SUMMER FUN 2012

Summer is off to a fun start with nights out with the "Girls". Hanging around the neighborhood haunts and pubs. Playing pool, listening to live music and just having fun!

My Island Paradise: Little Harbor Santa Catalina Island

Ahhh...love my Island Paradise. I got sea sick on the ways to the Isthmus but got over it as soon as we hit the Harbor. My good warm smiling friend Melissa was working the Two Harbors camping Check-In Desk. I made a mistake in the reservation date but she fixed me right up in site #7 with its new canopy. Thanks Melissa!!
After check in I filled my 3 liter Camelbak with ice and water and hit the trail to Little Harbor (LH). The weather was a bit hot but it was a comfortable hike with one stop made under a small tree shade. Didn't see or hear from the quail friends as usual, they must have moved else where for the summer.
Saw Wilson (the buffalo) near the water hole laying around flapping his tail in bliss. I guess he didn't feel like harassing anyone today.
I felt a blister coming around into the last mile that slowed my upbeat pace but it turned out to be a bunched up portion of the sock near the ball of my foot.
Arrived at campsite, set up tent and hammock took a cold shower and swung in my hammock. I arrived!!

Deserving Military Family

While sitting in Starbucks before Karate, I was crunching the numbers for our 6th Annual Summer Karate Camp at Mayberry Park and how many scholarships I'm going to award to students. Money is low and the demand high. A family of five girls walked in with their mother and sat in the couch across from me. They were so excited and chattering away about something. Then I heard, "mommy..is daddy going away again?" Mother, "yes". Then daddy walked in. A navy sailor and the kids crawled all over him. It was very heart wrenching. After their family time. I waited and approached them and offered the family of girls a scholarship to attend the Summer Camp. They were very happy and it turns out they live across the street from the park. Hope to see them soon. A deserving family. — at Starbucks.

Juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk at Mayberry Park

Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk at Mayberry Park Thursday, April 26, 2012 at 4:35 pm.

I really enjoy and appreciate observing these powerful and majestic raptors. It was a spiritual moment as I was walking in meditation and listening to Robert "Tree" Cody (AKA "Oou Kas Mah Qwet" or "Thunder Bear) and & Xavier Quijas Yxatol (track included below). Yeah yeah...i know it sounds cliché but true. I loved it.

He was obviously a Juvenile by his size, color, and the great risk he took to catch a mouse 7 feet in front of me in the middle of a park surrounded by humans. An adult would have not taken that risk.

Well..he snatched the mouse, he held it down clinching his powerful talons, ripped it open with his beek and then starred at me for 3 seconds and flew to a near by tree. He took off in less than a minute after realizing I was preying on him with my camera. I hope he's more careful next time.

Rio Hondo College Superintendent/President officially submits notice of Retirement.

Email sent to all staff:

From: Ted Martinez, Jr. Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2012 3:56 PM To: AAA--All Staff Subject: Message from the President

As I conclude my 41 years of service to community college education, I have informed the Board of Trustees of my intention to retire effective June 30, 2012.

I am quite proud of our collective achievements these past five years. Together, we have advanced the Rio Hondo College reputation, academic programs, services to students, and our connections to our community. I am truly grateful to you for your support.

It is now time for a new generation of leadership to take Rio Hondo College into the next 50 years, which will surely be filled with outstanding accomplishments.

I wish to thank the Board of Trustees for their support; our administrative team for your talent and leadership; the faculty for your dedication to student achievement; and to our staff for your commitment to supporting student success.

Thank you.

Ted Martinez, Jr., Ph. D. Superintendent/President Rio Hondo College

GO RIO! Re-Authorizing & Reevaluating the Student Bus Program

[DRAFT]

GO RIO has been a successful student public transportation program at Rio Hondo College that has provided thousands of students the access to Rio Hondo on various partner bus agencies. The program has reduced auto emissions, eased the demand for on-campus parking and congestion, and has encouraged a generation of students to utilize public transportation as means of daily movement.

Since its inception, it has been funded using Bond funds, federal grants and now funded through a student self imposed fee authorized by the student body via ballot initiative. It has become, in most part, a student owned program.

