"Three Kick Rule..." 'Chester "Unc" Lau' (Source)

Dakinetalks favorite Uncle (Chester Lau)

Unc talks  about a very special lawyer!

"Unc" is a retired cinematographer currently living 

on the Hawai'ian Island of Oahu & giving the politicians a bad time...

A New York lawyer went duck hunting in Truro . He shot and dropped a
 bird, but it fell into a farmer's field on the other side of a fence.

 As the lawyer climbed over the fence, an elderly farmer drove up on his tractor and asked him what he was doing. The litigator responded, "I shot a duck and it fell in this field, and now I'm going to retrieve it."

 The old farmer Peter replied, "This is my property, and you are not
 coming over here."

The indignant lawyer said, "I am one of the best trial lawyers in
not only New York but the whole world and, if you don't let me get that duck, I'll sue you and take everything you own."

 The old farmer smiled and said, "Apparently, you don't know how we settle disputes in Arkansas. We settle small disagreements like this with the 'Three Kick Rule.'

The lawyer asked, "What is the 'Three Kick Rule'?"
The Farmer replied, "Well, because the dispute occurs on my land, I get to go first.

I kick you three times and then you kick me three times and so on back and forth until someone gives up."

The lawyer quickly thought about the proposed contest and decided that he could easily take the old codger. He agreed to abide by the local custom.
 The old farmer slowly climbed down from the tractor and walked up to the attorney.

His first kick planted the toe of his heavy steel-toed work boot into
 the lawyer's groin and dropped him to his knees !
 His second kick to the midriff sent the lawyer's last meal gushing from his mouth.

 The lawyer was on all fours when the farmer's third kick to his rear
 end, sent him face-first into a fresh cow pie.
 Summoning every bit of his will and remaining strength the lawyer very slowly managed to get to his feet.

Wiping his face with the arm of his jacket, he said, "Okay, you old
 fart Now it's my turn."
(I love this part)

THE OLD FARMER SMILED AND SAID, "NAH, I GIVE UP. YOU CAN HAVE THE DUCK."

When you are educated, you'll believe only half of what you hear.
 When you're intelligent, you know which half.
Ha ha ha   I give up  !!!

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook...

"Mahalo-Until we meet again...‏" 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

This sign is the sign you see upon leaving Kaua'i's main airport in Lihu'e.
It reads, Mahalo, Until we meet again. The sign should read. A Hui Hou, (Until we meet again)

Mahalo-Until we meet again...‏

There is a sign upon approaching the Kauai airport that reads in big bold Type, "Mahalo, and underneath it reads , "until we meet again."

This is confusing since Mahalo translates to Thank you and Until we meet again translates to A Hui Hou.

This  reminds me of the visitor that thinks Mahalo translates to garbage can, since they see Mahalo written on most rubbish containers.

The signage   makes our Visitors Bureau and County  look like  they think 'Mahalo' translates to, 'Until We Meet Again." The sign should be  replaced with "A Hui Hou, Until we meet again."

May I say to everyone reading this Aloha, Thank you very much.

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook...



One day a little boy woke up and sat down at the table expecting breakfast. However, his mother says, "You don't get any breakfast until you do your chores."

---

A little pissed off, the boy goes out to do his chores. When he goes to milk the cow, he kicks it. When he goes to get eggs he kicks a chicken, and when he goes to feed the pigs, he kicks a pig.

When the little boy sits down his mother gives him a bowl of dry cereal. "Where is the bacon, eggs and milk?" asks the little boy. His mother replies, "I saw you kick the cow, so you don't get any milk; I saw you kick a chicken so you don't get eggs; and I saw you kick a pig so you don't get any bacon!"

Just as she finishes saying this, the boy's father comes down the stairs and kicks the cat. The little boy looks up at his mother and asks, "Do you want to tell him, or should I?"

" The Modern Age of Airline Courtesy..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday)

"Guest-blogger Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst N.Y. and has worked in the

 ophthalmology field of medicine for over 30 years...
Today she talks about f;lying the unfriendly skies 
and how flying ain't what it used to be.
   Enjoy...  ;D)

The Modern Age of Airline Courtesy

I am old enough to remember the way flying the friendly skies used to be; recently taking a trip out west, flying on Southwest...the no frills flight, we came upon a very unfriendly flight crew both coming and going to California.  What are the chances to have the same crew both ways?  

Years ago flying used to be a very enjoyable experience. The flight crews fed you a nice meal with choices, played games with you on the flights, cards, etc and the pilots were more than happy to show you the cockpit and give you a pair of flight wings for a memento...

