Michael Jackson and Richie originally wrote “We Are the World” and Jones produced it. The original recording raised more than $63 million for African famine.

Over 100 artists will perform in the new single. Pink, Jonas Brothers, LL Cool J, Celine Dion, Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Jamie Foxx, Usher and Beyonce make up just a handful of the celebrity singers featured in this star-powered single.

Check out http://wearetheworldfoundation.org/ for more information on “We Are the World” to keep up with the foundation. Donations will go to charities deemed worthwhile, hand-selected by the board of directors. We Are the World Foundation, a non-profit organization, plans to help further the sense of activism that the original song intended.

Text “WORLD” to 50555 to make a $10 donation to WATW to stand and make a difference.

While some argue that Tatum’s acting disappoints in Dear John, the girls in the audience most likely won’t notice due to his rampant popularity. In addition to the extremely attractive male lead, Seyfried portrays a distressed lover perfectly and plays a very relatable character. Although the beginning of the movie starts off a bit cliché, as the plot develops the audience becomes more engrossed in the film and begins to sympathize with both John and Savannah. For those who have read the book some  the movie stays true to the novel for some parts but deviates from the book and has significant differences. Plan to bring some tissues because this movie falls under the tearjerker category. The plot allows viewers of all ages to find something to take from the movie, however it may be slightly inappropriate for children under the age of thirteen.

By surfing the web, you can see the full page in high quality the exact way an average computer shows it. With a touch of a finger, one can read articles, watch you-tube videos, or even log on facebook, check your e-mail, save, delete, or upload your messages and even e-mail back. The screen contains a keyboard sensible to a light touch.  By uploading photos, you can view them in vibrant quality, and browse through a slideshow of different folders of photos.

This new Apple piece of technology runs over 140,000 apps including games, music and business features. Some are even free, including the book app. iBook allows you to buy and download books you can save and read right on your iPad. Costumers of this product can also buy and download their iTunes music and videos to be watched and listened to. If a person doesn’t wish to buy a video, he or she can simply find a video online and watch high-resolution music videos, movies and TV shows.

But the activities and applications don’t stop there. Use the iPad to search Google maps for directions to wherever you’re going with a special satellite GSP. With the touchable keyboard, you can type up easy-to-read notes during the day, place a daily calendar to remain on schedule, or save contacts full of names and numbers.

The iPad can virtually do anything technology-wise. Obtaining a Wi-Fi and 3G network, this thin screen can run for a maximum of 10 hours. With brilliant picture, high quality sound and music speakers, and quick networking, Apple aims for the best.

Seventeen-year-old Janie experiences the most abnormal dreams that necessarily might not happen at night: someone else’s. A person who just happens to be sleeping close by her will end up seeing her in their dreams. They may not remember her exactly, but she does. She will remember each and every detail of the dream or nightmare the person’s having. Every now and then, while she stands there, watching the dream, the dreamer will turn to her and ask for help. Little does she know how much help she can really give.

Conquering the trouble this girl deals with each day with in-school sleepers, this book takes you on a new journey of creativity. This new freaky “power” Janie possesses isn’t a common fantasy story. Because of this, the reader won’t want to put it down until they find out how her dream-catcher abilities grow and turn out.

Soon after this novel was published in 2008, it hit the Top Ten Quick Pick for Young Adult Readers. Demand for the novel led McMann to write out in 2009 the squeal, “Fade,” knowing she has millions of supporters waiting. Reaching the right level of new and different story ideas, McMann won’t be over with the series until it becomes widely known. So keep an eye out for this book, because it’s a keeper.

Starting with the Dallas Museum of Art, this collection of fancy finger paintings practically illustrates the productive capacity that Dallas holds. The art museum opened back in 1984. It stands as the only museum in Texas to house more than 23,000 works of art that come from all sorts of cultures. Now here is the cool part, for all the penny pinchers out there Thursdays are free from 5:00 to 9:00 pm. The museum even throws together a jazz concert for those who show up. Not the kind of guy who wants to stare at a bunch of paintings and pontificate? Well there are a number of other activities that the museum puts on during the weekends, such as films, family activities and studio creations.

