The school year is over for Track C, and so the Rough Rider Blog will mostly be on hiatus until July. I may post the occasional event announcement or commentary, but for those of you seeking the latest news on Roosevelt High School, your best bet is to go to the school’s official website.

This was my second year as adviser for the Rough Rider and the first year we had a blog. It’s been a great experience to have alumni and other friends of Roosevelt send me emails, comment on blogs, and even come visit the class. The big issues that have come up include:

1. Whether LAUSD policy allows official student blogs on the World Wide Web. Answer: It does.
2. Students wanting to write about topics that some might find offensive. Answer: Use caution.
3. Ensuring quality of writing and thought while still allowing for spontaneity and freedom of expression. Answer: Not easy.
4. Grading the students’ work on the blog and figuring out how much to count it for. Answer: Rubrics, check lists, still in development.
5. Encouraging the students to read more blogs and to see blogging as a legitimate form of reporting, not just a personal journal. Answer: They got this pretty much on their own.

Overall, I think the students did an excellent job with the blog in the first year. Particular stand outs for me included Mardybum’s music blogs, Lizzy’s musings on pop culture, and BROWN_N_DOWN’s slice of life pieces from Broadway.

I went to see the new editor of the LA Times, Russ Stanton, speak last week at the Autry Museum as part of the Zócalo series, and he talked about the importance of multimedia skills for the journalist of the future.

You can expect to see more of an online presence for the Rough Rider next year, including a web site with an online edition of the newspaper, for which blogging will be just one component. It should also feature slide shows, video, and audio clips as well. It’s not easy to do this, since it requires time and money, two things we don’t have a lot of, but it’s worth it.

Which reminds me, if anyone feels like donating some money for us to buy audio recorders and mics, you will hear the results very soon. I promise! I’ve written a proposal on DonorsChoose.org. I’ll post a link as soon as it’s approved.

Thanks for all of your support this year!

Salvia divinorum(click to web page) is a plant used for its psychoactive effects. Given the right dose, individual, set and setting, it produces a unique state of ‘divine inebriation’ which has been traditionally used by Mazatec healers. This inebriation is quite different from that of alcohol. Salvia divinorum is both similar to, and different from, other drugs that affect the brain and behavior. In many ways Salvia divinorum is a unique ‘magical’ herb. Salvia (and the salvinorin it contains) is very difficult to categorize pharmacologically. It does not fit well into any existing pharmacological class. Louis Lewin, the father of psychopharmacology called vision inducing drugs ‘phantastica’. Let us dust off this venerable term and recycle it by calling Salvia divinorum a ‘phantasticant’.

it is used as a sacred medicine by indigenous shamanic healers living in the mountainous Sierra Madre Oriental in the northeastern corner of the Mexican State of Oaxaca. In Spanish, these specialized healers are referred to as curanderos; in Mazatec these people are called cho-ta-ci-ne (“one who knows”). Salvia divinorum is primarily used in situations where the curanderos feels it is necessary to travel into the supernatural world in order to discover the true cause of the patient’s trouble. It is used in a ceremonial manner to induce a visionary trance state, within which it is possible determine the underlying cause of disease and to learn what steps should be taken to remedy such disease. It is also used in cases of theft or loss to determine the circumstances and whereabouts of missing objects. The leaves are always used fresh and are consumed orally; either by chewing the leaves or drinking an aqueous infusion of the crushed-leaf juices. Sometimes it is given to the patient, sometimes it is taken by the curandero and sometimes both take it together.

Most reports describe the use of this plant by Mazatec shamans, and although it is just barely touched upon in the anthropological literature, it is also reportedly used by their immediately contiguous neighbors, the Cuicatecs and Chinatecs. Given that the plant is quite easily propagated, it is surprising that such an extraordinary herb is only known of in such a geographically limited area. It seems quite probable that it would have found its way to other neighboring tribes through sharing and trade. Perhaps its use is still concealed from the outside world by other groups of indigenous Mexican Indians who still prefer to keep such a sacred plant secret.( ¡sorry… but the secret is out¡)
i support what others are trying to do, have this be illegal in California in hopes for other states to join in on this and keep kids from doing a dangerous dug like this. thought this plant “IS NOT” an “ADDICTIVE drug” users can have dangerous accidents if behind the wheel of a car or out side near possible dangers.

any one want to start a petition ?

p.s i hope you have learned something new and strive to make a difference after reading & watching this.

