I wrote a blog article in January 2014 that was reposted to Patreon‘s blog and shared on their social media (the blog has since been discontinued, as they relaunched a new one).
The article, “Supporting my favorite artists and content creators is worth every penny,” discusses the patronage trend and how Patreon (then a recent startup) is changing the game for creators worldwide.
Originally published in Ka Leo, UH Mānoa’s student-run newspaper – January 16, 2008
NEW FOOT FORWARD AT YMCA (View online at kaleo.org)
The Atherton YMCA has had a makeover, and it’s ready for spring. The YMCA, located on University Avenue across from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, introduced new programs last fall to better suit the interests of its members.
“In a survey conducted last semester, our Atherton YMCA residents and students gave us feedback that they wanted ongoing exercise classes to lead healthier lives,” said Jennifer Townsend, the Atherton YMCA’s executive director.
In response to the survey, the YMCA started up an array of classes, including yoga, kickboxing and pilates. With a monthly membership fee ($32 for students), members can access as many or as few of the programs as they wish.
The classes, which started in the fall, will continue this spring. The YMCA is also looking to add additional programs for the semester, according to Townsend.
The Atherton YMCA is also offering islandwide membership, along with the other YMCA locations on the island, in order to “better serve members and residents who live and/or work in the area,” Townsend said. Membership for students is $43 per month for islandwide access and $32 per month for the Atherton only. Members have access to all the programs offered by the YMCA.
The YMCA now restricts the use of the facilities to YMCA activities. Organizations that previously used the YMCA, such as dance and exercise classes, had to relocate.
Townsend responded, “As part of the community spirit, we have invited all groups who have rented the studio from us in the past to apply for instructor positions.”
With this new centralized focus, the YMCA hopes to expand within the community.
“Our goal is to reach out more into our local community and to better serve the needs of the Atherton residents,” Townsend said.
To view a current calendar of programs offered by the Atherton YMCA, visit http://www.athertonymca.org.
Coffeeline
Hidden within the Atherton YMCA building is the Coffeeline, a café-style restaurant with decent prices and homemade food.
Dennis Suyeoka, the owner and sole employee of the Coffeeline, has been there since 1993. The Coffeeline was open intermittently from 1986 until 1993, when Suyeoka bought it, and has been open every day since.
“I’m even here on holidays,” Suyeoka said.
Suyeoka takes the orders, makes the food and washes the dishes. He prefers to work alone. He has had students work for him in the past, but it’s just a hassle, he said, between the class schedules, final exams and hygiene issues with student help.
“I haven’t made more money,” he said.
Suyeoka does not advertise, and there is no sign outside. The Atherton YMCA is not licensed for food sale, but Suyeoka obtained permission from the City and County of Honolulu to operate as long as he doesn’t advertise. He doesn’t seem to mind, saying, “I think advertising is a waste of money.”
The atmosphere of the Coffeeline is relaxed and artistic. The walls are adorned with paintings and pictures, and the small restaurant area is scattered with tables, chairs and plants. Students and faculty read, study and chat while they eat their food.
“It’s like walking into someone’s house,” said Loraine Ho, an English major at UH Mānoa. “It was really surreal.”
About 90 percent of the customers are faculty, according to Suyeoka.
“I’m the de facto faculty club,” he said. “But since Volcano Joe’s has closed next door, I’ve had more students coming in.”
With decent food and a study-friendly atmosphere, the Coffeeline could become the new study spot for students and faculty alike.
Originally published in Ka Leo, UH Mānoa’s student-run newspaper – September 19, 2007
CANCER CENTER CONDUCTS HPV RESEARCH (Click for the PDF version) (View online at kaleo.org)
Students may have seen flyers posted on the bulletin boards at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa campus asking for volunteers for a research project conducted by the university’s Cancer Research Center. Looking closer, students may have also noticed that the study is about human papillomavirus, and that it pays participants $40 per visit. But what is HPV, and what does the study really do? HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide and is very common among college students. Given the nature of HPV, it is important to know what it is and whether you are at risk.
