Kid Safe » School Safety

It’s a small world after all| Cyber Bully’s not just in AmericaKymberley Page

Kymberley Page — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 02:16:50 +0000

Cyberbullying is a global problem

NEW YORK — More than 10 percent of parents around the world say their child has been cyberbullied and nearly one-fourth know a youngster who has been a victim, according to a new Ipsos/Reuters poll.

And more than three-quarters of people questioned in the global survey thought cyberbullying differed from other types of harassment and warranted special attention and efforts from parents and schools."

The data clearly shows an appetite among global citizens for a targeted response to cyberbullying," said Keren Gottfried, of the global research firm Ipsos, which conducted the poll.

But, she added, whether or not schools live up to this mandate is in the hands of educators.

The online poll of more than 18,000 adults in 24 countries, 6,500 of whom were parents, showed the most widely reported vehicle for cyberbullying was social networking sites likes Facebook, which were cited by 60 percent.

Mobile devices and online chat rooms were a distant second and third, each around 40 percent.

While the report showed that awareness of cyberbullying was relatively high, with two-thirds saying they heard, read or had seen information on the phenomenon, cultural and geographic differences abounded.

In Indonesia, 91 percent said they knew about cyberbullying, in which a child, group of children or younger teen intentionally intimidates, threatens or embarrasses another child or group through the use of information technology such as social media or mobile devices.

Australia followed at 87 percent, while Poland and Sweden trailed slightly behind. But only 29 percent in Saudi Arabia, and 35 percent in Russia, had heard of cyberbullying.

In the United States, where cases of cyberbullying have been widely reported to have been linked to teen-age suicides, the figure was 82 percent.

Gottfried described the survey as the first global study of its kind and a benchmark to where assessments of cyberbullying vary.

"The key to this study is that it measures parental awareness of cyberbullying, not actual rates of the behavior," she said. "While we can't speculate on what actually happens, it is quite possible that the proportion of children actually being cyberbullied is in fact understated, since we are speaking with the parents, not the kids."

In India 32 percent of parents said their child had experienced cyberbullying, followed by 20 percent in Brazil and 18 percent in Canada and Saudi Arabia and 15 percent in the United States.

The highest incidence of people knowing of a child in the community being targeted was in Indonesia, with 53 percent. But only 14 percent there said their child had been cyberbullied — less than in Canada, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and the United States.

Overall, parents in France and Spain reported some of the lowest incidence of cyberbullying either of their own child or one in their community.

Gottfried said that future studies could show whether there was a trend toward greater awareness of cyberbullying, and shed some light on what affects parental awareness.

The complete list of results and countries can be found athttp://www.ipsosglobaladvisor.com/

Parents are #1 Tool in Combating Cyber BullyingKymberley Page

Kymberley Page — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:10:15 +0000

Re-post as Kids return to school after Christmas break!

Parents must be involved

Aug. 24, 2011, 6:34 a.m. EDT

The Reporter

CERTAINLY the topic of children bullying one another is not new; it is perhaps as old as childhood itself.

What is new, and confounding, is the utilization of various electronic communication programs by children. The programs present new challenges to adults, especially parents, to control behavior by children.

While bullying has always been a problem, it is clear that cyberbullying has raised the activity to a new level. When children and teens engage in bullying by computer, they are no longer face to face with their victim. Spiteful behavior is easier without human interaction.

This, of course, is not unknown to adults. From the time the first computer bulletin boards started turning up with computer geeks in the 1970s and 1980s, members were well-known for "flaming" each other with outrageous statements. Things haven't changed all that much in the passing decades.

The technology for communication by the Internet has become far more familiar and easier to use for the general public. Today's youth take to it as second nature.

THESE NEW technologies — text messaging, Facebook, and the like — are enormously popular. But like anything else, there is a downside. Rumors that were once transmitted by word of mouth can now appear instantly within a peer group, a school, a whole community and beyond.

The charges can be embarrassing, hurtful, depressing and even deadly to the individual or individuals involved. In many ways, it is the same old story with bullying, only more so.

School districts are struggling to come up with policies to curb this activity. Schools are experimenting with a variety of policies. There is no standard. People are still feeling their way.

The activity is relatively new. It changes and seems to get worse with each introduction of a new technology. And with all things teenager, what is current today is hopelessly last year tomorrow. Seen a Sony Walkman lately?

ONE VERY old-fashioned tactic presents itself throughout: the role of parents.

Kathleen Conn, a professor who has studied cyberbullying, stated at a recent conference that "Today parents want to be their children's friend. We have to tell parents that you are the adult and children may get mad, but it may save their lives later."

It seems clear, as well as common sense, that parents need to monitor the computer activities of their children for their own safety and public good.

