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[The Bellicose MMA Logo displays on-screen for three seconds.] [Rika Noguchi] "Good evening, everyone. Tonight we're here with the fan favorite, Rosalia." [Rika Noguchi] "Rosalia, congratulations on your recent victories after a challenging losing streak! How did it feel to finally get those wins and turn the tide in your career?" [Rosalia Avalos] Thank you! Y'know, it felt li' super alleviatin' after the past matches I've had and all the trainin' I been through in the past weeks. [Rosalia Avalos] I was on cloud nine y'could say 'cus I been workin' so hard to get on track and to deliver summin' exciting for the fans and to finally break through that rough streak of losses. [Rosalia Avalos] But I'm grateful for all the experience I've gathered so far. Yeah, I had a rough start but it really kept me on the ground and it fueled my motivation to keep training so I'd get better in the ring. [Rosalia Avalos seems excited as she speaks with almost sparkling eyes. She's using a fair amount of hand movements to get her message across.] [Rika Noguchi] And deliver you did— but many supporters said they could see your first win on the horizon after your revised training routine. To them, their support has finally paid off. [Rika Noguchi] Your journey in MMA has been marked by perseverance and determination. Can you share the mindset and strategies that helped you bounce back from seven consecutive losses and secure these impressive victories? [Rosalia Avalos] Y'know as corny as it is, it all comes down to believin' in yourself.. it really does. How you gon' step in the ring that day and prove to everyone that this is /your/ thing if you can't deliver that in an honest way? [Rosalia Avalos] Believe me when I say it was rough in the beginning and I been on the verges of quittin' too. [Rosalia Avalos] But 'den at the same time? It gave me the power to step up again 'n make somethin' out of it.. /this/ is what I wanna do and I'll go all the way to reach my goals. [Rosalia Avalos] Love yourself, you're all you got in this world to get further in life 'n nobody else gon' do it for you. [Rosalia Avalos chuckles a bit after saying so.] [Rosalia Avalos] Call me corny but I'm a firm believer 'o that! [Rosalia Avalos] And not to forget, I got a good coach who knows how to push me durin' trainin'. [Rika Noguchi says] On that note, you've officially signed to Bellicose recently. [Rika Noguchi] Signing a new contract and potentially heading towards stardom must be an exciting milestone in your career. How do you envision this new chapter unfolding, and what are your goals and aspirations moving forward? [Rosalia Avalos] Trainin'.. lots of trainin'. I still got a long way to go considerin' the powerful women that will be my opponents in the ring. I'm real excited to learn more and develop my own style to eventually juss' kick ass in the ring li' it ain't no thing. [Rosalia Avalos] Y'could guess my end goal.. to get that belt y'know? I dream of that and I use it as my ultimate motivation work on on myself 'n my skills in the ring. [Rosalia Avalos] I really wanna deliver to my fans, show LS that us women in Bellicose can f'sure kick ass. [Rosalia Avalos straightens her back, tilting her head to the side for a second to stay comfortable in her seat as she lets Rika speak again.] [Rika Noguchi] And finally, as a female MMA fighter, you're breaking barriers and inspiring many aspiring athletes. [Rika Noguchi] How do you feel about being a role model for young women who aspire to succeed in combat sports, and what message would you like to share with them? [Rosalia Avalos] Look at all the women we have in Bellicose so far, it's amazing to see 'em peak in what they do 'n it's part of why I love bein' wid' Bellicose.. I hope it inspires other women to go after what they love to do 'n make the most of themselves in life. [Rosalia Avalos] Even for 'em to join us or juss' if they need that lil push in life to step into the gym or work on a healthier lifestyle. [Rosalia Avalos] As for myself? It's a bit unreal to be called one for young women y'know? I'm still young myself 'n I look up to others in the league as well, for their strength and skills.. so to be called one myself? It definitely motivates me to set an example. [Rika Noguchi]: Thank you so much for joining us this evening, Rosalia. Should we expect to see you fighting at the next Rockford Dome event? [Rosalia Avalos] I'm down, I'll never skip out on a fight if I'm lined up for one. Hope to see you all at my next fight! [Rosalia Avalos does a peace sign with a grin on her face for the end of the interview.] [An advert for new fighters, commentators, and referees alike is previewed at the end of the video. ((FORUM PM))]

The University of San Andreas (ULSA) has recently established an Aviation Club, providing students with a unique opportunity to engage in aviation-related projects and pursue their passion for flight. With 11 dedicated members, the club is making strides towards offering affordable aviation options and training for students. Led by Melissa Briggs, an intern at the San Andreas Aviation Administration (SAAA), the club aims to broaden access to aviation and inspire future pilots. The Birth of ULSA Aviation Club The ULSA Aviation Club was founded on the 3rd of June, 2023, by Melissa Briggs, a student and an enthusiastic intern at SAAA. Melissa's vision for the club was to create an avenue for students to explore aviation in a more affordable way and receive training from an early stage. Recognizing the high costs associated with aviation, Melissa sought to break down barriers and provide accessible opportunities for aspiring pilots. ULSA Campus (2023) Melissa's Dream of Affordable Aviation Melissa Briggs is passionate about making aviation accessible to students who otherwise might not have the means to pursue it as a hobby or a potential career path. She aims to revolutionize the aviation industry by offering affordable options for young enthusiasts, enabling them to explore the skies and receive training at a fraction of the usual cost. The ULSA Aviation Club Projects Currently, the ULSA Aviation Club is actively involved in five projects, with one of them nearing completion – the Flexwing Microlight. The club boasts a diverse team comprising three engineering students, one programming student, a chemistry major, and SAAA Engineer Tony Carlton, who supervises the ongoing Microlight project. This collaboration highlights the interdisciplinary nature of the club and the enthusiasm of students from various backgrounds towards