I'm really trying not to post so much on LJ...

[garneyloom]

...but I have a barrage of ideas for my thesis. Time for ya'll to let me know what you think. You're my focus group! I have decided that each of you that comments (or has commented on a previous thesis entry) is going in my credits as a thank you. And if you're in the DC area, you can even be a "production assistant" so that if I ever win anything

Comments

sorry I'm late

[j_squared_fam]

Okay, so you've probably already made your decision but here's my thoughts: (keep in mind, that as a person working in non-profits, I'm very agency-centric. I do think that in a lot of cases, agencies are your best bet to just go in and ask questions about an issue and get pointed in a direction but I know you're short on time and that may not be an option right now.)
2. Food stuff: I do think there are a lot of other stories you could do around local food distribution, maybe focusing on agencies that are working the hunger relief arena. Stuff like food reclamation (think Food for Lane County's program) I think in a lot of ways once you got to talk to a few people you'd happen upon an angle pretty easily. I'm not sure it'd be the most interesting story ever, but there are lots of people out there that are willing to talk about this stuff and (in my humble opinion) it'd be pretty easy.
4. AIDS stuff: This story would be more challenging than food but maybe more people-oriented. I just read a story about a resurgence in HIV infection in gay men in NYC. the landscape of AIDS in the US is constantly changing, especially in urban areas. You could talk to (again) agency people that are working to eradicate HIV/AIDS and people just don't seem to get the message. One generation practices safe sex and uses clean needles and the next doesn't. How do we keep attention on this consistently, for enough generations to really solve the problem? Especially before the virus mutates enough that we can't control it with protease inhibitors and other meds.
5. Traffic: doesn't really excite me how it's written. Seems like it could just turn into a bitch-fest about DC which would be fun but not incredibly productive. I think if you talked a little bit about the long-term planning process and how when they start planning a project that will be completed in 20 years, they are working with numbers that are pulled out of thin air and often way off base. How do you accurately plan for anything that far in advance? And how do experts think that traffic patterns will be changing in the next 20, 40, 60 years. I've heard some people saying that in 50 years, commuting will be a thing of the past (because of telecommuting) so we should stop dumping money into roads now.
Okay, maybe I should do some of my work now!! You can call later tonight if you want.