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The Middle School Messenger Valentine Edition A Newspaper by and for Independence Middle School students of the Bethel Park School District Volume 1: Issue 3 February2014

The Truth About Cupid, A Mythological Background

Most people probably have heard of Cupid. When you hear his name, you might think of a winged baby with a bow and arrow that you see on Valentine’s Day. But you even if you think you know who he is, you may not know where the idea of Cupid actually originated. You see, in Roman mythology, Cupid was the god of desire, erotic love, attraction, and affection. In Greek mythology, he was known as Eros. Sometimes the god is depicted as a chubby boy or baby, as we best recognize him, and sometimes he is portrayed as a slender, youthful man. Cupid was the son of Venus, goddess of love and beauty (Greek form Aphrodite). Although he was often a minor character throughout mythology, he was known for causing many dramatic romances in various stories. Cupid carried two kinds of arrows: one with a sharp golden point and one with a blunt tip of lead. Any person or deity shot with one of the golden arrows would be filled with uncontrollable desire. Anyone shot with one of the lead arrows would feel aversion and desire only to flee. One of the biggest myths revolving around Cupid is the story of Cupid and Psyche. Psyche was a mortal whom Cupid fell in love with. He would visit her by night, warning her not to look upon him. However, Psyche became worried that her lover was a hideous monster. So one night, she looked at his face. She was startled by how handsome he was. However, disappointed and heart-broken by Psyche’s lack of faith in him, Cupid left her. Psyche searched the earth for her lost love, but she never found him. She finally submitted to the service of Venus, who punished her. Cupid eventually came back to Psyche, and had the god Jupiter make her immortal so that they could be married and be together forever. It’s hard to believe that the character from these stories is the same holiday icon we know. So, maybe this Valentine’s Day, you’ll see Cupid not as a winged infant, but as the god of love.

Unpredictable Thing By: Danika Moody My 5 favorite love Oh, no. Here it comes. songs That feeling, that feeling that makes me want to die. by Mia Adams It squeezes my lungs and locks my heart. Hi guys so as you can tell by It’s that feeling of dread I get when I see their eyes and think; the title I am going to be talking “I’m hopeless,” about my 5 favorite love songs of It’s this thing that makes our minds flip and turn upside-down. all time. Hope you like it. It’s this wonderful thing that changes our minds about how we view ourselves: 5. LOVE STORY by “My neck is too skinny,” “My hips are too fat,” 4.WE FOUND LOVE by Rhianna “My eyes are too small,” “My lips are too thin,” 3.MY KIND OF LOVE by Emeli “That girl is way prettier,” Sande “They’ll never like me!” “She’s much more taller,” 2.LET HER GO by Passenger “My eyes are too green,” On, and on, and on the thoughts drone, 1.LOVE SONG by Sara Bareilles And this thing keeps pulling my heart down low! This unbelievable, thing, this magnificent, thing. That has been my 5 favorite love This horrible, adorable, individually out of controllable thing, songs of all time. I hope you That crawls under my skin and flows through my blood. enjoyed these songs and have a It possess my mind and starts erasing my boundary lines. And this, this thing doesn’t belong here, it wasn’t here before! And this untrustworthy thing is changing me, it’s making me Valentine’s Day Do’s and unsure. My brain is being warped, I can’t think straight anymore! Don’ts And this thing that’s in my toes and my fingers, By Alyssa Iampietro That falls in my tears and is twisted with my laughter, -DO be sure to have a special someone to share Can’t possibly be bad, if it’s making me so bright. Valentine’s day with So how come I’m thinking these thoughts that just, aren’t right? Because this thing that’s crazy, -DON’T sit round all day being lazy eating ice This thing that’s amazing, cream and crying because you're single This thing that started way up above is so unpredictable, -DO share Valentine’s day candies with cute you never know what’s going to come. And this dreaded, messages on them with your love Unbelievably, -DON’T be a candy hog Magnificently, -DO simply share the love Horrible, Adorable, -DON’T be a hater Individually out of controllable, -DO spread the Valentine’s day spirit with your Untrustworthy, sweetie Crazy, -DON’T pretend Valentine’s day doesn’t exist Amazing thing that started way up above, …………………….. is Love……………………… because you think its sappy and overrated… IT NOT… Happy Valentine’s Day!

