Felicia Pliego

My name is Felicia Pliego from Costa Mesa, CA. I recently transfer student from Orange Coast College, majoring in Journalism. My goal is to be a news anchor for news broadcasting in the english or spanish language in the Los Angeles area. My experience background has been working in the various spanish radio stations as a air personality as well as doing editing.

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by Felicia Pliego February 02, 2020

Journalism Journey

I am constantly chasing a new story to learn more in my journey to become a better journalist throughout my professional career. So stay tuned in to my blog to follow me on my adventures.

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by Felicia Pliego February 02, 2020

ATM was Blown up by Manteca man in an unsuccessful Attempt to Steal Money

As reported by Erin Tracy of the Sacramento Bee, Rangel Gunesindo Hernandez, 32 from Manteca went on a crime spree in the last two weeks blowing up ATMs in Modesto, Manteca, and Lodi. He was successful in only one of the four cases he is alluded to have committed.

Hernandez was detained by Manteca police on Wednesday and held on suspicion of having explosives devises and is being held with a $710,000 bail.

Tracy. E. (2020, February 6). ATM was blown by Manteca man in an unsuccessful Attempt to Steal Money. Retrieved from https://www.sacbee.com/latest-news/article240046758.html

“by Felicia Pliego. February 07, 2020

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Former California State Employee is $310,000 richer after Settling A sexual Harassment Complaint

The Sacramento Bee reported that Adriana Ruelas was fired in September 2017 along with two other state employees after they filed complaints alleging, they were harassed by Sen. Tony Mendoza D-Artesia.

On January 2018, Ruelas filed a complaint with the California Legislature alleging retaliation. After nearly two years that Sen. Tony Mendoza D-Artesia, resigned due to the sexual allegations made against him, the California Legislature agreed to settle Ruela’s lawsuit for $310,000.

Wiley H. (2020, February 6). Former California State Employee is $310,000 richer after Settling a Sexual Harassment Complaint. Retrieved from https://www.sacbee.com/latest-news/article240046758.html

“by Felicia Pliego. February 07, 2020

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Terry Gross’ interview with Tracy Morgan

The 39-minute interview of Tracy Morgan by Terry Gross held on October 2009 on Being the “New Black” for NPR (National Public Radio) was filled with profanities, yet it was interesting in his declaration that the United States is and continues to be a racist nation. I found it interesting that Morgan didn’t turn to comedy until after his best friend was murdered. Morgan said “He would say to me, “Yo, Tracy, man, you should be doing comedy;” A week later he was murdered. And that for me, that was like my Vietnam. I had my survival guilt when I started to achieve success. Why I made it out and some guys didn’t.” Morgan’s tenure on SNL coincided with Will Ferrell, Amy Pehler and Tina Fey. Morgan said that “Saturday Night Live was like a University for funny. I had to let my guard down to let the writer see my flaws.” 30 Rock creator Tina Fey was the first writer to see that “he was funny, but you had to let him be him, ” Fey invented the Tracy Jordan character specifically for Morgan. Again, Morgan says he trusts Fey’s writing because she always writes the self-referential plot lines with real laughs. Morgan says he is no longer an angry young man, he has mellowed and grown up. He is man now and has become a “beautiful, black butterfly.”

“by Felicia Pliego. February 13, 2020

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Felicia Pliego’ Interview with Oli De La Cruz

Orange Coast College Math Tutor

1. Where did you go to University?  What major did you major on? I went to Cal State University Dominguez Hills. 1972 to 1976. At that time it was a Cal State College. I majored in Mathematics.

2. How did you get in the Mathematics Subject? Originally, I wanted to study Medicine, but I have an older adopted brother who is a Doctor of Medicine, I believe he is not qualified and I did not want to be following in his footsteps.

3. What do you like the most about your teaching techniques? I enjoy tutoring, I started at Cal State University Dominguez Hills tutoring other classmates with the EOP (Equal Opportunity Program) where I helped students with various Math courses, Chemistry, Physics and other subjects.

4. How do you deal with a slow learner student? I am a patient tutor and if I find a slow learner, I try to find where he/she has difficulties and try to overcome these difficulties. I try to encourage my students and help them become confident and wanting to learn. To overcome their fears.

5. What’s a typical day for your when you are not teaching or working? If I am not teaching or working, I enjoy going for walks at the beach where I live. I also enjoy reading novels. I do not watch TV.

