"College Ain't For Everyone.." '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  unemployment and how college may not be the
right choice for everyone...   Enjoy! ;D)

College Ain't For Everyone

We now are hearing a new buzzword in our ever-changing economy and world – the underemployed. In the past, we used to talk about the percentage of unemployed, but now we have grown a new crop of people – the underemployed.

With the rising cost of doing business, many companies are cutting staff to economize, doing more with less and sending people to the unemployment line.

Many of my friends are among the underemployed. They are highly trained individuals with degrees in many areas – teachers, paralegals, nurses, medical assistants – who are being forced to take positions that are way under their pay grade and skill set to help make ends meet.

We are turning out many college students who are well-qualified but cannot find jobs in their fields. They are burdened with school loans that are next to impossible to pay back without gainful employment. They will take any position just to bring in some money so they can try to get by.

Society has slowly moved away from encouraging our children to learn a skill. Vocational programs and trade schools, once very popular, are being phased out by school budgets and educators. As a result, we have a shortage of electricians, plumbers and hands-on tradesmen who are still a real necessity in this world.

Maybe it is time to rethink how people can make a good living. Getting a master’s degree is not always the answer. For professionals, it is a must to keep up with the competition, but it’s not always the way to keep the bills paid.

Back in the ’90s, my son was a hands-on learner. His classroom was not between four walls, but learning a trade and a skill. He followed his passion and is now a successful luthier (someone who refurbishes and refinishes musical instruments, such as guitars) on the West Coast. He was a self-starter, learning simply by trial and error, and my husband and I could not be more proud of him.

We should encourage our public schools to once again teach the trades because there are many jobs waiting to be filled.

We also have many displaced veterans returning from war who are in need of employment. Some had to leave their jobs to serve their country. Many had skills and educations in areas all across the board, and have been replaced in their long absence. Others are coming back with disabilities and will need retooling in new trades.

In our ever-changing world, we need to rethink our educational options. Yes, it is great that we are educating future doctors, lawyers and professionals, but we need to consider the trades as well.

Who will fix our plumbing problems, build our homes and pave our roads? There are a lot of service jobs just waiting to be filled with capable, hardworking people who can support a family with these modes of trade. We need to offer these skills to our high school students.

Getting people off the unemployment line should be a priority in this country. We need to start regrowing our population and rethinking the potential job market that is in need of qualified people to fill those jobs. Let’s offer our students every possibility to succeed. A conventional college education is not always the answer.

This blog recently appeared in the Buffalo News;
http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?avis=BN&date=20130827&category=OPINION&lopenr=130829251&Ref=AR&profile=1074

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

"Reinventing Photography..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

James "Kimo" Rosen is currently retired and living life on the  Cosmic Garden
Island of Kaua'i. The photo above was taken in 1979 in the foothills of Santa Barbara
with Kamala the Old English  Sheepdog and a young Mr. Rosen.
Today's blog is all about the reinvention of photography... Enjoy!

Reinventing Photography

Technology continues to astonish me.

 I have not owned a cell phone in over ten years but as a retired professional photographer with a Bachelor of  Fine Arts Degree in Professional Photography I just may have to splurge with Nokia's newest state of the art camera phone that does it all, including the kitchen sink!

Nokia now makes a cell phone that has a built in camera better than any point and shoot on the market and comparable and beyond many professional SLR camera's.

The new phone boasts a 41 megapixel camera,41 megapixels is the highest megapixel I have heard of in any camera, and now your phone will be  capable of producing  quality photos that were only possible with high end  professional photo equipment.

Photography is definitely  being reinvented when your phone is now capable of taking better quality photos than your camera.

The irony is surveillance cameras are still of low quality and many times even in court fail to identify the  accuser beyond a reasonable doubt. The question remains with technology at a all time high when will surveillance camera's come into the world of modern technology?

Read all about Nokia's new 41 megapixel camera smart phone, this  phone does everything including the kitchen sink!

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/baig/2013/07/11/nokia-lumia-1020-windows-phone/2508711/

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

"CROWING ROOSTERS..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Pronounced Dukes)

Bettejo Dux has lived on Kaua'i over 30 years and is an
accomplished Novelist.
www.bettejodux.com

CROWING ROOSTERS

On Kaua'i wild chickens even hang out the Library!

….Barking dogs and other natural noise makers unite, you keep us in touch with nature. On Kauai we live so close to mother earth it should be our major tourist attraction.