Sochi Winter Olympics 2014 By Alyssa Iampietro So, I am sure everyone has heard of Sochi olympics. They began on February 6, 2014. The closing ceremony is on February 23, 2014. You may find it interesting that 9 people with Pittsburgh connections will be in Sochi and 7 of those people are members of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Sidney Crosby & Chris Kunitz will play for Team Canada. Evgeni Malkin will play in front of his countrymen in Russia. Jussi Jokinen and Olli Maatta will play for Team Finland. Brooks Orpik and Paul Martin will play for Team USA, which is led by Pittsburgh Penguins Coach Dan Byslma. Brianne McLaughlin used to attend RMU. She is a goaltender for the US Women’s Hockey Team. They won the silver medal in 2010 and are now going for the gold. Lauryn Williams is trying to make Olympic history. She medaled in the summer games in track and field. If she medals, she will be 1 of just 5 athletes to ever get a medal in the winter & the summer games. If she gets a gold medal, she will be just the 2nd person to get a gold medal in both games. There are a few new sports making their olympic debut. 12 new competitions are: biathlon mixed relay, women's ski jumping, figure skating mixed team, luge mixed team, ski half-pipe (men’s and women’s), ski slopestyle (men’s and women’s), snowboard slopestyle (men’s and women’s) and snowboard parallel slalom (men’s and women’s).[5] There are 15 sports involved, with 98 events in total. That makes 294 medals waiting to be won. All of the sports, including the number of events in parenthesis, they are: 1. Alpine skiing (10) 2. Biathlon (11) 3. Bobsleigh (3) 4. Cross-country skiing (12) 5. Curling (2) 6. Figure skating (5) 7. Freestyle skiing (10) 8. Ice hockey (2) 9. Luge (4) 10. Nordic combined [biathlon] (3) 11. Short track speed skating (8) 12. Skeleton (2) 13. Ski jumping (4) 14. Snowboarding (10) 15. Speed skating (12) Be sure to tune into any of the NBC networks following: NBC (wpxi), NBC sports, or U.S.A. network.

What Happened on Groundhog Day By Anna Wynne

According to Punxsutawney Phil, the world's most famous furry forecaster, there are six more weeks of winter ahead this year. Phil saw his shadow at around 7:25 a.m. Sunday, February 2, in the small town of Punxsutawney, Pa., amidst mostly overcast skies and temperatures in the mid-30s. Thousands of revelers showed up for the folksy celebration. According to legend, if it's cloudy when the groundhog emerges, Phil will leave his burrow, signifying that winter will end soon. If it's sunny out, the groundhog will supposedly see his shadow and, frightened, retreat back into his burrow while winter drags on for six more weeks. The tradition is rooted in a German superstition that says if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on Feb. 2, the Christian holiday of Candlemas, winter will last six more weeks. Before the event, organizers said the odds of Phil seeing his shadow were good. The groundhog had seen his shadow 100 times, and hasn't seen it just 17 times, according to the Groundhog Club's Inner Circle, the top-hatted gents who handle the animal and translate his forecast. There are no records from many of the early years. Interestingly, the event also marked the first time Groundhog Day and the Super Bowl fell on the same day. The closest the game previously came to coinciding with Groundhog Day was in 2009, when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in the Super Bowl, the night before Phil's forecast. Sunday night's game featuring the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., was the Super Bowl's 48th installment, while Phil has been predicting the weather since 1886.

Divergent, The Next Hunger Games?