  The stewardess which is what they were called back then, were friendly and well kept and more than happy to serve you.  today...a different story, the days of the hot towel to freshen up are long gone. Now you enter the plane  with  a heard of people, hopefully you got an A list seat or its the back of the plane for you, you get little to eat, just a few snacks, and many of the flight attendants make it clear they are just doing their job.  Many don't even crack a smile and are almost rude when asked a question.  The days of full service are a thing of the past but one thing remains the same....the high price of flying.  

There are some deals out there but you better make it your full time job to search then out.  The prices change daily for the same flights and better pack light ..there is a fee for suitcases on board now for all airlines except Southwest.  Suitcase too heavy?? extra fee for that too.  Flying is essential at times so welcome to the year 2013; the days of full service and friendly skies are over.

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook...

"Kauai Bus Testimony For County Council..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

The Kaua'i Bus is a great alternative, with gas at almost $5.00 a gallon
and traffic at all time stress levels, it's time for all of  us  to ride Da Bus!

Aloha  Kaua'i County Council, Let this act as my public  testimony in favor of free bus rides not just for County council members, county employee's and the Mayor, but for the community at large!

 County council members  can ride the bus for free and still  receive from  us (The taxpayer) $500 a month car allowance along with a very generous $58,000 salary, great health Insurance  for what is deemed a part time job.   

Councilwoman Yukimura in her recent TGI article asked for testimony concerning Kauai Bus. 

 Here's my testimony;
 We  should all be granted the perk  of riding  the bus for free, why  are the ones with generous salaries allowed to ride the bus for free while others on limited budgets and those  working 2 and 3 jobs must pay?

 There is a solution for more revenues and allowing every citizen to ride the bus for free.

The bus could  sell advertising, in essence the bus becomes a traveling billboard  with large ads on the outside and smaller ads on the inside. This way everyone could ride for  free, or option #2, Kamaaina  with local ID ride for free while visitors pay.

 Many periodicals do the same thing, they give the magazines and newspapers away free since  they rely on advertising verses subscription revenue. 

 Please allow this blog to act as my public testimony as a way to generate more revenues which in turn will allow for  more bus routes and more buses.  

I am proud yet humbled to say I lobbied for the recently added bus stop at the fruit stand in Moloaa, it took a few years of letter writing but eventually became a reality.


Hana Hou, (Encore)  Shared From Facebook...

"Facts About Sex..." 'Chester "Unc" Lau' (Source)

Dakinetalks favorite Uncle (Chester Lau)

is back talking about a another one of his favorite subjects, SEX!

"Unc" is a retired cinematographer currently living 

on the Hawai'ian Island of Oahu.& giving the politicians a bad time...

I have not Snoped this information and I am not sure how such information is compiled, but I am sure you will be interested

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SEX:
Global Facts
At Any Given Moment:

FACT:
79,000,000 people are engaged in sex - right now

FACT:
58,000,000 are kissing.

FACT:
37,000,000 are relaxing after having sex.

FACT:
1 old timer is reading this blog.

You hang in there.  

Hana Hou, (Encore)  Shared from Facebook


An old lady offers the bus driver some peanuts…so the driver happily munches them. Every 5 minutes she gives him a handful more peanuts..

Driver: Why don’t you eat them yourself?

Old lady: I can’t chew. Look, I have no teeth..

Driver: Then why do you buy them?

Old lady: Oh, I just love the chocolates around
them!

"The Patriarchs..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Classic Wednesday)

Bettejo Dux  with her Irish cane called a Shillelagh.
They say you shouldn't talk about religion or politics if you want
peace. Well today the talk is on religion... Enjoy!
Bettejo  has lived on Kauai over 30 years and is a people lover,
animal lover and lover of life.... 
www.bettejodux.com

The Patriarchs

I don't like them.  They don't like me.

Actually they usually stay out of my way, as I stay out of theirs. They know better than to  storm my gates. They'll get my shillelagh across their broad behinds.

Nevertheless,  a truly deep concern for women, little children, the future, keeps me in the game.

Their harangue, their harassment, their fear and guilt and sin and hate peddling simply cannot be ignored. The American ones-the worst in the world- stand in the pulpits and TV screens and rant and rave and froth. They parrot, in mind, deeds and action  the god they created some fourteen hundred years ago.

Fourteen hundred years ago? What's that?

...and here we are  back to Emperor Constantine, the Church of Rome, the Pope with a direct line to the great Jewish horror, Jehovah,  the Inquisition, witch burnings, the plagues, the Dark Ages begin here.  The whole sick sick sick shebang. I think if I were today's version, I wouldn't take much pride in 'my' history.

