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Tuesday, January 31, 2012

"The trickle down beauty of the multi-use trail..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen

The multi-use  trail on the east-side of Kauai Island is a G-d send, although there are those opposed. This blog is about local politics, I think you may find this informative even if you are not living on Kauai because someday you may visit here and be one of the many who get to experience this wonderful trail... a similar version of this blog ran on 02-10-12 as an opinion article in the Kaua'i Garden Island news;
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-friday-february/article_bb4fd948-53c9-11e1-b625-0019bb2963f4.html
Have you ever gone for a bike ride,power walked or walked a four legged friend on Kauai's multi use trail? 

I believe the multi use trail to be the best use of taxpayer money ever on Kaua'i. Everyday I see an array of people from mothers strolling with baby carriages to roller skaters, skateboarders, joggers, marathon runners, slow walkers, power walkers, mountain bikes, road bikes, comfort bikes, cruiser bikes and just the casual stroller. On top of everything else the trail has become one of the 'must do' things for many visitors to our cosmic hamlet.

This Multi use trail has also been a blessing for the many businesses that have opened during recessed times that rent bicycles to visitors. Coconut Coasters across the street from the Kapa'a Neighborhood center has a successful family run business with a few employees. The visitor's love their Aloha spirit, they answer questions about the island acting as ambassadors of Aloha stressing proper and safe trail etiquette, and for the locals they fix flat tires at reasonable rates and will fill your bicycle tires with air for free.  The beauty of  multi-use trail is it has a  trickle down effect from exercise to new business,s, it's a win win situation.
With Obesity running rapid and people needing an excuse to stretch their legs, this multi use trail is the best political move ever made on this island, I do not often compliment anything political but must give mahalo's to the late mayor Bryan Baptise for his insights into this trail and to  current mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. for following through on a well conceived project.  The icing on the cake is  the vast majority of the funding was federal grant money.
It would be my honor for anyone who is opposed or feel the multi use trail was a bad investment to walk the trail with my four legged companion and myself.  We could walk and talk politics, and who knows, it may be just what the doctor ordered.

Aloha, Check out my opinion article that ran  (02-10-12) in the Kaua'i Garden Island newspaper,"Multi-use path a win win for everyone..."   http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-friday-february/article_bb4fd948-53c9-11e1-b625-0019bb2963f4.html

Editor's note, Dakinetalk guest bloggers do not necessarily represent the opinions of dakinetalk. Guest bloggers are given space to express their beliefs and or opinions. We feel there are many roads and like to give people space to express their thoughts,after-all that's what dakine is...Aloha, James "Kimo" Rosen, Publisher.

Monday, January 30, 2012

"Everyone, keep your ideas coming...." 'Obama Da Dog'

"Obama Da Dog comes up with her best idea's while driving her favorite car..."

Ironically, again this blog was also published as an opinion article in the Kaua'i Garden Island news, this same day, 01-31-12,with the title,"Keep the ideas coming..."
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-tuesday-january/article_82c2bf62-4bd3-11e1-82af-0019bb2963f4.html

Any-time someone has an idea to better Kauai' others will comprehend it as if that person doesn't like it here, quite the contrary, the person giving the feedback only wants to help better the situation.

Why is it when someone has an idea that doesn't fit another's agenda in-evidently someone will tell them to move?

Someone may say, "I want more roads," the response would be, "if you don't like it here move back to where you came from." A person may say, "A ferryboat sounds like a good idea," the response might be, "ferry boats only bring drug dealers and the homeless, so move back to where you came from." Someone may say, "the marathon needs to be privately sponsored in lieu of being taxpayer subsidized, others will say, "go back to where you came from if you aren't happy here." Someone may even say, "we need a new bridge," and others will call you a four letter name and tell you to go back to where you came from.

Here's an idea for everyone, why not stay right where you are, keep your idea's coming to help make our cosmic hamlet of an island all it can be. Who knows your feedback may someday be a reality that helps us all....

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this blog site do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Publisher of Dakinetalk the blog, but they could? ;D)

Sunday, January 29, 2012

"Two more weeks..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Monday)

"Judith Whitehead is back guest-blogging on this Inspirational Monday about  how to be a romantic..."Judith lives in Amherst N.Y. and  has worked in the ophthalmology field of medicine for almost 30 years...

Two More weeks……

Here is a shout out to all those husbands and boyfriends and clueless significant others…you have two more weeks to come up with an inventive, romantic and meaningful plan to celebrate the special day for lovers…VALENTINES  Day.    Over the years,  since we have been married for so many years, 38 to be exact,  we have gone through many ideas to celebrate this special day.  When I was a teenager  my future husband gave me a very large stuffed animal.  We have evolved since then and he has found that jewelry and purses are a winning gift along with a shopping spree. 

Valentines’  Day which originated with a Saint has become an American money making holiday that boosts the economy.   Any holiday that boasts love and happiness is OK in my book… so all you romantics out there, you have two weeks to get organized and plan a nice surprise for someone.  It’s the little things that can put a smile on someones’  face.  You don’t have to spend much, just be inventive and sincere and show someone you appreciate them. 

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this blog site do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Publisher of Dakinetalk the blog, but they could? ;D)

Saturday, January 28, 2012

"My phone and Internet went dead..." James "Kimo" Rosen



Maybe it's time to start surfing the ocean instead of surfing the Internet!?

