Topics

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General Discussion / Sure, plenty of shoppers but still one of the most boring Malls IMO

« on: Today at 02:27:39 AM »

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General Discussion / Mail out my wife's hair once a year so it's that time again

« on: Today at 02:25:39 AM »

It's a good cause and the folks on the other end really appreciate it so it's my pleasure to help out  :

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General Discussion / First woman to get it, nice because the passing rate is only 40% for all genders

« on: Today at 02:21:38 AM »

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Meet the 1st woman Secret Service motorcycle officer



With her ponytail beneath her white helmet, her Sig Sauer .357 pistol on her side and her leather boots on, Officer Technician Alta "Lauren" Gunawan weaves in and out of traffic on her Harley Davidson, lights and sirens blaring as she clears the way for presidential motorcades as they traverse across the nation's capital.

It's a routine part of the job, but Gunawan's presence is unprecedented: she's the first woman to serve in the Motorcade Support Unit.

Gunawan is one of the newest members of the elite 14-person unit, which falls under the Uniformed Division of the Secret Service. The agency is made up of just over 7,000 special agents, officers and specialists who provide protection to the President, vice president and foreign dignitaries in addition to investigating financial crime.

Commonly referred to as "motors" by the Secret Service, the unit is responsible for spontaneously stopping traffic under pressure as the motorcade approaches in order for the protectee to safely pass.

Gunawan, 30, grew up in the 400-person town of Neponset, Illinois, one of three kids. She said she fell in love with motorcycles at the age of 18.

"I was in college. My friends all had bikes and I wanted to be a part of that group," Gunawan told CNN. "I went ahead and I took that leap, took the safety course ... started falling in love with it. The freedom that I get riding is, you can't compare it to anything else."

Gunawan said she's always loved policing because of her grandfather, an auxiliary police chief back in Illinois. "I've always wanted to give back to my community and be able to make my grandfather proud," she said.

And it was her love of motorcycles and her sense of adrenaline that pushed her to go further with the Secret Service. "I don't have to go sit at a 9-to-5 job. It's different every single day. I never know what the day is going to bring, so I love that. At the drop of a hat, something can change, and I love that."

But joining the Motorcycle Support Unit was not an easy feat for Gunawan, as she attempted to join a group that only has a 40% pass rate for the testing required to place into the unit. At first, she failed.

Applicants need to go through an intensive two-week course. "We ride 24/7, 365, in all weather conditions. So, during that course, it's eight hours of being on a motorcycle. And the entire time, you're thinking in your head, 'You have to get this, you have to get this,'" Gunawan said.

Gunawan, who is 5'4 and weighs 150 pounds, said the hardest part of the class for her was having to maneuver and pick up the 1,100-pound bike. "I dropped the bike more times than I can think of, but I didn't let that stop me. I picked that bike up with a smile, every single time. I knew I would get it."

"We've had numerous women try out. I think one of the biggest things is picking up the motorcycle. There is technique to it, but it also takes some strength. That's pretty much what has disqualified, not just women, but a lot of people, on coming on the unit," said one of her training officers and fellow unit members, Officer Technician Brian Popiel.

But Popiel said Gunawan's attitude was different.

"She was definitely determined to become a technician on this unit, to get mounted. She just, everyday she gave 120%."

The woman officer said she wouldn't want to do any other job and hopes more women will one day ride alongside her.

"It was extraordinary. I feel like I got to break that glass ceiling and it is an amazing feeling, because I don't want anybody to think that they can't get something. ... If you put dedication and hard work into it, you'll get it and you'll achieve your goals."

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General Discussion / Who's more passionate about fishing than Hmong folks??

« on: June 25, 2019, 11:15:42 PM »

Based on my observations over the years, I say it's the Vietnamese *on average*. When I talked to these Vietnamese, they were really happy and very passionate about fishing:

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General Discussion / Speaking of fishing, here are my photos, lots of Asians out fishing looking for

« on: June 25, 2019, 11:09:29 PM »

..for halibut and stripers...  :

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General Discussion / Photos of rappelling earlier w/ a poor man's system, got to the top, nice view!

« on: June 25, 2019, 02:45:12 AM »

Monday was a nice day so went for a jog earlier, and decided to climb and rappel a small cliff too ...