However, the program was not initially proposed to be limited to full-time students only. This is something the Administration imposed and later written into the student initiative.

Re-Authorization of GO RIO
This Spring 2012 will be the sunset of the student initiative which needs to be reauthorized by May 2012. Before the initiative is put to a vote, I have some recommendations.

Revising GO RIO
The earlier version was not as progressive as I would have liked or planned. Nonetheless, we can now better improve the program.

1) Unit Requirements: It may have been unfair to tax the overall student body and only allow access to the program for full-time students. The majority of fee payers being not full-time 12 unit students. The full-time requirement was imposed by the college to encourage borderline student to take additional units to become full-time. This has caused an unintended negative consequence where some students he personally informed me that they have signed up for courses on;y to meet the requirement for GO RIO, taken unnecessary classroom seats, and even delay their degree completion or transfer.

Unit Requirement Options:
a. Drop the minimum unit requirement to 9. The initial fee would be reflective of an estimate increase in Go Rio students and cost. After each semester the fee would be adjusted based on previous semester ridership with a not to exceed fee amount.

b. Maintain 12 units requirement but allow 9-11 unit students to buy-in to Go Rio with supplemental fee.

Both these options would have a per semester cap on how many Go Rio cards are issued but may increase the following semester with ridership data received from bus agencies.

3) Negative Check Off. The process of collecting the fee should utilize “negative check off” whereby student are assessed the fee automatically and must opt out through an easily accessible petition form to be sign by a college official. (i.e., after reading a FAQ on its benefit)

4) No Exemption Fee Waiver for Go Rio Users. A student receiving a BOGG fee waiver or financial aid status should pay into Go Rio. The Go Rio Card value far exceeds the student assessed fee. College Programs may opt to cover the minimal fee for students unable to pay or the District may opt to cover the cost of these students.

5) External Funding Sources. The college must make Go Rio a grant and legislative priority and actively pursue a consistent external sources of funding from various resources like city transportation funds, federal and state funds, and regional transportation funds.

6) Internal Funding Sources. Explore various potential funding sources on campus like recycling, designated Go Rio vending machines, special paid parking locations, and fund-raisers to supplement the Go Rio program, but NOT in lieu of student fees. Funds may go to scholarships, creation of a mobile application, TAP Card lanyards and holders, and the like.

7) Mobile Application & GPS. District should pursue technological improvements to program. Norwalk Transit has expressed interest in developing a mobile application for line #1 and using GPS for student to see bus locations in real-time.

8) Form Student Rider Group. I strongly recommend a student rider group form to meet at least quarterly or monthly to provide feedback on program and advocate for Go Rio issues.

Lobby Day January 2012 in Sacramento for Rio Hondo College

Lobby Day in State Capitol for Rio Hondo College. Legislative Agenda:

1) Support Balanced Approach to Budget n Support Temp Tax Initiative on Nov ballot.
2) OPPOSE cuts to CalWorks for transitional families that would eliminate students from a life of self sufficiency.
3) SUPPORT Increase in Course Offerings by allowing college to plan budgets in Jan not July if initiative passes
4) OPPOSE cuts n elimination if child-care sites at colleges that will devastate student families n child-care students.
5) OPPOSE cuts and increase of GPA for CalGrants that will eliminate over 240 students at Rio Hondo College.
6) SUPPORT Guarantee of tax n fee revenues in Budget.
And other issues.
7) Support Governors Temporary Tax Initiative on November Ballot.

at California State Capitol.

Temporary Tax Inititative on State Ballot in November

Sacramento,Jan.31, 2012: Community College League of California Endorses Governor’s Temporary Tax Measure

Following over $789 million in state funding cuts to community colleges over the last three years, the Community College League of California has endorsed Governor Jerry Brown’s proposal to increase the sales tax by 1/2 cent and increase marginal tax rates on high income earners temporarily to avoid even more devastating cuts. The unanimous position was taken by thirty-six members of the League’s policy boards representing chief executive officers and locally elected trustees from the League’s 72 district members.