— Journal Register News Service, West Chester Daily Local News

“How to Rock” Tips by Cymphoniqueteam tuki

team tuki — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:55:11 +0000

Cymphonique, daughter of Percy Miller, is about to star in a comedy sitcom entitled, "How to Rock" based on Alloy Entertainment book series.

"How to Rock", a Nickelodeon sitcom is about Kacey, played by Cymphonique Miller, a popular teen whose reputation takes a nose dive after having braces and glasses but Kacey find a way to shine through music. "How To Rock" TV series will begin airing on February 4, 2012.

Here are some How To Rock tips from Cymphonique.

How To Rock Tips By Cymphonique

How to Rock the ugly holiday sweater that you grandmother bought you…

"Wear it with your favorite jeans and then offset the ugliness with a cute scarf."

How to Rock a solo at your holiday concert…
"If you're nervous, just look at your friends [in the audience]. You won't feel so alone up there."

How to Rock an embarrassing pimple…
"If it's right between your eyes, cover it up with some nerd glasses. If it's on the side, draw a heart over it or disguise it with a stick-on rhinestone"

How to Rock the after math of an embarrassing fall…
"Laugh at yourself. If you don't show you're embarrassed, others can't embarrass you."

How to Rock getting caught with your crush under the mistletoe…
"Jokingly tell him you thought he was choking on the sparkling apple cider and you just had to give him mouth-to-mouth. Ha!"

So there Cymphonique fans! Don't forget to watch the pilot episode of How to Rock on February 4, 2012!!! Keep Rocking!

Get more Cymphonique News at http://clubtukinews.com/category/cymphonique/

source: www.Nick.com

5 Hot Trends at CES 2012Larry Magid

Larry Magid — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 20:55:15 +0000

I've just arrived in Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show to hang out with 140,000 of my closest friends. This show -- the mother of all tech trade shows -- is where people find out what many companies plan to release at some point during 2012. Not all products shown at CES will make it to market and many of the ones that do will be flops. But there have also been some successful products and product categories launched at CES including the VCR in 1970, the Commodore 64 personal computer in 1982, the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985, HDTV in 1998, Tivo in 1999, Blu-Ray in 2003 and that wildly successful (not) Palm Pre in 2009. CES is also where many people first saw 3D TVs in 2009 and a parade of tablets in 2011. Check out this chart at Sortable.

So here are a few things we can we expect at CES 2012.

3D TVs without glasses. We saw that in 2011 but we'll see more of them and larger ones in 2012. We'll also see lots of 3D TVs that use inexpensive passive glasses instead of the $300 a pair active ones that were common just a couple of years ago. These new developments are a good sign, but I'm still not convinced that people will want to spend more on 3D TV. As CES chief Gary Shapiro said in a podcast interview posted at CNET, 3D is a feature, not a new category of TV.

Ultrabooks: Apple has done very well with its thin and lightweight MacBook Air but the so-called Windows "netbooks," never did catch on big time. That's because they were under-powered and often had skimpy keyboards. Ultrabooks are thin and light but they're not cheap and they don't skimp on power. Expect Lenovo, Dell, HP and others to feature them at CES and expect Ultrabooks to be the hot category of PCs in the coming year.

OLED and Connected TVs: OLED stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode and unlike other technologies, there is no need for a backlight so it's more energy efficient. It also allows for thinner TVs and for richer colors, better contrast and resolution. LG has already blogged that it will be showing the "world's largest OLED," a 55-inch model.

It should come as no surprise that the hottest thing on TV has nothing to do with an antenna or even a cable or satellite connection but the ability to bring in streaming video from the likes of Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and others. As with previous years, there will be plenty of TVs with built-in Internet connectivity. I wouldn't be surprised if it emerges as an almost standard feature.

Connected Cars: There will be keynote speeches from the CEOs of both Ford and Mercedes and plenty of connectivity solutions for cars. There will also be mobile apps to control cars, such as Ford's MyFord Mobile App to help owners of its electric cars find charging stations.

iStuff: As usual Apple won't be at CES but there will be plenty of vendors with apps, cases and accessories for the iPhone and iPad. There will even be an "iLounge," with 300 exhibitors who are focused on supporting Apple products.

This post is adapted from one that appeared on Forbes.com and LarrysWorld.com

YOU Can Be Featured in Be Your Own You Magazine!!!Be Your Own You Brand News Blog

Be Your Own You Brand News Blog — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 06:32:19 +0000

Do you know it’s possible for YOU to be in our new BE YOUR OWN YOU self-esteem magazine for girls??! Yes, it’s totally possible! We have LOTS of places for you to enter for a chance to be featured!