Calling all Hunger Games fans! Get ready for a dystopian thriller that could be as big of a worldwide phenomenon as The Hunger Games. , based off the bestselling book of the same name, is the first in a new saga.

In a futuristic , society is divided into five distinct factions based on personalities. Everybody is born into a particular faction, but when they reach 16, they will face a choice: remain in the faction that they’ve lived in their whole lives, or leave to join a new faction. To help people make this decision, an aptitude test is administered, to determine which faction each individual best fits into. Beatrice Prior () never felt like she belonged in the Abnegation faction. She dreads having to choose between her family and the life that she may truly desire. The question is, what life does she desire? Beatrice is nervous about the results of her aptitude test. But what she finds out is very unexpected. Beatrice is divergent. This means that she fits into more than one faction, as opposed to just one. Then comes the Choosing Ceremony, where she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. Beatrice (now known as Tris) joins the Dauntless, a faction dedicated to bravery and eradicating fear. There, she makes new friends, and even develops feelings for an older guy named Four (), who happens to be one of her initiation instructors. But Tris is in for more danger than she realized. Facing competitive rivals and the faction’s deadly initiation process is bad enough, but Tris is being watched by a ruthless government official known as Jeanine Matthews (), who is deeply interested in people who are divergent.

The Factions

ABNEGATION (The Selfless) The Abnegation believe in constantly performing random acts of kindness. They learn to forget about themselves and turn their attention to others. According to customs, the Abnegation live in plain, undecorated homes. Their faction’s color is grey, because it is a plain, boring color that does not draw attention. The color also sends a message. The Abnegation don’t believe in viewing the world as black or white (bad or good). The Abnegation are taught to see all the shades of grey in other people. They wear plain, all grey clothing.

AMITY (The Peaceful) The Amity are probably the sort of people you’d want to be friends with. They’re warm, friendly, and kind to everyone they meet. The Amity believe in avoiding any violent or aggressive situations. They resolve conflict through compromise and negotiation. Their faction’s colors are red and yellow, because they’re bright, calm, and joyful. The Amity wear clothes in these colors, and are often seen having fun.

CANDOR (The Honest) Not only do the Candor never tell a lie, they are also very open to any knowledge, ideas, or opinions they may have. They don’t like keeping secrets, because they believe that they only create barriers and cause complications. The Candor will be honest with everyone, no matter how difficult it is or how much it hurts. Their faction’s colors are black and white, because they only view everything as either bad or good, truth or lies. They wear black and white clothing as well.

DAUNTLESS (The Brave) The Dauntless are bold, daring, and big thrill-seekers. These people never back down from a challenge, but face it head-on. The Dauntless don’t just show courage when the situation arises, they go out looking for trouble. They believe putting themselves out of their comfort zone is the only way to fully conquer fear. Their faction’s color is black, because it is a bold, intense color. The Dauntless are known to have tattoos. They wear black clothing, and sometimes have dyed hair and piercings.

ERUDITE (The Intelligent) The Erudite love learning new things. To these people, the most important part of life is understanding the world around you. They prefer making decisions based on rather than instinct and emotion. Their faction’s color is blue, because studies show that it causes the body to release calming chemicals. All Erudite are required to wear at least one blue article of clothing at a time, because it stimulates a calm, clear mind.

Could Divergent really out-do The Hunger Games? On Amazon, The Hunger Games trilogy had become its best-selling book series of all time. However, the final book in the Divergent trilogy outpaced sales for the final Hunger Games book by a five-to-one margin in the month leading up to its release. With an already strong fan-base, and the good potential to attract more fans, Divergent is likely to become a big hit. The movie comes to theaters on March 21, 2014. Look for Divergent the novel, as well as the second and third books in the trilogy, Insurgent and , wherever books are sold.

