• Club I.C.O.N. at Hogan High hosts an event called The Art Of Noice II, 3:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 19 on campus. The group already booked their roster with slam poets and various artists who will be performing live. All for only $2.
• For all you punks out there, shell out $7 and soothe the savage beast with a live punk show Saturday, Feb. 16 at Benicia Clocktower, 1189 Washington St., Benicia. Featured acts for the all ages show include Eskapo, Self-Inflicted, Psychosomatic, Short Changed and other.

• Vacaville artist Matai is seeking community support for his new CD, The Man I Am. Supporters are asked call KSFM 102.5 during its Future Flava show from 8 to 10 p.m. Sundays and request one of his single, ‘Miss My Luv,’ ‘By My Shawty’ or ‘Don’t Need Ya.’

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/rnbay1 or www.ksfm.com.

Warning: Don’t try this at home; while we are untrained, we are professionals.

Energy drinks are nothing new. From Red Bull to whatever off-brand is on clearance at the Grocery Outlet, the market is glutted with liquids designed to keep you wired.

When a brand like Red Bull seems staid and a flood of newcomers are hitting shelves at gas stations and liquor stores across the country, it’s safe to say the drinks are more than just a fad.

“Energy drinks are pretty much here,” said Jeffrey Klineman, editor of Beverage Spectrum Magazine - the go-to publication for all things drinkable.

Klineman, who said his own caffeine tolerance is so high he could be an astronaut, said the reason there’s so many brands is that they’re cheap and easy to make. Through a careful combination of gimmicky marketing, suggestive packaging and mysterious herbal ingredients, each caffeinated concoction tries to differentiate itself and create its own niche.

But with so many options, how do you know which energy drink is right for you?

It would probably be impossible - and likely hazardous to your health - to try all the energy drinks out there. Plus, there are so many new ones all the time it would be a downright Sisyphean task.

So we’ve decided to take one for the team and sample a selection of energy drinks - from the time-tested Red Bull to the most random, off-brand, bargain-basement brews we could find in the refrigerator cases of Vallejo’s most disreputable liquor stores.

We limited our tasting to 10 drinks, thinking that beyond that our senses would be dulled by shaking hands and racing hearts. And while this list is by no means comprehensive, we stand by the integrity of out results.

So read on, because what we found may surprise you.

Note: Each drink was rated on a five-star scale. Cool Ranch Doritos were eaten between tastings to cleanse our palates. The decision to spit the drinks into a makeshift spitoon or to swallow them and risk a bad case of the jitters was up to each taster.

1. Hunid Racks: the Real Energy Drink for Real Hustlers

We were pleasantly surprised by light effervescence of this unexpected winner, which had an essence of Sweet Tart and Otter Pop. Even though we thought the marketing was kind of lame, Hunid Racks gets credit for thematic continuity: the drink itself is light green, the same color as the $100 bills on the can.

Caffeine content: 84 mg
Other ingredients: B vitamins, taurine, ginseng, guarana

2. SoBe Essential Energy Orange

This tasty Tang-flavored beverage would have received a slightly higher rating, but we thought its real juice content gave it an unfair advantage over the competition because it tasted least like an energy drink of all those sampled.

Caffeine content: Not listed
Other ingredients: B vitamins, ginseng, guarana, yerba mate

3. Rehab Recover Supplement

A clinical-looking can with a lovely rose color beverage that smelled, one taster thought, “like a Strawberry Shortcake doll.” It tasted like Kool-Aid.

Caffeine content: 120 mg
Other ingredients: green tea, ginseng, catechins (apparently some sort of antioxidant), guarana

4. Old Glory: America’s Best energy Drink

For 99 cents, this drink is a doozy. Not only do you get 16 fluid ounces of caffeine-infused, sugar-laden delight, but the Pledge of Allegiance is printed on the can, along with the stars and stripes and an eagle. Made in Oklahoma, Old Glory claims to be “Keeping America Strong.” We believe it.

Unfortunately, the taste is nothing to write home about - sort of like Mountain Dew. But what do you want for under $1?