aviation. The Flexwing Microlight Project The Flexwing Microlight project, one of the club's main endeavors, is close to fruition. The aircraft is designed to be lightweight and cost-effective, making it an ideal choice for aspiring pilots on a budget. Under the guidance of Tony Carlton, the team has been meticulously working on constructing the Microlight, aiming to provide a safe and efficient aircraft for future club members and aviation enthusiasts. However, the project isn't finished yet, they are aiming to finish the Microlight within the next couple of weeks. There will be an announcement regarding this, as the Aviation Club will be organizing a public event at Sandy Airport. Melissa Briggs next to the "almost" finished Microlight. There are still a few minor adjustments that have to be done to the engine before it can be installed on the Microlight. ((The microlight was almost finished with the exception of an engine at the back, currently it had all the electrical and mechanical parts to allow it gliding capabilities but lacked thrust due to having no engine at all.)) A Vision for the Future Melissa Briggs envisions a future where the ULSA Aviation Club plays a vital role in training student pilots to assist park rangers or firefighting departments in preventing and combating forest fires. She hopes that in the years to come, student volunteers from ULSA will be flying air ambulances, further expanding the impact of the club's endeavors. Interview with Melissa Briggs Neo Trudgill: "Melissa, as you said, this could be useful for students volunteering to help the FD, but the microlight is a stunt plane, so is this even related to one and other?" Melissa Briggs: "Currently we are working on a Microlight and from where I am Microlights and paragliders are used by Texas Fire Department to observe forest areas for fires and emergencies. Since they can fly much lower than a helicopter or plane due to its compact design. " Neo Trudgill: "Is the FD informed about this project?" Melissa Briggs: "They are informed about both of our projects, however they do not currently offer a volunteer program for students, it's something I want to work on in the future. Yet, as you can tell, we are a bunch of students at the end of the day, and first we have to prove to the good folk of LS that we can accomplish this. It's why we want to make our first official flight a public event. " Neo Trudgill: "What measures will you implement to ensure the safety of participants and visitors involved in your project?" Melissa Briggs: "Currently we have a lot of safety measures in place. First checking everything by an engineer, SAAA helped us with that. So we'll have a certificate for it. Second, safety and training go hand in hand with each other. We'll have safety training before any students are allowed to fly the Microlight. Miss Kaneko does the medical checks on all of the students. Lastly we have all backing from SAAA meaning they actually help us when we decide to fly that means we can entirely close a runway, and have ground crews of us so we ensure the safety of all participants also we also have waivers everyone needs to sigh and then get checked by our medical team basically" Neo Trudgill: "Are there any regulatory or legal considerations you need to address for operating the "Microlight" plane for educational purposes? How do you plan to handle these aspects?" Melissa Briggs: "Well according to the United States aviation code, you do not need a pilot license to be able to fly a microlight. so by all means were going far and beyond to make sure we'll educate people. As I said each pilot will sign a waiver." Neo Trudgill: "What resources or support did you need to bring your project to fruition?" Melissa Briggs: "Well, I'll talk about both our projects if that alright. For both of our projects, we needed three things. We needed material, we needed supervision, and finally we needed a legal team. Materials in the legal team were covered by ULSA, microlight for example had to get its wing from a company. while the engine and chassis were made by students using recycled materials. for the training purposes, SAAA and Blaine Aviation were kind enough to help us with their facilities and their instructors." Neo Trudgill: "How do you plan to ensure the sustainability and long-term impact of your project? Are there any plans for continuation beyond the initial phase?" Melissa Briggs: "Oh surely, Ideally as i said we can use the microlight to do even more events, as i said, we'd like to help other folks like FD as volunteers. We want to keep our gorgeous SA safe. We also would like to build even more microlights, perhaps we can even build a sparrow. Or even a smaller microlight helicopter. We can even build a havoc as it is considered an Ultralight and there are kits we can use. Currently, we have three teams, we have builders who build the equipment, we have ground crew, who supports the pilots and builders and lastly our pilots, and we will have something to do with all these teams constantly. Here I'd like to mention that we are doing our best to keep our nature safe It was one of the reasons we wanted to use recycled materials. " Neo Trudgill: "So, you've had five projects in total. What are the names of all those projects?" Melissa Briggs: "Currently the other three projects needs to be talked with the team however essentially I really want to help students get their pilot licenses for this reason I have a fundraiser event around aviation in mind, and as I said we also want to get people in contact with the industry leaders. One of my dreams is to get in contact with people who work in the industry and start offering even more internships programs for students for that reason why we have our builders team, I want to host an event to showcase what we managed to build. Another project will be about hosting field trips and show our club members how airfields work whatever does, and how they can pursue to work at an airfield when the time comes." Neo Trudgill interviewing Melissa Briggs at the ULSA Campus' students lobby. The ULSA Aviation Club represents a pioneering initiative aimed at making aviation more accessible to students and inspiring a new generation of pilots. Under the leadership of Melissa Briggs and with the dedication of its members, the club is actively pursuing projects that offer affordable aviation options and practical training opportunities. As the club continues to grow and flourish, it has the potential to revolutionize the aviation industry, opening doors for aspiring pilots who dream of taking to the skies.