The Morton H. Myerson Symphony Center, designed by a Pritzker Prize-winning architect is a really cool looking building. As Apparently the Pritzker Prize is like a World Series ring to the architecture world. When completed in 1989, Dallas finally got some fancy music space for world-renowned soloists and conductors to strut their talents for us underlings.

Moving on to other venues comes the Crow Collection of Asian Art in the Trammell Crow Center. This building holds all sorts of restaurants and gift shops that somehow go well with a collection of Asian art. The place is full of rich cultural experiences.

The next thing on the list of “Things that make the Dallas Arts District awesome” is the Nasher Sculpture Center. Yet another building designed by a Pritzker prizewinner, this addition gives us a rock-solid collection of statues and designs. Opened in 2003, this is the only place in North Texas dedicated to contemporary sculpture.

Now here is the biggie, the recent addition to the arts district. With the sell out, commercial title, the AT&T Performing Arts Center Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House is a must see venue. With this addition, the city of Dallas now has four buildings designed by Pritzker Prize winning architects. The design is modeled as a 21^st century redesign of the classic horseshoe layout. The only good thing I can find about this place is that there is a café open all day.

So with all that the ornamental building and shops seem to let out that Dallas is serious about its arts program and it’s willing to pay up the nose to get what it wants. Not to forget that there is an Opera house next to a symphony hall with an art house down the street, the district meets all artsy needs that the public can think of. The location is perfect; the inner city liquor stores nearby seem to fit right in with the million dollar institutions. So make plans to visit the magnificent add on and have a rich cultural experience in the city of Dallas.

This years auditions for region 25 were held at Carpenter Middle School in mid-October. Students went through an intense process to get through to the end; sitting around for hours, round after round, waiting to play for intimidating judges.

“Before hand, it’s really hectic because everyone is practicing around you really hard.” junior Derek He said, “The minute you walk into the room it’s really tense and quiet. A lot of people get really anxious.”

Knowing that so many students of the orchestra got accepted to such a prestigious group brings pride to many other members of the orchestra as well.

“It’s really exciting to know many of our students got into All Region, “ Orchestra Council President Carmen Tinker said, “We have a great program here and that just proves that we have so many great players.”

Students who have been welcomed into the program already have a big responsibility along with the title of All Region member. Not only did these students have to practice hectically for months before the auditions, after being accepted they still must practice by themselves before the first and only rehearsal.

“The good thing about this program is that we are able to pull it off, after only two days of group practice.” Junior Conan Lee, “ This orchestra pulls the best players from all over the region.”

The High school groups play their concert/clinic January 22^nd and 23^rd of 2010 at Lowry Freshmen Center in Allen. The concerts are open to the public and displays the amazing talent of the best students in this region.

Capital One Bank Adolphus Children’s Parade
Every year Children’s hosts a parade that goes through downtown Dallas on Dec. 5. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. and will start on the intersection of Austin Street and Harwood and will continue on to Ervay and Akard Street.  While your there, show your support for he Golden Girls who will be marching along with the rest of the parade. It is a perfect family event especially if you have younger siblings.

Home for the Holidays
Southlake Town Center presents entertainment including carriage rides, photos with Santa, letters to Santa, face painters, live bands, and holiday lights for one night. Do not miss chance to experience the magic of the holidays in the perfect environment on Nov. 21 all around the Center. The atmosphere is perfect for a quite and romantic date as well as a place to kick back and have some fun with a group of friends.

Shops at Legacy
The Shops at Legacy hosts Legacy Live, with musical performances scheduled every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening on Bishop Road across from the Angelika Film Center & Cafe. The entertainment will feature a range of music from Caribbean steel drum sounds to Latin jazz, salsa to lounge. It’s a great place to hang out with the gang. Along with the enjoyable music, the restaurants and the lake are a great place to take pleasure in the winter weather.

Sundance Square Parade of Lights
Held each year in downtown Fort Worth, the Sundance Square Parade of Lights features over 100 illuminated entries and climaxes with the lighting of the Fort Worth Holiday Tree. The 2009 parade is set for Nov. 27^, and is sure to be the highlight of your winter festivities.

If you are about to listen to this album with high expectations, be ready to hate it. But if you are willing to put aside the fact that Lancaster is gone, then get ready to be pleasantly surprised.