Everywhere you go you see them: mother hens with a surplus of baby chicks waiting for a green light. They wait at cross walks for someone to follow across an intersection. They stand in groups on green grassy islands in the stream watching the cars go by and wonder where everyone is going. So fast. Such a large flock of real noisemakers.

I wonder about people who prefer the grinding gurgles and growls that metal, non- living critters with four wheels instead of two legs and hard shiny stiff stuff instead of fluffy, colorful feathers.  Kauai’s wild chickens are some of the most beautiful birds on the planet. Their plumage- white and black and brown and yellow and red-is an artist’s dream. What I love most about Hanapepe-other than Talk Story Book Store and the magnificent Storybook Theater of Hawaii and the Friday night people parties- are the roosters who seem to own the place. They strut around like celebrities showing off their stuff.

Hanapepe is still old Hawaii. A quiet two lane street surrounded by gift shops, restaurants, art galleries and living things of all dimension. Some times you even see healthy happy canines meandering. I think they have a radar sense alert for the rare four-wheeled, shiny stiff stuff wagon- with driver- who would round them up and send them to jail, but I’ll bet there are few who live in Hanapepe who would call the authorities.

Thankfully, also, the  ‘jail’ they’re rarely sent to is a gorgeous place full of gorgeous people. That’s Kauai, too.

In my neck of the woods we have several feral pigs families- mamas, papas and babies-who sniffle around at night. They know this territory like no one else on earth and they are fearless. Harmless. Jovial. They cross the street when they have to, but mostly they live and love the jungle about which I’m surrounded. I see their tracks. Once a baby piglet-in broad daylight- walked right in the house and ‘snuffled’ hello. I think he was looking for a handout. Great smells were coming from a friendly Kamado Kub grill. His mother called and he took leave, but we half expect him back.

Down here we have goats that bleat and sometimes run away from home. With half the neighborhood in full pursuit. Bulls bellow, cows moo, calves answer softly. Bees hum and buzz and doves coo. A raucous macaw indulges in screamers and my grown up puppy barks. We live in belle air Kauai. No toxic sprays for us.

So, someday, if you want an earful, drop in for a visit. Wear boots, bring your own pitchfork, make sure you’ve had all your puppy shots and enjoy. Enjoy.

Until then don’t stop to smell the flowers, be still and know that thou art part of nature, too.

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

Elderts , Deedy and Aloha..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

May God Bless The family and friends of Kollin Elderts,
 Chris Deedy and the Deedy family.

Elderts , Deedy and Aloha

The Verdict is finally in after  6 days for  the controversial trial of Special Agent Christopher Deedy.

A mistrial was granted because of a hung jury in the  fatal shooting of Kollin Elderts.  A mistrial means the case will be retried.

 It's a lose-lose situation because all the "if" and "could haves" won't bring back the life that was taken.

What ever side people were on, passion was strong and many words spoken that probably should not had been spoken. Nobody wins, everyone loses...

Our condolences to all friends and family of Mr. Elderts.  Our prayers go out to  Chris Deedy and  the family and friends of both parties in this sad case.

Let's  move on towards bringing "Aloha" back to Hawai'i. Aloha needs to begin with you (me) I'm in, how about you?

P.S.
Interesting story, showing how split this jury was, exclusive, juror speaks on KHON!
http://www.khon2.com/2013/08/26/deedy-juror-speaks-exclusively-to-khon2-news/

Jury Foreman speaks on KITV;
http://www.kitv.com/news/agent-on-trial/uncut-mcdonalds-surveillance-video-of-shooting/-/20982886/21118728/-/6dybl5/-/index.html

Can Deedy get another impartial jury? Hawai'i News Now explains;
http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/23273270/can-deedy-get-another-impartial-jury-many-dont-know-who-he-is

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"2+4+9+1=16,A Formula for Disaster..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

Councilman Gary Hooser the co-author of controversial bill 2491
is causing chaos on the Cosmic Garden Island of Kaua'i. My question? Is the flower Lei
Hooser is wearing a GMO or Non GMO Plumeria? Inquiring minds would like to know?

2+4+9+1=16,A Formula for Disaster

Why is Councilman Gary Hooser's controversial bill "2491"  tearing a community apart? The bill in short puts huge limitations on seed companies operating on Kaua'i. The companies believe if the bill is approved and enacted they may be forced to leave thus causing huge unemployment numbers on an island still suffering from the last recession.

I did some google research into numerology and here is what I  came up with;


 If you add 2+4+9+1 (2491) it equals "16." The number "16" according to  a website titled," The meaning of numbers"http://www.timstouse.com/Numerology/whatnumbersmean.htm sugguests,"Mysteries are revealed, and emotions are stirred at the deepest level. Intense lessons such as betrayal, abandonment, and loss of property are not unusual."

And...According to Creusot, it symbolizes the construction and the destruction.

According to Guy Tarade, 16 (2491) is the number of Lucifer.
https://www.google.com/search?q=what%20does%20the%20number%2016%20%20represent

When the numbers of Bill 2491 are all added together you get 16.   16 is numerical value  of Lucifer. 

Need I say more, vote no on Lucifer, and 2491!

This is from Facebook Page, "Pro GMo Hawaii;"
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pro-GMO-Hawaii/615389521823058?fref=ts

This blog also appeared as an  opinion article in the  (08-28-13) edition of the Kaua'i Garden Island News,"2491 adds up to Lucifer’s number."
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-wednesday-august/article_5e1e6680-0fa8-11e3-908e-001a4bcf887a.html

P.S. an interesting article in the Hawai'i free press links  Hooser's old campaign site to Holocaust deniers;
http://www.hawaiifreepress.com/ArticlesMain/tabid/56/ID/342/Sen-Gary-Hooser-campaign-website-linked-to-Holocaust-deniers.aspx

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"EIGHTY-THREE YEARS YOUNG..." " Bettejo Dux' (Classic Wednesday on Monday)

Bettejo Dux has lived on the cosmic garden island
of Kaua'i over 30 years. She is an animal lover, people lover and lover of life.
Bettejo's blogs are so popular we're publishing  them on Monday's and Wednesday's!

Today Bettejo blogs about being young and healthy at 83....Enjoy!

You can order a copy of her Novella "The Scam "below.www.bettejodux.com

EIGHTY-THREE YEARS YOUNG

EIGHTY-THREE YEARS YOUNG…and growing. Hope all of you who are here, are suffering from glowing good health. Hope all of you making the journey, get here in style.

How did I get here? I can’t blame it on Colette, my Vitamix, since I only just discovered her. Or Macha, my shillelagh. 
(A shillelagh is an Irish walking stick,the bartender in the Irish pub keeps a shillelagh behind the bar just in case there's trouble.)

Named my Vitamix after Colette, a sassy French writer and WW2 heroine. I identify with her. “You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm,” says it all. Don’t you just love it?

Called my shillelagh Macha after a Goddess of ancient Ireland. Associated with war, horses and sovereignty, which about covers it, but if you have a computer look her up. There exists a gorgeous painting of her and her horse. He looks like Ari. She had long red hair -bet you didn’t know I was a red head once-and her hair, her sash and her horse’s tail, all the same color, fly in the wind. Loved my red headed year, give or take an eon or two, and would give an eyetooth for the gorgeous long skirt she wore in the painting.

She had tattoos on her right arm and wasn’t wearing a shirt. I’ll skip that part.

Guess I could ‘blame’ Ari, Boots, Duke and the cats for getting me here. They are all the dogs and horses and macaws and cats the world has ever known rolled up in one.  There is no sadness or there loss, there is life and happiness in their eyes. This works for loved ones we’ve lost, too. Every human being is them rolled up in one. If a few unfortunate memories are active, they can be deleted from the your screen.

“If you want to have the kind of relationship that your heart yearns for, you have to create it. You can’t depend on somebody else creating it for you.” --Gary Zukov

Love that.

I also think the art of creativity is a need in every human heart. The most unhappy people I’ve known have no creative skills. The happiest are the most creative.

Imagination plays an important role, too. As a devout non-believer I love to play with fantasy. I love to write fantasy. I can get lost in fantasy. It’s a gift, I think. “Imagination is the highest kit one can fly,” Lauren Bacall said. She was born September 16, 1924. Her death was an Internet hoax. As of this date, August15, 2013, she is 89. Six years older than I am.

A fun fantasy is that we could meet. If she comes to Kauai I’ll take her out to lunch and gift her with an autographed copy of The Scam.

Sitting in my outdoor computer room, Boots at my feet, books on my shelves and mottled sunlight on the Walking Iris, listening to a playful wind singing in the trees, sipping Chardonnay--ooops, only William Faulkner drank when he wrote.

A perfect day, wish you were here.

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

"The Quietness is deafening..." 'Judith whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday)

Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst N.Y, a suburb of Buffalo and
has work in the ophthalmology field of medicine for over 30 years.
Today Judy talks about the "Empty Nest Syndrome..." Enjoy!

