Okamura's Thoughts: April 2010

Thursday, April 22, 2010

NFL Draft 2010: Round 1 Breakdown

Heres my breakdown of the NFL Draft 2010: Round 1

1) St Louis Rams: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

Rams need help. Marc Bulger is gone, and Steven Jackson is begging for some help. Bradford is gonna be a great NFL QB, and maybe if they get a receiver later in the draft, they'll start looking like an offense. Bradford is a good character guy and proven leader. Good pick.

2) Detroit Lions: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

The Lions now have the base for a solid offense with Stafford, Kevin Smith, and Calvin Johnson. They needed help on defense, and Suh is an athletic freak that can help anchor the middle of the defense. It expect him to be a force in the league.

3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma

Tampa has been trying to rebuild its dominant defense. Where else to start but with Gerald McCoy, who is drawing comparisons to Warren Sapp. McCoy is a solid tackle, and I think he can be the base of that defense for a long time.

4) Washington Redskins: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma

The Redskins need play on the offense line with the loss of Chris Samuels, due to injury. Trent Williams is a good tackle, but I felt that Russell Okung would have been a better pick. Williams hasnt played at a high level throughout his college career, but I think he'll be solid in the NFL.

5) Kansas City Chiefs: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

Eric Berry is said to be the most NFL ready player in the draft, and the Chiefs sure do need it. Berry is drawing comparisons to Ed Reed. Hes instinctive, hes a great athletic guy. The Chiefs do need a lot of help protecting Matt Cassel, but this pick is going to impact the defense right away.

6) Seattle Seahawks: Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State

Pete Carroll got a present here. I thought that Okung was going to be gone 2 picks ago, and I thought that the Chiefs would have taken him if he dropped. Okung is a dominating tackle who is going to be a wall on the end of that offensive line for a long time.

7) Cleveland Browns: Joe Haden, DB, Florida

Joe Haden is a solid pick. A lot of people thought that they needed to go offense here, but their defense was terrible. Joe Haden is very instinctive and has good skills to be a top corner in the league. Haden also has played for a top program in Florida, so I feel he'll bring that winning attitude to the Browns.

8) Oakland Raiders: Rolando McClain, MLB, Alabama

Wow. I didn't see this coming at all. They need a quarterback, they need a wide receiver, they need an offensive lineman. McClain is a great linebacker, but there are so many other needs. McClain is going to be a great linebacker and is just going to add to an already solid defense.

9) Buffalo Bills: C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson

This is also surprising. They need a quarterback and receivers. Also need some help on defense. They already have Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson. C.J. Spiller is a scary good running back. I think hes going to be a star. Good pick, just not what I was expecting.

10) Jacksonville Jaguars: Tyson Aluatu, DT, California

Derrick Morgan and Jason Pierre-Paul still on the board, but they draft Aluatu. Hes a good DT, but they need some pass rushing. Aluatu is a solid stuffer and can get quick penetration, but the top 2 DEs would have been a better pick in my mind.

Trade! 49ers trade a 4th round pick and the #13 pick to the Broncos for the #11 pick.

11.) San Francisco 49ers (From Denver Broncos): Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers

The 49ers traded up, gave up a 4th round pick, to get Anthony Davis. Now they have a strong, base blockers opposite Joe Staley. This is a great pick. Anthony Davis really dropped and the 49ers got him at a great value.

Trade! The Chargers trade up to the #12 pick from the Dolphins, details aren't yet known.

12) San Diego Chargers (From Miami Dolphins): Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State

Darren Sproles can only do so much. the Chargers can use Mathews as a power, big back. Mathews also ran a good 4o-time. Hes a solid overall back and can add some balance to a small backfield.

Trade! Eagles trade #24 pick and 2 3rd round picks to the Broncos for the #13 pick.

13.) Philadelphia Eagles (From the Denver Broncos): Brandon Graham, OLB/DE, Michigan

I felt that the Eagles needed a safety to replace Brian Dawkins. The Eagles love to get pressure, and this guy is going to do just that. He is a great pass rusher and he will get the the quarterback....alot. Earl Thomas and Taylor Mays are still on the board, I am very surprised.

14) Seattle Seahawks: Earl Thomas, DB, Texas

I wanted Taylor Mays to go with Peter Carroll lol (USC all the way!), but Earl Thomas is a great safety. I think that hes going to be an instant starter and make an impact right away. He has great instincts, speed, tackling, and plus he has Pete Carroll to coach him up.