Caffeine content: 100 mg
Other ingredients: taurine, guarana, ginseng

5. Rockstar

This was one of the several drinks that fell into the urine yellow category. Tasted a bit soapy or body-lotiony, with distinct tropical fruit overtones.

Caffeine content: 160 mg
Other ingredients: B vitamins, taurine, guarana, milk thistle

6. Full Throttle: Nature is a bad mother

This was a divisive entry in the tasting - people either loved it or hated it depending on how much they like the taste of tree bark. It claims to be acai flavored and to derive its invigorating properties from “natural sources.” One taster found it reminiscent of Jagermeister.

Caffeine content: Not listed
Other ingredients: ginseng, guarana

7. Monster

Half of the tasters found Monster way too sweet, but a few liked it. According to Klineman the beverage expert, Monster may creeping up on Red Bull’s dominance. Except for Monster’s larger can, we didn’t find much difference between them.

Caffeine content: Not listed
Other ingredients: taurine, B vitamins, and something called an “energy blend”

8. Red Bull

What is there to say about the bigwig of energy drinks?

Caffeine content: Not listed
Other ingredients: taurine, niacin, B vitamins

9. Grapple Hyphy

Like our favorite, Hunid Racks, Hyphy was made in Oakland. We wanted to love it, given its almost-hometown origins, but were put off by the toxic-waste-green hue and aroma of apple cleanser. Also, one taster noted that it was “kinda burn-y” going down.

Caffeine content: Not listed
Other ingredients: B vitamins, vitamin C, guarana

10. Black Pearl

Technically, Black Pearl probably shouldn’t be compared to the other drinks. Made by a Florida pharmaceutical company, the Pearl touts itself as a “high energy libido matrix,” but is, in fact, a liquid so noxious you’ll want to gargle with industrial cleanser just to get the vile taste out of your mouth. The lengthy warning label advises to start out drinking half a can of Black Pearl to “assess tolerance,” and that drinking it on an empty stomach “may cause nauseousness [sic].” Turns out one sip on a stomach full of energy drink and Cool Ranch Doritos can also make you pukey. If you decide you must drink this stuff anyway, consider yourself warned.

Caffeine content: Not listed
Other ingredients: pure evil

Thoughts? Comments? Concerns? Give us your feedback. Call the hotline at 553-6510, send an e-mail to redcup@code707.com or stop by our myspace page at www.myspace.com/code707.

Cleezi (Primo Entertainment), Teezy (707 Multimedia) and Nanell (Primo Entertainment & Nanell Clothing) get the party started on stage. The event was also a birthday celebration for Teezy and Cleezi.

‘Throw ya hands in the air!’

Nanell poses with R-One of Figure 8 Films, an event sponsor.

Damany Hendrix DRIX (Primo Entertainment) does his thing on the dance floor.

The ladies pose with birthday boys Rob G and Beez.

For more information visit www.nanell.com. All photos courtesy of 707 Multimedia.

• KRS-ONE, 9:30 p.m., Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. $15 advance. 510.548.1159 or www.shattuckdownlow.com

• The “Way 2 Cold” Bay Area Bosses Show featuring AP9, The Bay Bandits, Equipto, RBL, Young Dru and more, 8 p.m., The Veterans Memorial Hall, 757 First St., Brentwood. $20. www.ticketweb.com

• X-Clan with Lifesavas, and Potluck, 9 p.m., Mezzanine, 444 Jessie St., San Francisco. $15 advance. 415.625.8880 or www.mezzaninsf.com.

