Friday, December 18, 2015

Awake the force!

Awake the force



Star Wars Force Awakens. My review. First and

foremost all I have to say is WOW! That has

to be as good if not better then the

origional of 1977.

It started out in a similer way to the 1977

film. The story Disney and JJ Abrams came up

with was true to star wars lore.

Most of the origional star wars cast had some

part in it in one form or another. This

includes the Malinium Falcon which is a star

in its own right as well as C3po and R2D2.

The new chairacters introduced were

briliantly done. We get Hon Solos son as the

dark villon. Then there is the storm tooper

that surns to the good side when he realises

what evil awaits the galaxy.

For me the biggest surprise came with the

newest jedi. A female scavanger who discovers

a droid that has a map to the wherabouts of

Luke Skywalker.

She quickly discovers she has jedi powers

after assisting Hon Solo and the former storm

trooper. As for the death star, the suposid

death star is a planet the dark side has

turned into a weapon even more powerful then

even the death star.

All in all both acting and storyline was very

well done. I would certainly reccomend seeing

this movie weather you are a sci fi geek or

normal movie goer.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

San Bernardino the community

San Bernardino the community

By now you have probably heared 14 people

were killed by 3 gunnmen. Two out of the

three gunmen were killed by police. Their

black SUV rittled with bullet holes like

Bonnie and Cliede.

What you don't know is the community in witch

this horrific shooting took place. Most

people don't know the shootings took place in

a center for the mentaly dissabled. Accross

the street from that on Waterman Ave, is a

golf course.

In addition to the center for the mentaly

dissabled, on the side street across from the

shooting scene is a school for the blind.

I am reporting all this because it hits close

to home for me, as I only live maybe 4 miles

or so from the scene and occationaly

volunteer at the blind school accross the

street.

San Bernardino is a strong city. It WILL

survive. It has survived the street gangs and

city bankrupsy.

Yesterday the city and surounding areas were

turned upside down because of this. When you

go home tonight hug those you love and tell

them you love them because you never know if

it will be the last time you see them.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

A day to remember

A Day to remember

By: C.J. Ellington


It started out with the national

anthem sung by Leslie Christopher. today is a

day to remember all in the Transgender

community who lost their lives.

November 19th marks "Transgender day

of remembrance". The Loma Linda Veterans

Hospital had an hour long cerimony sponcered

by the VA Hospital's Transgender program.

On behalf of the VA, Assistant

director Prachi Asher spoke on the importance

of the program.

Erika McIntosh provided music for all

to enjoy. Folloing Erika was Key note speaker

Susan Ladd.

Ladd, retired airforce and dissabled

vet, spoke on what it was like for her being

and growing up transgender.

Names were read of all the

transgender individuals who have died in the

last year.

Transgender suicide and murder are on

the rise. The focus of holding such an event

anualy is important to get out the meassage

of love and not hate.

Personal note, being transgender is

not an easy life nor is it one that you

choose. It chooses you. My heart goes out to

those who have lost their lives to hate.

Friday, November 6, 2015

Brent for vets

Brent for Vets


11/6/2015: Award winning country music artist
Brent Paine performed a sepcial concert for

the veterans.

The 2 hour long concert took place 1pm till

3pm at the Jerry L Pettis VA Hospital in Loma

Linda Ca.


Mr Paine sang cover songs as well as his own

to houner the vets.

The concert took place on the eye clinic

patio with many of the patients from the

hospital in attendance.

Hospital volunteers were on hand to assist

patients from the community living center who

couldn't get out on their own.

The concert was to promote and benifit the

"Guitars for vets" program, as well as houner

POW/MIA vets.

At the end of the show, copies of Brent

Paines new album were given away as his

apreciation for all who served.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Transgender Holliday part 2

Transgender Holliday part2


It's that time of year again. The time of

year we get to be ourselves and it's

considered normal.

The end of this week marks Halloween.

Halloween for most people is typicly known

for dressing up in scary costumes.

We arn't most people, although our numbers

are growing as more of us come out.

For us, Halloween means we get to go out as

our true selves. It also means we can find

wigs at Walmart for cheap.

The rise of Catlyn Jenner has been both good

and bad for us. The down side is the horibly

done costume of her.

Not only is the Caitlyn Jenner costume poorly

made but it's in bad taste not worthy of the

trans community.

We have a tough time as it is. Luckaly this

week we can go places and not have people

stare at us, as people think "it's only a

costume". Little do they know ;).

Sunday, October 11, 2015

BE PREPARED!!!

Be Prepared


This coming week there will be an earthquake.

It won't be a real earthquake but a drill/

On Thursday October 15th an emergency

prepardness drill will be conducted over the

entire state of California.

Many agencies will be perticipating. This

includes local, county, state, and even

federal government agencies.

The purpous of the state wide drill is to

raise awareness and preperation for the real

thing.

There are many ways you can prepare for

emergencies. The most important thing to do

to prepare is to have a plan of action.

By planning ahead, you will be mentaly as

well as physicly able to deal with the

emergency.

Your plan sould include an out of state

contact and central meeting location for all

members of your family.

even though you have an out of state contact,

you may not be able to reach them by cell

phone.

Most people don't know this, but in a major

dissaster or emergency, emergency services

literly takes over the cell towers for

communications. In those situations only 911

and emergency communications are aloud to go

through.

Alternatives to cell phone communications are

amature radio. Also FRS radios are good for

short distance communications.

As part of your plan and possible survival, I

reccomend getting involved with organisations

like CERT (Community Emmergency Response

Team). They provide training free as well as

provide a suport group for when a dissaster

hits.

If you don't take anything else from this,

take it as to be prepared for a dissaster.

You never know when or where it might happen.

But, it WILL happen so be ready for it.

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Amateurs are pros

Amateur's are the pros
By: C.J. Ellington

 "The departments that we have interfaced with have had positive feedback. We continue to have make our presents known to the hospital." Says Keith Thomas, Chief Radio Officer of the Jerry L Pettis VA amateur raido club.
 Tucked away out of sight on the 2nd floor of the VA Hospital, sits a 20 foot by 10 foot room. That room houses the VA's emergency communications equipment.
 Recently, emergency communications was put to the test when the power went out at the hospital in June. The radio club responded with 7 members that day, to provide important communications between departments.
 The Jerry L Pettis VA Hospital Amateur Radio club was officialy formed in Febuary of 2011. Prior to 2011, the hospital radio room was staffed by employees. Currently most club members are VA volunteer's.
 As of current membership, the club who holds an amateur radio call sign of W6VAH, has approximently 20 members. When the club was formed, they started out with 5 members.
 The W6VAH club runs a net on HF (High Frequency) on 14.255 megahertz. The purpous of the net is to make contact with both vets and non vets.
 On the net, club members talk to operaters from around the country and occationaly the world. The average number of contacts veries by atmospheric conditions.
 Curently, the club participates in 2 yearly drill's, including the great american shake out in October. These drills help prepare the club for the real thing.
 The W6VAH club at the Jerry L Pettis VA Hospital is one of a few VA's involved with amateur radio and emergency communicaitons. They regurly make contact with N5VA, the VA hospital in New Mexico.
 Any licensed amateur radio operater is welcome to check in with them and to visit the radio room. They would love to have you visit and show you around.