fhightimes | THE FANDOM HIGHTIMES: THIRD ISSUE!

RORY SPEAKS:
So, you know what's kind of annoying? Given that my mother and stepfather are active members of this community, one might think I'd be spared the humiliation of having anyone come for Parents' Weekend.

One might be wrong, though. My BFF's mother showed up. And why? I still wish I knew.

So here's the thing. Regardless of our relationships with our parents, guardians, and well-meaning but slightly psychotic and intimidating Korean mothers of friends, it was kind of nice to see them, right? And hey, even if it went badly, think of it this way: it's at least 360 or so days until the next one.

PHOEBE SPEAKS:
So, Parents Weekend 2006 has come and gone and it looks to me like most of us did indeed survive that whole traumatic experience.

It seems to me that Fandom becomes a different place when our parents or family members are here for a visit. There is more tension in the air and a lot of scrambling -- but it also seems like it's another one of those times where we as students watch out for each other. We give each moral support during this time more than ever, and we deal with the totally off the wall and confusing topics of conversations their parents/family throw at us. (Again, I am so sorry about that, Blair.)

As much as we love them, as much as we don't mind letting them see most of our daily life here at Fandom, most of us always seem to breathe a sigh of relief when the weekend is over. We say our goodbyes and get wistful and sad for a little bit, but then are relieved to have Fandom to ourselves again.

Fandom is our home away from home and sometimes it's nice to have our home back.

HOMECOMING: NOW IN GRAYSCALE
By Alanna Trebond

Weeks have passed and the glitter has almost been cleared out of City Hall but the memories of Homecoming will stay with us forever. In black and white. Seriously, what was that? Because contrary to what you might think, the Student Council did not plan that. Aside from our slight lack of color, though, the rest of Homecoming seemed to be a success. Way more people than I can keep track of came with their dates in tow. Seniors Angela Chase and Marty Blank were crowned Prom Queen and King. No one got dumped, nothing got blown (already putting Homecoming a step ahead of last year’s Prom), and almost all the graduates returned. Among those who visited their old school were Angel, Callisto, Chloe Sullivan, Piper Halliwell, Logan Echolls, Veronica Mars, and Lindsey McDonald. Judging by the squealing and hugging, they were quite warmly received.

And speaking of warm receptions, Parent’s Weekend is this weekend. Please do not attempt to hide under your bed, in the gym, or up in the rafters somewhere. If you think your guardians are bad, realize that there is someone out there with even worse one. And most people are too busy being embarrassed by their guardian to notice how badly yours are embarrassing you.

Q&A WITH LOGAN CALE
By Angela Chase

We caught up with Fandom High's new Media Studies teacher for a few questions about his background and his goals for the class. We can't say for sure, but it seems like Professor Jerusalem would definitely approve.

Q: "What did you do before you came to Fandom?"
A: "I was helping out a friend with a political campaign. Before that, I was a journalist at the Seattle Free Press."

Q: "What kinds of things did you report on in Seattle?"
A: "Largely current events, local politics, with a few editorials depending on what they needed. We were a smaller paper, less corporately-funded, so we had a lot of room to voice opinions the other papers couldn't or wouldn't."

Q: "And why did you decide to come here to teach?"
A: "Friends of mine are dealing with a tense situation and it seemed like a good idea to take a bit of a break. But, in the interest of doing something constructive, I accepted the position here. I suppose I could be sitting on a beach somewhere, but I prefer not to be idle when I can help it."

Q: "What do you like and dislike about your job so far?"
A: "Dislike? There hasn't been anything I actively dislike, really. I kind of wish I had more experience in this. Besides TA-ing in college, I don't have any formal background in teaching."

Q: "What do you hope students will get from your class?"
A: "I'm hoping they come away with a better understanding of how communications and media effect them personally and the world in general. I think it's important for people to realize how information can be utilized to manipulate a response, on a small to large scale."

Q: "Any final thoughts or advice you want to share?"
A: "I guess just to always make sure your voice is heard, and not take information for granted, no matter the source."

SHIPPING NEWS
by Phoebe Halliwell.

Wow. Where do I even start this week? You guys should see all of my notes and submissions right here. I seem to have more gossip than shipping news this week.

Anyway...

It says here that it appeared that more parental units than their children were getting play this weekend. ... I'm pretty sure that I really don't want to know the details of that. I'm also pretty sure that they do not make enough brain bleach in the world to clear up any mental images that the thought of.

You know what? Never mind.

There were so many people here this weekend that I think my sources may have had a meltdown because there are a lot of notes and scribbles about a certain popular English student being a King. Oh come on! Peter has always been such a gentleman and valiant that it cannot really be such a surprise that he's royalty. But yay, because Willow and Peter are still very much one of the reigning cute couples of Fandom.

Blair and River were cute and adorable all weekend, though poor Blair kept getting ambushed by parents about some really embarrassing topics. Of course, then Joxer got a chance to share in Blair's flailing when he met Kaylee's Captain and the Captain threatened both Blair and Joxer. And I thought my Grams was tough on mine and my sister's boyfriends.

Greg and Isabel also seem to have weathered the meeting of the familial units in one piece. That's good to know.

We had a dinosaur on campus this weekend. Before coming here, that would have been a very weird sentence to type out.

Jaime and Marie survived the weekend together despite crazy people trying to hurt others ... and someone telling Marie that Jaime was married. I'm pretty sure that was a joke.

There were a couple of people that opted out of dealing with family this weekend and hid from them in the basement instead. Now why didn't I think of doing that? Oh yeah, family of Witches. They would have found me immediately. Of course, their friends are very helpful to them in this endeavor and smuggles them in sugar. My notes say lots and lots of sugar.

Cally and Mac spend the weekend together and this would be me waving my glitter flag.

Pip and Pippi also seem to have survived the meeting the parents, as well.

My notes say that Jay got put in his place by a Mrs. Kim. Who is she and why did I not get pictures of this?

The parents seem to have enjoyed meeting teachers and students, and unfortunately it also says that a lot of secrets were revealed to our visitors. Yeah, like the fact that I had turned into a mermaid. I want to know who told Grams that!

Lana and Jim made it through the weekend despite the stress of her guardian being in town and being a ... They're still cute and cuddly in spite of it all.

Luckily, it seems that the scariness of Parents Weekend has had no lasting damage to the love struck of Fandom and for that we are very grateful.

See you next week, Fandom.

Coffee Pin-Up

credits:
editor: Rory Gilmore
words: Angela Chase, Rory Gilmore, Alanna Trebond
pictures: The fabulous Chloe Sullivan and the magnificent Google
coffee pin-up: http://www.topmeadow.net/bwm/images/2003/20030810-large-latte.jpg