Playwright & Dramatist Shelagh Delaney dies at 71 of cancer: Tribute to

I was introduced to Shelagh Delaney by Morrissey, as most eighties youth were. She was best known for her play "A Taste of Honey", first performed on 27 May 1958, [9] is set in Salford, a city which Delaney regarded as a valuable resource for her writing. Shelagh wrote forthright in a sensetive style about controversial issues that were certainly not portrayed back in her day.

I love Shelagh's response to "what the critics say". She is more concerned about what the real people, working class people say. Ahh..truly inspiring. Ive adopted the like minded attitude toward critics, its what the real people say. The people who actually live in the community, challenging neighborhoods. The people who work day in and out, raise families, and care about community. These are the people whose opinion really count.

She was Brilliant, compassionate and witty. Morrissey said, "I've never made any secret of the fact that at least 50 per cent of my reason for writing can be blamed on Shelagh Delaney." Hence, so were we all.

Shelagh take a bow, as was the case on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at the Music Box Theatre.

The Smiths "This Night Has Opened My Eyes" based Shelagh's "A Taste of Honey".

ELECTION UPDATE: MENDEZ MAINTAINS LEAD

Last Updated: 14:05 11/18/2011

Candidate Party Votes Percent
GARY MENDEZ NP 978 37.13
LIL RONNIE LAWRENCE NP 927 35.19
M G MACEDONIO NP 548 20.8
FRANK VASQUEZ NP 181 6.87



You Smell That?! You Smell That?! Smells like Victory!

Statement to Rio Hondo College Students and Friends (& Opposition)

Students and friends, Im humbled by the people/voters of Area 4 in re-electing me to the Rio Hondo College Board for another four years. Im continually very grateful.

I would like to thank the students and supporters who had faith in my service by walking precincts and talking to voters in Area 4. Truly grateful. Thank you!

It’s never easy. I’ve been an Independent Public Servant for over twelve years beholden to NO political boss, groups of politicians or interest groups. I prefer this despite the tremendous opposing odds. Nonetheless, Im safe in the knowledge that my “bosses” are the people of my community and I’ve always conducted my service with this as the highest value.

As you may know, on this campaign I was vastly outnumbered, out financed 5-1, ganged-up on by politicians, and campaigned against by Faculty and other groups. This has been the mode of elections in my Area for over twelve years. The campaign I ran was humble (in many ways), strategic, efficient, effective and truly a campaign of the people. ( http://gary-mendez.blogspot.com/2011/11/politikate-do.html)

As a former student leader and community activist, I have a deep love for our college and would (continue to) endure harsh circumstance and criticism to see that my community and student are well served by Rio Hondo College.

This is demonstrated by my unwavering wiliness to let “bygones be bygones” after each election. I don’t hold grudges, never have. I go back to loving and caring for the people who oppose me (faculty & staff) so that they may continue to love and care about you. It’s really simple for me.

They say students “come and go” and I understand it’s hard to see what I’ve delivered for you, but allow me to demonstrate. The new and remolded buildings at Rio were initiated by a small group of board members of which I’m the only remaining member. Go Rio, Veteran’s Priority Registration, the South Whittier Education Center, and other initiatives were implemented in my tenure on the board.

The point is this…Im here on the Board to serve my community and the students of Rio Hondo. Being Independent, I get to choose and shape my service unbeholden to later report back to my community in election cycles. Thus far, my community approves of my service.

So, let’s roll up our sleeves, work together, and leave the campaigns behind and work to guarantee your success at Rio Hondo. GO RIO!

MENDEZ Wins: Ending with KICK to Opponents Vitals

MENDEZ WINNER!

MENDEZ WINNER!

Gary Mendez 904
Lil Ronnie 895
Rio Hondo College, Whittier, CA.

Mendez wins with a final kick to out financed opponents Vitals. Bam!

I ran a campaign focused and disciplined on message, lean and efficient, and for all the right reasons: love for Rio Hondo College.

Rio Hondo College is fiscally sound! Every year for twelve years, I delivered a balanced budget, maintained a healthy reserve and controlled spending making Rio Hondo College one of the most Fiscal Sound community colleges in California.

As an independent candidate beholden only to the people in my Area, I entered this re-election campaign knowing I was going to be outspent (3-1) and with my opponents supported by politicians and outside special interest groups with questionable intent.

