text:
Interview with the External Affairs Chair: Toby Zhu talks about selfish altruism, his affinity for pain and the hot & spicy action of gaming
How does Pittsburgh compare to your home city of St. Louis?
At first, I thought Pittsburgh was pretty cool because when I first came to visit Pitt I saw downtown at night, and it was lit. After spending almost two years here, I think I prefer St. Louis a bit more because I am more familiar with what to do in the city and what the weather is going to be like. On average, St. Louis is 10 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than Pittsburgh at any given time. As someone who enjoys the sun and warm weather, I sometimes miss St. Louis weather. However, I still think Pittsburgh is great but STL will always be number one bae for me.
You enjoy playing League of Legends and chess, what do you enjoy most about each?
My main attraction to both of these games is that a player in both, once at a certain skill level, is able to display some hot & spicy action on the playing field. Given that I love showing off my gaming talents, League was the game that I decided I would derive the most enjoyment from crushing the dreams of pre-teenage children over the Internet. With the anonymity of the Internet, I am also able to freely challenge anyone by saying: "Would you like to engage in a 1 versus 1 duel, brethren?" and show off my dominating prowess. The exact feeling appeals to me with regards to chess, since a vast number of 12 year olds engage in both.
Bioengineering is a tough major, what drew you to it?
I was drawn to bioengineering because I wanted to be the very best like no one ever was, so I thought this would be a true test. BioE seemed like it would provide a much more hands on experience with medicine, as I prefer doing something with my hands rather than learning about it through a textbook. I despise taking any non-science class, so engineering was perfect in that I had to take as little humanities/social science classes as possible. My attraction to math and physics also pointed me in this direction. In addition, I enjoy pain. BioE4lyfe #DietrichSchoolofArtsandCrafts
One of your goals is to become a physician. Can you tell me more about why?
This question sounds like what medical schools are going to ask me all the time in the future. For now, this is my answer. My greatest attraction to medicine is that it is an outlet for me to engage in acts of "selfish altruism". Altruism is defined as a person doing something for another person without any benefit to themselves, and selfish is defined as a person doing something solely for their benefit. Therefore, the term selfish altruism seems contradictory, but I see it as someone doing something for the benefit of others but also deriving some sort of inherent pleasure from that action. For example, as a doctor seeing a patient get better as a result of their efforts is inherently stimulating to my dopamine reward pathway. With both sides of the deal benefitting from the trade, the economic-emotional aspect makes total sense.
What does ASA mean to you?
ASA is pretty chill. It is a place where I have met some of my closest friends and some of my even closer friends. It is a place where I can look around a room and see a hundred people standing around who look just like me, who eat the same food like me, and who I can relate to. ASA is the place where that I go to beef up my Facebook likes by surrounding myself with hunnies. It is also the place that I go to where I can freely have conversation sensitive to Asians and having those around me empathize with what I am feeling. ASA is my home away from home and I don't know what I would do without it.
Interview with the Public Relations Chair: Denise Chow talks about her passion for food, basing life off design and how a costume shop job became so much more
So you're a costume designer for the University of Pittsburgh Theater Department. What got you started in designing costumes?
I was a sophomore in college and I was looking for a job of any kind as long as I was paid or got free healthcare. As I was staring at my computer scrolling through the endless pages of student jobs I came across something named "Costume Shop Assistant" and it caught my attention instantly. Was I entirely sure what "Costume Shop Assistant" meant? No, but that's what made me want to click the link. Essentially, it was to mend and alter costumes for the theater department. I thought to myself "well I can sew, and I bet there are only a handful of people at my university that can so i'll get a leg up on the competition". I applied, met with the manager, and got the job. It was actually my first job, which was exciting, who else can say that their job was to sew costumes.
On my first day of actual work I was so nervous about my sewing abilities that it took me three times as long to hand sew something than normal. From then on I would occasionally fix a costume, but I would mainly organize our closet and put labels on costumes, but I enjoyed it since it was better than cleaning up after college students in the dining halls.
After a couple of months I received more responsibilities and sewed more difficult costumes and got to pick and choose pieces for the actors to try on, some of which were actually used in the show. Then came the project that made me fall in love with costume design. I was given the task to cut out and sew this fur jacket for a musical called "In the Heights". It was something I got to do all by myself from start to finish. After I made it I put it on and pranced around in it and took pictures in it. Then I got to see it on stage for all of three minute, but I didn't care it was mine.
So, when I got to Pitt I knew I had to continue my involvement in costume design. I started volunteering and getting credit for my work. Which led me to assistant designing three shows, an internship in costume design, being the head designer for three other shows, and my closest friend at Pitt. Shoutout to Minjee, you should all follow her on FB @minjeekaycosplay.
I imagine that your home state of California is very different from Pittsburgh. What are you favorite aspects of each place? Is there anything you miss about California when you're here in Pittsburgh?
I feel like I have been spoiled by living in Southern California and now I'm realizing that now that I don't live there, but Pittsburgh has its perks.
Pittsburgh is much more compact of a city than the area I live in. Everything is closer and easy to get to without a car, which is great because I don't have a car. I like that I can travel by bus to different neighborhoods and communities and get away from where I spend 95% of my time. I really enjoy going to Lawrenceville and the Southside. There are also parks here like Schenley and Frick where you can actually go walking and light hiking in. These small little forests you can't get where I live unless you travel to a national park. Here in Pittsburgh, I can walk 15 and be in one and take the bus and 30 mins later I'm in a larger one.
I feel that when you're from Southern California you are from more than just the city that you live in. I have had the opportunity to travel and explore all over the Los Angeles area and beyond, especially since we travel by car to get anywhere.
There is also such a high diversity of people, areas, and food that I've missed since living in Pittsburgh. I am so lucky to have grown up around different types of people whether it is their ethnicity, opinions, sexual orientations, and beyond.
The most obvious aspect I miss about California is the weather. I don't hate the snow but I don't like long extended periods of winter. I need to wear shorts and sandals at least half of the year to survive!?
What made you decide to go vegan? How does it change the way you live your life? What are your favorite spots to eat here in Pittsburgh?
Partially because I thought it would be fun and a challenge but also because as I grew up my stomach couldn't handle a lot of foods. I would get stomach aches a lot from milk products due to allergies, and they got worse over the years so just cut out milk. Then I tried a few vegan restaurants and I really enjoyed them so I debated on going vegan. It wasn't too difficult because I never liked meat that much, but I ate it because my parents cooked it. I usually only liked it covered in sauce or fried. Most prominently, I was not a fan of steak, I know how odd. I just never liked the taste of it and interestingly enough I've never had an In 'n' Out burger.
It's not difficult to be vegan if you cook yourself, there are tons of great recipes online and a ton of products you can buy at the grocery store too, they're called vegetables. The most difficult part about being a vegan is going out to eat with friends. In Pittsburgh, there aren't many vegan or vegan friendly restaurants so I need to be careful where I go and accommodate who I am eating with. Usually people are really nice about it, which is great and saves friendships.
Finding new vegan restaurants in different places is one of my favorite things to do, and I have found great places around Pittsburgh to get vegan food. If you are going out with your super meat eating carnivores Piper's Pub is the best. It's an Irish pub in the Southside that serves gigantic hearty meals that pair well with beer and have great vegan options. There is also this great pizza place called Spak Brothers. They have pizza, wings, sandwiches for vegans and non-vegans. But, if you want breakfast or brunch and an expensive bill Coca Cafe in Lawrenceville is the best, it's everything you expect out of the hipster neighborhood.
This is your last semester of college! If you could give your freshman self some advice, what would it be?
First and foremost, never ever transfer universities, it can be a terrible experience. I don't regret transferring but the process is straining, annoying, and stressful during and while you're at your new university. Although if you do want to, make sure you have a really good reason to, and a reason that you believe in.
My other advice is incredibly typical but, do something while at college. College is nothing if you don't do anything with it. You can't expect to have fun or a rewarding experience if you just sit around. If you want the "college experience" join clubs, organizations, sports, sororities, fraternities, whatever it may be just do something. Also, do something that you aren't already doing or pursuing in your major. Be apart of something that you dreamed of as a kid, pursue a passion. I was lucky to find costume design and it has made my college experience 1000 times better.
You're a marketing major and want to get into advertising. What about advertising is appealing to you?
I came into college having no idea what I wanted to do, but I knew I didn't want to pursue science, engineering, or the liberal arts. That left me with art and business, and I was too scared to pursue art so I chose business. 3 years ago I wanted to create my own clothing line so I thought a business degree would be helpful for that, and the most creative sector in business is marketing.
From there I still didn't know what I wanted to do, I just went along the path I was supposed to go on. Not until last year did I figure out I wanted to do advertising. I didn't realize that my entire life was based off of design. Fashion designer, Interior Designer, Mini Martha Stewart (without jail time), these were all designed based goals.
I stumbled across graphic design in November 2014, and what I was doing wasn't even close to design. I was interested and wanted to learn more. I began truly teaching myself in June 2015, reading books, watching videos, and most importantly constantly designing things no matter how silly. Throughout this process I found Art Direction, which is designing a message with the coordination of graphic designers, copywriters, and other people too. I liked the idea of this and I have working towards a job in it.
What are you planning to do after college? Long term goals?
What I'm planning on doing is making money. I am applying to a bunch of jobs and internships in advertising over the next few weeks and maybe months. Most of them are in the Los Angeles area, but I'm okay with most big cities on the west coast.
