Let’s be for real…almost half the students at this school have a Myspace, Facebook, or both. Which one fits your personality best? 

To be honest I have a Myspace and I LOVE IT!!!! I believe Myspace is more for teenagers than adults because with Myspace you have more stuff to do like listen to music and leave picture comments. You can approve your comments before they’re posted, but with Facebook you don’t get to approve your comments; they are automacially there. On Myspace, you can also post pictures on other people’s pages.

Facebook is more for adults because it is less complicated and only has  game applications. With Facebook, you cannot have a graphic background like you can with Myspace (BORING)!!!!  Also, you can not put music on your Facebook page.

It’s probably better for teenagers to be on Myspace because there is more entertainment available, but both  sites provide communication, which is always good.

Sometimes neither one of these websites can be good. It’s been known that there are predators pretending to be someone else on these sites. In Missouri, a woman created a Myspace account pretending to be a boy named Josh Evans. She then met a girl named Megan Meier, who was actually a former friend of the woman’s daughter. After a few weeks of chatting with Megan, she started sending her explicit messages, including one that said the world would be a better place without her, causing the young teenager to commit suicide in her own home (click).

These websites are fun to be on but you have to be careful who you meet.

Do’s and Dont’s of Myspace and Facebook:

* If you are gonna talk about somebody on your Myspace or Facebook DONT put their name! It’s nothing but drama! 
* For safety resons, you should put your page on private .
* You should also be careful what kind of information you put about yourself  on your page.

 - Ashleigh B

Americas Best Dance Crew (ABDC), is a television show where dance crews from the all over the U.S., show the world their talent and compete for the grand prize of $100,000. The show is hosted by Mario Lopez and judged by Lil Mama, JC Chasez and Omarion.

Each week, the dance crews are given a different challenge, but each one has the same general concept. For example, on the third season, there was an illusion challenge, where the crews needed to create an illusion while dancing.

What I like best about the show, are the different types of crews involved. Since there are different crews, there is always something new to bring to the table. For instance, there is one crew this season, who has jumping rope in their act, and another crew who dances using a lot of body language.

This season, ABDC has a regional competition, where crews from the East, South and the West, compete against each other.

Crews from the East are: Saltare, Blueprint, Legendary Seven, Static Noyse, and DraZtik. Crews from the South are: Jungle Boogie, Ghost, X-treme Motion, Royal Flush, and Swagger Crew. Last but not least, crews from the West are: Blended Projekt, Blended EFK, Heavy Impact, Hype 5-0, and Poreotix!

So enough of American Idol already, It’s all about ABDC now! Tune in to MTV every Thursday at 10/9c and at the end of the show, vote for your favorite crew!

-Stephanie L. (Kimmy L.)

Are you a big Magic fan and hope that they make it to the finals this year? Well, you might be in luck because the Magic have the second best record in the Eastern conference as of right now,just have a look at these rankings:

 1st. Cleveland Cavaliers (43,11)

2nd. Orlando Magic (36,18)

3rd. Atlanta Hawks (33,18)

4th. Boston Celtics (33,18)

5th. Toronto Raptors (29,23)

and the West’s top 5 teams:

1st.L.A.  Lakers (42,13)

2nd.Denver Nuggets(35,18)

3rd. Utah Jazz (33,19)

4th. Dallas Mavericks (32,21)

5th. Oklahoma City (31,21)

This is the top 5 team rankings from both conferences (East andWest divisions).The Magic are in a good place to compete in the play-offs,or even the championships this season!

What will happen to bring this relatively young team to the end of their rampage? The Magic made it to the finals twice in their 21 seasons. Again, they have proven that they’re worthy of going the finals, by working together and playing off of each other’s strengths. Three of the most noteworthy players that are tapping into these strengths are: Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, and the man who strikes fear in the hearts of his opponents, the one the only, VINCE CARTER!

The Magic’s major weakness, comes from giving up in the forth quarter, when the odds are turned against them.When the Magic is in the forth and final quarter of the game, they give up the lead so quickly, that it appears as though they lack the experience of other teams, especially at away games. Often times, they fail to play as a cohesive unit and working team, therefore losing their advantage and resulting in games lost.

Who knows what will be this fascinating team’s fate this season.Will the Magic make it to the finals back-to-back? Or will they face defeat as they have never faced before?

