ITAL IGNSV SBRAVO MEDICAL MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL | LOS ANGELES, CA | VOL. XV, ISSUE iv | WWW.BRAVOWEB.LAUSD.K12.CA.US | DECEMBER 9, 2011

INDEX 2 • NEWS 3 • FEATURES 4 & 5 • HOLIDAY 6 • OPINION 7 • MISC. 8 • SPORTS

Safety First:

Young adults and children have become the principal targets in matters ranging from abduction to drugs. It was only a matter of time before the danger reached Bravo. In October, Bravo’s dean, Mr. Hua, announced that there had been a couple of incidents around our school campus in which Bravo students have been approached by a van with no license plate. These incidents have increased security and safety precautions among school staff and students. Though there have been no further events since Mr. Hua’s announcement, potential dangers are still present.

Behind Disney's onstage magic, fear and excitement ran through the minds of the dancers of Dances of the World, hectic with practicing and makeup. Thinking of the dance they were about to perform, they blank out and start to worry about the steps they have forgotten, as they walk through the tunnels and hidden passages towards their stage. Riled up on adrenaline and anxiety, the lights turn on and Disneyland presents Dances of the World. The Russian dancers were up first with red flowing dresses with gold trimmings, complete with a floral headdress. The music was full of joy, and the faces of the dancers reflected that. The dizzying twists and turns performed by the girls were enough to keep the audience anticipating more. The music of calm flutes and the beating bass introduced the Chinese dancers. Dresses were different colors for each individual performer. As they danced, red fans clapped as they spread open, covering the girls’ faces elegantly. The fighting stances emphasized strength and power imbued into the dance. Another energetic song presented the Bollywood dancers in silk cloth and clinking gold coins. Many aspects of the

Bollywood style, such as hops, high jumps, and multiple hand gestures remained customary. The energy was in the air, only to be boosted with the entrance of Erick (’12) and Shabrin Murshed (’12), as their couple routine received many cheers. African dancers performed only with the beat of the drum. Their camouflaged dresses gave the beat more life. The girls suddenly started dancing to even more upbeat music, incorporating familiar hand gestures and lots of chest-popping movements. Taking a break from the fast dancing, the performers of the slow Armenian dance introduced a more mellow atmosphere. Dresses made of red fabric with gold streaming down the middle and sides flowed elegantly as their graceful dancing emulated togetherness with synchronized arm movements. The gracefulness of the red dresses gave way to the faster, livelier Armenian dance with blue-dressed girls, armed with stomping heels. The dance gave off so much energy with kicks flying across the stage, and girls supported each other as they used moves reminiscent of the can-can. Another calm, flute and violin-based song drew the audience’s attention to the Korean

Dances Does Disney on 11-11-11By AJ SANIANO & CRYSTAL RIVAS

style dancers. The fluid dresses of pink silk and blue sleeves showed us the elegant side of the dancers, while the chain-linked knives revealed a much more powerful side of the dance. The dance emphasized the knives multiple times, being thrown around in unison and ending the dance with the knives pointed to the floor. The best dance was saved for last — the Latin couples dance. With their electric entrance, the stage was filled with co-ed dancers in black and red motifs. Latin

suaveness combined with gyrating hips and aerial stunts wowed the audience. Ending with a bang, Dances of the World came out onto the stage and gave their final bow. The gathering of family and friends turned into a crowd of curious onlookers, amazed with the performance they had just seen. Dances must be proud of their work. After all, dances: What studio are you from?

Many of these dangers could only be prevented by following the safety guidelines enforced by Bravo staff and administration. One of the main suggestions Bravo continues to strongly emphasize is to avoid walking through Hazard Park, a recreation area notorious for assaults and violence. The Bravo administration also insists to avoid going to Burger King, since the locale was actually the sight of one of the incidents Mr. Hua spoke of. Also, when walking to and from school, students should not walk unaccompanied. A third, but not less important, tip is to constantly be aware of one’s

By MARIA GUILLEN surroundings. Often times students will be so engrossed with texting or will have their earphones on that they will be unaware of the environment. It is important to always be sure to pay attention to anyone or anything around, especially when students are in dangerous neighborhoods. Although it is a stressful thought, there is always the possibility of an abduction occurring to anyone. In such a case, it is important to fight back. Screaming “Fire!” is more efficient than calling for help. People respond faster to a fire than to call for help because they do not want to get involved. Hitting the aggressor with the palm of the hand on the nose, gouging the

eyes, or kicking their shins or knees can also buy time. By having a cell phone at hand, one could call any number or send a text, and that way if the abductors succeed, the police would have the victim's last location. Safety is an option only encouraged and wholly dependent on the individual. Luckily, Bravo is a safe campus, but the decisions students make before and after school are completely different matters. Sometimes, uncomfortable incidents could be avoided by making the right decisions. Safety should not be taken for granted. In times like these, anyone could be the target. It is always better to be cautious than regretful. Play it safe.

Dedication • Dances of the World finally get to show their immeasurable commitment to the team on November 11, 2011 at Disneyland.

JASMINE MONTANEZ Vital Signs

a Guide for Staying Safe in and out of School

ITAL IGNSV SPAGE 2 BRAVO NEWS VOL. XV, ISSUE iv DECEMBER 9, 2011

NEWS Schools part of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Debate League met up on November 18 and November 19 for another

Bravo Debaters Conquer yet Again By WILLIAM NUBLA

OPEN DIVISION debaters, including Yinh Li (’13), Vito Perez (’13), and Elvia Ahmed (’13), get ready to have their picture taken with their awards.

