We feel so grateful and fortunate to have been promoted as the upcoming editors of “The Westside Story” website.  We hope that we can uphold the level of achievement that the previous year has set for us and transcend it.  “I don’t know you say goodbye I say hello.”

1. Free People: Tazmanian floral Skirt 
Retail Price: $98.00

2. Victoria’s Secret Mini Skirt
Sale Price: $9.99

3. Victoria’s Secret Cotton Gauze Tiered Skirt
Sale Price: $19.99

4. Free People: Tea Party Skirt
Sale Price: $39.95

5. Macy’s BCX Skirt
Retail Price: $22.99

6. Jack BB Dakota: Mia Skirt
Retail Price: $45.00

7. Victoria’s Secret Floral Skirt
Sale Price: $24.50

* Photos courtesy of Victoriassecret.com, Macys.com, FreePeople.com & BBDakota.com

For their first performance, DeWyze sang “The Boxer” by Simon and Garfunkel. Randy asked him to “kick it up a notch,” while Ellen said that DeWyze had improved since last time and that she couldn’t be prouder if she had “birthed” him herself. DeWyze didn’t fare much better the second time around with REM’s “Everybody Hurts,” which was chosen for him by the show’s executive producer, Simon Fuller. Simon thought it was a brilliant choice but that he sounded nervous. He told DeWyze to give him a 10 out of 10 performance.

Bowersox landed a huge blow by singing “Me and Bobby McGee” by Roger Miller. Randy said he hoped she would make a record like that, and Kara said that she had a “fire in her belly.” Bowersox’s performance of Alannah Myles’s ‘ “Black Velvet” was impressing to the judges. Ellen gave the 24-year-old a standing ovation while Simon said she “nailed” the song.

For the finale, before the voting ended, DeWyze chose U2’s “Beautiful Day” went out with a bang. Kara said that he “deserve[d] to be here tonight,” she said. Bowersox, for the finale, sang Patty Griffin’s folksy gospel tune “Up to the Mountain.” Randy said that her performance was “one of her best moments at the perfect time.”The winner of the 2010 American Idol was Lee DeWyze, and for his post-victory song he sang U2’s “Beautiful Day.”

BP has allowed Costner to test out six of his machines in the Gulf of Mexico in hopes that they will work efficiently.  According to John Houghtaling, from Ocean Therapy Solutions, the machines could start doing their job as soon as Friday, May 21.  Houghtaling, Costner’s business partner, says, “We know the technology works and we know it’s really the only solution.”  Even though these types of devices have been around for a few decades, Costner’s new ones are more effective and get the job done faster. 

This oil spill was caused by British Petroleum (BP).  They are required to pay for all of the damages that the spill has caused.  Considering that the oil is still spreading, the costs are constantly increasing.  As of now, the total amounts at $625 million.  That rate is just going to keep rising unless something, like Costner’s machines, can help prevent and/or lessen the impact of the spill. 

If Kevin Costner’s oil-separating devices work successfully and efficiently, the oil industry will be permanently changed for the better.  They can be used towards future oil spills and reduce the consequences that they have on the environment.  Overall, these new and improved centrifugal oil separators, developed by Ocean Therapy Solutions, could hopefully be the solution to all current and future oil spills.  They could give us the ability to preserve reefs and other ocean life.

NBC’s Heroes is the latest high-profile series to get the ax. The TV show drew in over 14 million viewers on average during its first season, however, it won’t see a fifth season after dropping to an average 6.5 million viewers in season four. Its latest episode, aired Feb. 8, drew a paltry 4.4 million. Like its network neighbor, also canceled Law & Order, Heroes is rumored to be getting the TV movie treatment to wrap up any loose ends.