Totally Random Chocolate Dipped Red Velvet Cupcakes, Pretzels submitted by Danika Moody With Cream Cheese Frosting Submitted by Danika Moody

Total Time: 15 mins Total Time: 50 mins Prep Time: 5 mins Prep Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:  2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips or 2 cups white Ingredients: chocolate, chocolate chips  2 1/2 cups flour   24 pretzels (You can use the ones that look like sticks 1 1/2 cups sugar  1 teaspoon baking soda to, if you wish.)  1 teaspoon salt  1 cup of any topping you like such as candy sprinkles,  1 teaspoon cocoa powder coconut, crushed pecans, etc.  1 1/2 cups vegetable oil  1 cup buttermilk, room temp  2 eggs, room temp Directions:  2 tablespoons red food coloring  1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar 1. Melt your Chocolate chips in the microwave or  1 teaspoon vanilla chocolate melter for as long as it takes to make the Frosting: chocolate smooth and easy to use.  16 ounces cream cheese, softened 2. Then, using a fork, put the pretzel on the fork and dip  1 cup butter, softened has much as you feel necessary. (If you’re using a stick  1 teaspoon vanilla like pretzel you can just hold it and dip if you like).  4 cups powdered sugar, sifted 3. Before chocolate cools sprinkle on your sprinkles, Directions: coconut, crushed pecans, etc. 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 4. Put in fridge for about 10 minutes to harden. 2. Sift the first five ingredients together. In another bowl, 5. Enjoy! slowly mix together the rest of the ingredients for the cupcakes. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix until Food.com.ValentineDayRecipies.TotalyRandomChocolateDip well combined. pedPretzles.Feb.11,2009. Feb.1,2013. 3. Fill paper lined muffin tins about 2/3 full. Bake for 20-22 minutes, turning the pans once at the halfway mark. Stick a toothpick in the middle of one to see if it comes out clean for doneness. Cool before frosting. 4. Mix cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until smooth. Add the sugar slowly. Mix on high until it's fluffy.

Food.com.ValentineDayRecipies.RedVelvetCupCakes.Feb.4,20 09. Feb.1,2013.

Autism Awareness And Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month By Emily Cowser March is both national Autism Awareness Month and Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month! Show your support for both of these causes by learning about them and wearing blue (for autism) and green (for CP) this month.

AUTISM Autism spectrum disorder is a mental condition involving difficulty in communication, forming relationships with other people, and using languages and abstract concepts. Autism statistics identify around 1 in 88 American children as on the autism spectrum. You probably actually know someone with autism, believe it or not. Support autism by wearing blue this month, the national color for autism awareness.

CEREBRAL PALSY Cerebral palsy is a disorder that can involve brain and nervous system functions, such as movement, learning, hearing, seeing, and thinking. People with CP often need a wheelchair and have trouble moving. About 800,000 people in the United States have CP. Green is the color for cerebral palsy. While you may not know someone with CP, there are many people that have it and need your support this month.

Poetry Corner by Christa Wynne So many people can enjoy different pieces of literature, but poetry is by far recorded as the most emotionally stirring and touching to the soul. Every month the Iwe will add something new to our issues for you to enjoy. This issue is Poetry Corner, presented by Christa. These selections are considered appropriate for the upcoming events, such as The 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, airing on Thursday, Febuary 6th on NBC, and ,of course, Valentines Day! Thanks for reading and happy Valentines Day to all IMS students! <3

Barter by Sara Teasdale There Are Gains for All our Life has loveliness to sell, Losses All beautiful and splendid things, by Richard Henry Stoddard Blue waves whitened on a cliff, There are gains for all our losses, Soaring fire that sways and sings, There are balms for all our pain: And children's faces looking up But when youth, the dream departs Holding wonder like a cup. It takes something from our hearts,

And it never comes again. Life has loveliness to sell, Music like a curve of gold, We are stronger, and are better, Scent of pine trees in the rain, Under manhood's sterner reign: Eyes that love you, arms that hold, Still we feel that something sweet And for your spirit's still delight, Followed youth, with flying feet, Holy thoughts that star the night. And will never come again.