My phone and Internet went dead...

Imagine being totally dependent on a phone line. My phone line connects me to almost everything I do. I read the local Kauai Garden island News and other newspaper's online every morning while waking up with a cup of Joe,

I check emails, send emails, and answer and post on face-book, I use skype fro all my long distance and video calls. I post a daily blog every evening at 6:00 P.M, and recently purchased a television with built in wifi that relies on phone connection to view and live stream netflix.

So when I got home Friday evening, my sabbath at 5:45 P.M, I wanted to post my daily blog before the Sabbath began, but low and behold somehow my phone connection totally died. I trouble shot with rebooting my router and modem plus checking connections that were on splitters by plugging directly into the phone-jack, still nothing, plus I am one of the few people left in America without a cell-phone.

I call the phone company with my next door neighbors phone and after a 90 minute wait, I am told I have a bad connection, even though my neighbors have phone somehow mine went dead? I am told they can get someone out here by February 9TH, that's almost 2 weeks, I live on the Internet.. Then they tell me if it's an interior problem I will be charged, I said wait, I should be getting credits for service being down, not being charged? "WTF" is what I am thinking...

I am very frustrated, posting this blog from a friends house using her router. I never realized how dependent I was on a phone line and the irony is, I barely talk on the phone and the other irony is I lived in the woods for 6 years without most anything...

I guess it's time to catch up on my gardening and social skills in person in lieu face-booking, blogging Skyping (sic) and emailing, it's either that or check myself into the local Psych ward.

Please note, if I do not answer your emails, face-book, or Skype, please understand I am in withdrawal and hope to get my supplier back( the phone company) soon, before I decompose...

Editor's note, Dakinetalk guest bloggers do not necessarily represent the opinions of dakinetalk. Guest bloggers are given space to express their beliefs and or opinions. We feel there are many roads and like to give people space to express their thoughts,after-all that's what dakine is...Aloha, James "Kimo" Rosen, Publisher.

Friday, January 27, 2012

"The bridge is not the problem..." James "Kimo" Rosen (local politics)

Traffic and congestion is the problem, not a one lane bridge...."This blog also ran this same day (01-28-12) as an opinion article in the Kaua'i Garden Island News titled;"The bridge is not the problem..."
http://thegardenisland.com/promo/homepage/letters-for-saturday-january/article_34d4f6da-498a-11e1-b96a-0019bb2963f4.html
Evelyn de Buhr's recent Letter to the  editor in the Kaua'i Garden Island News,"North shore one lane bridge should be preserved." needs to catch up to the current calendar year of 2012.
 http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-wednesday-january/article_511294be-4715-11e1-898a-001871e3ce6c.html
Evelyn seems to think it's tranquil and a way to identify oneself as local by waiting in traffic on a one lane bridge that floods almost every-time it rains. Evelyn ends her letter with the prospect of "most of us appreciate the remnants that remain in our high tech, speed-laced modern life. They are the touchstones upon which the pace and quality of life on the North Shore depend." 
OK, I get it, however  find it pure craziness to enjoy this quality of life from the past as we sit in our SUVs, talking on our cell phones, tweeting, texting, kids in the back downloading netflix on their  laptops and programming our GPS to get us to the airport to catch a 757 Jet . 
  It's not the one lane bridge that's the problem , it's everyone with their motor vehicles causing congestion and traffic, if you really want to be nostalgic, how about leaving your car, cell phone, Ipod, laptop and  GPS at home and saddling up your horse and buggy when your finished using the outhouse. Now that's nostalgic!
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this blog site do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Publisher of Dakinetalk the blog, but they could? ;D)

Thursday, January 26, 2012

"Joking Around In Hawai'i..." 'Michael Herr' (Aloha Friday)


Renowned author Michael Herr is back guest-blogging on this awesome Aloha Friday about Ethnic humor and it's alleged acceptance in Hawai'i...Make sure and check out Michael's website at; http://www.michaelherr.com/

ALOHA FRIDAY

January 27, 2012


It's Aloha Friday.

JOKING AROUND IN HAWAII


Aloha folks,

You know, one of the things I like most about Hawai'i is the way everyone can be a target, and, mostly, no one gets mad about it. By that I mean, everyone race is a target for jokes. Always has been. Since the days of growing sugarcane and pineapple.

When everyone, again mostly, lived in groups with their own kind. People grew up making jokes about the other ethnic groups, and stereotypes became the norm. Filipinos, Japanese, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, Hawaiians, Samoans and Haoles — they all had tags attached to them. But if someone made a joke about your race that was okay, because you could come back with a joke about their race.

The master, I think, who deals with this is Frank DeLima. I love Frank's humor. I watch his videos, I listen to his comedy albums/Cd's, and I have almost worn out his joke book that I bought many years ago. I unabashedly steal jokes from Frank and use them when I'm emceeing a program. I have even borrowed from Frank to use in the books I write. ( For those of you outside of Hawai'i  not familiar with  the comedy Frank Delima, feel free to check out his website at;) http://www.frankdelima.com/)   

Frank points out, quite correctly, that the reason humor about and between the races goes so well in Hawai'i is that there is no one majority race in Hawai'i. Instead we have the original chop suey, a mixture of all the races working hard to get along with one another. And laughing at, and with, each other all the time. Sometimes someone will slip and say something that is not funny, that is hurtful. Usually they retract their comment immediately with a "Nah Nah Nah Nah, Brah" (translates to "Just kidding').