Election: Fifteen Minutes With Tanya Sun Nayeli Greyfeather Last week, Tanya Sun, the Democratic Party's candidate for the Western District, was able to give LSNN fifteen minutes out of her very busy schedule to discuss the election. Tanya Sun, Democratic Candidate for the West [image reproduced from social media] I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to discuss a few issues, including how Tanya felt the election impacted the women of Los Santos. The transcript of our interview is below: Nayeli: So, let's start with that fact, that you're the only woman candidate. Does that give you cause for concern at all? Tanya: Concern? No, I do believe that if you can do the work, your gender shouldn't matter. But what does matter is when it's so consistently one way. I'm less concerned and more disappointed -- I guess. Consider that it's a, for lack of a better description, "a man's world" since the dawn of time. In 2020 things should have progressed but, they seem to have gone a little backwards in Los Santos. Nayeli: I see. Tanya: On the previous point though, I feel it needs saying -- Nayeli: Yes? Tanya: I'm not singling the Republicans out for criticism here. Gender diversity in places of power is just a huge structural issue across the country and the world. We kind of expect the Republicans to be as gender balanced as a Stone Age tribe. But I'm not exempting the Democrats from criticism. We can do better as well. The fact there's only one woman nominee is not a good thing for us. But, I am encouraged that our next generation of talent has more girl power, so to speak. Nayeli: Can you name a few people who have inspired you to run in the election? Tanya: I wish it was a few people. I mean, my partner Bobby is at the top of the list, always. His support and guidance has been everything to me. But, honestly for me, it's the whole community in Little Seoul that has really inspired me to step up. Nayeli: Cool. Tanya: I want to see the best for all the West Suburbs, because just this one suburb has been a family to me, and has really shown what communities can do when they watch out for each other and lift each other up. Nayeli: My next question has two parts to it, okay? First what do you think makes a good female role model, and do you have any of your own? Actually, that was the two. Tanya: There are so many role models to choose from. Supreme Court Justice (Ruth) Ginsberg has to be one of my all time -- well, heroes. Also, I have to say I have nothing but love for our girl AOC (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) in Washington -- she makes me feel like anything is possible. Nayeli: She was criticized for having a large part in 20,000 potential jobs leaving New York City based on her activism to prevent Amazon from basing a distribution center there. Do you think that's an issue of concern? Tanya: Not at all -- look, I'm often called a conservative Democrat -- and that's not an unfair statement, I am definitely to the right of AOC. But Amazon's employment practices are completely immoral. I believe in backing local businesses that have a stake in this city, (over) a multi-national who may employ tens of thousands but keep them barely alive on well below minimum wage agreements. Los Santos deserves better than predatory out-of-town businesses exploiting our vulnerable. Nayeli: So, you're in favor of heavier employment regulations in Los Santos? Tanya: I'm in favor of fairer employment regulations in Los Santos. I feel there needs to be government support to help small and struggling businesses to better navigate bureaucracy, but I don't believe that cutting regulations and taxes is a solution to, well any problem really. Nayeli: A few months ago there were calls to unionize the security industry, are you in favor of unionization? In that or any other industry? Tanya: Of course unions are a vital part of the industrial world. The absence of unions is precisely why companies like Amazon can exploit their workers to a degree that Americans are working in conditions that would make Bangladesh in the eighties look sane. Nayeli: Tanya, I was also wondering whether you had identified any programs or policies that are aimed at women? I'll give an example; the LSFD had the program that enabled us to report to stations around the city if we felt unsafe. Have you anything specifically targeted or tailored for women? Tanya: Well, let me start by saying the LSFD initiative was an essential one for the community, and I wish we saw more of those in the previous administration. For my part, I want to see more women's health clinics available city wide. Consider that endometriosis (a progressive and chronic uterine condition) is one of the most common and debilitating conditions for women across the country, but -- treatments and awareness? You barely hear about it. That needs to change. The Democrats are aiming to establish a Department of Public Health and, if we win, That will be at the top of the agenda -- I promise. VISIT OUR WEBSITE - CLICK HERE

Angela Marchese, ex-girlfriend of fired GOP candidate Alex Orleans, speaks out KASPER KARTOWSKI Angela Marchese stands in a Pillbox Hill parking lot. (Angela Marchese) In a feature interview with LSNN, Angela Marchese, the ex-girlfriend of Alex Orleans, has spoken out about the highly publicized domestic disturbance which allegedly occurred in the former Republican candidate's Vinewood apartment. The incident has been extensively reported on in the past few days by LSNN, along with the subsequent criminal charges against Orleans, most of which he was recently acquitted on. The former film student also opened up about her movie, Pulled Apart, which was judged by critics for what some described as poor production quality and lackluster acting, defending the movie as a project not intended to be treated as a professional production. On the disturbance of September 5th, 2020 I spotted Marchese outside the Davis-area gas station, riding her now-infamous scooter bike, albeit equipped with new tires and a fresh paint job. She offered an interview to which I obliged. During the interview, she attempted to clear up the rumors surrounding her relationship and domestic dispute with Alex Orleans once and for all. Giving her account of the events that occurred on September the 5th, Marchese stated that "it all started the night before... we were partying... having fun... getting wasted and high, you know? And while talking, I said by accident that I... well... had something with someone else," seemingly admitting to having cheated on the former candidate for the Central District. "I didn't know he'd take it so badly... we weren't like, married yet, you know?," she added. The front entrance to Eclipse Towers I. (LSNN/Kasper Kartowski) "All I wanted was for him to make up with me." Later in the interview, Marchese revealed that the dispute began when she came to Orleans' Vinewood apartment with the intent to make up their grievances with intercourse. She seemed conflicted about her relationship with Orleans, on the one hand stating that she "was begging for him to forgive (her)," and on the other that "he simply took advantage" of her attempt to repair their relationship. Furthermore, Marchese stated that "all I wanted was him to make up with me" and that she did not intend to harm his candidacy; also admitting that she "feel(s) guilty about what happened" to her former boyfriend. Marchese also revealed that she visited