Mosaic Workshop 2010 Slide Show
10 Jul
A slide show of the 2010 Mosaic Workshop. Produced by Magali Guthier.
OK Go! by Kevin Flores
10 Jul
An extraordinary image of rock band OK Go! captured by Mosaic staffer Kevin Flores, during the 2010 Left Coast Live Festival.
Mosaic Moment
10 Jul
This is my favorite image of Mosaic: Students crowding around editor Elliott Almond for a goodbye group hug after the awards banquet. I think the look on Elliott’s face says it all.
Teen Drinking = Not a Good Look
10 Jul
In eighth grade I was introduced to the world of bad influences.
Wherever I went, my friends, my classmates, and my community were the ones who never afraid to go under the influence. For five years I have only known people who drink, party, and smoke.
From what I have witnessed, teen substance abuse is an ugly thing. I’ve had my best friend come to my house in the middle of the night, crying because she thought she was molested but couldn’t remember because she was too drunk. They partied every weekend and made it their goal to “have fun.”
There was never a limit for them. They acted promiscuously, tacky, and rowdy. They, as well as every other teenager who drinks made it the cool thing to get drunk and hung over. Because they couldn’t have fun sober, they restored to alcoholic entertainment like hosting “beer pong” tournaments.
But the best part is seeing them take pictures of their parties and friends holding beer cups in their hand and posting them all over Facebook.
I hate every little aspect about drinking. It makes a young adult look like a foolish child and it strips them of their eloquence and intelligence they were born to have.
Teen substance abuse is not a right of passage, it is not way to have fun, and it is dangerous.
Now, parents are acting more as enablers, teenagers use fake IDs, and others have endless amount of resources.
From where I live, these kids create pictures of themselves as super cool and popular people. Personas I find annoying because they restrict their ideals in their own little bubble.
Underage drinkers don’t consider that they are only hurting themselves physically and mentally. There is a chance for future alcohol addiction and dependency for current drinkers.
They attack their kidneys and brain. By drinking underage, they hinder their brain’s growth, which isn’t fully developed until their twenties.
Moreover, most teens overlook the fatal consequences of drinking; drunk driving being one of them.
At my school, the Students Against Drunk Driving Club puts on a fake display of what could happen when you drink and drive. The two day event causes many students to become emotional and take things more seriously.
But a week later, some of those same people are partying and drinking.
Drinking also causes unsafe sexual behavior, thoughts of suicide, and failure in academic performance. The same friend of mine who was too drunk to remember anything is also struggling with her performance in sports. Entering her fourth year as a softball varsity player, my friend showed excellence in the field and at school. She entered high school unstoppable and was at her prime. However, when she began to drink, she played less and less on the field. It got to the point where her parents and her coach were getting involved.
Riding on softball scholarships, she is ruining her chance to play for college and ultimately, the rest of her softball career.
Teen drinking is spreading from school to school and community to community as more kids go to parties that can’t function without the fuel of alcohol. Teenagers act like complete fools and as people who aren’t ready to be adults.
They can’t control their change in personality, judgment, and actions, leading to who knows what.
Underage drinking needs to be controlled more. Through public groups or school clubs, alcohol consumption is closer to being sustainable. Communities can come together to work to control the sale of alcohol to teens.
– Jilian Salas
The End of a Tragedy
10 Jul
The courtroom is stifling, crowded by mixed conversations and anxiety. Nine deputies stand at various locations in the courtroom as Rodrigo Paniagua Jr. stepped into the room and sat down.
His sister, Rachel, was the only one present in his defense.
From October 2005 through July 2010, the murders conducted by Rodrigo Paniagua Jr. have hung over the families of both the victims and the defendant.
They would finally be relinquished by the jury’s sentencing.
The verdict began with angst anticipation at 2 p.m. on July 1. Fifteen minutes later, five years of horrendous trials and tribulations for the victims families were washed away.
The family, anxious for the verdict of the man who destroyed their family five years ago, patiently awaited the sentence.