Outside Hawai'i the thinking is much narrower. Telling ethnic jokes is usually considered rude — but often you hear the excuse, "It's okay if I tell an Irish joke, I'm Irish (or Polish, or German, or Mexican)." In Hawai'i ethnic jokes and references are more easily allowed, as long as they are not hurtful, as long as everyone knows that you're just kidding. And as long as you know (according to Frank) why you're telling that joke, who you're telling it to, where and when you're telling it to , and most of all what joke you're telling. Frank says all this much better in his book.

Let me leave you with a couple of haole jokes (it's okay, I'm haole). Again, these are borrowed from Frank DeLima.

How do you tell the haoles in a Chinese restaurant?
They're the ones not sharing the food.

Why did God invent golf?
So haoles could dress up like Filipinos.

Okay folks, see you next week.

 Buy all 6 of Michael's books for only 18.00 including P&H.
http://www.michaelherr.com

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this blog site do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Publisher of Dakinetalk the blog, but they could? ;D)

Frank Delima is a comedy legend in Hawaii, check him out at; http://www.frankdelima.com/

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

"The Story of Mushkil Gusha..." A folk tale I heard back in my college days...(anonymous)

The story of Muskil Gusha has been retold for centuries, I use to tell the story every Thursday night back in the 1970's... I recently re-discovered this philosophical and enlightening tale that I hope you read and enjoy as much as I did, in fact every Thursday I will start again to retell the story of Muskil Gusha, with a few dates on hand of course.
The Story of Mushkil Gusha- "This blog is long, but well worth the read if you have the time...