WILLIAM NUBLA Vital Signs

Uniform Problem By ROXANA SIERRA & WILLIAM NUBLA Imagine if the diversity at Bravo were to be suppressed by blazers that are too big or too tight, or stiff pants that don’t fit right. Don’t get me started on identical polo shirts. Uniforms may be implemented as soon as the next school year. The proposition of uniforms here at Bravo is an attempt to decrease campus disciplinary problems and boost Bravo’s image and performance by improving the way these students are viewed externally.

These assumptions are wrong. Uniforms are in no way correlated with an increase in performance as many studies have shown. In addition, even if our dress is planned out for us already, what if that uniform is dirty or stained? What if they all are? Logistics — we will need one set of uniform for each day, so we will need five sets of uniforms. If our mandatory attire were to be distributed by Bravo, then who’s to say that we couldn’t have gotten any of the clothing cheaper somewhere else? In these times, is getting uniforms and having to wash them every two days, or once a week, necessarily economical? And is it a good way to spend one’s time — laundrying? Uniforms place unnecessary burdens on the person who does the laundry since the uniform must be worn, and therefore must be clean, every day. Even then, the students will still need regular clothes for outside activities, going out with friends or job interviews. Uniforms will just be a burden if we have to get them in addition to regular clothes. Many of Bravo’s lower-class parents are also going to be displeased with this proposition because of the economic burden. Then, there’s the almighty argument that uniforms are just another way for adults to regulate and suppress the student body. Teenagers are always trying to defy “the system,” in

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Two Bravo students clash on the issue

of uniforms. Should Bravo implement a policy making it

mandatory for all of its students to wear

uniforms?

In these times, is getting uniforms and having to wash them every two days, or once a week,

necessarily economical? And is it a good way

to spend one’s time — laundrying?

| see UNIFORMS, page 4 |

Yay for Uniforms By KATHERIN JAVALERA & ALEXA PENA

LAUSD has been contemplating and discussing the possibility of students wearing uniforms starting as soon as next year. I can already hear some of the groans and arguments against such news. Fortunately, uniforms may be the best resolution to the dress code violations the school experiences daily. A few examples of why uniforms may be the best solution to us high school students are: students save money; students won’t have to worry about impressing others by the way they dress; students will look more professional; and the dress code won’t be a problem anymore for any of the students at our school. More money in that piggybank — if you think about it, we spend a lot of money buying new clothes for every season and trend. Wearing a uniform will save the money we spend shopping for expensive clothes from ten different stores. No more worries — every morning we fret on what to wear to look nice or to impress others. Well, uniforms are the lifesavers of that everyday hassle. You already have an outfit set to wear so all you need to worry about is your hair. Looking spiffy — uniforms give off a professional look and make you look like you know what you’re doing. It might be the extra emphasis to give Bravo that top school reputation. Plus, it won’t degrade a student’s or schools reputation and it’ll give a positive outlook on who we really are as Bravo Knights. Bravo’s staff has enough to worry about; they can’t scour for every single student wearing obscene, vulgar, or streetwalker clothing on a day-to-day basis. The dress code will take care of that since if we were to ever adopt a uniform policy, the uniforms would definitely be far from crude. I’m sure most of the students will say wearing uniforms won’t let us express ourselves or show our personality. Well, it’s because of some students’ “personality” that uniforms need to be taken care of. Many dress obscenely in an academic setting. Besides, we shouldn’t rely on the clothes we are to define us. Isn’t it what’s on the inside that counts?

Fortunately, uniforms may be the best resolution to the dress code violations the

school experiences daily.

The Censorship Act By KARL PASCASIO On November 16, SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act), was proposed by Congress, to invoke the question of whether or not social networking sites should be terminated. Personally, I think this is an issue that isn’t an arising problem. With how things are today, Congress should not even put any attention on such an unimportant matter. While Occupy Movements are occurring left and right, and while the economy of the United States is dwindling down, I do not see the important of censorship. While many positive outcomes will result in better grades in school for the youth, it still has some negative effects. Destroying the online socializing networks will destroy the rapid spread of news worldwide. On the website “Twitter,” you can practically spread breaking news in a matter of seconds with just one click to your followers. Interacting through websites like Facebook can help in contacting someone through the internet instead of phones, where the connection may be disrupted. Also, the website “Tumblr” will be affected, a blogging website designed to cater to everyone’s individuality and a way of expressing their opinions.

US NEWS

| see BRAVO DEBATE, page 5 |

| see CENSORSHIP, page 5 |

Good luck to the upcom

ing debaters on their first tournam

ent at C

renshaw H

igh School!

ITAL IGNSV S PAGE 3 FEATURES VOL. XV, ISSUE iv

FEATURESDECEMBER 9, 2011

Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet Senior High School is one of the highest achieving schools in California, and it hasn’t failed in creating a shining name for itself in the world of academics. However, within Bravo there is a team that expresses the art of cultural dance. Bravo’s own Dances of the World performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade held in New York, participating in the Spirit of America Dance Team consisting of more than 50 of the top dance teams in America. Their stay was from November 19 to November 25, and they became the only school from California to be performing in this event. Being a part of this parade requires the mentality of growth and the concept of ground work (working one’s way up from the grassroots level of a skill). Preparing for this performance took long hours of practice: one week of practice and hard days of practice held in New York. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a festive event in which floats and performances from across the nation dazzle the city with an array of floats, dancers, bands, and musical performances.