-By Stephen Mateo

NERD glasses!!!!! I LOVE ‘EM!!!!!! These fashionable accesories are worn by a lot of people, from celebrities to students. Nerd glasses come in a lot of different colors and can go with almost any outfit,especially with skinny jeans, Nikes and sometimes, a scarf. Both genders can pull off nerd glasses.

Have you ever wondered who started the nerd glasses trend? It is said that Run DMC started it in the late ’80s! Also, Elvis Presley wore them too. You can catch some of today’s biggest celebrities wearing them at all-star games, award shows, and music videos. Nerd glasses are sold everywhere and they are even available in prescription! The price for a pair of nerd glasses ranges from $10-$15.

These glasses are very in style and thats why I think every person should have at least one pair. My friend has a pair of these glasses and I look to her as a trendsetter. 

-Ashleigh B.

Over the past couple of years, collected data has shown alarming statistics regarding obesity in America. According to Anne Collins, part of the Obesity  Reduction Program, 58 million Americans are overweight, 40 million are obese, and 3 million are morbidly obese (click). These alarming numbers have caught the attention of many Americans, such as Michelle Obama. The newest   first lady has made it a mission to decrease obesity in America, especially in  children.

Why do people tend to overeat? When does being full become enough for some overweight Americans? Obesity is mainly the result of overeating, but often times, psychological issues contribute to the problem. Overeating is caused by: hunger, confusion, stress, depression, and just pure greed. These four reasons have become the cause of the increasing number of  obese Americans, says Dorthy T. Weatherbush, contributing author to EzineArticles.com (click).

Hunger and confusion are fairly self-explanatory. Many people continue to eat after the necessary amount is needed, because they believe they are still hungry. Hunger confusion, can be caused by not drinking enough water throughout the day. Not drinking enough water brings on hunger pangs, which many people confuse for hunger. These hunger pangs aren’t signaling you to eat, they’re signaling you to hydrate your body because it is dehydrated.

Everyone reacts to situations in different ways and for most, living in a stressful environment is hard to deal with. Sadly, people deal with this issue by complicating already serious problems, like obesity. Many people use food to escape from their stress, or use it as an attempt to relax themselves.  There are other ways of de-stressing yourself that won’t cause health issues or an early death. Some healthier ways to reduce stress are: taking a hot bath, lighting candles, exercising or reading a book.

Depression is one of the main causes of overeating. Just like stress, depression is dealt with in many different ways. There are also many alternatives to dealing with depression. Unlike stress, depression is a serious condition that is much more difficult to achieve relief from. Depression shouldn’t cause you to pick up a cheeseburger. If that’s what it takes to put a smile on your face, then you may have more serious issues.

Greed may be the most pathetic reason on this list. A lot of people overeat because of pure greed. These individuals eat because they enjoy the taste; they can’t get enough of it. Let’s see how you enjoy your heart attack at 25 years old. For those who are greedy, enough is never enough. People continue eating until they feel sick to their stomachs. As a quick fix, simply eat slower; savor the taste and allow your stomach time to process the food.

The result of overeating seems to be an emotional struggle. People find comfort in stuffing their faces with food. Overeating can just add to your problems, leading to heart conditions, diabetes, and possibly an early death.

Overeating is just one eating issue that also affects your health and body image. What happens when skinny becomes too skinny? Check back next week for an insight on this issue!

-Ivanna M.

The Daytona 500 has been around for 52 years and is also known as, “The Great American Race”.  Daytona Beach began their traditions by hosting races on the beach, and later built their Super Speedway in 1995.  The new Super Speedway was used as an official racecar track for locals and international drivers. This track is now considered one of the most famous asphalt tracks in the industry, drawing in fans and drivers from all over the world.

With all of the great history and good times that the 500 has had its fair share of bad times as well.  A total of 24 drivers have died in fatal crashes over the years.  Almost all of the drivers killed in these accidents, at one point, won The Daytona 500. Of the drivers that died, Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Fireball Roberts were the most well known.

Although the Daytona 500 has had tragic moments, there have been many positive historical moments as well. Those moments began with Richard Petty Sr. and Bobby Allison, who were two of the most recognizable winners of the Daytona 500. Winning the Daytona 500 is no easy job. The drivers are very aggressive, they even flip each other just to increase their chances of winning. Yet each of the 500 winners have gone on to have successful racing careers in the race  car business.

The Daytona 500 has had the best and worst times in the history of NASCAR. The Daytona 500 has brought drivers and fans from all over the world together to see 200 laps of ”The Great American Race”. The Daytona 500 has been around since 1958 and has helped the economy in Florida by bringing in the mullah. The Daytona 500 has made history and is going to keep making history for many years to come!! 