Well, in the near to distant future I hope to be making a lot of money to fuel my obsession with eating. But honestly, when I think about the future I don't really know where I want to be since I have never been introduced to the real world of advertising outside a classroom. I mean, I could end up hating it or not loving as much as I think I would. I could end up diverting to another career path and loving it even more. So for right now my long term goal is to be happier with myself and to spending every day of my life designing and creating things I am proud of.
Blue hair! Are you gonna keep it blue or change to a different color?
Well I don't exactly have a choice but to keep it blue. What I didn't know is that blue hair dye is the hardest colored hair dye to get out. So, it will be blue-ish until it grows out. I'm trying to wash it out to go back to blonde but it's not working so well. I don't know if i'll keep dying my hair in the future since it's painful to my scalp, but who knows.
What does ASA mean to you?
Even through all of the stress I have had being a part of ASA board, I see ASA as a family. The people that I have met by going to ASA events and getting involved have made my life in Pittsburgh and at Pitt more exciting and enjoyable. If I hadn't gotten out of my shell and had the courage to go to events by myself then I would have never had met certain people. I would have never had the wonderful experiences that further shaped me as a person. I wouldn't have people to vent to, to gossip with, to eat delicious food with, to go to concerts with, to eat too many oreos with, to forget to give Christmas presents to, and to be friends with for the rest of my life.
Interview with the Advocacy Chair: Alyssa LaGuerta Talks the importance of Family, speaking up and an inspiring trip to the gynecologist
You're interested in women, sexuality and gender studies. What about the field draws your curiosity?
Awkwardly enough it was my first trip to a gynecologist's office that sparked my thinking about topics surrounding gender, sexuality, and reproductive health. This first trip was a result of destructive habits that started because of a distorted body image created from the pressures of playing competitive sports all my life, which I think is an unfortunately uncommon experience. It was definitely scary (and hard to admit) but it's what truly inspired me to become a medical provider one day. It's been humbling to learn about this subject through academia and personal experiences, especially since it's a topic that my religious and cultural backgrounds have always taught me to think of as taboo.
You mentioned that you played sports, what were you involved in?
My mom drove the typical "soccer mom van" and through the years has driven me to swim meets, soccer games, and basketball tournaments all over the East coast. However, the sport I loved the most was the one I developed a passion for on my own: running. It's both my preferred form of stress relief and exercise. Running a full marathon is one of the biggest goals on my bucket list.
Who are your role models? Are there any who stand out in particular?
My parents are by far the biggest role models in my life. They came to this country with nothing and worked hard to give my brother and I everything we could ever need. I feel like this amazing accomplishment achieved by many immigrant parents isn't acknowledged enough. I wish to be at least half as hardworking as they are in my future. Thank you Mom and Dad (if you're reading this I love you).
Family is such an integral part of Filipino life. Have you created a "family" here at Pitt?
A lot of the people I consider as my family aren't genetically related to me at all. This is mostly due to the fact that the majority of my relatives live in the Philippines, so my family was forced to create a new family in America. I came to Pitt not knowing a single person. My culture has taught me a lot about hospitality and how to easily create bonds with people through shared experiences. In this way, I've created many little different families here at Pitt, and I'm so grateful for each of them.
You're such a bright person! Where do you get all your energy?
Coffee and 5-hour energy shots are my main energy supply. Just kidding! And thank you! I have a "fake it till you make it mentality" to the point where you'll frequently find me sleep-deprived and still smiling. I figure I can either whine about all the things I have to get done, or I can just do them in a somewhat light-hearted manner. I try my hardest to always choose the latter option. It also helps that I have amazing friends who always keep me in check and help to remind me that my problems are nothing compared to those of someone less fortunate. Life is good :)
What does the position of advocacy chair mean to you?
My definition of advocacy is an action in order to help make a change either for something you believe in or something you disagree with. Growing up as a first-generation Asian-American female, I was taught that I shouldn't speak up or talk back. I was taught to not draw attention to myself, follow the rules, and conform to society to maintain a certain reputation. I never saw an Asian person in the media. I never knew of the violence, racism, sexism, and other injustices people faced. I'm thankful to say that the above statements no longer hold truth in my life, and I am blessed with the opportunity to shed light on the causes of the Asian-American community and those of other communities on Pitt's campus.
Written by Allie Robinson '17:
At times it becomes easy to evaluate our world from an ethnocentric point of view. People begin to criticize other ways of living based off experiences in their own culture; however, the world is made up of many different customs and people, and usually they have logical reasoning for why they do things a certain way. When traveling to another country, one might experience culture shock-- a disoriented feeling due to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes. The Spanish lifestyle definitely differs from the American lifestyle in multiple ways.
For starters, it is a much more relaxed way of living. In America, everything is rushed: we wake up in the morning and throw some clothes on. Running late for the third day this week, we jump in our cars, hopefully make it to the Starbuck's drive-through before it gets too crowded, and perhaps make it to work on time. On the other hand, Spain runs on a laid-back schedule. Quite often, people will run 10-15 minutes late to events (especially social gatherings), and it is perfectly acceptable. Additionally, it is uncommon for Spaniards to take a coffee to go or to order take out; even at the McDonald's most people eat in.
In Spain, people cherish the time they have socializing with friends and often stay at the restaurant or cafe for an hour or two. The service at restaurants is also different from the United States. Waiters usually come over only a total of three times: to take orders, to bring drinks, and to bring food. After the meal, it is the customer's job to flag the waiter down for the bill, and usually the waiters will not separate the checks. In America, if the waiter is inattentive, it is thought that the waiter is not doing his/her job well; however, in Spain, it is rude if the waiter comes over too many times and brings the bill without being asked because it seems the waiter is rushing them, eagerly awaiting their departure.
Furthermore, the eating times in Spain are different from the United States. Lunch is normally from 1:00-3:00 p.m., and dinner is around 9:00-11:00 p.m. The common foods to eat for each meal also differ. For breakfast, it is normal to have a ton of carbs, mostly in the form of bread. Lunch is usually the biggest meal of the day, and sometimes Spaniards have paella, stew, chicken wings, or fish. For dinner, many go out to restaurants and order tapas, or appetizers. In addition to meal hours being different, there is a siesta time from 2:00-5:00 p.m., where almost everything shuts down besides a few of the touristy shops and a few restaurants. Also, nearly everything is closed on Sunday.
Additionally, a few other major adjustments from the United States are the quietness of the daily commute, the excitement of the nightlife, the closeness of the interactions, and the worth of appearance. In contrast to Port Authority buses, local riders are practically silent; however, in the center at night, the streets are always filled with chatter and laughter from women wearing dresses or skirts with leggings, a blouse and nice pants, and other extremely presentable outfits, and men wearing a button-down with fitting pants and a belt, or a sweater. Locals are never seen wearing sweatpants and very rarely wearing shorts. Scarves are also extremely popular with both genders. Women tend to wear boots or heels, despite the cobblestone roads, and men usually wear nicer shoes (rather than athletic wear) such as loafers or nice sneakers.
At night, it is common to see people of all ages out late. Many people go out for dinner around 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. and many younger people go to the clubs around 1:30 a.m. and dance the night away until around 5:00 or 6:00 a.m. on the weekends. Also in Spain, personal space is not nearly as big of a deal as it is in the United States. Strangers meeting each other for the first time in an informal situation might greet each other with "dos besos," or a light cheek touch combined with an air kiss and repeated again on the other cheek. This is very common between family, friends, and even acquaintances. Usually females give dos besos to other females and males; however males usually give a one armed hug or a handshake to another male and dos besos to females.
All in all, every country has its own way of doing things and sometimes it just takes some time to get used to; however, it is always important to try to see the customs of other countries from an almost unbiased if not completely unbiased point of view. Many times after people return to their home country they will experience reverse culture shock, which is an emotional and psychological re-adjustment similar to the initial adjustment to going abroad.
Allie is a junior majoring in marketing who is studying abroad in Málaga, Spain this fall semester.
Interview with the Vice President: Ja-Way Wang talks long island pizza, love for hip-hop culture and creativity as a lifestyle
So you're a proud New Yorker. How did growing up there influence you?
I would say that had I not grown up in New York, I wouldn't have the ambitions that I have now. There's that twinkle-in-the-eye association with Manhattan that everybody in the world makes when you say you're from New York and I think that I've been heavily influenced by that hype and the forefront innovation that is happening in the City. Though I'm not from the City, I visit pretty frequently and I take its vibes and high-standards with me wherever I go.
At heart, I'm still a Long Island kid. I've spent my entire childhood in a predominantly white, predominantly middle and upper-middle class town called Port Jefferson where Anthony's Pizza, which unfortunately shut down recently, became my standard for good pizza, and athletes were heralded as heroes. Fitting in, as one of a handful of Asian kids, was the only thing I wanted growing up and I think that really influenced the way I live my life.
Pittsburgh is very unlike New York City, What are your favorite spots in the 412?
I'm a foodie so the first spots that come to mind are eateries. Gaucho's in the Strip District is a stand out and serves high quality and mouth-watering barbeque meat. Something I enjoy thoroughly about Pittsburgh is the half-price late night food you can get around. I really enjoy going to Fuel and Fuddle in Oakland and Stack'd in Shadyside for their half-off deals.
I also really enjoy going over to Carnegie Mellon for events once in a while. Some of the students there give off an ambitious, crazy hard-working, creative vibe that I don't see as much of at Pitt. To be honest, I haven't done justice to exploring the many neighborhoods that make up Pittsburgh. Like my friend Thanh once said, Pittsburgh is a place where you have to find go out and actively find cool places and I'll slowly keep exploring in my free time.