Orleans in prison following his arrest and does not plan on continuing a relationship with Orleans in the future, though ruling out the possibility entirely. Eclipse Tower I stands tall in west Vinewood (left), bullet casings found at the scene (right) (LSNN, Court Documents) Ms. Marchese noted that she did not feel threatened by Orleans during the dispute and did not recall Orleans' attempt to grab the firearm which was soon thereafter discharged. When asked whether her ex-boyfriend carried a gun regularly during sex, Marchese claimed that he would always remove his firearms prior. She said, "I don't really know why he shot (the gun), I don't care to be honest. The scooter... it's fine... If he's guilty of something, that'd be breaking my heart." On her amateur horror-comedy film Pulled Apart Perhaps a less-personal but still highly publicized topic on Ms. Marchese is her recent film, Pulled Apart, which she described in my interview as being about "a couple of love triangles, a party and a monster." The film, which was shot on the ULSA campus, gathered plenty of critical reviews online. The University of Los Santos in Rockford Hills, during the morning of September 13, 2020. (LSNN/Kasper Kartowski) The film, which was recorded at the ULSA campus and dormitories, was described by Marchese as "not a masterpiece, just something people can enjoy while at home." One comment-poster described it as watching a movie with a budget of "two coffee cups and a pack of donuts," while another praised the actors as "too good for (the) movie." Still, a select few reviewers gave the production a passing mark, acknowledging the low-budget issues. Responding to criticism of her movie, Marchese likened the negative reviews to "going to Burger Shot and complaining the meal isn't fancy." After being asked for her thoughts on what may have led people to be disappointed, she hinted that the low budget and overly-high expectations may have played a role. A promotional poster for Pulled Apart. (Marchese Films) Ms. Marchese also claimed that prominent Republicans had supported the movie more-so than Democrats, with GOP Vice Chairman Thomas Barnes apparently acting in it. When pressed on why she thought Barnes, a political candidate for Deputy Mayor, starred in the movie, Marchese replied that he was one of the only paid actors and revealed an unexpected revelation: “Someone didn't like me and Thomas having chemistry together...", and that she thinks jealousy may have had something to do with the movie's production issues. After reaching out to the Republican Party, they issued the following statement: "The GOP has had no interaction with Marchese films or any of Thomas's passion projects, the GOP has also not given or offered any money at any point to any movie productions." Communicating through Mr. Barnes, the statement also clarified that Mr. Barnes has "terminated any passion projects in the field of theatre and focus purely on the welfare of the party." When pressed on whether they regretted removing Mr. Orleans as their Central District candidate, the GOP stated that they "have no comments on this matter" and were unwilling to discuss the topic. At $1,000 per copy, viewers had to give a pretty penny to watch the movie in full. But as Ms. Marchese revealed during the interview, she lost money on the movie, making her believe that most viewers opted to illegally download, rather than purchase, the film. Concluding the interview, Ms. Marchese added cynically, "Honestly, if media is talking about me, I'll be happy, even if it's true or false." VISIT OUR WEBSITE - CLICK HERE

Meet the new Fire Chief! Callie Palencia Los Santos News had the chance to sit down with the Fire Chief Randy Sikes Los Santos News Network was able to setup a meeting with the newly inaugurated Fire Chief Randy Sikes and Freddy Mellet to talk about the future of the Fire Department and the plans of the future. We learned a lot of new things, including the new station that will be opened shortly! (Left to right) Freddy Mellet, Randy Sikes, Callie Palencia. Full Interview Callie Palencia: What changes do you plan on bringing forward to the department Randy Sikes: My immediate goal is to review and update our policies and procedures, allowing them to be better understood and clarify what is expected of my employees. We're also in the process of replacing most of our fleet, starting with our engine companies. Our technical rescue capabilities are being expanded with the purchase of new rescue trucks. And lastly, we're looking forward to expanding our operations into Paleto Bay and the surrounding areas through our volunteer program and hope to push for funding in doing so. Callie Palencia: When do you plan on making the purchase, any time soon? Randy Sikes: The purchases have been made and the trucks have been spec'd out. We purchased five new engines, a heavy rescue, HazMat, and off road rescue vehicle.We're awaiting for them to finish testing before they come to us. They have to be thoroughly tested by the manufacturer. --- Callie Palencia: The Fire Department has undergone heavy scrutiny from the public lately, especially with the past riots, How do you plan on improving the Fire Department's reputation? Randy Sikes: I'm happy to address specific concerns if you have them. With that said, going forward with our Public Relations team, we'll be getting more involved in the community by hosting community meetings where we can have discussions with the public and address any concerns they may have. --- Callie Palencia says: What do you feel can be improved within the Fire Department? And how will you tackle that Randy Sikes: Of course, this is one of the most important questions for a new Fire Chief. There is always room for improvement; one thing that we have to do is keep moving forward and not remain stagnant. We hope to lead by example in implementing a structure that works. Part of our recent improvements was the establishment of our Fire Academy, in which we bring on new candidates in an extensive training program that prepares them for the real deal. The academy streamlines the whole recruitment process, in contrast to individualized training in the past which took a lot of time and resources. Our training instructors have been doing a fantastic job in that regard. Lastly, my goal is to be as transparent as possible with my employees and be open to feedback and suggestions from both my employees and the public. This allows me to push forward changes that are most effective. --- Callie Palencia: I see, and speaking of transparency, how do you plan on being more transparent with the public; this can be anything from expenditures, general internal affairs data. I believe the old fire chief... Hunter? Was happy to release data upon request, when I did ask about it. Randy Sikes: Of course. We publish a monthly newsletter to the department which is a great source for finding relevant information of what's going on, as well as recognizing outstanding members and their accomplishments. Along with the previously mentioned community meetings, that should also allow further transparency in giving the public a platform to let us know about their suggestion and issues. Along with that, I will be happy to release internal affairs statistics and comment on completed investigations. These should all be seen in the near future from our ever-growing Public Relations division who are doing some outstanding work. --- Callie Palencia: Do you plan on opening any other Fire Stations? Randy Sikes: Yes, currently we have plans to open two more stations. Station One in Paleto Bay was previously closed due to manpower limitations, and we will be reopening it as a volunteer station in the near future. Station Two, in Rockford Hills, will also be opening very quickly. It'll house our headquarters staff, and all of our administration functions. We'll also consider staffing it with response vehicles, but that's long term. Last month, we also opened Station Six at Los Santos International Airport, which services LSIA, contains our Fire Academy, and houses our Air Operations Division. Needless to say, we're expanding pretty quickly. And that's also in great part to Chief Hunter. He had a vision of what he wanted the department to be, and I'm now helping carry it out. Callie Palencia: I see, when you say fully staffed Volunteer station, will that 100% volunteers? Randy Sikes: It will likely be a hybrid of paid staff and volunteers; at least at first. Our Captains are all full-time staff, so the station would have to be managed by them. That may change, depending on the needs of the department. --- Callie Palencia: Mental Health is a complex issue to cover, especially with Firefighters and EMS, how do you plan on supporting your staff that may suffer from mental health issues? Randy Sikes: Of course, this is something that hits very close to me. It's widely known that firefighters and other first responders undergo God's work on a day-to-day basis and often have to experience trauma that very few could imagine. There's a lot of mental pressure that can be seen from our employees as a result of what they experience in their jobs and we've made extensive efforts in allowing periods of leave on the basis of mental health. Every year across the country, there are more suicides in first responders than actual line-of-duty deaths. Part of the problem regarding mental health is the fear of talking to a psychologist; a stigma has risen around it not just in the fire department, but in general life. In an effort to help our staff in difficult times moving forward, we'll be expanding our network of available psychologists and chaplains that our staff can reach out to at any time. Another thing we'll be implementing is something that fire departments across the world already do, and that's a critical incident stress debriefing. This can be activated after a serious call where the attendees can sit down with one another and talk about what happened in an open forum. Sometimes when you bring outside people in to deal with these situations, it can cause us to be closed off. So what this does is allow them to talk about it with those who were actually there. The other thing I'll be addressing is the way we discipline staff who may be suffering from PTSD. In the past, it's common that people who are suffering from PTSD get little to no support from their department and I want to make sure we're not doing that. If someone's suffering, we need to be there to support them so they can move on. When striking down hard on employees because of bad behavior that stems from depression or PTSD, that pushes them further downhill. Instead, we need to take a step back and see why a member is acting out and get them the help we need before resorting to disciplinary action. Los Santos News thanks the Fire Department Media Relations and the Fire Chief for sitting down with us. Further Reading LSFD website LSFD Photos (Ran by Freddy Mellet) lsnn.gta.world

DJ Egroka Interview "Egorka." Aska Redan Over the past month, we've seen many fresh new DJs rise, some fall and others remain under the radar in niche markets. DJ AoI comes to mind when you hear the words popular club DJ, but there is one other. The usurper who gained such a massive cult following that dedicated fans and occasional listeners know by a single, nonsensical word. "Egorka." The word means absolutely nothing, it's gibberish but is a come to be a greeting and expression of love for the young immigrant Svetlana Koltsova. AR - Aska Redan EG - DJ Egorka/Svetlana *Note Svetlana speaks with a very dense Russian accent.* AR: What's your origin, you know where you were born, came from, how'd you get here? EG: I'm from Novosibirsk,Russia. I came here when I was sixteen, by plane. I was born into scrap business, my parents, they send me here to start my own life, and help with uncle's junkyard. Junkyard, it go under and uncle, he go back to Russian, but I decided to stay here, y'know? It's better here. AR: Do you know why the business went under or was it symptomatic of the recession towards the 2010s? EG: Eh it was after Recession. Uncle he have problems, economy, drinking and there was a lot of anti-Russian sentiment here. Because of politics, dates back to the Cold War I guess. AR: So amid all the issue with coming to America, and your uncle's business falling through. How'd you find yourself becoming a DJ? EG: A friend, she inspired me. Rina, she DJ at local clubs and parties, with all the popular hit music. I'm not entirely about that kind of music, but she gave me inspiration to DJ and play the kind of music I like to play. *At this point she received a phone call, and apologized for the interruption* AR: Please continue if you have any other words on that subject(her inspiration). EG: So she gives me support and I get all the stuff together to start my own radio. It turned out to be more popular than I was thinking because of the type of music. It's not entirely mainstream, like modern music. But people like it, and it's different than the normal music and I play requests from time to time. AR: How exactly did you meet Rina? EG: Through an old friend, named Lee. He moved away now but was one the firsts I had here. They were dating when he introduced me to Rina. Me and her have become great friends, still, are. AR: Your style and your own radio station is quite unconventi0onal. Normally people stick to a certain theme. You play anything from Nickleback to Post Malone, why is that? EG: Because it's different, instead of listening to the same old stuff, it's a bit of variety. A little something for every. To break the monotony of listening to rap, metal, or a pop station. You can have all in one place. But I don't play rap or hip-hop often. Only on occasion. AR: What inspires your love of music? EG: Well is simple, music is a universal language. Even if I speak Russian, and neighbor speaks English, music is something we can all understand. World revolves around music it would be miserable without in our lives. It's everywhere. AR: If you had to pick, who are your top band, arts, or groups? EG: That is a good question. AR: Who would you dedicate part of your station, setlists or even make a new station dedicated to them? EG: Daft Punk, Gorillaz, Disturbed, Tool, and Iron Maiden. Is hard to pick five. I love so many different groups, artists and genres. If I had to dedicate anything it'd be to a few people. To Rina, Lee, my late sister, Liz, Bobbeh, Odin. All the people that helped take care of me when I first came here. I would be here if not for them. AR: And if you had anything to say to our readers, and people of LS. Whether they're new to the city or fervent listeners, what would it be? EG: Never sell out who you are as a person., love everybody. Even if you don't agree with them, and you don't have to like someone to be nice to them. Manners and courtesy are free, not many things in this world are free. It never kills to be nice to others. The hour or so we spent together was quite relaxed, at the time she was managing her radio station and taking requests. It didn't hamper our interview in any regard, as a matter of fact, it showed her dedication to interact with her fans. We took pauses for her to put on music, but as we can all see DJ Egorka is nothing but a wholesome woman. Her words in this interview uplifted me as we spoke, and hopefully, her dedication to her friends and fans will reach far and wide. "Who knew that you could arrange words and sounds in such a way that makes like trance. It's magic."  - DJ Egorka More From Saints DJ AoI interview Interview with a Dominatrix Saints News #ForSaintsBySaints 

