February 2010 Politics ‘10 Obama’S Nation Aca Deca Members by Angel Silva Meet the Media Staff Writer
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The Poly Optimist John H. Francis Polytechnic High School Vol. xcvi, No. 10 Serving the Poly Community Since 1913 February 2010 Politics ‘10 Obama’s Nation Aca Deca Members By Angel Silva Meet the Media Staff Writer mproving the economy was Local media KLCS, “Daily News” the main topic of President feature the Parrot brainiacs. I Barack Obama’s 70-minute State of the Union address, his By Stephy Menjivar first. Staff Writer Economic proposals included using $30 billion of Wall St.’s ca Deca coach Brian repaid loan money to assist com- Block thought Poly’s munity banks in providing small A squad wasn’t getting businesses loans, dropping tax the recognition they deserved af- cuts for companies that out- ter last year’s exceptional show- sourced jobs overseas and the ing in the Academic Decathlon. Photo By Karina Muñiz creation of jobs to build “the in- So he took matters into his own BAKE SALE: Parrot Leadership members sell food to raise funds. frastructure of tomorrow.” hands. “There’s no reason Europe First, Block convinced local or China should have the fastest Raising Haiti Funds public broadcasting station KLCS trains, or the new factories that to focus on Poly at an upcoming manufacture clean energy prod- help.” portion of the competition. Then Leadership raises Leadership organized the en- ucts,” said Obama. he convinced the “Daily News” Photo By Monica Sagastume Economic comparisons be- over $2000 in two velope drive and asked second that Poly’s Aca Deca team was MAKEUP: Reynaldo Orozco- tween the United States and period teachers to ask their stu- worthy of a front page story. Lopez about to go on-camera. other countries would return in days for eathquake dents for contributions. Student “Part of being a coach is being later parts of the speech and were victims. and faculty contributed $1084.00 a good publicist,” said Block. Parrots newsworthy. a tactic Obama had not used be- A bake sale in the cafetorium Publicity, Block admitted, isn’t KLCS agreed and sent a film fore. By Diane Alvarado on Friday, sponsored by Leader- always a good thing. crew to Poly to shoot a five to “Washington has been telling Staff Writer ship, Softball, ROTC and Drill “I know what I did was ag- six minute segment of the Par- raised another $840. rot Aca Deca squad practicing us to wait for decades, even as oly’s Leadership raised gressive,” Block said. “I put my “We didn’t expect to raise a lot in the library. The segment was the problems have grown worse,” $2,085 for Haitian earth- team in the spotlight so that when of money because Poly is a low- shown during the live broadcast Obama said. “Meanwhile, Chi- quake survivors in two they perform, they are recog- P income school,” said leadership of the super quiz portion of the na’s not waiting to revamp its days with an envelope drive and nized. I just made sure they were senior Bruno Huizar, “but that Academic Decathlon competition economy. Germany’s not wait- a bake sale. in a position to succeed, and they just goes to show that Poly has held January 2 and aired Febru- ing, India’s not waiting. These “It all started on Twitter,” said surpassed expectations.” heart.” ary 6 from 4 to 6 P.M. nations aren’t standing still.” Leadership senior Brian Pocasan- Block approached KLCS in Leadership raised additional If Poly’s Aca Deca team ad- Obama also talked about gre. “People started tweeting December 2009, suggesting that money by selling snack foods af- vances to the city or state com- strengthening U.S. trade rela- about Haiti and we thought it Poly’s exceptional showing in ter school. petitions, KLCS has agreed to tions in Asia and with key part- would be cool to do something to last year’s competition made the ners like South Korea, Panama, feature the Poly team in a live and Colombia to help reduce the Academic Decathlon special. national deficit. Block then used the KLCS at- Another of Obama’s key Color Guard Performs at Staples tention to convince the “Daily points was on education, call- By Regina Martinez News” to interview the Aca Deca ing for a $10,000 tax credit for Staff Writer team members. four years of college for families “Daily News” reporter Connie of students and a reworked loan ne way to watch an NBA game at the Sta- Llanos met with the Parrot team payment system. ples Center up close is to purchase front for three hours in early January in “Let’s tell another 1 million O row tickets. Block’s classroom. students that when they gradu- However, Poly’s Color Guard team has found a Block set up practice questions ate, they will be required to pay much better and affordable way. similar to the ones from the com- only 10% of their income on stu- A group of Parrot ROTC students performed the petitions to show Llanos what a dent loans, and all of their debt opening ceremony Color Guard before two Clippers typical day for Aca Deca captain will be forgiven after 20 years,” games, one against the Washington Wizards on De- and senior Tam Luu and his team- cember 14 last year and again on January 6 when the mates looks like. said Obama, “and after 10 years Photo Provided By Archie Roundtree if they choose a career in public Clippers played the Lakers. Llanos story on Poly’s Aca ROTC: Parrots David Muñoz, Julia Salas, Monica service. “ “The presentation was outstanding,” said Senior Deca team appeared in the “Daily Sagastume and Marlene Olivares at Staples. Obama mentioned healthcare Aerospace Science Instructor Archie Roundtree. News” on Friday, January 18. to a lesser extent than before, but The Color Guard members arrived at Staples at “The experience was pretty amazing,” said junior The “Daily News” later sent the the tone of his message called for 5:30 pm, were led through the VIP doors and pre- Monica Sagastume. “Being near all those basketball Parrot squad copies of the front quick and decisive action. pared for an hour before the game started. When the players while they practiced was a very exciting page story featuring photos of the “This is a complex issue, and lights went dim, they marched in with the flag. feeling.” team. the longer it was debated, the Color Guard members received complimentary Color Guard members David Muñoz, Julia Salas “Being interviewed by the more skeptical people became,” tickets to both games. and Olivares performed at both games. Sagastume ‘Daily News’ was like a dream stated Obama. “But I also know The Parrots said performing in front of a crowd, performed at the Clippers’ 97-95 win over the Wiz- come true,” said Luu. “I knew this problem is not going away.” especially NBA fans, was fun and scary, ards and Antonio Nuñez and Lisette Molina worked that if my team and I worked re- “Here’s what I ask of Con- “At first it was nerve-racking,” said junior Mar- the Lakers game, a 102-91 Clipper victory. ally hard we could achieve any- gress, though: Do not walk away lene Olivares, “but once you’re out there, your “Getting the opportunity to appear at Staples, af- thing, so therefore, it was really from reform. Not now. Not when adrenaline is pumping and you just feel proud and ter all our work, it’s pretty rewarding,” Sagastume surreal to have that experience.” we are so close.” excited.” said. a his eyes way lips on with were the words synced hoop See Page 3 See Page 4 See Page 8 Opinion The Poly 2February 2010 Optimist EDITORIALS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Breaking down the The OPTIMIST asked students if their parents have earthquake emrgency plans. Here’s what they said. Yes, we do have an emergency plan. If an We’re always saying that we should buy Health Care Bill earthquake occurs, we would all meet up supplies, but I don’t think we’ve ever in front of my house, or if not then down done it. I do have a list of phone numbers the street from it. If our phones weren’t with me, and some I know by heart. We any Americans are aware of working, we’d still have to meet up some- all have cell phones, but I don’t know if the argument going on over the “The federal government, where. Our emergency supplies at home they’d be reliable. We have no meeting M healthcare bill, but most don’t individuals and employers are water and food. place – I guess we’re not the safest family. know what the bill has to offer. What the With all of the earthquakes occurring, I government has to offer comes with both all share responsibility for - Cecilia Victoria / 12 need to push my family to finally start tak- advantages and disadvantages, depending an affordable health care.” ing precautions. on the way one looks at things. The healthcare bill will, proponents An employer can choose to offer coverage No, my parents don’t have any earthquake - Angelica Flores / 11 say, increase choice and competition. This to workers or pay eight percent of payroll. emergency plans. It’s gone through our means that the bill will protect and improve The bill attempts to put the interests of heads that what happened in Haiti could I do not have an earthquake emergency consumer choices. For example, people consumers first and reduce waste, fraud, happen to us but we haven’t put so much plan.