IGNS V BRAVO MEDICAL MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL | LOS ANGELES, CA | VOL. XVIII, ISSUE i | WWW.BRAVOWEB.LAUSD.K12.CA.US | February 12, 2015 BRAVO NEWS • 1-4 ENTERTAINMENT • 6-8 SCIENCE • 5 ITAL S Tragedy at Griffith Middle School Reminds Us of Safety Concerns by Brenda Sanchez On January 23, 2015, in East Los Angeles, a student from James A. Garfield High School was unfortunately stabbed, resulting in his death, in front of David Wark Griffith Middle School after the middle school’s dismissal. Following the middle school’s dismissal, around 3:03 P.M., fourteen-year- old Steven Cruz, freshman of James A. Garfield High School, was waiting outside David Wark Griffith Middle School for an old friend. However, in a haze of events, a male student of thirteen years of age handed a sharp object to another male student of fourteen years of age, so he could stab Cruz in the torso. The two students fled the scene and sent other students and staff into a panic. The school was eventually put on lockdown, and police units responded to the school at around 3:30 P.M. Cruz was rushed to the LAC-USC Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The two male students were quick to flee the scene; however, on that same Friday night, January 23, 2015, the thirteen-year-old male was taken into custody on suspicion of murder. The other half of that duo was found Tuesday night at 10:20 P.M., January 27, 2015, and was also booked at the East Los Angeles Sheriff’s station. The police will not release their names, because they are minors. The thirteen-year- old male attended a juvenile court hearing on Wednesday, denying all charges and allegations. Despite his plea, he remains detained at a juvenile detention center, facing charges of murder and additional gang and weapon accusations. The school was held on lockdown for four hours. Staff let students out to their frantic parents one by one. Reunions between parents and children filled the streets adjacent to the school. Both Griffith Middle School and Garfield High School are now going to provide counseling services to those in need and upgrading the security, in case of a future misfortune. Taking immense precaution is advisable, so please consider these safety tips: 1. Respect the staff and faculty at school; they know what is best for a student’s safety. 2. Try to not start fights over petty situations. If bothered by someone or something, talk to a counselor or administrator. 3. Avoid gangs. Rates in criminal violence begin with them, so at all costs, please refrain from any types of interaction. These small actions greatly affect the whole community. Griffith Middle School and Garfield High School understand the value of safety. And it is no doubt that schools in the greater Los Angeles area, including Bravo, will continue to secure the safety of students and staff. Everyone is advised to take precautions, and only you can prevent tragedies. Splendor for Senior Picnic by Brenda Sanchez Now that 2015 has finally fallen upon us, a new semester full of fun activities has arrived for the seniors. The class of 2015 will enjoy their first activity—the Senior Picnic—on February 16th at Six Flags, Magic Mountain in Santa Clarita, California. Only seniors who are eligible may purchase tickets for this picnic, which means that if a senior does not have enough credits, then he or she may not participate in the Senior Picnic. The credits a senior must have, as of now, should be a total of 185. Seniors are able to check their eligibility to participate in senior activities in the second floor bulletin near the Attendance Office during break or lunch. Tickets will be sold at the Student Store for $33 from January 26th through February 13th. Students should be sure to take their current or previous student ID as well. Doors open at 11:00 A.M. and close at 6:00 P.M. that day. A bus will not be provided, so it is definitely advisable to ask a parent or guardian for a ride to and back from Six Flags ahead of time. Directions from a location in the Los Angeles area can be found at https://www.sixflags.com/ magicmountain/plan-your- visit/directions. The webpage also includes directions using public transportation. As of now, Santa Clarita is expecting sunny weather on the day of the Senior Picnic; however, California is known for faulty changes in weather, so check weather websites once in a while. All in all, this event begins the line of activities the twelfth graders have this year, so have fun, seniors! Photo Credit: sixflags.com Social Media is a Double-Edged Sword by Bravo Vital Signs On January 30, 2015, a girl enrolled at Bravo Medical Magnet High School went missing. The school responded by using various social networks to publicize this whole ordeal and help locate her whereabouts. The entire Bravo community, including alumni, circulated a photo of the girl and her name, which went viral on social networks, such as Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram. It was seen by the eyes of many, to which the collectiveness of social networks can be thanked. A social network can be used for many things, but in this particular case it was used as a tool – a very powerful publicizing tool that attracted the attention of the whole Bravo community, including alumni. Now attention may mean one of two things – good attention or bad attention. In this particular situation, which very much showcases the benevolent side of the internet and social networking, the online Bravo community, which is a majority of the Bravo students on campus, had one goal and one goal only: to find this girl. The collectiveness that was seen that Friday night was nothing short of miraculous; the community treated this unfortunate circumstance like that of a mother looking for her lost child. That Friday was a day that will go down in Bravo history – when the Bravo students united. With that said, social media is a double-edged sword. As passionate as the Bravo students were with the whereabouts of their classmate, exhibiting the internet and social networks as beneficial and constructive, the internet and social networks also display the violent, more barbaric side of human beings. Bullying, fighting, and racism are usually things that are seen on social media, which may go viral and affect the subjects in those pieces of media. People have contemplated suicide due to the overwhelming collectiveness of bullies on the internet, felt inferior due to the anonymity of what is said on social networks, and worst of all, have felt like the whole world is against them. The ease at which a hurtful comment can be posted on a social network allows people to develop the mindset that “everything is a joke on the internet,” dismissing some of the most hurtful, vile comments, that would not be said in person, or upfront to the person it is being directed towards. A joke to an individual may not tend to the hilarity of another. Social networks have proved to themsleves, and anyone who uses them, as a double edged sword. They can cause greatness, but also cause destruction. There is freedom to use it any way the wielder pleases, but remember, behind the computer screen, lays a human being. Social Media: a problem or not? Photo Credit: fb.com CES:2015 Valentines Day!
