Victory on Grass by the King of Clay!

Wimbledon has been taken over by the “King of Clay”! After a 4 hour, 48 minute final match, victory and the 2008 Wimbledon Championship title was snatched from world number one, Roger Federer, and handed to the Spanish “Beast” Rafael Nadal, putting an end to Federer’s 5 year run and resulting in Rafael Nadal's newest title (as of Monday, August 18th 2008), World Number One!

The consistently breathtaking classic, ending in 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-7 (8-10), 9-7, began at 2.35pm and finished at 9.15pm, due to the endless breaks for rain, which thankfully allowed spectators to catch their breath, and left the newly turned 22 year old lying on the grass with outstretched arms.

Watching the match from the royal box was legendary tennis player, Bjorn Borg, who Nadal had tied the record with for winning both the Roland Garros Championship title, on the clay courts of France, and the Wimbledon Championship title, on the grass courts of England, in the same year.

Roger Federer seemed no match for the Spaniard throughout the first two sets. Stopping the game due to the rain fall seemed just the ticket to get Federer playing to his usual graceful standards. Federer tried hard to be the first man since Henri Cochet in 1927 to come back from a two-sets-to-none match but unfortunately this didn’t work.

Although Federer took the next two sets (both with tie breakers at the end), and saved 4 championship points in both sets from Nadal, the Majorcan took the final set at an amazing nine-games-to-seven and became the first Spaniard to capture the Wimbledon title since Manuel Santana in 1966.

Federer was aiming this year to beat Bjorn Borg’s record of 5 consecutive wins on the grass courts of Wimbledon but unfortunately this wasn’t his year. He still owns 12 major titles, but is still two victories shy of Pete Sampras’ record total of 14 major titles. Perhaps Sampras will be able to hold onto this record, as he wishes, considering that both Nadal and Novak Djokovic have been making the way for his victory, seem impossible.

All we know for sure is that “The Beast” won’t stop at the 2008 Wimbledon Championship and that this rivalry between Federer and Nadal has been the greatest we’ve ever seen – there is defiantly more to look forward to in the next few years.

Reported by Gurpreet Kaur Sihat

Notes from a Friend by Anthony Robbins

Recently I have been reading a book called “Notes from a Friend” by Anthony Robbins and it’s been an amazingly inspirational read! I discovered the book when I won a Jack Petchey Award earlier this year. With a medal we were given little booklets called “Notes from Jack Petchey”. Extracts from this booklet were taken from Anthony Robbins’ book which Jack Petchey keeps beside his bed as he valued the advice given in “Notes from a Friend” so much. There was an opportunity to obtain a copy of the book and I at once asked my sister to purchase it for me – it was lucky that I did.

As a teenage girl, there are many “teenage disasters” that I’ve been going through lately and one morning, I woke up feeling blue as I had been throughout the past week or two. I saw the book next to my Johnny Depp biography which my cousin had brought me for Christmas and I picked it up and began to read. I couldn’t put it down. I was initially put off at the fact that Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ted Danson and Andre Agassi had found this book helpful. Three completely different men, but men all the same – was this book aimed at the male sex? Would it therefore be completely useless to me – a teenage girl?

Regardless of my first impressions, I read the introduction and I was immediately hooked. The introduction told the story of a boy whose life seemed to be completely in shambles. It spoke of one thanksgiving where the boy’s family couldn’t afford a turkey or a feast, and how a man came to the door with a feast fit for a king as a present from someone “who knows you’re in need and wants you to know that you’re loved and cared for”. The story goes on to tell of how the boy grew up to give things to others, to share the love that he was shown that thanksgiving.

I couldn’t help but continue to read and I finished the book in the space of an hour. There were fantastically inspiriting references to Walt Disney, Soichiro Honda and Ed Roberts. As soon as I finally put the book down, I got ready and went downstairs to find my mother and sister watching the London Marathon. There was a story of a soldier who had been severely hurt by a grenade during an attack and was now blind – he ran the marathon. Stories like this never seemed to move me as much as it had after reading “Notes from a Friend” and I’m glad that I ignored my initial instincts and read it.