“The concept to achieving an opportunity like this is focused on

how the team has built itself from the ground-up. The focus of Dances of the World is to intertwine the many ethnic

groups of Bravo and combine them into harmonious dances. In order to

achieve an opportunity like this, it was not easy. Hard work from the team kept the constant success in a flow,

by making a name for themselves and bringing out that extra potential that is within a student. The base of the hard

work is to focus on the inside and express that feel upon stage and when performing. To focus on the potential of a student is my whole my premise. It’s about you moving forward. It’s

not the dancing, it’s the growth. Don’t let the exterior define who you are; Define who you are by the interior.”

...

Ms. Ana Cobian Gomez, Dances of the World Director

Dancing at New York By ENRIQUE MARROQUIN

The Macy’s parade was aired on television on Thanksgiving Day at 9 a.m. on channel 4. The Dances of the World girls performed a circus-themed routine. Even though only 10 girls went to participate in this festive parade, these girls represented Bravo and Dances

of the World: Katie Villabroza (’12), Christine Shin (’13), and Brianna Gomez (’13) as ring masters; Briana Blanco Johnson (’12) , Vanessa Alschuler (’12), Melissa Samples (’12), Yasmin Valenzuela (’12), Jesica Nares (’12), Laura Naranjo (’12) as Tight rope walkers; and Stephanie Bonchirt (’12) as a cupcake girl. Dances of the World has continued to grow and made a name for itself, but what is

growth without the groundwork? Dances of the World has grown from its constant experiences and performances in notably famous venues: in the CAHPERD Award Dance Program (1995), Sister T.V. (1996), NBC Studios Performance (1997), Kobe Bryant Promotional Video (1997), Greek Theatre (1998), Unity Day LAUSD (1998), and in their annual performances at Disneyland .

By AJ SANIANO

The Lecture Hall is lit and the props are set up. The audience mumbles for minutes until Mr. Ryden runs up to the stage to welcome the audience. The Lecture Hall is dim, and the stage is set. The playful French music

introduces the first of four plays. Sorry, by Timothy Mason, starred Joseph Sepulveda (12’) as Wayne and Janelle Graves (11’) as Pat in a game of cat and mouse. Pat brings Wayne in with a bleeding leg and rushes around, panicking to

help him. Taking off his pants, she playfully dabs alcohol in his fresh, grazed wound as Wayne wails in pain. As they assess each other, Pat talks about her crime-stricken life and slowly comes to realize who she’s let in her house: her stalker from across the courtyard. Chaos breaks out and Pat becomes furious with rage. Wayne tries to quell her anger by saying that he has feelings for her. Her rage slowly dies down and helps Wayne out the door, seeing the man she likes walk away. Second Beam, by Joan Ackermann, starred Alejandra Almaguer (12’) as Jennifer, Maria Ortiz (12’) as Meg, Carissa Salazar (’11) as Patti, Rene Carillo (12’) as Ethan Schroeder and a cameo of Britney Mancillas (12’) as Georgia. The three nervous actors sit and read their script. Jennifer, practically sweating out her anxiety, wipes with away with a tissue to the underarm, courtesy of Meg. The two exchange small talk about previous castings until they got to common ground: Patti Scherer. That led to the scripts they have previously read, including the concept of stopping light in a jar of chilled sodium gas, Meg’s favorite. Soon, Patti comes in and wrecks the already unstable Jennifer, coercing her to leave. Meg chases after Jennifer, lecturing her on how to be a better actor. After sprucing her up, Meg leaves the room, leaving behind a confident, yet clueless Jennifer ready to audition for an attractive Seth Rogen.

The Office, by Kate Hoffower, starred Karen Guzman (13’), Tania Cortez (14’) and Esther Martinez (14’) all as themselves. Another day at the office brought the three workers to boredom. As Esther played make-believe with a staple remover and a binder clip, the two were plotting to kill their obnoxious, “self-patting” boss by feeding him excess amounts of food. Then the subject changes to how they got to where they are now: Karen always wanted to be a professional musician, and Tania always wanted to be a brain surgeon, as suggested by her sarcastic mom, but both ended up in cubicles. With Esther making a post-it face and reading magazines about weapons, the girls thought of wearing their bras outside of their shirts to break the monotonous cycle of their day. Esther whips hers out like a pro, Karen slowly unlatches hers, and Tania struggled to get hers back on, bringing the audience to tears from laughter. After an adventurous feat, the three resent to boredom and Esther ends the play by slamming her boredom-filled head on her desk. Small World, by Tracy Scott Wilson, starred Jessica Morga (13’) as Stacey, Leticia Olmedo (12’) as Alice, Maria Ortiz (12’) as Lucy, Juan Llamas (12’) as Bob, Joseph Sepulveda (12’) as Tim, and Rene Carillo (12’) as Bill. All three couples intertwine their stories,

Small Worlds

| see BRAVO PLAY, page 6 |

Comedic • Joseph Sepulveda, starring as Wayne, shows how hard it is to show a girl how much you like her, and how easy it is to stalk one.

JASMINE MONTANES Vital SignsDANCES GIRLS admit to being anxious before showing up on live television in New York, but they still manage to pull off amazing smiles.

