"Where news was news and being a professional had it's merits..."‏

Anybody can be a writer or photographer and have their own daily periodically for free. Blogs, where you write whatever is on your mind, somewhat like a personal diary that you share with the world.

Daily newspapers, writers and professional photographers have lost millions in the last 10 years since the digital world has become mainstream.

Twenty years ago rumor had it that someday you would be able to push a button on your computer and send a photo instantaneously anywhere in the world. Digital camera's, even the small amateur type that fit in your shirt pocket are capable of taking photos of such great quality that they can be reproduced in many national publications.

People believe what they read in print, they don't check to see if the person doing the reporting is legitimate, maybe the person just has a jazzy website with a blog, but it's in print and people believe it as newsworthy.

I remember the days when being a professional reporter or professional photographer belonged to an elite class. All you need now is a computer and a cheap digital camera and your in business.

The situation is similar to sports among the youth where everyone gets a trophy, because no one child should feel bad. Many schools play sports games and do not keep score as to not make the loser feel bad, G-d forbid we call a loser a loser.

Technology is great, but sometimes I long for the days where news was news and being a professional had it's merits.

"It's a different world nowadays..."

It's a different world nowadays, most people including myself read their local daily newspaper online and one of the features and advantages is being able to be interactive with any story. Most articles have comment boards where you can write back along with anyone else who read the story and insert your two cents worth.

Since I live in a small town (small island)many times people will attack you with personal here-say that has nothing to do with the article.

I recently wrote an opinion article about the local correctional facility that the local paper ran in the editorial section of the Kaua'i Garden Island news. The gist of the article was two point.

!- Prisons are not Hotels

2- We need to enforce stricter rules to defer crime, such as chain gangs and the death penalty.

Here are some responses to that article, these are actually quoted from the comments page of that article;
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/article_2a251034-10a7-11e0-955c-001cc4c03286.html?mode=comments
"Nobody cares if you dumpster dive for your dog's dinner & nobody really cares if you get hauled off to jail for trespassing. Nobody cares if you have Christmas envy. NOBODY CARES"

"You are obviously unstable based on the fact that you named your dog Obama. That is pretty racist, equating our failed president to a black dog don't you think? The guy already has enough legitimate critics and doesn't’t need people like you comparing him to a mangy flea ridden animal. I know you are upset that he has lied and broken almost all his promises (closing gitmo, the wars, patriot act, extra-ordinary rendition etc etc etc). But it is really not necessary to compare him to a dirty mutt that eats out of dumpsters. Have some respect."

"I am not among your fans;

Perhaps one of your resolutions this year will be to stop posting your observations because for the most part they are basically annoying and you obviously need a lot of attention..."

These comments had nothing to do with the article, just personal para-social attacks from people who feel they know me

It's a different world nowadays for the better or worse we go on...

All I can say is "WTF." ;D)

"Aloha Mr. President..."

(Editors note, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser is asking for Letters to the President while he vacations here in Hawaii they will run some of the letters. They ask for what you think are the top 5 priorities the president should tackle in the next two years, here's mine.)

Aloha Mr. President,

I live on the "Garden Island" of Kaua'i and one of your biggest advocates, I even named my four legged companion after you. My dream someday is to introduce my dog to you and say, "Obama meet President Obama."

Here are the top 5 priorities you should tackle in the next two years.

1- We need to withdraw from both wars, per your campaign promise. The money saved from war will be better used at home.

2- The U.S. needs to do something similar to Roosevelt's New deal, get American working for real.

3- With the money saved from withdrawing troops, Health care could be part of just being an American.

4- We need to become Independent of the oil rich nations, with alternative energy that we produce solely in the U.S.

5- If there is another bailout, give the money to the American people. Alaska Has the permanent fund dividend program where every year, every man women and child in the state of Alaska receives a four figure bonus check, it wildly stimulates the economy, by stimulating the economy it will have a positive massive economic epidemic trickle down effect.

I am proud to call you "My President!" Mahalo Nui Loa.

"Girls in the Boy Scouts..."

There is a ring at the doorbell, it is a young boy around the age of 10 asking if I would like to buy some boy scout cookies, ten minutes later there is a knock on my door and it's  a 12 year old girl asking for a donation for her football team.