Transcript
IGNSVBRAVO MEDICAL MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL | LOS ANGELES, CA | VOL. XVIII, ISSUE i | WWW.BRAVOWEB.LAUSD.K12.CA.US | February 12, 2015
BRAVO NEWS • 1-4 ENTERTAINMENT • 6-8SCIENCE • 5
ITAL STragedy at Griffith Middle School Reminds Us of Safety Concerns
by Brenda Sanchez On January 23, 2015, in East Los Angeles, a student from James A. Garfield High School was unfortunately stabbed, resulting in his death, in front of David Wark Griffith Middle School after the middle school’s dismissal. Following the middle school’s dismissal, around 3:03 P.M., fourteen-year-old Steven Cruz, freshman of James A. Garfield High School, was waiting outside David Wark Griffith Middle School for an old friend. However, in a haze of events, a male student of thirteen years of age handed a sharp object to another male student of fourteen years of age, so he could stab Cruz in the torso. The two students fled the scene and sent other students and staff into a panic. The school was eventually put on lockdown, and police units responded to the school at around 3:30 P.M. Cruz was rushed to the LAC-USC Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The two male students were quick to flee the
scene; however, on that same Friday night, January 23, 2015, the thirteen-year-old male was taken into custody on suspicion of murder. The other half of that duo was found Tuesday night at 10:20 P.M., January 27, 2015, and was also booked at the East Los Angeles Sheriff’s station. The police will not release their names, because they are minors. The thirteen-year-old male attended a juvenile court hearing on Wednesday, denying all charges and allegations. Despite his plea, he remains detained at a juvenile detention center, facing charges of murder and additional gang and weapon accusations. The school was held on lockdown for four hours. Staff let students out to their frantic parents one by one. Reunions between parents and children filled the streets adjacent to the school. Both Griffith Middle School and Garfield High School are now going to provide counseling services to those in
need and upgrading the security, in case of a future misfortune. Taking immense precaution is advisable, so please consider these safety tips:1. Respect the staff and faculty at school; they know what is best for a student’s safety.2. Try to not start fights over petty situations. If bothered by someone or something, talk to a counselor or administrator.3. Avoid gangs. Rates in criminal violence begin with them, so at all costs, please refrain from any types of interaction. These small actions greatly affect the whole community. Griffith Middle School and Garfield High School understand the value of safety. And it is no doubt that schools in the greater Los Angeles area, including Bravo, will continue to secure the safety of students and staff. Everyone is advised to take precautions, and only you can prevent tragedies.
Splendor for Senior Picnicby Brenda Sanchez
Now that 2015 has finally fallen upon us, a new semester full of fun activities has arrived for the seniors. The class of 2015 will enjoy their first activity—the Senior Picnic—on February 16th at Six Flags, Magic Mountain in Santa Clarita, California. Only seniors who are eligible may purchase tickets for this picnic, which means that if a senior does not have enough credits, then he or she may not participate in the Senior Picnic. The credits a senior must have, as of now, should be a total of 185. Seniors are able to check their eligibility to participate in senior activities in the second floor bulletin near the Attendance Office during break or lunch. Tickets will be sold at the Student Store for $33 from January 26th through February 13th. Students should be sure to take their
current or previous student ID as well. Doors open at 11:00 A.M. and close at 6:00 P.M. that day. A bus will not be provided, so it is definitely advisable to ask a parent or guardian for a ride to and back from Six Flags ahead of time. Directions from a location in the Los Angeles area can be found at https://www.sixflags.com/magicmountain/plan-your-visit/directions. The webpage also includes directions using public transportation. As of now, Santa Clarita is expecting sunny weather on the day of the Senior Picnic; however, California is known for faulty changes in weather, so check weather websites once in a while. All in all, this event begins the line of activities the twelfth graders have this year, so have fun, seniors!
