BRAVO NEWS • 1
ENTERTAINMENT • 2
BRAVO MEDICAL MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL | LOS ANGELES, CA | VOL. XXXX, ISSUE XVII| WWW.BRAVOWEB.LAUSD.NET| December 2019
The 10-minute play! By Silvia Lopez
On the night of December 6th, Ms. Espinoza’s 5th & 6th-period theatre classes created a night full of laughs, smiles, and memories for their audiences. The theatre classes worked endlessly to design sets, write scripts, & direct each and every movement and line. For period 5, an enigmatic play “All American Family” won the hearts of many of the audience members. The play consisted of a dysfunctional family that each had their own issues that no one else knew about. The dad was a criminal, the mom a cheater, the daughter was a closeted lesbian, and one of the sons was a class ditcher and the other was becoming an alcoholic. During the scenes, the family discussed each problem & came to recognize together, that everyone is going through something that no one knows about. Through this, the audience members were able to connect and see themselves in the play and form a sort of connection.
The Return of Disney’s Most Beloved Film: Frozen 2 By Amy Morales
November 20th marked the follow up to one of Disney’s most beloved animated features. After 6 years since the release of the first movie, Frozen 2 was still able to captivate quite a big audience by heating up the box office with $127 million on its opening week. This sequel to Elsa, Anna, and Olaf’s adventure was the highest-grossing debut ever for an animated film globally, it brought in $350.2 million worldwide. With a darker vibe and new catchy songs, the movie takes us back to the past. The audience is given answers to many things that were left unclear in the first movie; where her powers came from, how much power she holds, and what happened to her parents are all answered throughout the film. Although Disney gives a less straightforward storyline this time, it takes us through a journey full of multiple character arcs. The film includes several musical interludes (possibly more than the last one) and gives each character their own time to shine. To be fairly honest, the film takes the viewer through a roller coaster of emotions but like every DIsney film, Frozen 2 ends with a happy ending that pleases the audience.
Source: Disney
Top 15 Christmas Songs just in time for the holidays! Made by Esmeralda Lemus
Bravo’s Annual Winter Concert By Izcalli Hernandez
photo by Izcalli Hernandez
On December 5th, 2019, Mr. Leal held the Annual Winter Concert starring the Latin Jazz band, Mariachi, and the Concert band during both 5th and 6th periods. To prepare for the show each of the bands had practiced since the beginning of the school year or since the middle of the semester during class time and at home. First walking into the hall, the audience was filled with chatter, excited for the show to begin. Each band performed songs correlated to their genre of music; for instance, the Mariachi performed ̈Por Un Amor ̈ by Linda Ronstadt, the Latin Jazz band performed ̈Nunca es Suficientë by Natalia Lafourcade, and the Concert band performed Christmas songs such as ̈Carol of the Bells.̈ During the performance, some bands were joined by singers such as the Latine Jazz band. For a few songs, they were joined by Isabel Cazares Guajardo, who has frequently sung with the Latin Jazz band before. A few of Vital Signs’ very own members had performed; these members were Daniel Mendoza, Noemi Pedraza- Aguado, and Hermes Agustin. All of the songs by the bands were beautifully performed and left the audience clapping and cheering after each one. Unfortunately, towards the end of the performance, many students had to leave early due to the bell; however, the bands performed a marvelous and memorable show for the students.