And it certainly is 'his' story.

The incredible delight of the pagan gods, these powerful, very human fantasy creatures were done in by them like enemys of the state. The pagan gods loved sex, nudity, war,  but they had  balance, a saving grace.  Gods and goddesses of nature, peace. hearth and home,  the great god Pan and his pipes, replaced with a father, an abused son, a holy ghost -come on- and one insipid virgin who took the place of  a panoply of gorgeous, glorious, powerful  women.

Most people have never even heard of them. Except  on those rare occasions when the word 'pagan' comes up and it is bad mouthed, regaled and banished from a state of human experience. Understand, I am not 'selling' paganism, but I am suggesting you at least peer into these historical times.

Venus Rising by Botticelli-she looked like Julia Roberts-Leda and the Swan by Reubens,  Yeats' poetry, mythology and wonder  were disappeared. Hung in museums, buried in esoteric university libraries and studies. The Greek and Roman and Norse gods and goddesses shoved down the memory hole to be replaced by : let me quote Richard Dawkins, "The God of the Old Testament,  arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction, jealous and proud of it, a petty unjust unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive blood thirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynist, homophobe; racist, infanticidal, genocidal, felicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capricious malevolent bully."

Humankind has been living with this nut case for how many years? Raise your hands if you know the answer.

I do hope you're aware that in the past-even the recent past- voices like Richard's did not for long remain attached to bodies.

Today there is still a stigma-an orthodoxy, as Hedges might say-against speaking out against religion. Religious criticism was verbose. It was not nice, in polite society, to expose religious beliefs, no matter how nutty, hateful, gaunt, greedy, stupid and childish it was.

To dare suggest it is a fierce, powerful, disgusting  force to contend with, expose and bring  down is naughty.

Well naughty is as naughty does. Dawkins and Hitches and Harris are fighting back.

Let the games begin.

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook...

A Funny Joke...


Morris and his wife Esther went to the state fair every year, and every year Morris would say, 'Esther,I'd like to ride in that helicopter.' Esther always replied, 'I know Morris, but that Helicopter ride is fifty dollars, and fifty dollars is fifty dollars' 

One year Esther and Morris went to the fair, and Morris said, 'Esther, I'm 85 Years old. If I don't ride that helicopter, I might never get another chance.' To this, Esther replied, 'Morris that helicopter ride is fifty dollars, and fifty dollars is fifty dollars.' 

The pilot overheard the couple and said, 'Folks I'll Make you a deal. I'll take the both of you for a ride. If you can stay quiet for the entire ride and not say a word, I won't charge you! But if you say one word, it's fifty dollars.' 

Morris and Esther agreed and up they went. The pilot did all kinds of fancy maneuvers, but not a word was heard. He did his daredevil tricks over and over again, but still not a word. 

When they landed, the pilot turned to Morris and said, 'By golly, I did everything I could to get you to yell out, but you didn't. I'm impressed!' 

Morris replied, 'Well, to tell you the truth, I almost said something when Esther fell out, but you know, fifty dollars is fifty dollars!':)

"Filibuster, Smilibuster,Democracy is a nebulous creature..." James "Kimo" Rosen'

If your Senator (s) did not vote in accordance with 91% of Americans
who favored stricter  background checks on purchasing guns
do not, I repeat do not re-elect them, they represent the NRA and the almighty dollar and not the people.

Filibuster, Smilibuster,Democracy Is A Nebulous Creature

Democracy is a nebulous creature. The recent gun reform legislation favoring stricter background checks was defeated in the senate even though it won a majority of 56 yeas to 46 no's.

Ninety one percent of Americans favor stricter background checks yet the bill was defeated even in the aftermath of the Sandyhook massacre where 20 children and six adults were slaughtered with an assault rifle.

We are the only Democratic nation that requires 60 % of the vote verses 51% when a bill is filibustered. This is a political tactic  challenging a bill with long tireless debates that go on for hours, 60% of votes are then required.

Since  president Obama became president nearly every bill is filibustered, a scheme by Republicans to try and make  President Obama fail verses what's best for our great nation.

To any Republicans and 4 Democrats who voted against stricter background checks, imagine if one of the children gunned down at Sandyhook elementary school was yours ?

If your Senators did not vote in accordance with the 91% in favor of stricter background checks, by all means do not re-elect them. I am proud to say both my Hawai'i Senators, Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono voted with the president on this crucial matter. 

May God Bless America, we surely need it.

Hana Hou,(Encore) Shared from Facebook...