==================================================================
      
      ONCE upon a time, not a thousand miles from here, there lived a poor old wood-cutter, who was a widower, and his little daughter. He used to go every day into the mountains to cut firewood which he brought home and tied into bundles. Then he used to have breakfast and walk into the nearest town, where he would sell his wood and rest for a time before returning home.
     One day, when he got home very late, the girl said to him: ‘Father, I sometimes wish that we would have some nicer food, and more and different kinds of things to eat.’
    ‘Very well, my child,’ said the old man, ‘tomorrow I shall get up much earlier than I usually do. I shall go further into the mountains where there is more wood, and I shall bring back a much larger quantity than usual. I will get home earlier and I will be able to bundle the wood sooner, and I will go into town and sell it so that we can have more money and I shall bring you back all kinds of nice things to eat.’
    The next morning the wood-cutter rose before dawn and went into the mountains. He worked very hard cutting wood and trimming it and made it into a huge bundle which he carried on his back to his little house.
    When he got home, it was still very early. He put his load of wood down, and knocked on the door, saying, ‘Daughter, Daughter, open the door, for I am hungry and thirsty and I need a meal before I go to market.’
    But the door was locked. The wood-cutter was so tired that he lay down and was soon fast asleep beside his bundle. The little girl, having forgotten all about their conversation the night before, was fast asleep in bed. When he woke up a few hours later, the sun was high. The wood-cutter knocked at the door again and again and said, ‘Daughter, Daughter, come quickly; I must have a little food and go to market to sell the wood; for it is already much later than my usual time of starting.’
    But, having forgotten all about the conversation the night before, the little girl had meanwhile got up, tidied the house, and gone out for a walk. She had locked the door assuming in her forgetfulness that her father was still in the town.
    So the wood-cutter thought to himself, ‘It is now rather late to go into the town. I will therefore return to the mountains and cut another bundle of wood, which I will bring home, and tomorrow I will take a double load to market.’
    All that day the old man toiled in the mountains cutting wood and shaping the branches. When he got home with the wood on his shoulders, it was evening.
    He put down his burden behind the house, knocked on the door and said, ‘Daughter, Daughter, open the door for I am tired and I have eaten nothing all the day. I have a double bundle of wood which I hope to take to market tomorrow. Tonight I must sleep well so that I will be strong.’
    But there was no answer, for the little girl when she came home had felt very sleepy, and had made a meal for herself, and gone to bed. She had been rather worried at first that her father was not at home, but she decided that he must have arranged to stay in the town overnight.
    Once again the wood-cutter, finding that he could not get into the house, tired, hungry and thirsty, lay down by his bundles of wood and fell fast asleep. He could not keep awake, although he was fearful for what might have happened to the little girl.
    Now the wood-cutter, because he was so cold and hungry and tired, woke up very, very early the next morning: before it was even light.
    He sat up, and looked around, but he could not see anything. And then a strange thing  happened. The wood-cutter thought he heard a voice saying: ‘Hurry, hurry! Leave your wood and come this way. If you need enough, and you want little enough, you shall have delicious food.’
    The wood-cutter stood up and walked in the direction of the voice. And he walked and he walked; but he found nothing.
    By now he was colder and hungrier and more tired than ever, and he was lost. He had been full of hope, but that did not seem to have helped him. Now he felt sad, and he wanted to cry. But he realized that crying would not help him either, so he lay down and fell asleep.
    Quite soon he woke up again. It was too cold, and he was too hungry, to sleep. So he decided to tell himself, as if in a story, everything that had happened to him since his little daughter had first said that she wanted a different kind of food.
    As soon as he had finished his story, he thought he heard another voice, saying, somewhere above him, out of the dawn, ‘Old man, what are you doing sitting there?’
    ‘I am telling myself my own story,’ said the wood-cutter.
    ‘And what is that?’ said the voice.
    The old man repeated his tale. ‘Very well,’ said the voice. And then the voice told the old wood-cutter to close his eyes and to mount as it were, a step. ‘But I do not see any step,’ said the old man. ‘Never mind, but do as I say,’ said the voice.
    The old man did as he was told. As soon as he had closed his eyes he found that he was standing up and as he raised his right foot he felt that there was something like a step under it. He started to ascend what seemed to be a staircase. Suddenly the whole flight of steps started to move, very fast, and the voice said, ‘Do not open your eyes until I tell you to do so.’
    In a very short time, the voice told the old man to open his eyes. When he did he found that he was in a place which looked rather like a desert, with the sun beating down on him. He was surrounded by masses and masses of pebbles; pebbles of all colours: red, green, blue and white. But he seemed to be alone. He looked all around him, and could not see anyone, but the voice started to speak again.
    ‘Take up as many of these stones as you can,’ said the voice, ‘Then close your eyes, and walk down the steps once more.’
    The wood-cutter did as he was told, and he found himself, when he opened his eyes again at the voice's bidding, standing before the door of his own house.
    He knocked at the door and his little daughter answered it. She asked him where he had been, and he told her, although she could hardly understand what he was saying, it all sounded so confusing.
    They went into the house, and the little girl and her father shared the last food which they had, which was a handful of dried dates. When they had finished, the old man thought that he heard the voice speaking to him again, a voice just like the other one which had told him to climb the stairs.
    The voice said, ‘Although you may not know it yet, you have been saved by Mushkil Gusha. Remember that Mushkil Gusha is always here. Make sure that every Thursday night you eat some dates and give some to any needy person, and tell the story of Mushkil Gusha. Or give a gift in the name of Mushkil Gusha to someone who will help the needy. Make sure that the story of Mushkil Gusha is never, never forgotten. If you do this, and if this is done by those to whom you tell the story, the people who are in real need will always find their way.’
    The wood-cutter put all the stones which he had brought back from the desert in a corner of his little house. They looked very much like ordinary stones, and he did not know what to do with them.
    The next day he took his two enormous bundles of wood to the market, and sold them easily for a high price. When he got home he took his daughter all sort of delicious kinds of food, which she had never tasted before. And when they had eaten it, the old wood-cutter said, ‘Now I am going to tell you the whole story of Mushkil Gusha. Mushkil Gusha is the remover of all difficulties. Our difficulties have been removed through Mushkil Gusha and we must always remember it.’
    For nearly a week after that the old man carried on as usual. He went into the mountains, brought back wood, had a meal, took the wood to market and sold it. He always found a buyer without difficulty.
    Now the next Thursday came, and, as it is the way of men, the wood-cutter forgot to repeat the tale of Mushkil Gusha.
    Late that evening, in the house of the wood-cutter's neighbours, the fire had gone out. The neighbours had nothing with which to re-light the fire, and they went to the house of the wood-cutter. They said, ‘Neighbour, neighbour, please give us a light from those wonderful lamps of yours which we see shining through the window.’
    ‘What lamps?’ said the wood-cutter.
    ‘Come outside,’ said the neighbours, ‘and see what we mean.’
    So the wood-cutter went outside and then he saw, sure enough, all kinds of brilliant lights shining through the window from the inside.
    He went back to the house, and saw that the light was streaming from the pile of pebbles which he had put in the corner. But the rays of light were cold, and it was not possible to use them to light a fire. So he went out to the neighbours and said, ‘Neighbours, I am sorry, but I have no fire.’ And he banged the door in their faces. They were annoyed and confused, and went back to their house, muttering. They leave our story here.
    The wood-cutter and his daughter quickly covered up the brilliant lights with every piece of cloth they could find, for fear that anyone would see what a treasure they had. The next morning, when they uncovered the stones, they discovered that they were precious, luminous gems.
    They took the jewels, one by one, to neighbouring towns, where they sold them for a huge price. Now the wood-cutter decided to build for himself and for his daughter a wonderful palace. They chose a site just opposite the castle of the king of their country. In a very short time a marvellous building had come into being.
    Now that particular king had a beautiful daughter, and one day when she got up in the morning, she saw a sort of fairy-tale castle just opposite her father's and she was amazed. She asked her servants, ‘Who has built this castle? What right have these people to do such a thing so near to our home?’
    The servants went away and made enquiries and they came back and told the story, as far as they could collect it, to the princess.
    The princess called for the little daughter of the wood-cutter, for she was angry with her, but when the two girls met and talked they soon became fast friends. They started to meet every day and went to swim and play in the stream which had been made for the princess by her father. A few days after they first met, the princess took off a beautiful and valuable necklace and hung it up on a tree just beside the stream. She forgot to take it down when she came out of the water, and when she got home she thought it must have been lost.
    The princess thought a little and then decided that the daughter of the wood-cutter had stolen her necklace. So she told her father, and he had the wood-cutter arrested; he confiscated the castle and declared forfeit everything that the wood-cutter had. The old man was thrown into prison, and the daughter was put into an orphanage.
    As it was the custom in that country, after a period of time the wood-cutter was taken from the dungeon and put in the public square, chained to a post, with a sign around his neck. On the sign was written ‘This is what happens to those who steal from Kings.’
    At first people gathered around him, and jeered and threw things at him. He was most unhappy.
    But quite soon, as is the way of men, everyone became used to the sight of the old man sitting there by his post, and took very little notice of him. Sometimes people threw him scraps of food, sometimes they did not.
    One day he overheard somebody saying that it was Thursday afternoon. Suddenly, the thought came into his mind that it would soon be the evening of Mushkil Gusha, the remover of all difficulties, and that he had forgotten to commemorate him for so many days. No sooner had this thought come into his head, than a charitable man, passing by, threw him a tiny coin. The wood-cutter called out: ‘Generous friend, you have given me money, which is of no use to me. If, however, your kindness could extend to buying one or two dates and coming and sitting and eating them with me, I would be eternally grateful to you.’
    The other man went and bought a few dates. And they sat and ate them together. When they had finished, the wood-cutter told the other man the story of Mushkil Gusha. ‘I think you must be mad,’ said the generous man. But he was a kindly person who himself had many difficulties. When he arrived home after this incident, he found that all his problems had disappeared. And that made him start to think a great deal about Mushkil Gusha. But he leaves our story here.
    The very next morning the princess went back to her bathing-place. As she was about to go into the water, she saw what looked like her necklace down at the bottom of the stream. As she was going to dive in to try to get it back, she happened to sneeze. Her head went up, and she saw that what she had thought was the necklace was only its reflection in the water. It was hanging on the bough of the tree where she had left it such a long time before. Taking the necklace down, the princess ran excitedly to her father and told him what had happened. The King gave orders for the wood-cutter to be released and given a public apology. The little girl was brought back from the orphanage, and everyone lived happily ever after.
    These are some of the incidents in the story of Mushkil Gusha. It is a very long tale and it is never ended. It has many forms. Some of them are even not called the story of Mushkil Gusha at all, so people do not recognise it. But it is because of Mushkil Gusha that his story, in whatever form, is remembered by somebody, somewhere in the world, day and night, wherever there are people. As his story had always been recited, so it will always continue to be told.
    Will you repeat the story of Mushkil Gusha on Thursday nights, and help the work of Mushkil Gusha?