Spend all you have for loveliness, Who is this Something beautiful is vanished, Buy it and never count the cost; famous poet? And we sigh for it in vain: For one white singing hour of peace ( hint: he wrote We behold it everywhere, Count many a year of strife well lost, “Stopping by Woods on On the earth, and in the air, And for a breath of ecstasy a Snowy Evening” ) But it never comes again. Give all you have been, or could be.

Popular Romance Novels for Valentines Day Submitted by Brandon Furniss Source: www.goodreads.com

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick 89% people like it 4.1 starred review Romance was not part of Nora Grey's plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment. But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life.

The Fault in Our Stars by 97% people liked it 4.5 starred review Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

Pulse by Kailin Gow 85% people liked it 3.7 starred rating 17 year-old Kalina didn't know her boyfriend was a vampire until the night he died of a freak accident. She didn’t know he came from a long line of vampires until the night she was visited by his half-brothers Jaegar and Stuart Greystone. There were a lot of secrets her boyfriend didn’t tell her. Now she must discover them in order to keep alive. But having two half-brothers vampires around had just gotten interesting.

Entreat Me by Grace Draven 98% people liked it 4.3 starred rating Afflicted by a centuries-old curse, a warlord slowly surrenders his humanity and descends toward madness. Ballard of Ketach Tor holds no hope of escaping his fate until his son returns home one day, accompanied by a woman of incomparable beauty. His family believes her arrival may herald Ballard's salvation. Determined to rescue her sibling from ruin, Louvaen Duenda pursues her to a decrepit castle and discovers a household imprisoned in time. Dark magic, threatening sorcerers, and a malevolent climbing rose with a thirst for blood won't deter her, but a proud man disfigured by an undying hatred might. Louvaen must decide if loving him will ultimately save him or destroy him. A tale of vengeance and devotion.

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen 95% people liked it 4.2 starred rating A long, hot summer...That's what Macy has to look forward to while her boyfriend, Jason, is away at Brain Camp. Days will be spent at a boring job in the library, evenings will be filled with vocabulary drills for the SATs, and spare time will be passed with her mother, the two of them sharing a silent grief at the traumatic loss of Macy's father. But sometimes unexpected things can happen—things such as the catering job at Wish, with its fun-loving, chaotic crew. Or her sister's project of renovating the neglected beach house, awakening long-buried memories. Things such as meeting Wes, a boy with a past, a taste for Truth-telling, and an amazing artistic talent, the kind of boy who could turn any girl's world upside down. As Macy ventures out of her shell, she begins to wonder, Is it really better to be safe than sorry?

The Oscars Submitted by Same Sharp – taken from http://oscarnominations2014.org/

The Academy Awards, commonly known as The Oscars, is an annual American awards ceremony honoring achievements in the film industry. Winners are awarded the statuette, officially the Academy Award of Merit, that is much better known by its nickname Oscar. The Oscars date back to May 11, 1927. Catch them this year, March 2.

Best Animated Feature Film Nominees 1. The Croods: This prehistoric comedy adventure follows the world's first family as the cave that has always shielded them from danger is destroyed. Traveling, the family discovers an incredible new world filled with fantastic creatures, and their outlook is changed forever. 2. Despicable Me 2: Get ready for more Minion madness in Despicable Me as super-villain Gru his adorable girls, the unpredictably hilarious Minions and a host of new outrageously funny characters go on a fun filled adventure. 3. Ernest & Celestine: Deep below snowy,lives a civilization of hardworking mice, terrified of the bears who live above ground. Unlike her fellow mice, Celestine is an artist and a dreamer and when she nearly ends up as breakfast for bear Ernest, the two form a Morely bond. But it isn't long before their friendship is put on trial. 4. Frozen: Fearless optimist Anna sets off on an epic journey-teaming up with rugged mountain man Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven-to find her sister Elsa. Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom. 5. The Wind Rises: Jiro dreams of flying and designing beautiful airplanes. Nearsighted from a young age and unable to be a pilot, Jiro joins a major Japanese engineering company in 1927 and becomes one of the world's most innovative and accomplished airplane Morene designers. The film chronicles much of his life, depicting key historical events. Jiro falls in love with Nahoko, and grows and cherishes his friendship with his colleague, Honjo.