SARAH PEREZ Vital Signs

HOLIDAYITAL IGNSV S DECEMBER 9, 2011PAGE 4 HOLIDAY VOL. XV, ISSUE iv

this case, it’s the uniform policy. Teenagers have a knack for rebellion, to defy the rules placed upon them because high school students are usually experiencing their rebellious stage. The dean and administrators may have well-intentioned thoughts, but if uniforms are going to be implemented, then here’s some advice — prepare for rebellion on the students’ part. Some students may like the uniform idea because they think they will have one less thing to worry about: dressing up. But what will happen if everyone else is wearing the same attire? Outfits can be tweaked: Girls might try pulling up their “Bravo skirt,” and boys might pop their uniforms’ collars. (Worse yet, they might even paint on their uniforms to make it more colorful and expressive. Yikes!) The first years of a new policy are always the hardest to control. Are the uniforms being worn, and are they being worn properly? Are the students doing things to them that they are not supposed to do? The whole point of the uniform system is to make all students look alike and recognizable for a matter of safety. On the other hand, there is also another problem — no size fits all. So if we want the students to be safe and recognizable, then all the uniforms must look alike, and with that, not every body type will fit perfectly in the already-prescribed uniform sizes. (Even if one were to order a medium-sized uniform because she fits in a medium, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the uniform will fit her well.) In turn, this fitting problem will create great discomfort for the student; it will even cause some students worried about their body image displeasure since the uniform that must be worn makes her look fat. Students being insecure about their body image and losing confidence? It sounds like it would discourage the learning process to me. Uniforms are bad. Many of us had to wear them for three years in middle school and looked to high school, particularly Bravo, as a means of escape. If there were problems in middle school even with uniforms, then who’s to say it won’t happen in high school with puberty-stricken, rebellious students?

| UNIFORMS, from page 2 |

Holiday Must-Haves! By ALEXA PENA & CRYSTAL RIVAS

“I want a new Les Paul guitar that’s acoustic and electric.”

...

Freshman student, Eli Merlos

“What I really want is money of course, an iPod touch, and a new phone.”

...

Sophomore student, Alondra Arias

“I want some new sneakers preferably Converse. Oh! And a gingerbread house to make because

I’ve never made one and I really want to.” ...

Junior student, Jasmine Ortega

“I want to meet Santa Clause and ask him for a kiss from Mary Jane.”

...

Senior student, Alex Louie

Inexpensive Holiday Gifts

In this economy, it is no surprise that people are looking for inexpensive Christmas gifts, but there are plenty of gift ideas that won’t cost an arm and a leg. Making your own Christmas gifts can be a great way to personalize Christmas and provide gifts that are meaningful and inexpensive. The key to making a gift that the recipient will enjoy lies in taking the time to consider the needs and personality of those you are making gifts for. Here are several inexpensive Christmas gift ideas for 2011:

• A collage of special photos can be a way to surprise a friend. Finding old photos and adding them to a cute picture frame or a scrapbook can be a personal gift. • A personal coffee cup can be a fun way to show your creativity. • Homemade scarfs are cute gift ideas that anybody can enjoy.

• A mix CD is an easy way to show somebody you care; adding a favorite song that reminds them of those special memories that were shared. Even a gift card to itunes is inexpensive.

• For the women in your life, makeup is always a gift that they will enjoy. If you’re going for something cheaper, attempt finding a cute carry on makeup case that they might love.

• You can never go wrong with some chocolate. Buy a box from Sees candies, are not only inexpensive, but can also be a awesome gift for the holidays.

By JASMINE MONTANEZ

BRAVO NEWSTechnology Modernizes the CHOICES Application Process By CYNTHIA SERRANO

On November 29, a magnet fair was held at the LAUSD Local District Five building where parents were introduced to a new way of completing the CHOICES application. Instead of mailing the CHOICES brochure to homes, the application will be available online. On the website http://echoices.lausd.net, parents can now view, download, or submit the application for the 2012-2013 school year. An online tutorial for this new process is also on the website for those who need guidance. Those who do submit online will receive a conformation e-mail immediately afterwards, as opposed to those who mail it in who receive the conformation in mid-January. It eliminates a lot of the waiting time and anticipation of just waiting to see if the office has received the application. Although the brochures will not be individually sent to homes, they will still be to available to those who live in the LAUSD boundary who do not have internet access. The five locations where they can be found include: LAUSD schools, LAUSD Local District Offices, the LAUSD Central Office, the Parent Community Services Branch, and Los Angeles City Libraries. In addition to providing the electronic CHOICES application, this website is also a valuable source for information. It provides more on the magnet programs within the LAUSD district along with other LAUSD programs. Transportation availability for parents worried about the way of getting their child to school is listed on there as well. This year the application process is being transformed to become more efficient. Although it can be done online this year there is still a deadline (which is Friday, December 16).Whether applicants are mailing or submitting electronically, the applications must be postmarked or received by 5:00 p.m. that evening of the 16th.

ALEXA PENA Vital Signs ALEXA PENA Vital Signs

ALEXA PENA Vital Signs ALEXA PENA Vital Signs

ITAL IGNSV S PAGE 5 HOLIDAY VOL. XV, ISSUE ivDECEMBER 9, 2011

HOLIDAYHoliday PuzzleF L F W Y R Q R J R D M Z C JV I B W G I F T E S A I M H RI R Q G I T I K A Q E S Y E AO P B U F N C N J A R T K E FD E C O R A T I O N B L S R SZ H L H R A E E C L R E E S EY G P C R S O H R W E T I B NG D T L U I O J H P G O K J AC U N A O C S H J T N E O Y CN N L A O D Q T O N I F O I YW C P L C B U H M T G I C V QW Z A B U G P R C A Y R R E MY T R E E D N I E R S Y E G IE S L E I G H H E U G R E W ZY N Z R G T W D N A T G Z L E

CANDY NUTCRACKER CANES MERRY CHEERS MISTLETOE CHOCOLATE SANTA CHRISTMAS REINDEER CLAUSE RUDOLPH COOKIES WINTER DECORATION SLEIGH GIFT TREE GINGERBREAD

By MONICA ROQUE From the increasing number of couples exchanging gifts of saliva in the hallways of Bravo High School, I can only gather that the chilly winter season is indeed approaching. Although the falling temperature may serve as a valid excuse for cuddling up to your significant other, couples must keep in mind that Bravo is not a five-story hotel in which to unleash pent-up hormonal urges. The daylight hours have diminished and mornings continue to get colder and colder in southern California, but have these environmental factors frozen any trace of social etiquette left in us?