FACEBOOK’S LABELS By Jazmin Anguiano
Social Media companies have grown concerned about state-controlled and state-funded media. Through their platforms, they have been trying to avoid the issue of misinformation. Facebook plans to fix these issues of misinformation through labels. As of October, Facebook vowed to adjust its label publications through outlets. The company described these adjustments and outlets as ´´a higher standard of transparency because they combine the opinion-making influence of a media organization with the strategic backing of a state.” The company planned to show these outlets only through Facebook pages, but Facebook missed its initial deadline in November. Now in December, the Facebook company aims to fix these circumstances through transparency. According to Marius Dragomir, a director of the Center for Media, Data and Society at Central European University, has advised Facebook to identify key factors in state-controlled media. Some of these factors involve ownership and leadership, funding, and involving a mechanism for editorials. Dragomor further advises that editorial independence is the most difficult process of the social media platform. However, Dragmor points out that Facebook has failed to explain its sudden choice of outlets. Due to the issues concerning transparency, attorneys of Al Jazeera, a Qatari television news channel, sent a letter back in November 2019 because Facebook failed to communicate their new decision of outlets. In the letter, the lawyers clearly questioned whether Facebook’s decision of the outlet is being impacted by the political affairs between the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. The letter specifically expressed, “Facebook’s contemplated course of action is illegitimate and will cause irreparable harm to the network. We ask you to intervene and take appropriate corrective measures before this harm ensues.” Companies similar to Al Jaerza rely on Facebook to communicate world news, but the circumstances concerning misinformation and lack transparency Facebook and Twitter have suspended certain accounts that were involved in the UAE-backed government operation which attacked Al-Jaerza.
2 ENTERTAINMENT VOL. XXXX, ISSUE XVII
DIY Gifts!
ENTERTAINMENT
By Samantha Soto
Christmas Movies to Watch
It’s nearly Christmas and you’re panicking, you haven’t bought all your presents and it’s too late to go buy some. Panic sets in because if you don’t at least get your parents a present they will guilt-trip you forever! Don’t worry, below are 5 do-it-yourself gifts to make last-minute for your loved ones. Body ScrubThese are easy-to-do Christmas gifts that don’t require much effort but look like a thoughtful gift. They are also useful in that they remove the top layer of dead skin cells that accumulate and result in people smelling like candy. The only things you need are coconut oil, a bowl, brown sugar, measuring cups, a mason jar, and a fragrant substance like honey. Add ½ cup of brown sugar, ¼ of coconut oil, and 2 tsp of honey into a bowl, mix them, and put inside a mason jar. An alternative recipe without brown sugar is coffee body scrub which only requires coffee grounds, hot water, coconut oil. Add ½ cup of coffee grounds, 2 tsp. of hot water, and 1 tsp of coconut oil unto a bowl and mix, when ready move the mixture to the mason jar. Bath BombsAnother very easy DIY gift are bath bombs because they are not time-consuming and made with products that are often already in the home. A batch of a dozen can be made with 4 oz. of baking soda, 4 oz. of Epsom salt, 4 oz. of corn starch, and 4 oz. of citric acid (or use lemon juice instead), 2.5 tablespoons of coconut oil, 1 tablespoon of water, and 2 teaspoons of essential oils (optional to give bath bombs a fragrance) mixed into a bowl, then put into silicone molds (use measuring cups, if desperate), and leave to dry. Positive thoughts boxMake a personalized box full of nice things about that think about your loved ones , it can be sorted into days with one positive thing written and sorted into one day. All you need is to Decorate a small box (to your heart’s content), write the messages on flash cards that can also be decorated, and use leftover paper material to make tabs that separate the days in the box. Snow GlobesThis particular gift doesn’t have to be storebought! It can be made using one glass jar with a lid, glitter (any amount), clear liquid glue, distilled water, super glue, and a figurine to put inside the jar. Grab the lid and dab a little bit of super glue unto the lid, then place the figurine and press until you’re sure it won’t come off. Pour 2 tablespoons of the clear liquid glue and the glitter inside the jar. Fill the rest of jar with distilled water and use the super glue to secure the lid to the jar to prevent leaking. Photo albumUse construction paper to make a front and back cover for the album, then staple pages of any kind unto the covers, finally add photos of your loved ones into the pages; maybe even add personalized messages for some of the images. If you’re worried nothing came outright, don’t worry because something is better than nothing! The people that love you will appreciate you regardless, and if they don’t remember you are all baddies that don’t need them anyway!