The small cliff:




The poor man's rappel system  :




View from the cliff .. :














Jogging route from above:

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Television / Been watching "Arthdal Chronicles" and enjoying it thus far

« on: June 24, 2019, 04:41:13 AM »

...It's on Netflix.. :

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General Discussion / Passed by Joe DiMaggio's home on my way to the Palace and it's

« on: June 24, 2019, 04:28:31 AM »

...worth way more than what he paid for it back in 1937 (I think he paid $14K?) ...  :




If you like art, architecture and peace and quiet, the Palace of Fine Arts is where to go IMO :
















Lovers for life  :

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General Discussion / You know youre in San Jose when you see these American waving their flag proudly

« on: June 24, 2019, 04:10:08 AM »

 ...both flags that is...:

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General Discussion / Speaking of "fobby", I over heard this guy talking about Trump and how he's glad

« on: June 24, 2019, 04:06:55 AM »

...he got all of his paperwork done before Trump became President..

Took this photo of him and his mail ordered bride? from Laos ...??  :

11

Marriage & Family Life / This is why some need to be more open minded and less ignorant about 'step'

« on: June 19, 2019, 03:52:47 PM »

...-parents and/or step-kids. They just assume that the love won't be the same as their biological counterparts/cases. It may be true on average but not always so got to keep an open mind and go from there because it can be a case by case thing based on the individual.

I know a man that loves his step-daughter just as much as his biological daughter and split his will evenly between the two girls..Both daughter also love him equally... This is a nice Father's Day gift..!!! :

Stepdad brought to tears after daughter frames all the inspiring messages he left on her door: 'I kept them all'



Middle school is a daunting time for adolescents; beyond puberty, the age brings added pressures of trying to fit in and a more serious focus on school assignments. It's equally challenging to parent a child at this age.

In an effort to be a supportive parent during that time, Brian Sandusky showed he cared by leaving an inspirational message on stepdaughter Sophia Wilcox’s door every single day during middle school. Sophia, now 20 years old and visiting from college, surprised her stepfather with a Father's Day gift on Sunday: all of his handwritten notes framed around a picture of them together.

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General Discussion / Love the Bay Area but don't love this

« on: June 19, 2019, 03:32:28 PM »

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General Discussion / No need to stare too hard as this is normal in some parts of San Francisco

« on: June 19, 2019, 12:04:35 AM »

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General Discussion / Honda honoring the Apache for the assist when it first arrived in the U.S.

« on: June 18, 2019, 11:44:47 PM »

 Yes, the first vehicles Honda ever imported to the U.S. were motorcycles and scooters.. :

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General Discussion / Minnesota has one of the largest achievement gaps including Phalen Lake Hmong

« on: June 18, 2019, 04:38:47 PM »

 ...Studies Magnet and they are here to help but then they can't even get the year in the headline correct?? 

"Reading and math tutors needed for 2019-2010 school year"

East Side schools need nearly 40 literacy and math tutors for the 2019-2020 school year according to Minnesota Reading Corps and Minnesota Math Corps. Minnesota is reported to have one of the largest achievement gaps in the nation, heightening the need for literacy and math tutors in schools throughout the state.

 Area schools with tutor positions include:

•  Academia Cesar Chavez Charter School (K3);

• Achieve Language Academy (K3/PreK);

• Eastern Heights Elementary (K3/Math);

• Farnsworth Aerospace Lower (K3);

• Heights Community School (K3);

• Highwood Hills Elementary (K3/Math);

• Life Prep (K3/Math/PreK);

• Phalen Lake Hmong Studies Magnet (K3);

• Saint Paul Music Academy (K3);

• Washington Technology Magnet School (Math);

• YMCA St. Paul Eastside Early Childhood Center (PreK).

Both full- and part-time tutors are being recruited to begin a year of paid service this fall. Tutors are being sought for three different levels of commitment:  35, 25 or 18 hours a week. Tutors receive a stipend every two weeks, and can earn up to an additional $4,200 for student loans or tuition, which can be gifted to a family member if the tutor is 55 or older. Many tutors also qualify for additional benefits like free health insurance and child care assistance. Anyone interested is encouraged to apply now at readingandmath .net or by calling 866-859-2825. Tutors will begin in August 2019, and spend the next school year making the commitment to “Help Minnesota Be More.” Math and literacy tutors are fully trained by Math Corps and Reading Corps.

http://www.lillienews.com/articles/2019/06/17/reading-and-math-tutors-needed-2019-2010-school-year