15) New York Giants: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida

The Giants were 30th in defense last year. Their scary pass rush wasn't as dominant. Pierre-Paul is a great athlete. Hes quick, fast, strong. Hes just a freak. I love his pass rushing ability, and his back flips lol.

16) Tennessee Titans: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech

Derrick Morgan dropped far in this draft. Morgan fits the Titans needs very well. They need to rebuild the d-line and Derrick Morgan is an all-around DE. He can stop the run and rush the passer. Good pick and great value this late in the 1st round.

17) San Francisco 49ers: Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho

Another lineman taken by the 49ers. The 49ers are really having a good draft so far. They greatly improved their offensive line. This is going to help Alex Smith and Frank Gore. This offense is going to be productive with Gord, Crabtree, and Davis. This has been a trend with the 49ers in the past few drafts, with Joe Staley and Chilo Rachal in2008.

18) Pittsburgh Steelers: Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida

Good pick. He can start at guard or center. The Steelers needed some help on an aging o-line, and they got it here. Pouncey has a lot of experience from his time at Florida. The Steelers were is question because of the business going on with Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes. They stick with the need here and deal with their problems later.

19) Atlanta Falcons: Sean Weatherspoon, OLB, Missouri

This is a great pick by the Falcons. Their offense is set. They have tried to build up the defensive line over the later few drafts, with mild success. Sean Weatherspoon is an impressive OLB. I thought that he might drop to the Saints at #32, but he is a great player and its good to see him go to an up in coming team.

20) Houston Texans: Kareem Jackson, DB, Alabama

I love what the Texans are doing. The offense is explosive and they have a solid base on defense. Jackson is a good bump corner. Hes strong and has good athletic ability to keep up with top receivers. Hes going to help the Texans compete with the Colts in the AFC South.

21) Cincinnati Bengals: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma

I love this pick. I love Jermaine Gresham. hes huge, hes fast, and hes awesome. The Bengals need a tight end and they got one hell of a tight end. I thought they might go Taylor Mays here (due to their recent trend of picking USC defenders), but I love the pick.

Trade! Patriots trad #22 to the Broncos for #24 pick and a 4th round pick.

22) Denver Broncos: Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech

He is considered to be up with Dez Bryant for the title of top wide receiver in the draft. I still think Bryant is a better receiver, but Thomas doesn't come with baggage. I don't think Denver wants to deal with another Brandon Marshall personality.Thomas is a big receiver, and a match up nightmare. They need a receiver, and good pick.

23) Green Bay Packers: Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa

Bulaga was at one point thought to possibly go into the top 10. He slips down the #23, but he goes to a good team that really needs him. The Packers couldn't protect Aaron Rodgers at all, and he was scrambling for his life. Maybe now he can catch his breath and welcome his new best friend.

Trade! Patriots trade #24 pick and a 4th round pick to the Cowboys for #27 pick and a 3rd round pick

24) Dallas Cowboys: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State

Dez Bryant is a beast. Hes big, fast, strong, jumping ability. Hes a great wide receiver who has the potential to be a huge star. Adding him to an already explosive offense just pushes them over the top. He has some character issues, but I don't see them being a huge problem.

Trade! Ravens trade #25 to the Broncos for a 2nd round pick, a 3rd round pick, and a 4th round pick.

25) Denver Broncos: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida

The Broncos just got a brand new fullback! I still have to see how he plays, but I dot think that Tebow's new throwing motion is going to make a difference in his inaccuracy. I think that Brady Quinn will start the season, and Tebow still needs to prove to me that hes accurate.

26) Arizona Cardinals: Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee

The Cardinals need a DT. They lost alot of defensive players and this is a good spot for him to go. They need an upgrade at this position. I cant really see a better pick for the Cardinals here. Solid pick.

27) New England Patriots: Devin McCourty, DB, Rutgers

The Patriots needed a corner to replace Asante Samuels. They have stuggled in pass coverage without him. McCourty is had good closing speed and is a good athlete. He has shown good coverage skills, and good ball skills.

28) Miami Dolphins: Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State

They needed a young DT. They brought in alot of new guys this year on defense. Odrick is a solid space eating DT, and he should do well in Tony Sparano's system.

29) New York Jets: Kyle Thomas, DB, Boise State

Now the Jets have a nickel corner to go with Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie. This gives them 3 guys that can cover the high level of offense in the AFC with the Colts, Patriots, etc. This makes the top defense in the league even scarier.

Trade! the Vikings trade #30 pick to the Lions for #34 pick(2nd pick of 2nd round) and a 4th round pick

30) Detriot Lions: Jahvid Best, RB, California

The Lions got Suh and Best in the 1st round. They are having, in my mind, the best draft as of now. Jahvid Best is a home run threat and can take some of the weight off of Kevin Smith. Best did have the concussion last season, but after the combine and seeing his workouts, I think he'll be fine.

31) Indianapolis Colts: Jerry Hughes, DE/OLB, TCU

Freeney was hurt in the Super Bowl last year, which cost them possibly the game. Raheem Brock is no longer with the team and they need depth on the defensive line. Hes quick and has good burst. Having Freeney and Mathis as mentors isn't too bad either.

32) New Orleans Saints: Patrick Robinson, DB, Florida State

I dont understand this pick. Sure they need another corner on the other side of Malcom Jenkins. But they need OLB with Fujita gone. They need another DT next to Sedrick Ellis. There is Sergio Kindle and Brian Price right there, both of which I feel are better players for the Saints in this spot.

Farewell Key Club

This years District Convention marked the end of my fourth year in Key Club, and my Key Club career. It was a sad, yet fulfilling moment. It started out as something I followed my friends to, and it quickly grew into something more. I decided a lot of time and effort over my high school career to Key Club, and I haven't regretted a second of it. I have met so many amazing people, had so many unforgettable experiences, and learned so much about leadership and myself. I would like to take this time to thank those people who have made this experience such a great one.

To my family

Thank you for everything. You've always supported me in everything I did, or wanted to do. I might not always show it, but I do appreciate everything.

To the District Boards and International Boards from 2006-2010

Although I might not have meet all of you in person, or you may not know who I am, I want to thank all of you for making this organization what it is. It has grown and grown, and all Key Clubbers have worked so hard. The only reason we were able to do so is due to your leadership and passion for service. Key Club is special to me, and I know for a fact it is to you as well. I have often said that its one of the few clubs that could get "selfish" high school students to give up their weekends to clean up a park. haha but you have all taken this to a new level. You all have basically given up your life to making Key Club thrive. Flying all over the country, all over the world, missing dances, hang outs, kick backs, parties, missing class time, missing family time, the list going on and on. I can't even imagine all that you guys had to miss. Thank you for sacrificing so much to make this all possible.

To the Kiwanis

When I first joined Key Club, I never really paid attention to the Kiwanis and what they did. It wasn't until I got more involved in Key Club that I finally realized all that you do for us. I've worked with my sponsoring Kiwanis closely over the past few years, and I have to say that you all are my heroes. We've become a pretty good team, Key Club and Kiwanis. haha I feel that we've formed a tight friendship and bond. I deeply respect for all of you, and I am proud to have worked side by side. I hope that we have made an impression on you because you have definitely made an impact on me. I hope to someday be a Kiwanis, helping and working with my own group of Key Clubbers, helping them grow, as you did for me. Thank you for watching over us and guiding us in the right direction, even when it seemed like we didn't want to listen

To the past LTGs, club officers, and members of Division 25 West

You must be wondering why I am saying all of this now, even though some of you have been gone from Key Club for 4 years already. And most of you won't ever hear this. But I feel that you have a huge hand in getting me so into Key Club. Each and everyone of you has taught my something whether its how to plan out an event, get around Key Club protocol, or just how to draw on my sleeping VP's face with a Sharpie. You have each passed on your knowledge to me, whether it was about Key Club, or just about life. I still talk to alot of you, making jokes, sharing stories, discussing which Pokemon makes the best attacker. But some of you I don't talk to that often, or even at all. You have all inspired me to follow your examples and strive for success, in Key Club and out. Thank you for being a older siblings to me, not mater how annoying I got.

To my friends

Guys, we've had a blast. All of the fundraisers, cleanups, carnivals, fall rallies, etc. There are so many memories, and each one carries a story. We've had our disputes, but we've always pulled through. We've slacked off and almost missed on a few deadlines and event plans, but we've always gotten on track and gotten it done. We do things in our own style and we like it that way. Each one of us has a different personality, style, way of doing things, but despite that we've mixed beautifully. Halo, Super Smash, Left 4 Dead, Mario Kart, and of course Pokemon have been a part of almost every meeting and have probably distracted more than it should have. All of the joke and plans that fail, or when wrong make for a lot of laughs whether they work or not. But all that has done one thing. It brought us together, to the point where I feel I know everyone of your personalities like the back of my hand. We've pushed each other to new heights and brought each other up. We're all family and as we move on to the next stage of our lives, we all know we got back up. Thank you all for being my family and I look forward to our adventures ahead.