Want to tell us what it means to YOU to ‘be your own you’?

Upload a photo of yourself in your fav BYOU shirt and fill out an application at www.beyourownyou.com/magapp to appear in our What It Means to Me to Be Your Own You section!

Here’s what Holly, age 10, who is featured in our December/January issue, told us what it means to her to ‘be your own you’…

“If somebody asks you to do something that you know is wrong, don’t do it.”

Are you a fan of the Heartlight Girls book “Beauty’s Secret” and want to share how YOU shine your Heartlight bright?

Submit your statement and a photo at www.beyourownyou.com/heartlight for our Shining Your Heartlight Bright page!

Check out how Ashley, Age 12, also in the December/January issue, shines her Heartlight bright…

“I shine my Heartlight bright by helping anyone in my school who looks like they may be getting bullied. I know firsthand what it feels like, and I don’t think anyone should have to go thatrough that! I feel that if I can stand up for others when they are getting bullied, then they can go on to help others if they see them getting bullied. That’s how I shine my Heartlight bright every day!”

Got a silly photo, joke, or story?

Upload it at www.beyourownyou.com/bsilly to show us your silly side on our B-SILLY page!

Got a comment, idea, or question about the magazine?

Write to us at www.beyourownyou/mail and share it on our BYOU Mail section!

And in every issue we add MORE opportunities for YOU to be featured! Hurry, you don’t want to miss your chance! Enter today!

Check our blog often to see who we feature next…it could be YOU!

i Carly Star – Miranda Cosgrove Attending USC This Fall 2012 (Miranda Cosgrove Updates)team tuki

team tuki — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:01:21 +0000

i Carly Star Updates

color:black">Miranda Taylor Cosgrove, the star of Nickelodeon's i Carly will be going back to school this fall of 2012. The i Carly star will be attending the University of Southern California and planning to continue her acting career while studying. She was inspired by a friend who also attended the same school while acting.

color:black">Miranda Cosgrove was also accepted in New York University but has decided to stay near Hollywood while pursuing her degree. When asked if she will join a sorority, her reply was, "I don't know! I can't see myself in a sorority… I don't know if I'm going to get there color:#222222">and go crazy and want to be in one… It seems fun though. You make a lot of friends and meet new people.”

color:#222222">

mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#1B1B1B">Miranda Cosgrove is color:#1B1B1B">an American singer-songwriter and actress who was born on May 14, 1993 in Los Angeles. Miranda was mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">discovered by a talent agent a color:#1B1B1B">t the age of 3, she became a model and appeared in Mello Yello as well as McDonald's TV commercials.

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I Carly Star Achievements / Awards

In 2010, Miranda Cosgrove earned 180,000 USD per episode of i Carly and that made her the 2nd highest paid child star on TV.

color:black">Miranda won the 2011 mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">Nickelodeon color:#222222"> Kids' Choice Awards as Favorite TV Show mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black"> which she color:#222222">shared with the cast of i Carly.

mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">She was also listed as the Highest Paid Child star on television for i Carly in the 2012 Guinness Book of World Records.

mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#222222">

color:#222222">

color:#222222">Last January 1, 2012, the "i Carly" special episode, "iStill Psycho" became available on iTunes and became the most downloaded TV show/episode of 2012. The i Carly star thank her fans on her tweet saying, "Thanks for making iStill Psycho the #1 most downloaded TV show on all of iTunes!!! What an awesome way to start 2012!!!"

mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#222222">The "iStill Psycho" aired on the New Year's Eve on Nickelodeon which is a sequel of "iPsycho" which aired last year. It is about Nora Dershlit, i Carly's biggest fan-turned-tormentor, kidnapping the gang as New Year's Eve fun.

Get more teen celebrity updates like Cymphonique, Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Big Time Rush and many more at http://www.Clubtukinews.com

What to Do If Your Child Is Looking at PornLarry Magid

Larry Magid — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:19:19 +0000

Let's be honest. Many children -- especially post-pubescent boys -- are interested in what we commonly call "porn." You might not like the idea that some kids are looking at these images, but that doesn't change the fact that it's a pretty common occurrence.

This column isn't about young children or children who accidentally come across unwanted sexual material. Those are different issues. The question I want to explore is how a parent should react if they discover their growing child -- typically 12 or older -- is deliberately looking at sexually explicit material on the Internet.

Nothing new or unusual

First, recognize that there's nothing new about teens looking at such material.

We didn't have the Internet when I was 14, but that didn't stop kids from getting their hands on copies of Playboy. Porn has been around for centuries and we're far from the first generation of parents who have had to deal with it.