A lot of my friends think that I’m crazy to do what I do – because I happen to be the editor of the school magazine, because I prefer spending my time at home then time going out and getting drunk with them, because of the idea that I have a theme tune which turned out to be Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life”, and most of all, because I am who I am, I listen to what I want to listen to, and I watch what I want to watch, no matter how outdated they believe it is. This book was better than any therapy session suggested by my friends could ever be; it was defiantly a million and one times more beneficial.

I realised that I could make my dreams a reality and that although it wouldn’t be easy, I can achieve it if I believe in myself and if I don’t let people pull me down. Sandra Bullock said that “there is no such thing as failure” and I didn’t really understand what she meant by that until I read this book; until Anthony Robbins said that “there are no failures in life. As long as I learn anything from something, then I’ve succeeded”. The book put a lot of things into perspective for me and I can 100% say that it really has changed my life for the better – my friends and family might not see a change in me straight away, but slowly and surly, the teachings from this book will show on me.

Arnold Schwarzenegger was right. This book is “more than a note from a friend – an indispensable guide!” and like Jack Petchey, this will be one that stays on my bedside for years to come. It’s well worth the read.

x~Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street~xxx

Johnny Depp and Tim Burton once again join forces in order to bring to life the adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s award-winning musical thriller “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”.

Depp stars as an innocent man, unjustly sent to prison, who vows revenge, not only for the cruel punishment he was forced to undergo, but for the devastating consequences of what happened to his wife and daughter. When he returns to reopen his barber shop, Todd becomes the Demon Barber of Fleet Street who “shaves the faces of gentlemen who never thereafter were heard of again.”

But it’s not only the gorgeous Johnny Depp that stars in this fantastic movie: Helena Bonham Carter stars as Mrs. Lovett, Todd’s passionate accomplice who creates diabolical meat pies; Alan Rickman portrays the evil Judge Turpin, who sends Todd to prison; Timothy Spall is Turpin’s wicked associate Beadle Bamford; and don’t forget Sacha Baron Cohen as the rival barber, Signor Adolfo Pirelli.

The funny thing is, is that Depp is scared by the sight of his own blood. The Hollywood star admits to being scared of cutting himself and wary of visiting the doctors because being “prodded and poked” makes him squeamish. At the premiere of Sweeney Todd, Depp said: “There’s a lot of blood-letting in the firm but I like to keep mine inside me thank you very much. I’m not very good with the sight of my own blood.”

Despite using gallons of fake blood during filming, director Tim Burton also admitted to sharing Depp’s fear of bleeding. “I always look away when I draw blood at the doctor’s office. The blood we use is very theatrical. That’s one of the reasons it still feels like a play to me. The realistic edge is off.”

In New York, Burton and Depp sat down to talk about Sweeney Todd with interviewers from moviesonline.com. If only I was old enough to check him out for myself ;-)...

Mr Depp Why did you want to do this?

Depp: I was familiar to some degree with the earlier versions of this, this stuff that you know I’d seen the, the video of um Angela Lansbury quite extensively. And I’d seen the more recent production of it and then just thought it might be, you know certainly a great opportunity to, to try to find a, a new Sweeney, a different Sweeney. Just like a little contemporary in the sense of like also the punk rock Sweeney you know.

We already heard that you created a kind of situation of suspense because nobody knew if you can really sing it so and you came round to do late with it. So was it also fun for you to, to let them wait a little bit? How would you describe the process?

Depp: Yeah. I was I think probably more frightened than anyone, [CHUCKLES] except maybe Tim. He really trusted me with it you know and I was very lucky that he allowed me to … cos I didn’t have a process really you know in terms of the singing. I’ve never sang before in my life, so I had to kinda find my way to it. And thought it was important that I, you know, keep it very, very low key and, and so yeah I initially did these demos in my friend’s garage studio cos I didn’t know if I would be able to hit a note. I wanted to make sure I could do it for Tim.

We talked to Helena earlier and she was joking and saying how you made her audition for the role and that you didn’t talk about it for the five weeks and during that period you were auditioning other women for the role. Um can you just talk about that process? [CHUCKLES]

Burton: Sounds very sleazy the way you put it. Yeah well I mean you know it was, I thought it was important that er cos I’d never done anything like this before myself so, er and it’s quite a difficult musical to do. And you know like in the stage thing that was a, you know that was a ha… it’s a hard role, the roles are hard, and I just didn’t want it to seem like I was just giving the job to my girlfriend or anything. So, er I really was probably harder on that for that reason, and I just wanted to make sure that er it was basically she was really, really right for her, which she is, which she was and is. So it just was, yeah I probably was a bit harder on her than, than others, for the reason on just wanting to really make sure it was right.