This may sound like fiction, however there are many who believe that little girls should be eligible for the boy scouts. Canada currently allows Girls to become Boy-scouts. I am a liberal for the most part, however give me a break. Where does all this craziness end.

What's next Men in the Miss American Pageant, wait come to think of it, many men would probably enter.

"Don't ask, don't tell..."

I'm overall a pretty liberal guy, I also live by the adage, If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Don't ask don't tell worked, nobody said anything about their sexual preference and that's the way it should be.

Men in the army do not want to know if the guy showering next to him is gay, it can only lead to fighting. Having gays showering with the straights is going to cost the military hundreds of thousands of dollars. There is talk of constructing barriers in the showers since it would be like showering with a coed for a gay. Bunks are inches apart, is a straight guy going to want to be bunking next to an openly gay person?

There's the old joke about about the guy who left the marines and wrote the song, "I hate to leave my buddies behind." What used to be somewhat of a racist joke is now a reality.

The big question remains are straight servicemen going to be forced to watch "Dancing with the stars?"

"Bring back chain gangs and the death sentence..! "

The jail on Kauai is not even fenced in, when you drive by the inmates are usually playing volleyball or tending to the jail garden.

I called the correctional facility and spoke with Warden Wagasama concerning escaped convicts, since there is no fence what is stopping an inmate from a pretty easy escape and just walking out? First all, everyone is advised of the consequences on many matters inclusive of escape and signs a disclaimer as such. If convicted first degree escape is an up to an additional 10 years jail time and second degree escape holds up to a 5 year additional sentence, plus the facility would be on lock down, jeopardizing all the other guests, (inmates) freedoms. "Nobody wants to be the one responsible for a shut down," the other guests won't welcome you back, and third, an escapee conviction stays on your record for life, thus any prison you may go to in the future you will be high risk and not have all of the rights as others inmates.

With three square meals a day, free medical and dental, a weight room, volleyball court, television and garden, these guys do not mind being incarcerated.

In these rough economic times many prisoners have it better than most. We need to defer criminal acts, bring back chain gangs and the death sentence!

The recent cold blooded murder in Anahola was between a couple of local career criminals, who most likely had it to easy at the Kauai community correctional facility. What is the detriment for their criminal acts, free health-care, 3 catered meals a day, volleyball and a vegetable garden maintained by inmates, with products used by KCCC's food services unit.

Prisons are not hotels and unless we change the system the lines will continue to grow for a visit to your local correctional facility.

"Time to liberate..."

Have you ever wondered why boys bikes have a bar straight across from the seat to the handlebar section and girls bikes do not have that bar.

It seems to reason it should be just the opposite, boys bikes should not have that bar, it's prone for danger to the groin area, in contrast the open space of the girl;s bike would be added protection for the male species.

Why not make all bikes the same, it's time for bicycle liberation or shall it remain don't ask don't tell?

"Stress had it's benefits!..."

                                                                                                                                                                  

I was a professional photographer from 1974-1999 (25 years) and during that time photographed hundreds of weddings, portraits and commercial work.

Photographers back then were taught to bracket as an insurance policy, shoot every shot, one over exposure and one underexposure and one normal, in case the light meter may had been off, or if the light shifted during the photo. I can remember taking 20- rolls for a wedding to get a nice album of 30 great shots.

There was always the wait for the film, since most photographers had a professional lab they relied on, and living in Alaska I had to rely on Labs in the Seattle area, it would be 7-10 days until my stress level was calmed by seeing the results of my labor.

Now photographers can photograph digitally and see the results instantaneously, no need to bracket exposures or buy hundreds of rolls of film. No need when traveling to take your film out to be hand inspected since airport x-ray could damage film with streaks.

No need to buy film, no waiting for your results and now being able to see your work immediately has taken most of the stress out of a profession that used to be quite the challenge.

Professional photography has become fool proof, the only draw back is the photographers of this age, make much less than I did back in the day. Stress had it's benefits!

""What's in a a name..."

People call me many names. When I was a child they called me Jimmy, in my teenage years they called me Jim, in high-school and college they called me JR, in Alaska they called me sourdough Jim and in Hawaii I am either James or kimo.

The funny thing is in Hawaii that the locals have a hard time calling me Kimo, they will address me as KKKKKKK James with a stutter on the K.

