BRAVO MEDICAL MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL | LOS ANGELES, CA | VOL. XVI, ISSUE i | WWW.BRAVOWEB.LAUSD.K12.CA.US | AUGUST 14, 2012

Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, is the republican running for the presidency this year. As governor from 2002 to 2007, he was responsible for the health care reform act (passed in 2006), for which he gained recognition. The health care act, called “Romneycare,” required the people of Massachusetts to purchase health insurance or face the consequences of escalating tax penalties. Romney provided his state with near universal health care, unlike the rest of the nation.

Democrat Barack Obama, former state legislator for Illinois and the current President of the United States, is running for reelection this year. During the first days of his term, Obama reversed a ban on federal funding for abortion that was presented by his predecessor, George

W. Bush. He often had to compromise with the Republican Party in regards to Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and the Job Creation Act of 2010. The act helped limit the effects of the recession. Obama proposed a health care act, similar to that of Romney’s, which provided uninsured Americans to buy into pre-existing plans through a series of subsidies and tax incentives. Now, each candidate is campaigning against one another for the title of President of the United States. Many of the recent polls are misleading and fail to show the different aspects of each candidate. Currently a New York Times/CBS poll shows Romney at 47% and Obama at 46%. A Fox News poll shows Obama leading at 45% And Romney at 41%. Some polls show Obama in the lead for the Latino community, leaving Romney behind. Obama has a higher amount of youth voters while Romney secures the older population. Come mid-election time, youth voting statistics generally decline, putting Obama at less of an advantage against Romney. For now, the decision for who should be president lies in the hands of the people.

The 2012 Presidential Electionsby Siboney Arias

Message from ASB President Mahuya Barua (’13) A warm welcome to all Bravo Knights on our first day of school! I hope you all had an enjoyable break. Freshmen, high school only comes once, so make the best of it. Sophomores, keep working hard and commit to your favorite activities. Juniors, you have a challenging year ahead of you, so give it your all. As for Seniors, it’s time to charge through this final year of high school and create lasting memories along the way. As the school year unfolds, it will bring changes both good and bad. So as a great student body, let’s work together to make this year the best it can be.

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas, please email the Leadership class at bravo.leadership@gmail.com.

CONTENTS

EDITORIALS • 4

ENTERTAINMENT • 3

BACK TO SCHOOL • 2

“Come mid-election time, youth voting statistics generally

decline, putting Obama at less of an advantage

against Romney.”

www.thegrio.com / Google Images

Photo courtesy of Mahuya Barua

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Message from PrincipalMrs. Maria Torres-Flores

Welcome back, Bravo Knights. It’s great to be back. I hope everyone is rested and ready to start a terrific year. A special welcome to the class of 2016 and a “high five” to the class of 2013. You have made it to the top. You are now the leaders and positive role models for Bravo. I look forward to working with everyone in the student body to keep Bravo academically strong, safe, clean, and accepting all students and staff. Remember to have a dream and shoot for the stars. Let’s have a fantastic year.

ITAL IGNSV SPAGE 2 BACK TO SCHOOL VOL. XVI, ISSUE i AUGUST 14, 2012

BACK TO SCHOOLIrene and Miriam’s Tips for a Successful School Yearby Irene Harutyunyan & Miriam Ifegwu

Welcome back, Bravo Knights! Here are some helpful tips for the new school year:

“Take it from your upperclassmen: the more you put something off, the tougher it becomes to complete.”

Freshmen

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions. The only stupid questions are the ones left unasked. Since you are new to high school, it is understandable that you have many things to learn. If you need help, gather up the courage to ask your teachers and counselors. It’s better than being left guessing.

• Resist procrastination. Take it from your upperclassmen: the more you put something off, the tougher it becomes to complete.

• Be a part of something! Bravo offers countless activities, such as Dances of the World, Journalism, Basketball, Swim, and so much more!

• Be organized. Use your agenda! It comes in handy when multiple assignments are given.

