Part news, part commentary, The Scraps is a podcast that spotlights past pitches that weren’t picked up. To listen to the podcast, press the play button above, or head to the Messenger’s Soundcloud page.

MCHS kicks off Warrior Games

The Warrior Games are taking place here at both of McHenry’s campuses. These games include raffles where students can win prizes, and the big prize is an outdoor picnic that will be held on May 5.

To win this prize, MCHS staff will collect attendance, grade, and discipline data for each class. If your class happens to win the big prize, you cannot participate if you have Fs or discipline issues.

To get involved with the raffle prizes each week, be a proactive student. If you are getting good grades, have no cuts or absences, ask for extra help  and help others with homework, you more are likely to get tickets from your teachers that you can turn into the office for raffle pulls.

 Counting calories in the U.K.

Starting on April 6, restaurants and pubs in England with 250-plus employees have been required to display calorie information on all their meals. Calories must be shown on physical menus and on platforms like Uber Eats. The U.K. government has decided to do this to try and solve their obesity epidemic.

There are varying opinions on this matter. Some say it’s a good idea so that people can actively make better food choices from seeing what they’re putting in their bodies, and others say that it can trigger eating disorders.

On “Good Morning Britain,” beauty journalist Ateh Jewel and Dr. Hiliary Jones debated the change. Jones stated, “it could be useful, but it’s not the end all be all.” Ateh meanwhile believes “knowledge is power and we all want the nation to be happy and healthy but for me it’s a bit like putting a plaster on an exploding dam. It is a very small step.”

The world responds to Will Smith’s slap

During the Academy Awards on March 27, actor Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock for making a comment on his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, who has alopecia. Smith was asked to leave, but refused, and received an award for best actor a few minutes later.  

“Smith’s actions at the 94th Oscars were a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television,” the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences later announced. They banned Smith from the next 10 award ceremonies. Smith has also taken it upon himself to resign from the Academy, and admit himself into rehab for behavioral issues. 

Some have said Smith ruined the most important night in so many actors’ careers by making this the only occurrence people will know from this year’s Oscars, and the Academy made the right call in the end banning him for the next decade.

Others are saying that what Will did was justified, just in the wrong setting because they would’ve done the same thing if someone disrespected their partner the way Chris Rock did on live television.