When is it right or wrong to send a tweet? Is there a kind of silent Twitter etiquette? Well, for the sake of common sense, you should at least keep it out of the dinner table, your relative’s funeral and your bathtub (where an Austrian woman was electrocuted to death after attempting to tweet from her laptop).

Twitter is a word I hear about everyday. It’s on every news show, website, billboard…it’s stalking me everywhere I go! I knew the death of Twitter came when Oprah sent her first tweet in all caps:

HI TWITTERS . THANK YOU FOR A WARM WELCOME. FEELING REALLY 21st CENTURY .

She’s a powerful woman and all, but she is the queen of overexposing and hyping anything worth talking about. The weekend that followed after her show aired, 1.2 million new users signed on to Twitter.

There are two interesting words you can ooze out of ‘twitter.’ One being ‘wit’ and the other being ‘twit.’ From the times I’ve used the micro-blogging platform, I definitely felt like a nitwit.

I woke up early Saturday morning, drank a cold glass of milk and drove straight to the movie theater to catch the 11 a.m. screening of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Call me a geek and a lover of horrible summer movies, but I’ve been waiting for this to come out since watching the first big-screen adaptation a couple years ago. My verdict: it’s even better.

Loud machines, loud humans, nonstop action and the objectification of women — that’s just Michael Bay being Michael Bay, unleashing his id to create the most visually arresting film to come out this summer. The only other film that comes close to wearing out your eyeballs is the Wachowski brothers’ attempt at Speed Racer last year.

I’ve read a number of reviews for the Transformers sequel, which mostly bashed the film to a pulp. The only review that I believe actually captures the significance of what this film is all about can be found on io9.com.

The Transformers films are simply designed to blow your mind away. I grew up watching the cartoons on TV before going to school. Having them come to life before my very eyes is an almost magical feeling.

If you’ve already seen Revenge of the Fallen and came out from it with a disgruntled feeling in your stomach, reconsider and watch it again in IMAX for all its visual splendor and magnificence.

By Ally White

What do Jason Moss and a typical high school student have in common? Their lives are almost the same, except for one detail.

Moss is a 16-year-old musician and songwriter from Danville. He’s constantly scribbling down lyrics and chords to a new song. His acoustic rock is inspired by real-life experiences. His song “Always” is about a friendship where he wanted something more, yet the girl did not feel the same way. In this song he talks about the good times they shared, but how much he suffered from not talking to her for days.

At the age of 7, Moss’s musical career started when he took piano lessons. And in 6^th grade, when one of his friend’s dad was playing the guitar in his synagogue, Moss was inspired to pick up a guitar himself. Volunteer shows here and there soon turned into gigs at Kenny’s Castaways, The Bitter End (both in New York). and The Red House in Walnut Creek).  He pays for everything himself and is currently keeping his options open for a record deal. 

Not surprisingly, Moss’ favorite subject at Monte Vista High School, where he is a junior, is choir. After graduation, he hopes to attend college in New York City or Los Angeles, and work on his music. But, being a 16-year-old musician can be hard to handle, and at times he has to sacrifice things others his age do not. A Friday night movie or a football game might have to be sacrificed in order to prepare for an upcoming show. Practice comes first. He even studies music in the car while he drives. 

For inspiration, Moss looks up to John Mayer and Ray Charles because they put out “honest albums.” He looks up to them because they are both “revolutionary artists who are always able to bring something new to the music world.”  

Moss has no upcoming shows at this time, but check out his music on iTunes or at www.jasonmossmusic.com.   

- Ally White

I have no fewer than ten pictures of Michael Phelps in my room, and I’m loyal to my pop culture icons to the point of retaining Napoleon Dynamite in one of my e-mail addresses since his cult dominance in the 7th grade. But with the backlash surrounding Michael Phelps’ recent use of a marijuana pipe, I’m not really sure that I can remain the statistics-rattling, TV-stalking, race-cheering fan that I became when he started giving fellow swimmers a run for their money in Athens in 2004.
First published in a London tabloid, the photos revealing Phelps smoking pot caused Kellogg’s to cancel their endorsement deal, and has cost Phelps a three-month swimming suspension (issued by USA Swimming) that will leave him with only two months of competition before the World Finals of Swimming this summer in Rome.

Strike one came in 2004, just months after then 19-year-old Phelps captured five gold medals in Athens, when he was arrested for DUI two years under the legal drinking age. His recent, record-shattering races overrode that memory, but it comes to light again with the controversy of Phelps’ latest mistake.