There are a number of reasons why kids look at pornography. For some, it's to be "cool." There are reported cases of relatively young children using porn to impress their friends, much as kids sometimes smoke to show their independence.

Sometimes it's curiosity, but in many cases -- especially for males past puberty -- it's for stimulation at times when no one else is around.

Interest in sex and voyeuristic behavior to satisfy sexual urges are completely normal. Whether the young person makes up images in his head, gets them from television shows, movies, magazines or images on the Internet, the process is much the same.

Engage but don't overreact

The first answer is not to freak out. Take a deep breath and spend some time thinking about the situation before you do anything. If possible, talk it over with the child's other parent before confronting the child.

Don't overreact. How you respond to the situation can have more of an effect than the exposure itself, according to Richard Toft, a child psychologist in Palo Alto, California.

"Parents," said Dr. Toft, "need to approach porn the same way they approach any issue about their child's sexuality. There are laws involved, there is responsibility involved, and there is a life long impact of everything they do whether they want to admit it or not." Dr. Toft added, "Parents are going to do best if they do not consider porn isolated from sexuality. They need to address their moral feelings about sex, and porn is part of that. It is also best addressed ahead of time not after the fact." He added, "A parent's reaction can have a tremendous impact, and you could make it traumatic by ranting, raving and threatening reprisals."'

Porn and sexuality

Dr. Marty Klein, a Silicon Valley-based marriage counselor, psychotherapist, and sex therapist, said that "many parents are blissfully ignoring their kids' sexuality. They don't talk about sex with their children when they're young and when they trip over their kid's porn at age 14, they suddenly realize their kid is a sexual being. " Finding that your kid is using porn, said Dr. Klein, "can be a teachable moment. It can be turned into a positive thing. It may be long overdue for a parent to have a few conversations about sex with their kid." He added," we don't wait around for our kids to ask about taking care of their teeth. We teach them dental hygiene when they're young. It's the same with sex." Dr. Klein argues that "you can't talk about porn without talking about your kid masturbating. One of the reason parents don't want their kids looking at porn is because they're uncomfortable with their kid masturbating." Klein said that there is no evidence that masturbation is harmful or dangerous unless the child is doing it so much that it's interfering with other activities.

Dr. Daniel Broughton, a pediatrician at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota who for 13 years served as chairman of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, says to be careful to distinguish the child's behavior from the feelings that may be behind it.

"What the kid has done may be an issue, but what a kid is feeling or thinking is not the problem. You don't say `You're a bad kid for thinking this,' even if you do feel that he has been a naughty kid for doing it."

You don't need a psychologist or a pediatrician to recognize how this can be an extremely embarrassing situation for you and your child. After all, you're entering into the child's private space. While having sex involves another person, viewing pornography often involves only the child and the screen.

Broughton cautions parents not to send their child to a psychologist or psychiatrist at the first sign of such exposure.

"You might want to seek professional advice yourself on how to deal with it, but that doesn't mean you should seek professional care for your child," he said.

Both Toft and Broughton feel it's appropriate for a parent to talk with their child so the child knows how the parent feels about pornography and the child's behavior. Again, both professionals caution parents not to make their child feel as if he is somehow abnormal or perverted.

Role models

Cordelia Anderson, a Minneapolis-based prevention consultant in the field of sexual health, recommends parents counter the messages their kids may see when viewing porn. "Parents may want to be the main sexuality educator for their children rather than by omission having it be pornography." She said that parents "should think about the messages it contains about gender, equity and sex and sexuality" as well as the "role and expectation of being male or female in this culture, about respect for your partner and sex in the context of a caring respectful relationship, and what kinds of images and practices they want to shape their arousal."

Putting it into context

It's also important to put the activity into context. An occasional peek at pornography or use of pornography for sexual stimulation, according to Toft, is not as much of a mental health concern as are cases where children are obsessed with the material. If the child is looking at pornography for hours at a time, or is collecting it, then you may have a more serious problem that requires professional help.

When it could be more serious

Though it's rare, there are cases where adults have used pornography as part of the grooming process to make the child more susceptible to sexual exploitation. It can also be a financial issue if the child uses a credit card to get access to paid sites.

Also, if any of the images are of people under 18, the child might be accessing illegal child pornography. If so, put an immediate end to it and destroy any copies that may be printed or stored on a computer or phone. Possession of child pornography is a serious crime that could lead to prosecution and being required to register as a sex offender. This is especially important if the images are of pre-pubescent children, but even if your child is looking at images of teens and even if you think it may be "age appropriate," it may still be illegal. Minors can be prosecuted and the law is sometimes applied even when kids receive or send sexually explicit photos to other kids (so-called "sexting").