Sophomores

• New year, fresh start. Consider taking an AP class to give your GPA a boost. Colleges calculate your GPA based on your grades from your sophomore and junior years.

• Prepare for the PSAT. Tutoring will be available during the year, but make sure to review on your own as well.

• Apply for volunteering positions. Many places require for an early application to become a volunteer. Start earning your community service hours!

• Make use of the College Center. Step inside the college center, located on the 2nd floor. People are helpful in giving you tips on your post-secondary education.

Juniors

• Become acquainted with your counselor and college advisor. They’re there to guide you. Don’t be afraid to ask them questions.

• Aim for straight A’s. Junior year grades are very crucial, so avoid getting anything lower than a C in your classes.

• Stay involved in extracurricular activities. If you didn’t dedicate your time to an activity as a high school Sophomore, you can do so now. It is not necessary to join every club in school, so just pick a few that interests you.

• Take afterschool college courses. College courses (such as those provided by ELAC’s afterschool program at Bravo) allow you to earn credits that help you get ahead.

Seniors

• Avoid the Senior Slump. There’s a common misconception that once you’ve made it to your senior year, grades don’t matter. The truth, however, is that colleges do request and review senior grades, especially from the first half of the school year. So, keep aiming for those A’s and B’s!

• Retake the SAT or ACT. The October and November dates are recommended.

• Strive for balance. Try to balance work and leisure. While you don’t want to have a Senior Slump, it’s equally important not to crash and burn.

• Ask teachers to write recommendation letters EARLY on. Don’t wait until two weeks before the deadline.

• Don’t procrastinate. Make sure to turn in college paperwork on time. Don’t wait until the last minute!

www.modoc.k12.ca.us / Google Images

www.davidhaleweb.com / Google Images

Good News for Shut-Insby Eva Sahakyan

If you were under the sun this summer, chances are, you were in danger. Recently, The American Cancer Society (ACS) has linked childhood exposure to UV radiation to the increase of multiple types of cancerous cells. With over 2 million victims diagnosed annually, skin cancer is the most common form of the often terminal disease in the United States. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has taken the research to heart, recommending precautionary counseling for fair-skinned people between the ages of 10 and 24. The Task Force suggests wearing sunscreen at all times, with a minimum SPF of 15. Today’s market makes it effortless, offering coverage beyond SPF 100. Staying out of the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. is also a major defensive method, though understandably less practical since many of us are outside during Physical Education and lunch time. And if it wasn’t obvious enough, the Task Force balks at indoor tanning booth use,

deeming it among the most harmful of contemporary trends. Spray tans are a safe alternative, and women who chose similar artificial tanning products were statistically less likely to seek exposure to harmful rays, according to a study performed at Emory University in Georgia. Plus, spray tans are typically much cheaper than tanning beds.

Not only does sun exposure put you at risk for cancer, but it also causes serious superficial damage to the skin. A 69-year-old truck driver who reportedly spent 28 years on the road was photographed

“Staying out of the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. is

also a major defensive method, though

understandably less practical since many of us are outside during

Physical Education and lunch time.”

with a half-smooth, half-wrinkled face. The side of his face exposed to sunlight was significantly more damaged and aged than the other. The image was so staggering that it was published in The New England Journal of Medicine as proof of the damaging effects of the sun. Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, Deputy Chief Medical Officer of the ACS says, “[10-24] is the age group that’s most vulnerable to getting sunburns, using tanning booths and increasing the risk of getting melanoma later

in life.” However, the American Academy of Pediatrics reminds us that everyone is susceptible to skin cancer, and believes the message should be spread to a wider audience. So regardless of skin color, whenever exposed to the sun, remember to keep a bottle of sunscreen at hand.