The Cancer Research Center of Hawai‘i is currently conducting a study to identify the factors that affect HPV infection. The study provides valuable insight that will be a basis for prevention and treatment of the infection.
Human papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted infection that infects the genital area of men and women. It is transmitted through genital contact, and even the use of a condom does not prevent the spread. Most people who are infected with HPV do not have any symptoms, and the infection often resolves on its own.
However, some types of HPV can cause genital warts, and 10 out of 30 identified strains of genital HPV can lead to the development of cervical cancer, which is the second-leading cancer killer of women worldwide. But cervical cancer can be prevented by regular Pap smears, so it is important for women to get themselves checked annually. The Women’s Clinic on campus near Health Services provides Pap smears to students, faculty and staff.
The Food and Drug Administration recently licensed a new vaccine named Gardasil. The vaccine protects against four types of HPV, which together make up 70 percent of the cancer-causing strains. Studies have found the vaccine to be almost 100 percent effective, with no serious side effects.
“Many people don’t realize that their insurers cover the vaccine,” said Pamela Thompson, project coordinator for the Cancer Research Center of Hawai‘i’s HPV study. Many insurance companies pay for the vaccine, which costs around $120 per dose, or $360 for the full series.
So far, 41 states have introduced legislation to fund education of the public about the HPV vaccine. Hawai‘i has not yet enacted any legislation, although House Bill 590 was introduced earlier this year to require health insurance companies to cover the vaccine. However, the bill was deferred.
“Hawai‘i is making advances in the fight against cervical cancer, but we must do more to protect women from this preventable disease,” said state Rep. Barbara Marumoto in a press release on January 16. Marumoto has done a lot in bringing this important issue to the Legislature. She is a member of the Women in Government Task Force on Cervical Cancer and submitted a bill to provide funds for a Cervical Cancer Awareness Program.
The Cancer Research Center HPV study
The study conducted by the Cancer Research Center of Hawai‘i consists of three parts: the female HPV study, the male HPV study and the partner study.
Women who participate in the female HPV study visit the center up to 15 times over a period of five years. Each visit includes a Pap smear, blood test and an interview about the individual’s diet, health and lifestyle activities. Participants receive $40 per visit.
This is the second female HPV study, said Dr. Brenda Hernandez, assistant researcher for the Cancer Research Center of Hawai‘i’s HPV study. “In the first one, we were specifically looking at the persistence of the virus,” she said. “The number of people who develop the cancer is relatively few. That’s why we looked at the duration of the infection. Those who retain the infection for a long time have a higher chance of cancer. In this next study, we are taking a look at how the immune system comes into play.”
Trisha, who didn’t give a full name for privacy issues, has been a participant in the female HPV study for a year and a half. “I enjoy being part of the study because I am doing something that has an impact on the community,” she said. Six months ago, Trisha tested positive for HPV. “I was in shock. I never thought it would happen to me.” Trisha tested negative multiple times before testing positive. “The thing about HPV,” she said, “is that the infection can appear months or even years later.” Trisha continues her appointments with the study in the hopes that the infection will resolve on its own.
The male HPV study, which is in its last year, is being conducted to learn more about HPV infection in men and to better understand the factors influencing transmission of HPV between men and women. The male HPV study has reached its capacity and is no longer recruiting new participants, just following up with existing patients.
The HPV partner study, which is also no longer recruiting, looks at male and female partners who are in a sexual relationship. In addition to the testing and interview done in the female and male studies, the couples are asked to complete a short journal about their current sexual activity.
For more information on the Cancer Research Center of Hawai‘i’s HPV study, contact Research Administrator June Cunningham at 808-564-5999 or [email protected], or visit the Web site at http://www.hawaii.edu/hpv/
Originally published in Ka Leo, UH Mānoa’s student-run newspaper – November 3, 2008
TOP 10: POLITICAL SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES (View online at kaleo.org)
With 73 percent of the U.S. population using the internet, presidential candidates must face the challenge of reaching out to voters through various online communities. While much energy is put into streaming videos, candidate Web pages and instant news updates, a new contestant has entered the arena: social networking sites.