Feb. 16

• Funkonnection: Afrika Bambaataa & Allgood Funk Alliance, Mighty, 119 Utah St., San Francisco. $10. 415.971.4527 or www.mighty119.com

Feb. 17

• The Bob Marley Annual Tribute with Groundation, 9:30 p.m., Mystic Theatre, 23 Petaluma Blvd., Petaluma. $18. 765.4671 or www.mystictheatre.com

Feb. 18

• Sia with Har Mar Superstar, 8 p.m., The Fillmore, 1805 Geary Blvd., San Francisco. 415.346.6000 or www.livenation.com

Feb. 19

• Katt Williams, 7:30 p.m., Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland. $35 to $55. 510.465.6400 or www.livenation.com

Feb. 20

• Katt Williams, 7:30 p.m., Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland. $35 to $55. 510.465.6400 or www.livenation.com

• The Hives, 8 p.m., The Fillmore, 1805 Geary Blvd., San Francisco. $20. 415.346.6000 or www.livenation.com

• Marilyn Manson with Ours, The Warfield, 982 Market St., San Francisco. $50 to $60. 415.567.2060 or www.livenation.com

• Badfish: a tribute to Sublime, with Scotty Don’t and Mystic Roots, 8 p.m., Slims, 333 11th St., San Francisco. $16 advance/$18 door. 415.255.0333 or www.slims-sf.com

• Bone Thugs-N-Harmony with Jupiter Rising and Girl Talk, 8:30 p.m., Leavey Event Center, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara. $22 to $25. 408.554.4000 or www.ticketmaster.com

Feb. 22

• Video Games Live, 8 p.m., Nob Hill Masonic Center, 1111 California St., San Francisco. $38.50 to $65. 415.292.9151 or www.livenation.com

• Fishbone with Rebelution, and 880 South, The Independent, 628 Divisadero, San Francisco. $15. 415.771.1421 or www.independentsf.com

• Too $hort and Greedy Ent. plus K. Real, 8 p.m., 1015, 1015 Folsom, San Francisco. $30 presale/$35 door/$50 VIP. 415.431.1200 or www.1015.com

• Digital Underground, 8 p.m., Red Devil Lounge, 1695 Polk St., San Francisco. $20 advance/ $22 door. 415.921.1695 or www.reddevillounge.com

Feb. 23

• Ragga Muffins Festival with Barrington Levy, Gregory Isaacs and more, 3 p.m., Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 99 Grove, San Francisco. $39.50 advanced/$45 door. www.apeconcerts.com

March 2

• Dead Prez, 7 p.m. Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. $20. 510.548.1159 or www.shattuckdownlow.com

March 6

• Balkan Beat Box with DJ Joro Boro, 8 p.m., The Fillmore, 1805 Geary Blvd., San Francisco. $22.50. 415.346.6000 or www.livenation.com

March 7

• Living Legends, 9 p.m., The Fillmore, 1805 Geary Blvd., San Francisco. $25. 415.346.6000 or www.livenation.com

March 10

• Linkin Park with guest Coheed and Cambria, 7 p.m., Arco Arena, One Sports Pkwy., Sacramento. $49.50 & $39.50. 916.928.6900 or www.arcoarena.com

March 12

• Truth Is Here Tour featuring Brother Ali, Abstract Rude, Toki Wright, and BK-One, 9 p.m., Slim’s, 333 11th St., San Francisco. $15. 415.255.0333 or www.slims-sf.com

• Matchbox Twenty, 7 p.m., HP Pavilion, 525 Santa Clara, San Jose. $39.50 to $75. 408.321.2300 or www.hppsj.com

Huddled outside a classroom building, students form a circle around two boys about to brawl. Girls scream. Boys egg them on. As the punches fly, someone yells, “Hurry up!” as a teacher approaches. The video stops.

So far, this grainy footage shot at Vallejo’s Jesse Bethel High School has been watched more than 4,000 times on the Internet. Other videos like it, from other high schools in the Vallejo City Unified School District - and throughout the country - have been posted online, too.

“People like to talk about who got beat up,” said Hogan High School 12th-grader Angelina Bee, expressing concerns about the use of camera cell phones on campus. “They say, ‘Oh, did you see the video?’ ”

In a district working to reduce the number of school fights, Vallejo administrators are facing a new issue - students using camera phones to record and post punch-outs online.

But as officials look at the video-recorded fights popping up on the Internet, they are wondering what else is being posted. In an age when legions of tech-savvy teens are uploading and sharing digital images online, and carrying cell phones with built-in video cameras, questions arise about privacy risks.

But how do you regulate the use of new technology without banning cell phones, which many parents desire their children to carry?