"The Beauty of Disasters..." 'James"Kimo" Rosen

"When you awake, acknowledge G-d for giving you a soul with the
extraordinary power and versatility to endure despite trying challenges..."
Check out my opinion article in the 04-23-13 edition of the  Honolulu Staradvertiser,"Humanity does well in face of disaster."  I am copying and pasting since the Staradvertiser has a paywall.
http://staradvertiser.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

The Beauty of Disasters

The Boston marathon will forever be  damaged goods from now until eternity. No matter how anyone wants to not think of the tragic day even if not in their immediate thoughts will hang on subliminally.

During the crisis in Boston total strangers were opening their homes to runners not able to get home, offering free food and shelter to total strangers.

A few restaurants offered free  WiFi and just a gathering place to hang out and were told to  order what you like, pay what you can, even if that's nothing.

There is a beauty In  the face of disaster.On Kaua'i during the aftermath of Hurricane Iniki the true meaning of aloha was ever present. People become human  among all the chaos and evil of disasters , while  the true meaning of humanity comes to light.

If only we could only learn to act like this in the reality of everyday life.


Check out my opinion article in the 04-23-13 edition of the Honolulu Staradvertiser,"Humanity does well in face of disaster."  I am copying and pasting since the Staradvertiser has a paywall.
http://staradvertiser.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

The Boston Marathon will forever be damaged goods. No matter how anyone wants to not think of the tragic day, it will be present subliminally, if not in our immediate thoughts.

During the crisis in Boston, total strangers were opening their homes to runners not able to get home, offering free food and shelter. A few restaurants offered free Wi-Fi and a place to gather. Customers were told to order what they liked and pay what they could, even if was nothing.

There is a beauty in the face of disaster. On Kauai during the aftermath of Hurricane Iniki, the true meaning of aloha was ever present. People become human among all the chaos and evil of disasters, while the true meaning of humanity comes to light.

If only we could learn to act like this every day.


Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook...

" Praying For Peace..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday)

"Guest-blogger Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst N.Y. and has worked in the ophthalmology field of medicine for over 30 years..." Today she talks about the recent Tragedy in Boston... Please pray and
send positive energies to all affected by this evil.!

Praying for peace

               In view of what horror and sadness has occurred in our country this week, I am sending a shout out to all those that have suffered for no reason other than evil that has once again invaded our country.  We will forever need to keep our guard up,  for these people walk among us and carry evil in their hearts.  

I pray that these deeds will go punished and be an example for all those who mean us harm; and I am praying for all those innocent people that have suddenly had their lives changed forever and those that have passed away from injuries, they will not be forgotten. 

"Reality Show Results..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

The only thing better than Reality TV is fishing!

Reality Show Results

Reality TV has become more popular than sitcoms, dramas and movies. I have become a victim of watching reality TV and enjoy the simplicity of it.

For the American idols fans out there out there I can predict the top 2 with a simple formula. Just go to each remaining contestants Facebook page,  remember social media tells it all, and whoever has the most likes will be the winner! The TV show the Voice will work the same way when down to the final 3

American Idol final two this year will be  # 1 Angie Miller with 63,000 Facebook likes and #2 Candice Glover with 20,000 Facebook likes... 

My theory works, stay tuned!

... And the winner is Angie Miller!

Hana Hou, (Encore)  Shared from Facebook

"We Are Boston..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

"We are Boston..."
Aloha, Check out my opinion article in today's (04-18-13) 
edition of the Kaua'i Garden Island News," We Are Boston..."
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-thursday-april/article_efbae37a-a7f2-11e2-aeda-001a4bcf887a.html

We Are Boston

Boston could be anywhere, We are Boston.

Suicide bombers are a common denominator in the Mideast  You never know when you get on a bus if it's going to be blown up by someone thinking they are doing God's work.

I believe America is in store for a reality check from our reality show mentality  to reality itself.

What happens if you go to your favorite restaurant or shopping mall  and it is bombed?  What happens when the reality of real life
is bombings and mass shootings.

What happens now?

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-thursday-april/article_efbae37a-a7f2-11e2-aeda-001a4bcf887a.html

"Every American Was In Boston..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Classic Wednesday)

Bettejo Dux  with her Irish cane called a Shillelagh.
Today she talks  about the tragedy at the Boston Marathon.
Today's blog  also appeared in the 04-17-13 edition of the  the Kaua'i Garden Island News;

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-wednesday-april/article_ebd59754-a726-11e2-a1df-001a4bcf887a.html

Bettejo  has lived on Kauai over 30 years and is a people lover,
animal lover and lover of life.... Enjoy...
www.bettejodux.com

Every American was in Boston

The question is not who, what or how. The question is why.