Best picture Nominees 1. American Hustle: This film tells the story of a brilliant con man, Irving Rosenfeld, who along with his partner, Sydney Prosser, is forced to work for a FBI agent Richie DiMaso. Jeremy Renner is Carmine Polito, the passionate, volatile, New Jersey political operator caught between the con-artists and Feds. Irving's unpredictable wife, Rosalyn, could be the one that brings the entire world crashing down. 2. Captain Phillips: The film focuses on the relationship between the Alabama's commanding officer, Captain Richard Phillips, and the Somali pirate captain, Muse, who takes him hostage. Phillips and Muse are set on an unstoppable collision course when Muse and his crew target Phillips' unarmed ship; in the ensuing stan both men will find themselves at the mercy of forces beyond their control. 3. Dallas Buyers Club: Ron Woodroof is an electrician and rodeo cowboy with a devil-may-care lifestyle who is blindsided with an H.I.V.-positive diagnosis and given 30 days to live. Ron finds an unlikely ally in fellow AIDS patient Rayon who shares Ron's lust for life and entrepreneurial spirit. They establish a "buyers club," where H.I.V.-positive people pay monthly dues for access to the newly acquired supplies. Deep in the heart of Texas, Ron's underground collective beats loud and strong as he fights for dignity, education, and acceptance. 4. Gravity: Dr. Ryan Stone is a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky. But on a seemingly routine spacewalk, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed,

leaving Stone and Kowalsky completely alone - tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into… More the blackness. The deafening silence tells them they have lost any link to Earth...and any chance for rescue. As fear turns to panic, every gulp of air eats away at what little oxygen is left. But the only way home may be to go further out into the terrifying expanse of space. 5. Her: Set in the Los Angeles of the slight future, the story follows Theodore Twombly, a complex, soulful man who makes his living writing touching, personal letters for other people. Heartbroken after the end of a long relationship, he becomes intrigued with a new, advanced operating system. Upon initiating it, he is delighted to meet "Samantha," a bright, female voice, who is insightful, sensitive and surprisingly funny. As her needs and desires grow, in tandem with his own, their friendship deepens into an eventual love for each other. 6. Nebraska: An aging, booze-addled father makes the trip from Montana to Nebraska with his estranged son in order to claim a million-dollar Mega Sweepstakes Marketing prize. 7. Philomena: Based on the investigative book by BBC correspondent Martin Sixsmith, The Lost Child of Philomena Lee, focuses on the efforts of Philomena Lee, mother to a boy conceived out of wedlock. In following church doctrine, she was forced to sign a contract that wouldn't allow for any sort of inquiry into the son's whereabouts. After starting a family years later in England, Lee meets Sixsmith, a BBC reporter with whom she decides to discover her long-lost son. 8. 12 Years a Slave: In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty at the hands of a malevolent slave owner, as well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In the Moreth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon's chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist will forever alter his life. 9. The Wolf of Wall Street: A New York stock broker refuses to cooperate in a large securities fraud case that includes mob infiltration into Wall Street and the corporate banking world.