Photo Credit: sixflags.com
Social Media is a Double-Edged Swordby Bravo Vital Signs
On January 30, 2015, a girl enrolled at Bravo Medical Magnet High School went missing. The school responded by using various social networks to publicize this whole ordeal and help locate her whereabouts. The entire Bravo community, including alumni, circulated a photo of the girl and her name, which went viral on social networks, such as Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram. It was seen by the eyes of many, to which the collectiveness of social networks can be thanked. A social network can be used for many things, but in this particular case it was used as a tool – a very powerful publicizing tool
that attracted the attention of the whole Bravo community, including alumni. Now attention may mean one of two things – good attention or bad attention. In this particular situation, which very much showcases the benevolent side of the internet and social networking, the online Bravo community, which is a majority of the Bravo students on campus, had one goal and one goal only: to find this girl. The collectiveness that was seen that Friday night was nothing short of miraculous; the community treated this unfortunate circumstance like that of a mother looking for her lost child. That Friday was a day that will go down
in Bravo history – when the Bravo students united. With that said, social media is a double-edged sword. As passionate as the Bravo students were with the whereabouts of their classmate, exhibiting the internet and social networks as beneficial and constructive, the internet and social networks also display the violent, more barbaric side of human beings. Bullying, fighting, and racism are usually things that are seen on social media, which may go viral and affect the subjects in those pieces of media. People have contemplated suicide due to the overwhelming collectiveness of bullies on
the internet, felt inferior due to the anonymity of what is said on social networks, and worst of all, have felt like the whole world is against them. The ease at which a hurtful comment can be posted on a social network allows people to develop the mindset that “everything is a joke on the internet,” dismissing some of the most hurtful, vile comments, that would not be said in person, or upfront to the person it is being directed towards. A joke to an individual may not tend to
the hilarity of another. Social networks have proved to themsleves, and anyone who uses them, as a double edged sword. They can cause greatness, but also cause destruction. There is freedom to use it any way the wielder pleases, but remember, behind the computer screen, lays a human being.
Social Media: a problem or not?
Photo Credit: fb.com
CES:2015 Valentines Day!
ITAL IGNSV S BRAVO NEWS VOL. XVI, ISSUE vii FEBRUARY 12, 2015
BRAVO NEWS2
Arabian “Knights”by Jacob Alvarez
On January 29th, 2015, Bravo students participated in the first ever puzzle play performance in Southern California: Arabian Nights. This play consisted of four high schools coming together to perform this comedy in segments as each school was assigned its own. The schools that participated were the following: Ramón C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts, Bravo Medical Magnet High School, Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, and School of the Visual Arts and Humanities Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools.
This event was held at Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools, which acted as a beacon for each high school to come and demonstrate its talent via the fine art of theatre. Mr. Ryden, English and drama teacher, offered his fourth and fifth periods the opportunity to participate in this event, which they did. All together, around sixty students performed, starting the morning off with brief icebreakers and warm-up exercises that were fun and gave the students the opportunity to mix into other crowds and meet new
people. This play in particular dealt with a king who remarried, often due to his obsession with killing his virgin wives. However, one day, he marries his acquaintance’s daughter who is intelligent enough to see what her new husband has in store for her, thus she comes up with a plan. Her younger sister loves her stories so she decides to tell one and apparently, her husband enjoys it too or at least was distracted and intrigued by it. As the story continues, the wife tells a tale which inside has another tale so it was sort of like inception with storytelling. The characters within the story channeled the wife in the way that they told stories to keep them from dying. It was funny, amusing, and touching simultaneously. All in all, the students from each school gave an excellent performance and each instructor along with the students were satisfied with one another’s take on the play.
Photo Credit: deviantart.net
College Corner: Colgate University For those who wish to travel out of state for their college experience, Colgate University is a good option. This four year private university is located in Hamilton, New York. Colgate is a liberal arts college and is located in a small rural town. It is a medium sized campus with about 2,900 undergraduates and is primarily a residential campus. The college offers both bachelors and masters degrees in a variety of fields. The majority of Colgate’s students come from other states, with only 27% of its population from the state of New York. The student population also shows its dedication with less than 1% of part-time students. The college also contains its own unique facilities, ranging from an anthropology muse-
um to an observatory to a weather lab, etc. Colgate also offers a variety of activities that range from fraternities and sororities, to choral groups and even to government and political activities. Colgate is home of the football team, the Raiders and offers other sports such as basketball, ice hockey, soccer, etc. The university also has other support systems for their students such as career counseling and tutoring. The university has a 27% acceptance rate; however this should not be discouraging. The admissions counsels look closely at academic GPA, class rank, and the rigor of an applicant’s secondary school record. Alumni of the university include prominent people such as politician, Andy Hill.
by Jennifer Escobar
Unequal Attention On Acts Of Terrorismby Melanie Sobri
Scholarships 101by Sinthia Rahman
It’s never too late to begin applying for scholarships; after all, it is free money. There are scholarships for everyone, from freshmen to seniors. They can be found at local, regional, religious, service, and/or cultural organizations. Students should visit the College Center weekly to find more information about scholarships that are open to apply to. Sometimes, students may even earn scholarships through community service. The Good Samaritan Hospital awards volunteers who have completed at least 200 hours of community service up to $1500. While that may not seem like much, it is important to note that one of the best ways to pay for college is by earning as many scholarships as possible. The small scholarships do add up. Students can also find scholarships through internet searches. Scholarship direct-
ories are an easy way to find scholarships that pertain to a student’s specific skill set and individuality. Many require a profile and an email address to keep students updated on what they qualify for and any upcoming deadlines. Students can also find scholarships on typical search engines (such as Google and Yahoo) by merely looking up scholarships for things that describe the student. For example, students may search for scholarships for a certain interest they may have, particular backgrounds, heritage, hobbies, and even the most simplest of things such as height, or hair color. Students are highly recommended to apply to as many scholarships as possible; the more scholarships students apply to, the greater the chance of earning more money. For further information about scholarships, please visit Mr. Maletz in the College Center.
