I’m writing about those kids flunking tests on purpose (“Flunking for a cause,” March 7 Tough News). I think it’s a great idea, and I’d love to help. I’m pretty good at flunking tests — I’ve been doing it for years! Besides, this gives me a good excuse to tell my folks. I can just say: “I MEANT to flunk that test. I’m not dumb, I’m standing up for what I believe in!”
I hope this group continues its great cause for as long as I’m in school. (That could be a long time.)
— D., 13
Snow job
I agree with some other kids who have written in. I think WWF wrestler Al Snow is a big, fat loser for dragging around a mannequin’s head.
Jon, 11
KidNews note: We asked Snow to respond to the flood of letters we’ve gotten about that head. He replied: “I’m sorry I used such a dumb gimmick! I guess you could say I lost my head!”
Child-star chitchat
I liked your stories about child stars (March 21 Cover and Tough News). It made me wonder: What happened to that cute little kid in “Jerry Maguire”? Wasn’t he in a film recently?
— Sarah, 12
KidNews note: You’re thinking of Jonathan Lipnicki. The cutie-pie who charmed audiences in “Jerry Maguire” recently starred in “Stuart Little.” But we have to tell you that technically, Jonathan isn’t a child star — he isn’t even a child! He’s 29. That’s a much-guarded secret, because his little-boy looks keep snagging him movie roles. After all, the guy has a Porsche and a mansion in L.A. to pay for!
We saw your cover on child stars and can’t believe you couldn’t tell whether that was Ashley or Mary-Kate Olson in the photo of the “Full House” cast. True, both of the girls are awesome, talented and totally cute megastars. But if you were really paying attention to the shows, the way loyal subjects, er, fans should, you could tell them apart.
Still can’t figure out who it is in the pic? We’re not telling. Na na na na na!
Ashley and Mary-Kate O., 13
(P.S. We could buy the company you work for like that, so watch it.)
I caught your child-star cover. Thanks for not saying I was washed up. And thanks a TON for not calling me JTT through the whole story.
By the way, I’m leaning toward Northwestern for college. The Chicago-area girls are the hottest!
— Jonathan Taylor T.
I really enjoyed your Cover and Tough News stories on child stars (March 21). It sounds like life is really hard for child stars. But there was one big problem I had with both the stories. They didn’t give any advice on how to become a child star.
KidNews should check me out sometime. I’ve been taking jazz, tap and ballet lessons since I was 4. I play the piano, guitar, trumpet and tuba, and my parents have arranged for me to take acting lessons from the same guy who taught Macaulay Culkin to scream. I’m practicing all the stuff stars are supposed to be really good at, like throwing temper tantrums and demanding to be taken everywhere by limo.
I’ve also been practicing my autograph for two hours a day, because I think one of the most important things is knowing how to sign a cool autograph. But I’m not practicing too hard, because when I get really big like Frankie Muniz, then I can start turning down people for autographs, which is what you’re supposed to do. Or charge people for them.
— D.D., 13
Homework?
Bring it on!
I’ve been reading stories about how kids are getting assigned all this homework and how carrying their books is breaking their backs. That isn’t me. I don’t have enough homework, and it’s getting embarrassing. My mom bought me one of those mongo backpacks on wheels and I’m wheeling it down the halls and bumping into people, but it’s practically empty. Right now, all that’s in there are a couple of pencils, two skinny notebooks, my math book, a spit wad and a Butterfinger. Teachers are being way too easy on us students. If I’m ever going to get out of Springfield and morph into the superhuman droid that I dream of becoming, I need to learn more about robotics and important stuff. Enough goofing off. Those kids who complain about having too much homework are wusses. We need more homework!
— Bart S., 10
Misunderstood Christina
I’m tired of all the letters in Backtalk saying Christina Aguilera’s song “Genie in a Bottle” means something it doesn’t. Christina is a great role model and a super special person. Not everyone has the talent to win a Grammy (I know!). Why not just ask Christina about her song? To me, it’s about love and anticipation and magic. I could play it over and over (hit me, baby, one more time!).
— Britney S.
KidNews note: You’re right, Brit. This “Genie in a Bottle” debate could never end. So we decided to ask Christina herself and get an answer from her. Here’s what she had to say: “Hey, fans, I’m glad you like `Genie.’ I always, always said songs are deeply personal and can mean different things to different people. But `Genie’ is really about my favorite perfume and how it has to be worn only on special nights and rubbed on the right way. It wants to be let out of the bottle, but only if someone special is wearing it. Pretty deep, huh?”
Free the spiders
Spiders have feelings, too, so when I read about the kids who glued together the spider guts with Crazy Glue (Feb. 15 Cover), I wanted to cry. That tarantula never asked to be taken out of the rain forest and live in a cage. It should have been climbing vines in South America but instead it was dropped on the floor. That’s why there should be a Spider Release Program for pet tarantulas. President Clinton could approve an act to create a park in Florida where they could run free.
— M., 11
School is a gas guzzler
I think it’s a great idea that schools cancel field trips to save on gas costs (March 21 Backtalk). In fact, here’s a way we could save even more gas money: cancel school! No, really, think about it: Your parents won’t have to drive you, or the bus won’t have to pick you up, the teachers won’t have to drive to school, or the principal, or the janitors. We could save a fortune! People are always telling kids to come up with solutions for hard problems, so this is mine. Let’s just call it a year, save a ton of money and start again next fall once gas prices are down. (If they’re still high, we’ll have to think about delaying the start of school, but that’s a long way off.)
— L., 14
This kid is deep
KidNews should get serious. Articles only talk about boy bands and Britney Spears. Where are the articles on serious stuff, such as how the new president of Russia wants to use ex-KGB guys to battle the country’s massive corruption or how scientists have almost decoded the entire genome of Drosophila, the fruit fly. There are lots of other stories KidNews never covers: the smuggling of Iraqi oil, China trade talks and the effects of NAFTA, for example. Aren’t these issues kids should care about? Sure, they may sound incredibly dry and boring. But the world would be a more informed place if KidNews shoved this news down kids’ throats.
— A.B., 8
One last thing…
Pretty funky assortment of letters, huh, readers? That’s cuz WE MADE THEM UP! April Fools’! The letters, including celebrity comments and KidNews notes, are fake, false, faux… and all in fun! We hope you had a giggle or two. We’ll get back to normal (or as close as we can get) next week!
— The KidNews staff
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Write letters or send editorial cartoons to Backtalk, Chicago Tribune, 5th Floor, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago 60611. We won’t use your last name, but you must include your full name, age and phone number (we may call to make sure you wrote it). You can also send us letters by e-mail (ctc-kidnews@ tribune. com).
Backtalk is a place where kids can express all sorts of opinions, whether we at KidNews agree with them or not. (Exposure to different views helps people better understand their fellow human beings!)