For  another version of this folktale and to understand it's roots and true meaning go to; http://www.aaronshep.com/stories/048.html


Editor's note, Dakinetalk guest bloggers do not necessarily represent the opinions of dakinetalk. Guest bloggers are given space to express their beliefs and or opinions. We feel there are many roads and like to give people space to express their thoughts,after-all that's what dakine is...Aloha, James "Kimo" Rosen, Publisher.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

"The Kuleana of being a Lifeguard..." 'Obama da Dog'

Lifeguards everywhere are the unsung heroes! Mahalo Nui Loa to all Lifeguards.
James "Kimo" Rosen with the crew of Baywatch in Honolulu Hawaii in May of 1999!  This blog also ran as an opinion article this same day 01-25-12 in the Kaua'i Garden Island news,  "Thank you Lifeguards..."
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-wednesday-january/article_511294be-4715-11e1-898a-001871e3ce6c.html
The kuleana (responsibility) of being a Lifeguard can be stressful , dealing with keiki full of sugar and seniors in poor health.
 
For Lifeguards it's not just sitting around and looking macho and talking story all day, they recognize and eliminate dangers that the average lay person does not even notice.
Our keiki may feel they are being reprimanded when the lifeguard tells them not to run or jump from areas that are not safe. Others make take offense if the lifeguard asks them to shower before entering the public pool. The lifeguards will evacuate the pool when they hear thunder, to keep us safe from a possible lightning hit...The lifeguards are ready should we go under, they know CPR, mouth to mouth and many other lifesaving and emergency procedures.

I would like to thank the Lifeguards I am in regular contact with. Mahalo Nui Loa to Jeremy Haupt and his crew of three lifeguards, (Brandon Jacinto, Aric Acorda and Landon Peeren) at 'Smokey Louie Consalves public pool,' also known as (Kapa'a public pool )for keeping an eye on me during my aqua therapy and lap swims. I feel safe knowing there are lifeguards watching myself and everyone else in the pool.  I had a near drowning experience a few years back in the ocean and along with a few health issues  are the reasons I swim at the public pool.  The reason I feel safe is because of the unsung heroes called lifeguards.

Again, I would  like to thank not only Jeremy and his distinguished and stupendous crew of lifeguards, but to all the lifeguards who help assist in keeping our cosmic hamlet of an island  out of harm's way! Mahalo Nui Loa.




The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this blog site do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Publisher of Dakinetalk the blog, but they could? ;D)

Monday, January 23, 2012

" Poem about growing older... & Heebow!" 'Marvin Gross' (Source)

"Marvin Gross a financial planner from Western N.Y. Share's with us on a serious note, a poem about growing older..."



Don't be ashamed of a few tears as you read this~~~
I hope this poem has the same effect on you as it did on me... Then sharing this as a guest-blog will be well worth the effort. Walk with me by the moonlight, definitely worth the read.


A Beautiful Poem about Growing older...




Crap,I forgot the words..?