,

kili

Drill Team is sponsored by Joy Lee, a math teacher on B track. Ms. Lee became the drill sponsor in 2006 and this is her second year coaching. The team consists of three captains, Natalie Valencia 12A, Maria Leon 12A, Cassandra Alvarez, and two guards, Adriana Loera 12 and Yaricel 11A.

There are different strategies used to choose the captains but this year these young ladies had to choreographing a routine, give a speech of why they hope to be given a higher position, why they deserve it, and they also had to learn and teach the try out routine to the new group of girls attempting to be a member of the team.

These hard working girls meet Monday through Friday in the gym or the football field from 6:15 am to 8:15 am. But its not over yet because they also meet after school from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm and when they are preparing for football season they even come in on Saturday mornings usually from 6:15 am to 2:00 pm. During practices they learn routines taught by their captains and once they learn them they continue practicing to perfect them.

Any student guy or girl is welcome to try out for the team as long as they attend RHS or will be attending. All they have to do is meet on the assigned dates the drill team gives and turn in an application with their information including their G.P.A (2.0 at least) and picture. Drill team has been part of RHS soon after RHS was founded.

It has had many victories, they compete against many schools and they make sure Roosevelt is well represented. Drill team members can attend any sports game for free as long as they are there to support or perform and they also participate in rallies and other school activities.

Drill team plans to continue having victories at their competitions and supporting school activities and sport games.now they are havin tryouts from 3:30pm to 5:30 pm in search of the new gals who will make the 2008 drill team.

GOOD LUCK GALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As a senior, Joel Calderon or “Joey”, has many aspirations and goals, but one of his main priorities right now, and every time this season comes around, is baseball. Joey has been part of the outstanding baseball team for the past four years. He has brought his enthusiasm and incredible talent to the team, which adds up to their respectable and honorable success.

Carlos Montes, one of the baseball coaches who has been coaching for the past nine years describes Joey as a “fiery and animated” player who “plays with his heart”.

Joey agrees, he says, “I bring intensity, I have a never give up attitude and I have a lot of heart”.

Being on the field and face to face with the opponent means something different to every player and to Joey it is an “honor to be out there representing Roosevelt”. “I feel privileged to go out there” confesses Joey.

But there couldn’t be a team without the other members who indisputably carry and deliver their skills.

This year “it has probably been one of the best teams there has been” says Coach Montes.

And there is no doubt about that since the varsity baseball has been undefeated in league. Coach Montes strongly believes they are “going to win league championship again and go pretty far in the playoffs”.

With their undefeated record it seems as though they have no quandary defeating their adversary but when asked who was the most challenging Bell was their response, yet others consider no school to be complicated to overcome.

Undoubtedly it is true because once again they came out on top and kept their title when beating Bell.

The team recently attended a baseball tournament in Las Vegas and Coach Montes shared their experience, “we didn’t do so well in Vegas, those teams were at home, they are more rested, we did not go as mentally prepared as we could have but we are more concerned about league opponents”.

Regardless if Vegas did not turn out to be as hoped, the team continuous on because they are aware of what they are capable of, which they have demonstrated not only this year but in previous years as well.

By the looks of it one can assure the varsity baseball team will accomplish their goals and make the entire Roosevelt house proud.

Joey admits to an amazing feeling, which is he says “looking at myself at night and knowing that I left it all on the field”.

Confident in himself and his team Joey firmly states, “We have all the pieces to go all the way, this is going to be the year”.

And if they continue playing like they have and like they know it definitely will be the year.

Omg!!! Yesterday was my B-Day…I turned 18, what the majority of teenagers look forward to, including me… but honestly I feel scared… I have gone through several different life changing experiences in the past two years that I have not been able to take advantage of my last underage teenage years.

Now im labeled an adult, but im not sure if I want that. It makes me sad to realize that im never going to be seventeen again and rely on my dad and my sisters for most things, im never going to be considered a minor again which actually isnt very pleasant if i really think about it.

There are many different advantages that I do gain and they’re quite nice, biut for some reason on Friday midnight I culdnt help but think about all the different things that made my kind of sad, I thought about all these things that I mentioned plus the several people I wished to have with me at that exact moment. But my the events that have a great impact in my life continue, the day right after my b-day, one of my sisters who I have been unseperable from is moving out too.

Well I guess all I can do is think positive and look at the bright side, everything is for the best and we simply have to learn have to cope with these things.

Well this year in music is shaping up to be a great one especially for new artists or people looking to break through in the music biz. Already we have seen the emerge of Vampire Weekend and new bands just keep coming.