6. What is your greatest strength? I believe my greatest strength is not being complacent when it comes to gaining knowledge. I look forward to continue taking courses. I seek more knowledge and try to exercise my mind, I am afraid of being an Alzheimer’s victim.  

7. What is your greatest weakness? My greatest weakness has been women. I love women, I am respectful of them. I just can help being a “girl watcher” as an old song says. Unfortunately, this has led me to become single as I do not want to damage a relationship by pursuing a mate.

8. How do you handle stress and pressure? I think I handle stress and pressure by not taking things seriously or worrying about things that are beyond my control. I also meditate and believe that things happen for a reason and that one should not worry or try to control situations.

9. What motivates you? I am not motivated by money. I think it is the “seeking of knowledge” and inner peace that are my motivators.

10. What are your passions? Again, one of my greatest passions have been women. I fell in love with an English girl back in 1974, After two years we married. Had a marriage that lasted over 25 years. We overcame racial and cultural differences. I am a Mexican yet she found in me a man that was not a “machista”. I helped with raising our kids, did help with the laundry, cooking and other chores that are not considered “manly”. She was 16 years old when we met, and I encouraged her to get her University degree. She, Carol Anne, became a teacher, learned Spanish and is a wonderful human being. Another passion is to visit new places here in the United States and abroad. I enjoy traveling. And my greatest passion is to continue seeking knowledge by reading and still taking college courses.

11. What is the biggest challenge facing your position? There is really not a big challenge in tutoring. My goal with my students is to make them confident in themselves that they will not need tutors. They will be able to search for answers themselves and gain the confidence to be self-reliant.

12. What did you enjoy most about your tutor, teaching position? I enjoy when I see my students not only pass their course, but when I see that my encouragements and suggestions are followed. I wish that all my students achieve their educational goals. That would make me feel as obtaining my greatest achievement. Also, I hope that I am seen by them in a positive manner. I am glad to say that some students want to keep in contact with me and seek my advice in other matters. I have a student that told me he felt and treated me as a second Dad. That was really rewarding and something I did not expect.

“By: Felicia Pliego. February 24, 2020

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Krista Tippett’ Interview with Sandra Cisneros

I chose to listen to the Apple Podcast of Krista Tippet’s talk with Sandra Cisneros. I listened to the unedited (1 hr. 39 min) version first then the edited Apple Podcast that lasted 52 minutes 18 seconds titled: Sandra Cisneros — A House of Her Own Being with Krista Tippett-Relationships. The introduction on the website is the same for both Podcasts “The House on Mango Street by Mexican American writer Sandra Cisneros has been taught in high schools across the U.S. for decades. A poetic writer of many genres, she’s received a MacArthur “genius grant,” a National Medal of Arts, and many other accolades. Cisneros grew up in an immigrant household where it was assumed, she would marry as her primary destiny. In this warm and lively conversation with a room full of Latin teens, she gives voice to the choice to be single — and, single or not, to know solitude as sacred.”

I chose Sandra Cisneros as I was exposed to her work in one of my English courses at Orange Coast College when I read “Women Hollering Creek” (1991) This talk between Krista Tippett and Sandra Cisneros was held at Centro Tyrone Guzman in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I like the unedited version of the Apple Podcast.  The edited production reduced an approximately 90 minutes conversation to half. I do not agree with the edited version as there are parts that I feel are important for us to understand. I am glad that there is an unedited version. The unedited version makes you “feel” like you are being there. The introduction by Diane Percy Ruiz (a Colombian American) was omitted from the edited version. I think her introduction was good, maybe a little long and that could have been the reason for not being included in the edited version.

I was impressed that Sandra Cisneros “dreamt” of being a writer at 6^th grade, she kept it a secret, and now is one great writer who has received many accolades. Also, how she was impressed by her sixth-grade teacher at a new school that praised her for her artwork. She thought she was in trouble when the teacher took the paper she had drawn. I also enjoyed hearing Sandra Cisneros speak some Spanish. Using Spanish words in the conversation with Krista Tippett. How Sandra describes and differentiates women from men. Mothers. How Sandra describes herself as a person, and how she is never astonished by life. She claims that she considers herself as an immigrant of the whole world. How coming from a large family, six brothers (she does not like to share a bathroom with a man) where she was hardly listened to. That the library was a sanctuary for her, and that silence is important to her as a writer. How she would describe herself as a spiritual person. She does not like the word Hispanic to be a description of her.