The answer is unclear.

“Basically, what’s happening here is technology has gotten ahead of school district policy,” said Jason Hodge, spokesman for the Vallejo City Unified School District. “It’s a murky area in the law right now. We’ll certainly look at developing a policy dealing with it, but there are potential free speech issues (in banning the use of cameras).”

In districts across the country, educators are discovering, often regrettably, the many potential abuses of the devices on campus. Hodge said he fears students using them in locker rooms and bathrooms.

Regina Vasquez, a Hogan High sophomore, said the use of camera phones is widespread - and they are being used inappropriately by some students.

“It’s dangerous,” Vasquez said, adding that many girls worry about their pictures being uploaded to the Internet without them knowing about it. “We’re young and you never know who’s out there.”

There is also the difficulty removing videos and images once they are released into Cyberspace.

“Once it’s up there, it can spread in a quick minute,” Vasquez said.

All four of Vallejo’s public high schools ban the use of cell phones during class time. Some teachers tell their students they are not allowed to take photos and videos of others without their permission. But these days, when campus rules are somewhat blurry, some administrators have used videos recorded on students’ cell phones as evidence to suspend other students for fighting, Hodge said.

“If we can identify students (breaking school policy on video), we can use that for disciplinary action,” Hodge said, adding that Bethel High administrators have used student-generated videos for that purpose.

However, the Bethel High administrators said they were unaware of students posting videos online of on-campus fights.

“It’s a loss of innocence,” said Vallejo school board member Ward Stewart, who’s seen some of the videos online.

Stewart, 28, said school board members throughout the country will want to clamp down on digital content produced by minors, especially if parents feel the content is harmful to their children. However, he said, it’s not feasible to ban cell phones with video capability altogether.

“Where can the lines of regulation be drawn and how do you go

about enforcing those lines?” Stewart asked. “The potential for an event to be audio- or video-recorded anytime, anywhere, is a reality.”

The debate over appropriate technology use at schools has emerged as access to Internet video-sharing has moved into the mainstream. YouTube, which launched in 2005, attracted 55 million users a month in 2007, according to Nielson/NetRratings. More than 10 million users were under 18.

A simple search on the YouTube home page unearths fight footage from Bethel, as well as Vallejo and Hogan high schools.

Thoughts? Comments? Concerns?

What do you think about the nearly 4,000 YouTube videos of high school fights across the country?

Let us know!

Call the hotline at 553-6510, e-mail redcup@code707.com or drop by our myspace page to tell us what you think: myspace.com/code707.

Seventeen-year-old Taray Bell dreams of being a radio deejay, but said she feels studying nursing might lead to better jobs.

Still, the high-school senior wants get behind the mic to see what it’s like.

That’s why Bell tried out for MTV’s “Made” when the network came to Hogan High School in search of new cast members. “Made” is a self-improvement show that matches students with mentors and professional coaches to help them reach their goals.

Bell was one of about 10 students who auditioned during a lunchtime casting call held in a school classroom. Jesse Bethel High School also hosted auditions.

“I listen to the radio when I wake up and when I go to sleep,” said Bell. “I like the idea. And it’s different … I haven’t seen that on a ‘Made’ show.”

Tina Jamias, an English teacher at Hogan High, said she didn’t mind loaning her classroom during lunch for the auditions.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for the students, not just for them to get ‘made’ into something, but for them to think about the opportunities they have,” Jamias said.

MTV is visiting schools across the country to audition possible candidates for the ninth season of “Made,” which first aired in 2003.

Vallejo City Unified School District spokesman Jason Hodge said MTV contacted the district in December to see if any high schools would be interested in organizing casting calls.

During the audition, students filled out applications and were interviewed for three or four minutes.

Charlonda Anderson, a senior at Hogan High, said she wanted to be “made” into the “perfect girl.”

Sarah Lutton said she wants to be a hip-hop dancer.

Bell, who said she’s an avid watcher of the show, said she was thrilled to hear MTV would be holding casting calls on campus.

“I watch the show all the time,” Bell said. “I was really excited to hear they were coming to the Bay.”