“The American Academy of Pediatrics

reminds us that everyone is susceptible

to skin cancer...”

huffingtonpost.ca / Google Images sunriseproperties.net / Google Images

BACK TO SCHOOL

ITAL IGNSV S PAGE 3 ENTERTAINMENT VOL. XVI, ISSUE iAUGUST 14, 2012

ENTERTAINMENTThe Amazing Spider-Man Movie Reviewby Elihu Rodriguez July 3, 2012 marked the premiere day of The Amazing Spider-Man, starring Andrew Garfield (Peter Parker/Spider-Man), Emma Stone (Gwen Stacy), and Rhys Ifans (Dr. Kurt Connors). Five years after the release of the much criticized, Spider-Man 3, Sony Pictures has succeeded in rebooting the Spider-Man franchise. The Amazing Spiderman strays from its preceding films, as it traces Peter Parker’s story back to his childhood. Parker struggles with his newfound powers, the death of his beloved uncle, and his awkward relationship with Gwen Stacy. But surpassing all of these problems

was a regenerating, reptilian, scientific genius: The Lizard. The plot of the movie was all the more admirable as it followed the original comic book story line, unlike the previous trilogy. As a fan of the Spider-Man comics, I believe that The Amazing Spiderman has made justice to one of my all-time favorite superheroes. Spider-Man is also portrayed as a humorous character, similar to the original comic. This summer blockbuster is definitely a must-see.

Summer Fun Word Search FACE THE CHALLENGE!collected by Amy Guerra

Facebook Beginningsby Amy Guerra Facebook is the world’s largest social networking website that helps people communicate more efficiently with friends, coworkers, and families. How long has it been since you logged onto your Facebook account? Just in the state of California, there are approximately 15,267,160 users. Once an individual has created his/her profile and has experienced the limitless possibilities that can be explored on the site, they are officially hooked. It just takes a few minutes to slowly grow an addiction for the captivating profile updates and friend’s status comments. With the “friend requests” and “pokes”

and the chats one has with long lost friends, it is almost impossible to detach from your computer. Well have you ever questioned who the mastermind behind the creation of this booming site is? Mark Zuckerberg. Mark Zuckerberg is the Chief Executive Officer of Facebook, which he founded in 2004. He was only 26 years old when he experienced various dramatic changes in which transformed his life and became a billionaire. On October 23, 2003 Zuckerberg wrote Facemash, the forerunner to Facebook while attending Harvard University as a sophomore. Facemash was similar to that of “Hot or Not” according

to The Harvard Crimson. This site "used photos compiled from the online facebooks of nine houses, placing two next to each other at a time and asking users to choose the 'hotter' person.” To gain accessibility to student images Zuckerberg hacked into the secluded vicinities of Harvard’s computer network and duplicated the dormitory ID images. Once the site was launched, it attracted about 450 visitors within its first hour of operation. On January 2004 he began writing code for a new website. On Febuary 2004, Thefacebook was launched and since then, communicating has reached another level. It first expanded to

other universities and eventually spread to the rest of the world. This website is by far the most popular amongst others over the past few years. Facebook is a success story. It is a perfect chance to communicate with people and stay connected. The modified updates have truly left all its users wanting more. Facebook is just beginning out in the technology industry but has already made tons of money. There is plenty in store for the upcoming years that will be of great benefit for the site and its workers.

tokyofox.wordpress.com / Google Images

The fourth installment of the Spider-Man film series, The Amazing Spider-Man grossed an astounding $677,840,648 at the box office.