Most college students are familiar with sites like Facebook and MySpace, where they can choose to join political groups to share their views and meet others who do the same. But what about a site dedicated to political topics? The potential to reach out to others,share and learn is endless.
Here are the top ten political social networking sites to get you started:
1. adonkeyandanelephantwalkintoabar.com
Members: 819
This site is much like a political Facebook. Users have a profile, make friends, receive status updates, create polls and fantasy ballots, chat with others online and head to the local ‘bar corner’ to meet with others from their state. There are photos, videos, podcasts, forums, groups, an events search, blogs, candidate profiles, a list of bills (which you can filter by state and users can comment on) and an “Election 08” section showing charts of campaign expenditures, the number of Myspace & Facebook friends per candidate and a “truthiness” section displaying statements from candidates and their “truth rating.”
2. 20dc.com
Members: 278
The home page is split down the middle – one half blue, one half red – and users write articles for others to read and respond to. Each user has their own profile page from which you can see what articles they have posted. There is a ‘Town Hall’ for people in your area. You can gather constituents and view a “spectrum” of the range of political leanings. 20DC has even started making their own films. There is also an “Action Kit” that displays information and contacts for your state senators and representatives, along with a voting guide and a link to register to vote.
3. essembly.com
Members: 20,363
Site users create “resolves,” or statements of ideals; other users can vote for or against them. The site then shows you people who are ideologically similar or different than you. You have a profile page, can join groups, have conversationsand choose friends. It’s a good way to meet people with similar political beliefs.
4. redblueamerica.com
Members: –
This is a collective blogging site where each user blogs their opinions on political issues. The site combines them into one large blog viewable on the home page. There is also a “topics” section, displaying opposing articles in a two-column format, and users can vote on the issue by choosingtheir position on a scale (red or blue).
5. mondoglobo.ning.com
Members: 425
This site revolves around the theme that “all political change starts with defiance of some authority.” It has a forum, blogs, podcasts and groups. There is also a blog called “Don’t tase me, bro!,” self-described as “your one-stop shopping for news on the state of civil liberties and personal freedom.”
6. ifimpresident.com
Members: 55
There are neat features that are still in the launching stage, with recent political news, blogs, a discussions section, policies, candidate profiles and videos. Each user has a profile with friends, comments, an approval rating, election picks and a recent news wires. Users create posts that others can comment on.
7. techpresident.com
Members: –
There isn’t much for networking or interacting on this site, but it’s an interesting resource for finding out about candidate’s involvement on the Web. The site is self-described as a “group blog that covers how the 2008 presidential candidates are using the Web.” It displays graphs of candidates’ support on Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and other sites, tracking how the support increases and decreases on a weekly basis. There are blogs by their contributors, which registered users can comment on.
8. rockthevote.com
Members: –
This is a hip, multimedia-heavy place for young people to gather and learn about politics. While it’s not a social networking site, it creates a great place for young people to become interested in political issues. Rock the Vote uses popular culture, music and multimedia toencourage young people to register and vote, with pop culture icons like Christina Aguilera to promote them. The site also offers music, videos, wallpapers and ringtones. There are opportunities to getinvolved by joining a street team or downloading an “activist toolkit.”
9. election2008tv.com
Members: 29 Videos: 92
This is basically a political YouTube, where users upload election-related videos and view/comment on them.
10. connect2elect.com
Members: –
It’s simple, but it will help someone who doesn’t know where to start. When you join, you fill out a profile on topics that are important to you – candidate’s attributes, social issues, political issues and corebeliefs. The site returns your candidate “best matches” and in what way those candidates meet your specifications, along with links to their Web sites.