You know the scene when Sweeney Todd is re-united with his razor in his shop for the first time. That scene reminded us of some part of the Edward Scissorhands. Instead of Scissorhands maybe Razorhand it’s like. But that scene, you know the silhouette or the look or the posture or the face, facial expression, did it have any connection with that movie Edward Scissorhands? Was that any inspiration or?

Burton: Yeah I mean I think for me it’s only the fact that we did that movie and we did this movie. I mean you know we’re not lost on the, sharp instrument angle. But you know the thing about this character which I love that’s different from that is that you know we did that a long time ago and we’re probably much more… I certainly was much more optimistic in, you know, which that character sort of represented and now the Sweeney character is a much more interiorised darker character, which I love.

To see Johnny do both of those things is really amazing for me to see because you know I think this character for me is one of my favourite characters he’s done just because I love the interior brooding quality of the character. And then you put that with him singing and it just created to me a really amazing new thing to me.

Given that the movie is very violent and is a musical do you see this as a challenge at the box office? Is that something that occupies your mind, you know making your money back?

Burton: Well you know it’s always a risk. I remember when I first saw the show in London back when I was still a student. I didn’t know anything about the music and I remember seeing the show and these two ladies, these very proper, British ladies were sitting in front of me and they were kind of chatting throughout the show…

…and then when Joanna came up and the blood started spurting across the stage they both stopped and paused for a minute and, one leaned over and said "Was that really necessary?”

Burton: But in fact it was necessary and I’ve seen other productions of it where you know they’ve tried to be a bit more politically correct and skimp on it and it really lost something, because I mean the show is based in those old, grand cinemas, horror theatre melodramas, where you know they had buckets pouring out over the stage.

So, it just felt like that was true to the spirit of what the show is, it was and is over-the-top It’s more of an emotional release than it is a reality thing in this movie. So the studio they were cool about it, they accepted it, they knew it because they knew what the show was so there wasn’t you know. But you know anything, any movie is a risk, but it’s nice to be able to do something like that where you know it doesn’t fit into either musical or slasher movie category; kind of its own category.

What does having Johnny do for you as a Director that maybe you can’t do with other actors?

Burton: Well I mean he just tries anything. I mean the fact is that he’s not a, a singer, you know he’s musical and that he would try like one of the hardest musicals ever to do. You know that just says it all. You know he’s just willing to go out there and believe me, something I learned is singing especially if you’re not a singer is it’s a very exposing process. Anybody that can do that can basically do anything you know and, for me it’s just an artistic pleasure to see somebody try different things and, and actually achieve it and achieve it beyond your expectations so.

The other thing is he’s great because I love that he isn’t like looking at himself, which is great for me. You know I mean, you don’t have to spend you know, after a take "I’m gonna go look you know and see. Oh that’s not a good” you know. He’s just completely open to like, "Okay. Whatever” you know and "I don’t really care to look at myself or wanna look at myself,” you know. He just does a great job and believe me that’s a huge issue for me to not have that kinda, you know, certain kind of vanity of like looking at yourself and you know stopping. It kinda keeps the process going, keeps it vital and that means a lot to me and I think the crew and everybody else. They get into the spirit of just doing it you know not sitting around and you know analysing everything.

x~Interview from Other Website~x

In conversation with...

ARJUN RAMPAL

“I can honestly say that I’ve never been bored with acting or modelling. Anxious, nervous, sad, frightened, yes. But never bored, because I never know what’s going to happen next!”

For a man who only spent 15 days at acting school, Arjun Rampal has sure made his mark in the Indian film industry. But it’s not just his incredible good looks and his professionalism that makes him so bloody sexy!

Arjun, or AR as he is sometimes known, was born on November 26^th 1972 in Jabalpur, India, to proud parents, Amarjeet and Gwen. Arjun was initially keen to make an international career and became a model in 1994. However, once he was abroad, he realised that the modelling scene wasn’t the best to go into as the most popular male models were all between the ages of 17 to 21 and according to him, it would have taken him at least a few years to make it big.