Februrary Calendarby Jennifer Escobar
2/14
ITAL IGNSV S FEBRUARY 12, 2015 BRAVO SPORTS VOL. XVI, ISSUE vii
3
BRAVO SPORTSBravo’s Basketball Boys
by Arleen Garcia
Photo Credit: Arleen Garcia
Photo Credit: Aman Guatam
On January 14, 2015, the boy’s basketball team started their season more enthusiastic than ever. Since the beginning of the new semester, the boys were ready to finally commence their way to victory by slaughtering the other teams and working together to proudly represent Bravo. Their first opponents were from Maywood High School; all of the boys were extremely pumped up to play. The boys walked out of the locker room making their grand entrance, while the audience filled with parents and students coming to support their favorite player, cheered. All home games included a performance, during halftime, of the girls from Dances of the World, who were ready to perform and get the crowd to their feet. By the end of the game, Bravo’s varsity team had accomplished their goal and the victory was theirs. Sadly, Junior Varsity (JV) lost their first game of the season. The next game was against Torres High School. This game brought a lot of tension to both sides of the gym. Bravo would not back down, as well as Tores, until Bravo’s Varsity boys defeated and won once again. On the other hand, the young JV team remained with no win. The third game was against Legacy High School. Here, the knights started to get worried and unfortunately
the Bravo’s basketball team ended the game with their first loss. Although the basketball varsity team had a terrible loss that night, they arrived early morning on Friday, January 23, to practiced before school warming up with drills and new techniques. While the Varsity team worked, the young JV finally won their first game. Elizabeth Learning Center was their next opponent; sadly, the efforts of the varsity and JV teams did not make it through. Now, their last game before having a few days of break, the knights went up against Linda Marquez high school. The boys did not seem very concentrated, even though varsity was not at their best; their efforts were definitely left on court that afternoon. Varsity lost, but on the contrary, JV left the court with smiles on their faces. Seemingly, both teams have been on an erratic rollercoaster that has clearly not stopped them. The boys’ basketball team proudly wear their Bravo jerseys and continue striving for the best. After this rest, they will hopefully come back stronger for their next game. After all, the basketball team has shown Bravo over the course of the years how strong the team can be. This year will definitely not be the exception. Go, knights!
Photo Credit: AArleen Garcia
ITAL IGNSV S FEBRUARY 12, 2015 BRAVO SPORTS VOL. XVI, ISSUE vii
4
BRAVO SPORTSBravo’s Time to Splash
by Jasmine Murillo As the season that fish enjoy the most approaches, Bravo High School’s swim team comes back for another year of fun under the water. Bravo Knights begin to prepare for the upcoming swim season that is bound to be a competitive one. Swim practices will be beginning in exactly two weeks and already, excitement fills the air. As the school’s swimmers prepare to begin, two returning swimmers were asked four questions regarding their opinions on the team and the upcoming season. Although Bravo swimmers lack a pool to swim in, the season appears as if it will be a great one. With the swimmers excited and ready to give their all, other Bravo knights should take the time to wish these swimmers luck and show their support.
Guadalupe Davalos (’15)1. Are you looking forward to swim season? If so, what is it that you look forward to the most?“Yes! I’m so glad to be able to interact with my teammates again after a one year hiatus, and I’m definitely excited for the intense workout and satisfaction that comes with competitive swimming.” 2. What are some things you would like to improve?“I would love to improve Bravo’s support of the swim team, but aside from that I also want to improve our team spirit because I think we should be very proud of our achievements as swimmers.”3. How do you think the team will do overall?“I definitely think the team will be more tight knit this year, and we’re surely going to kick some butt at meets. We’ll put all our effort in, because it’s really all or nothing when you’re swimming.”4. Have you been preparing for the season? If so how?“Unfortunately, we don’t get a lot of pool time since it’s so costly, but we are fundraising and preparing for practice in the water as well as dry lands. Practice starts in two weeks, and our first meet is in about a month, wish us luck!”
Lizbeth Aguilar (’16)1. Are you looking forward to swim season? If so what is it that you look forward to the most?“Yes I’ve been waiting for it for more than a year already and I’m excited. The thing that I look forward to the most is probably cheering on everyone in the team and just being together even if we don’t know each other.”2. What are some things you would like to improve?“Probably one of the most important things I would like to improve is the economic situation that we have to go through to be able to have a swim season.”3. How do you think the team will do overall?“As of now I think we’re going to be a good team because I know that our coach will help us improve and push us to be able to take the team to CIF.”4. Have you been preparing for the season? If so how?“I swim constantly because I am a club swimmer which is why I’m kind of prepared for it. And I’m sure that there’s more people that are club swimmers in the team.”