   By Carl K.

Have you ever wished that your phone charger could charge your iPod? Do you hate the tangled mess that all those cords make? Well, you’re in luck! This mat is called the PowerMat. It has one cord to keep everything organized. You won’t have to worry about the messy tangled cords anymore and it can charge up to 3 devices at once!

The price for the PowerMat is $99.99 . It also comes with a receiver,which allows you to use a wireless charger. The PowerMat charger is compatible with hundreds of different mobile devices on just one receiver.

According to E-Zine Articles,the PowerMat can charge the following devices: Apple iPhone, Blackberry, LG, Samsung, Motorola, Palm, Bluetooth Handset, HTC, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, DS, Playstation, iPod, Kodak & GPS.

In my opinion, the PowerMat is  kind of expensive, but it conserves power and uses less electricity, therefore saving you money on your electricity bill. It’s also more convenient because, instead of bringing 3 chargers in your purse or carry-on, now you have one that’s the size of a small notebook!

-Stephanie L.

 Have you ever looked around and seen a boy in skinny jeans and wondered…huhhh?? I did when I first saw it, which was in “You’re a Jerk,” a music video by the New Boys. Next thing I knew, I started seeing the style at school and the mall.

But when did this trend start? It started in the 1950’s  with  rock bands such as Elvis Presley,the Rolling Stones, and the Beatles. Some up to date celebrities wearing skinny jeans are; Kanye West, Justin Timberlake, Joel Madden and Pharrell Williams.

 It’s kind of cute to me when I see a boy in skinny jeans, but only if they are rocking them right. Not every boy can pull off skinny jeans the way girls can. I also notice when boys wear skinny jeans, they seem to sag much less than when they are wearing regular jeans. Some people think that boys wearing skinny jeans is just wrong. I don’t understand why they think that, I think that it’s just fashion statement.

Singing and dancing and acting oh my! Howard Middle School will be performing the junior version of the Broadway musical “Into the Woods” this coming spring. There will be a meeting after school on Tuesday, February 16th in Mr. Penfield’s room for all students interested in performing in the show. All students interested in being a part of the stage crew or sound team will have a separate meeting. The Tuesday meeting is only for those students that wish to perform in a singing & acting role in the show. Anyone can audition!! Don’t forget, the meeting will be in Mr. Penfield’s room (room 248) after school next Tuesday. If you have any questions, see Mr. Penfield or Mrs. Markey and get musical!

How would you show your Valentine that you care this Valentine’s Day?

He Said: Roses.  Rossssseeeesssss.  Never can anyone stress enough how symbolic a red rose is on Valentine’s day. A symbol of love as red, or a gift of friendship as yellow, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

She Said*: Taking a walk can be a very simple way of showing them that you enjoy their time. If you have some spare change, going out for some ice cream could be sweet too.

What do you do if you are in a relationship and someone sends you a secret valentine? Do you tell your significant other?

He said: Chances are, if that someone doesn’t have the guts to tell you that they sent you the valentine, they won’t disclose their ‘oh-so-secret’ identity after the fact.  In the words of the wise, “Don’t fix what ain’t broke.”

She Said: Ultimately it’s your decision. There are pro’s and con’s to both: if you do not tell them, the other may find out and could become disappointed at you for not telling. If you tell the other, they may not care and that could lead to an awkward moment. In my opinion, you are better safe than sorry.

If you don’t have any money, what can you get that isn’t COMPLETELY cheesy?

He said: Without any money something from the heart would suffice. A picture, a painting, an item that, between you two, shares some sentimental value. If you have a little money, however, roses cost a few dollars for a singular flower.

She Said: You can just spend time together. Time is the key to every great relationship, including a friendship. It doesn’t have to be romantic, inviting them over for dinner is a nice way to spend time together.

Is it wise to let a crush know you are interested by sending a secret message?

He said: Nine out of ten times I’d have to give a sure fire “no” to that one. Nothing like a secret gift to send out a scaaaarrreeeddd, scared, nervous, or awkward message. Unless that person likes secrets like no tomorrow give it to them up front.  Play a game of cat-and-mouse, make them feel special, then present your gift and hopefully, they’ll feel the love.

She Said:I say not. The person you anonymously send the valentine to, may try to guess who sent it which could lead to other things…

*Alexyz H. filled in for Alexis R. this week.