He began shooting for an ad in Monte Carlo when he met Ashok Mehta who expressed his desire to get Arjun to work for him. Arjun had read the script almost eight times before he decided to give it a shot. Although Arjun’s movie, Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat, didn’t do well in the box office, his acting was amazing and he has left a huge impact on the audience even after the movie didn’t do well and that’s what’s so remarkable about him.

I went to interview Arjun on the set of his new movie. Interviewing him was one of the hardest and easiest things in the entire universe. You would wait and wait outside the interview room for ages, wishing that he would just hurry up and finish acting and then you’re pushed inside a small room to wait a few more seconds for him. You hurriedly make sure that you have everything, that there isn’t a single hair out of place and that you haven’t got any lipstick on your teeth.

Slowly and carefully, hoping that you won’t crease the trousers that you spent hours ironing that morning, you sit down, butterflies in the pit of your stomach. And then, he walks into the room with such presence, wearing jeans and a long sleeved blue t-shirt. He shakes your hand with the hugest smile on his face, and you quickly sit down, wishing that you’re knees would stop shaking.

You ask your first question, your voice shaking and nerves taking over…he answers calmly with that gorgeous smile on his face, cracks a joke at the same time. You laugh! And then, the butterflies go and the nerves disappear. You’re actually having fun interviewing him and before you know it the hour that you’ve booked with him flies by and soon it’s time for you to be kicked out so that he can get back to the filming.

If only it was real but dreaming isn’t reality. Bummer huh!

You’ve really made an impact on Indian Cinema, and especially on teenage girls all over the world. (Arjun laughs) I’ve been told to tell you that you’ve got “heavenly looks…just beautiful”. What would you tell teenage girls that say this? That’s one of the funniest things I’ve heard all day! Thanks but that’s got to do with God and nothing to do with me! (he laughs again). As for me making an impact on Indian Cinema, I just hope that it lasts.

What inspires you the most? I guess I would have to say life. That and when other people have faith in me, mostly that spurs me on.

You say that you are more spiritual than religious. What does God mean to you? God is a friend – someone that I can always ask for help.

As our readers know, you’re happily married to Indian Super Model, Mehr Jesia. What does marriage mean to you? It’s a rule made by society. (seeing my face) No, seriously, it’s something sacred and it’s incredible security you’ve found your companion for a lifetime. It’s all based on honestly, I’d say.

A lot of people would describe you as good-looking with awesome professionalism. How would you describe yourself and state of mind? How would I . describe myself? Erm…cool, casual and comfortable. As for my state of mind, I would say that I am peaceful. I’m comfortable with myself and the people around me.

Tell us three unknown facts about yourself. Three unknown facts. Alright, I’m disciplined, I’m really very honest, and I’m not lying about that! (he laughs) and I’m very hard working.

Are you a good liar? I’m a very bad liar – one of the worst! What do you think is the cutest thing about you? I guess it would be my laugh.

What’s the best place to be? And what would your best holiday destination be? The best place to be would be home but for my perfect holiday destination, I would go anywhere! New York, Paris, anywhere.

What was your reaction when you first saw yourself on screen? I was so shocked. I couldn’t believe I was there and it was finally happening after 5 years of waiting.

Who would you love to have lunch with? Jim Morrison and not lunch, an all night party for that whole sex, drugs, rock and roll thing. But one night only…

What is your wardrobe essential? My underwear! (he laughs)

You only went to acting school for 15 days! Any comments on that? I went basically to get rid of my inhibitions. Those 15 days really helped me loosen up and be totally relaxed in front of the camera because as a model you tend to be very stiff and preoccupied with angles.

What are you planning for the future? Well at the moment, I’m undergoing training in Indian classical vocals, basically for voice modulation. I’m also taking Urdu lessons to get my dictation right, and lessons in Hindi filming. For the future, I just want to be retired!

And final question, do you think that Angels exist? (laughs) Defiantly. If anyone has any doubts, then they should meet me!

After the interview, we also got Arjun to answer questions from fans who had e-mailed in.

Neil says: Hi Arjun, you are a slick action hero. (he laughs) I’d rather be called a slick actor, but thanks.

Rayees_Arjun writes: Arjun, can I get you on the phone one day? Are you buying me Rayees?