The answer is obvious. Our president, the police in every state, the National Security Force, must respond to this tragedy.

We — all of us — will feel the effects of this vicious act for years to come.

I think the president should declare a National Day of Mourning, however you may mourn. Hopefully, our collective tears will drown this madness.

Remember, in all this, many in America cheer.

Peace and love,
Bettejo Dux, Kalaheo

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-wednesday-april/article_ebd59754-a726-11e2-a1df-001a4bcf887a.html

"Windows Frozen..." 'Debbie Eayrs' (Source)

Guest-blogger Debbie Eayrs co-owner of Eayrs plumbing and heating from Homer, Alaska
 is the source of  letting us know how to handle frozen windows... Enjoy! ;D)

Wife texts husband on a cold winter’s morning:

"Windows frozen, won't open."

Husband texts back:  "Gently pour some lukewarm water over it."



Wife texts back 5 minutes later:

"Computer really screwed up now.”

Komo Mai (Welcome) New Chief..!" 'Obama Da Dog'

Our local paper has a new editor!
Check out my opinion article in today's (04-14-13) edition of the  Kaua'i Garden Island news, 
"E Komo Mai Chief."
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-monday-april/article_4d577ed8-a59d-11e2-9cd7-001a4bcf887a.html

 A big Aloha and E Komo Mai to  Bill Buley as  he begins his  assignment  as the new  editor-n-chief of the eclectic journal of great minds also known as The  Kaua'i Garden Island news.

" E komo mai. Nou ka hale." This is a traditional Hawai'ian greeting
welcoming Mr. Buley and others to, "Come inside, the house is yours." The House being the Garden Island news.

To quote the rock band the Eagles with reference to TGI, "You can check out anytime you like but you can never leave...

Perry White the editor-n-chief of the Daily Planet  on the Superman TV  series of the 60's  would say, "Don't call me Chief!" With that said, Welcome Chief!

 E-Komo Mai!

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-monday-april/article_4d577ed8-a59d-11e2-9cd7-001a4bcf887a.html

"All Good Things Must Come To An End..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday)

"Guest-blogger Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst N.Y. and has worked in the ophthalmology field of medicine for over 30 years..." Today she talks about how fast vacations seem to go... Enjoy!

All good things must come to and end


Time to fly back to Buffalo into the dreary sky of rain and cloudy days...

Living on the East Coast has its advantages and sunny weather is not one of them.  Sure the cost of living is lower, the people are friendlier and it's home to us but it sure is hard to leave constant sunny days with blue sky and gentle breezes.  Vacations always go way to fast and so does the money in the wallet; its costly in California to live but it was great to visit once again with my sonny boy and his co workers and roommate.  

So until the next vacation.... I'll just have to dream about it.

" IF WOMEN ONLY TRUSTED THEIR HUSBANDS..!" Marvin Gross (source)

Guest-Blogger Marvin Gross is a Financial consultant
living in Western N.Y.   Today he talks about women and trust issues..
Enjoy!

IF WOMEN ONLY TRUSTED THEIR HUSBANDS!

 There comes a time when a woman just has to trust her husband.
For example................

 A wife comes home late at night, and quietly opens the door to
her bedroom.

 From under the blanket she sees four legs instead of two.

 She reaches for a baseball bat and starts hitting the blanket as
hard as she can.

Leaving the covered bodies groaning, she goes to the kitchen to
have a drink.

As she enters, she sees her husband there, reading a magazine.

 "Hi Darling", he says, "Your parents have come to visit us, so I
let them stay in our bedroom. Did you say 'hello'? "

"RIP Mr. Boranian..." James "Kimo" Rosen

Rest in peace Mr. Boranian...
Aloha, check out my opinion article in the (04-12-13) edition of the Kauai Garden Island News, "Remembering Harry Boranian."
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-friday-april/article_635977e0-a327-11e2-aebb-001a4bcf887a.html

I was saddened when I read in the TGI Obituary column  of the passing of  fellow Frequent Letter writer  Harry Boranian.
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/obituaries-for-sunday-april/article_bfc7e4d0-9f58-11e2-947e-001a4bcf887a.html

Although our paths only met through the pages of this forum, I felt a kinship similar to the kinship I experienced when another frequent letter writer   Horace Stoessel  passed away last year.

Mr. Boranian was a world war 2 veteran,he was civil service director in Honolulu in the 1970s under Frank Fasi, and on the  Big Island in the 1980's for Hawai‘i County. As you can see he not only served his country by county and state as well.