I stood steadfast and defended my fiscal track record and on the great things I delivered to my community, including the South Whittier Education Center.

Its tough being Independent but very much worth it. Im beholden to no groups or political bosses, only to the voters from my community who continue to maintain their faith in my public service. Im greatful to the people of South Whittier, Los Nietos, North Norwalk, and Santa Fe Springs.

New Raptor ID in Whittier.

On Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at about 2:30 pm, I spotted a dark feathered raptor above Whittier Blvd and Hadley in Whittier. It was interesting to spot this one in what i think is away from food sources. I could not ID what exact species it was. Not a red tailed, for sure. Dark upper feathers and body with some brown and white in lower wings Hmm? Went to a couple of guides including Audobon but it can be a number of things. Tall Whittier pines where near which could be a nesting or perch.

POLITIKATE-DO

Politikate-do(&jutsu) is as much about basic physics as it is about the spiritual aspect. Politikate seeks to make the weak equal to the strong, and the big equal to the small simply by using some basic concepts of physics. By using torques, momentum and stability in the techniques, and relatively small politico can effectively defend themselves from an attack by much larger politicos. Highly related to Aikijutsu & Kara-te, an art which also seeks to rob an uke of stability, Politikate incorporates many other martial arts as well, all of which contribute to the basic idea of unbalancing your uke by using their own energy against them. Equally important to making an uke unstable is retaining your own stability. A great deal of emphasis is placed upon the ability of an Politikatist to stay "centered." In terms of physics, this is the control over the location of your center of mass. The movement of the center of mass from within one's body to a point where that person is no longer in equilibrium is the reason why people fall down.

Newton's Laws
All three of Newton's laws can be applied to Politikate and the techniques therein. Lets take a look at them one at a time.

1) An object in motion tends to remain in motion.
A Politikateist realizes that an object moving in a direction will probably continue in that direction. A giant political thug(s) charging at you is not going to be stopped easily, so why bother stopping him? By simply getting out of the way, and avoiding the attack a Politikateist has already begun a technique. Certain techniques take advantage of the fact that a body in motion remains in motion. For the Timing-and-Breath throw, the uke is spun in a circle before an arm across the face halts their head's forward motion. Unfortunately for them, the rest of their body keeps moving forward and *plop* they fall to the ground.

2) F = ma.
Force equals mass times acceleration. Again, let us take the giant political thug(s) that are attacking. He/they have a great deal of mass, and depending upon his attack, a great deal of acceleration as well. So what must a Politkateist do? Many of the techniques in Politikate focus on manipulating joints (human body, da) in a manner that requires very little force. By focusing on these vulnerable points in the body, an Politikateist need only to apply an acceleration to a small mass (a hand) instead of a large mass (a body) to control his uke. By applying a wrist technique, the Politkateist can get away with applying a small amount of force. The rest of the uke will follow, or lose their wrist.

3) Every action has an Equal and Opposite reaction.
The techniques of Politikate are primarily concerned with redirection of movement, and thus there is very little actual opposition to forces. Politikate techniques to not strike blows or bodily move an uke around. The third law applied whenever a small Politkate tries to move a big uke. A small person cannot exert enough force to overcome his uke without also flinging himself halfway across the room. The small Politikateist can try and push the big uke over, but that uke's body will just push back with an equal force. The small Politikateist must therefore not exert direct force on his uke, but instead make good use of the other two laws.

Levers and Torques
Levers and torques are yet one more critically important aspect of the physics of Politikate. Many techniques make use of an ukes arm as a lever to exert a significant amount of torque to a shoulder or elbow joint. On the other side of things, an Politikateist also places himself to rob his uke or attacker of a lever to use against him. Placement of arms, legs and body are critical to performing techniques correctly by providing the appropriate levers for an Politkateist to apply techniques. Kaiten Nage uses the ukes arms as levers to apply a torque, and the Timing and breath throw shows the rotation of the uke's body around an axis in space.

Henceforth, Politikate-Do (& Jutsu) may allow one to overcome great politcal mass and demonstrates that Spirit amd skill may overcome the tyranny of political bullies.