To my home club and Division 25 West

We guys are awesome. I hope that I have help all of you in any way I could. I tried to help each of you and answer all of your questions. I hope I was a good officer and made this year fun. I certain had a great time with all of you and this last year was one of the best. You all are full of spirit and you all have bright futures. I am very proud of you all. I hope I have taught you guys something and I am always here if you need any advice, Key Club or life. Thank you for being great Key Clubbers, and all I ask is that you keep the Key Club spirit alive and try to inspire others, as I have tried. I'll be checking in once in a while, so keep up the good work.

Key Club has given me so much, and I did my best to give back by providing service and spreading the Key Club way. I realize now that it is impossible. Key Club changed my view on life and how I want to go about living the rest of it. The only way to fully give back to this unbelievable organization is to keep serving, to keep leading, to keep up the great work that Key Club instilled in me. Thank you everyone, for everything.

MLB 2010: Beginning of Season Impressions

The MLB season has gotten underway and I am excited to see what this year brings. The story that I am most interested in is the big name rookies and prospects. Stephen Strasburg, Arlodius Chapman, and of course Jason Heyward. Heyward has been playing up to all the hype so far, and is in some ways even exceeding them, while Strasburg and Chapman are dominating in the minors. I think theyll be joining the show very soon. Tim Lincecum is still shuting down everyone he faces, while Zack Grenke isnt showing why he won last year's Cy Young. The Dodgers are tanking to begin the season, which worries me a little bit, but I think theyll bounce back. The Phillies are looking dominante, the Red Sox can't score a run, and there are alot of teams surprising in the early season.

I'm saying it right now! Yankees are going to repeat this year! A-Rod, Jeter, Teixerira, Sabathia, Rivera, and now add Curtis Granderson. This team is the favorite...for good reason.

NCAA March Madness 2010

I forgot to mention my NCAA Men's Basketball Bracket haha. Well I epically FAILED! lol. My Final Four were Kansas, Kentucky, Syracuse, and Villanova. I thought that Kansas and Kentucky were a step, if not more, ahead of everyone else. I felt that Syracuse had the players and coaching to get to the final four. I didn't think that Duke was a good team. I didn't even have Duke getting to the Elite Eight. I don't like Duke to begin with (Its like how Notre Dame is for college football lol). So seeing them win is kinda disappointment, and I was rooting for Bulter and I thought that Bulter was the superior team. I still think I was right to a certain degree, but I think that the game could have gone either way. Overall it was a fun think to watch and hopefully it stays like that (with today's announcement of upping the teams to 68).

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

NFL Draft 2010

NFL Draft 2010 is almost here. I will be posting an analysis for the 1st round. The 1st round will be posted during day 1. i will not be covering rounds 2-7

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

NBA Playoff Prediction: Round 1

Ok so time for the NBA Playoffs 2010!

I will be giving my round by round predictions

Here it my prediction for how things are going to pan out in the first round.

Western Conference Round 1

1 Lakers

8 Thunder

Prediction: I love Durant, Westbrook, and Green, but the Lakers are too tall and have too much talent. The Thunder have a bright future, but its the Kobe and the Lakers' time now. Lakers in 5

2 Mavericks

7 Spurs

Prediction: The Spurs are good, but too old. Caron Butler has brought a new energy and fire to the Mavs and I think theyll make a strong push. Kidd and Dirk look hungry and theyll be tough to beat. Mavericks in 6.

3 Suns

4 Trailblazers

Prediction: I love the Trailblazers. I think even without Oden, Prizbella, and Brandon Roy, they could do alot. I like some of the players on the Suns, like Nash, Stoudimire, and Jason Richardson. Im not a big fan of Barbosa or Robin Lopez. I just think the Suns got hot at the end of the season and theyll go back to normal soon. Unless the Suns stay at Super Sayian, I think the Trailblazers win in 6.

4 Nuggets

5 Jazz

Prediction: Ok I dont like the Nuggets. I think Carmelo and Billups are overrated. The only guy I like is Ty Lawson. I think that the Jazz have alot of firepower and Deron WIlliams runs that team very well, along with the coaching from Jerry Sloan, who has like 100 years of playoff experience. Jazz in 5.

Eastern Conference Round 1

1 Cavaliers

8 Bulls

Prediction:The Cavs are too strong. Lebron is a monster and with Shaq coming back, and Jamison getting comfortable. Mo Williams, Delante West, Big Z, all those guys. I am a huge fan of what the Bulls are doing. I like Derrick Rose, I think hes a star (But John Wall is a better PG), and being a USC guy I like Taj Gibson. I like Noah, Deng, but the Cavs are too much. Cavs in 4.