Times New Viking isn’t just your typical post-punk garage band it’s something much more because they are from Ohio and well who knew anything came from Ohio that wasn’t sports related.

Well expect to hear much more from this band somewhere in the new future because well they’re just plain awesome with a sound that resembles a horrible hangover but with a Sonic Youth bass line in it, Times New Viking has a room in my iPod and should have one in yours if they keep releasing quality records like Rip it Of.

Now Times New Viking aren’t the only ones making noise this year, there’s this band from San Francisco creating quite the buzz, The Dodo’s, with a sound that one can describe as happy hardcore-folk music. Or if you me an like to simplify things you can call them a combination of Zach Condon from Beirut on vocals and Animal Collective’s awesomeness.

Recently I read a novel called Night. This novel is one of the most moving novels that I have ever read. It is about named Elie Wiesel, a survivor of the holocaust.

He is still living and is a professor now. Something that this book thought me is that we humans are savage. We will do anything to survive. We will eat ourselves, kill each other and strive to live so much to the point of going against our own blood. We are not born evil but other people make us evil. We hate that others are in a higher or better position than us and we will do anything to bring them down to our level.

It is so sad that we always have to fight to survive because people are always being little jerks and they will not let us go up the latter of success they just keep pulling on your legs from under you so you will not get higher.

I just wish that everyone would think not like me because I am a psycho but more like my close friend Jenesis. Then we would all help each other and well there are to many things that people would have to change about their ignorant and jerky ways. One day we are going to make a difference the only thing that is left is to wait…..wait and see.

Elie Wiesel Bio

Elie Wiesel’s Night

Well as most of you know, four of us went to the journalism convention on Friday.

While we were there we couldn’t help but notice that we were in fact that we were the minority. As alienated as we were, we tried our best to fit in and take advantage of all of the workshops that they had. We went to a few and found an interesting one that deals with magazine publishing-as it’s something that I want to look into professionally. We also went to one that taught us about the law and how it protects us.

As it turns out, we have a right to print whatever we want because we are protected by a code that covers all of California and four other states. The first amendment was on our side after all.

As you all may know we had a little problem with our February issue. That issue sidetracked us and we never got to put out another issued that was meant for March.

Before that we had decide to make a short issue for February at the last minute, so a few of the journalism staff stayed late. (It was brought to my attention when we went to the convention that other schools stay until eleven in the night finishing up. Talk about dedication.) The spur of the moment decision to put out an issue was the reason why we had some mistakes and a missing article. But the thing is that no one focused on them, because they were focused on one word.

We put it in there because the whole theme of the issue was satire, and we thought people would get a laugh at it because, well, honestly that’s how people talk. In my opinion it was so hypocritical of half of the student population to be “insulted” by it. I for one am an immigrant and I thought it was funny. The rest of the editors had in mind to dumb down the word in order to make its connotation less hurtful. That wasn’t the case.

So now, I apologize for what happened. At first I didn’t want to. I was beyond mad. I couldn’t understand why these people couldn’t take a joke. But now as I started to think about it, I guess the student newspaper wasn’t the appropriate place for it.

The journalism convention taught the editors that even if something goes wrong with the paper that wants your fault, it’s still your fault. It’s the editor’s job to make the school a safe and educational place. They taught us not to burn bridges, and that it’s better to make friends with everyone. Why make unnecessary enemies?

We got to look at the perspective of the administrators, and realized that they have a tough job too. They have to make the school an educational place, and try to keep negativity out.

The journalism convention was really a push for me to admit that I was wrong. Now this experience has taught me to prepare for any future jobs I have.

Sincerely,

Nelva Lisette

On Friday April 18, 2008 four students went to Anaheim to the Convention Center. Many schools around the world attended it. Those students were either in journalism or in year book.

It was a three day thing and we had to fundraise to stay at the hotel near Disneyland. The hotel was the Marriott. I was surprised because students traveled from Denver or from Washington.

Well the whole point was to attend some sessions and learn new things to bring back to journalism. It was fun and interesting and we got alot of feedback and now we can fix some problems we had in our classes.

The sessions kinda convinced me to major in journalism. It was a great experience and there’s lots of things you can learn and would make you want to major in journalism.

Anyways it was time to leave and we went to this place to eat called Kareem’s. It was a whole different type of food but it was good. It tasted like Mexican food, but looked totally different.

But hey, there’s always a time when you have to try new things.

Grindhouse

I Am Legend

 Fox Searchlight – Juno – Official Site

For 2007 there were a lot of great films released. Millions of people attended these films and from those millions of people a big percentage were High School students. So which films were most popular amongst the teenage group, which sold the most tickets, and what type of films do teens prefer?

Every month released a couple of movies. January 2007 release a lot of films but the most popular amongst the teen group were; Freedom Writers, Stomp the Yard, and Epic Movie.

Freedom Writers a Paramount Pictures Film made 42 Millions dollars. Stomp the Yard a Sony Pictures Screen Gems film made 75 Million. Epic Movie a 20th Century Fox Film made 120 Million.

February 2007 released Hannibal Rising, Norbit, Ghost Rider, and The Number 23. Hannibal Rising a MGM (Weinstein) Film made $13.4 million, barely one-third of the $33.7 million opening of Norbit. Ghost Rider a Sony Columbia Pictures film made $228 Million. The Number 23 a New Line Cinema Film made $35 Million.

March 2007 released Zodiac, 300, The Hills Have Eyes 2, and Blades of Glory. Zodiac a Paramount/Warner Bros Film about serial killer made $84 Million. 300 a Warner Bros. Film about The Battle of Thermopylae made over $60 million. The Hills Have Eyes 2 a Fox Atomic Film about mutants that murder in the desert made $37 Million. Blades of Glory a Paramount (DreamWorks) about Ice skaters made $145 Million.

April 2007 released Grindhouse, Disturbia. Grindhouse a Weinstein (Dimension Films) about a man who tries to kill women and the other film about human mutants made $53,000,000. Disturbia a Paramount (DreamWorks) about a boy who tries to expose a serial killer made $20 million.

May 2007 released Spider-Man 3, 28 Weeks Later, and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. Spider-Man 3 a Sony (Columbia Pictures) made $258 million, 28 Weeks Later a Fox Atomic a film about an infection made $28,638,916. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End a Buena Vista (Walt Disney Pictures) $500 million in 20 days, breaking Spider-Man 3′s record for reaching that amount that fast!

June 2007 released Hostel: Part II, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, and 1408. Hostel: Part II a Lions Gate Film about people who pay to kill other people made $10.2 million. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer a 20th Century Fox Film made $130 million. 1408 a MGM (Weinstein) Film about a haunted hotel room made $25,000,000.00.

July 2007 released Transformers, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and The Simpsons Movie. Transformers a Paramount (DreamWorks) Film about action robots made $151 million. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix a Warner Bros. Pictures made $292.0 million. The Simpsons Movie a 20th Century Fox Film made $30.7 million.

August 2007 released Rush Hour 3, Superbad, Balls of Fury, and Halloween. Rush Hour 3 a New Line Film about two under cover cops made $140 million. Superbad a Sony film about two guys and their crushes made $169,564,604. Balls Of Fury a Rogue Pictures Film about Tennis competition made $32,844,290. Halloween a MGM (The Weinstein Company) Film about a murderer made $58,272,029.

September 2007 released Across the Universe, and Resident Evil: Extinction. Across the Universe a Sony Pictures film made well over $200 million. Resident Evil: Extinction a Screen Gems film about the extinction of the human race made $147 million.

October released The Heartbreak Kid, 30 Days of Night, Saw IV. The Heartbreak Kid a Paramount Pictures Film about a man and his psycho wife made $99,215,309.Thirty days of night a Sony Film About vampires made $50,127,792. The psychological thriller Saw IV a Lionsgate Film made $115,894,946.

November released Beowulf, and The Mist. Beowulf a Warner/ Paramount Pictures Film about the legendary hero Beowulf who killed the monster Grendel and his mother made $108,600,000! The Mist a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Film based on the novel by Stephen King made $28,318,042.

December released Juno, I Am Legend, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. Juno a Fox Searchlight about a pregnant teen made well over $71 million. I Am Legend a Warner Bros. Film about the last man on earth made $461,683,451. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street a DreamWorks/Warner Bros. Film about a killer barber made approximately 9,350,000 that’s less than one-fifth of the film’s budget. Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story a Sony Pictures (Columbia Pictures) Film about fictional musician made about $18 million on a production budget nearly twice that.

From all the previous films the best of 2007 were Juno the story of a pregnant teenage girl and her sweet cute boyfriend. The second would be No Country for Poor Men, the story of a murderer. Lastly, Across the Universe, a fantastic film about a young man and some new friends with the best sound track of The Beatles.