Author:pablo

Alex Epstein: More Than Just a Man Who Loves Fossil Fuels

By Ashley Renteria

Alex Epstein

Alex Epstein, a Duke graduate in philosophy of 2002 and author of the book The Moral Case of Fossil Fuels, attended this years West Kern Petroleum Summit in Taft, California.

Sporting a green t-shirt which read “I love Fossil Fuels” under his blazer, the founder of Center for Industrial Progress delivered an informative and detailed discussion about the future of energy, what it means for the world and environment to really “be green” and the moral philosophy of how do we know what is wrong or right for the environment and the people in it.

“Humans change nature,” Epstein argued that society and environmentalists are focused on being green and what it really means for humans and the earth to be green.

Epstein believes there is “No debate over morals, but there is a debate over expiration dates” when talking about green energy versus petroleum and fossil fuels. As a believer in energy abundance, Epstein expressed that “being green is not about saving humans, but we should save the planet from humans.”

In terms of going green with our energy sources by taking fossil fuels out of the equation and reducing our carbon footprints in order to help preserve our environment, Epstein notes if we look at North and South Korea at night, South Korea is lit up and bright with lights while North Korea is completely dark which makes sense why North Korea has the lowest carbon footprints in the world.

That isn’t the point, while North Korea may have the lowest carbon footprint in the world, South Koreans are happy and they live their lives to the fullest in ways that they can. Another point Epstein brought up was that if society and those who want to preserve the environment by reducing carbon footprints, should those people not have children?

When talking about shifting our energy sources to something more “natural” or sun powered, Epstein pointed out that fossil fuels are already fueled by the sun, they’re just preserved by nature. While all forms of energy are manufactured in some way because “humans invented resources by turning nothing into something.”

Alex Epstein may have a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and written a book, but there is more to him than just the data and statistics he provides for his discussions.

After speaking on stage in front of hundreds at the West Kern Petroleum Summit, Epstein went outside of the tent where Mercedes-Benz of Bakersfield was hosting an after celebration and began talking and mingling with guests.

This year was Epstein’s first time being a key speaker at the West Kern Petroleum Summit.

“I had been to Kern County once, years ago at the beginning of my career and was very impressed by the oilfields and by the history.” This being his first time speaking at an event where the main focus is energy and petroleum issues, Epstein wanted to emphasize key ideas in his speech to inspire those who listened to be champions and thought leaders rather than just supporters of the moral case of fossil fuels and green energy.

In his speaking career he has gone from speaking to an audience of about 3 people to 5,000. When asked if he still gets nervous speaking in front of crowds, Epstein stated “Nervous is just really about ‘are you confident you can do the job?’ and how important do you think the job is . . . . It’s important I get nervous.”

Epstein said he likes to socialize and talk to his fans and supporters because he has been in the same position where he’s been a fan of someone’s work and has tried to talk to them and get them to sign books. He put forth a positive, confident attitude that made it easy for supporters to engage and socialize with him.

Prettiest in Pink

Dancing demonstaration

The judges

The fans

A particiapnt

Prettiest in Pink

On October 21 in the quad, the annual Pretty in Pink event was held. The festivities consisted of a fashion show, a dance demonstration, and a guest speaker.

Though the event is fun to the extent of comical, it is for a serious cause. Pretty in Pink is to raise awareness for breast cancer. Men of Taft College staged a fashion show competing against each other to decide who was prettiest in pink. Many of the participants were student athletes on various sports teams at TC.

The judges used the criteria of (1) outfit—how much pink was in the outfit, (2) presence, and (3) replies given in the question and answer portion of the competition. Dr. Chris Chung-We and Dr. Leigh Golling presided over the judging.

Barbara Shryver was the guest speaker. She spoke on Relay for Life, an organization that raises money to help fight cancer. Relay for Life has many local activities in Kern County that raise money for the charity.

The event was well attended with the crowd cheering for their favorite fashionista. The fashion show was hosted by the ASB while raising awareness on breast cancer.

Battle Against Breast Cancer

Serving Those Who Served

By Ashley Renteria and Jonathan Celiz

The smell of rib eye steak on the barbeque was enough to bring in a crowd on Thursday October 8th for Taft College’s annual Cougar Cookout.

The campus celebrated with catering provided by Sonny’s BBQ, a Red Oak Santa Maria style BBQ restaurant, live music from The Nightlife Band, a fitting tribute to our veterans, and a special recognition to Taft College 1942 alumnist Harry Wilson.