People think because i have white skin I cannot be called 'Kimo,' that's as silly as saying someone with brown skin cannot be called Bernard.

I have gone by many names, my current name of 'Kimo' was actually born while working for Kauai Magazine. We had a staff meeting one day, during that time Senator Gary Hooser was the owner. I brought up that here we publish a quarterly Hawaiian publication and do not have one Hawaiian name on the masthead, Hooser said OK, Kimo, and thus 'Kimo' was born.

I still do not understand why it is so hard to call me 'Kimo' if i can call you Duke, Bernard, Derek, William, Peter and the list goes on.

Next time you have a hard time calling me 'Kimo' remember I do not have a hard time calling you by your English name, or maybe I should.

Call me anything you want, just don't call me late for dakine.

(EDITOR'S NOTE, 'DAKINE' IS A TERM USED IN HAWAII TO MEAN ANYTHING...)

"Public servant, do what is pono! (righteous)..."

County council members need to represent the people that elected them.

Salaries are extravagant at $56,000.00 a year,(the chair at $63,000.00) approximately $500.00 a month car allowance and health-care most would sacrifice their mother-in-law for.

The seven council members by law have only one requirement, that is to attend the weekly Wednesday meetings.

There current management of the way the council handles our concerns is in a carte blanch system of dis-array.

There needs to be a territorial factor where each of our county council people would represent a section of the island, similar to the senate and congress but on a local level.

Back in the 1990's county council members made $12.00 per hour, currently they make in access of over $1,000.00 per meeting, this is criminal for a part time job as a "public servant."

It's time we hold our public servants accountable, remember we pay their salaries and they work for us.

Most our council members are retired with a nice pension or have professional jobs where they do quite well, may I recommend while budgets are being slashed across the board that our public servants do what is pono and revert back to the good ole days of being public servants with humble salaries or even volunteering.

There is a frequent contributor to this forum who ran for mayor in 2008 and promised if he won the election he would donate his salary of 107,000.00 to charity. It's a shame more politicians cannot think outside the box. Rolf Bieber was that candidate and although we don't agree on all issues Rolf is my kine (sic) of politician!

"Christmas envy..."

Growing up in a Jewish home was not the norm to listen to Christmas music, in fact it was taboo.

Whenever "Silent Night" or any Christmas carol came on the radio I immediately suffered an episode of Christmas envy. Many Jewish children suffer from this syndrome 'CES' (Christmas Envy Syndrome). Christmas envy is where you wish you were Christian and able to celebrate Christmas in the open and not in the closet.

Little girls suffer from the freudian syndrome of penis envy, myself and many Jews suffer from Christmas envy, and some of us suffer both forms of envy.

As an adult I can pick and choose what i listen to and not bound by what my parents believed. I enjoy Christmas music but deep inside always feel guilty for listening to it.

It's like falling in love with someone of another religion and marrying them. You combine your beliefs and realize Christmas envy does not need therapy

"My doctor, my friend..."

Living outdoors for numerous years with multiple medical complications was taking it's toll.

Dr. Gary Blaich came to visit me at what I called home, which was a tent, clothes line and a single burner propane stove with a makeshift outhouse.
Dr. Blaich made one feel right, you felt good about yourself after talking story with Dr. Blaich. He was the feel good drug within, his presence alone made one feel like life was worth living.

Dr. Blaich's office was a small one room place, he was a one man band, being the receptionist, secretary, manager and resident Psychiatrist. The waiting room consisted of a few benches outside in the elements of fresh air and open sky with the aroma of plumeria from potted plants encompassing his office.

He listened to every one's demons even while going through radiation and chemotherapy. He was there for his patients. It gave one a humbling experience releasing your quandaries in therapy with a man braving a terminal illness. I am not a hugging type of person, however Dr. Blaich and myself always ended our sessions with a hug.

Dr. Blaich, OK, Gary, passed away on Thanksgiving day, such an appropriate day for man with so much character and empathy.

My doctor , my friend, your legend lives on.

your friend, your patient. Aloha Kakou, Mahalo Nui Loa and A Hui Hou.

"Has anyone ever seen a legal alien?"

If you think prices are high now imagine going to the grocery stores and paying $5.00 for one tomato, or $7.00 for a head of lettuce. That's what would happen if we shut down employing illegals.