The new Mayday Parade may not sound like their previous music, but the record emphasizes the band’s instrumental maturity as well as Sanders’ continued vocal progress, making it almost as good. They craft a nice record with the catchy choruses, memorable guitar leads, catchy main riffs and Sanders’ soaring vocals, all backed by an assertive rhythm section.

My favorite track, “I Swear This Time I Mean It,” particularly stands out from the rest of the album being the only acoustic song on the record. And it could not be any more appropriate, because the song expresses a sense of sorrow with the acoustic music enhancing the melancholy emotion. Everyone has experienced the guilty feeling of wanting to be forgiven for doing something wrong, but this song emphasizes how sorry he really is and is trying to beg for forgiveness, guaranteeing that it would be the last time he wrongs her. The song really shows that the lyrics were heartfelt and meaningful, not just something written because there was a deadline. The somber music and pensive lyrics makes the overall album even better.

When listening to the lyrics on each track, it is easy to visualize the setting and the story being told. Although the lyrics narrate a mini-movie in your head, it takes away from the insightful lyrics. Lacking the perceptive element in these songs make it very concrete and very hard to find another meaning. Lacking the factor of mystery, the interpretation of the song is very limited and do not appeal to the curious soul.

Overall, the album has many catchy tunes including “Kids in Love”, “Anywhere But Here,” and “Bruised and Scarred,” but the concept of it all is not as original. The personal, emotional lyrics that is made into a pop-rock song have been done before. The album lacks variation in the sense that all the songs have the same emotional feeling; the feeling of lost love, heartache and heartbreak, while lacking the element of deep and insightful lyrics. On the other hand, the album makes its comeback even after the loss of the front man. The different tracks of “Anywhere But Here” work well together, and as a whole, deserves to be heard.

When your parents can’t give you all the money you want and when the number of available jobs are low, it seems close to impossible to afford the latest fashions. Face it; stores like Urban Outfitters, Nordstrom, Abercrombie & Fitch and Metro Park are out of the question.

With the increasing demand of trendy and affordable clothes, other alternatives for shopping become more common. Used clothing might make you hesitant, but think about it; they’re washed, they look brand new, you’re recycling and they cost half or at least less than the original price.

That being said, the widely known stores that sell used clothing in the DFW metroplex area include The Buffalo Exchange and Plato’s Closet. If you’ve got clothes collecting dust in your closet, bringing them to these stores will prove a sizeable source of income. The Buffalo Exchange offers a great variety of clothes that both adults and teens could enjoy at a very reasonable price. I came across a $20 sweater from Abercrombie & Fitch that was originally $200, Coach hats and purses, Juicy tops and bags, Vans, Ed Hardy clothing at around 20% of the original cost and Dolce and Gabbana shirts. The store offers a cornucopia of shoes, tops, sunglasses, jeans, pants, dresses, jackets, jewelry, boots and even Halloween costumes.

While The Buffalo Exchange appeals to people of all ages, Plato’s closet focuses more on teenagers. They offer less expensive, younger-styled clothes like Aeropostle, Abercrombie and Hollister, which seem to be a hit with teenagers. Plato’s closet always has new items available, what with the ongoing cycle of people buying and selling. They also inspect the clothes carefully so you don’t receive an item with a stain or holes. So with the availability of cheap high-end clothing, do yourself a favor and go with the anything-but-guilty pleasure of eco-chic clothing.

Vampire Diaries
The CW brings a television version of Twilight to the vampire lovers everywhere. The idea of star-crossed lovers and dangerous secrets intrigues viewers to keep watching. Lookout on Thursday nights to see what other mischief the characters get into.

The Cleveland Show
Family Guy has been watched religiously by viewers everywhere and Fox gives you a follow up that is even funnier. This comical and witty animated series shows how Cleveland starts a new life with his even newer family. If Family Guy amuses you, Cleveland will not fall far from the tree.

Melrose Place
An apartment building in Los Angeles encompasses the thrill, scandal and drama that thrive in Hollywood. With a storyline beyond high school rumors, the CW brings a show that gives the plot just enough edge. From the perfect proposal to a scandalous murder, Tuesday nights with Melrose Place will not fail to entertain.