2 Magic

7 Bobcats

Prediction: The Bobcats have Larry Brown and the power of Michael Jordan, but Gerald Wallace, Stephen Jackson, and co cant handle the Magic. Dwight Howard is a freak of nature with shoulders to match. Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, Jameer Nelson, and so many other guys. I think that the Magic are going to the Eastern Conference Finals, so they can't lost here. Good work getting this far Bobcats, but Magic in 4.

3 Hawks

6 Bucks

Prediction: The Hawks are too athletic. Andrew Bogut was big for the Bucks this year, and his injury really hurts the team. Sure Brandon Jennings and John Salmons are there, but with Al Horford down low, and Josh Smith flying around, I dont think the Bucks have a chance. Hawks in 4.

4 Celtics

5 Heat

Prediction: I love the Heat. Dwayne Wade is my favorite player. I liked Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers since they were in college, and I still like what their doing. I think Jermane ONeal still has some stuff in the tank. I really want the Heat to pull this out, but I think the Celtics are gonna take this one. Garnett, Pierce, Allen, and now Rondo. And add Rasheed "Overreact" Wallace. I think the Celtics take it in 6.

Pokemon Black and White Announced

BLACK & WHITE!!!

Ok so in February it was announced that Game Freak in development of the 5th generation Pokemon game. The statement stated that the game will completely change the mold and will be different from all other games. Pictures of Zorua and Zoroark were then released as the first known 5th gen Pokemon.

I was impatiently waiting for more information. When finally in April, CoroCoro finally had released screen shots of the game, along with the titles. Pokemon Black and White will be released in Japan sometime in 2010 for the DS, not the 3DS as many people assumed it would.

The screens look awesome. They show a huge improvement graphically and it looks as if the camera angle has been moved down; thus taking the game from a top view to a leveled view, so that buildings with actually show height and depth. This game is so far looking alot different then other games, as promised. Even the battle screen is showing a big improvement. From the screens, we can also see that the text box is now a speech balloon, coming out from the mouth of the character, making following dialog a little easier.

These games will be compatible with the current 4th gen games. It was almost confirmed that traded the shiny legendary Pokemon, given any with the release of the 13th movie, will trigger certain events in the game. What is triggers has yet to be seen.

I am extremely excited for the announcement and I will be keeping up on all the latest news and updates. I can't wait to see the new 5th Pokemon as well as any new game mechanics that are put in.

Key Club Cali-Nev-Ha District Convention 2010

Key Club Cali Nev Ha District Convention is always something that I look forward to every year and this year didn't disappoint. We were back in Sacramento this time around, which meant an 8 hour bus ride. The bus ride wasnt bad. And before you know it we were there.

We stayed at the Residence Inn, which was about 2 blocks away from the convention center. This year our room was a suite. We had 2 bed rooms, 2 bathrooms, connected by a living room area and a kitchen. We had 10 guys in our room. It was crazy at times, but fun overall. Reseda had 22 members total, 13 boys and 9 girls.

The Key Club spirit never fails to amaze me. The energy was flowing throughout the convention halls, and you could hear the cheers and feel the vibrations in the floor. On the way to workshops and getting into general sessions especially, there was alot of pushing and shoving as well as alot of spirit and cheers. Its a strange mix of good and bad, but it makes for a unique high energy environment.

Every year we have a motivational speaker, and this year that man was Keith Hawkins. Mr. Hawkins was definitely the most memorable and fun speaker that I've seen at DCON. He made some really funny jokes, played games like Simon says, and rhythm based activities. It was just alot of fun listening to him talk and interact with the crowd. The biggest thing that I took from his workshop and speech was the idea of Go Human. Go Human is like Go Green, but instead of fixing the world, its the idea that we have to fix the human race first. Go Human promotes give what you need, meaning that if you need friendship, give friendship; if you need respect, give respect; it will all come back to you. This will make our world a better place for everyone. I really agreed with and bought into the idea of Go Human.

I put in alot of time and effort into Key Club during my high school career and I think that this was a great way to end it. Key Club has given me so much, everything from experience to friends to helping me grow as a leader and person. I really hope to continue my involvement in the Kiwanis family, as well as promote Key Club to help other people gain what I did, if not more, from Key Club. Thank you Key Club and the Kiwanis Family.