The jurors unanimously decided that Rodrigo Paniagua Jr. was hereby sentenced to death for the murders of his daughters Adrina and AnaLisa, and his girlfriend Laticia Chavez, and for the murder of a five month human fetus.
His public defender, Traci Owens, quietly contemplated the outcome of the trial. Her face showed signs of solemn distress as her argument for life imprisonment was denied.
Paniagua looked on with no expression. No expression of the gruesome murders he committed for the sake of his obsession.
Nothing but a blank face staring into the distance, as his sentencing was read aloud.
The victim’s family was exuberant, crying for joy.
One of the victim’s relatives clasped her hands and cried in joyous celebration as she looked to the sky.
“We finally have our day” said Dorothy Gutierrez, a relative of the victims.
It was the first death penalty trial in Santa Clara County in 13 years. The Judge Jerome E. Brock praised the jury’s decision.
“From our perspective, you guys are heroes,” he said.
This crucial moment in the lives of both families will forever be ingrained in their memories, well beyond Paniagua Jr.’s death.
– Julian Marenco
You Love Me by Vishal Yadav
1 Jul
You want me. Everyone wants me. When people see my luscious brown complexion, they start drooling. People fight for me. I am Italian but I’m fine with people of any ethnicity. I am Nutella.
I was born in 1963 to Ferrero. He has other children, but I am the first born. I am the original. When I was born, Ferrero knew something had happened right. I got the best possible genes. The right amounts of cocoa and hazelnut: together they make me the greatest.
Around the world people crave me. In the beginning I was attracted only to bread. Now I have broadened my horizons and started seeing new people. Through my travels around the world, I have met cereal, fruit and coffee. Spending time with all of them were great experiences.
This summer, I went to the Mosaic Urban Journalism program at San Jose State. I hooked up with several lovely croissants there, as well as bananas and bagels. I have to say though, the croissants were better. The French people really know how to do their thing.
People have told me I should settle down. You know, find someone I really like and stick with her.
But I won’t. Why? I’m a bachelor, baby. I can’t be tied down by attachments to one place or one person. I need excitement in my life.
So I will continue to travel the world, searching for new people to brighten my day. Maybe I can find someone exotic in the Bahamas or Jamaica.
But I know, wherever I go, I will be loved.
I don’t have the “Fever”
1 Jul
Today, I discovered I don’t have the so-called Bieber Fever.
I’ve been singing Justin Bieber’s songs for a while now. I wasn’t obsessed with him or anything of the sort.
I just liked how my friends react when I sing his song “Baby.” They all say I’ve been infected by the Bieber Fever. They’ve been telling me this for a long time that I thought I actually have it.
And so, I took a quiz online.
Ten questions about Justin Bieber. And guess what.
I got four questions right. Six questions wrong. What a fail.
I’ve been singing his songs since he debuted and I don’t even know anything about the guy himself.
I’m not a Belieber. That’s for sure.
I like his songs. I’ve been listening to them to maybe get inspired to finish this blog post. But I’ve only come to understand why there are people who dislike him so much.
The tune and the lyrics make a good song. But what I’ve noticed is that they all have the same pattern.
The meaning and feelings are there. It’s just present in every one of his songs. It’s either he likes a girl, he would do anything for her, or he will prove that he’s the only one for her.
Bieber is what, 16? Then why is he acting like a 24-year-old playboy who can get any girls he sees? I don’t like how he portrays an older character who’s so love struck with girls older than him.
Now, don’t think I’m jealous. I’m not.
I love this kid and his music. He’s really talented.
Many would say that he sounds like a girl. My friends would even question me if there’s something wrong with my hearing. Although for me, his voice is part of his charm.
There are a lot of people who don’t like him. And I admire him for not being affected by all the negative comments he receives.
Even though I don’t have his Fever, I still think he’s adorable.
– Elizabeth Sabiniano
SJ Mosaic Workshop 