Malaysian says: Arjun, my mother wants to dance with you. When are you next in Kuala Lumpur? I’ll be in Kuala for the Gifa awards to launch “I see you” music. Bring your mum and we’ll dance there.

Miss SITAPHAL states: I’m in love with you Arjun. (Arjun blushes and laughs a bit) I love you too.

SJ asks: Arjun, how was working with Shah Rukh Khan on Don? Well, Shah Rukh is a rockstar, a totally wonderful human being.

Raj Shergil asks: What character have you like playing the most in your career so far? And why? Well, I really liked playing the character of Shekhar in Ek Ajnabee and Jasjit in Don. The reason being that they’re both real as well as totally unreal.

Cooldude wants to know: With which heroin are you comfortable in working with? (laughs) The one who takes the least amount of time in make up.

Dushu says: Hey Arjun, I like your dimple when you smile. It’s really looking great. (Arjun smiles and shows off his dimples) Thanks. I’ll try to smile more often then.

Arjint writes: Arjun, are you still smoking or have you given up? You look so cool when you do. Sorry, I know it’s not good for your health. I’m still trying to quit but thanks for saying that I look cool!

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE

INTERVIEW WAS CONDUCTED BY A REAL JOURNALIST BUT THE REST IS FICTION.

R.I.P Harry

Harry Ukponmwan was a great friend to many. When you were with him, you never felt scared. He brightened up everyone's day. He would just sit in the library looking at the ceiling as though there was something intresting on it. When he laughed, everyone would smile and say "That's Harry!" and start laughing with him. He was always smiling, even when it was the dullest day of the year. He always stood up to give an answer and whenever someone laughed at him or started talking, he would tell them to be quiet and start his sentence over again. He would never feel embarrassed. It was so hard not to like him. He was born on 21st May 1992 to a wonderful family. Everyone knew he had a serious heart condition but because he ket fighting it, everyone believed that he would continue to fight it forever. He sadly died on 30th October 2004. Harry was an inspiration to us all. He fought until the very end and should be remembered as a brave person who brought happiness to the lives of those that were lucky enough to know him. Harry will never be forgotten. He will always be in our hearts showing us the way and no-one can replace him.

x~Underage Sex~x

The topic of “underage sex” has been popping up a lot recently after two 12-year-old girls announced that they were pregnant. The 14-year-old boy responsible for these pregnancies claimed to have slept with ten other women before.

In England, Scotland and Wales, you need to be 16 or over to legally have sex. In Northern Island, you need to be 1 years or over. According to the law, this illegal sex includes: penetrative sex, oral sex or masturbating together. If a girl is between the ages of 13-15, the boy with whom she had sex with can go to prison for two years. If the girl is under 13, the boy can be sentenced with life imprisonment. If a 16 year old, or older, has sex with a boy under the age of 16, the girl can be prosecuted for indecent assault.

According to the law, the legal sex age is 16 with extra rules applying to those under the age of 13. When a girl is under 13, she is considered not mature enough to have sex. Anyone having sex with an underage girl is therefore committing statutory rape whether consent is given by the girl or not. If found guilty of statutory rape, the maximum sentence for the offender is life imprisonment, but the average is between five to seven years.

If parents are aware of their children having underage sex, they could be at risk of prosecution for aiding and abetting the unlawful intercourse. Naturally, this is rather difficult to do as children will try and find ways of “doing it” without their parent’s knowledge.

The number of underage pregnancies and underage abortions have risen more than a 5th in the last 10 years. Don’t be one of those children!!!

By Gurpreet Kaur Sihat

x~There is no Such Thing as Honour~x

Amandeep Atwal was stabbed to death by her father for having a relationship with a Canadian boy.

Anita Gindha was strangled to death in front of her baby son for refusing an arranged marriage.

Ayesha Baloch was mutilated two months after her marriage on the suspicion of premarital sex.

D. Kannagi was forced to drink poison in front of witnesses, then burnt for marrying outside her caste.

Hatin Surucu was shot for “living like a German!”

Banaz Mahmod Babakir Agha disappeared from her home in London in January 2006. Her body was later found in a suitcase – she had chosen to end her arranged marriage.

Each one of these women were supposedly “stepping out of line” and rather then forgiving them, these women were killed in order to protect the honour of their families. The numbers of these honour killings are endless – at least three quarters of the world know someone or has heard about a victim of honour killings. But there are still thousands of women whose births haven’t been registered, nor their deaths. No-one would even realise that they have mysteriously “disappeared”.

