Xpress, the Coolest Section of the St. Petersburg Times, is the home for features, news and views of interest to young readers. Most of the work in Xpress, which appears on Mondays in Floridian, is produced by the Times' X-Team. The team of journalists ages 9-17 from around the Tampa Bay area is selected every year at the end of the school year to serve during the following school term. The current team of 12 was chosen out of 150 applicants. Watch for X-Team application forms in Xpress during the month of May.
Read the reviews by Xpress Film Critic Billy Norris
X-files
Kids and AIDS in South Africa
By BRIAN ORLOFF
Published December 1, 2003
Mandy Moore
Nick News With Linda Ellerbee will present a special program on AIDS in South Africa and how it affects kids. The special, The Courage to Live: Kids, South Africa and AIDS, will air on Nickelodeon at 9 tonight, World Aids Day. AIDS kills more people in South Africa than in any other country in the world. Many children are left without parents, and many kids born with HIV have no one to care for them. Ellerbee traveled to South Africa to see what is being done about the disease. She talks to kids who have AIDS and those who have lost parents to it. "This program is really about kids on one side of the world talking directly to kids on the other side, sharing their stories, their courage and their strength," Ellerbee said. "Many of the people infected are poor, have little food, drink unsafe water and, because of the epidemic, face huge adversity and intolerance."
Now that's using your head!
Want super sheen but unsure if your shampoo will do the trick? Add some sparkle to your drab old 'do courtesy of BraidLights. Yes, BraidLights, the hair extensions with that extra pizazz that will ensure your sparkling personality is reflected in your hairstyle. First, select the braid that matches your hair color or - and why not? - be daring and go for something different and shocking. BraidLights come in brown, blond, black and glitter pink. What color are the sparkling lights, you ask? They flash festive bursts of red, orange, blue and green and are powered by watch-size batteries. What are you waiting for? Rush to your local drugstore and buy your own. They're $9.95. Yeow!
Not another awards show
It seems like everyone has an awards show these days. So, it's probably inevitable that some organization will start doling out awards to video gamers. Hosted by David Spade, the Video Game Awards will air Thursday on Spike TV. The categories resemble traditional award ceremonies Best Animation, Best Sports Game, with several exceptions. Which will win Most Addictive? What about Best First Person Action? You'll have to tune in to find out. In the meantime, log on to www.spiketv.com to vote in several categories, including Viewer's Choice.
XPress quote
"My God, at that photo shoot I felt so old! I'm like there with all these 16-year-olds, and I'm like, I did not dress like that when I was 16." - Pop star Mandy Moore, 19, telling the Associated Press about a recent Vanity Fair cover shoot with the Olsen twins and Hilary Duff.
