Perry's a little more hot than cold right now

Fill in the blank - "I kissed a girl and I ______________."

• A) became Barbie
• B) got suspended
• C) went to hell
• D) liked it
• E) ALL OF THE ABOVE
  

For being known for such a silly song, Katy Perry has made one hot commodity of herself lately. Not only did she kiss a girl and like it, she's somehow managed to get young women in trouble while simultaneously becoming a tangible 'role model' for little girls.

Three girls on the twirler team at a North Texas high school were disciplined for performing to Perry's "I Kissed a Girl" at a recent football pep rally. School administrators apparently found the song to be inappropriate. The girls are suspended for the next two games, but the school's drum line has vowed not to perform without the girls, wearing "No twirlers, no band" stickers in show of support. I'm sure that drum line is just hoping for some twirler-on-twirler action.

In other news, Katy Perry's likeness is being made into a 12-inch doll by Integrity Toys. The dolls is being sold for $49.99, but apparently she's already sold out, so you've gotta get on the waiting list to get your hands on a miniature Perry. The first batch is expected to be shipped in late fall. I can only imagine what sort of compromising positions my new Katy Perry doll will end up in when she, Barbie and Midge have their sleepover party!

And in case you forgot, those who do as Katy Perry does will go to hell. So for those of you keeping score at home, the answer is D.

NYC Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

NOTE: This is a special guest feature from my aspiring fashionista bff, Rachel--a student at Parsons. She had the incredible chance to be a part of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week this year, and I stalked her down to write about it.

I received the opportunity to go to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City; my Public Relations teacher at Parson’s School of Design is head of Public Relations for IMG Fashion. This year, she allowed the students in her class to attend the festivities if they were able to get there. Was I able to get there? Let’s just say after 10 hours, one fashionable outfit and one huge lie to the company I work for, I was there.

After an anxious bus ride and 30 minutes of traffic outside of Lincoln Tunnel, I arrived at the bus terminal around 11:15 a.m. I immediately ran to a Starbucks for an iced vanilla soy latte (soooo New York) so I could get my energy level up for my big day.

Around 12:25pm, I was caffeinated and approaching the tents at Bryant Park. I have to admit that I got a little choked up when I saw the entrance to the tents.

When I arrived, there were paparazzi, camera crews, reporters, journalists, body guards and tourists snapping away with their cameras. My teacher told me --via phone conversation-- to approach the body guard to let me in--Because she is a VIP (ooh la la), they gave me no problems and I was let through the crowds.

When I got inside, I met up with another student from my class and we were greeted by my teacher’s assistant. My teacher had to be at a lunch for Saks 5^th Avenue. What a terrible life she has.

The atrium of Fashion Week was unlike anything I’ve ever seen--gorgeous displays from all of the high-end sponsors, a full service bar, camera crews, important people in the fashion industry...

My teacher’s assistant took us on a tour. Words cannot even describe how amazing it was to see all of the action behind the scenes. I got to see where all the collections are stored, where models get their hair and makeup done and the lounge where celebrities hang out before and after the shows. It was amazing to see how much work is put into this week long celebration of fashion.

At the end of our tour, my teacher’s assistant told us that we would have the chance to attend the Rebecca Taylor fashion show that was about to start. If there were an award for biggest inner freak out moment, I would have won. She escorted us into a giant room and directed us toward the standing room section behind all of the seats. Even from our spot, we could see everything.

But a few minutes before the show, the room was getting crowded; almost all of the seats were taken and it was started to get cramped in the standing room area. Suddenly, an usher pointed to me and the girl from my class and told us to come forward. We did as we were told, only to find out that we were going to be filling two seats in the third row.

I was sitting directly behind the celebrities in the first row including (from left to right):
Rashida Jones, Leven Rambin, Alexie Gilmore, Mena Suvari, Simone Sestito, Mark Indelicato, Veronica Webb and Bijou Phillips. (Note: That green arrow is Rachel)

The show was completely amazing and Rebecca really demonstrated a glamorous, bohemian chic vibe in her collection. Her use of pattern and color were eye-catching and girlie and her silhouettes were very feminine with delicate details. Although she is not a big-name designer, from what I saw, she definitely deserves more recognition within the industry. I would buy these clothes any day (if I had money).

After attending Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, I can attest that I am truly inspired by the entire process of fashion and it’s impact on the world. I just wish that I had Jess with me to experience it all! (Thanks, Rachie!!!)

Gimme an O! Gimme an L! Gimme a D!

A mother in Wisconsin has been charged with stealing the identity of her 15-year-old daughter to attend high school and join the cheerleading squad.

Wendy Brown, 33, faces a felony identity theft charge after enrolling in Ashwaubenon High School as her daughter, who lives in Nevada with Brown's mother.