Law & Order has become a global franchise; its core US audience fell from 19 million to about 7.3 million. Now the verdict is in– the original New York version has been canceled after a record equaling 20 seasons. It is to be replaced by one set on the West Coast called Law & Order: Los Angeles, quickly nicknamed Lola. The 456th and final episode of Law & Order will air in America on May 24, with a guest appearance by Lindsey Vonn, an Olympic gold-medal skier.

The sci-fi spectaculars that haven’t been canceled, such as V, has recently emerged over Flash Forward, and it also keeps you on the edge of your seat for the whole episode. After only one season, the sci-fi thriller Flash Forward has been canceled because after only a week it had lost almost 2 million viewers. Even with a little bit of promotion from NBC it still didn’t help.

So while those television viewers who enjoy reality shows won’t have much to worry about when it comes to finding what they’re looking for on the network TV dial in the fall, those who’ve been hoping for the pendulum to swing back their way in the form of scripted comedies and dramas have a lot riding on those twelve new NBC shows in the fall.

All these shows and influences are targeted at teens and young adults. Kids today are starting to believe that it is acceptable to be disrespectful to authority, and not achieve in school because they see other young adults do it on television. Shows like 16 and Pregnant give kids an illusion that you’re going to be taken care of by your parents in a teen pregnancy, but in reality that is not the case.  Finding out your pregnant is not a lighthearted subject. Just being a teenager is challenging, we go through so many changes, and having a baby only complicates things. Most teenage mothers discontinue their education, preventing them from going on to college, getting a good job, and even getting married. In our parents eyes, we’re still their babies, and babies can’t have babies! However, this is only one of many shows that send out a negativ message. Made also suggests the idea that you’re not good enough unless you’re someone else. Whatever happened to being satisfied with who you are on the inside overriding how you look on the outside? It’s sad seeing our world come to this– that kids and teens are being exposed to such a negative influence.

Reality TV is junk television that makes people believe that their lives aren’t exciting enough because they aren’t on a dating show, or having a camera crew taping their celebrity life. This series of shows is not educational and does not, in any way, give a benefit to our generation. It’s almost disgusting that teens don’t know what year the Declaration of Independence was signed, but they know who punched Snooki on last nights’ episode. Is this not a probable example of how bad reality TV has become? If we can balance out the junk that we fill our minds with the education we need, then maybe we can benefit as a society and return to the moral values we once had before the boom of reality TV.

In the most pivotal game of the year, Henrik Lundqvist, goalie of the Rangers, did everything he could to keep the Flyers off the board.  But in the third period, the Flyers were finally able to crack Lundqvist and tie the game up at 1-1.  Philadelphia ended up victorious in a shootout in front of their home crowd to advance to the playoffs, and secure a matchup with the New Jersey Devils.

After splitting the first two games in New Jersey, the Flyers took control of the series behind goalie Brian Boucher.  Boucher allowed just three total goals in the final three games of the series as the number seven seeded Flyers upset the Devils four games to one.

Moving on to the second round, the Flyers faced the Bruins, who were also coming off a first round upset.  But after destroying one of the best teams in the East, the tides turned.  Boston won the first two games at home and then continued the slaughtering of the Flyers with an overtime victory on the road in Game 3 to push the series lead to 3-0.  Only two NHL teams have ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series.  Not to be the spoiler or anything, but the Flyers did come back to win the series and make history as the only teams to come back from 3-0 besides the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs and ’75 New York Islanders.

And now in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Philadelphia Flyers are looking to win the Stanley Cup, the prized possession of the NHL that they haven’t won since 1973.  And the only team left in their way in the Eastern Conference is the Montreal Canadiens, the biggest surprise of this year’s postseason and the number eight seed.  Through the first two games of the series, Philadelphia has dominated the Habs, shutting them out in games one and two by a combined score of 9-0. 