APYLP 2010

So a few months ago I applied for the APYLP (Asian Pacific Youth Leadership Project). APYLP selected 50 seniors and juniors from high schools throughout California selected to participate in a unique leadership conference that will educate and nurture a new generation of aspiring political and community leaders and advocates from our Asian Pacific Islander American communities. Students will hear from dynamic speakers, actively participate in a Mock Legislature at the State Capitol and engage in conference workshops.

I was selected for the conference and I was very excited. Chris Ratana and I were the only 2 people chosen from Reseda High. We left on the plane leaving out of Burbank Airport. When we first arrived in Sacramento, it was awkward at first with everyone, but we quickly became close and comfortable. We had great advisers, they were fun and helpful and made things run very smoothly. The trip would have been great with just the people we met, but all of the workshops, activities, and the capitol building was what made it really special.

We played games that somehow connected to life lessons, and had workshops with leaders in the Asian Pacific Community. We were allowed to have a scavenger hunt in the capitol building, which btw our group won! We were allowed in the Assembly room, and we had discussions and debates in the Committee rooms, as well as on the actual Senate floor.

I met so many amazing people and had a once in a lifetime experience. I am so happy that I was able to participate in the 20th anniversary of this conference and I hope that I will be able to help the program somehow in the future.

WARNING!! Before I tell this story...I am not being racist in anyway, its just the story. lol

Ok so my room was upstairs and the balcony was facing the street. The hotel only had 2 floors. There were 3 APYLP boys' rooms in a row (2 guys per room), my room being one of them. So it was the last night we were there. Its about 1am and I just went to go lay down in bed, then I start hearing these loud sounds coming from outside. My roommate and I looked out the window and a bus had dropped off about 50-60 black people in front of this club across the street. Then more black people came out of the club and the 2 groups started fighting and eventually turned into like a street brawl. So all of us went out on the balcony to watch(6 asian kids lol). 4 police cars came and everyone dispersed in all directions and each car gave chase in each direction of the intersection. Then about 10 minutes later a firetruck and an ambulance came and parked down the street where one of the cop cars was. As we tried to extend and look at what was going on down the street, another bus came and dropped of my black people on the other side of the club. 2 black girls were arguing, coming off of the bus, and proceeded to yell at each other while walking down the street. I went inside to check my netbook to see if there was any news on what was happening, when my roommate ran back into the room and closed the balcony door, and I heard the doors of the other rooms as well. I asked what happened and he didn't know, so we waited a minute and went back outside. The guy in the next room then told me that a guy was out waving around a gun. We continued watching, and the 2 girls were still yelling and screaming. Then they got into a fist fight (punching, kicking, grabbing/ripping clothes and hair, etc). They didnt just fight on the street....they fought in the middle of the 4-way intersection! Other people from the bus were trying to pull them away from each other, but then everyone started fighting again. 2 more police cars came and officers sprayed tear gas on them, and that was the end of it. Everything calmed down at 3am. The weirdest part of the whole thing was that while all this was going on, traffic was still flowing as normal. Like cars just drove around the fighting and cop cars. They didn't even stop for the firetruck or the ambulance.

HOSA SLC 2010

It came time again for HOSA!! Wed been studying all year and it was time to show what we got. HOSA State Leadership Conference 2010 was in Ontario, CA...not Canada lol. Trust me...alot of people have asked me if it was in Canada.

Anyway, we got there at about 11am on Thursday March 11. The hotel didnt have our rooms ready, so we packed all 22 of us into 1 room. Christy, Josh, and me had the Kaiser Knowledge Exam at 1, so we changed and went, took the exam and everything was good. Then everyone had events so we all left. The rooms were ready when we cam back and it was all good.

Now in our rooms we had FOOD. Not just food....FOOD!!! Sure we had the usually snacks, chips, cup noodle, etc. Josh had his rice cooker, I had the water heater. But this year, Jiwon(1st time HOSA) brought uncooked Korean BBQ. Juile had an electric stove. So we stuck the stove halfway out the window and started cooking the meat. We had foil to catch the grease, and I was fanning the smoke and steam out the window so the room didnt smell and the fire alarm didnt go off. After 2 hours, all the meat was cooked, We ate, the room smelled like Korean BBQ for the rest of the trip.

I also brought my Nerf guns, which was fun. Kyle and I took the guns and kept barging into peoples rooms and attacking everyone and stuff. That was fun.