INTERVIEW WITH DJ AOI LOLA MENDOZA Warm greetings, Los Santos! The long-awaited interview with DJ AOI is finally here. Per usual, Saints News always delivers its promises! For those who are uninformed, DJ AOI (Rina Lee) is Los Santos' resident DJ, a well-known one too! Her notable characteristics during her performances are the famous musical theme nights and fabulous cosplays that go along with it. Additionally, the music she plays portrays her excitement and commitment that she has for her audience. If you haven't had the chance to visit one of her thematic nights, now is the right time to consider it! You can also show your full support for DJ AOI by clicking on her Facebrowser profile -here-. You can check the entire interview down below, with the inclusion of DJ AOI's picture. RINA LEE (DJ AOI) ____________________ THE INTERVIEW Lola: How did it all start for you, your career as a DJ? Rina (DJ AOI): Well, it's a long story. It all started when I was fourteen. It was a bumpy road for me, as back in Seoul, where I was born and raised, I've seen the music video of my favorite band - Girls' Generation. It was called "Catch me if you can." And then, like in the cartoons, a light bulb flashed above my head and I thought "I want to be a KPop idol". So after a long debate, my parents finally agreed on it. I recorded audition tapes of me singing and dancing to this song and I got accepted by CUBE entertainment. Although the journey of becoming a KPop star is really, I dare to say, rough. There were plenty of training, dancing and singing classes. We were divided into dorms by gender, so there was no time whatsoever to meet with boys. Not even going to mention dating, because it's a big scandal automatically. I was doing good, graduating from class to class, since school was important to me. I practically lived like a robot. But things were going well for me. I was assigned for a girl group project including 3 other girls with me, I was "maknae" of the group, which means I was the youngest face and the main dancer. But during one of dance practices I did one thing I don't recommend to anyone. I jumped in the air and wanted to finish it with a split. Sounds exciting. But along with the beat of the song I've heard a cracking sound. It was my knee. I couldn't move my leg, and froze in that position. Girls and my coach immediately knew that something's wrong with me, because I didn't get up. They called for an ambulance. It turned out that I dislocated my kneecap and unfortunately, my KPop career ended with this unfortunate occurrence. After years of rehabilitation, I was still dabbling with music, recording covers on my iPhone, playing on guitar and making DJ sets. I still have everything saved on my spare hard drive. Then I came to Los Santos intending to study at ULSA. I wanted to push my musical dreams aside, to become a programmer and work for game developers, until I came to Club Fusion with my friend. And I exactly remember that DJ RoE was on decks. I was excited for this party. I loved every second of his set, then I decided to message him on FaceBrowser, letting him know that I'm a rookie artist that would look for some guidance, and maybe he would kindly help me to kickstart my DJ career. I came to the empty club, played my first ever set in front of him, his jaw dropped, and we cooperate until today. Lola: That is a touching story, Rina. I'm glad that you've shared it with us, also that you found inspiration elsewhere when you were met with difficulties in your life. Who or what was your biggest inspiration? Rina (DJ AOI): I have a lot of people who inspire me at work. First of them is John himself. He's my mentor, I treat him like my father. I know he wants the best for me and always gives me constructive criticism regarding my work whenever I ask him. Second is Kim Hyoyeon, or HYO. She belonged to Girls' Generation and started a solo career as a DJ after the band became less popular. And well, my dearest friends who always get my back. Julia, Yoona, Ari, and Chris - along with my boyfriend. Lola: How would you describe your development as an artist? Rina (DJ AOI): I can say that in my sets there's always room for improvement. After the gig, I always sit down, get my sheet mask on and think what I could've done better. Whether it's interaction with the crowd or my song choices. I never stand with my chin raised, thinking "oh yeah, I'm that bitch, no one is as good as me", because simply it's not true. We have a lot of talents in the City, and we, artists, love to cooperate and not compete with each other. Lola: What is it about DJing that makes it interesting for you? Rina (DJ AOI): That it's not boring, simple as that. Every gig is different. Different people come, every set has its main theme. I even like to push it further and even dress for an occasion, like I did with The Garden, or our themed nights at Heat, when I make an original costume idea or cosplay some of my favorite characters. So far I dressed up as Sailor Venus and Gogo Yubari from Kill Bill. I don't know why, I always like to pick strong female characters I'm dressing up as, and that's what makes people excited, the fact that there's always something fresh and unexpected when I play. Lola: What was your first performance as a DJ like? Rina (DJ AOI): Oh, I remember I played really safe. Most of the songs were from known artists like The Prodigy, Scooter, and ATB. I'm not saying they were bad, per se. But I was keeping myself in my comfort zone for a long time. I was afraid that people wouldn't like me if I played harder tunes, like trance or dubstep, because it's a niche - not everyone likes this type of music. But then I talked with John and Jules (owner of Bahama Mamas). They suggested that I should experiment with my sets, play harder. Blow the roof, as people like to say it. Lola: Any particularly memorable night which you're fond of as a DJ? Rina (DJ AOI): It's definitely my debut at Heat along with John, I was so shy. I barely touched the microphone, he then nudged me lightly and told me to relax. People started chanting my name, cheering up. I even teared up a little on stage. It was just out of this world. Having chills down my spine, my friends were there and they all group hugged me, telling me how great I did that night. Lola: What's your routine before the beginning of a set? Any preparations? Rina (DJ AOI): Usually it's just a normal girl routine, I lay down in a hot tub with a face mask on, get some iced tea. Patiently watching the time, then I prepare my make up, get dressed and depart. Oh, and I always get a can of cherry cola before stepping on the stage. Lola: Can you describe your state of mind during the performance? Rina (DJ AOI): I always try