For me, Phelps’ redeeming graces (other than his amazing talent in the pool) are his humility and his honesty. Phelps never once denied his use of marijuana shown in the picture, and has taken his punishment in good character, accepting that he made a mistake and that his temporary ban from the pool is a “fair punishment.” Even with photographers and journalists tracking his every step, from his house to the pool and back home again, he has never lashed out and has even apologized several times for his behavior and for his disappointment to the multitude of young fans who looked up to him as a sports hero. Although I absolutely do not agree with Phelps’ decisions, I am happy to see that even with his personal life, Phelps has continued to be a man worthy of titles such as “Sportsman of the Year,” as he was recently deemed by Sports Illustrated. My only hopes are that Phelps continues to accept his punishments in good character and that this time, he lives up to his promises to reform.
To continue tracking the new Phelps saga, check out ESPN’s Swimming News Wire for more pictures and new developments.

• Without actually watching an episode of MTV’s The Real World, it is easy to label the program as trashy reality television, in which ordinary individuals are stripped of their rights to privacy and placed in a fishbowl where the whole world can observe their actions and enter their lives…

  That’s exactly what it is. But this is what makes the show incredibly unique and entertaining to watch. I never used to watch the show, unless there was nothing else to watch on television. But after the last few seasons, especially the episodes from Key West and the previous Hollywood season, I have found that “The Real World” is one show that is worth watching.

  I find it extremely interesting to witness how such a diverse group of seven individuals cope with living together under one roof. Even though it is obvious the casting directors are trying to create a cast with individuals that fill certain molds so they inevitably clash (the gangster, the good girls, the bad girls, the gay guy, the player…) it is nonetheless fascinating to watch their interactions. Each cast member has their own unique background which plays into their actions and beliefs and how they view certain situations.

  Last season’s Hollywood cast included: Joey, a personal trainer from Chicago who was haunted by his past addiction to drugs and alcohol; Kimberly, a rebellious and flirtatious Southern belle from South Carolina; Sarah, a very conservative college graduate from Arizona who had hopes of becoming a broadcast journalist; Dave, an outgoing athlete from Pennsylvania who doubles as a party animal; Brianna, a strong and hopeful singer from Philadelphia who didn’t let her job as an exotic dancer ruin her self-respect; Will, a funny ladies’ man from Michigan; and Greg, a pretentious, model-destined man who viewed the others around his as “peasants.” Two other cast members, Brittini and Nick eventually joined the crew later.

  With such a group of different individuals, the season was full of surprises and heated conflict: Joey eventually succumbed to his old ways and left the house after he felt the pressure of partying made him revisit his past habits with drugs. His violent , drug-induced states threatened the safety of the other cast members. Brianna was continuously badgered for her career as a stripper and Greg quickly made enemies in the house after his arrogant attitude left many wondering why he had the right to call himself “The Chosen One.” Romance also made its appearance into the show, as Will and Brianna quickly hit it off. Will had flings with late-season cast member Britinni, but left with the heart of a previous “Real World” cast member, Janelle.

  As much as violence, arguments, and excessive partying seem to tear the individuals apart, there is a real sense of personal growth and self-discovery that is a fundamental part of “The Real World.” Each cast member seems to learn more about him or herself and how they are perceived by others around them. They help each other through their hard times, offer advice, and literally become family in the end.

  Through their ups and downs the cast members stick with each other, even when it may seem impossible to get along. By the end of the seasons, I find myself to be part of their TV family—after all, I know everything about them and their lives—they are filmed 24/7. In the end, it is hard to watch them leave the house once and for all, but the prospects of another exciting and interesting season continues to make me happy.

  Season 21 of the “Real World,” which premieres this Wednesday at 10 pm on MTV, is definitely going to be a season to watch. The location is Brooklyn, New York. According to MTV, the “real” New York is on the “other side of the bridge.”

  With cast members including a deeply religious Mormon musician, a transgender male, and a rocker-chick studying to help the disabled through art therapy, there is bound to be both drama and excitement in the house.

  It will be interesting to see what happens “when people stop being polite, and start getting real.” Maybe I’ll try out for The Real World one day when I’m older—being stalked by cameramen all day long, however, makes me hesitant. Until then, I get enough thrills watching the emotional and deeply personal rollercoaster I can ride along with from my family room couch. Try it out, and see for yourself.

• –Alex Hebels

I will assure you that even if you are a diligent student, you will procrastinate at least once in your high school career and be forced to stay up all night to finish your work. I am hoping you will use my advice to make this dreadful night and next day as smooth as possible.