The biggest thing that we got into...Charades. It started out as something to fill 20 minutes, but it turned into a serious competition. First we started with basic charades. 2 teams, each team gives the other team a clue. Really basic. I left to take an exam and came back and it had transformed into a new type of charades haha. The new game was 3 people line up in a row facing each others back, the last person just looks at a wall or whatever. The clue is shown to the first person, the first person taps the shoulder of the 2nd person and the 2nd person turns around. The 1st person tries to charade the clue to the 2nd person, when the 2nd person gets it, the 2nd person taps the 3rd person then the 2nd person charades the clue to the 3rd person. The first team to get the 3rd person to correctly guess the clue is the winner. That was alot of fun, then we got back into regular charades but then it was really serious. Now you had a 1 minute time limit. If it was under 1 minute then the team gets 1 point, if its under 30 seconds then they get 2 points. If you dont know the clue or feel you cant do it, then you can pass it to a teammate, but the original person cannot help guess. We started getting really hard clues, and planning out certain clues to give to certain people, it just got really competitive.

In the actual HOSA competition, Reseda did very well. We got several medals and top 10 finishes. I got 2 top 10s. The trip was alot of fun. There was alot of drama on the trip that Im not going to get into now haha. But overall it was a great trip.

HOSA NLC 2009

I cant believe that I completely forgot to post this. I wrote it a long time ago. lol wow

HOSA State Conference was fun, but HOSA Nationals was unbelievable.

HOSA National Competition was in Nashville, Tennessee. We had 7 people on the trip, plus Mr. Urbina and his wife.

We met up at the flyaway and left from LAX. It seemed like the plane took forever to leave. But we finally got on the plane, I took a nap and woke up in Nashville haha.

We got into our hotel late and checked it. Our hotel was amazing. We stayed at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. Since its really humid and hot in Nashville, everything we needed was in the hotel. There was a garden, forest type area, lake, waterfall, river, mall, restaurant, etc. There was even a mall under the hotel. The convention center was also in the hotel. And the hotel was domed, so sunlight could get in. The hotel was also, completely climate controlled. There was a gym and 3 pools (2 outdoor, 1 indoor). We kept getting lost at first, however we quickly figured out how to get around quickly.

There was also a deli in the hotel that was open really late, and it had the best cheesecake ever! I bought one every night lol.

We met some cool people while we were there. We traded state pins with other states (I think I have 24 state pins from all over haha). On one of the nights, Kyle, Josh and I went to the gym, across the hotel from our room. Akshay stayed in the room to study. 15minutes later Josh gets a call and tells Kyle and me that we have to hurry up and get back to the room. Apparently Akshay flooded the toilet or something. We get there and Akshay and Mr. Urbina are outside. The hotel staff is stopping the water. The water had flooded through the wall and into the room and hallway. Good thing Akshay moved all of our suits and shoes out of the closet. Apparently Akshay didnt even do anything, the waterjust started flowing out of the toliet. The hotel moved our rooms to another part of the hotel. In the new room, we flipped around the beds, so that they were facing the blank wall, not the tv. And we hooked up the projector, hung a sheet on the wall and ran the Wii, and our laptops through it. It was like having a big tv lol.

We went around Tennessee for a day, it was cool. I found out that Tennessee is really hot lol. We didnt really do too well at competition, although grace won a medal. But it was alot of fun and Nationals was a great experience.

Final Fantasy XIII Review! FINALLY HERE!!

Final Fantasy XIII. We've been waiting and waiting for 2 years and itll finally here. I got the game on launch and had a decision to make at Gamestop. PS3 or 360? Now PS3 has only 1 Blu-Ray disc, and maybe, improved graphics but reviews said that the graphics are about the same (which they are). 360 has 3 discs and its the console I play more. I choose 360 because of the long load times for Blu-rays, which sparked a big discussion in Gamestop about whether to wait for load screens or having to get up and change the disc. Only in America could we be that lazy lol....well thats not entirely true, you could throw Japan in there too, but only about games and anime for them lol. Anyway back to the topic at hand.

Ok since the story is kinda confusing and hard to explain heres the plot taken from wikipedia:

"Some 1,300 years ago, a group fal'Cie constructed a paradise for humanity: the shell-like city of Cocoon, which floats high above the surface of Pulse under the power of the Cocoon fal'Cie Orphan. Then, the Cocoon fal'Cie created life forms and machines for Cocoon's inhabitants to use, and humanity flourished. A war was fought between the fal'Cie of Pulse and the Cocoon fal'Cie, and Cocoon prevailed in what was eventually known as the War of Transgressions. However, fear lingered in the hearts of the people of Cocoon, for the day another invasion might come from the world beneath again.