The Nightlife Band

This year’s cookout was especially noteworthy as it coincided with Oildorado with appearances by the Wooden Nickel Gang and the Sheriff’s Posse. Taft College’s President Dena Maloney and former Sheriff’s Posse member Billy White were served an arrest warrant and detained by the Sheriff’s Posse in their mobile jail cell.

Board President Billy White and President/Superintendent arrested on warrants and placed in the hoosegow by the Sheriff’s Posse.

A large crowd consisting of family, friends, and fellow classmates reunited and socialized out in the campus quad while the local cheer team Fire and Ice performed a dance and cheer routine.

Fire and Ice

Taft College’s mascot, Cougie the Cougar, stopped by to make an appearance, dance along to music, and pose for photos.

Cougie

Before dinner was served, Sheri Horn-Buck and the guests honored our former veterans, and led the crowd in a flag salute and tribute for their fellow veterans in attendance.

Color Guard with Sheri Bunk-Horn preparing to salute the flag.

Around 7 pm the food was ready, the guests formed long lines to be served by members of the TC Men’s Soccer Team. Rib eye steak with a side of salsa, chili beans, potato salad, garlic bread, and salad were on the menu for the night.

Soccer team members help with serving dinner

What a steak!

Meat being cut to be served

Dinner was served and guests were eating and mingling to music performed by the Nightlife Band.  Shortly, the band took a break from playing while Sheri Horn-Buck introduced a 4 minute long tribute video to veterans.

Honor Flight information

Two veterans at the Honor Flight display

Sharyn Eveland examines the Honor Flight board.

Lu Chi Fa’s 10th Year at Taft College

By Hector Gutierez

Lu Chi Fa made two appearances October 19^th in the Cougar Room at Taft College.  The room was illuminated with Chinese decorations set up by the student body and Kamala Carlson who hosted the event.  Many students of Taft and also a few classes from Roosevelt elementary were eager to hear in person what was portrayed in novel Double Luck.

Lu Chi Fa, the name meaning “new beginning,” explained how his life always seemed to have just that, a new beginning. Having lost his parents at age three, Lu Chi Fa was sold for rice to a chief who gave him the nickname “Double Luck.”  But the chief’s cruel punishments provoked Lu Chi Fa to live with his uncle who he saw as a father-figure in his early childhood and enjoyed being around. On the other hand, his uncle’s wife was not as pleased by his presence. The cycle continued through different relatives.

From Shanghai to Taiwan, Lu Chi Fa had to adjust to a new beginning multiple times. At one point, begging in the streets was his only way to earn his next meal. Nobody would pay attention to him until they heard the different dialects he spoke which was proof of his struggle to find his way in life.  Having to work in a shoe factory making women’s heels and as a delivery boy for construction materials, Lu Chi Fa made a trip to Honolulu and then to the mainland.

When he experienced the difference in quality of life from the two continents, he realized he didn’t want to leave.  He turned his 38-day passport into a 4 year student visa by enrolling into a private college.  He worked for as long as he could, sometimes 15 or 16 hour shifts as a busboy and bartender, until finally receiving his citizenship in 1983. He continued to work until he owned his own business and turned them into three.  He now owns his own $360,000 home in Morro Bay where he also owns the Coffee Pot Restaurant (the first non-smoking coffee shop in Morro Bay).  The success of his books allowed him to donate $25,000 to Morro Bay College and continue his education there.

Lu Chi Fa stated that he would always remain positive no matter what the circumstances in his life.

He also took the time to answer questions from the student body.  When asked, “How did you have the courage to go through what you went through in your life?”  Lu Chi Fa stated, “Difficulty and adversity makes a person stronger.”

Double Luck can be purchased for $18.95 at the Taft College Bookstore.

Stand Up Comedy in Taft

Friday October 23rd, there will be a stand up comedy show at The Bank Bar & Grill at 431 North Street in Taft. Andrew Boydston, a local Taft Product and graduate of Taft High School, has been on the road doing comedy for nearly 5 years and is trying to bring Bakersfield’s booming stand up comedy scene to Taft. The headliner for the show will be Connor McSpadden. Connor in just 22 but has been doing comedy for over 6 years, and was recently the youngest comedian ever featured on Fox’s Laughs.

The Bank has become the location of Oil City Comedy’s newest show “Funny In The Bank”, stop by today and see when their next show is!

Hall of Fame Awards Banquet

TC Community:

You are cordially invited to the Taft College Inaugural Class of 2015 Hall of Fame Awards Banquet on Friday, November 7^th, 2015. Please see invitation attached.