The woman attended practices with the cheerleading squad, got her own locker and even went to a pool party at the coach's house.

She must have a smoking hot body to pass for a 15-year-old at 33, eh? Don't frown, Wendy - that's something to cheer about!

A school liaison officer started investigating after Brown only attended the first day of classes last week and a $134.50 check Brown wrote to purchase the cheerleading uniform bounced, the complaint said.

An employee at the school said that Brown seemed timid and even cried when she talked about moving from a school in Nevada. She said that while Brown looked older than a student, she behaved like one.

According to a complaint filed against her, Brown wanted to get her high school degree and become a cheerleader because she didn't have a childhood and wanted to regain a part of her life that she'd missed.

The wannabe cheerleader appeared in court Friday. The judge set bond at $8,000. If convicted, Brown could be shaking her pom-poms in prison for up to six years and face a $10,000 fine. She also apparently has a history of identity theft, according to Brown's mother.

I went to collage!

I may be a stickler for grammar and spelling, but it's my job. It might also be someone's job at this television station to make sure that they don't look like morons during their telecasts. High gas prices may be making kids dumber--according to this report--but what's their excuse?

Teenage mutant ninja counselor

A New Jersey school was locked down this week when a ninja was spotted running around outside the building.

Of course, it wasn't a real ninja--A real ninja would have been too stealthy to be spotted, duh

The Barnegat elementary school was shut down from 9 a.m. til about 9:30, riiiight about when administrators realized the bad-ass ninja was actually a camp counselor dressed in black karate attire carrying a plastic sword. Easy mistake!

The counselor was reportedly running late for a costume theme day at work.

Now, I've grudgingly written about two separate bomb threats at a middle school in my coverage area (on my deadline day) before, but had one of the local schools was shut down because of a ninja, that would have been another story...and a much more exciting one.

Second update: MySpace Murder

Updating an update of a previous item:

The Missouri mother responsible for 13-year-old Megan Meier's suicide and the phony MySpace account that pushed the young girl to do so has been indicted.

Lori Drew, of suburban St. Louis, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Los Angeles on one count of conspiracy and three counts of unauthorized access of protected computers to obtain information to inflict emotional distress, AP said.

Thank God for justice.

To read more about the case, click here, but the long and short of it is that the mother of one of Megan's former friends created a MySpace account and posed as a teenage boy named "Josh" to see what Megan was saying about her daughter.

The mother, her daughter and another adult had access to the account and corresponded with Megan as Josh for more than a month, until they began harassing Megan, saying that Josh didn't want to be her friend anymore and that the world would be a better place without her.

Megan, who suffered from ADD and depression, hanged herself as a result of the messages.

RELATED LINKS
MySpace Murder
Update: MySpace Murder

"I much prefer to hang out with copies of myself!"

No disrespect to my alma mater, but this clip could literally have been a commercial for my college. It's called "Honest College Ad," by the kids of Collegehumor.com.

The $20 mill renovation project that you won't be around to see the completion, the ghost town, the safety school, being the most God awful D3 school? Check, check, check aaand check. Oh, and don't forget the last line of the video--we even have a billboard on the NJ Turnpike.

How does your school hold up to this? Check it out:

"Like Rosie O'Donnell at a bi-sexual bridal shower"--???

I saw this video a few days ago and passed on posting it...but I was told yesterday that a local Philly radio station was playing this and making fun of it on the air and decided that I'd post it before it blew up and became the next "Chocolate Rain."

I'm not quite sure what the deal is with these guys, but the video sticks true to its name: "Worst Rap Battle Ever." Enjoy!

He called the Columbine shooters "my gods"

I stumbled upon this article about a 19-year-old Idaho guy who had previously plotted to kill his high school classmates, his mother and his sister...but now he's hoping kids who experience the same thing he did will seek help.

For some reason, this article doesn't really sit well with me. They throw in the "learn from my experience" graph at the end of the story, but for the most part, this article goes through this guy's history of mental illness and the fact that his mother is still afraid of him. And something tells me that exposing his true identity and mental instability on CNN is not going to make his life any easier.

Give it a gander. See what you think.

I appreciate CNN and the mother's attempt to share this story and try to avoid another Northern Illinois or Virginia Tech incident (as that anniversary is quickly approaching), but what I get from this article is--if you get caught while you're in high school and your parents make you go to a psychiatrist, wait til you're 19 and then go to town. But share your story with a large news source so no one expects anything. I don't know. I'm still not convinced. Quite disturbing.


RELATED LINKS
Another school shooting leaves six dead
Update: NIU school shooting

"A-Rod" attacked by evil BoSox hawk

Last week, a hawk at Fenway Park attacked an innocent eighth-grade girl named Alexa Rodriguez.

Yes, that's right. The bird that nests in the home of the Red Sox attacked A-Rod. Couldn't make it up if I tried.