Originally published in Ka Leo, UH Mānoa’s student-run newspaper – October 25, 2007
WOMEN ENGINEERS ON THE RISE (Click for the PDF version) (View online at kaleo.org)
While some women may not yet have the financial earning power that men do, the percentage of students choosing to enter the male-dominated field of engineering is steadily rising.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, from 1979-80, women received 9.4 percent of the bachelor’s degrees in the field of engineering in the United States. Twenty-five years later, that percentage doubled to 18.3 percent in 2004-05. The number of master’s degrees had an even greater increase, from 7.3 to 22.7 percent, and the number of doctorates even greater than that, from 3.9 to 18.7 percent.
On a local level, the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa has seen its own change in the College of Engineering. In 1975, only 7 percent of undergraduate students and 4 percent of graduate students were female. This year, that number has climbed to 20 percent of undergraduate students and 23 percent of graduate students.
The Society of Women Engineers
The Society of Women Engineers is a national nonprofit organization that supports women engineers across the country. With more than 14,000 members, 70 local sections and 277 student sections throughout the world, the society provides employment and training opportunities to help women excel in the field of engineering.
The Hawai‘i chapter of the society currently has about 50 members. Maryfe Culiat, a UH Mānoa engineering student and president of the Hawai‘i Society of Women Engineers chapter, appreciates the society for the leadership and professional development training it offers.
“I’ve been provided so many opportunities,” she said. Culiat was able to secure two summer internships through the society and is currently looking for a job.
The Society of Women Engineers conducts outreach programs in the local middle and high schools to raise interest in the field of engineering. It also provides opportunities for college students through seminars and talks by community professionals. The society is supported by the organization Women in Technology, which funds conference trips and events.
Inside the classroom
While the number of female engineering students continues to grow, they are definitely still the minority.
“I’ve had classes where I’ve been the only female student,” said Culiat.
However, Kristi Kawakami, a senior in mechanical engineering at UH Mānoa, doesn’t find being in the gender minority to be a problem.
“A lot of people are accepting of that fact,” she said. While there is always the challenge of trying to compete with the guys, Kawakami said she tries to remain different and not just become “one of the guys.”
“I try to find my own within their realm,” she said.
Culiat emphasized the bond between the female engineering students. “We have to stick together because we’re in the minority group,” she said. However, she said that it doesn’t keep her from forming friendships with her male classmates.
Despite the small number of fellow female students, both Culiat and Kawakami do not have any apprehension about moving into a male-dominated workforce. They both agreed that their internships gave them a feel for what being a female engineer is all about.
“It takes a little getting used to,” said Culiat, “but after a while, it’s all good.”
Originally published in Ka Leo, UH Mānoa’s student-run newspaper – January 14, 2008
RWANDA GENOCIDE SURVIVOR SPEAKS (Click for the PDF version) (View online at kaleo.org)
With the comfortable lives we live here in Hawai‘i, it’s sometimes easy to forget the millions of people around the world who suffer on a daily basis.
Tonight and tomorrow at the Blaisdell Concert Hall, the community has a chance to step out of that comfort zone and hear an inspirational talk by a survivor of the 1994 Rwanda genocide.
Immaculée Ilibagiza has traveled all over the world sharing her story through talks and her book, “Left To Tell.” Maui resident Dr. Wayne Dyer, internationally known self-development author and speaker, calls Ilibagiza’s book “a story of a love for God that was so strong that hatred and revenge were forced to dissolve in its presence.”
Ilibagiza was a college student in Rwanda who, like her peers, had hopes and dreams for her future. But when war broke out in April of 1994, her life was changed forever.
Most of her family was brutally murdered, and she was forced to spend three months in a cramped bathroom with seven other women. She spent her time struggling with her emotions and praying for God’s guidance.
“In all my years of praying, I’d never focused so completely on God or been so keenly aware of the presence of darkness,” she said.
Ilibagiza felt trapped and abandoned in that small bathroom.
“Did the world not see the madness that had seized this country? Was no one going to come and help us?” she asked herself. “I couldn’t understand how other countries, especially the so-called civilized ones in the West, could turn their backs on us. They knew we were being massacred, yet they did nothing.”
Ilibagiza fought with her hatred for weeks, praying for God to relieve her of it.
“I realized that my battle to survive this war would have to be fought inside of me,” she said. She eventually came to forgive those who were causing this bloody war.