- Sit at a desk to work. NEVER work on a bed, couch or the floor, because you will just get too tired and knock out.

- Think positively! Congratulate yourself after a little progress. Do not think negatively about how much you have accomplished.

- Take a shower. The pounding water excites your sensory impulses, and the heat relaxes you so that you are not too tense (but not so relaxed that you will fall asleep)

- Chew gum. Studies show it activates chemicals in the brain that improve short and long term memory.

- Sniff some lavender or peppermint, whether in candle, oils, or candy form. These fragrances help people stay alert and awake.

- Try not to consume too much caffeine or sugar. Caffeine and sugar both give you temporary energy; by the time you get to school the next day, you will be very likely to crash.

- Warm temperatures make you sleepy; keep your room temperature cool.

- Snack. Eat protein rich healthy food. Eat only enough to keep you up.

- Take a ten minute break every hour or so. If you need a nap, only nap for twenty minutes, and be SURE to set an alarm to wake you up for more studying.

Warnings and Precautions:

-Do not pull more than one all nighter a week. It is EXTREMELY bad for your health. I had nearly perfect attendance my freshman and sophomore year. Junior year was my all nighter year, and I got sick so often.

-If you stay up all night for a test, chances are, you would do better if you sleep rather than study.

-Do not let your parents know about your all nighter; you will just get yelled at all day for your procrastination.

- Give the teacher whose work you procrastinated on reasonable evidence that you got a full night’s sleep (sit up straight, act like you are paying attention).

Good Morning Valley Christian High School, please stand for the pledges. I pledge allegiance to the flag…

So it’s my turn to do the morning announcements. At first, I was really nervous, but I really enjoyed it. People keep on asking me during the day, “Was that you on the announcements?!”

Within a single week, I have improved my speech dramatically. I have learned how to speak much more coherently.

If you are in high school and your school allows students to do the morning announcements, I strongly recommend that you give it a try!

Warner Brother’s decision to set back the latest Potter movie eight months, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, crushed millions of fans – including myself. I have been awaiting this film for over a year now!

I planned on having a huge party before the midnight airing on November 21^st with Harry Potter food (Cauldron cakes, licorice wands, pumpkin pasties, sugar quills, butterbeer, pumpkin juice, ton-ton toffee, acid pops, Bertie Botts every flavor beans), costumes (I myself dressed as Hermione Granger), and Harry Potter trivia.

Why was this heart-wrenching decision made? Simply to make more money. I, and millions of fans, feel like a little kid that has just been told Christmas has been delayed, for a very long time…

What do you do when it is 110 degrees outside, and you cannot afford air conditioning? Go to the library! Pick out a good book, look though magazines, surf the net, and soak up the free air conditioning. That is what I did today.

The heat is intense right now, so find ways to stay cool. Drink lots of water, lots more than you usually do. Stay in the shade or indoors. Use sunscreen! Eat cool foods like watermelon. Watermelon tastes even better on a hot day.

If you hate the library, go see a movie or go to other public places and absorb their air conditioning. Get your body wet, then dry in the sun. When the water is evaporating off your skin, it gives you an awesome chilly feeling. Slow down your strenuous activities or reschedule those activities during a cooler time of the day. If you do not feel well while exercising, stop! Listen to your body.

The best part about summer is that I can read what I want. I just finished Lock and Key by the phenomenal best-selling author, Sarah Dessen. Lock and Key is about a 17 year old girl named Ruby who was abandoned by her mother. Ruby is then moved to her sister’s custody where she plans to spend a couple months before her 18^th Birthday; once she is 18, she will not have to rely on anyone else, just herself, the way she likes it. Ruby cannot make her journey alone; she needs help. People are more than willing to help her, but will she let them? Will she let Nate, her genuine next door neighbor, help her? Will he receive help from her in return when he needs it most of all? I have now read all eight of Sarah Dessen’s novels. Lock and Key is my second favorite of her books after Someone Like You.

High schools require students to read classical, verbose, and difficult novels, and this causes students to forget the joy of reading. When I tell teens that I love to read, most of them tell me that they either hate to read or that they only have time to read their school books. I feel that I can only truly enjoy a novel if it is my choice to read it. I loved the novel All Quiet on the Western Front, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I was not “forced” to read it. I think high schools should allow students to read free choice books occasionally

I encourage you not to spend your entire summer on the computer, watching TV, playing video games, etc. Read a good book.

- Danielle Douvikas