I  remember reading a letter Mr. Boranian penned last July concerning the military and  allowing both men and woman to  serve together  on submarines. Sounded like fun to me!
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-sunday-july/article_57238870-d948-11e1-a50f-001a4bcf887a.html

Mr Boranian stated "A good reason not to mix  sub crews is that many of the men have wives and families at home. Separation is bad enough without the worry of your husband or wife being tempted while at sea."

Agree or dis-agree I always looked forward to an opinion article from a fellow frequent letter writer Harry Boranian. RIP, Mr. B.


http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-friday-april/article_635977e0-a327-11e2-aebb-001a4bcf887a.html

" My SHILLELAGH AND ME..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Classic Wednesday)

Bettejo Dux  with her Irish cane called a Shillelagh.
Today she talks  about how to keep yourself safe.
Bettejo  has lived on Kauai over 30 years and is a people lover,
animal lover and lover of life.... Enjoy...
www.bettejodux.com

My SHILLELAGH AND ME


Sometimes little old ladies are targets. For bullies and blackguards and such. Some doctors, many doctors in fact, see dollar signs when they see one. Which is another reason I stay away from them.

I seem to be particularly prone. In many dimensions. Lots’a guys don’t like what I write or what I say or that I am an outspoken out -of-the-closet atheist.

I’m also a quite noisy opponent of laws that allow private citizens to own assault weapon. Or the right to carry concealed or unconcealed weapons in public. I own a gun. A Smith and Wesson Sunday night special. Just my size, but I have a license. And  I don’t wear it in a holster on my thigh, or in my handbag when I’m out and about.

Still, today, I often find myself in the middle of a parking lot, surrounded by cars and interesting  looking thugs- for lack of a better word- and wonder if I’m going to get me and my shopping basket, filled to the brim with edible goodies, back to and into my car all in one piece. I have had the experience of meeting up with an outraged driver barreling up a narrow parking lot lane with who knows what kind of mayhem  in mind.

Which get me back to my roots. I’m Irish, Scottish and Welsh. Celtic. Fey. A born again Druid in one of my ms favorite fantasies. I really hate to be bullied and I stand my ground. Most bullies don’t understand such behavior and either back off or keep on coming. I know to stand still  and face a runaway horse or a  guard dog with a severe territorial behavior syndrome. and have, so far, been lucky with the ones I've met.

But these are different times. Drugs, alcohol, jobless jerks and  just plain angry lunatics are out in force and number. You meet them where ever where you go.

And so Hammacher Schlemmer, one of my favorite catalog stores, came to my aging aid. I like to forget I’m 82 but a quick look in a mirror or the windows of a passing vehicle slams back  to remind me. “Hello, dear, the reflection says. You smell good but you ain’t getting any younger.”

Once I had a loutish lug confront me at my desk at Talk Story Book Store-the furthest West book store in the country-to tell me I was dumber than a ‘Pollack’ and then sent me -through the mail-a wrinkle cream ad.

Anyway dear H & S saved me. For a pittance I could buy a genuine walking stick made in Ireland.

I’ve adopted a style. On a lone walk about I swing it forward and tap tap tap the ground. Then if see a potential marauder I pick it up and carry it in one hand like a club. “Come any closer,” she says, she’s a she and I’ve named her Macha, “and you’re apt to get a knock about the  head and shoulders. Don’t screw around with this scrawny old hen.

So far, taking a walk with a walking stick isn’t against the law.

Nine Things That May Disappear In Our Lifetime..." Chester "Unc" Lau' (Source)

Dakinetalks favorite Uncle (Chester Lau)

Unc talks about modern technology 
and the effects it may have on all of us.!

"Unc" is a retired cinematographer currently living 

on the Hawai'ian Island of Oahu & giving the politicians a bad time...

Nine Things That May Disappear In Our Lifetime:


Whether these changes are good or bad depends in part on how we adapt to them. But, ready or not, here they come.

1. The Post Office
Get ready to imagine a world without the post office. They are so deeply in financial trouble that there is probably no way to sustain it long term. Email, Fed Ex, and UPS have just about wiped out the minimum revenue needed to keep the post office alive. Most of your mail every day is junk mail and bills. 

2. The Cheque
Britain is already laying the groundwork to do away with cheque by 2018. It costs the financial system billions of dollars a year to process cheques. Plastic cards and online transactions will lead to the eventual demise of the cheque. This plays right into the death of the post office. If you never paid your bills by mail and never received them by mail, the post office would absolutely go out of business.