What music are you listening to at the moment? Favorite artists? Favorite song?
I've been obsessed with Ta-ku's summer release album Songs to Make Up To. The first track Hopeful on that album gives me goosebumps every time. Ta-ku's recent work is so vibey and raw and I really look up to him as not just a musician, but as a creative pushing the limits of self-expression and through that, service to people. I'm also really digging Mac Miller's new album GO:OD AM. A lot of great tracks off that album. Really digging ROS and Ascension. The warped organ instrumental in Weekend is to die for.
What about hip-hop attracts you to the culture? How would you describe your love for rap?
Hip-hop stands for the oppressed and the voiceless coming together to express themselves and their struggles in a way that is beautiful. As an Asian American kid who never quite fit in, I've been living an identity crisis my entire life and rap music spoke to me in way that showed me I wasn't alone in my struggles. As Lupe Fiasco's says "hip-hop just saved my life". There're a handful of artists I really admire and look up to who have influenced the way I live my life. But aside from rap, I love all the traditional pillars of hip-hop including, breakdancing, DJing and graffiti, and also how it's expanded into fashion. Hip-hop is lens in which I see the world and when I write bars on my phone or in my notebook, I feel part of a movement that is changing the world, just by being myself.
You've been accumulating a lot of shoes recently. At what point did you figure out you have an obsession with sneakers? Was it one specific shoe?
It started with a desire to update my wardrobe. I have a lot of preppy clothes left over from high school and I felt like they didn't represent who I was. My obsession started when I purchased my all red Chuck Taylor All-Rubber Converses. The all red shoe trend instigated by Kanye's release of his "Red October" Air Yeezy IIs is to blame for this, but I wanted a waterproof shoe that was going to give my winter outfits some personality. After walking around in them and turning a lot of heads, I realized that sneakers were going to be something that would define my wardrobe.
You've mentioned that you have several role models. Are there any in particular that stand out in your mind?
I've always had a lot of role models. I think those who have influenced me the most are my peer mentors, through every stage of my life. Like I said earlier there are a handful of rappers that I look up to like Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino and most notably Dumbfoundead, the premier Asian American rapper at the moment. I also really admire Sophia Chang, a freelance illustrator, designer and creative based in Queens, NY well known for her #bun hash tag. She's just doing everything I find awesome, from collaborating with well-known street wear brands to working with street wear magazines, to designing her own shoes (her Brooklynite collection with Puma is awesome), to illustration and modeling. Another role model that stands out in my mind is Andres Iniesta, the Spanish soccer player, and my all-time favorite player. His playing is so majestic, and he is so humble as a human being.
How does creativity tie into your self-expression?
Creativity is what makes me tick. It's a way of life. It's the most important part of self-expression. Creating something that is functional and represents who I am is what I live for, whether that's taking inspiration from existing works and changing it to something that represents me or creating something completely from scratch. I think that creativity also ties into my constant dreaming. I'm someone who has always his head stuck in the clouds, for better or for worse and having the space to be able to express myself is something I am constantly fighting for. Take that away from my and I have nothing.
What's your favorite social media platform and why?
I'm always on social media. I'm a visual learner and I get a lot of inspiration from Tumblr and Instagram. I'm on Facebook quite a lot on a daily basis, something I'm not proud of, but I do get a lot of exposure to AAPI related articles and issues as well as hip-hop and street wear related posts on my news feed via the pages I follow. I'm always on YouTube and enjoy exploring Soundcloud for new music and artists to listen to.
You're always posting articles on Facebook about the Asian American experience. What fuels your passion for AAPI issues? Why do you care so much about issues that don't seem to be relevant to you?
I think my childhood set the stage for my passion for furthering Asian American identity. As someone who doesn't fit well with white upper-middle class culture nor the Asian upper-middle class stereotype of wanting to become a doctor or lawyer and make tons of money to support a family, nor the FOB Asian culture, I think I've come to a point where I want to join those who are trying to trail blaze Asian American identity, as not just a combination of just Asian and American, but push the boundaries of what it means to be "Asian American". I've been trapped by so many categorizations and stigmas and stereotypes and I've just become sick of having to conform to something I cannot fully identify with.
Three years ago, when I heard Trayvon Martin was murdered by George Zimmermann, I honestly didn't care too much about it because it didn't relate to me. I wasn't black and I wasn't in Florida, nor was it likely that something like that would ever happen to me. But over the last couple of years I realized that the only way to break away from boundaries set by a white majority culture is for all those who are oppressed to come together and love one another, because we're all fighting the same system. Instantly the murder of black youth became my issue because injustice because of one race is representative of a greater societal problem that includes me.
Do you have any advice on how to start exploring Asian-American identity?
If you want to explore identity, you have to get to a place where you understand for yourself why it's so important to you and why you need to explore it. As I said earlier, I'm always on social media and I think something that sparked my passion was seeing Wong Fu Productions' video "Yellow Fever". Seeing Asian American's like me on screen was the most exciting thing to me and I still today continue to watch Asian American content on YouTube because they bring up relevant questions that I can ask myself. Another thing is to read articles or books. Angry Asian Man Blog is a great place to find relevant content on a large range of AAPI topics and issues and those too get you to think about yourself. At the end of the day, it's not about "finding your Asian side" or "being more in touch with your culture." It's about finding out who you are because you being Asian in and of itself is already impacting the way AAPIs are being perceived in this country.
What do you have planned for the next couple years?
I've been meaning to drop a mixtape for sometime now, but have been busy. Hopefully I will get back into it soon and release within the next year. I've been exploring career options and am thinking of going to graduate school for industrial design.
Interview with the President: Dylan McNulty talks about adoptee identity, lessons from the gym and ASA beginnings
How did you get involved with ASA?
Something along the lines of getting chased down the street by the infamous AIV flier-ers. This led to inconsistent visits to AIV, which led to consistent visits to AIV, which led to my involvement with the Asian and Asian-American communities, at least socially. Sometime during this period, a friend (shout-out to Thanh Truong) asked me to help her get some donated foods from some sketchy garage in the WPU. This led to some involvement with Shuqi Xiao's Public Relations Committee, which led to increased attendance of ASA events, which again led to more involvement with the Asian and Asian-American communities. Somewhere along this long and convoluted road, I became inspired to run for board positions these past two years.
Looking back, the entire process seems absolutely bizarre. I'm not sure if it was random, or if there was some sort of plan for me all along. Regardless, those crazy AIV kids had a huge impact on what my future in college would pan out to be, and I'll always be grateful for it.
Now that you're president of the largest Asian-focused organization at Pitt, what kind of influence do you hope to have on campus?
That's weird to hear. (Or read, I guess.) These past few months, I've mostly thought about what I want for this organization as an institution, for its members, or about how funny it is that some Korean adoptee from an overwhelmingly white background is the President of the Asian Students Alliance. (This is actually the second time that this has happened at Pitt, to the best of my knowledge.) But I haven't really thought about what influence that I, as an individual, hope to have as figurehead of this organization.
If anything, I'd like to be able to meet with University administrators and voice legitimate concerns of our members. If we feel that there is not enough University-facilitated cultural programming, or if adequate resources to provide for this programming on our own are being withheld, the President of the Asian Students Alliance should really be able to say, simply, "This is what we need, and we want to work with you to make it happen." Plain and simple. And, to the University's credit, I do feel that there is some degree of room for us, and for now, for me, to do that. But the problem is that there is a discouraging amount of bureaucratic red tape surrounding the process that ultimately creates the image that the aforementioned is impossible. The recent creation of the Hail to Diversity Council stands to combat this process.
To that effect, this may be the year to test the waters of change, and, in doing so, communicate to those of true power the inefficacy of the system that we, as leaders of student organizations, work in.
How has growing up as a Korean Adoptee influenced you?
This is a tough question to answer, not because I don't have an answer, but because it's hard to put a big part of your heart and who you are out there on blast, you know?
I wouldn't say my story or situation is too far off from that of other Korean adoptees. We typically land in all-white communities with little to no interaction with other Asians, and especially not Asian adoptees. I also had to have landed in the only family, of any ethnicity, that doesn't like or eat Asian food. This was especially unfortunate for me, because I love Asian food – but I don't think I'd ever even been out for Korean until I was sixteen. I'd come home to one of my friend's houses who told her parents that I'd never been out for Korean, at which point they dropped everything and took me out for my first meal. (Shout-out to Mr. and Mrs. Wu, you two will always be in my heart.)
Getting back on track, though, it's not easy. You're more or less the only Asian kid at your school, at your church, in your home, and just about the only one you know. You're different, in more ways than one, and other people tend to take notice, sometimes not in the best of ways. You know, there are people that are mean about it, and then there are people who don't really get it. I remember going away to camp and having people not understand that my brother, who is my parents' biological son, was in fact my brother. I'd just gotten around to saying that we were stepbrothers, not because it was true, but because it was just easier for people to understand at that age. But what doesn't really change, no matter what your age, is that it's hard to get most people to know where you're coming from, which makes sense, because most people aren't like you. But it doesn't make existing as this kind of "irregularity" any easier. And it feels lonely, sometimes, you know?
You think that getting to high school, where the population is a little more diverse, will make things better for you. But you start talking to the Asian kids and you're white to them. You know, there's this line from one of the pieces on Drake's last album that goes, "I used to get teased for being black, and now I'm here and I'm not black enough." And I sympathized with that. It's funny, W.E.B. Du Bois actually also talked about this kind of "double consciousness." If anything, it was hard not feeling like I was really part of anything, of any one group.
I guess what I'm really trying to point out here is that my identity – especially my cultural identity – has been confusing, even painful. I wasn't really even in tune with my culture until I came here, and I think that's what's made all the difference for me as I continue to work out that part of who I am. And while I do understand that, in the long run, I'm some less than some irrelevant speck on our timeline, I can't put into words how appreciative I've been of my experiences here.
You're a busy man, always juggling school and work responsibilities, what do you like to do when you have some free time?
Sleep. It's usually what gets lost in the juggling.
How has working out at the gym affected your lifestyle?
I feel like I really only got into lifting at all because my dad was always so involved – he's still stronger than I am in a lot of lifts, even at 55. It takes up a lot of my time, but at the end of the day, it's a good thing, it keeps me healthy. A lot of times I'll hear from people that my time at the gym could be better spent, especially as a student. But I will always argue that the gym has acted as an important teacher, more so than any professor I've had thus far.
The gym has taught me a lot about work. Consistent and intelligent effort over time yields results. In the gym, there really aren't any shortcuts, at least none that are safe. The same can be said about life. At the end of the day, you learn that there's only one way, and that's the right way. Don't look for shortcuts, and don't make excuses. To that end, a lot of people make excuses and quit when they don't see the results that they want. Progress doesn't look like a consistent line upwards, there's a lot of up-and-down involved. If you see something doesn't work over an extended period of time, tweak it until you find something that does work. You can change what you're doing, just never stop doing.
What are some of your favorite TV shows?
I think I've always been one for cartoons – I think that they tend grasp a viewer in some way that a live-action broadcast rarely does anymore. (First things first, RIP Uncle Phil.) Bojack Horseman is definitely a new favorite. I think it's very similar to Regular Show, in the sense that, up front, the two shows seem like some goofy, messed-up reality worlds where humans and animals live side-by-side and talk to each other like it's normal. And that's because they are. But underneath all of that, the characters touch on some deep subject areas that really hit you, because the problems that a lot of the characters deal with on the show are real, whether it's an obvious relationship or something where you have to read between the lines. If anything, I feel that relatability is what makes or breaks any creative output in terms of this basal construct – that goes for television, music, and other outlets.
All things considered, I'm not sure if my relation to cartoon characters is a testament to the low-key complexity of the characters, or to my own immaturity.
You're a fashionable guy and have worked a lot in retail, what about fashion interests you?
I'd say that design in general interests me – there's something about people's ability to create something with a meaning underlying function that I truly envy. In this way, a creator has the freedom to express themselves in a way that very few of us are ever able to. That being said, I'm interested in just about any kind of creative output where functionality and expression intersect – fashion, architecture, and beyond.
Speaking for fashion specifically, people are given the opportunity to move further along this spectrum of "creating." Again, most people won't be "creators," but they can use the products of creators to express themselves in a very similar way. In this sense, "fashion," or "style," is a way of expressing yourself on the daily, of making "creating," no matter the degree, manageable. (It also makes you look good.)
Wilson Chan and joji Bronner talk getting lost, freedom and Identity Through biking
When did you get into biking seriously?
WC: At first it was a mode of transportation, I never thought I would be like "Oh, I will do this because I enjoy it," it was more like "Oh, it's because I live in Sutherland, and it's easier." It didn't start as a passion. At first it started as a need and then developed into a passion.
So what pushed it from need to passion?
WC: The fact that I found it enjoyable. I come from suburban Jersey and never found a need for biking because you can't really bike from place to place. Though getting from place to place is useful, it is exhilarating when you're biking with cars. I don't know, I find it enjoyable when you're weaving through cars for the thrill. It's exciting when you're going 25-30 mph on a two wheel metal frame with no protection at all.
JB: I think I'm the same as Wilson. It started out as just a mode of transportation. I lived in Japan and there my family didn't have a car, so my main modes of transportation were bus, train or bike. 90% of the time, me and my brothers would bike around Japan. I was always interested in biking because that's what I had to do growing up.
When I moved to the states, I grew up in a rural area, so I didn't really bike because there was no reason to. You had to go to places with a car. Once I came to Pittsburgh, I could bike again, because places were closer.
Where are your favorite places to ride to in Pittsburgh?
WC: Schenley Park, but I would say anything downhill, anything fast, anything smooth. When I was younger, I got this long board and in suburban Jersey you can't really long board from place to place, but I still loved the idea of going on some sort of adventure and in that moment you don't have to worry about anything else but, well not survival, but to find your way. I would long board until I got lost, and I would keep long boarding until I got out of it. And in that I created a kind of challenge for myself in that all I had to do was to find my way out. I guess, yeah there's part of that in biking. All you have to do is not get hit by a car and you can't really afford to worry about anything else. Say for example I have a test coming up, you don't think, "I have a test coming up". When it's so basic and when survival is all you have to worry about, it becomes so raw. You don't have anything else to worry about and it's those moments that we want, where you only have one goal and focus. Especially in college, it's hard to get that sometimes.
College is so fast paced and we often get lost in it, you getting lost in something else that is actually fast paced, and it takes you out of that world.
JB: I don't necessarily have a favorite, but I guess the Alleghany trail is nice. I just like exploring, without knowing where you're going. Also is fun when you go all the way uphill because you know you're going to go down hill sometime.
Going off of this idea of exploring, what parts of Pittsburgh have you seen or have been exposed to in a different way on a bike that you wouldn't have seen otherwise?
WC: When you take public transport, you don't really pay attention to where you're going. You just trust that it's taking you somewhere, but when you're biking, you have to find that route. And half the time when me and Joji go biking, we don't have a goal of where we're going. We either make it up on the spot or just go to a place we don't know. I think the excitement of going someplace new is getting lost and exploring Pittsburgh's lost treasures. Most of Pittsburgh is something you have to explore for yourself.
So what are some of Pittsburgh's lost treasures?
WC: Half the time when we go biking, we wouldn't have been there if we didn't have our bikes, like a trail or something. If we were to walk, we would probably take public transport. Like when we went to waterfront, we saw so much more than we would have if we took public transport.
JB: Biking really helps you get out of the Oakland Bubble. I feel like a lot of people stick to Oakland and maybe downtown, but don't really explore anywhere else. One, it's too far to walk. Two, with Port Authority, it takes time to wait. Unless you have a goal or destination, you don't want to go somewhere, whereas with a bike, you don't need a destination you just say, "I just want to explore" and you go for it. Also me and[Kevin] Jiang did the underwear bike ride, which was really fun, and a lot of people participate in it, probably more than 1000 people participate in it, and you just go there in your underwear and you feel really free. You go to really cool places, like the Duquesne Tunnel and bridges and you see other Pittsburgh spots. It's a really good atmosphere.
There's an aspect of DIY customizability that comes with biking. Can you speak to that?
WC: Back in high school, I used to be on the swim team, and people knew me as a swimmer you know? People knew me as that person. Once you go to college and you don't do something like that that people know you as, you get to reinvent your identity. That's what I did with biking. People know me as "Oh Wilson has a bike." People strive to find their identity in something and I think that's what I found with biking and my man sprout, if you will. When I came into college as a freshman, I was afraid because people know that I've done this, this and this, and part of college is reinventing who you are and having that restart button from high school is something we all kind of need, where we reinvent who we define ourselves as. Lets say in high school I killed someone, but I didn't tell anybody that here. Nobody needs to know that. There's only going to be so much that is going to be carried over from high school, and college allows for that, the fact that you can pick and chose what people know about you. I find enjoyment in being able to create what people think of me.
How does your bike reflect your personality?
JC: My bike is pretty much utilitarian. There's nothing flashy about it, except for the flashing lights I put on my rear wheel, which was for the underwear bike rides when I want to be more visible. I have a rear rack for storage and stuff. I also got a rear rack just in case I go touring. I want to tour across the US and it'll help carry stuff. I want to paint it black so that it's more minimalistic. I like my bikes to be more minimalistic so it matches more with my personality. I don't like stickers and advertising on my bike, I just want all solid colors. I don't want to be labeled. I could say some eloquent mumbo jumbo, but that's not the reason I'm painting it. I just like the solid look. I like the aesthetic. I like the fact that if it's minimalistic, its easier to match with my outfit and will look better.
WC: I don't know. I just like how it looks! My bike is a track frame, and a fixed gear. A track frame is much more aggressive, so you notice that my seat's higher than my handlebars so you get into a more aggressive riding style, so basically it's built for speed, not for comfort. You're basically this annoying biker who weaves through cars and cars just honk at you. I think there's a sense of thrill that comes with riding on a track fixie bike. It's almost a kind of testament for me need of excitement, some kind of thrill that I can't really get from anything else at the moment. It also speaks to my desire to always find some sort of adventure.
Why did you choose the copper color? And the special back wheel?
WC: It just looks pretty. It just looks nice. It doesn't really serve a different function, it's a little bit heavier but at the same time it's durable and it grabs people's attention. I don't want to be known a just another biker. I want to stand out in some sort of way. I'm not saying I looks great in this bike Even for cars, if they treat me as just another biker, oh they'll blindside me. But if you stand out in some sort of way that is out of the ordinary, it makes you a little safer too.
What places and gear would you recommend to someone who is trying to get into biking?
WC: I recommend building your own fixed gear. Sure it might not be the most practical thing to ride in Pittsburgh because of all the hills, but it definitely gives you a different riding experiences. You feel much more connected to the road because you know how much traction you have on the back wheel. Like if your back wheel slips, your two feel are going to stop moving. I think it's a better riding experience. I feel more in control riding a fixed gear rather than riding a single speed. For beginners maybe don't build your own, and instead buy a completed one for you.
Any particular brands?
WC: No particular brands, anything cheep.
JB: Honestly, if you're a starter, get a used bike on free & for sale or craigslist. I got mine on Craigslist because first if you're a beginner you're not sure if you're going to use your bike that much at first. You don't want to spend too much and then just be like "Oh I guess I don't really use it that much". Secondly, you'll know what to upgrade next time you purchase a bike, instead of going in like "oh I want this one".
WC: It's about getting you know what you like and fitting it into what you want. Making it your own basically
What bike shops do you go to?
JB: There's this place called Kraynicks where people can maintain/fix their bikes for free. All the tools and wrenches and everything are free. The owner sells parts and wheels and he can repair, but her recommends you to do your own repairs because it's free. It's a really nice place to go. It's on Penn Ave in Garfield.
WC: Iron City Bikes, that's where I got my bike built. It is a little bit expensive, and I wouldn't mind being able to built a bike myself. I was actually considering getting a really cheap bike and then putting it together myself and learn how to do it. It's really not hard, it just takes time to do it. The people there know their stuff.
What would you constitute as a good ride?
WC: When you come back feeling exhausted, I like those.
JB: When you almost get hit by a car.
WC: When you get pulled over by cops but they don't give you a ticket. A cop pulled me over because I ran a red light. He's like, "Yo, if you're a bike, be a bike. If you're a car, be a car" and I was like "Officer, sorry sorry sorry!" and it was awkward. Basically if you're a bike stay on the sidewalks, but if you're riding on the road, you're considered a car.
What's the difference between solitary riding and riding in groups?
JB: I think it's mostly solitary or in a small group, because you can't really talk in a large group.
WC: it's either max 4-5 people before gets clunky. It's mostly solitary, but when Joji, Kevin and I went biking it was fun. Again sometimes is better if it's solitary because you're more focused on not getting hit by a car. It's okay either way.
What do you like about Chrome?
WC: They sell stuff that is convenient for bikers basically. My backpack is waterproof and its durable and convenient. I can hold a bike lock on the inside, which is nice. I have a messenger bag that matches with my bike. I also have jacket that is the same color. They also sell stuff that is reflective. 3M is good. It's nice having commuter gear that doesn't look like commuter gear you know?
What is your opinion of bike as associated with hipster culture, style and fashion?
WC: I think it's okay. I'm not bothered by it. Everything you do is advertising something, whether or not it's to other people and even to yourself. Everything you beautiful is advertising something. In fashion, if you're trying to make a fashion statement, you're trying to advertise, "This is my fashion sense? I'm okay with fashion being associated with cycling, it's just a way that people express themselves.
Any plans to as to how you're going to get your next biking fix?
WC: I was thinking of building another one, but it would be pretty expensive, so it might not happen.
JB: I think I'll stick with my bike for a while.
Summer Stories: Brent Go represents Pitt at Riot Games Summit
By Brent Go '17:
My name is Brent Go. I am a Junior studying Information Science and I am a League of Legends Collegiate Organizer at the University of Pittsburgh. In August, I was invited to the annual Riot Games Collegiate Summit where 150 distinguished collegiate organizers were flown out to the Riot Games studio in Los Angeles, CA.
Out of all the collegiate League of Legends organizations across North America that had applied to attend the Collegiate Summit, I was surprised and excited to have been selected to go. The Collegiate Summit was a two-day conference where collegiate organizers from all over North America shared their experiences, solved challenges, and shaped the collegiate program for the upcoming academic year. Most of the Summit consisted of presentations, panels, discussion groups, and feedback sessions.
One of the events was an Ask Me Anything or AMA for short with the creators of League of Legends who really showed that they care about the collegiate League of Legends scene and their vision of the future of competitive electronic sports. Their willingness to answer our questions ranging from personal experiences as leaders in eSports and future goals was especially meaningful to me. I was actually surprised that they took the time to come visit us for the AMA in person. Having the opportunity to ask some of the most powerful people in the video game industry questions about their experiences starting out from a small startup into the most played video game in the world was truly an experience to take advantage of.
Another event was a panel by the head analyst of Team Liquid, a well-known North American League of Legends pro gaming team, whom gave advice on managing a competitive collegiate team ranging from motivating players to keep improving to scouting new players. To me, the most helpful event was the feedback session for organizers to talk to Riot employees about their opinions of the Collegiate Summit and the collegiate League of Legends program in the past year. We were also allowed to voice our opinions of how the program should be changed for the upcoming school year.
In addition to the various number of presentations and panels, I was given the opportunity to socialize and network with other organizers to learn how these other organizers structure their club and what type of events and activities they run with their club. This was especially helpful to me because I could talk to organizers who have similar organization structures and ask how they would approach certain scenarios. Over the course of the two-day conference, I have made a lot of new friends from all over North America. The network I have created with these people has given me even more opportunities for the future.
One of the largest organizations, UBC eSports Association, created a document detailing how to properly structure a large organization. Another document was a sponsorship database including a list of marketing contacts from various large tech companies. As someone who has been following the League of Legends scene for the last 4 years, I am amazed that Riot Games really cares about its player base and is makings strides to help people embrace a gaming culture.
Everything I have learned while attending the Collegiate Summit was very insightful and very applicable towards what I am trying to accomplish at Pitt for the upcoming year. With the conclusion of the Collegiate Summit, it is up to us as leaders to take what we've learned about leadership and management and apply it to our organizations. I am deeply grateful to have been invited out to Los Angeles for the Collegiate Summit and hope to be invited again next year.


text:
Assoc. Prof. Madoka Suzuki and his colleagues have been awarded a research grant (Program Grant) from the Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) for their proposal, "Nanoscale heat transfer phenomena: new paradigm for intra- and intercellular signalling and shaping".
About HFSP (from HFSP website)
"The Human Frontier Science Program is an international program of research support implemented by the International Human Frontier Science Program Organization (HFSPO) based in Strasbourg, France. Its aims are to promote intercontinental collaboration and training in cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research focused on the life sciences. HFSPO receives financial support from the governments or research councils of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Switzerland, UK, USA, as well as from the European Union."
About the project
The team led by Taras Plakhotnik (Australia) in collaboration with Dr. Vadim Zeeb (Russia), Prof. Ellen Birgitte Lane (Singapore) and Dr. Madoka Suzuki (Japan) will study the role of heat in three-dimensional cell shaping and differentiation.
Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
AIDS Channel
Topics & Medications
Related Channels
Megace for Weight Loss
People who have acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and are experiencing weight loss may receive Megace® (megestrol acetate). This prescription drug can help cause weight gain by stimulating the appetite.
AIDS can cause severe anorexia, malnutrition, and an inability to eat. This results in weight loss, muscle wasting, and malnutrition, which further increases the risk for infections and death. Megace can help stimulate appetite in people with AIDS, which can help reverse weight loss. The oral suspension form is approved for this specific use. It is usually taken once daily.
(For more details on how this medicine can help reverse weight loss, click Megace Uses. This full-length article takes a closer look at how this medication can help stimulate appetite in people with AIDS and relieve symptoms of certain types of cancer.)
List of references (click here)
Megace Oral Suspension [package insert]. Princeton, NJ: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Inc.;2012 March.
Megace Tablets [package insert]. Princeton, NJ: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Inc.;2012 March.
Megestrol Acetate Tablet [package insert]. Sellersville, PA: Teva Pharmaceuticals USA;2010 February.
Megestrol Acetate. Drug Facts and Comparisons. Drug Facts and Comparisons 4.0 [online]. 2012. Available from Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. Accessed April 20, 2012.
Written by/reviewed by: Susan Lakey, PharmD, MPH, BCPP
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD


text:
Gas Prices Hit All-Time High, Just Weeks Before Summer Driving Season
Getty Images
The nationwide average for gas now hovers at $3.84 per gallon, up 98 cents from a year ago and 5 cents from last week, according to the Department of Energy.
It is the highest price for gas in the month of April since such data started being collected...in 1990.
ABC reports that the last time gas rose higher than $3.50 a gallon was on Sept. 29, 2008, when the average was $3.63. In comparison, the last time the per gallon price dipped below $2 was on December 20, 2010, when the average was $2.98.
Charles Dewhurst, a national energy practice leader with BDO, told ABC that high gas prices are expected to continue until at least Memorial Day (May 30). The most familiar gas retailers, like Exxon and Shell, will likely profit big time as a result.
"They're also anticipating the prices increases will stay in place if not increase more once we get into peak vacation season," Dewhurst told ABC.
- Five Discoveries to Make at a National Park[AOL Travel]
- 10 Smallest Bars in the World[Fox News]
- The 20 Best Kept Secrets of Washington, D.C.[Budget Travel]
- 10 Best Apps for Hungry (and Thirsty) Travelers[The Daily Meal]
- Visit the World's Most Majestic Forests[Sherman's Travel]


text:
- CBA on
the Issues
- CBA Media
- About
CBA Comment Letter re RFI on the Bureau's Consumer Complaint and Consumer Inquiry Handling Processes
July 16, 2018
VIA Electronic Submission
Monica Jackson
Office of the Executive Secretary
Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection
1700 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20552
Re: Request for information Regarding the Bureau's Consumer Complaint and Consumer Inquiry Handling Processes, Docket No. CFPB-2018-0014
Dear Ms. Jackson,
The Consumer Bankers Association ("CBA") appreciates the opportunity to comment in response to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection's ("Bureau") request for information on the Bureau's Consumer Complaint and Consumer Inquiry Handling Process ("RFI"). The Bureau is seeking comments and information from interested parties to assist in assessing its handling of consumer complaints and consumer inquiries and, consistent with law, considering whether changes to its processes would be appropriate.