The girl, from Memorial Boulevard Middle School in Bristol, Conn., was on a field trip with classmates when the hawk swooped down and attacked in an apparent attempt to protect its eggs.

"A-Rod" was not seriously injured. She was taken to a nearby hospital and released.

But this just proves that everything about Fenway Park--its players AND its wildlife--is absolutely classless. And that especially goes for you, Manny Ramirez.

Thanks, Dave!

"And boom goes the dynamite"

So the Women's NCAA Basketball Tournament just ended (CandACE beat out CandICE), and the Men's Tourney wrapped up last night in dramatic fashion, but bitter ole' me could care less because a.) I hate basketball, b.) I didn't go to one of these sports obsessed schools, and c.) I had UNC and UCLA in the Men's Finals and lost out on $300.

Anyway. In honor of this recent college sports craze, I present to you the most stunted and embarrassing college sports newscast in the history of the universe. Not only does this guy stumble over absolutely everything, but not one person in the studio comes to poor Brian Collins' rescue during his four minutes of awkward broadcasting. I bet he's super excited this hit YouTube.

I'd blame the guy on the teleprompter, but I don't even know if that would have made a difference. But, hey, Reggie Miller is lookin' good...or whoever that player actually was.

If you have a soul, you might not find this funny. Otherwise, enjoy!

Thanks, TJS!

There he was just a-walkin' down the street...

A Japanese man was arrested recently after donning long blond wig and a school uniform and entering the grounds of a local high school, police said.

Tetsunori Nanpei, 39, told police he bought the uniform over the Internet and put it on to take a stroll near the school in Saitama, north of Tokyo.

A group of students saw Nanpei walking by and starting spazzing--as one might imagine they naturally would--causing the man to dash inside the school's gates.

More students. More screaming. The man fled the premises, losing his lovely locks in the process. He was soon chased down by a school official and taken into custody by police, but for some reason images of ET running away in that crazy blond wig comes to mind.

Update: NIU school shooting

The girlfriend of Northern Illinois University shooter, Steven Kazmierczak, gave an interview this weekend in which she told CNN that there was no indication that her boyfriend was planning anything.

Jessica Baty, who dated Kazmierczak on and off for more than two years, said he was on anti-depressants but had recently stopped taking them.

She also said that while she was in class Feb. 14 at University of Illinois, she heard students talking about the shooting going on at NIU. Not knowing that it was her boyfriend who was responsible for the shooting spree, she called his cell phone several times. She later found out that Kazmierczak had killed five others and taken his own life.

Baty said her boyfriend had sent her a letter before the shootings, which read: "You are the best Jessica!" it read. "You've done so much for me, and I truly do love you. You will make an excellent psychologist or social worker someday! Don't forget about me! Love, Steven Kazmierczak."

Not your typical love note so close to Valentine's Day.

Baty said she feels sorry for the victim's families, but that her boyfriend was also a victim. Unbelievable. I can't even come up with any sort of commentary for this, just that it makes me sick.

To read more about the interview, click here.

RELATED LINKS
Another school shooting leaves six dead

Another school shootings leaves six dead

Less than a year after the deadliest school shooting in history, and with smaller scale shootings scattered in between, (not to mention the Omaha mall shooting) another gunman has opened fire on a school campus, killing six, including himself.

Around 4 p.m. ET, a gunman dress in all black emerged from behind a curtain in a crowded lecture hall classroom at Northern Illinois University and opened fire. According to University President John Peters, 22 people were shot and at this point, six have been pronounced dead and six are in critical condition. Most of the injuries were head and neck wounds.

The campus was on lock down and a state of emergency was declared by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

There is no motive currently known.

I'm not going to preach about the state of the world, but just pray that this school shooting fad will fall out and young people will realize nothing is so bad that you need to open fire on innocent victims and ruin the lives of hundreds. I shudder to think that this is going to become known as the modern day Valentine's Day Massacre.

"Kid can't even read...T-T-TODAY, JUNIOR!"

You hear the one about the teacher who couldn't read, write or spell?

No punchline--this is no joke.

John Corcoran, who taught high school for 17 years in the Oceanside School District in El Paso, managed to pass each grade level without the ability to read, write or spell. He maintains that he cheated his way through high school and college (Texas Western University), going so far as to date the valedictorian and have a friend pass him essay answers through an open window during a test.
HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?

I mean, I know I slacked a bit in high school, but had I not been able to read, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have graduated. This is appalling!

His teaching methods were based on visual and oral presentations, and he used teacher assistants to do work on the board and read aloud.

"As a teacher it really made me sick to think that I was a teacher who couldn't read. It is embarrassing for me, and it's embarrassing for this nation and it's embarrassing for schools that we're failing to teach our children how to read, write and spell!" - John Corcoran.