Consequences yet restraint

Broughton says parents need to dish out consequences for inappropriate behavior, but shouldn't lash out with severe punishment the first time. "If the parents feel that the child has done something wrong, there needs to be a penalty, but it needs to be commensurate to the issue. The first time the penalty should be relatively mild like, `You can't use the computer unless a parent is there for two days.' As the offenses become more repeated, the consequences should become more severe."

When talking with your child, consider bringing up some of the consequences of spending time on these types of sites. For one thing, the depictions on some Internet sites go far beyond pictures of naked people. There is often very graphic sex as well as a variety of divergent sexual practices that can be especially problematic for someone who has little or no sexual experience.

Violent vs. non-violent material

The type of material a child is looking at can have an impact on their behavior said according to a study published in the January/February 2011 issue of Aggressive Behavior. A research team led by Dr. Michele Ybarra found that "intentional exposure to violent x-rated material over time predicted an almost 6-fold increase in the odds of self-reported sexually aggressive behavior, whereas exposure to nonviolent x-rated material was not statistically significantly related."

After reviewing empirical studies, Christopher Ferguson, Associate Professor of Psychology and Criminal Justice" at Texas A&M International University, concluded, "Overall, pornography viewing effects on minors appears to be fairly minimum for most outcomes, particularly for "regular" non-violent porn. There appears to be little evidence overall that viewing non-violentpornography increases sexual aggression. Even for violent pornography the evidence is inconsistent at best." He added that "the research also indicates what is called 'violent porn' is actually very rare."

There is a lot of concern about the type of porn that's online compared to what was easily available in the past. Porn is more explicit and it sometimes depicts acts that fantasize behavior that appears to be hurtful. Dr. Klein said that parents can help kids distinguish between fantasy and reality when it comes to sexually explicit material. Parents should explain to children that people in porn films are "actors and actresses and that they're not really hurting each other." He likened it to watching the 3 Stooges poke each other or kids playing with guns: "Just like some kids like to play with guns and would never hurt anyone, some adults like to play games with sex, but wouldn't really hurt each other."

Blocking and monitoring porn

If you feel that your child needs some restraint beyond what you can accomplish through conversation or house rules, you can put a filter on whatever devices the child uses. There are programs for computers and apps for smart phones that do a reasonably good job of blocking sexually explicit material without blocking appropriate sites. These programs are not perfect and they are not for every child but they can help a child control his or her impulses. If you use such a program, it's best to discuss it with your child so he knows why it's there. You should also consider removing the software or lessening its restrictions as your child shows signs of self-control.

To prevent accidental exposure, consider configuring your search engine for "Safe search." You can do that within Google, but as easier option is to use SafeKids.com Child Safe Search page that's powered by Google. Yahoo also has a safe search setting, as does Microsoft's Bing.

Of course there are ways around filters (including using a different device -- porn can be viewed on any Internet-connected device including game consoles, phones, tablets and even an iPod Touch) and ultimately your child will reach an age where you have no ability to control what they do, so remember that the best filter isn't the one that runs on a device, but the one that runs on the computer inside the child's head.

Finally, recognize that conversations like this are part of parenting. Difficult as they are, they can ultimately be good for your children and your relationship with them.

For more on keeping your kids safe online, visit my sites, SafeKids.com and ConnectSafely.org.

The New York Times Discusses Cymphonique as Nickelodeon’s New Star!Be Your Own You Brand News Blog

Be Your Own You Brand News Blog — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:28:03 +0000

Everyone is talking about our BYOU Partner & Spokesmodel Cymphonique Miller these days – even The New York Times!

Here is an excerpt from a recent article talking about Cymphonique’s new show “How To Rock” premiering Feb. 4 on Nickelodeon:

…Nickelodeon is betting that “How to Rock” has an extra ingredient that can propel the series beyond TV into a full-blown pop culture phenomenon: Cymphonique Miller.

With a (real) name like Cymphonique, you might suspect that Ms. Miller, 15, had been bred for show business, and you would be right, at least partly. She is the daughter of Master P, the rapper, music mogul and TV personality (“Dancing With the Stars”) who has increasingly focused on family entertainment. Her older brother, Romeo Miller, formerly known as Lil’ Romeo, is a rapper and actor, headlining in his own Nickelodeon series, “Romeo!,” from 2003 to 2006.

“I tried everything in my power to stop this girl because this can be a hard, sick business — really easy to get taken advantage of,” said Master P, whose real name is Percy Miller. “I guess you can’t hold raw talent back.”

“We’re hoping for great things from Cymphonique — a big, fat, giant hit,” said Margie Cohn, Nickelodeon’s president for original programming. “That’s what I’ve been working for with this series, so why not say it?”