The Start of Track Seasonby Elexis Johnson
As the spring semester begins, so does track season. Typically, track season starts in the beginning of February and ends around May. Bravo’s track team trained to get ready for the season; many athletes begin this very exciting and frightening journey, in hopes of becoming better than last time. They have been asked the following:1. What are your expectations for this season?2. What would you like to change from last semester?3. What is your favorite part about being on the track team?
Maria Lopez (‘16)1. “I hope to see many more competitions with other schools and a great support team with everyone that is on the team.2. “I want to be there for my team more and get a faster time on my races I will compete in this season.”3. “I get to meet new people who want to join the team, and the team is like another family.”
Jennifer Lopez (‘16)1. “I want to do better than I did last year. I want to set personal records and try to make it to city prelims or even city finals.”2. “I want to try harder during practices and to get faster times throughout the entire season.”3. “I really enjoy going to meets because we get to compete with other schools. Also, I get to meet new people and get to spend time with my friends that are on the team.”
ITAL IGNSV S FEBRUARY 12, 2015 SCIENCE VOL. XVI, ISSUE vii
5
SCIENCE CES 2015: The Coolest Devices and Tech, Showcased
by John Huynh From realistic implications in real world technology to unrealistic, expensive but impressive outtakes on technology, The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was a three day convention held in Las Vegas, Nevada, from January 6th to January 9th, which showcased a variety of newly developed technology meant to be implemented in next generation consumer electronics. From 8K televisions, to “un-crashable” cars, the innovations and technology were nothing short of impressive. BMW was one of the many exhibitors who have showcased their new technology; they have implemented a touchscreen system in their newer cars, and have developed an “anti-crash” mechanism. This mechanism, which utilizes a variety of sensors and is powered by an Intel Core i3
The LG G Flex 2Photo Credit: cnet.com
processor, allows the mechanism to detect if there is anything in its vicinity, and automatically commands the car to come to a complete stop. The mechanism does not allow an operator to continue driving when there is an obstacle that may cause a collision, even if the operator has his or her foot on the gas pedal. BMW has also created applications on certain “smart” devices such as smart phones and wearable tech such as smart watches that allow the user to “call their car” in which the car will use a variety of sensors to find and track its caller, and automatically drive up to the caller. 4K TV’s are generally thought of as impressive, impractical for domestic use because of their prices, but Samsung has unveiled a new 8K television – 8K is not twice 4K, but has four times the pixels of a 4K TV, and
sixteen times the pixels of a 2K resolution television, otherwise known to people as full HD or 1080p. This 110’’ 8K TV also sports the viewing of HDR content and 3D content, without the glasses. Samsung’s new TV is not in production yet, but has simply been showcased at CES to show people the potential of television technology as an impressive, but impractical for domestic purchase due to experts’ speculation on price. A 4K 110” TV from Samsung sporting the same specifications without the 8K panel will cost the average consumer ten thousand dollars – it can only be speculated that this 8K television will not be hitting affordable prices anytime soon, but it is still an impressive piece of technology. The Creative Life (TCL) has unveiled a new television backlighting
Dot. This technology will be competing with LCD technology, as seen used in most consumer televisions and displays; the difference between this and an LCD display is the way the pixels are colored and lit. In a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) display, the individual pixels must be filtered for a color, but a Quantum Dot display promises that all the individual pixels will have their own colors, eliminating the need for filters. This results in improved efficiency and a brighter display due to the lack of filters. This will be a very good option for manufactures, as it is cheaper to produce but gives a much more satisfying result than a LCD display, and the building process is much more environmentally sustainable, as Quantum Dot displays do not require the large amount of rare earth metals LCD displays require.
CES isn’t complete without a cell phone announcement; LG has announced their brand new G Flex 2, which fixes the problems found in its predecessor, the original G Flex. It features a smaller 5.5” display with a resolution of 1920x1080 and a crystal sharp pixel density of 403 pixels per inch (PPI) while its predecessor sported a 6” display with a resolution of 1280x720 and a mediocre pixel density of 245 PPI. It features improved processing power over its predecessor, an improved camera with LG’s remarkable laser focus, while retaining the features that had reviewers so amazed from the original LG G Flex, such as the self-healing back. CES 2015 was a success, as it satisfied the curiosities of many geeks and tech fans. There were many other pieces of impressive tech that did not meet this story, but the innovation and creativity radiated at CES 2015 makes the wait for the next CES, a long one.