STARTEND

Amy Guerra Editor-in-Chief

Monica Roque Editor-in-Chief

Katherine Navarro Managing Editor

Siboney Arias Reporter

Hannah Contreras Reporter

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ITAL IGNSV S AUGUST 14, 2012PAGE 4 EDITORIALS VOL. XVI, ISSUE i

EDITORIALS Few things capture the interest of teenagers nowadays. Politics? Not very much. Economics? Aside from the weekly allowance, not really. Foreign policy? Only during the Olympics. Although, we’re not the ones entirely to be blamed. But when the Internet is threatened, it is surprising how suddenly almost every teenager becomes a Constitutional expert on privacy, free speech, and free press. In this modern day and age, the Internet has become the overarching domain for entertainment, politics, industry, and virtually anything spawned by the human mind. This year, we have seen SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act),

PIPA (Protect IP Act), and CISPA (Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act) raise heated debates in Congress and numerous public forums. Google and Wikipedia have participated in cyber protest against these proposed acts and their inherent potential to trespass individual privacy and terminate the free flow of ideas and information. From all ends of the globe, people were outraged. One of these individuals was Rick Falkvinge, a Swedish politician who sought to reinstate radical democracy and intellectual freedom. Like a real pirate, he amassed a crew of 300 participants. And in January 1, 2006, he founded a third party

named the “Swedish Pirate Party.” Through the use of the internet, the Pirate Movement has gained seats in Parliament and spread to Germany, U.K., the Netherlands, Spain, Greece, France, Brazil, many States (including California) in the U.S. itself and other countries. Their initial political platform desired to (1) Defend the Internet as an invaluable public good, (2) Reform Copyright Laws

Pirates in Government?by Vito Perez

to stop making the sharing of music and art a crime because it is a sharing of ideas and intellectual property, (3) Reform Election and Lobbying laws to take away the powerful advantage of corporations and lobbies over average people in electing officials, (4) Promote Direct Democracy and Participation such as protesting without fear of repression, and (5) Promote Social and Economic Justice to represent the demands of the 99%.Everything they advocate is distinctly similar to the culture of real Pirates thousands of years ago: democratic, egalitarian, and revolutionary. The Pirate Party is truly a force to be reckoned with because nothing is as powerful as an idea whose time has come.

your likelihood of those suffering days of red noses and sloppy tissues, as a result of contracting the flu. According to studies conducted at University of Michigan Medical School (UMMS), the major difference between illness-prone people and illness-repressive people is their immune system’s reaction to infection. The person more prone to illness has a body system that reacts by expositing inflammatory chemicals that elicit sickness while, on the contrary, a person that is less prone to illness will react by releasing anti-inflammatory compounds that

will conceivably attack flu bacteria without showing any symptoms that would normally show up. Alfred Hero, computer scientist and electrical engineer at UMMS, and his fellow colleagues exposed seventeen volunteers to a nonlethal strain of the seasonal flu H3N2. Blood samples collected before and after exposure and showed that of the seventeen subjects, nine were recorded to have had a stress inducing inflammatory response to the infection while eight had repressed the virus, showing no such signs of the flu. In addition, the nine subjects prone to illness also showed

a gene activity of 22,000 in each individual blood sample that had an increase in antioxidant activity. This antioxidant activity helps the immune system breakdown free radicals and oxidants that damage our bodies. These test results not only are revealing more and more about the immune system but are also crucial in helping to prevent flu pandemics and enforcing quarantines in order to reduce the exposure of the flu and other infectious diseases. So take out the hand sanitizer and your biohazard body suits because though scientists have discovered these special genes; unfortunately not all of us have them!

todayszaman.com / Google Images

Sick Genes You Don’t Want to Put Onby Hannah Contreras

Google Images

A new season of flu and all things “germy” are among us. Not only are students more susceptible to the flu but studies show that your genes may play an integral role in determining

Message from the Editors-in-Chief by Amy Guerra and Monica Roque

Irene Harutyunyan Reporter

Miriam Ifegwu Reporter

Vito Perez Reporter

Elihu Rodriguez Reporter

Eva Sahakyan Reporter

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We are pleased to be part of the Bravo Journalism program for our third and final year. Now, as the Editors-in-Chief of Vital Signs, we hope to present the unique voices of our student body in a clear and honorable manner.

We look forward to this academic year and to working with our wonderful readers. The Editors-in-Chief would like to thank in advance all those who continue to make our newspaper possible. Go Bravo Knights!

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