“How to Rock,” produced with Alloy Entertainment (“Vampire Diaries,” “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”), is scheduled to arrive on Feb. 4. A musical sitcom, it stars Ms. Miller as Kacey Simon, a popular girl who is rejected by her perfectly coiffed clique — a group of girls called “the Perfs” — after she gets glasses and braces. The joke is on them as she joins a band and creates a new cool crowd.

“Isn’t that exactly what high school was like for you?” Ms. Miller said with a laugh earlier this month. Poised and professional, she comes across more like someone in her mid-20s, though after a day of rigorous “How to Rock” rehearsal, she acknowledged that she was a little hyper. “You finish your work, and it’s like, ‘I have all of this energy, now where do I put it?’ ” she said.

Children’s television is at a transitional moment when it comes to female stars. At Disney, the Big Three (Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato) have all moved on. At Nickelodeon, Miranda Cosgrove, the star of “iCarly,” turned 18 this year; Victoria Justice of “Victorious” is also 18 and working toward a movie career. In other words, Ms. Miller has generational turnover on her side as she tries to break through.

Nickelodeon is backing “How to Rock” with considerable marketing muscle; for instance, the channel has produced an eight-part video series about Ms. Miller to introduce her to viewers, a spokeswoman said. A song sung by Ms. Miller in the first episode of the program, “Only You Can Be You,” arrived on iTunes at Christmas.

“Aside from her talent, Cymphonique is up for anything you ask of her — to look silly, if that’s good for the show, for example — and that sets her apart,” said David Israel, an executive producer of “How to Rock.” “In one episode we wanted her to fall into an inflatable pool filled with 800 pounds of macaroni and 50 gallons of cheese. We had a stunt double ready, but she said, ‘Nope, I’ll do it.’ ”

Although the series is Ms. Miller’s big break, she has been preparing for it since she was 2, she said. Raised in Los Angeles, she sang in a church choir, acted in community theater — she was the mayor of Munchkinland in her school’s version of “The Wizard of Oz” — and took dance and piano lessons. With her father’s help, she has also pursued a singing career; she was nominated for a BET award for the video of her song “Something.”

Ms. Miller, who calls her brother her best friend, has also made guest appearances on Nickelodeon shows like “Big Time Rush” and “Just Jordan.” She provides the voice of Holly on “Phineas and Ferb,” a Disney Channel cartoon series. Oh, and in her spare time she participates in kickboxing tournaments.

“I’m not really thinking about all of this as a career,” she said. “I’m just doing what I love, and it happens to be entertaining people.”

By BROOKS BARNES (Published: December 26, 2011)

To read the full article, go to http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/27/arts/television/nickelodeon-turns-to-cymphonique-miller-in-how-to-rock.html?_r=1

“Only You Can BE YOU”-Theme Song for Nickelodeon’s How To Rock!Be Your Own You Brand News Blog

Be Your Own You Brand News Blog — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 01:25:32 +0000

The exciting news just keeps coming!

We are thrilled to announce and show the video for the theme song for our BYOU partner Cymphonique’s new show “How To Rock” premiering on Nickelodeon Feb. 4. It’s called “Only You Can BE YOU” – how cool is that???!!

It’s a great song of empowerment about being and loving yourself…everything we stand for at Be Your Own You! We love this song and you will too!

All the lyrics can be found at http://onlyyoucanbeyousong.com/.

Nickelodeon Announces Feb. 4 Launch Date for Cymphonique’s Show!Be Your Own You Brand News Blog

Be Your Own You Brand News Blog — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 00:03:16 +0000

It’s offical…Nickelodeon has announced Saturday, February 4, as the premiere date for BYOU Partner & Spokesmodel Cymphonique Miller’s new show “How To Rock!”

After many months of long days of rehearsals and filming, Cymphonique is ready to ROCK the airwaves in this new comedy series as Kacey Simon, a popular girl whose status declines after she begins to wear braces and glasses.

Ignored by the mean girls, Kacey finds a new way to express herself through music by becoming the lead singer of the pop/hip-hop band, Gravity 5. Band members include Stevie (Lulu Antariksa), Zander (Max Schneider) and Nelson (Noah Crawford). The band’s success begins a rivalry with The Perfs, featuring her former best friends Molly (Samantha Boscarino) and Grace (Halston Sage). Based on the book How to Rock Braces and Glasses by Meg Haston, this empowering new show promises to be a hit!

We are so excited for Cymphonique! Congratulations, ’Nique — you ROCK!

Big 2011 Tech Stories About People, Not ProductsLarry Magid

Larry Magid — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 13:29:15 +0000

There were plenty of gadgets shipped in 2011, but the big stories of the year were about the people who made them and used them to change the world.