Perhaps the reason behind this amorous time of the school year is that teenagers are trying to accumulate as much physical affection from their lovers as they can before winter break — or sexual

Goes too FarWhen the Season of Giving

hibernation — begins, and before they are separated from each others’ pelvises. One thing’s for sure: The couples who strategically decide to make out in the middle of congested hallways or staircases (or even worse — in front of your locker) never fail to irk people, like me, who just want to get to class on time. Though in a campus so undersized, I suppose Bravo couples have it harder when it comes to finding a secluded area in which to express their infatuation. In any case, causing unnecessary traffic in the hallways of our school is by no means courteous. Maybe it’s because these couples see something that the rest of us are blind to. Maybe there are invisible mistletoes hung in every corner and inconvenient spot at Bravo that couples have designated as their personal make-out zones. It seems ridiculous at first, but after a brisk walk through a busy hallway you’ll come to accept my theory. Instead of gifting our peers and faculty members with vulgar public displays of affection this holiday season, couples should offer their consideration and respect for our school campus. A final reminder: Keep your sensual organs to yourselves.

Maybe there are invisible mistletoes

hung in every corner and inconvenient spot at Bravo that couples have designated as

their personal make-out zones.

the unending rivalry between the vampires and the werewolves. Still, the movie has failed to establish many of the connections made in the book. In addition, Taylor Lautner, though improving from his last performance, was still pretty awkward in this reporter’s eyes. (And thank God that there weren’t as many extraneous shirtless scenes of Taylor Lautner as they had in the previous movies.) Those who have read the book know that it is divided into three smaller sections, and knowing I had expected that they would do a few minutes on Jacob’s book, but they did not. In the book, Jacob is also a big part of the story; but in the movie, you could see him as more of a background character. Then in the movie, time was spent showing the transformation, time that could have been spent showing longer pieces of the fights between the vampires and werewolves. There weren’t enough action scenes; it was all gushy romantic stuff until the very end. Next, in the book each character had their fair share of the story, but in the movie they were all background characters. We really don’t get the inside look into Bella’s thoughts like the book provides, and by the end of the movie I was half as satisfied. Still, the wedding was as beautiful as I had imagined; and the honeymoon was great except for the fact that they kept showing Bella and Edward playing chess with the red and black pieces to emphasize the picture on the book. The movie did not fail in giving me that lovely vibe that they depicted in the book. They still lacked action though. I did not love the end of the movie; but since the rest of the movie was still enjoyable, I can say this is still a must-see movie.

| BREAKING DAWN, from page 6 |

This act is, in my opinion, very horrible and irrelevant to all the arising problems present today; the lasting effects may also be destructive. It can lead to less globalization, which means less interaction between cultures. It will leave people ignorant. There will be no freedom of accessing the internet for the youth to check up on socializing websites; and most importantly, it will lead to more riots. Rather than fixing one issue, Congress decided to bring up an issue that can leave devastating effects. With the Occupy Movements happening, this is the last thing the United States needs; it will just lead to more revolts and rebellion in the nation. It will open up many gateways to hacking, since many people will try to access those websites. It will create a new “black market”, where people secretly try to use the internet socially. It is a burden the United States is not stable enough to handle.

| CENSORSHIP, from page 2 |

tournament of clashes hosted at South East High School. Bravo tried for yet another victory with one Open team, two JV teams, and three Novice teams. Their triumphs were short-lived, however, since no team from Bravo had even made it to semi-finals. Still, Bravo managed to, once again, shake up the awards ceremony. In the Novice division, Faria Putal (’15) won the 9th place speaker award, and her partner, Anastasia Burgov (’15), won the 5th place speaker award. Brenda Lera (’12) and Mizael Reyes (’12) were supposed to get Quarterfinalist awards for having a 3-1 record, but they ran out of trophies. In order to account for their achievement, Executive Director Cameron Ward promised to send a trophy — for the rightful recognition of their achievement — to the school. Finally, Yinh Li (’13) won the 3rd place speaker award; and her partner, Elvia Ahmed (’13) won the 6th place speaker award in the Open division. Vito Perez (’13) also took the 5th place speaker award without shame in the Open division. This is just one of many tournaments that Bravo debate will be participating in. Even though no Bravo team made it to finals this time around, they still managed to claim many victories in the award ceremony. And now, many new members have already signed up for the club. The newcomers, surprisingly, outnumber the current number of debaters. Hopefully this new wave of debaters will establish even more victories for the already-flourishing team.

| BRAVO DEBATE, from page 2 |

Flores, was asked to lead the girls in their 2011 campaign. Being a rookie coach, Flores was not expected to achieve the success that he had in 2011. “There were a lot of people talking about how the program would be with the departure of Coach [Kalani] Hobayan,” Flores said. “I’ve never coached before, so I was pretty nervous about taking over a successful program.” Coach Flores was keen in pointing out that both Mr. Hobayan and former coach Kalani gave him a lot of advice, pertaining to both game strategy and nerves. “They [the Hobayans] helped me with their great advice and told me it’s typical for me to make mistakes my rookie year. He also mentioned that what he felt was the biggest strength of the team was the unity and determination of the girls.

| VOLLEYBALL, from page 8 |

EDITORIALSITAL IGNSV S DECEMBER 9, 2011 PAGE 6 OPINION VOL. XV, ISSUE iv

The Jay-Z and Kanye West Duo and Watch the Throne Jay-Z and Kanye West will be performing at the Staples Center on December 11, 12, and 13 at 7:30 p.m. for each day.