For an encore (Hana Hou) to Marvin's great poem check out the enclosed you-tube about Jewish football star "Heebow!"  ;D)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNV7o9wONHg

Sunday, January 22, 2012

"Glaucoma month is January..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspirational Monday)

Judith Whitehead is back guest-blogging on this Inspirational Monday about  the prevention of eye disease...Judith lives in Amherst N.Y. has worked in the ophthalmology field of medicine for almost 30 years...

Glaucoma month is January

Since I work in the field of Ophthalmology, I felt compelled to educate the public with this article this week. Yes, January is national glaucoma awareness month but in my book, it should be every day of the year. Glaucoma is a silent disease for the most part; there are very few symptoms to glaucoma unless you have sudden glaucoma from an injury, narrow angle in the eye or are born with it. Glaucoma is sneaky…it is called the sneak thief of sight; it quietly takes away ones peripheral (side) vision slowly until, if undetected, you are left with a tunnel of constricted vision.

The optic nerve degenerates and causes you to lose all of your sight. It is very easy to detect glaucoma; just go to the eye Doc and have your eyes checked. With a simple painless test, you can tell what the eye pressure is in the eye and start treatment with drops, laser or surgery if need be. Just remember, what ever peripheral vision you lose to glaucoma, you can never get it back. It’s too late if the eye goes untreated. There are other ways to detect this disease as well. The eye doctor may perform a test of your peripheral vision, may photograph the optic nerve or measure the thickness of the cornea; all these tests let the Doctor know if you are at risk for this disease. Don’t go blind willingly….get tested. There are clinics and testing sights in every city to get checked. Don’t wait…do it today. I have seen all too many times what this disease can do to ruin your life.
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this blog site do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Publisher of Dakinetalk the blog, but they could? ;D)

Saturday, January 21, 2012

"Which side of the fence, part -2- rebuttal..." 'Douglas Dunn'

Douglas Dunn pictured above with the Commander-in-chief and on the below right with  Secretary of state Hillary Clinton. Doug accepted our invitation to rebuttal yesterdays blog  titled ;"which side of the fence."(  a Pro-Republican email that has been circulating the Internet)
http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2012/01/which-side-of-fence-marvin-gross-source.html
Doug actually wrote this in a passionate  spur of the moment to counter "which side of the fence." These are all Dougs original words, not just a sourced out email.

 Did someone say this is an election year? Please note, we will run your side of politics too, send us your guest-blog to jrsensei@hotmail.com (dakinetalk is an equal opportunity blog network!)  ;D)
If a Democrat doesn't want an abortion, she doesn't have one.
If a Republican doesn't want an abortion, he wants to outlaw it for
everyone else.

If a Democrat believes in god, she goes to church.
If a Republican believes in god, he wants to force everyone else to
use public resources to require public prayer, crosses and Ten
Commandments on public property, and use of public resources for
other religious observations.

If a Democrat is not a homosexual she quietly lives her life and lets
others live theirs.
If a Republican is not a homosexual, he outlaws marriage for those
who are.

If a Democrat has been blessed with opportunity, she wants to ensure
everyone else has equal access to the same opportunity.
If a Republican inherits a bazillion dollars from Daddy, he wants to
make sure no one else, no matter what situation they were born to,
will ever get the slightest bit of help unless it is a bank or a
failing corporation, in which case there is no limit to the corporate
welfare.

If a Democrat goes to WORK and EARNS money by MAKING stuff, she
happily pays taxes.
If a Republican inherits money from Daddy or opens quarterly
statements showing gains on investments, he thinks he is entitled to
pay a LOWER TAX RATE (or none at all) for the arduous task of
shuffling papers.

A Republican thinks that if they live off the investment gains from
Daddy’s inheritance and never work a day in their lives, they are
“job creators.”
A Democrat knows that jobs are created in response to consumer
demand, and consumer demand is created when the people who actually
go to work and PRODUCE REAL WEALTH are compensated enough so they can
participate in the wealth they create.

If a Democrat sees someone who needs health care, she works hard to
ensure that no one will be denied life-saving care just because of
where they work or how much money they have.
A Republican wants to make sure that anyone who doesn’t have a job
(because they are too sick to work) and could not get health care at
any price because of preexisting conditions, will just DIE and DIE
QUICKLY and decrease the surplus population.

A Democrat is PRO LIFE for people who have actually been born.
A Republican is PRO LIFE only for insentient embryonic cell tissue
but, once you've been born, you’re on your own -- you’re a “rugged
individualist” who, of course, never benefited from public schools,
public roads, protection of assets by law enforcement and military
and firefighters, no, you’re a completely “self made” person living
in a delusional world of absurdest fantasy.

A Democrat will read this because they got a public education.
A Republican will read this and be completely oblivious as to how
real people live in the real world.

A Republican (Mitt “Cayman Islands” Romney) thinks $374,000 is “not
that much money.”
A Democrat fights to protect benefits for middle class working people.

A Republican (Newt Gingrich) has an affair with mistress number one
and divorces wife number one who has cancer, then mistress number one
becomes wife number two. Newt then divorces wife number two (mistress
number one) when she gets MS and he is having affair with mistress
number two who becomes (current) wife number three, while AT THE SAME
TIME, he is engaged in the politics of destruction leading the attack
against Bill Clinton in the name of “family values.”

Democrats do not preach morality to others, but quietly repudiate
those such as John Edwards or Anthony Weiner who betray their spouses
and would be laughed out of town in they EVER tried to run for any
office ever again.
Republicans lecture others about family values, but take their worst
offenders and make them front runners for the Presidency of the
United States.
Republicans are LYING HYPOCRITES.