With game three tonight in Montreal, the Flyers are looking to put the series away.  Philly is in the opposite position it has been throughout the playoffs.  There is no more battling from behind.  They are up 2-0 in the series.  And with a win tonight, the Flyers would be one more victory away from defying the odds and making it to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Many efforts are being made to stop the spill before it completely destroys the environment.  The first was to get rid of the oil leak, which has been estimated to be the size of Rhode Island, by burning it off. This plan proved insufficient as soon as the oil started to head towards Florida and Louisiana. Now workers are putting domes into the water to contain the oil in order to prevent it from reaching the shore, although it appears that the dome is not working correctly.

Mr.Ratner, a marine biology teacher at West Boca, shared his thoughts on the matter: “The oil spill reaching the shoreline will be an environmental catastrophe. The weather has cooperated, giving more time for the states to prepare for the impact of the oil on the various ecosystems along the shoreline. The governmental response is similar to the response for hurricanes, but, unlike a hurricane, the oil spill’s environmental impact will be remnant for years to come.”

President Obama has constructed a plan to try and stop the oil while trying to preserve the environment. If something is not done soon the crisis will get worse.

It is six months after Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) has announced to the public that he is Iron Man. Since then, Tony has been the symbol of peace by diminishing terrorism and crime. On top of that, the military is trying to get Tony to give them the Iron Man suit for the use of advancing military weapons. Besides that, Russian physicist Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke) is seeking revenge

Gwenyth Paltrow returns as Tony’s assistant turned CEO Pepper Potts and Director Jon Favreau reprises his role as driver and bodyguard Happy Hogan. New to the cast this time around is Natalie Rushman, aka SHIELD Agent Natasha Romanoff, played Scarlett Johannson and Samuel L. Jackson as SHIELD Director Nick Fury. For the sequel, Terrence Howard decided not to reprise his role as Stark’s military weapons partner Lt. Colonel Jimmy Rhodes. Instead, Jon Favreau chose Don Cheadle as his replacement.

What most comic book fans will love about this film are The Avengers references. For example, in one scene Tony uses a shield with a star on it to help balance out something that he is working on. However, this just so happens to be Captain America’s shield. Also, after the credits, there is a scene that shows SHIELD Agent Coulson at a crash site which appears to show Mjolnir, the hammer of Thor.

Although the sequel is not as better as the first movie, the sequel was still amazing. Personally, I’ve never seen so much action before in a superhero movie. On this high priced budget, Jon Favreau goes above and beyond. For a movie that just started filming early last summer, Iron Man 2 is a sky high action-packed work of art.

Many students at our school love these new self serve places because they give them the opportunity to add more variety to their yogurt. Sophomore, Chloe Gould, says, “Orange Leaf is like a Sweets from Heaven, but instead of candy it’s yogurt.” You have the ability to prepare yourself as little or as much yogurt that you wish to eat. Junior, Samantha Rosen, exclaims, “Yogurtland is so good! It’s awesome putting on your own toppings and making your own creation.” Students are not only attracted to the wide variety of options, but also the taste of the frozen yogurt as well. Ross Goldstein, junior, says “It’s so delicious that the lines are always out the door!” As you can see, many students feel passionate about these new and upcoming hot spots.

These stores not only provide you with quantity and quality, but also healthy alternatives! At each of the self serve yogurt places, there is a wide variety of freshly prepared fruit toppings. In addition, there are plenty of “no sugar added” flavors. If you’re looking for a healthy alternative, stop by one of these local stores and order up!

A new Orange Leaf is opening up in Boca Raton in Plaza Real off of Camino Real. Currently, their other closest location is in Delray Beach (16950 Jog Road #111S Delray Beach FL, 33446). Eco Yogurt Lounge can be found along Yamato Road (1200 Yamato Road Suite C5 Boca Raton FL, 33431). Yogurtland is unfortunately not as close in location to either store. It’s locations are in Pembroke Pines (15820 Pines Blvd Pembroke Pines FL, 33027), Coral Springs (2806 University Drive Coral Springs Fl, 33056), and will soon be in Weston as well. According to our students, it’s well worth the drive!