Samsung 8K 110’ TVPhoto Credit: forbes.com
The color difference between a quantum dot and an LCD is shown here; LCD is on the left and quantum is on the right.Photo Credit: avcesar.com
Internet At Risk Japanese Engineering Firm Unveils Designs for First Underwater Cityby Melanie Jimenez
T e c h n o l o g i c a l innovations have made the world more accessible to the average user, and also to hackers. Many companies have been releasing new products at a faster rate, thus making it hard to secure them against hackers. These said hackers range from over-enthusiastic gamers hoping to “up their game” to potentially threatening criminal organizations. Throughout 2014, there was an increment in reported cases of hacked websites, such as popular social media Facebook and Twitter. So far, none of the offenses have done much damage. However, as society moves onto an increasingly
technological future, the threat of cyber attacks increases exponentially. According to expert, Darren Orf, “This boom of what the World Economic Forum calls ‘hyperconnectivity’ along with the increase of cyber attack complexity, pushes cyber crimes as a highly likely and impactful risk for us all going forward.” Orf also states that, “The current Internet infrastructure was not developed with such security concerns in mind.”
Photo Credit: gizmodo.com
by Patrica Cabuso Japanese engineering company Shimizu Corp has recently proposed a solution to the threat of rising sea levels to island dwellers: a self-sustaining underwater city that is capable of accommodating 5,000 people. Shimizu’s Ocean Spiral is divided into three distinctive zones, stretching 2.8 miles under the sea off the coast of Japan. Just below the surface, a giant sphere about 546 yards in diameter (more than four football fields in length) would form the first section, containing residential zones, businesses, and hotels. Below that is section two: a nine-mile spiral leading down to the sea floor. This spiral connects to section three: a submarine port and factory that will create the energy required to sustain the sphere by using micro-organisms that turn carbon dioxide into methane. Additionally, power generators situated along the spiral will then use differences in seawater temperature to create more energy by applying thermal conversion technologies.
The construction would cost three trillion yen, or over $24 billion USD, and take five years to construct. While there are no formal plans yet, construction can begin in around fifteen years, when the necessary technology will become available. In just a few decades, Bioshock’s Rapture can turn into a reality.
Photo Credit: huffingtonpost.com
ITAL IGNSV S FEBRUARY 12, 2015 ENTERTAINMENT VOL. XVI, ISSUE vii
6
ENTERTAINMENTMardi Gras: The History Behind the Celebration
by Samantha Ruiz On February 17th, one of the world’s largest and most extravagant celebrations will take place all over the world: Mardi Gras. This annual Christian holiday originated thousands of years ago and is mostly celebrated amongst Roman Catholics on the day before Lent. Although Mardi Gras seems to be known throughout the entire world, many are not aware of its origins and how it came to be. Historians claim that Mardi Gras dates back to time of the Pagans, who were well known to have rituals to celebrate spring and fertility. Once Christianity arrived in Rome, Italy, religious leaders combined elements of the familiar Pagan traditions with Christianity in an attempt to coax the Pagans to convert and adopt this religion. As a result, Mardi Gras was soon celebrated before Lent, which are the forty days penance between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. Soon after that, Christianity began to spread amongst other nations including France, Germany, Spain, and Great Britan
It was a common tradition, during the days leading up to Lent, for people to indulge on all the meat, eggs, and cheese they possibly could to prepare themselves for several weeks of eating fish and fasting. In France, the day before Ash Wednesday became known as Mardi Gras, meaning “Fat Tuesday.” The world “carnival,” which also referred to other festivities that occurred before Lent, derives from the Medieval Latin word carnelevariu, meaning to take or remove meat. Many historians also believe that the first Mardi Gras took place on March 3rd, 1699, when two French explorers landed at what is modern day Louisiana and deemed New Orleans as the epicenter of this future holiday. In 1827, a group of students paraded through New Orleans on Mardi Gras, dawning colorful and flamboyant clothing; this event became the origin of Mardi Gras parades, with the first recorded parade happening in 1837, just ten
years later. Then by 1857, a secret society of New Orleans businessmen known as the Mistick Krewe of Comus, organized marching bands and rolling floats, setting the stage for future Mardi Gras parades. Other lasting customs include throwing beads and other trinkets, wearing masks, decorating floats, and eating King Cake. To this day, Louisiana is the only state to recognize Mardi Gras as a legal holiday. Since then, Mardi Gras has continued to grow and popularize itself amongst various Roman Catholic countries. Brazil hosts a week-long Carnival festivities, while Canada hosts its annual Quebec Winter Carnival. In Italy, tourists flock to Venice’s Carnevale, which is famous for its masquerade balls while those in Germany enjoy parades, costume balls, and a tradition that encourages women to cut off men’s ties. Overall, Mardi Gras is one celebration the world wouldn’t want to miss out on!
Photo Credit: wordpress.com
Photo Credit: lovetoknow.com
Super Bowl XLIXby Diego Jimenez
After many games, the National Football League (NFL) has a new champion: the New England Patriots. The Patriots defeated the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 in Super Bowl XLIX (49). The game was played in the University of Phoenix Stadium on February 1, 2015. There was much controversy leading up to this game as the Patriots are under investigation for deflated footballs. The game started off with a stalemate, as both teams went scoreless in the first quarter. The Patriots would be the first to score as quarterback, Tom Brady, threw an eleven-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver, Brandon LaFell.