Finally, I liked her responses to the questions poised by the audience. I would find difficult what to delete from the unedited conversation.

“By: Felicia Pliego. February 28, 2020

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“Dolly Parton’s America” and “Missing Richard Simmons” Podcast comparison, contrast and analyze.

I chose to listen to the podcasts of Dolly Parton and Richard Simmons. I will compare contrast and analyze these two podcasts. https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/dolly-partons-america  https://www.topic.com/missing-richard-simmons.  “Dolly Parton’s America” is a 9-episode podcast aired October 29, 2019 to December 31, 2019.  It was produced by Shima Oliaee/WNYC Studios and hosted by Jad Abumrad. While, “Missing Richard Simmons” is a 6-episode podcast aired February 15, 2017 to March 20, 2017 and a final 7th episode on November 1, 2018. This podcast was hosted by filmmaker Dan Taberski a friend of Richard Simmons. The first thing I noticed is that the podcasts are in reverse order. “Dolly Parton’s America” episodes are listed in a reverse chronological order. The last episode is listed first, “She’s Alive!”, aired December 31, 2019 and “Tennessee Mountain Trance” aired October 29, 2019 is listed last.

Dolly Parton’s podcast is more like a narrative of her life (biographical) while Richard Simmons is an investigative podcast focusing on what happened to him on February 15, 2014, when fitness guru Richard Simmons disappeared from the public view. Three years later Mr. Taberski was trying to find him. The podcast is engaging as Milton Teagle “Richard” Simmons is a well-known aerobics and fitness celebrity whom for decades had helped people lose weight. But soon after, the podcast becomes disturbing as the host, Mr. Taberski, digs deeper into Mr. Simmons’s personal life. Then one does not only question “What happened to Richard Simmons?” but instead “Is it any of our business”.

For almost 4 decades, Richard Simmons was Hollywood’s most accessible celebrity. He was a talk show fixture, a leader of weight loss cruises and an aerobics instructor at his Beverly Hills workout studio, Slimmons.

The podcast can be compared to a “Serial,” similar to a real-time murder investigation. It was a podcasting’s hit. But while a “Serial” digs into a serious crime or a possible miscarriage of justice, in this podcast, Mr. Taberski instead relentlessly pesters Mr. Simmons and friends for personal details pertaining to his mental and physical health. One cannot quite call it a public shaming as Mr. Taberski is careful to express respect for Mr. Simmons. One may call it a public hounding.

In Parton’s podcast, Abumrad, started interviewing Parton and others in her sphere, including Ralph Emery, Rhiannon Giddens, Jane Fonda, and Gloria Steinem over the course of two years. He also chatted with students at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville who were studying Parton and history. Dolly Parton’s podcasts examines the life, art, and cultural influence of one of country music’s most beloved figures. The podcast begins with a look into the East Tennessee music, or “Sad Ass Songs,” as this episode is titled, the nine-part weekly series delves into what the “Jolene” singer’s life says about America. Abumrad says that “Dolly is a multi-verse. She’s this portal to so many different kinds of stories,”  “Some of it is music-related. Some of it is biographical to her. Some of it is the story of the South. Some of it is about country music and the development of the country music industry.”

Dolly Parton states that  “I’ve been so lucky to see so many dreams come true, so it’s nice to be able to present that in such a way, especially when people do such a good job of really doing their research and really making it interesting for you rather than just your basic questions,”  “They go really in-depth and drag up all sorts of things and talk to all sorts of people.”

Finally, I can say that I enjoyed listening to Dolly Rebecca Parton’s podcast much more than Richard Simmons. I found Dolly Parton’s more entertaining and learned more about her life as a singer, actress, writer, composer, philanthropist, and entrepreneur

“By: Felicia Pliego. April 8, 2020

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Felicia Pliego’s documentary comparison and contrast of Beware of Mr. Baker and The Go Go’s, Belinda Carlisle.

The two different documentaries I chose to compare and contrast are; “Beware of Mr. Baker” (2012) and “Go Go’s & Belinda Carlisle – Career retrospective documentary” (2019). In comparing them, the commonality is that both documentaries are about musicians. Mr. Ginger Baker was a brilliant Jazz and Rock drummer and the Go Go’s is an all-female pop group. The documentaries are similar in the way they are shown, the narrator and the artists and other people close to them talk about certain events. Also, the use of illegal drugs by Mr. Baker and most of the members of the Go Go’s, the need for sex, the spending of large sums of money on drugs, and other frivolous things. The long careers of Mr. Baker and the Go Go’s.

Furthermore, “Beware of Mr. Baker” is a 2012 American documentary film by Jay Bulger about the jazz and rock drummer Ginger Baker. A documentary about the angriest old man of music, drummer Ginger Baker, who is filmed whacking the interviewer with his cane at the beginning of the documentary. The documentary ends showing the damage Mr. Baker did with his cane to the interviewer, Bulger.

The documentary shows an enthralling and refreshing aspect of Mr. Baker. At the time of the documentary, the legendary Ginger Baker was 73-year-old. Mr. Baker was a rock-n-roll and jazz drummer. He was also known as “smackhead” given to his tendency of smacking people in the head.   However, it is perhaps worrying that the chief character witness for Baker, produced in the opening few minutes, is the hectoringly pop-eyed John Lydon (Punk musician associated with Sex Pistols), who recently distinguished himself by telling a woman interviewer: “When a man is talking, you do not interrupt.”

Probably music’s angriest old man, Mr. Baker gives the American journalist and film-maker Jay Bulger pure film gold. Bulger uses at the beginning and end of his documentary – by getting furious on discovering that people other than him were to be interviewed and actually whacking Bulger in the face with his cane.

 Thank heaven the director didn’t raise that other very English subject with him: anti-ginger prejudice. He could have found himself being buried in some corner of the gated South African compound where Baker was living with his fourth wife, and where Bulger correctly notes that the country’s laws were unenforceable.

Mr. Baker was the brutally brilliant drummer who became the percussive wild man with Cream, alongside Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce, and another band such as Blind Faith. He also has a genuine claim to be the first western musician to investigate and popularize African music, setting up a short-lived recording studio in Lagos, Nigeria, in the early 1970s, making music with Fela Kuti, and bizarrely acquiring a rich man’s taste for Polo. He was apparently cheerfully indifferent to that city’s scary reputation until he was effectively chased out of the country by some heavy characters. After stints in Italy and the United States, the expatriate Baker has wound up in South Africa. There he blew all the money he received for the 2005 Albert Hall Cream reunion on a string of Polo ponies and grumpily complains that he is now “broke”. Sitting plump in a recliner, Baker gives Bulger his audience, cross and obnoxious throughout, often denouncing his interviewer as a “dickhead”, and wearing dark glasses. Some earlier interview footage shows Baker with a faster, lighter voice. Now it has slowed and deepened into a resentful groan.

Furthermore, Mr. Baker grew up during the second world war. Bulger’s film shows how his aggression was poured out on to the drumkit, tempered with talent and a sense of what Baker gnomically calls not rhythm but “time”.

The Go-Go’s formed in 1978, rising out of the Los Angeles punk/new wave scene to become the most successful all-female musical group ever, thanks to songs like the #2 pop smash “We Got The Beat,” “Vacation” (#8), “Head Over Heels” (#11) and “Our Lips Are Sealed” (#20). They remain the only band of women who play their own instruments and write their own songs to top the Billboard charts, which they did with their 1981 debut Beauty and the Beat.

This candid documentary is archive-rich biographical of the group’s member and assesses the group’s place in pop history. It also examines the personalities and dynamics behind their rise, fall, and numerous reincarnations. Until this film, there has never been a serious appraisal of the Go-Go’s talents or achievements; either as musicians, groundbreakers, but even more so, as survivors.

The Go-Go’s Documentary was shown on VH1 Classic.  Alison Ellwood-directed The Go-Go’s, about the all-female rock band, premiered in the year 2019. This film features “full access” to the band, along with “candid interviews and archival footage to tell the real story of their meteoric rise to fame and the journeys, triumphs, laughter and struggles along the way,” producers said of the film.

Finally, the Go-Go’s posted about the news about the documentary on Social Media and with lead singer Belinda Carlisle tweeting that she was “really happy to finally be able to tell you all” about the news. “I Feel Free” is a song first recorded by the British rock band Cream and later on by Belinda Carlisle. The lyrics were written by Pete Brown, with the music by Jack Bruce, I like this song. I recommend these two documentaries they are worthwhile watching them.

“By: Felicia Pliego. May 12, 2020

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