The biggest and saddest story was the passing of Steve Jobs. His impact on tech, as well as on movies and music, is likely to be remembered for centuries. He's already an icon, right up there with Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell and Henry Ford.

Jobs' legacy is not just the Apple II, the Mac, the iPod, iPhone and iPad but his passion for perfection. Former co-workers say he wasn't the easiest person to work with, but the products he created were not only easy to use, but often elegant and beautiful. While not everyone liked Steve Jobs, many were inspired by him. He was not unlike those depicted in the "Think Different" Apple commercials that began, "Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers," and concluded, "the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do." Well done, Steve.

Turnover at HP

Two of Jobs' heroes were the late Bill Hewlett and David Packard, whose Hewlett-Packard went through a major management change of its own this year. New CEO Meg Whitman is hardly a Steve Jobs, and her political views and failed run for governor of California make her a controversial figure. But she has a business track record and puts a very visible face on a company that can use a face-lift.

HP had a tough 2011. It acquired Palm computing and then jettisoned the very products that Palm brought to HP. There was even a serious proposal to pull HP out of the PC business, but one of Whitman's early decisions was to can that idea and remain in the game.

Activism and Hacktivism

The Middle East and North Africa put tech on their own maps this year with the uprisings in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Bahrain and Syria. Executives at Facebook and Twitter don't take credit for what happened, but there is little doubt that social media helped power the people much as the printing press and mimeograph machines helped spark previous revolutions.

The big difference between a mobile phone running Twitter or Facebook and a printed leaflet is that social media can spread instantly and can be two-way. Not only were activists using it to rally the troops, the troops were using it for logistics and for spreading the news.

Those built-in cameras in just about all smartphones turned activists into reporters. When something big happened -- including atrocious and sometimes deadly reactions from authorities -- images of the incidents were captured and immediately transmitted around the world. It's hard to hide things when thousands of people on the scene are equipped with far more sophisticated video technology than CNN had during the first Gulf War.

Egypt's Hosni Mubarak went so far as to turn off mobile networks and the Internet during his country's demonstrations, but it didn't work. Like weeds growing through the cracks in sidewalks, information always get through, no matter what authorities try to do to stop it.

The Arab world wasn't the only place to witness technology-enhanced people power. The Occupy movement, protests at BART and riots in London all saw increased use of mobile technology.

Another big people story of 2011 was WikiLeaks. This organization, led by Julian Assange, released an enormous number of confidential documents from the U.S. military and State Department, as well as from government agencies and corporations around the world.

The organization relies on leaks from insiders like U.S Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, who is currently being detained for allegedly stealing and transferring confidential military documents while he was stationed in Iraq. Manning's motive, according to a transcript of an online chat he had that was acquired by Wired.com: "I want people to see the truth ... regardless of who they are ... because without information, you cannot make informed decisions as a public."

This was also the year of "hacktivism." Groups like Anonymous and LulzSec turned their hacking skills against the likes of Sony and scores of national and local government agencies in a type of high-tech civil disobedience that's clearly illegal but rationalized as social activism against repressive institutions.

Power of the People

Finally, when it comes to people, 2011 was the year that Facebook claimed 800 million active users around the world. It's also when Google started seriously competing with Facebook with its launch this fall of its own Google+ service.

Social networking isn't about the companies that maintain the servers but the people who use the services to post and consume content. If you think about the entire history of media -- from the stone tablet to parchment scrolls to the printing press, radio and TV -- they've all be about one-to-many communications. Sure, Gutenberg made it possible for the common man to consume content back in 15th century. But it wasn't until the advent of the blogosphere, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other social media that regular people were empowered to create and share it with friends, family and, if it goes "viral," millions of other people.

So, while 2011 saw the introduction of the iPad 2, Kindle Fire, a new Android operating system and all sorts of other great products, the real story this year is how people used the software that runs inside their heads to change the world through technology they can hold in their hands.

This post is adapted from Larry Magid's column in the San Jose Mercury News.

Win Collectible Cymphonique Doll, $100 Gift Card and a Phone Call From Cymphonique at Club Cymphoniqueteam tuki

team tuki — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 02:58:57 +0000

Hey Cymphonique Fans! Club Cymphonique is giving away cool prizes PLUS a phone call from Cymphonique!!!

Join the Holiday Contest by submitting a short video or a blog post explaining what is the true meaning of Christmas for you.

Here's How to Join Cymphonique's True Meaning of Christmas Contest

You MUST be a Club Cymphonique member (Register here if you don't have an account yet.)