CBA and its member institutions fully support the Bureau's mission to provide prompt resolution to consumers' complaint and inquiries. CBA's members are dedicated to complaint resolution and customer satisfaction and believe the goal of the Bureau's complaint data collection ought to be to improve industry performance and service quality, and to provide consumers with an avenue to deal with complaints when the company is unresponsive or is not providing a satisfactory resolution. It should not be used as a way to create disharmony between consumers and the financial services industry. It is important to note that keeping customers satisfied is a vital component of running any business. CBA members strive to ensure customers receive swift and complete review of all complaints and inquiries.
As discussed in our response to the request for information regarding the Bureau's public reporting practices of consumer complaint information, CBA believes the Bureau's efforts should be to ensure every company has a strong complaint resolution process, assist in the resolution of complaints and red flag potential problems for further evaluation. However, the public release of complaint data on the Bureau's Complaint Database ("Database") increases privacy risks to the consumer and offers no value.
Complaint/Inquiry Classification
The Bureau should require consumers to classify their submission affirmatively as a consumer complaint or inquiry prior to submission. Currently, the Bureau does not validate whether a complaint is actually a complaint or just an inquiry by the customer. This includes "complaints" that are not valid indications of the performance of the institution or that do not fit the stated definition of "complaint." The Bureau states the definition of a complaint as the following: "Consumer complaints are submissions that express dissatisfaction with, or communicate suspicion of wrongful conduct by, an identified entity related to a consumer's personal experience with a financial product or service." Categories that might not fall within the definition include:
- Disputes that address issues not affecting the performance of the institution (e.g. roughly 16% of credit card disputes are billing errors; 8% are ID theft/fraud. Often these do not allege wrongdoing by the card issuer),
- Service requests and other inquiries (e.g. consumer's inquiry about the workings of a product or service, provided no allegation of a disclosure or other violation is being made), and
Other examples include instances of consumer frustration, but are not based any wrongdoing by a financial provider. For example, many complaints related to debt collection may be submitted merely because debt is being collected and without any real allegation of wrongful conduct. Other types of complaints do not allege wrongdoing by the institution at all, but are submitted to the Bureau because it advertises itself as a place to send complaints. Billing errors, as previously noted, often do not involve any claim of wrongdoing by a bank and are often quickly resolved once brought to the bank's attention. Yet in some cases consumers will file complaints with the Bureau rather than directly with their bank. Similarly, it is important for consumers to contact their bank about issues of ID theft or fraud, but in most circumstances these are not alleging any wrongdoing by the bank. Instead, they are asking the bank to assist by closing an account or reissuing a card. It is incumbent upon the Bureau to identify these submissions so they do not become complaints merely because they have been entered into the Database.
The Bureau should be clear at the start of what a complaint is and consumers should be guided by a series of prompts that lead the consumer to understand if their issue is in fact a complaint or matter of inquiry. Complaints should then be added to the Database only if they meet the requirements for a complaint. Consumers with inquiries should be prompted to contact their bank directly. Additionally, complaints should only be logged into the Database when the consumer has contacted their bank and has not had their issue resolved to their satisfaction. In other words, consumers should always contact their bank first when they have a complaint or an inquiry. The Bureau should encourage this behavior by posting directions to this extent, highlighted on its home page. This process will result in faster resolution simply by taking the middleman out of the equation. The Bureau should also clarify its role as solely a liaison in the process and ensure customers understand the bank will be responding without guidance from the Bureau. We believe there is often a common misunderstanding in which customers think the Bureau is advocating on their behalf to receive a particular outcome. This provides a false incentive to file first with the Bureau instead of with the bank.
Definition of a Complaint
The Bureau should narrow its definition of complaints. We urge the Bureau to adopt a system of prompts (akin to that on the FTC complaint site) that would help consumers qualify what is a complaint. The current definition is too broad and leads to consumers filing inquiries and basic statements of dissatisfaction that are not based on any wrong-doing or mistake. This system could be accomplished via prompts that will first direct complainants to their bank. For complaints where complainants have already reached out to the bank for assistance, the prompts would guide complainants to the Database. Consumers should also be provided with categories of complaints (i.e. debt collection, credit, fees, etc.) and provided with examples of same.
Complaint Reclassification by Financial Institution
CBA believes the Bureau should develop a process for financial institutions to reclassify consumers' submissions. Regardless of best efforts, some non-complaint filings will be made through the Database. Banks should be able to reclassify these "complaints" as inquires and return them to the Bureau for treatment as such. As a matter of procedure, if the Bureau continues to deem a bank-returned inquiry as a complaint and, therefore, return it to the bank, the 60-day resolution period should be initiated from the time of return to the bank.
Third-Party Submissions
The Bureau should limit third-party complaint filing to those with a legal fiduciary duty (i.e. attorney-client relationship, POA, guardianship, etc.). It should also restrict submissions from third party companies that are aimed at credit repair or debt validation. The Bureau currently allows consumers to authorize someone else (e.g., lawyer, advocate, power of attorney) to submit complaints on their behalf. Allowing persons not bound by a legal responsibility creates privacy and safety and soundness concerns and all third-party filers should be required to submit proof of fiduciary relationship. Otherwise, banks would be required to share highly confidential information with non-fiduciary third parties, creating pricy concerns for customers and compliance concerns for banks. As such, complaints filed by third-parties with no fiduciary relationship should be returned to the filer and closed by the Bureau without marking the submission as a complaint.
Solicitation of Complaints
The Bureau should discontinue its practice of soliciting "complaints" from consumers via its website and written materials. The current process encourages consumers to file "complaints," again, an overly broad term, directly with the Bureau. Filing of inquires in the Database inflates the overall reported complaints numbers, giving a false impression of complaint activity.
Consumer Inquiry Processes
All consumer inquiries should be directed by the Bureau to the financial institution. As previously discussed, the Bureau should place a referral statement on their website that would direct inquiries to their bank directly. Inquiry submission by mail, email, or any other channel should prompt the Bureau to direct the consumer directly to their financial institution. Inquiries should never be collected and distributed by the Bureau as it is an unnecessary process that delays resolution and confuses consumers. This information would be useless and burdensome to all parties and would require the Bureau to log inquires when they should be handled directly by financial institutions. However, CBA believes web chat functionality could help filter inquiries from complaints and provide for faster resolution of both.
* * * * * *
Again, CBA greatly appreciates the opportunity to share our thoughts and to work with the Bureau on these and other important issues. Please do not hesitate to reach out to CBA directly at firstname.lastname@example.com or 202-552-6368 should you need anything further.
David Pommerehn
Associate General Counsel and Vice President
Consumer Bankers Association


text:
President Donald Trump has only been in office for less than a week, and he's already made it very clear he will be the opposite of a champion for climate change reform. But despite his recent gag orders on the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it appears one very bold social media manager for South Dakota's Badlands National Park has refused to stay silent — and whoever it is has quickly become the internet's newest hero.
On Tuesday, the Twitter account for Badlands National Park — a subsidiary of the National Park Service, which was ordered to stop posting to Twitter last week after retweeting a couple less-than-favorable posts about the new administration — appeared to go rogue, and started tweeting out rapid-fire facts about climate change.
About four hours later, the tweets had been deleted — but not before going massively viral, with many applauding Badlands National Park for sharing such terrifying statistics and taking such a strong stance against the current administration's views (or lack thereof) on climate change.
Before long, the person behind the tweets — who Buzzfeed reports was "a former employee who was not currently authorized to use the park's account" — became a hero on Twitter for choosing to risk their job in the name of tweeting science.
As Mother Jones points out, it's actually not too unusual that Badlands National Park tweeted about climate change. In fact, they tweet about it all the time — as proven by a few examples below from the past month alone (screenshotted just in case they get taken down, too).
But what is unusual is that Badlands National Park would delete their tweets — and so far, it has raised some major red flags about government censorship.
At this time, neither the White House nor Badlands National Park has released an official statement about what exactly happened behind the scenes that caused the tweets to be removed — but a National Parks official claims, "The park was not told to remove the tweets but chose to do so when they realized that their account had been compromised."
Updated 1/25 at 8:30 p.m.: It appears a couple other national parks have taken a cue from Badlands and also started going rogue on Twitter.
On Monday, Golden Gate National Park Service tweeted a NASA and NOAA report about climate change which states that "2016 was the hottest year on record for the third year in a row."
Meanwhile, Death Valley National Park offered several tweets about Japanese internment camps during the 1940s, seemingly in response to the news that Trump intends to enact a Muslim registry.
Follow Gina on Twitter.


text:
Wordless Wednesday: Spring Break Cleaning!
Snow + Scrub Brush + Stool + Spring Break = very inexpensive car detailing!
(the kids did a great job on 3 out of 4 floor mats before we got side-tracked with some driveway hockey. I got to be goalie!)
Category: Being Green, Wednesday Artsy and Crafty


text:
Sorted by relevance. Sort by session.
Plenum Healer: offering metaphysical healing
Support lo1.info by shopping at Amazon *
* (Works on shipped orders placed within 24 hours for items not already in cart.)
3.11 ▶ Questioner: Was the pyramid then built by the mutual action of many of your people?
