to the depths of debt to do?
-My principal wants me to organize a conference for our students about eating disorders. But he only wants females there. Am I wrong to think that this is something important for the guys too?
-Imogen Heap. The Weepies. Butterfly Boucher(how is this pronounced???). Anybody know them?
That's all. If anybody reads this, well thanks for taking the time to hear my thought puke. Otherwise, I just wanted to let my thoughts out :-)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
Well, for the eating disorder question, it depends. If it's a conference just on eating disorders, then I think just making it for the girls may actually be better. Guys don't understand eating disorders as much as girls do because they are less affected by it. If the girl hasn't had one herself, I'm sure she has known a friend with one. It's just not the same with guys. They might sit next to a girl and make a comment, and just not take it as seriously. However, if eating disorders and self-image are both going to be discussed, guys should be included. My high school is very athletic and the guys are preoccupied with the way they look and if their muscles are big enough, like how girls are worried about how their clothes look. They should be able to attend a conference on image/confidence building.
I will try and answer some of your questions.
--I myself have bough smencils, bubble gum and cherry, because I thought they were incredibly odd. Recycled newspapers with a flavorful smell made into a pencil. Strange.
--As far as David Patterson goes, I really don't know enough about him to offer an opinion. Still, I think an African-American governor is not nearly as controversial as it previously has been, and people might be more willing to accept him as governor following the Spitzer scandal. The fact that he's legally blind may cause quite a stir, but I personally don't think it's much of a problem.
--That KKK thing is quite disturbing.
--Never seen 10,000 BC. Sorry
--My all-time favorite book (besides the Harry Potter series) is The DaVinci Code. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it. Also it's prequel is quite good too, Angels and Demons. They are by Dan Brown and incredibly intriguing.
--Unfortunately I don't have much advice on your school debt problem. That's a tough situation if you can't get aid.
--Guys suffer from eating disorders, just maybe a lower percentage. Guys should definitely be involved in the conference, too.
--And have never heard of the last one.
Hope I answered some of your questions.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ashshepherd16
I've heard that 10,000BC was good...but I haven't seen it
the eating disorder thing...it's extremely important for guys as well...I know guys that have had and do have currently very serious eating disorders...they tend to go unnoticed b/c the population is so concerned about the impact on females, but it's definitely important for males too
I like imogen heap...I haven't heard of the other two though
and as for the school thing..I can totally relate...my school doesn't know if they'll be able to keep all the teachers next year...and chances are the programs that will be the first to go will be speech and debate...which I've poured my life into for the last three years...we're probably the best team in the school, but we go unnoticed and underfunded...it's really hurtful to see something like that happening in a school and to a program where minorities are generally unwelcome but are succeeding