Upload a 30 seconds to 2 minutes video of YOU explaining what you think the TRUE meaning of Christmas is, at ClubCymphonique under Christmas Contest 2011 category

Write a 2 Paragraph Blog and post it under Christmas Contest 2011 category at ClubCymphonique,

Ask your friends and relatives to rate, comment and like your entry. The entry with the highest number of ratings, likes and comments will be the WINNER!

Cymphonique's True Meaning of Christmas contest started last December 15, 2011 and will end on January 1, 2012. Winners will be announced on January 1, 2012.

The Winner Will Receive:

$100 Be Your Own You Gift Card,

A One Year subscription to Be Your Own You Magazine,

A Collectible Limited Edition Cymphonique Doll

An autographed poster from Cymphonique,

and a personal phone call from CYMPHONIQUE!

Click here for Cymphonique's True Meaning of Christmas Rules/Regulations.

For questions just send an email to teamcymphonique@teamtuki.com or Club Moderator on Club Cymphonique

Good luck and Happy Holidays!!!

Get more Cymphonique updates here: http://clubtukinews.com/category/cymphonique/

News on BYOU Partner Cymphonique’s New Nickelodeon Show Launching in Early 2012!Be Your Own You Brand News Blog

Be Your Own You Brand News Blog — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:45:54 +0000

We’re very excited to share all the exciting news with you about our BYOU partner, spokesmodel, and girls’ empowerment advocate Cymphonique Miller – coming early in 2012, she will star in her own show on Nickelodeon called “How To Rock” (based on the recently released book “How to Rock Braces and Glasses” by Meg Haston). As a very talented singer/dancer/actress, Cymphonique is sure to rock her fans with this new show, where she plays a girl named Kacey Simon who gets snubbed by her appearance-focused ’popular girl’ friends when she has to get glasses and braces and then finds friendship and support with a group of friends in the band Gravity 5 who accept her as she is (a.k.a. be your own you!) We will let you know when Nickelodeon announces the offical launch date, but know it’s coming soon!

In the meantime, you’ll want to check out the new HOW TO ROCK website with all kinds of sneek peeks into the show, including Nick’s new HOW TO ROCK commercial! It’s rocks!!

Seventeen Magazine Interviews BYOU Partner Cymphonique Miller!Be Your Own You Brand News Blog

Be Your Own You Brand News Blog — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:37:38 +0000

Check out our BYOU partner Cymphonique’s Q&A with Seventeen Magazine! She dishes about herself and her upcoming show on Nick, “How to Rock!”

Via- Seventeen Magazine

To read the full article click here

‘Be Your Own You’ Magazine Dec/Jan Issue Features Anti-Bullying!Be Your Own You Brand News Blog

Be Your Own You Brand News Blog — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:50:17 +0000

The latest issue of the new Be Your Own You self-esteem magazine for girls focuses on anti-bullying and features actress, stunt girl, and certified cybersafety advocate Cassandra Perkins! Check out her story, along with information and tips to empower YOU to deal with uncomfortable and harmful bullying situations. Here’s what you’ll find in the current fun and info-packed issue:

Saying NO to Bullying – Information & tips to be your most empowered self
Mean Girls, Bullies, and Divas – Oh My! - Why girls bully and how to avoid being a victim, a bully, or a silent bystander Girls Making a Difference – Introduction to BYOU Spokesmodel, Actress, & Anti-Bullying Advocate Cassandra Perkins Bully Quiz – What would YOU do? What It Means to Me to Be Your Own You - Girls just like you sharing what being your own you means to them – with YOUR chance to share next! I AM Poems - Top selections of empowering positive-statement poems submitted by our readers Beauty’s Secret: A Girl’s Discovery of Inner Beauty - We continue with Chapter Two of this award-winning book from the Heartlight Girls series Inner & Outer Beauty’s Tips -Create a more positive and happy you with these inner & outer tips from Beauty Shine Your Heartlight Bright – Find out how other girls shine – with your chance to shine too! B-SILLY – Smile, laugh, and giggle in this new feature…and submit YOUR silly stuff! B-SMART – Exercise your brain with fun teasers, puzzles, and more! B-On Location With BYOU – On-stage and behind-the-scenes photos of recent BYOU fashion shows

And a special exclusive holiday greeting from our superstar BYOU partner Cymphonique Miller with an announcement of her NEW Nickelodeon TV show How To Rock!

You won’t want to miss this issue! If you don’t yet have YOUR annual subscription, here’s a great opportunity to get yours for only $12/year with our limited-time holiday special!

To order, visit

http://shop.beyourownyou.com/BYOU-Be-Your-Own-You-Magazine-p/mag.htm

Use coupon code HOLIDAYMAG at checkout to get your special $12/year annual subscription!

Or call toll-free to order: (855) BUY BYOU, that’s (855) 289-2968