Oh, but let's celebrate the fact that, at age 48, the guy finally took the time to learn how to read. This is almost unbelievable...it kind of makes me question the legitimacy of this.

But ughh, this just solidifies my opinion that people are not put through rigorous enough testing and observation before becoming a teacher and shaping the minds of young America. And education majors/teachers, go ahead, tell me I'm wrong, but I know a handful of people becoming teachers that I would absolutely not want teaching my children in 10 years.

But then again, those people at least know how to read...I hope.

Flipping out

To me, wrestling has always been a questionable sport, and not even the phony WWE wrestling. The rolling around, half-naked, on a gross mat, with another half-naked man kind of wrestling.

But you've gotta check out this video of a high school wrestler who uses an incredible flip maneuver to escape his opponents grip. Apparently his coach wasn't all that fond of the move at first, but I'm sure he doesn't mind his winning team being all over the news and Internet.

The thing I find even more unbelievable is that half of the crowd isn't even watching! But you definitely should.

Update: Hot for teacher, err, waitress?

Updating a previous item:

Debra Lafave, the 27-year-old teacher accused of having sex with a 14-year-old boy in Nov. 2005, was found in violation of her probation in a Florida courtroom Thursday after having contact with minors, but the judge did not send her to jail.

Lafave was arrested after a 17-year-old female coworker claimed to have had one-on-one and group conversations with Lafave about "non-work related issues such as family problems, friends, high school, personal life, boyfriend issues and sexual issues."

She also had physical contact with the girl, but claimed that it was "innocent" hugging because the work staff was almost like family. Lafave also said that she did not speak about her personal life in the aforementioned conversations, but that the teenager was very forthright "in a group setting" about her sexual life.

Lafave was forced to quit her job at the restaurant and is now working at her mother's beauty salon, where hopefully no one under the age of 18 comes in, because the judge actually told the woman, "Please don't come back."

This is one class I need to take

An article from Time.com caught my eye, and my peaked interest might be getting some inventive Parsons student an A.

The 15 students from Parsons The New School for Design in New York City are enrolled in a class called Internet Famous [click here to visit the blog], an experimental course in which the students utilize online strategies for distributing and promoting their art in our Google/MySpace/Digg/Facebook/blog-erific modern age.

Jamie Wilkinson teaches how to use headlines, keywords and tags to attract the attention of search engines, and how to use social networks to seek out the audience that will be most receptive to their content.

The students are then graded by a matrix, based on the amount of fame they receive. Wilkinson has three computers that scour the Internet, caught in a constant loop of what he terms "scraping" — constantly going through search engines, blogs, networking sites, video hubs and other sources for what's hot, what's new, and where his students stand, according to the article.

And this Time.com article certainly must have skyrocketed their hits--I tried to get on the Internet Famous Class Web site and I had the little Mac color swirly/hourglass cursor for like, five minutes. There must be thousands of people on this site at any given time!

I love this idea. It's pure genius. And my blog would probably get taken to school by these kids.

Deer-anged coach

A middle school coach in Georgia landed in jail after leading students on a vandalism stunt that left neighbors fuming and reindeer humping.

John Hayes, 46, reportedly loaded several of the teens into his pickup truck after dark (did that not cause alarm right off the bat?), and drove them around neighborhoods as they damaged Christmas displays. They even took those light-up reindeer and placed them in a sexual position--gasp!!

Hayes was confronted after a homeowner followed him. His explanation was that "it's just a bit of fun."

The coach would not give up the names of his underage accomplices, and is facing charges of trespassing, contributing to delinquency and reckless conduct. He was released on a $250,000 bond.

Come on, tell me you didn't know a teacher or coach when you were this age that would so totally do this with you. Yeah, it's wrong, but it's funny how much everyone is freaking out, so much so that it's national news. Me and my friend did this in high school, too. And that reindeer humping thing is sooo 2002.

Hot for teacher, err, waitress?

The former middle school teacher from Florida who was convicted of having sex with a 14-year-old boy is back in the limelight after having "inappropriate conversation" with a teenage co-worker.

Debra Lafave was on three years house arrest and was only permitted to leave to go to work. She was arrested after corrections officers interviewed a 17-year-old girl who worked at a restaurant where Lafave had been employed since January 2006.

The girl claimed to have had one-on-one and group conversations with Lafave about "non-work related issues such as family problems, friends, high school, personal life, boyfriend issues and sexual issues."

I've gotta agree with her lawyer here--this just seemed like "girl talk"; however, her probation had forbidden any contact with people under the age of 18.

Still, it seems more likely that this girl viewed Lafave as an older sister or peer, I mean, she did have sex with a 14-year-old. And that kid is probably still bragging--she was a pretty hot teacher!