Firestone-Redtailed Hawk Spotted above Norwalk.

On Thursday, November 3, 2011 at about 11:35 am.m, while on my way to my afternoon tea at Starbucks, I spoted the young "Firestone" Redtailed Hawk above the 605. Yup, thats him. As I recall, certainly smaller than the adult ive seen before. It could have been the male adult but his wing span was not as wide as I remembered. He circled above and around the 605 near Firestone Blvd, ascended 20-30 feet in less than 7 seconds, widended his circle, and as I was reaching for my binoculars (dropping my camera) he shot at about 35 mph west along and above Firestone Blvd toward the San Gabriel River..lost. Wow, what speed.

Red Tailed Hawk’s Power

"Red Tailed Hawk’s Power is further represented by the beautiful red color that comes with maturity. This is our reminder that wisdom takes time and is not something that is given, the wisdom of Red Tailed Hawk is something that must be earned. Red represents Power, Energy, and the Kundalini. The Kundalini is the Force that directs the flow of all other energy fields within the physical body. This Force lies dormant within each of us when we take up the ~Robe of Physical Life, and is thought to lie coiled at the ~base chakra~ (located near the base of the spine) and referred to as the ~Serpent Power. ~ There the Power lies sleeping until it is awakened via the Soul who begins the journey on the road of spiritual discovery and who is consciously acknowledging and incorporating their Life Lessons."

The San Gabriel River Wildlife Experience

Often overlooked and underappreciated, the San Gabriel River is thriving with diverse wildlife and ecosystems. Where the SGR was a landmark commonly..

THE RIO HONDO RED TAILED HAWKS ARE FAMILY.

On Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at about 3:00 pm, I spotted three soaring Red Tailed Hawks (RTH) over the 605/San Gabriel River near the Washington Avenue Bridge. They varied in size from wide spread larger RTH, to medium and small. Unfortunately, I did not have a spotting scope nor a camera with a long distance lense so I could make out any details.

As previously noted, I wasn’t sure if it was the same RTH spotted along the 605/San Gabriel River from the I105 up to the CAT Yard near Rosehills Road. However, I now suspect that it’s the same family with about a 5 mile range of territory, if not more. The San Gabriel River and the High Electrical Towers provide superb hunting and perching locations. The location this time was closer to horse stables which may provide a greater opportunity to hunt small mammals given the feed thats around.

I lost spotting them when CHP was wondering what I was doing. Luckily, I wasnt taken in for shoting with a camera, but he did want to see my I.D. (go figure?). LOL.

It's become more interesting. Its a family. I hope to study them more soon.

Rio Hondo Redtailed Hawk Spotted Monday 9/12

On my way to Rio Hondo College on Monday, September 12, 2011 at about 3:45 pm, I spotted the Rio Hondo Redtailed Hawk in the same location over the 605 freeway near the CAT yard. He was flying low enough to spot his keen sharp face, his wings spread wide, and his bright copper red tail tilted directing him in a downward turn. Wow, he looked so big and in command of his spehere of space and air. After November, Im going to document him/her more.

Another Redtailed Hawk spotted on Friday, September 16, 2011 at about 12:45pm over the 105 freeway just after South bound 605 transition. Im really intrigued more now. A.I.'s would definitely interpreted this as another sign from above. Seriuous cause for study.

Ok, another, while at the UCLA Footbal Game on Saturday, September 17, 2011 at about 1:10pm I spotted another Redtailed Hawk flying over the parking lot north. Just spotting.

Rio Hondo College Board Considering Approval of Resolution Supporting Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Designations and the Creation of a San Gabriel Mountains National Recreation Area on Wednesday's Agenda.

On Wednesday, September 14 at the Rio Hondo Community College District Board of Trustees, Looking forward to introducing my sponsored resolution on a much beloved subject: the San Gabriel Mountains & Rivers. This is a step for Rio Hondo College in embracing our local environmental responsibility. I'm hoping and working towards intergrating environmental studies and consciousness into our subject related college programs. The vision is to have courses on the San Ganriels, San Gabriel River, Forestry, and on environmental responsibility. GO RIO!

PASSED UNANIMOUSLY - WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2011