Honour killings are global and they happen on a regular basis. Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Uganda, Turkey, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iraq, India, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Ethiopia. These are just a few places in which honour killings occur and what’s worse, is that half of the murders in these places aren’t even noticed or reported – it is considered to be a “private family affair”. According to the UN’s reports, every year, at least 5000 women are murdered for honour. When will it end? When will equality between men and women be granted? When will women stop being shown as the inferior sex?

In a lot of circumstances, it is the father, brother, son or even the husband that is kills women for honour. Every so often you hear of the woman’s mother doing it! Women killing women! How many more women must die because of honour? According to Indian writer and publisher, Urvashi Butalia, Heshu Yones was 16 and in love with her fellow college student. When her father found this out, he slit her throat – killing her. The young man belonged to a different religion to Heshu and the two were planning to marry against her father’s wishes. Urvashi wrote that before Heshu ran away, she wrote a note saying: “Me and you will probably never understand each other, I’m sorry I wasn’t what you wanted but there are some things you can’t change.”

A lot of murders that occur are due to religion or race. Why? What is so different between a black man, and a white man? What is the difference between a Sikh and a Muslim? Is there any? Aren’t we all human beings? If you are for or against honour kills, please comment and send in your opinions!

By Gurpreet Kaur Sihat

x~Goodbye and Goodluck~x

Who would have thought that you’d actually miss those noisy Year 11s when they leave? You’re looking forward all year to that moment where they walk out onto the playground on their last day with writing all over their shirts, and when it finally comes, your cheering and signing their already messy-enough uniform. You just can’t seem to get rid of them as quickly as you want to.

But then afterschool, you walk out onto the playground and expect to hear the loud rush of the noisy bunch, but you can’t hear them. Instead, you hear the Year 7 and 8 girls, screaming at the boys who keep throwing water at them, and the Year 9s talking about who they like and whether they’re gonna watch the football match that’s going to be on later on that evening. And then you hear the Year 10s and the sixth-formers and they seem all to busy thinking about how they wish they were in the position of the Year 11s-being able to go home early, going to the Prom in the evening-even if it means that you have to spend a week at home revising for your GCSEs.

And you can’t help but miss them. Their bubblyness, their loud-voices and even the guys running and jumping onto each other which seems…I can’t think of a word at the moment but I’m sure you catch my drift. So what do the Y11s think of it all? I asked three people about their time at Greenford High.

Lucia in 11G1 said that her favourite memory of Greenford High is her friends and the teachers (thinking that Ms. Thomas is the best). As a whole, she thinks that the school itself is “good” and the students are “nice”. But to all those future Y11s, she says “study and work hard”.

Gaganpreet in 11M1 agrees with her. She says that the best memory in Greenford High has to be her friends and the best teacher is still Ms. Thomas. She thinks that as a whole, the students and the school are both “OK” and to future Y11s, she says “revise now for your exams”.

Kyle in 11T1 on the other hand had a far funnier view of Greenford High. He says that the best part of being in Greenford High was “getting in trouble”. He too said that the students at Greenford were “nice” but as a whole, the school was: “Sh** lol only joking…alright” Kyle also said that the best teachers where Mr. Wakeford and Mr. Bekkles and his advice to future Y11s? “cause trouble before you get into Y10”.

So follow these simple steps (maybe not Kyle’s though-don’t cause trouble at all!!!) and you’ll see yourself as successful (and maybe even noisier) than this trouble-making lot.

So, finally: Goodbye and Good Luck Y11s, and don’t stay away too long, we’re missing you!!!
Hoping that you’ll be successful in whatever you all choose to do…
All our best

GREENFORD HIGH SCHOOL

Please note that this article was written for the current 12s.

x~Animal Testing~x

Animal Testing. Good or Bad? Right or Wrong? Everyone has a different opinion. Some are for it and some are against it. But how about you?

It is estimated that 50-100 million animals worldwide die in scientific procedures every year. YES, animal testing helps to develop vaccines against such diseases as rabies, polio, measles, mumps, rubella and TB. And YES, antibiotics, HIV drugs, insulin and cancer treatments all rely on animal testing.