to remain calm. I put my heart and soul into the gig. It's like I'm trying to tell you the story with each set, how much I love doing this for my crowd. And I think it shows with my energy. If I would be, I don't know - depressed, or allow other unpleasantries to rule over me, it wouldn't be the same. Lola: Speaking of, to continue onto your next answer. The relationship with the audience is crucial for the DJ, what is your approach to it? Rina (DJ AOI): For me, it's mandatory to cooperate with the crowd. When you just stand here, without at least bopping your head to the music you're playing, the crowd would be dead as well, and that's not the point of it. When I supervise other DJs, I always try to give them as much positive energy as possible, cheer them up, give them a piece of advice. And I can see that if people see that you're enjoying yourself, they will join you in doing the same, living their life, forgetting about problems. Lola: I witnessed several of your gigs, and I do have to say that you're astonishingly engaging with your crowd! Can you name one subgenre that you think it doesn't get the attention it deserves? Further on, do you have a favorite genre? Rina (DJ AOI): Hm, I'm comfortably introducing people and getting them familiarized with trance, although they tend to express their concerns with that particular genre of music - mostly as it's something they aren't accustomed to. And I would say that's one of my favorite genres, but I'm not generalizing. I love music, it's like a band-aid for our hearts. Because it's with us for most of our lives. Lola: Do you have any nuisances when it comes to the DJ scene? Rina (DJ AOI): Well, only one. People think that I'm a jukebox. Screaming to me to play Madonna or something. It's not that easy to alter your whole set in five seconds and play the song they want to hear. There's an app for it, it's called Spotify, or YouTube. I may do a subtle request, but only if it fits the theme. Do you imagine playing an upbeat song, and then breaking it with, I don't know, Frank Sinatra? That would completely kill the mood of the party. Lola: Precisely what I was thinking, too. Rina (DJ AOI): At least you understand, that's why I love having you on my gigs. Lola: Personal opinion on Los Santos' nightlife? Rina (DJ AOI): Hm, I think that with our current DJ staff and clubs that have been opened, I think it's the renaissance of the city's club scene. Everyone has something to represent, every gig is different, everyone gives you another experience. Lola: And lastly. Any advice for the aspiring DJs? Rina (DJ AOI): Keep on trying, don't be shy to ask the DJ a few questions after the gig if you want to become a DJ yourself. We're artists, we have to understand each other, cooperate, become friends. You want to become a DJ? Sure! Everyone is different, and that's what makes the scene exciting. We're not clones. So you can't say to yourself that you're not good enough before you even try. __________ Stay tuned for more interesting articles in the future! As always, reach out to Saints News with any stories! MORE FROM SAINTS Howling Relic: Great Chaparral Mine Shaft The Perception of Gangs DRESS TO IMPRESS (Businesswear) Saints News #ForSaintsBySaints

BLAINE COUNTY WILDLIFE PRESERVATION - INTERVIEW WITH AMI HUDSPETH BY LOLA MENDOZA "The greatness in humanity is not in being human, but being humane." Good day people of Los Santos! Yesterday I had the honors of meeting Mrs. Hudspeth in person here at Saints News. For those who are unaware, Mrs. Hudspeth and her husband, William Hudspeth, founded an environment-based, non-profitable organization that focuses on preserving our wildlife - Blaine County Wildlife Preservation. They have their Facebrowser page, for those interested to check, with additional info and tons of guidance when it comes to interacting with nature. Here's the transcript of the interview we did together yesterday, I'm certain that you're more than eager to read what Mrs. Hudspeth had to say on her behalf. "Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land." THE INTERVIEW Lola: Could you tell us of the history of Blaine County Wilderness Preservation, how was it initially founded and what were your goals? Ami: Phew... It's a long story. My mother was a veterinarian. I grew up in Paleto Bay and our house was like a barnyard. I was always surrounded by animals and nature. We all practically lived outside. It is how I initially met my husband, William. He was a Ranger for the Blaine County Sherrif's Department before they merged with the Los Santos Police Department. We actually had our first date up Mount Gordo... where we discussed our mutual love of animals and nature. I hate saying the word 'destiny', but something definitely brought us together to make BCWP happen. It's weird, you know? When we first came up with the idea, I was running a small clothing store up on the Great Northern Highway. Coincidentally, right next to my husband's business "Hang-Ten". Again, it seemed like the stars aligned and we were -forced- to meet each other. We both had dreams, we both had a passion to make a difference and now we're finally in a position to try and do something about it. Kalyani: That's a very nice story. Lola: Touching too, if I may add. How do you feel about the future of Blaine County Wilderness Preservation? Ami: Positive. We've been in discussion with Mayor Rockford and acting Chief of Police Charles Hughes. We had two meetings so far and things are progressing nicely. We have big aims and plans, but obviously there are laws in place that we need to work to work around and change before we can become exactly what we aim to be. Lola: I'm happy to hear that, Mrs. Hudspeth. Hopefully everything turns out for the better. Ami: We hope so too. Lola: When you take a look at Blaine County Wilderness today, how satisfied are you with the work you've accomplished since its foundation? Ami: Extremely satisfied, although we're dependant on Mayor Rockford and the Government in order to pursue our goals further on. Currently, we're working on relocating the animal breeding grounds across Blaine County to a more secluded area. We're expecting that project to be completed by the end of two-thousand-twenty-one. We're also opening up a new surgery and clinic center soon, where we will be able to offer free medical care to all animals in San Andreas. Whether they are domestic or wildlife. Free vaccinations, check-ups, medical care, surgery. Whatever required, we'll provide it, free of charge. We're also looking to establish laws in regards to fishing and hunting. Currently, our streams and rivers are being drained of marine life by the constant fishing that's happening. Especially around Sandy Shores. We want to enforce a catch-limit and even a licensing process. Our oceans have plenty of marine life, but towards Banham Canyon and Sandy Shores, marine life is being depleted at a rapid rate which is worrying. Same goes for hunting licenses. We're trying to get a place where we can enforce stricter hunting permits and licenses. Just last night we found a dead buck that had been shot down by a crossbow illegally. We have a lot of concerns regarding the patrolling of Blaine County currently. The LSPD, as you know, do an incredible job at keeping Los Santos safe. But their resources are stretched thin towards the county side and we want to act as a small support network up there, where we can assist the LSPD by using the off-road