Best Actor in a Leading Role Nominees Christian Bale – American Hustle Bruce Dern – Nebraska Leonardo DiCaprio – The Wolf of Wall Street Chiwetel Ejiofor – 12 Years a Slave Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buyers Club

Best Actress in a Leading Role Nominees – American Hustle – Blue Jasmine – Gravity Judi Dench – Philomena – August: Osage County

Best Visual Effects Nominees Gravity – , Chris Lawrence, and Neil Corbould The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – , , David Clayton and Eric Reynolds – , Guy Williams, and The Lone Ranger – Tim Alexander, Gary Brozenich, and Star Trek Into Darkness – , , and

News Flash By Emily Cowser Source: www.cnn.com

TECHNOLOGY CLICKING “LIKE” ON FACEBOOK CAN HELP SCAMMERS Welcome to the world of Facebook “like farming.” While what might seem like just inspiring, sweet photos that spread through Facebook, these photos are actually used for nefarious purposes. Complete strangers are using these innocent Facebook photos, and are definitely counting on users for help. “The average user doesn’t know any better,” says Tim Senft, founder of Facecrooks.com, a website that monitors scams and other illegal or unethical behavior on Facebook. “I think their common sense tells them it’s not true, but in the back of their minds, they think ‘What if it is true? What does it hurt if I press like?’ or whatever.” And it gets worse. Pages may be used to spread malware – software that attacks the user’s computer – or for phishing, the act of trying to gather credit card numbers, passwords, or other personal information through links to phony giveaways or contests. So, the next time that you are about to click “like,” think about what it really could do.

HEALTH DOES MICROWAVING FOOD REMOVE ITS NUTRITIONAL VALUE? We’ve all heard about how microwaving food removes some nutritional value, but is it true? Is something bad happening to our food behind that microwave glass? The answer is, if you do it right, using the microwave is actually one of the best ways to retain a food’s vitamins and minerals. Though there are some dangers to microwaving your food (you could get burned, for one thing, or unhealthy chemicals could seep into your food if you use the wrong kind of plastic), but microwaving is in fact a great way to keep your foods nutritious and delicious. It can actually enhance the nutrition of some foods. It makes the carotenoids in tomatoes and carrots more available to our bodies, for example. It makes the biotin in eggs digestible. And heat kills bacteria in food that can make us sick.

Check out this anime T.V. series that is fantastic for teenagers from 12-19 Submitted by Jessie Greene http://hikapo.hubpages.com/hub/Top-10-Best- Romance-Anime-Anime-Recommendations

1) Kaichou wa Maid-sama

This anime really tops the list in my opinion. The story begins with an all-boys school that recently just started accepting girls. Of course, with such a drastic change comes with tremendous shock. The school is quite a terror for girls to go, let alone studying there. Then comes a girl Misaki Ayuzawa, who leads the girl charge and make it a nice place for girls to feel safe. She might be tough and also look like a "boy hater". The kick is, she works as a maid outside of school. Soon enough, a guy named Takumi starts paying attention to her after finding out about her "secret"...

2) Itazura na Kiss

This anime is catered more towards the girls as the guy is a hottie. However, I do find the romance quite good. I would recommend that you watch this. The main female protagonist Kotoko tells the hottie Naoki that she likes him but got rejected. COLD~ Anyways, an earthquake caused Kotoko's house to be destroyed. Her father then decides to seek help from his childhood friend and stayed with them. Surprise! Her father's friend's son is none other than Naoki… 3) Lovely Complex Usually in romantic relationships, guys are taller than girls. This is not the case for this anime. Meet Risa and Atsushi. Risa is about 7 inches taller than Atsushi. Due to their glaring height difference, they always bicker and quarrel, making it quite an amusing scene to watch. When they both found someone they like, they decided to help each other get their crushes, but the funny part is that their crushes ended up dating. What they didn't realize was that Risa starts developing feelings for Atsushi..

4) School Rumble

This anime has a lot of romantic pairings and plenty of comedy in a fictional high school setting. There are primarily 2 main protagonists. The male character is Kenji and the female character is Tenma. Kenji is a delinquent who has a secret crush on Tenma, while Tenma has a crush on the quiet and mysterious Oji. This sets up a potential love triangle and with the main characters struggling to confess their love properly, it makes it absolutely hilarious.

Happy Valentines Day From the staff of The Middle School Messenger