Operations on animals help to develop organ transplant and open heart surgery techniques and legislation protects all lab animals from cruelty and mistreatment. And how about all those people who are against animal testing that kill animals for food, for food and for fun without guilt?

At the moment, there is no alternative to animal testing that works. I guess you could say that it’s a natural cycle-like the food chain.

By Gurpreet Kaur Sihat

x~Death in the Viper~x

In 1993, accomplished actor and guitarist, Johnny Depp, and business partner, Anthony Fox, launched The Viper Room. A successful club, The Viper Room invited celebrities and tourists from all over the world. Situated in Hollywood, California, The Viper has had her own share of shocking problems.

In October 1993, club regular River Phoenix, died from a drug overdose. A little before 1am on Halloween night, River was in the bathroom doing drugs with his friends. He was offered a snort of high-grade Persian Brown. Minutes after he had taken the drug, he started trembling and shaking. He shouted at the drug dealers before vomiting. Trying to help, one of the dealers gave him Valium-a strong depression drug.

River staggered out into the bar towards his sister, Rain, and ex-girlfriend and Christian Slater’s Broken Arrow Co-star, Samantha Mathis (right) Complaining about being unable to breathe, River passed out. Once he came around, he asked Mathis to take him outside the club for some fresh air. River's brother, Joaquin, who was a couple of days over 19 at the time, was helping him out when River collapsed in his arms, fell to the floor and had a series of seizures. Joaquin phoned 911 at 1.14am just as Rain threw herself on top of her brother in attempt to stop the attacks.

The paramedics arrived soon after River had slipped into full cardiac arrest. After performing CPR unsuccessfully, they rushed him to Cedars Sinai Medical Centre. They arrived at 1.34am and noticed that although River's skin was warm, it was a dark blue colour. And even though the ER Physicians had inserted a pacemaker, a small machine to help your heart beat, River didn't make it. He was pronounced dead at 1.51am.

An autopsy was performed showing lethal levels of cocaine, morphine (heroin shows up as morphine), valium, marijuana and ephedrine. The autopsy also showed: "small abrasions on the knuckles of the right index finger and the right thumb. On the shin there is a red-purple contusion."

On November 4th 1993, 60 mourners watched a once amazingly firm environmentalist and animal rights activist, in a blue coffin, wearing a black t-shirt with the Aleka's Attic (his band) logo on, being cremated and his ashes being scattered onto the family ranch near Gainesville.

A sign was left outside The Viper Room, as it closed, from the staff:

WITH MUCH RESPECT AND LOVE TO RIVER AND HIS FAMILY; THE VIPER ROOM IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED. OUR HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO ALL HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS AND LOVES ONES. HE WILL BE MISSED!

But The Viper was not the only one who was deeply traumatized by the death of River Phoenix. River's best friend, Keanu Reeves, who was filming Speed with Sandra Bullock at the time, actually stopped talking and many believed that he and River's brother Joaquin would die right with him. When interviewed, Reeves said:

RIVER WAS A REMARKABLE ARTIST AND A RARE HUMAN BEING. I MISS HIM EVERY DAY.

Many of us have forgotten River's uniqueness and this article was written both to remind you of that young Indiana Jones from 'The Last Crusade' but to remind you just how bad drugs can be and to beg you not to go the same was this fantastic person did. River had his problems and he didn't keep in mind that pain is the only road to happiness. He tried to solve his problems in another way that ended up taking his life away from him. Don't make the same mistake as many before you.

Encase you were curious to know, Johnny Depp's partner, Anthony Fox went missing and Depp was forced to sign The Viper Room over to Anthony's 19 year old daughter, Amanda. There are now rumours that Amanda is planning to sell.

By Gurpreet Kaur Sihat

x~Celebrity Influence on Teenagers~x

Teenagers Rebel - But is it because their idols influence them to do it?

Celebrities: sometimes we love them, sometimes we hate them. But have you noticed how much they influenced teenagers? The majority of celebrities understand the great responsibilities that come with being a child’s hero but how many of them actually take their responsibility seriously? How many of them care what people think of them? How many of them are just in it for the money? How many of them actually realise that they can make a difference in the world? We investigate the positive and negative effects of celebrity behaviour on teenagers.