Although most Cocoon citizens have never seen Pulse with their own eyes, they have been told that it is a dangerous place that has strange effects on those who venture down to its surface. Consequently, anyone who is discovered to have been in contact with anything from Pulse is immediately subjected to quarantine and exile by the theocratic government of Cocoon, known as the Sanctum. The Sanctum enforces this policy with its strongest military branch, PSICOM.

As Snow leads the resistance group, NORA, in an attempt to stop the purging of civilians, the mysterious Lightning fights her way past PSICOM soldiers with the aid of Sazh to find a Pulse fal'Cie, Anima, who turned her sister, Serah (who is also Snow's fiancée), into a l'Cie. Through a chain of events, these three, along with two exiles, Vanille and Hope, are forced by the fal'Cie of Pulse to become l'Cie, and with that became enemies of humanity with the Focus of bringing about the downfall of the Orphan, who provides the fal'cie Eden with the energy it needs to run Cocoon. Slaying Orphan would supposedly result in Cocoon's demise."

Ok, so if you didnt get that, then yea....just play the game, it makes more sense as you go on...trust me haha.

The battle system is kinda like FFVII: Crisis Core. Its turn based, Active Time Battle. The attacks look cool, and upgrading system is easy to use. The summons are awesome and the battles are fun once you get the hang of it.

The leveling system is like a sphere grid from Final Fantasy X. Its called The Crystarium. Instead of gaining experience points after winning a battle, characters gain Crystogen Points (CP) which can then be spent in order to unlock abilities and increase attributes such as maximum HP. Every character has a Crystarium, and within it, different sections corresponding to each Role the character has available. The Paradigm Shift is another important factor in the game was well. It is like job switching in Final Fantasy X-2. Each paradigm has a certain role for each character. Strategy is a big factor in parts of the game, and Paradigm Shifts are the way to do it.

Graphically, the game is stunning. The cienmatics borderline photo realisim, while the in game models look better than most of the games on the market today. In terms of cienmas and cutscenes, the game rivals Metal Gear Solid 4, however the in game engine doesnt even come close to what MGS4 was able to do.

The game is solid, I've been busy lately so I havent been able to finish it yet. Final Fantasy never disappoints. Its looking like the game was worth the wait and is living up to all the hype.

Pokemon SoulSilver & HeartGold Review

Ok so as you already know, I LOVE POKEMON! That and gundam are like my drug......(maybe SNSD and Rubiks cubes too). So in September 2009, Pokemon SoulSliver and HeartGold were released in Japan, and I downloaded it and played it right away. My friends on the other hand waited til the American version came out on March 14, which is why I am writing this article now, not earlier.

My Japanese version is patched with English, so everything is English, but the dialog (So items, pokedex, moves, names, etc are in English)

Pokemon Sliver was my favorite version, so this remake really had me excited and it didnt disappoint. The new addition of the Pokethlon and Pokewalker accesory was great, but my favorite improvement, and maybe the stupidest one is the partner pokemon lol. Before you laugh, I liked how in Pokemon Yellow, Pikachu followed you around. When I was like 7, I was so sad when I evolved my Pikachu and it stopped following me. So I really enjoyed this little part of the game.

The same everything applies to this game as every Pokemon game. Gyms, Elite Four, Team Rocket, etc etc. IVs, EVs, items, mostly everything is the same. Still, I enjoy this game alot and I am still playing it now haha.

Mass Effect 2 Review

Ok So Mass Effect was one of my favorite games and ever since I finished it I was waiting impatiently waiting for the sequel. Mass Effect 2 came out Jan. 26, 2010. I got the game on launch and went home, imported my character from the first game and was off the running.

The game plays alot smoother and faster than the original. The third person shooter elements are greatly improved, however I would have liked to see a better cover system like in Gears of War. The weapons are cool, but I would have liked to see more of them and more customization of them. The various powers and abilities are great and add an element that few other shooters have. The AI is improved as well, although they still dont move where you tell them to go, lol.

The biggest thing in Mass Effect is the story. Once again its a great plot, however some parts are a little unrealistic, even for futuristic space. The world is vast and the missions are unique and interesting. The characters are a little bit of a disappointment. I didn't feel the same bond and comradery that I felt in Mass Effect 1 with my crew. None the less, the story is great and exciting, and the characters aren't bad, just not as good as ME1.

I finished the game in about 18 hours, with all upgrades and side quests. I maxed out all of my characters, etc etc. So the game does provide alot of play time. I enjoyed the game and I am looking forward to the 3rd and last installment of this franchise.

Sorry!

Ok so I've been writing alot of stuff but just haven't had the time to post it up lol. So its gonna go up in massive updates back to back to back to back....you get the point.