By HELEN BEZIKYAN You hear the music and begin to bob your head to the beats of one of the world’s best collaborations, Jay-Z and Kanye West. With their latest album, Watch the Throne, as their secret weapon, the dynamic duo cannot be touched. Topping the Billboard charts, they have become the top two rappers in the music industry which classifies them as kings, hence the album title. Having worked together for many years in the past and having made musical hits, fans have been impatiently waiting for the day when Jay-Z and Kanye West will have a huge comeback. The best part is no one, not even rival rappers, expected it. The Watch the Throne album serves as Jay-Z’s twelfth, and Kanye’s fifth number one album. Rappers, like the two collaborating artists, are obsessed with success, money and power. Power here is considered as a “swaggering” criticism of the rappers’ success and money. The music style of this album is very compelling and grabs one’s attention. Every song has its meaning, capturing the listener’s attention through the various themes of fame, materialism, power, and the burdens of success. Both of the rappers’ flavors are combined so well in this album that you might as well put the album on repeat, because it’s just so amazing to listen to. The partners in crime are on an all-time high with this outstanding album, hyping up venues and concert halls now that they are on tour. The two together are definite crowd

| see MUSIC, page 7 |

Greatness • In August 2010, it was revealed that Jay-Z and Kanye West would be collaborating on a five-track album entitled Watch the Throne.

thebonustrack.wordpress.com / Google Images

Nintendo’s $926 Million Loss By AJ SANIANO

Massive losses for the April-September period was worse than predicted; revenue falls 40% to $2.84 billion; Nintendo predicts their first annual loss in 30 years. When Nintendo announced it had lost ¥25.5 billion ($336 million) in July, it slashed its own profit forecasts for the rest of the year by over 80 percent. Today the Mario factory announced that its performance in the most recent fiscal quarter is failing to even hit those adjusted targets, with net losses amounting to ¥44.7 billion ($589 million) for the quarter, taking net losses for the first half of the firm's financial year to ¥70.2 billion ($926 million). Yesterday, a report out of Japanese financial daily Nikkei indicated Nintendo would post an ordinary loss of ¥100 billion ($1.3 billion), compared to the firm's forecast of ¥55 billion ($720 million) for the first half of the year. In actuality, the firm reported an ordinary loss of ¥107 billion ($1.41 billion). These losses

Breaking Dawn? More like Broke Down By KATHERINE NAVARRO Reading Breaking Dawn gave me high expectations for the movie, since it was so good. Considering that it was the last book in a great series, every conversation throughout the book was significant to me. When the premiere of Breaking Dawn: Part One came out, I was hoping that the context of the movie would be as great as those of the book, but they were completely butchered. Like in the book, it begins with the wedding of Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and Edward Cullen (Robert Patterson). At the wedding party, Edward arranged for Jacob (Taylor Lautner) to go see Bella. Jacob does not want to be there (due to jealousy), but he stays and tries to maintain his wedding-etiquette attitude. Afterwards, he begins to fight with Bella, because she wants to be turned into a vampire. Then after the wedding, Edward and Bella go on their honeymoon, where they make love for the first time. Miraculously, Bella gets pregnant. They hurry back home to see if Bella is actually pregnant and Edward does research to see if there are any folk tales on a half-human, half-vampire pregnancy. The Cullens (Edward’s family) find out that the child will rip itself out of the stomach, thus killing Bella. The movie plays out the movie in a way to show

| see NINTENDO, page 7 |

| see BREAKING DAWN, page 5 |

seemingly creating a synchronized script. Each person had their own opinions, but Tim and Alice completely stray from the norm. Alice talked about her ex, Juan, a home health worker who only worked for his mother. Tim spoke of his ex as well, Lucy, the chicken farmer. The constant barn hopping and keeping chicken just drove him crazy; touching the sexy chickens will make Lucy go crazy instead. Alice reminisced of Bob, a jazz musician, who only had CDs of Abba, Barbara Streisand, and Nickleback. He sang Dancing Queen after Alice dropped all of his supposed life on the floor in disgust. Tim told Alice of his latest ex, Stacey, the woman who would stop at nothing to discover the meaning behind pop taht tuoba erus ton mi, the famous line of Lionel, from Moving on Up. Alice and Tim end up taking their date further, but the other two couples were ashamed to have dated pathological liars before. Small Worlds is a light hearted play that is sure to make your sides hurt with unorthodox acting and slap-stick comedy.

| BRAVO PLAY, from page 3 |

Gradual Decline • Ever since 2009, Nintendo has been experiencing revenue loss despite its release of new products such as the Nintendo Wii and the Nintendo 3DS.

modmyi.com / Google Images

ITAL IGNSV S PAGE 7 MISC. VOL. XV, ISSUE ivDECEMBER 9, 2011

MISCELLANEOUS

By CITLALY OROZCO

Perhaps it’s too early to be talking about what to do over summer; however, it’s never too early to decide which activities can be done over the vacation. The Princeton University Summer Journalism Program is one to consider. The program allows you to spend 10 days on the campus in New Jersey without having to pay any fees. The main focus of this program is to allow students with an interest in journalism to learn and experience the matters of being part of the media, such as broadcast media and print media. The program’s main intention is also to gather students of different backgrounds and encourage them to take part in something they truly enjoy — journalism. It is an unforgettable adventure and it is worth considering. The program is available to juniors, who will be seniors, in the coming Fall. To find out more about the program, visit www.princeton.edu/sjp/. Applications for the program are now available. Be sure to submit them before the February 15, 2012 deadline.