Republicans copy Internet e-mails.
Democrats come up with something original (and don’t risk copyright
infringement claims against the websites that host their work).

Editor's note, Dakinetalk guest bloggers do not necessarily represent the opinions of dakinetalk. Guest bloggers are given space to express their beliefs and or opinions. We feel there are many roads and like to give people space to express their thoughts,after-all that's what dakine is...Aloha, James "Kimo" Rosen, Publisher.

Friday, January 20, 2012

"Which side of the fence..." 'Marvin Gross' (the source)

Marvin Gross a financial advisor from Western N.Y, is back as the source of this political email that is circulating the Internet. You may agree or you may disagree, it's just interesting to see what is out there on the Internet. Did someone say this is an election year? Please note, we will run your side of politics too, send us your guest-blog to jrsensei@hotmail.com (dakinetalk is an equal opportunity blog network!)  ;D)
 If you ever wondered which side of the fence you sit on, this is a great test!

If a Republican doesn't like guns, he doesn't buy one.

If a Democrat doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.
If a Republican is a vegetarian, he doesn't eat meat.
If a Democrat is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for everyone.

If a Republican is homosexual, he quietly leads his life.
If a Democrat is homosexual, he demands legislated respect.

If a Republican is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation.
A Democrat wonders who is going to take care of him.

If a Republican doesn't like a talk show host, he switches channels.
Democrat's demand that those they don't like be shut down.

If a Republican is a non-believer, he doesn't go to church.
A Democrat non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced.


If a Republican decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it.A Democrat demands that the rest of us pay for his.

If a Republican reads this, he'll forward it so his friends can have a good laugh.A Democrat will delete it because he's "offended".

Editor's note, Dakinetalk guest bloggers do not necessarily represent the opinions of dakinetalk. Guest bloggers are given space to express their beliefs and or opinions. We feel there are many roads and like to give people space to express their thoughts,after-all that's what dakine is...Aloha, James "Kimo" Rosen, Publisher.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

"Monk seal hospital, really..?" 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

"Monk seals an endangered species seem to get better care than many people..." This blog also appeared this same day(01-21-12) as an opinion article in the Kauai Garden island news with the title, "What's next?"
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-friday-january/article_05519842-4335-11e1-ad07-0019bb2963f4.html
The news of a new Monk seal hospital has me scratching my head. This hospital is scheduled to break ground on the Big island's Kona side and will cost an estimated 3.2 million dollars.
 I find this to be the ironies of ironies,  less than 30 days ago on Oahu two hospitals,  Hawaii Medical center east in Liliha and Hawaii medical center west in Ewa shut down hospitals for humans, leaving close to 1,000 people without jobs and a strain on the already existing hospitals and emergency care workers.

http://www.kitv.com/news/30093739/detail.html

I just don't  get it... Whats next , a hospital for sick chickens?

http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/monk-seal-hospital-closer-to-reality/article_e4d6f842-4275-11e1-b29a-0019bb2963f4.html

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this blog site do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Publisher of Dakinetalk the blog, but they could? ;D)

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

"World Peace..." James "Kimo" Rosen

"World peace is often preached but can it be reached..?" check out  The world peace Jersey, modeled by Ron Artest himself at;   http://www.nesn.com/2011/12/metta-world-peace-formerly-ron-artest-sports-jersey-reflecting-name-change-for-first-time-photo.html
World peace will never happen, Republicans and Democrats are at war, husbands and wives divorce 50% of the time and the friends you have today can be enemies tomorrow, therefore we can never have world peace if we cannot even get along with our friends spouses and  politicians, although world peace makes for a great sound bite.

On the contrary world peace does exist, it's live and well in Los Angeles,  Los Angeles Laker's basketball star  Ron Artest recently change his name to Metta   'World Peace,' somewhat of of self serving attention getter, none the less plants the notion of world peace in everyone every-time they say his name. Los Angeles Laker's World Peace jerseys are the number one seller for the Laker's gift shop, all in all world peace was achieved just not to the degree it can make a difference.


I guess the city of Angels finally has world peace but for the rest of us it is near impossible to achieve unless of course we all change our name to World Peace...


Editor's note, Dakinetalk guest bloggers do not necessarily represent the opinions of dakinetalk. Guest bloggers are given space to express their beliefs and or opinions. We feel there are many roads and like to give people space to express their thoughts,after-all that's what dakine is...Aloha, James "Kimo" Rosen, Publisher.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

"Help revitalize the economy the little old lady's way..." 'Chester "Unc" Lau



Uncle Chester is back with yet another piece of humor to hopefully make you laugh, smile or just feel a little better. 'Unc' is a retired cinematographer from the original Hawai'i Five O TV series and currently resides in Honolulu Hawaii...

A little old old lady was walking down the street dragging two large plastic garbage bags behind her. One of the bags was ripped and every once in a while a $20 fell out onto the sidewalk.

Noticing this, a policeman stopped her, and said, "Ma'am, there are $20 bills falling out of that bag."
"Oh, really? Darn it !" said the little old lady. "I'd better go back and see if I can find them. Thanks for telling me officer."
Well, now, not so fast," said the cop. Where did you get all that money? You didn't steal it, did you ?"