3. The Newspaper
The younger generation simply doesn 't read the newspaper. They certainly don 't subscribe to a daily delivered print edition. That may go the way of the milkman and the laundry man. As for reading the paper online, get ready to pay for it. The rise in mobile Internet devices and e-readers has caused all the newspaper and magazine publishers to form an alliance. They have met with Apple, Amazon, and the major cell phone companies to develop a model for paid subscription services. 

4. The Book
You say you will never give up the physical book that you hold in your hand and turn the literal pages. I said the same thing about downloading music from iTunes. I wanted my hard copy CD. But I quickly changed my mind when I discovered that I could get albums for half the price without ever leaving home to get the latest music. The same thing will happen with books. You can browse a bookstore online and even read a preview chapter before you buy. And the price is less than half that of a real book. And think of the convenience! Once you start flicking your fingers on the screen instead of the book, you find that you are lost in the story, can 't wait to see what happens next, and you forget that you 're holding a gadget instead of a book.

5. The Land Line Telephone
Unless you have a large family and make a lot of local calls, you don 't need it anymore. Most people keep it simply because they 've always had it. But you are paying double charges for that extra service. All the cell phone companies will let you call customers using the same cell provider for no charge against your minutes

6. Music
This is one of the saddest parts of the change story. The music industry is dying a slow death. Not just because of illegal downloading. It 's the lack of innovative new music being given a chance to get to the people who would like to hear it. Greed and corruption is the problem. The record labels and the radio conglomerates are simply self-destructing. Over 40% of the music purchased today is "catalogue items," meaning traditional music that the public is familiar with. Older established artists. This is also true on the live concert circuit. To explore this fascinating and disturbing topic further, check out the book, "Appetite for Self-Destruction" by Steve Knopper, and the video documentary, "Before the Music Dies."

7. Television
Revenues to the networks are down dramatically. Not just because of the economy. People are watching TV and movies streamed from their computers. And they 're playing games and doing lots of other things that take up the time that used to be spent watching TV. Prime time shows have degenerated down to lower than the lowest common denominator. Cable rates are skyrocketing and commercials run about every 4 minutes and 30 seconds. I say good riddance to most of it. It 's time for the cable companies to be put out of our misery. Let the people choose what they want to watch online and through Netflix. 

8. The "Things" That You Own
Many of the very possessions that we used to own are still in our lives, but we may not actually own them in the future. They may simply reside in "the cloud." Today your computer has a hard drive and you store your pictures, music, movies, and documents. Your software is on a CD or DVD, and you can always re-install it if need be. But all of that is changing. Apple, Microsoft, and Google are all finishing up their latest "cloud services." That means that when you turn on a computer, the Internet will be built into the operating system. So, Windows, Google, and the Mac OS will be tied straight into the Internet. If you click an icon, it will open something in the Internet cloud. If you save something, it will be saved to the cloud. And you may pay a monthly subscription fee to the cloud provider. In this virtual world, you can access your music or your books, or your whatever from any laptop or handheld device. That 's the good news. But, will you actually own any of this "stuff" or will it all be able to disappear at any moment in a big "Poof?" Will most of the things in our lives be disposable and whimsical? It makes you want to run to the closet and pull out that photo album, grab a book from the shelf, or open up a CD case and pull out the insert. 

9. Privacy
If there ever was a concept that we can look back on nostalgically, it would be privacy. That 's gone. It 's been gone for a long time anyway. There are cameras on the street, in most of the buildings, and even built into your computer and cell phone. But you can be sure that 24/7, "They" know who you are and where you are, right down to the GPS coordinates, and the Google Street View. If you buy something, your habit is put into a zillion profiles, and your ads will change to reflect those habits. "They" will try to get you to buy something else. Again and again. 

All we will have left that can 't be changed are "Memories"....
And then probably Alzheimer 's will take that away from us too!

"Interact With Your Favorite TV Show..." 'Obama Da Dog'

Every business, every Movie, every magazine, newspaper and periodical in the world has a Facebook page.

I really enjoy  the reality shows since it's fun to talk story about your favorite and least favorite contestants. I frequent Survivor, American Idol, Hell's Kitchen and many of  the political shows on MSNBC to add my 2 cents worth.

You too can interact with your favorite TV show or anything else just use the Facebook internal search engine to search for your favorite TV show, movie, periodical,  book or person and start posting instantly! Maybe I'll see you there!

Hana Hou, (Encore)  Shared from Facebook... On a serious note...

Please share this incredible photo...