Princeton University Journalism Program

By MONICA ROQUE

The Boiling Crab, with several locations across southern California, is the restaurant where crustaceans come to rest—and for good reason. Its array of impeccably boiled and seasoned crabs, juicy oysters and clams, lobsters, Louisiana-style crawfish, and scrumptious shrimp makes The Boiling Crab undoubtedly one of the finest seafood eateries in the Los Angeles County. For the aficionados of spicy food, The Boiling Crab offers three levels of mouth-kicking spice, ranging from mild to explosive, in its popular seasonings: “Rajun Cajun,” lemon pepper, and garlic butter. These piquant spices add intensity to the restaurant’s already delicious boiled seafood. For those who “like it fried,” The Boiling Crab’s selection of fried catfish, shrimp, oysters, or calamari will surely provoke some mouth watering action. If expertly prepared seafood and fantastically fried finger foods are

THE BOILING CRAB in Koreatown is creatively designed with marine-inspired decor, wood-panelled walls covered in customers’ written messages, and numerous televisions tuned to sports channels.

The Boiling Crab Restaurant Reviewnot enough to make your discerning taste buds sing, the gifted chefs of this superior establishment have also included side dish “extras” to keep its customers coming back for more. Heavenly side dishes such as gumbo, corn on the cob, potatoes, Cajun fries, sweet potato fries, and sausages allow you to vicariously dine at a Southern port town restaurant where sultry jazz music plays quietly in the background. The Boiling Crab has a laid-back atmosphere and offers a unique dining experience in which the use of plates and utensils are kept at a minimum. Diners are given a Boiling Crab bib and are encouraged to eat with clean, bare hands off of a wax paper-covered table. It may take some getting used to for some people, but the unconventionality of this Boiling Crab custom is all part of a distinctive experience. The Boiling Crab’s menu is within a reasonable price range for superbly prepared seafood. For excellent service and outstanding quality, The Boiling Crab is a must-dine restaurant.

f-overourdiet.blogspot.com / Google Images

University of Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), located in Philadelphia, consists of four undergraduate schools (College of Arts & Sciences, School of Nursing, School of Engineering and Applied Science and Wharton School of Business), 12 graduate schools and 165 research centers spread out across 279 acres of land. It is well known for combining a liberal arts and sciences approach to learning for its 10,000+ students. Students have the wide range (92 majors and 80 minors) to choose from that will grant intellectual opportunities for pre-professional education. Penn functions on a semester based academic calendar and is one of the few private universities that does not include loans in their financial aid packages. The determination and motivation of the students in Penn has resulted in a 92 percent of students graduating within four years. According to the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, it ranks an impressive #5. This private institution will prepare its students for the future by providing them with a powerful education.

By AMY GUERRA

“Penn believes in educating students in a different way. Across

disciplines, across undergraduate schools

and educating students for jobs that do not yet exist.”

...

Blair M. Godfrey, Associate Director of

Admissions at University of Pennsylvania,

were blamed on a multitude of factors, including unfavorable exchange rate changes, declines in hardware and software sales, and decreasing margins thanks to price cuts and inventory markdown. Nintendo did state that the 3DS price cut sales "have been improving" but that progress had been hampered by a lack of hit titles, with the exception of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D. During the six months to the end of September, 3.07 million 3DS handhelds were sold along with 8.13 million 3DS games. This compared to hardware and software sales for the DS range, which were 2.58 million and 29 million, respectively. Wii console sales for the six-month period came in at 3.35 million units, compared to nearly 5 million units from the year-ago period. As a result, Nintendo has again revised its full-year estimates. It is expecting full-year net sales to be ¥790 billion ($10.4 billion). The firm has also wiped out its prediction of a full-year profit: It now expects to post a net loss of ¥20 billion ($260 million), compared to its previous forecast of a ¥20 billion ($260 million) net profit. Bloomberg notes that this forecast is the first of its kind in 30 years from Nintendo.

pleasers with a flow so hot, that it is worth going to a show. Nodding your head up and down and mouthing the words to the songs of the Watch the Throne album at the concert can be such an inspiring experience knowing you’re there to watch hip hop and rap royalty perform. They encourage their fans to sing along to songs from the album and their solo songs from previous albums. Fireballs the sizes of tires are shot from the floor toward the ceiling during some performances. The concert also includes a laser show to add extra energy to the crowd. Any show including Jay-Z will always have him repeatedly telling the crowd to "Put your diamonds up", the sign for Roc Nation, to stimulate the audience even more. Just hearing him say those very words can drive any fan crazy. However, the rappers show their growth through the lyrics and tone in their songs. These men aren’t just rappers; they are true artists who tell it like it is in their rhymes. The truth is, their lyrics make so much sense that you cannot ignore them. Fans respect and look up to the artists as role models. Fans want to be in a better place in their life and want to be as successful and as confident as them. Shawn Corey Carter and Kanye Omari West will never be forgotten for the remarkable work they have done. They have such great talent with the way they tell stories through their lyrics and head bobbing beats. You can love them, or you can hate them, but you will always remember them.

| MUSIC, from page 6 |

| NINTENDO, from page 6 |

cs.princeton.edu / Google Images

College Corner

ITAL IGNSV SPAGE 8 SPORTS VOL. XV, ISSUE iv DECEMBER 9, 2011

SPORTS

William Nubla Editor-in-Chief

AJ Saniano Editor-in-Chief

Cynthia Serrano Editor-in-Chief

Katherin Javalera Managing Editor

Crystal Rivas Managing Editor

Jasmine Montanez Photographer-in-Chief

Amy Guerra Editor Citlaly Orozco Editor Albert Petrosyan Editor

Jacqueline Romero Editor

Monica Roque Editor

Letters to the Editors

Letters 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 should be edited to maximize space use and heighten clarity. Letters may be

anonymous or signed by the author. Please send letters to:

bravo.journalism@gmail.comor

Drop them off in Mr. R. Rodriguez’s mailbox or in Room 312

Editorial Matter

Opinions 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.

