religious preachers just dont learn

Monday morning after trying to respond to the ton of email I receive daily, I was quickly thrown into a story that was quite interesting and let me just say I saw a bit of a free show.

That morning on the famous "hill" was a preacher. Carrying his giant picket sign about how we are all sinners and that Satan is going to come get us all, was a pathetic sight to watch.

This wasn't the first time, the infamous preachers have come to Cerritos to come and try to "save" us the students. They don't know how to approach the students correctly. All they do is throw their big words out to us, saying that we are all sinners and that we are going to hell if we don't repent.

Heck, if they really think students are goign to listen to that, they have another thing coming.

There was no trace of respect given from their part, so how do they expect for students not to fight back?

One line the preacher made clear was that "all gays and lesbians were going to hell"

I was busy interviewing a person when I was distracted by the "OOOOooooooHH's and "ahhhhhs". I turned to my left , and to my shock there was two girls kissing, their way of rebuttal.

How do you like that preacher guy? Left his jaw hanging wide open.

New semester and upcoming events

This fall semester I was privileged to be the Arts editor for the newspaper, and whew!!! it has been quite challenging. 

The long nights into producing the paper are hard. People don't realize that the hard work that it takes to put a simple 8 page paper together. It might seem easy, but in reality it takes cooperation and team work to get the pages done.

Being the Art's editor has its advantages also, it lets me in all those free screening passes, and I have a head ups on all the upcoming arts and entertainment happening at Cerritos College.

Fall semester has been heading in a good direction. So far I have covered arts stories that have been of great interest to me like going to the movie screening of Burn After Reading, that star two of my most favorite actors: Brad Pitt and George Clooney. Total studs.

It is by far one of my favorite movies that Pitt has come out in. He acts like a complete moron, but somehow it works for him. It had me laughing out hard, that certain people shushed me after my continuous 10 minutes of laughing. 

I also attended my first Board of Trustees meeting, which was quite interesting. I learned that the Cerritos College Assistant coach for the women's water polo team, was the head coach for the United States Women's Water Polo team in these past summer olympics. That was quite remarkable. Something else that Cerritos College could be proud of.

SB1370

Well, I just did a big story like three days ago.
It might not be story in ordinary people's eyes, but to those journalism orientated, it is.
SB1370 is a new bill that is on its way to be signed by the Governor of California, or so we hope so.
In other words, it is The Journalism Teacher Protection Act. It protects journalism teachers from being disciplined, reassigned, removed from their positions because of a certain story that has been published in the school newspaper.


We as students have the right to use our free speech rights to the fullest. No one should tell us otherwise. Teachers from all over the state have lost their job because the schools administrators have disliked a certain story. The administrator then demands for the story to be removed. If the teacher refuses to do so, then that's when the teacher gets the boot.

This is wrong in so many levels. Who is the principle to say what we can write or not.

I currently had the privilege to talk to James Ewert, CNPA legal counsel. He was such a great resource for the story. He fully informed of the cases that have been occurring, and answered some questions that i could have not found online.

JACC Convention

First of all I received some complaints about my inexperienced it seems to the blogging world....(umm haters u noe who u are) Just Kidding guys.

Ok, so here I go in more experienced-AP Style-boring type of blogging.

I went to the JACC State Convention this past weekend and let me say it was the most thrilling experience I have ever received. Being part of the Talonmarks staff, has made a proud student here at Cerritos. Being awarded on the best online newspapers has had me thinking; "Man we're good."



The JACC offered various workshops varying from broadcast to print, to layout and design. The one's I mostly attended were the one's associated with the print, which includes newspapers, blogging and magazines. I attended more workshops than those that were required from my professor because I wanted to get the sense of things. Seeing all those students in the conference, really brought to my attention that I am not the only one trying to make it in this profession.



It showed me that I really need to start improving in my skills and actually start "selling myself" which was said by Randy Hagihara, recruiter for Los Angeles Times, which by the way was the most honest, and brutal workshop I attended. But that was a good thing, it introduced me to the materials that I need to succeed in this demanding business.



By the way I also participated in a competition (forcefully by my editor-in-chief) but I thank him for that, even though I was nervous. It was an amazing experience, the pressure was insane, and the gathering of information was stressful because all sorts of ideas are running through my head, that I lose the correct angle I am trying to get at. I have realized through this experience that I need to stay focus on one topic and deliver my opinion straight on. My stories end up all over the place, and that's going to end up hurting me.



Something I learned, that was eye -opening for me was feature writing. I can almost say this is my favorite type of writing. I like to write news, but I see myself as a story teller and that's what feature writing is about; description. For those who read my opinions I tend to that a lot, and I am not sure my editors like it that much, sorry.



But I think I rambled enough. I am so grateful for this experience and seriously, this made my decision of coming back next semester and giving it my all in the newspaper.

Spring Events

Spring break is over, and its a sad time for all.....well maybe not for all, but of for me it is. I WANT TO GO BACK TO MEXICO!!!! lol!! The beach was amazing, but back to the journalism. The last thing I worked on was Mr. Cerritos with Jessica. It was something new and fun . I never even knew that guys got all dressed up and performed with a stage of screaming women.  It was entertaining to see all these guys get into it and actually enjoy themselves. Dennis Hernandez who was the winner, gave an outstanding performance to Ricky Martin's "Vida Loca". He won over the crowd and the judges with his provocative movements and cookies. He is studying to be a chef, and he is not far from achieving that goal. His signature dish as he told us, was Panama dishes. The other contestants were not disappointed to have lost, they overall reaction was that they had fun and it was a great way to get Cerritos College students involved. There was also a chili cook-off that took place, students were getting a ball of that too. Eating free food, now who wouldn't like that? Unfortunately  i was too busy video recording guys getting crazy and naked on the stage to taste the chili......bummer.   

Cabinet Meeting Events

well lets see what can i talk about this week in my weekly blog, hmmmmm the story i recently covered was the cabinet meeting last Monday. Like always it's interesting to find out new information and to learn things occurring at our school. Michael Barrita is trying out for president, interesting right??? Apart from that the new master plan was on everyone's mind. My opinion is that people need to stop complaining and walk. How are we going to destroy soccer fields, uh i think not. Apart from that i have a senate meeting i need to cover and i am quite excited about that. Yeah, yeah consider me weird but i actually like learning new things. :)

interviews

Well, i am a couple of days late on my weekly blog,but i have been sick to the max. Today i feel a bit better.
I recently interviewed the SPICE club on valentine's day and let me say something, they are awesome. I never even knew such a club existed, and they have such energy and charisma. The woman I interviewed was Cecilia Morales, and she just put a smile on my face. She's such an energetic person and even though it was my first time meeting her she made me comfortable and welcomed. All their club members made me feel good and plus they're cupcakes were really good:). Apart from that SPICE club is not a only a club it's like a second family to anyone and they are there to lend a shoulder to lean on.
Yesterday I went to the financial aid booths and even though i was dying i made the best of the situation. I learned new things as well. I am planning to transfer out of Cerritos and go to a four year college and talking to them really made me get on track of things. Now I am even more interested in getting out there and getting people to give me some scholarships. I many not be the best student or be the an awesome journalist, but God knows i tried, or maybe I can try harder?