"Oh, no, no", said the old lady. "You see, my back yard is right next to a Republican owned Golf course. A lot of rich 1 % Golfers come and pee through a knot hole in my fence, right into my flower garden. It used to really tick me off. Kills the flowers, you know. Then I thought, 'why not make the best of it ?
So, now, I stand behind the fence by the knot hole, real quiet, with my hedge clippers. Every time some guy sticks his thing through my fence, I surprise him, grab hold of it and say, 'O.K., buddy ! Give me $20, or off it comes.'


"Well, that seems only fair," said the cop, laughing. "OK. Good luck ! Oh, by the way, what's in the other bag?"
"Not everybody pays."


The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this blog site do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Publisher of Dakinetalk the blog, but they could? ;D)

Monday, January 16, 2012

"Too many meters... " 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

Sometimes we all need a break from meters... Above, James 'Kimo" Rosen picking oranges on a friends farm... This blog also appeared an an opinion article titled;
"How about a new name for ‘smart’ meters?"
in the January 19, 2012 edition of the Kauai Garden Island news; http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-thursday-january/article_eb4011dc-426b-11e1-af85-0019bb2963f4.html
There are numerous types of meters, from parking meters, water-meters taxi-meters, light meters, music meters, gas meters,barometers to thermometers, the list is endless.
The newest meter that seems to have everyone up in arms is called a smart meter. Why should  people be  up in arms about  a meter that is smart?

It's all in the name, the electric company needs to rename the smart meter, something that is not so intimidating,
I can understand if  people were protesting dumb meters, or stupid meters, but why the controversial over something smart?

The controversy is because we feel intimidated by something called 'smart,' now imagine if the electric company had called these  'dakine-meters,' or 'saving money-meters,' or even 'Ohana- meters? ' 

I have a motion to rename smart meters, 'dakine meters,' my guess is nobody would protest dakine, because dakine is not intimidating, it is dakine! Do I hear a second?


Encore,(Hana Hou!) Happy Martin Luther King Day! Martin Luther King  had a dream, I had a dream too....(We aren't going to have peace on earth until Republicans and Democrats can come together for the good of the people, until husbands and wives stop fighting and divorcing, and until friends become more tolerant of each other. If we can't get along with our spouse, significant other or our relatives how can there ever be world Peace.)   James "Kimo" Rosen


Editor's note, Dakinetalk guest bloggers do not necessarily represent the opinions of dakinetalk. Guest bloggers are given space to express their beliefs and or opinions. We feel there are many roads and like to give people space to express their thoughts,after-all that's what dakine is...Aloha, James "Kimo" Rosen, Publisher

Sunday, January 15, 2012

"Swimming in uncharted waters..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspirational Monday)

Judith Whitehead is back guest-blogging on this Inspirational Monday about  swimming in uncharted waters  and reflections on the past... Judith lives in Amherst N.Y. has worked in the ophthalmology field of medicine for almost 30 years...

Swimming in uncharted waters...

I suddenly find myself swimming in uncharted waters; recently my son decided to ask his girlfriend to marry him and I am filled with happiness and a whirlwind of emotions all at once. I have imagined many times that some day my sons would find their soul mates and start a family of their own but never thought I would experience such a plethora of feelings that I do these days.

Daily I find myself reflecting on the past; re living my sons’ childhood memories as he grew up to a be a young man. If only I could turn back the clock to family vacations, baseball leagues, school choirs we enjoyed watching so much, birthday parties, first steps, first dates, and so many wonderful memories that have slipped away. As we raise our children we always want them to someday be independent, responsible adults but it seems that those years have slipped by so quickly. How did my son grow so much older and taller? How did I get so old? And why is letting go so difficult? I have done my job, I have raised my son to be an independent, contributing young person and now a new chapter will start in our lives; he will be starting a new family with new memories to look back on. I can only hope and pray that he will enjoy his new independent life with his new fiancé as much as I did with my husband.

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this blog site do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Publisher of Dakinetalk the blog, but they could? ;D)

Saturday, January 14, 2012

"Should we be pissed..?" 'Obama Da Dog'

"Imagine all the world living life in Peace...!" The question remains, should we pissed at this act of urinating on the dead enemy?
We train our men in the military to kill, we train them to be animals but then when they urinate on a dead  enemy they could be court marshaled?

Should we be pissed at this act of urinating on the dead enemy?

I believe the recent act of 4  U.S. marines urinating on dead Afghan soldiers, most likely Taliban is not a class act. 

Now imagine you are under the stresses of death and dying and  testosterone is running high in a country where there is not many ways to release one's stresses,  on top of that  you are a 20 year  male  trained to kill. Now the country that trained you to kill warrants to court marshal  you  and hand down  prison time for urinating on the dead enemy.

I do not condone this act, and feel it is a classless act however in time of war how can we say it's OK to blow another's brains out but you could face jail time for peeing on them? Remember this enemy straps bombs to their bodies and kills men woman, and innocent children without remorse.

 Our politicians need to quit worrying about the  public relations of war and just get out of the war business  altogether.


For the complete story go to;

Editor's note, Dakinetalk guest bloggers do not necessarily represent the opinions of dakinetalk. Guest bloggers are given space to express their beliefs and or opinions. We feel there are many roads and like to give people space to express their thoughts,after-all that's what dakine is...Aloha, James "Kimo" Rosen, Publisher.