Editorial Matter
December 2019
By Samantha Soto It’s
Christmas Break and you have run out of things to do, so you sit on your bed and look through your Netflix for something to watch. The song goes “[Christmas] is the most wonderful time of the year”, yet most of the time Christmas is simply a conclusion of a stressful year gathered into boring family gatherings with undeserved Christmas Presents, that you are going to get anyway. But here’s something to occupy your time; to help you forget how much you miss the structure school gave to your life, and to help you get into the Christmas mood: 10 Christmas movies that will help occupy your time at home and into the Christmas spirit. So get comfortable, make some chocolate goodies, roll yourself in dozens of fuzzy blankets, and start watching some of the following movies. The Nightmare Before Christmas, directed by Henry SelickA Christmas Classic, beloved by most for its unique blend of horror, Halloween, and Christmas. I’ll try not to reveal too much so as not to spoil it if there is someone who has not seen it. Jack Skellington, the King of Halloweentown, grows bored of the yearly tradition of scaring people and accidentally stumbles upon a land of Christmas. The land is full of wonderful things Jack had never seen and soon he hatches a plan to revamp his kingdom and bring new traditions to the humans! Rise of the Guardians, directed by Peter RamseyThe story begins with a mostly unknown figure of mythology, Jack Frost. Unable to remember his past or to be seen by any human Jack spends centuries causing mischief, until Santa Claus, The Tooth Fairy, The Sandman, and (one freaky looking) Easter Bunny ask for his help fighting an evil force. Home Alone, directed by Chris ColumbusAnother Christmas classic wins a spot on the list because of the comedic spin the story takes on an otherwise sad story that teaches a rude little boy the value of family and the audience the value of staying determined. The movie tells the story of a boy mistakenly left home alone by his parents on a vacation trip over Christmas break. The boy assumes his family was accidentally washed away after an argument with his mother, left home alone, he sets about to do everything his parents did not let him do, having the time of his life until he has to fight off two relentless thieves attempting to break into his house. The Santa Clause, directed by John PasquinTim Allen’s character takes care of his son on Christmas Eve, some time after a divorce with his wife. Yet, when he accidentally kills Santa Claus he is tasked by Christmas Elves with a mission to save Christmas and to become Santa Claus himself. Despite the grim beginnings of the film, the character’s trip to the North Pole shows amazing scenes of a land forever full of snow and happy toy-making elves that can set anyone unto the Christmas spirit. The polar express, directed by Robert ZemeckisA young boy wakes up in the middle of the night to find a train waiting for him outside, and a golden ticket in his pocket to board the train. Out of curiosity, he boards the train only to find many other children on board waiting to be taken to the North Pole and dancing servers that serve them hot chocolate with a performance. The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: A Mid-Winter’s Tale, created by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa- Although, not a movie, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina has a special episode for Christmas Eve that blends the gory storylines synonymous with the show and the value of family and Christmas traditions into a long episode of Christmas goodies. The episode has the titular character celebrating Christmas with her family of witches only to be find a demon haunting her house needs to be hunted and tracked down. Noelle, directed by Marc LawrenceThe movie stars Anna Kendrick as Santa Claus’s daughter and a descendant of a long line of men who took on the role of Santa Clause to bring joy to children on Christmas eve. After her father’s death, her brother is groomed to take on the role of Santa Claus until out of panic he begs Noelle for advice and she tells him to take a short vacation. The problem starts when her brother does not return and she is forced to leave the North Pole to find him before Christmas Eve. The Grinch (the live-action movie)The Christmas classic inspired by a book and reimagined in a live-action movie. An angry Green man lives in a secluded hill and plots to steal the local village’s Christmas presents to ruin their holiday. ElfThe story of an orphan that sneaks into Santa’s bag and is raised in the North Pole by Elves. As an adult, he sets out to find his biological family and into the crazy human world, where his Christmas traditions often clash with the cold human world. And if you find yourself laughing along to the comedy, crying at the romantic moments, and smiling nostalgically at the classics in your warm comfy bed be sure to check issuu.com/vitalsigns for more content.
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Vital Signs Staff Samantha Soto Azucena Hilario Silvia Lopez Esmeralda Lemus
Jazmin Anguiano Izcalli Hernandez Amy Morales
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