After Ilibagiza escaped and the war ended, she knew that her life would be much different than she’d planned. She decided that “helping others to forgive would be a big part of [her] life’s work.”
“God saved my life and spared my soul for a reason,” she said. “He left me to tell my story to others and show as many people as possible the healing power of His love and forgiveness.”
Ilibagiza now works for the United Nations in New York City and established the Left to Tell Charitable Fund to help others recuperate from their own struggles with genocide and war.
Her book, “Left to Tell,” has sold more than 250,000 copies worldwide, been made into a documentary and has raised over $150,000 for Rwanda orphans.
Ilibagiza will be speaking tonight and tomorrow at the Blaisdell Concert Hall from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The talk will also feature special guest Na Leo Pilimehana. There is no admission fee, but a free-will offering will be taken. Doors open at 6 p.m., so come early.
For more information, visit her Web site at http://www.lefttotell.com/
Originally published in Ka Leo, UH Mānoa’s student-run newspaper – September 13, 2007
SWING DANCE IN HAWAII (Click for the PDF version) (View online at kaleo.org)
Hidden among the many treasures of Hawai‘i is the little-known swing dance scene. Whether you are new to the islands or kama‘āina, the fun and engaging atmosphere is worth checking out. From high school and college students to retirees, the diverse atmosphere welcomes newcomers of all backgrounds. Hawai‘i Jitterbugs puts on two dances every week, with each dance displaying a mixture of lindy hop, Balboa and blues.
Don’t worry about not knowing anything – each dance features a free beginner lesson, which you can take as many times as you like. There are also beginning classes offered regularly, usually in six-week series. Then try your feet out on the dance floor; the friendly atmosphere makes it easy to learn and make new friends. Even the most experienced dancers welcome newcomers to dance with them.
You don’t need to come with a partner, but you’re welcome to bring as many friends as you like. Everyone dances with each other, which is what makes it such a great way to meet new people.
Some swing history
Swing dancing in the the United States comes in many forms.
The lindy hop, a member of the swing-dance family, developed in New York City in the late 1920s and early 1930s. It is a fusion of jazz, tap, breakaway and Charleston, mixing African-American dance styles with the eight-count structure of European dances.
Balboa, named after the Balboa Peninsula, developed in Southern California during the 1920s to adapt to the lack of space on the dance floor. Balboa dancers stand much closer together, touching from the hip to upper chest. The dance involves less movement, but a lot of fancy footwork.
Much like lindy hop, blues dancing originated from African-American dance styles. Blues dancing became popular in the 1920s as blues music, particularly jazz, was on the rise. As a passionate dance, blues invokes emotions.
Swing Dance Hawai‘i
So come on out and get into the swing of things!
For more information on the weekly dances, classes or swing dancing, visit:http://www.hawaiijitterbugs.org,http://www.pecking.org, or e-mail [email protected]
Originally published as a sidebar in Island Scene Magazine, March 2008.
ONLINE FORUMS FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS (Click for the PDF version)
Tears stream down Melissa’s face while she hugs her knees close to her body. The walls around her are nothing compared to the trap that is her mind. She frantically looks around the room, hoping some sort of solution will suddenly appear.
Melissa is one of 19 million Americans who suffer from depression. She could be anyone – your neighbor, teacher, niece or even you. She sees a psychiatrist regularly, but today is Sunday and she’s home alone. What can she do now to battle a monster that feels too big to handle? All she wants is for someone to hold her hand, to listen to her, to let her know that they care and understand what she is going through.
Thanks to the 21st century cyberspace revolution, there’s a solution. Forums for mental health related issues have been growing in scope and number.
Participants find these forums to be a safe haven where they are free to be themselves and to talk about the issues they struggle with. They consider each other family and look out for one another. In the middle of the night, they can log in to a chat room and connect with people all across the globe.
These forums provide support that a doctor, therapist or family member perhaps cannot. They offer kinship and a sense of belonging with people who struggle with similar issues.
Some popular online mental health forums:
