Works

104.9 The Horn, July 15, Final On-Air Headlines

Note: Repeats four times. Also includes "Thought of the Day"
Headlines transcript here .

104.9 The Horn, July 13 "Thought of the Day", on-air

Note: Begins at 45:45. You can find the transcript here .

Stuffed Animal Rescue Foundation Finds Homes for Fluffy Friends

Read more here: http://bit.ly/1TMenCP

Galindo the Great         

The Magical Life of Ramon Galindo
By: Erika Sauceda

How-to magic DVDs are stacked on shelves while a motley collection of card decks sit beside them. His walls are adorned with the many awards he’s received and even a picture of his favorite magician. Trophies are lined up on a desk and video equipment is set-up right across the room. After a lifetime of magic, Ramon Galindo has the experience and stories to show for it.

Born in northern Mexico in 1921, Galindo’s family brought him to the United States a year later. He grew up in central Austin with his parents and siblings. His family owned a tortilla shop and his father also worked as a gardener, making a dime per hour. It was with that dime though, an hour’s worth of work, that his father purchased a magic trick, the most memorable from Galindo’s childhood.

“He had a glass. My dad would do that trick with the little mouse. He’d make it come up the glass then down the glass,” Galindo explained. “‘That’s witchcraft!’ my mother said. ‘You’re going to have to sleep outside.’ And my father was laughing and laughing. She was fuming,” he said while laughing.

As Galindo grew older, World War II had started. When the US officially entered the war in 1941, he and his younger brother enlisted together. Attempting to join the Army Air Corps, he was turned away because he was not an American citizen, while his brother was able to become a pilot. Still wanting to contribute to the war effort, Galindo was able to join an anti-aircraft battalion. He recalled the thought of looking up at the sky wondering if his brother was flying over him, while he was on the ground shooting down enemy planes.

When the war was over and the brothers returned home, Ramon opened a tailoring business. His clientele included cheerleaders from the University of Texas at Austin, former Texas governor John Connally and though only a congressman at the time, even Lyndon B. Johnson.
After retiring from tailoring, he continued to practice magic. His show has been seen all over the world in countries such as Mexico, Argentina, Spain and China. “Anywhere you can get a good crowd,” Galindo responded when asked about his favorite country to perform. “When you get the cheers from the crowd, it gives you a lot of energy.”

Though he started out as a juggler, Ramon Galindo has used every year of his life to perfect his craft. From doing local shows to touring across the globe, he believes his journey is far from over. “I’m not quite finished yet.”

RAD Program Promotes Personal Safety for Women

by Erika Sauceda

The University of Texas’ Police Department wants women to be able to protect themselves.

In 2013, 5 percent of all crimes reported to UTPD were assaults. In an effort to empower female students and educate them about the importance of self-defense, UTPD offers the Rape Aggression Defense class. This class is free of charge to UT students, faculty and staff and they are encouraged to sign up.

Every Fall the RAD course allows participants of all ages to learn basic self-defense and to be both mentally and physically prepared for any escalating situation.

Three 4-hour sessions are offered and students do not have to attend them all. In the first session, students begin with the RAD manual and defense basics. Session two becomes more hands-on as participants use motor skills and repetition to practice. In session three, students strike cushioned pads to simulate fighting off an attacker.

In addition to the physical aspect, basic safety tips are explained such as crime prevention and walking alone at night.

With one possible kidnapping and one attempted kidnapping reported near campus this month, UTPD’s Officer Brewster explained why she favors the class. “What I like about the RAD program is that you teach those gross motor skills, the kicking and the punching. Just the punching or the 'NO GET BACK!' that works amazingly,” she said.

The RAD program enrolls a minimum of 8 students and a maximum of 40. Classes fill very quickly and weeks before so one must enroll early to guarantee a spot.

The class is constantly being promoted online and by Voices Against Violence, a student organization which seeks to promote the wellness and safety of all students. UTPD promotes RAD in different way such as the Crime Prevention webpage on their website, the Campus Watch crime report sent to students daily, and to victims themselves.

Christina Ruiz, sophomore Exercise Science major, said that she had heard of the RAD program before and hopes to take the class in the future. “You shouldn’t be dependent upon someone to protect you. It’s important to know how to keep yourself safe,” she said.

Roxanne Hall, RAD instructor, states that a RAD graduate can always attend future sessions to freshen up on skills. “Once a RAD grad, always a RAD grad,” Hall said. “It doesn't matter where in the US you go. Once you've taken it and you wanted to freshen up on your skills, the next time it’s offered, you can just take the skills test.”

The Rape Aggression Defense course is offered across the nation and at various universities in Texas. There are over 3,500 certified instructors and more than 160,000 women in the country that have been trained.

“It's amazing as an instructor to see girls who show up on the first night, very shy and not speaking to anyone and by the last night they're fighting off these big officers,” Hall said. “The self confidence is very empowering. In my opinion, that is the most important part of that class, the self confidence that you gain.”

Note: This was originally submitted as a class assignment in February 2014.


Providing Benefits for Your Child Through Homemade Food

by Erika Sauceda

During her pregnancy four years ago, Cheryl Carey realized that her son deserved nutritious flavor-filled baby food.

The idea turned into a company, Taste & See Baby Food. Carey teaches other mothers how to make nutritious food for their children in the class “Making the Best for Your Very Best.”

Carey teaches her class at two locations, Toybrary in northwest Austin, and Baby Earth in Round Rock. She offers in-class lessons for $30, private home lessons for $60, group lessons at home for $45, her own book for $10, and for $150, the Healthy Start Discount Package which includes the three lesson levels, personalized guides with various recipes, and private Facebook support.

She shops at chain grocery stores as well as the local farmers market to ensure that she buys the freshest produce. She encourages her students to do the same and purchase produce that is listed under “The Clean 15.” These contain little to no pesticides. Carey explains that non-organic food can contain pesticides, nitrates too strong for infants, and modified starch.

“Homemade food keeps its natural color,” Carey said, “while store bought food tends to be a brown color” no matter the ingredients. In addition, using real food ensures that the child is adjusting to the texture. Carey said that store-bought food has a soupy texture while maintaining a two-year expiration date.

Ashley Bailey, a student in the Taste & See class, wanted to incorporate this healthy choice into her daughter’s diet.

Bailey had already been buying food from the local farmers market, but she wanted to learn more about food preparation. “It’s really important to learn how to do,” Bailey said. “It’s something I want to do and take the class from someone who’s done it.”

Carey was also quick to mention that homemade food not only provides health benefits, but is easy on the wallet. While parents can spend over $500 in the infant’s first year on food, producing meals at home can nearly cut this number in half. The savings comes from preparing the food together, and not spending separately on the infant.

She encourages that all parents take the time to cook real food for their child. Carey has and she’s found that it has brought more benefits than she could have imagined.

She does not just prepare this food for her now 4-year-old son— she prepares it for her whole family.

“You can change the health of your family by starting with the youngest member,” Carey said.

Note: This was originally submitted as a class assignment in January 2014.


"International Autism Awareness Day"
We focused on the fact that on April 2nd monuments around the world are lit blue for Autism awareness, yet the university has declined to join in. Project done by Erika Sauceda, Sydney Reed, and Sarah Poe.