Seattle responded with a three-yard touchdown run by running back, Marshawn Lynch. The game was back and forth and was tied 14-14 going into half time. After a halftime performance by Katy Perry, Seattle, in the third quarter, took the lead. A twenty-seven yard field goal and three-yard touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin. New England entered the fourth quarter with a ten-point deficit, and were facing the statistically best defense in the National Football League. The Patriots scored a touchdown with eight minutes remaining and then scored another touchdown with two minutes
remaining. They were now in the lead by four points and Seattle had the ball. Seattle drove down the field, and after a spectacular catch by wide receiver, Jermaine Kearse, were within ten yards of scoring and winning the Super Bowl for the second consecutive year. After a run by Lynch, the Seahawks were within one yard with twenty seconds remaining and were in prime position to with the game. This did not occur as
quarterback, Russell Wilson,threw the ball and cornerback, Malcolm Butler, intercepted it. This then allowed the Patriots to run out the clock and win the Super Bowl. The Patriots would then procede to celebrate their victory with the city of Boston. After some delays due to a storm in Boston, the parade was held on February 5, 2015. Both the city and players were estatic, but their was some controversies in the parade. Photo Credit: superbowl.com
Photo Credit: superbowl.comOne was caused by Patriot’s tight end Rob Gronkowski. During the parade, he drank large amounts of alcohol in front of children. Along with this, running back, LeGarrette Blount wore a shirt with a derogatory term directed towards the Seattle Seahawks. Besides this, the parade went well. Now, the Patriots will try and win another Super Bowl in 2016.
ITAL IGNSV S FEBRUARY 12, 2015 ENTERTAINMENT VOL. XVI, ISSUE vii
7
VALENTINE’S DAYValentine’s Day Around the World
by Mohini Lavin Valentine’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world, just like in America, where lovers spend the day together enjoying each other’s company. However, other countries have their own unique way of celebrating it. In some parts of El Salvador and the Dominican Republic, friends and family play a game similar to “Secret Santa.” The game played in the Dominican Republic is called “Angelito,” which translates to “little angel.” To play, they use small pieces of paper and write the name of another person; the gender of the person does not matter. Then each person gives their “Angelito” a present. In El Salvador, it is played the exact same way; however, it is called “Amigo Secreto,” which translates to “secret friend.” Japan celebrates this day of love twice. On February fourteenth, women give dark chocolate to friends, co-workers, and of course, to their love interests. Then on March fourteenth, White Day, the men fortunate enough to receive a gift on Valentine’s Day must return the favor to the women who gave it to them with cookies, white chocolate, or anything white.
In Korea, they celebrate Valentine’s Day like Japan with White Day following the next month, but they have another celebration. This celebration is known as “Black Day.” Single people get together to eat Jajangmyeon noodles, which are served with a black-colored sauce, and wallow in each other’s company. Some of the people even wear black the entire day. The Vietnamese have their own special way of celebrating this lovely day. Couples wear similar style clothing and or colors. Couples spend the rest of the day together going out to dinner or for romantic walks. Taiwan is known for cultivating beautiful and vibrantly colorful flowers. Men are expected to give their love a bouquet of flowers on Valentine’s Day. The amount and color of flowers given have certain meanings. 108 red roses means “Will you marry me?” and 99 roses express “love forever.” In Germany, the locals also commemorate this day by spending the day with their love interest, giving each other gifts, flowers, and chocolates. However, it is traditional for partners to give each other a pig!
It’s that time of the year when the air is flooded with love, and girls and boys rush to find the perfect gift for their sweetheart, is just around the corner. The cupid season, loved by many and hated by others, approaches and even though it falls on a Saturday, there are sure to be strict rules regarding the items that will not be allowed on campus the day before this holiday. Last year, all kinds of gifts were prohibited
on campus due to the mess left behind on previous occasions; this year will not be any different the following are some of the rules for February the 13th:1. No flowers will be allowed on campus. If brought to school they will be confiscated and kept in the office students won’t be able to pick them up until further notice.2. Food that is not for individual consumption will not be allowed and will as well be
confiscated by administration3. Any item, like balloons, that can cause students to get distracted during school hours will not be allowed either.
There may be new rules as the day approaches and will surely be announced during morning announcements, but it is recommended to wait until February 14th to get that special someone a special gift, that way there will be no risk of having it confiscated.
Valentine’s Day RulesBy Jasmine Murillo
Valentine’s Day Memesby Diego Jimenez
Valentines Day is here and many people are busy focusing on their dates. One can easily feel left out if you don’t have a date. If you don’t have a date for Valentines Day, never fear, Vital Signs has memes to cheer you up. Check out this weeks Meme Central to have a laugh!