Inaugural Inductees include:

Al Baldock, Outstanding Coach

Jack McCall, Extraordinary Service

John Miller, Extraordinary Service

Larry Peahl, Distinguished Administrator

Amanda Smith, Outstanding Female Athlete
Don Zumbro, Distinguished Administrator

1982 Football Team, Outstanding Team

Be sure to purchase your ticket(s) by Friday, October 23^rd! Contact Melissa Blanco for further information: 661-763-7854 or mblanco@taftcollege.edu.

This is going to be a very special evening, and we hope you can join us celebrate the many accomplishments of our inductees!

Please feel free to share this invitation with others that may be interested,

Darcy Bogle
Vice President, Student Services
Taft College
29 Cougar Court
Taft, CA 93268

V 661.763.7889

F 661.763.7758
dbogle@taftcollege.edu

Breast Cancer Awareness Week

Breast Cancer Awareness Week is being held this year October 19-23 by the ASB.  

On Wednesday, October 21 the volleyball team will have their annual breast cancer awareness game. They would like everyone to wear a breast cancer awareness t-shirt, which they began selling today. Pre-orders are due by noon on October 9. We will have a few for sale at the game if you miss your chance.

All proceeds will go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation and our own Soroptimist Club’s Critical Care Program.

Please see the attached flyer for more information on the t-shirts.

Thank you for your support J

Jennifer Edmaiston

Athletic Secretary/Eligibility

Taft College

29 Cougar Court

Taft CA 93268

661-763-7829

jedmaiston@taftcollege.edu

The Boys are Back in Town

By Alberto Muro

Teams

On October 9^th, Bakersfield became a part of sports history. The Bakersfield Condors began their inaugural season in the American Hockey League (AHL) wearing jerseys that resembled their affiliates the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Condors goalie

Despite arriving late to the Rabobank Arena, a token of good will was bestowed upon me when a fan of the Bakersfield Condors could not stay at the game so they gave me their ticket to the event. The location of the seats was on the 2^nd floor with the benefit of having a better view of the entire ice rink.

Face off Condors zone

The Grand Rapids Griffins were the opponents of the Condors for opening night, and they are affiliated with the Detroit Red Wings. Even though this was the first time that both teams met, there was no denying that a potential rivalry was in the making. The stars of the game were the goalies for both teams and fans were on the edge of their seats as a battle for the puck ensued.

Three scoreless periods passed, and neither team was letting their guard down. With 1:43 left in the final period, the Condors and Griffins were in a gridlock, but Condors left wing Andrew Miller managed to get the puck past Griffins goalie McCollum.

Players warming up.

As the game concluded, the Condors had a point lead over the Griffins making it quite an eventful evening for spectators. The final horn sounded as the Condors beat the Griffins 1-0, and the crowd erupted with joy. Furthermore, the Condors bench cleared as the players got on the ice and raised their sticks thanking all the fans for coming out.

Column.

Financial Aid Literacy Day

Financial Aid Booth

By Alberto Muro

Financial aid provides relief for students with the intention of attending college , but it’s the cost of attendance that often sways students away from going to college. On October 14^th, the financial aid department at Taft College provided an information booth for college students with questions about financial aid.

Taft College Financial Aid Director Barbara Amerio answered questions at the information booth for students with difficulties understanding financial aid. By creating a friendly environment, students that visited the Taft College information booth were eligible to win prizes by liking the Taft College Financial Aid Facebook page.

Barbara Amerio mentioned, “Students should not be hesitant to ask questions about their financial aid needs, and that the financial aid staff is there to help any student.” With that said, students at Taft College miss out on valuable information by not taking the initiative in talking to the financial aid department. Amerio also said that students can stay up to date by “checking their CougarTracks periodically to check their financial aid status and for any outstanding documents required by the Financial Aid Office.”

Next year, financial aid recipients at Taft College can expect a change that will further test a students determination to excel academically. Barbara Amerio said, “There are always changes happening in financial aid, and at Taft College we recently included that as of Fall 2016 students will be disqualified from their Board of Governors’ (BOG) waiver if they fail to keep satisfactory grades.”

Although some students at Taft College do not qualify for financial aid, there are alternatives which Amerio pointed out: “A scholarship page maintained by the Financial Aid Office is updated periodically of which students may browse and apply to each scholarship.”  Overall, students at Taft College should visit the financial aid department because they are there to help with the cost of schooling.