Teen talk-abouts

john_ford@parade.com at www.Paraderadio.com pulls some good ideas out of this Sunday's edition:

IS IT A GOOD IDEA FOR A PARENT TO HAVE A KID "TRY A CIGARETTE" TO SHOWTHEM HOW AWFUL SMOKING IS?

According to PARADE magazines Marilyn vosSavant, who has the highest I.Q. ever recorded, it can sometimes work,but she doesn't endorse it. It possible that even a small child mightenjoy the grown-up pretense of smoking. A better idea is to get youryoungster to be repelled by the main reasons to stay away from smoking:It often causes misery and death.

Topic Ideas: In your opinion, what's the best way to quit smoking? Doyou have any helpful suggestions for quitting smoking? How old were youwhen you had your first cigarette, and who gave it to you?

TEENS TALK DATING IN THIS SUNDAY'S ISSUE OF PARADE MAGAZINE. What isdating like for teens across America? That's the question posed toteenagers in this Sunday's issue of PARADE magazine. Here's what a fewof them had to say:

- Kayla York, 15-years-old, from West Linn, Oregon: "In my school,there's always an obnoxious couple, where the guy will maul the girl infront of everyone. (Gross!) There's also the power couple, they're fromopposite crowds (like prep and punk), and they influence everyone."

- Melody Liao, 16, from Albany, California: "News spreads like wildfirehere. It takes less than a day for most of the school to find out thatso-and-so and what's-her-face are an item."

- Lisa Hutchison, 16, from Charlotte, North Carolina: "My boyfriend andI are at that awkward age where we don't have a license and don't wantto be seen being driven by our parents. Dates are almost always dinnerand a movie. This is mainly an 18-and-over city."

Topic Ideas: Tell us about what dating is like at your school? What wasthe absolute worst date of your entire life? Tell us about it. How doyou let someone down gently when you don't want to hurt their feelingsbut there is now way you would ever date them?