ITAL IGNSV S

By ALBERT PETROSYAN

Fans woke on November 26 to another day without NBA basketball. They were used to it; after all, it was the 149th day that the NBA players and owners had refused to settle their fight over money and revenue. There would not be a 150th day. Just when things couldn’t seem worse, just when Billy Hunter (head of the NBA Players Association) had referred to the upcoming winter as a “nuclear” on for the NBA, and just when the NBPA had disbanded as a union and anti-trust lawsuits had been filed, NBPA representatives, NBA commissioner David Stern, and other important figures in the NBA concluded their secret 15 hour meeting by formally announcing that a tentative settlement deal had been struck between the owners and the players. In English? Goodbye lockout, hello NBA basketball. NBA fans can release a sigh of relief now, a sigh they have been holding back since the lockout began nearly five months ago. NBA superstars will shake the cobwebs off their sacred robes and march onto their old stomping grounds, which have been deserted for quite some time. Will the Dallas Mavericks be able to defend their championship, or will the Miami Heat prove their doubters wrong and take it all. What will youngest-ever-MVP Derrick Rose do for the encore to his spectacular season last year. Will the aging Lakers, Celtics, and Spurs show that they are still a presence, or will the up-and-coming young teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trailblazers, and New York Knicks take over the mantle of the elite? The biggest question of all: How will teams be able to perform after a nearly 160 days without practice, training camp, or contact? Thanks to David Stern and Billy Hunter, and their ability to put aside their differences, we will find out in due course. Obviously, the entire NBA season could not be salvaged, since the season was supposed to begin in late October. However, there is a general optimism within the NBA fandom that the 66-game proposed schedule will still be good enough, and it will begin on Christmas Day with marquee matchups like: Celtics vs. Knicks, Heat vs. Mavericks, and Lakers vs. Bulls.

DECK THE COURTS

2011 Scheduling Information

• Free Agency and Training Camps begin December 9• The Season begins on Christmas Day• April 26 is the end of the season• Last possible game of the season: Game 7 of Finals on June 26• 40 conference games and 18 non-conference games• All teams will play at least one back-to-back-to-back

Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) Major Points

• The split of all the revenue between the players and the owners is listed at 50-50 but that could change depending on how much money is made this season (expected: $4 billion)• New contracts can be up to 5 years if a team is resigning their player(s), 4 years if a team is signing a new player.• The salary cap will remain at about $58 million but now teams are required to spend at least 85 percent of their revenue.• The salaries of traded players do not have to be as close as before in a trade deal.• The luxury tax, if a team goes over the salary cap, is increased after every $5 million spent over.• Instead of the 7-day wait period, teams have only three days to match another team’s offer on one of their restricted players.• The new CBA will last 10 years, but both sides have a chance to opt out after 6 years.

All in all, fans, players, owners, and many others are overjoyed to have the NBA back in action. The lockout hadn’t only affected the players and fans. Parking attendants, food venders, restaurants and their workers, ticket vendors, and many other workers were heavily affected by the continuous conflict over billions of dollars as many had lost their jobs. Now workers can get back to working, players can get back to playing, and fans can get back to watching. Old St. Nick has done it again, delivering everyone the present they most wanted, and deserved.

NBA Players and owners agree with new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

JASMINE MONTANEZ Vital Signs

VOLLEYBALL GIRLS, including (from left) Stephany Briseno (’14), Mary Jane Mallari (’12), and Ilse Garcia (’12), commented that they were proud of their season, and even more proud for their “second ohana,” meaning second family.

SERVING A SEASON: Bravo Varsity Volleyball’s Outstanding Season By ALBERT PETROSYAN

The Bravo Girls Varsity Volleyball team has been known to lead successful seasons for the past years and 2011 was no different. As the Bravo girls walked off the court of Fairfax High School exhausted and slightly disappointed, they were by no means ashamed (despite their bitterness over the season ending that early November evening by the hands of a formidable Fairfax Lions team.) The team was able to look back into their season with pride and a sense of accomplishment. They had a strong record (12-8-0); they had made the second round of the playoffs; and most importantly, they had developed a strong bond between all the players and had set up the stage for what could be an incredible season next year. This team was extraordinary not only for their great skill on the court, but their ability to work together and combine their efforts to grind out those tough victories they needed to get to make the playoffs.

Outstanding Athlete: Emily Martinez (’12)

Having been named captain at the start of the season, senior Emily Martinez lived up to the billing and did not disappoint. She led the team in nearly all offensive categories, including 2.3 kills per game and an incredible 51.4 kill percentage. She was very consistent in her play, however, and was also a force on the defensive end — leading the team with nearly 24 blocks on the season. She was an important piece of a Bravo team that finished 85 out of 276 teams in the California Division 2 standings.

Coach’s Corner: Christopher Flores (’10)

A former Bravo Varsity Volleyball captain, Christopher

| see VOLLEYBALL, page 5 |