vehicles a helicopter that we have access to. All to keep Blaine County safe. Our main goal is to work effortlessly with Mayor Rockford to once again establish the Park Rangers. Our goal is to turn Blaine County Wilderness Preservation into the Blaine County Park Ranger Department. That would give us the legal right to detain and respond to any crime in our national parks where our jurisdiction grants us such. Mainly the mountains, forests and canyons. Where regular police activity isn't as efficient. We're also trying to set up an agreement to perform all the medical care that's necessary for the LSPD K9 Unit. Being able to respond to any situation required where one of their hounds may be injured or sick. We've already started providing check-ups for some of the dogs that they have by giving them a DHLPP vaccination. Again, we wish to make this a legal process that all pet owners in the city must abide by, so we can ensure that diseases and illnesses do not spread due to animals not being vaccinated accordingly. Lola: Humble, yet heroic and absolutely necessary act. All of it. Ami: We do not aim to be seen as heroic. We just want to spread awareness throughout the state of San Andreas and hopefully make a difference. Preserving our wildlife and natural environment so that our kids and their kids can embrace it as much as we do. Lola: I have a feeling that you're going to work wonders on the people of Los Santos with this. Ami: I hope so. We've hit a brick wall with progression at the moment. The more support we gather, the more we can attempt and convince Mayor Rockford - who, I must say, for all the negative backlash he sometimes receives, has been absolutely incredible. He understands what our goal is, but obviously, laws are in place for a reason. The more support we gain from the people of San Andreas and the more positive feedback there is, the better our chances are of bringing a designated Park Rangers team back. I'd welcome anyone to reach out to our Government and offer their support to the cause. The more people we can rally, the better our chances are at making a difference. We're all part of this State, let's preserve it as best we can. Lola: Optimistically, this interview will help bring the awareness. Ami: I hope so, I really do. My husband and I are extremely passionate about this. We do not make any profit out of it, we fund it ourselves. Lola: That is evident, Mrs. Hudspeth. Ami: People have kindly donated, but it's not a requirement. We just want to be able to help the State of San Andreas to the best of our capabilities. And we believe in ourselves and the people! We know that we can do this, we just need the tools from the Government to do it. I don't want to wake up in a world where we are surrounded by skyscrapers. We have access to one of the most beautiful countrysides in the world, right at our doorstep. If my husband and I can make a difference, we're going to try as hard as we can. Bring back the Park Rangers, put your faith in us. We will not disappoint you, that's a promise. Lola: How many people do you have on your team? Ami: Right now, there is just me and my husband. The plan is to establish a small team of five to six people, if our agreement with Mayor Rockford comes into motion. Lola: And what are the requirements for someone who potentially seeks to volunteer for Blaine County Wilderness Preservation? Ami: Currently, our volunteer program has no requirements. But if we're able to push our goals through and establish the Park Rangers as an official agency, then we will have an academy. That is already settled and in motion, we're only awaiting the Government's approval. The academy is split into two sections. First is weapons, conduct, and field safety. Second is animal welfare. There is an examination process included. Lola: What is the best approach when dealing with an aggressive, or frightened animal? Ami: The aim is to never euthanize an animal unless it's absolutely necessary. I have submitted a guide on Facebrowser for surviving a mountain lion attack. We carry legal CO2 based IM tranquilizer rifles and will always attempt to put the troubled animal to sleep, so we can transport them to safety. We do have events, however, where we may have to put an animal down. That series of events can happen for numerous reasons. An example is when we had received a call regarding a lost mountain lion in an abandoned motel, near Sandy Shores. We simply couldn't risk it for the animal to run into town. A decision was then made to euthanize it. A process that's handled via a shot through the heart with a high caliber rifle. Should you come across an aggressive animal, the best thing you can do is to make yourself appear bigger. Be noisy and do -NOT- play dead. Animals are extremely territorial, especially near their nest or their breeding grounds. We're going to publish leaflets soon, indicating where all known breeding grounds are located and we implore people to read it to ensure that they are not caught in a place which could endanger them, If you're unfortunate enough to run into an aggressive animal, make yourself big, make a lot of noise and grab anything you can to defend yourself. Never turn your back on them, if the situation forces you to fight - you fight. Traveling in groups is an advantage. And once you believe you're safe - keep going. Call us immediately, we have access to an aerial unit for extreme cases - granting us a swift response for extreme cases. We can also issue a Tetanus shot if you happen to suffer from a puncture wound. We're here twenty-four seven to help and guide you, do not hesitate to call us. Lola: Do you have a sanctuary for the endangered species, or a sanctuary for animals that were either injured or abused by other people? Ami: We did have. We're waiting on a building permit to relocate our sanctuary to the Beaver Bush Ranger Station. That should take a few days, but it will include an animal housing and shelter. We currently have nine stray dogs in our care. It's just slightly chaotic at this moment. Hopefully, with the permit on its way, we'll have the opportunity to create a wonderful environment for any animal in our care. " Lola: And lastly, how would you encourage the people of San Andreas to be more cautious of their environment. Ami: Just use your head, really. If you're on the trails, be wary of animals and hikers. If you have an animal, bring them by for a check-up. If you see a stray animal, call us immediately. If you see litter on the ground, dispose of it in the recycling bin. I don't want to get preachy, but a lot of it is plain simple, common sense. Camping has been popular up Mount Gordo lately, which we love and encourage. But be sure to pick up everything on your leave. We recently had a treatment of a mountain lion that had sliced its paw on a can of beer. Same goes for our beaches, the beach parties are wonderful. Bringing the community together on a clean Vespucci beach. Just ensure to keep it that way after the party has been concluded. We're living in a generation where we get to walk out on our doorsteps and embrace the wilderness which surrounds us. We want to be able to share that with everyone, including our children. __________ Additionally, Mrs. Hudspeth and her husband have managed to successfully obtain The Beaver Bush Station, which is a step in the right direction in terms of progression! Do not hesitate to contact them for all things nature-oriented! SAINTS NEWS