Some celebrities, such as Sandra Bullock, Angelina Jolie, Rachel Weisz and Live 8 organiser Bob Geldof, give off a example. Sandra Bullock split her earnings for Miss. Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous and gave 60% of it away to a charity for supporting children in Africa. Angelina Jolie not only spent time in Africa but adopted her two beautiful children (not including hers and Brad Pitt’s baby, Shiloh Nouvel) Maddox and Zahara from poor countries but also is involved in a number of charities.

Rachael Weisz is following suit by involving herself more in charity work and also spent time in Africa as well. And then you have Bob Geldof…and we all know what he’s been doing with Live Aid and the fairly recent Live 8. But honestly, who would you put as your idol in a questionnaire-Bob Geldof or a glamorous supermodel like Tyra Banks who isn't widely known for helping people.

However, there are some celebrities that don’t set a positive example. Celebrities such as Gangster Rap Kings 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre have been promoted by revealing their criminal past. 50 Cent released a movie earlier called Get Rich or Die Trying all about his past life and about ho he was shot nine times. Snoop Dogg was arrested at Heathrow Airport after he had caused an argument because he was refused entry in the first class lounge. And did you know that Speed star Keanu Reeves was in hospital after demon riding (driving at night without headlights on which is illegal) before the filming on the first Matrix movie and was nearly paralysed?

"This week we taped Honey I shrunk the Kids off the Disney Channel and they were watching it, and that is it now-everything they do. They have taken on the names of the characters and they’re acting out everything from the film, which isn’t a bad thing because there is nothing in it. But it did make me think, at least when I put on a video on I know what I am giving them to watch, whereas some of the television channels, I just won’t let them watch.”

-Anonymous Parents

The news and nearly all magazines only focus on the negative attention when it comes not only to celebrities, but world issues. This makes teenagers want to be more like their idols and heroes. All this negativity on teenagers form stereotypes-not all teenagers are like that. So is it the celebrity’s fault or is it the media’s fault? You decide.

By Gurpreet Kaur Sihat

x~The Jungle of Northolt~x

Imagine that you’re walking through a jungle full of a million and one different species of amazing creatures that you’ve never seen or heard of before. Now imagine that these mysterious animals surround you, corner you into one edge of the room, as though they’re getting ready for the kill. Alright, perhaps I’m exaggerating a bit too much but for someone who has never been around that many kids before, that’s what it felt like.

It was my first day of work experience and I was nervous as Hell, so, naturally, I went off to work half an hour early – first impressions are always lasting impressions! – in my best jeans, favourite top and brand new hooded jacket. And don’t forget my sister’s thumb rings, the brand new watch was given, and the diamond love heart necklace that my mum and dad had brought me. Probably didn’t look as good as I thought that I did, but it was a start.

But then it happened…I walked into the nursery and was surrounded by nearly 30 kids all under the age of 5! – believe me, it seemed a lot more at the time. They all hugged me and then kept coming back for more! I remember nearly falling down as they all rushed towards me like a stampede of elephants. If I was nervous before, I was even more nervous after that! But the staff made me feel at home. I guess that you could compare them to lionesses; graceful, majestic creatures that look after the cubs (however annoying) and hunt the strongest prey (or in this case – cook the best meals).

Oh my God, the meals they fed me! Some of the tastiest things I’ve probably ever had (apart from mum’s curry of course! No-one can beat mum’s curry). I must have made their lives much harder, being a strict vegetarian. But they still always found something for me to eat whether it was pasta with Dolmio sauce or pita bread pizzas with salad. It was so funny when they discovered that I was vegetarian – the look on their faces. All that time they had been thinking that I was watching my weight because I wasn’t eating, but it turned out that I wasn’t eating because they were cooking meat! “The Nursery” has to be the healthiest nursery I know, especially with their carrots and cucumber snacks.

It was so easy to make friends at “The Nursery” whether it was with the lioness-like staff, the awesome children, all with their own personalities, and their parents, or the staff’s fox-like kids – sly but absolutely lovely and fun to play with. Everyone at “The Nursery” has their own unique personality and when you put them all together, it really is as though you’ve stepped into a jungle of wondrous creatures that you can’t help but be fascinated with. “The Nursery” is one of the most spectacular places I’ve ever been to – they make you feel like part of the family…like one of those magnificent animals that I compare them to.

By Gurpreet Kaur Sihat