Ra: I am Ra. The pyramids which we thought/built were constructed from thought-forms created by our social memory complex.
59.21 ▶ Questioner: Is the pyramid shape that Jim has constructed in our yard functioning properly? Is it aligned properly and built properly?
Ra: I am Ra. It is built within good tolerances though not perfect. However, its alignment should be as this resting place for maximum efficacy.
3.12 ▶ Questioner: Then the rock was created by thought in place rather than moved from somewhere else? Is that correct?
Ra: I am Ra. We built with everlasting rock the Great Pyramid, as you call it. Other of the pyramids were built with stone moved from one place to another.
14.6 ▶ Questioner: I understood you to say in an earlier session that pyramids were built to ring the Earth. How many pyramids were built?
Ra: I am Ra. There are six balancing pyramids and five two, fifty-two [52] others built for additional healing and initiatory work among your mind/body/spirit social complexes.
2.4 ▶ Questioner: Yes. You mentioned that the pyramids were an outgrowth of this. Could you expand a little bit on— Were you responsible for the building of the pyramid, and what was the purpose of the pyramid?
Ra: I am Ra. The larger pyramids were built by our ability using the forces of One. The stones are alive. It has not been so understood by the mind/body/spirit distortions of your culture. The purposes of the pyramids were two:
Firstly, to have a properly oriented place of initiation for those who wished to become purified or initiated channels for the Law of One.
Two, we wished then to carefully guide the initiates in developing a healing of the people whom they sought to aid and the planet itself. Pyramid after pyramid charged by the crystal and initiate were designed to balance the incoming energy of the One Creation with the many and multiple distortions of the planetary mind/body/spirit. In this effort we were able to continue work that brothers within the Confederation had effected through building of other crystal-bearing structures and thus complete a ring, if you will, of these about the Earth's, as this instrument would have us vibrate it, surface.
This instrument begins to lose energy. We ask for one more query or subject and then we shall take our leave for this time/space.
58.10 ▶ Questioner: Would the pyramid shape work just as well right side up as upside down with respect to the surface of the Earth, assuming the magnetic alignment was the same in both cases?
Ra: I am Ra. We do not penetrate your query. The reversed shape of the pyramid reverses the effects of the pyramid. Further, it is difficult to build such a structure, point down. Perhaps we have misinterpreted your query.
66.25 ▶ Questioner: Now, you mentioned the problems with the action in the King's Chamber of the Giza-type pyramid. I am assuming if we used the same geometrical configuration that is used at the pyramid at Giza this would be perfectly all right for the pyramid placed beneath the head since we wouldn't be using the King's Chamber radiations but only the third spiral from the top, and I'm also asking would it be better to use a 60° apex angle than the larger apex angle? Would it provide a better energy source?
Ra: I am Ra. For energy through the apex angle the Giza pyramid offers an excellent model. Simply be sure the pyramid is so small that there is no entity small enough to crawl inside it.
74.17 ▶ Questioner: I assume that the reason that the rituals that have been used previously are of effect is that these words have built a bias in consciousness of those who have worked in these areas so that those who are of the distortion of mind that we seek will respond to the imprint in consciousness of these series of words. Is this correct?
Ra: I am Ra. This is, to a great extent, correct. The exception is the sounding of some of what you call your Hebrew and some of what you call your Sanskrit vowels. These sound vibration complexes have power before time and space and represent configurations of light which built all that there is.
57.30 ▶ Questioner: The dangerous pyramid shape for use today would be a four-sided pyramid that was large enough to create the King's Chamber effect. Is that statement correct?
Ra: I am Ra. This statement is correct with the additional understanding that the 76° apex angle is that characteristic of the powerful shape.
57.13 ▶ Questioner: Is there currently any use for the pyramid shape at all that is beneficial?
Ra: I am Ra. This is in the affirmative if carefully used.
The pyramid may be used for the improvement of the meditative state as long as the shape is such that the entity is in Queen's Chamber position or entities are in balanced configuration about this central point.
The small pyramid shape, placed beneath a portion of the body complex may energize this body complex. This should be done for brief periods only, not to exceed 30 of your minutes.
The use of the pyramid to balance planetary energies still functions to a slight extent, but due to earth changes, the pyramids are no longer aligned properly for this work.
14.12 ▶ Questioner: George Van Tassel built a machine in our western desert called an "Integratron." Will this machine work for that purpose, of increasing the life span?
Ra: I am Ra. The machine is incomplete and will not function for the above-mentioned purpose.
20.38 ▶ Questioner: What structures were built in South America?
Ra: I am Ra. In this location were fashioned some characteristic statues, some formations of what you call rock and some formations involving rock and earth.
66.23 ▶ Questioner: Is there a best material or optimal size for the small pyramid to go beneath the head?
Ra: I am Ra. Given that the proportions are such as to develop the spirals in the Giza pyramid, the most appropriate size for use beneath the head is an overall height small enough to make placing it under the cushion of the head a comfortable thing.
55.14 ▶ Questioner: The book, Life Force in the Great Pyramid, they have related the ankh shape with a resonance in the pyramid. Is this a correct analysis?
Ra: I am Ra. We have scanned your mind and find the phrase "working with crayons." This would be applicable. There is only one significance to these shapes such as the crux ansata; that is the placing in coded form of mathematical relationships.
59.7 ▶ Questioner: Would this be similar to the vortex you get when you release the water from a bathtub?
Ra: I am Ra. This is correct except that in the case of this action the cause is gravitic whereas in the case of the pyramid the vortex is that of upward spiraling light being attracted by the electro-magnetic fields engendered by the shape of the pyramid.
58.11 ▶ Questioner: I used this question only to understand the way the pyramid focuses light, not for the purpose of using one. I was just saying if we did build a pyramid point down, would it focus at the Queen's Chamber position or just below it the same way as it would if it were point up?
Ra: I am Ra. It would only work thusly if an entity's polarity were, for some reason, reversed.
4.7 ▶ Questioner: Would it be possible to build a pyramid and properly align it and use it today [with] materials we have available?
Ra: I am Ra. It is quite possible for you to build a pyramid structure. The material used is not critical, merely the ratios of time/space complexes. However, the use of the structure for initiation and healing depends completely upon the inner disciplines of the channels attempting such work.
60.14 ▶ Questioner: Then is the large underwater pyramid off the Florida coast one of the balancing pyramids that Ra constructed or some other social memory complex and if so, which one?
Ra: I am Ra. That pyramid of which you speak was one whose construction was aided by sixth-density entities of a social memory complex working with Atlanteans prior to our working with the, as you call them, Egyptians.
58.17 ▶ Questioner: Thank you, that explains it nicely. I apologize for asking so many stupid questions on this, but I am really functioning here with very little knowledge. I do not wish to get into subject matter of no importance. I had assumed [that] questions about the pyramid were desired by you due to the fact that some danger was involved to some who had misused the pyramid, etc.
I am trying to understand the way light works and trying to get a grasp of how everything works together, and I was hoping that questions in this area on the pyramid would help me understand the third distortion, I'll say, which is light. Now, as I understand it, the pyramid shape acts as a funnel, in this way increasing the, I'll say density of energy so that the individual may have a greater intensity of actually the third distortion. Is this correct?
Ra: I am Ra. In general, this is correct.
89.14 ▶ Questioner: I have here a deck of twenty-two tarot cards which have been copied, according to information we have, from the walls of, I would suspect, the large pyramid at Giza. If necessary we can duplicate these cards in the book that we are preparing. I would ask Ra if these cards represent an exact replica of that which is in the Great Pyramid?
Ra: I am Ra. The resemblance is substantial.
60.10 ▶ Questioner: Thank you. When you spoke in the last session of "energizing shocks" coming from the top of the pyramid, did you mean that these came at intervals rather than steadily?
Ra: I am Ra. These energizing shocks come at discrete intervals but come very, very close together in a properly functioning pyramid shape. In one whose dimensions have gone awry the energy will not be released with regularity or in quanta, as you may perhaps better understand our meaning.
58.16 ▶ Questioner: I can see how a solid-sided pyramid would act as a funnel. It seems to me that using just the four rods joined at the apex angle would be less efficient. Can you tell me how they are equivalent to the solid-sided pyramid?
Ra: I am Ra. They are unequal in space/time, and we recommend for practical use the solid-sided pyramid or other focusing shape in order to give your physical bodily complexes respite from outside noise, rain, and other distractions to meditation. However, in time/space one is concerned with the electro-magnetic field produced by the shape. An equivalent field is produced by the solid and the open shape. Light is influenced metaphysically by this field rather than by visible shapes.
4.5 ▶ Questioner: Is the size of the pyramid a function in effectiveness of the initiation?
Ra: I am Ra. Each size pyramid has its own point of streaming in of intelligent infinity. Thus, a tiny pyramid that can be placed below a body or above a body will have specific and various effects depending upon the placement of the body in relationship to the entrance point of intelligent infinity.
For the purposes of initiation, the size needed to be large enough to create the expression of towering size so that the entrance point of multi-dimensional intelligent infinity would completely pervade and fill the channel, the entire body being able to rest in this focused area. Furthermore, it was necessary for healing purposes that both channel and the one to be healed be able to rest within that focused point.
2.5 ▶ Questioner: You might mention— there was originally a capstone on the pyramid at the top, what was it made of and how you moved the heavy blocks to build the pyramid. What technique was used for that?
Ra: I am Ra. I request that we be asked this question in our next worktime, as you would term the distortion sharing that our energies produce.