Look what's happened in society, cleaning ladies are now making $25-$50 an hour at a job that used to be quite affordable, often times making more than highly educated professionals.

Everyone from gardeners to cleaning services, to massage therapists are demanding outrageous wages for the service provided.

When we the consumer accept it, it has a trickle down effect that effects everyone.

If  Illegals were to totally disappear, most of us would not be able to afford groceries.

I still don't know why they call them illegal aliens, has anyone ever seen a legal alien?

"Epilogue, eerie, G-d's work-Planet Japan..."

Editors note, this is the epilogue to my book, "Planet Japan."

The Torah states: "A man is (like) a tree of the field," the vineyard of

the G-d of hosts is the house of Israel. "The fruits are the children, who are like sons and daughters. How great is the responsibility of the leader, the gardener, to whom the owner of the garden entrusted his garden! For this reason our sages referred to teaching children as "the work of G-d."

"How great is your merit to have been appointed by G-d as a keeper of his vineyard. We see that even the slightest improvement in a seed greatly increases the beauty and value of the tree which grows from it."

The above letter was written to the Rebbe (Top Rabbi) (like the Pope for Jewish people), from an unknown source. The letter can be found in the book, I Will Write it in Their Hearts, a treasury of letters from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson.

I now know why I am so heartbroken and emotional over leaving Japan and teaching, being a sensei. I was helping to do G-d's work, teaching sure felt wonderful. No job will ever be the same. Though I thought I would never teach again because by profession I am a photographer and publisher, I have come to find teaching the most rewarding and spiritual job in the world.

My life has changed, I feel for the better!

Shalom and Bracha,
Peace and Blessings, Jim Sensei aka James "Kimo" Rosen

"The way of Tea..."

Editors note, I published in a book in 2004 called Planet Japan, the next couple blogs will be excerpts from that book. The book never really sold  many copies and the supporting website was not economically feasible to keep running. None the less I feel some of the entries are worth posting to my blog for two reasons. 1- I like them and 2- The blog is free and does not cost  any money, enjoy.

The way of tea is one of Japan's traditions. It is connected with various styles of art, including calligraphy, flower arrangements, woodwork, cooking and gardening...

A highly developed spiritual culture has emerged through the
encouragement of a bowl of green tea. It is based on the act of preparing and drinking powdered green tea.

The philosophy of the way of tea combines four principles:

1-Harmony... You can create it between person and person, thing and thing, person and thing for everything

2-Respect... Respect each other, not to judge one's title.

3-Purity... Spiritual purity

4-Tranquility... whatever happens to you, keep tranquil

There is a quotation from the Japanese tea ceremony which symbolizes and reflects Japan's spirit,"A once in a lifetime chance"(Ichi-go- Ichi-e)

To begin, one should experience every tea as if it's your first. The host should treat every guest with generous hospitality and each guest should try to express their gratitude graciously. Even if you have been to many tea ceremonies with the same host, you should keep in mind the meaning of "Ichi-go-ichi-e” and try your utmost to appreciate the tea ceremony as a unique and memorable experience. This way of thinking can also be extended to everyday life.

When you meet somebody for the first time, try and look at it as a special occasion, if you meet that same person again you should try and appreciate the meeting as another unique and meaningful moment. Living in this way, it is believed one will have no regrets and feel that life is enjoyable and fulfilling.

"Kaua'i County Coucil, Fiction!.."

(Bloggers note- The names are all members of  Kauai County council, for those of you not living on Kauai, just substitute your own city or county council members names in lieu of Kauai's.)

The question remains for the Kauai county council, If Jay Furfaro is the chair, what are the other council members?

Joanne Yukimura is a lamp, because she has many bright idea's, plus being the mayor during Iniki was no cake walk.

Nadine Nakamura is an end table, she can support the lamp, is a rookie and needs to settle in.

Tim Bynum is the couch, since he is a little bigger than the chair.

Dickie Chang is the remote control, so we can turn him off or on, just like his television show.

Derek Kawakami is the HDTV, he's young and in the prime of his life, just like HDTV.

Mel Rapozo is the table, he lays it all out, and needs space to do it.

I still don't understand why the chair makes more than the couch?