At 10am this morning, all of Israel paused for the two-minute siren in remembrance of the Jews that were murdered in the Holocaust...it's surreal seeing life literally stand still, and it makes you think of the enormity of what we lost.

" The Price of a new Roof ..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday)

"Guest-blogger Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst N.Y. 

and has worked in the ophthalmology field of medicine for over 30 years..." 

Today she talks about  if those long warranties are really worth it..?  Roof Roof Enjoy!

The Price of a new Roof

Owning a home is a never ending money pit; just when you think you are caught up on maintenance, the windy winter does a number on the roof.  Our roof is only 12 years old; after a patch job last year, we have a new batch of  shingles that are coming loose. I think I will have to take on another job to replace this shabby roof, the estimates range from $12,000 to $30,000 dollars…

I did get a good laugh from the estimator; he gave me two options…do you want a roof with a 30 year guarantee or one with a 50 year guarantee??  Seriously, do I care what this roof looks like when I am 90 or  110 years old??   He responded with,   “we never know how long we will live until”, and I responded, I am quite sure I will not make it until 110 yrs old!

So for now, I hope we don’t have a windy, rainy  Spring or there will be a lot of tarps hanging around this house.

"Blonde Wannabe Detective & Obama Takes Pay Cut..!" 'Chester "Unc" Lau' (Source)

Three blondes were all applying for the last available position on the Toronto Police Force.
The detective conducting the interview looked at the three of them and said, "So you all want to be cops, huh?"

The blondes all nodded.

The detective got up, opened a file drawer, and pulled out a folder. Sitting back down, he opened it, pulled out a picture, and said, "To be a detective, you have to be able to detect. You must be able to notice things such as distinguishing features and oddities like scars and so forth."

So saying, he stuck the photo in the face of the first blonde and withdrew it after about two seconds.
"Now," he said, "did you notice any distinguishing features about this man?"

The blonde immediately said, "Yes, I did, he has only one eye!"
The detective shook his head and said, "Of course he has only one eye in this picture! It's a profile of his face! You're dismissed!"

The first blonde hung her head and walked out of the office.

The detective then turned to the second blonde, stuck the photo in her face for two seconds, pulled it back, and said, "What about you? Notice anything unusual or outstanding about this man?"

"Yes! He only has one ear!"

The detective put his head in his hands and exclaimed, "Didn't you hear what I just told the other lady? This is a profile of the man's face! Of course you can only see one ear! You're excused too!"

 The second blonde sheepishly walked out of the office.

The detective turned his attention to the third and last blonde and said,"This is probably a waste of time, but..." He flashed the photo in her face for a couple of seconds and withdrew it, saying, "All right, did you notice anything distinguishing or unusual about this man?"

The blonde said, "I sure did. This man wears contact lenses.

"The detective frowned, took another look at the picture, and began looking at some of the papers in the folder. He looked up at the blonde with a puzzled expression and said, "You're absolutely right! His bio says he wears contacts! How in the world could you tell that by looking at his picture?"

The blonde rolled her eyes and said, "Well, Hellooooooooooooo! With only one eye and one ear, he certainly can't wear glasses."

She got the job and will run for public office as a Republican !!!


"Unc" is a retired cinematographer currently living 
on the Hawai'ian Island of Oahu.

An email enclosed  to Chester from Diane Russell  a state representative from Portland Maine,
she speaks of President Obama taking a pay cut during these time of sequester!

Dear Chester, 

When I started this petition just over a month ago, I wondered (like everyone else) if we could really change anything. However, I think we can safely say our message is getting through!

In fact, just today President Obama announced he is taking a pay cut in solidarity with working families struggling due to Sequester cuts. . . just like we asked.

[Insert look of shock here.] 

It is essential we give credit where credit is due, but we must continue to fight to end Sequestration and insist Congress return to respectful, reasoned and rational debate that reflects the real values of the American people.

Will you join me in thanking President Obama & calling on Congress to cancel Sequestration?

It’s pretty amazing to think that in just over a month, we’ve had Congresswoman Duckworth respond to us directly, Congressman Loebsack is watching our work, and now the President of the United States has taken a pay cut, too !  It just shows there is real strength in numbers - 360,000 and counting !

For Tweeters!

@BarackObama Tx for the pay cut. It's time for @SenatorReid @MitchMcConnell @johnboehner & @NancyPelosi to end #Sequestration ! @MissWrite
For Facebook
Thank President Obama for taking a pay cut & Call on Congress to cancel Sequestration! http://bit.ly/XYykIu


Thank you; We are having a remarkable effect!


Regards,

~Diane Russell

State Representative

Portland, Maine