If you have any questions about the proper use of this mind/body/spirit, we would appreciate your asking them now.
59.6 ▶ Questioner: I'm trying to understand the three spirals of light in the pyramid shape. I would like to question on each.
The first spiral starts below the Queen's Chamber and ends in the Queen's Chamber? Is that correct?
Ra: I am Ra. This is incorrect. The first notion of upward spiraling light is as that of the scoop, the light energy being scooped in through the attraction of the pyramid shape through the bottom or base. Thus the first configuration is a semi-spiral.
90.20 ▶ Questioner: Then built into the basis for the archetypes is possibly the mechanism for creating the polarization in consciousness for service to others and service to self. Is this, in fact, true?
Ra: I am Ra. Yes. You will notice the many inborn biases which hint to the possibility of one path's being more efficient than the other. This was the design of the Logos.
4.8 ▶ Questioner: My question then would be, are there individuals incarnate upon the planet today who would have the necessary inner disciplines to, using your instructions, construct and initiate in a pyramid they built and then possibly do it again? Is this within limits of what anyone can do on the planet today, or is there no one available for this?
Ra: I am Ra. There are people, as you call them, who are able to take this calling at this nexus. However, we wish to point out once again that the time of the pyramids, as you would call it, is past. It is indeed a timeless structure. However, the streamings from the universe were, at the time we attempted to aid this planet, those which required a certain understanding of purity. This understanding has, as the streamings revolve and all things evolve, changed to a more enlightened view of purity. Thus, there are those among your people at this time whose purity is already one with intelligent infinity. Without the use of structures, healer/patient can gain healing.
May we further speak to some specific point?
58.9 ▶ Questioner: Do you mean that if I drew a line through two opposite corners of the pyramid at the base and aimed that at magnetic north— that would be precisely 45° out of the orientation of one side aimed at magnetic north— it would work just as well? Is that what you are saying?
Ra: I am Ra. It would work much better than if the pyramid shape were quite unaligned. It would not work quite as efficiently as the aforementioned configuration.
58.12 ▶ Questioner: Then the lines of spiraling light energy— do they originate from a position toward the center of the Earth and radiate outward from that point?
Ra: I am Ra. The pyramid shape is a collector which draws the instreaming energy from what you would term, the bottom or base, and allows this energy to spiral upward in a line with the apex of this shape. This is also true if a pyramid shape is upended. The energy is not Earth energy, as we understand your question, but is light energy which is omni-present.
56.6 ▶ Questioner: Would you please do that?
Ra: The spiraling energy is beginning to be diffused at the point where it goes through the King's Chamber position. However, although the spirals continue to intersect, closing and opening in double spiral fashion through the apex angle, the diffusion or strength of the spiraling energies, red through violet color values, lessens if we speak of strength, and gains, if we speak of diffusion, until at the peak of the pyramid you have a very weak color resolution useful for healing purposes. Thus the King's Chamber position is chosen as the first spiral after the centered beginning through the Queen's Chamber position. You may visualize the diffusion angle as the opposite of the pyramid angle but the angle being less wide than the apex angle of the pyramid, being somewhere between 33 and 54°, depending upon the various rhythms of the planet itself.
Hide question numbers Show categories Show notes Hide audio
Version (?): Lightly Edited, Relistened, Original
Back to top
The Law of One books are copyright ©1982, 1984, 1998 L/L Research. This site copyright ©2003–2019 Tobey Wheelock.
Questions? Comments? Email me: tw at law of one dot info.


text:
Employers Hiring for Spring and Summer Positions at Meridian Job Fair, April 12th
April 12, 2018
4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The Courtyard by Marriott Meridian
1789 S Eagle Rd
Meridian, ID 83642
The Idaho Job & Career Fairs continue to attract a strong turnout of employers and community partners. Next Thursday, April 12th, 4pm-7pm at the Courtyard by Marriott in Meridian more than 40 companies will be on hand looking for applicants to fill hundreds of jobs. Whether hoping to find a fresh start, a better job, or a new career direction, job seekers will find a wealth of exciting opportunities at this FREE job fair. Positions available for high school and college graduates as well.
Bring plenty of resumes and dress for success! Job seekers are encouraged to pre-register to attend in order to receive up to date details regarding the job fair. To view a list of companies scheduled to attend and register, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/idaho-job-fair-april-2018-tickets-44076733697
Job placement agencies caravanning job seekers to the fair, please contact us to coordinate a drop off time on April 12th. Companies wanting to participate in the Idaho Job & Career Fair should contact IBL Events, Inc., 208-376-0464, email@example.com.
-- end --
This message (including any attachments) may contain confidential, proprietary, privileged and/or private information. The information is intended to be for the use of the individual or entity designated above. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, please notify the sender immediately, and delete the message and any attachments. Any disclosure, reproduction, distribution or other use of this message or any attachments by an individual or entity other than the intended recipient is prohibited.
© 2015 Buy Idaho, Inc. All rights reserved.


text:
|Trakker Slx V2 1 & 2 Man Bivvy Supplied With A Full Winter Wrap - 1 Man
|Trakker Slx V2 1 & 2 Man Bivvy Supplied With A Full Winter Wrap - 2 Man
|Nash TRAKKER SLX V2 BIVVY
|Tempest XL Bivvy System
Ultra-strong, revolutionary-designed one-man shelter
Freestanding design allows quick and efficient positioning
Patented design allows quick assembly and pack down
Spacious interior without a huge footprint
Heavy-duty groundsheet
Heavy-duty T-pegs
|Trakker Colossus Extra Large Bivvy
|Trakker TRIDENT AS BIVVY. COARSE,CARP FISHING, ACCESSORIES, SHELTERS
|Tempest Composite Bivvy Wrap - Trakker
|Transforms Tempest Composite Bivvy into a twin-skin shelter. Reduces condensation and increases heat retention. Lightweight and compact for easy storage. Dual-zipped doors, allowing you to create a letterbox opening. Roll-up mozzie window in door. Heavy-duty T-pegs. Zipped carrybag. Dimensions: W285cm x D240cm x H130cm. Transport size: 68cm x 44cm. Weight: 2.4kg.
|Trakker Tempest Bivvy System V2
|Trakker Armo MK2 V3 2-Man NEW Extended Winter Over Wrap, Carp Fishing Shelters


text:
The Positive Mind Center is an NYC institution for 4 decades in the making.
Sharing our most recent guest appearance on the Positive Mind podcast, featuring TMC founder Catherine Birndorf, MD and Program Director, Paige Bellenbaum, LMSW. The episode explores the key concept of matrescence — the sometimes anxiety-provoking phase of stepping into your "new mom" identity. The good news? That with the right type of care, radical acceptance (and self acceptance) the journey into motherhood will become more enjoyable as you gain confidence along the way.


text:
ELF Executable Binary File Created for the Intel® Xeon Phi™ Coprocessor Offload Image
由 Kevin D 发布于 2014 年 8 月 22 日
The Intel® Parallel Studio XE 2015 Composer Editions for Windows* and Linux* have an internal implementation feature enhancement to the Intel® Xeon Phi™ coprocessor binary image created when using the Intel® Language Extensions for Offload (LEO) or OpenMP* 4.0 target constructs.
The enhancement enables the Intel® 15.0 compilers to create an Executable and Linkable Format (ELF) format executable binary file for Intel® Xeon Phi™ coprocessor offload image. In previous releases, the compiler created an ELF format shared library (.so) binary file.
The ELF format executable binary file provides the application developer discovery and notification of undefined references within the Intel® Xeon Phi™ coprocessor offload executable binary file at link-time (a design aspect of the ELF executable binary file) instead of runtime (a design aspect of the shared library (.so) file). This enhancement circumvents the need for -Wl,-zdefs used in previous releases to enable notification of undefined references at link-time.
The enhancement further enables more optimizations within the coprocessor offload code region due to avoidance of symbol preemption on Linux.
On a related note, the tool for manipulating the Fat binary and object files is offload_extract. The Offload Extract tool is a standalone tool that extracts embedded target objects from fat objects and embedded target binaries and libraries from fat executables on Windows* and Linux* systems.
This feature enhancement is available in both the C++ and Fortran Intel® 15.0 compilers.


text:
The Rapid Response Team is deployed whenever there is a missing child or vulnerable adult, that needs to be located. Sometimes it is a small child, a runaway teen or an elderly person, but they are all someone's missing family members, who need to be found as quickly as possible. The Citizen Patrol is there to help the police search the area to try to locate them quickly. Obviously, the police do not have enough officers to cover a city the size of Omaha, but with the help of the Rapid Response team, they can greatly increase the amount of people needed to patrol and search the city. The Miller Park Minne Lusa Citizen Patrol has 12 trained Rapid Responders. All the police need to do is call and within 15 minutes a group will be driving to the designated meeting place. The police give us our instructions and a complete description of the missing person and we are out on the streets searching and stopping to ask everyone we meet if they have seen the missing person. It might be 1:00 a.m. and 20 below zero, but all the more reason to act quickly. You have to have a real heart for this work to go out in the middle of night regardless of the weather, but could there be anything more rewarding than finding a missing child or vulnerable adult before something terrible happened to them. I think not...
Thanks to our loyal group of citizen patrollers for always being ready willing and able to assist our local law enforcement!
If you are interested in becoming part of this team, contact Kathy Holtz at 402-212-7035. You would need to be able to pass a complete background check and go through our regular OCCP training class before being allowed to help.
Copyright © 2019 Miller Park Minne Lusa - All Rights Reserved.