ITAL IGNSV S FEBRUARY 12, 2015 ENTERTAINMENT VOL. XVI, ISSUE vii
8
ENTERTAINMENT
Letters to the EditorsLetters to the editors concerning any topic relevant to Vital Signs are welcomed. Please refrain from using vulgar or disrespectful language. Letters should be brief and may be edited to maximize space and heighten clarity. Letters may be anonymous or signed by the author. Please send
Drop them off in Mr. R. Rodriguez’s mailbox/ Rm 312
Editorial MatterOpinions expressed in Vital Signs belong to the writer. They do not reflect the opinions of the Journalism staff or those of Francisco Bravo
Medical Magnet High School.
Scan this QR Code to check out past Vital Signs issues
online!
Vital Signs StaffSamantha RuizJasmine Murillo
John HuynhDiego Jimenez
Jennifer EscobarMelanie Sobri
Melanie JimenezElexis JohnsonArleen Garcia
Patricia CabusoMohini Lavin
Sinthia RahmanBrenda SanchezJacob Alvarez
A Celebration of the Year’s Best Performances at SAG Awards 2015by Patrica Cabuso
The cast of Birdman accept the award for best ensemble in a film. From left to right: Naomi Watts, Emma Stone, Amy Ryan, Zach Galifinakis, Michael Keaton, and Edward NortonSource: latimes.com
On Sunday, January 25, 2015, stars gathered at Los Angeles’ Shrine Exposition Hall to honor acting achievements in film and television. The official ceremony began with various actors sharing their personal stories, which transitioned to actor Bryan Cranston presenting the first award of the night: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series. The award went to actress Uzo Aduba for her role as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren in the Netflix original series Orange is the New Black. Aduba gave an acceptance speech and scored another award with Orange is the New Black cast as a comedy ensemble. William H. Macy won the award for best actor in a comedy series for his role in Shameless. Boyhood star Patricia Arquette won the award for best supporting actress in a movie, while J.K. Simmons won best supporting actor for
Whiplash. The show took a break from awarding the winners in each category to honor actress Debbie Reynolds with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was presented by her daughter, actress Carrie Fisher, who took the opportunity to make sarcastic quips about her mother. In her acceptance speech, Reynolds mentioned Singing in the Rain to be her favorite pictures she made and shared a story about her daughter about weird hair-dos, after Fisher was cast in George Lucas’ Star Wars. Frances McDormand won best actress in a TV movie or miniseries for Olive Kitteridge and Mark Ruffalo won best actor in the corresponding category for his role in The Normal Heart. Unfortunately, Ruffalo was absent from the show and was unable to personally accept his award. Viola Davis took home the prize for best actress in a drama series for
her role in How to Get Away with Murder. Her acceptance speech was powerful, thanking the show’s creators and ABC executives “for thinking that a sexualized, messy, mysterious woman could be a 49-year-old, dark-skinned African-American woman who looks like [her].” Kevin Spacey won the male counterpart to this category
for House of Cards; like Ruffalo, Spacey was not able to attend the ceremony. The cast of Downton Abbey nabbed the award for best ensemble in a drama series, Julianne Moore and Eddie Redmayne won best actor and best actress in a film respectively. The ceremony ended
with the cast of Birdman receiving the award for best ensemble in a film. The SAG Awards have a reputation of predicting the year’s Oscar winners. With ceremonies like the Golden Globes and the SAG Awards over, audiences can turn to the upcoming Academy Awards.
Who Will Grab the Grammy?by Jacob Alvarez
On February 8th, 2015, the 57th Annual Grammys will take place at Staples Center in Los Angeles. On this night, music is honored for its creativity, popularity, and other aspects as artists gather to celebrate one of the most important art forms that seems ageless. With thirty-three genres being honored along with over fifty awards being distributed, this night will be one to remember. All the nominees have been released to build further anticipation for the night and with that said, they shall now be shared. The Grammy for Album of the Year will be awarded to one of the following artists: Beck with Morning Phase,
Beyonce with Beyonce, Ed Sheeran with X, Sam Smith for In the Lonely Hour, or Pharrell Williams with Girl. The Grammy nominees for Best New Artist include alternative rockers Bastille, rapper Iggy Azalea, Brandy Clark, Haim, and Sam Smith. “Fancy” by Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX, “Chandelier” by Sia, “Stay With Me” by Sam Smith, “Shake It Off,” Taylor Swift, and “All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor are in the running of obtaining the Grammy for Record of the year. Other Grammys will be awarded for Song of the Year, Best Rap Album, Best Rock Album, and Best Country Song and countless others, although not all will
be presented on stage. Along with the awards being given, the Grammys is a night where amazing performances take place that may not be seen anywhere else. In the past, artists like Elton John have teamed up with Ed Sheeran and newer artists to perform collaborations of their popular songs and this year,
plans have not seemed to have shifted from such greatness. As of now, Ariana Grande, AC/DC, Eric Church, Madonna, and Ed Sheeran are scheduled to perform on this evening of music celebration. Some of these artists are nominated for their work and others have already received awards for their work in the past. To see this all unfold
will truly be inspiring. The Grammys will take place on Sunday, February 8th at 8 P.M. on CBS. Awards do not make artists who they are, but it is always a treat to witness them come together to share and relate to one another’s music.