The Quietness is deafening

After a week of my son visiting home from L.A., I now have a quiet home once again. 

 No longer the chatter from friends and family fill the house...just deafening silence.  

It is bitter sweet when he comes home and then leaves so quickly.  His visit always goes quickly and is jam packed with activities and then......nothing.  He has fallen into his own lifestyle now being gone for the last 4 years; it is difficult to let them go and fly on their own.  

We are always a phone call away or a quick flight.  and so it goes....children leaving the nest.  Enjoy them when they are young because those years sure went fast...

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"Making Love..." 'Obama Da Dog' (Adult Humor) (Source)

Obama Da Dog likes to tell dirty jokes, one of her favorites is the
cat fell in the mud... And of course the enclosed risque "R"-rated joke... Enjoy!

Making Love

Johnny wanted to make love with a girl in his office, But she belonged to someone else…

One day, Johnny got so frustrated that he went up to her and said, “I’ll give you a $100 if you let me make love to you. But the girl said NO.

Johnny said, “I’ll be fast. I’ll throw the money on the floor, you bend down, and I’ll be finished by the time you pick it up. ”

She thought for a moment and said that she would have to consult her boyfriend… So she called her boyfriend and told him the story.

Her boyfriend says, “Ask him for $200, pick up the money very fast, he won’t even be able to get his Pants down.”

So she agrees and accepts the proposal. Half an hour goes by, and the boyfriend is waiting for his girlfriend to call.

Finally, after 45 minutes, the boyfriend calls and asks what happened.

She responded, “The bastard used coins!”

Management lesson:
Always consider a business proposal in its entirety before agreeing to it or risk getting screwed uncountable times! 

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

"God Will Save me..!" Obama Da Dog (Source)

Obama Da Dog  is one of the best friends I have ever known.
She currently resides on the Hawai'ian Island of Kaua'i as a caregiver to her friend
James "Kimo" Rosen. (Me)
Today Obama talks about an irony, enjoy..!  ;D)

God Will Save me

There was a flood in a village. One man said to everyone, "I'll stay! God will save me!"

The flood got higher and a boat came and the man in it said "Come on mate, get in!"

"No" replied the man. God will save me!

The flood got very high now and the man had to stand on the roof of his house.

A helicopter soon came and the man offered him help."

No, God will save me!" he said

Eventually he died by drowning.

He got by the gates of heaven and he said to God "Why didn't you save me?"

God replied, "For goodness sake! I sent a boat and a helicopter. What more do you want!"

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook

"A PERFECT DAY..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Classic Wednesday)

Bettejo Dux has lived on the cosmic garden island

of Kaua'i over 30 years. She is an animal lover, people lover and lover of life.

Today Bettejo blogs about the perfect day for you and her... Enjoy!

You can order a copy of her Novella "The Scam "below.www.bettejodux.com

A PERFECT DAY

Create one. A special one. Just for you. Forget the guilt trip-ignore the guys who push it-enjoy enjoy, you deserve it.

And it’s healthy, too.

My sister- in- law was a hard working school- teacher. Her perfect day was Sunday. She stayed in bed all day.

I have a beautiful friend who loves to spend an entire day in her fantastic 20X20 foot closet.  More plush and perfect than any of the most elegant dress shops, it’s a dream works. Music. Air conditioned. A rose red carpet so shockingly soft she can tumble, twist and luxuriate on it surrounded by a flock of glamorous pink velvet pillows. A giant gold-framed mirror reflects and perfects everything over and over and over again. Gowns and shoes and accessories on display -over and over and over again. An enormous glass enclosed shower/steam room swallows her whole and spirits her out perfected.

She emerges the following day ready to save the earth and all the living things in it. It works for her.

Few of us can take that route, or would want to, but we can cheer her on and maybe enjoy a moment enjoying, in our dreams, her day.

That works.

Me? Well, I’m a nature freak.

“When I pass a flowering zucchini plant in a garden, my heart skips a beat.” Gwyneth Paltro said. I love her.

I love to get lost in the woods, feed my zoo and take what’s left of the day off. Do nothing. Find a tree to sit under, or in, or a mound of green to lie on, and watch shape shifting clown clouds scribble on a sea- blue canvas.

Vagrant silent breezes dance with overhead and earth bound leaves. They lift and fly and float and shimmy like a divine chorus on an infinite stage.

A bird winks a whistle. Others answer in their own way. Sometimes I think they’re talking to each other. Other times I think they’re competing. Who can make the silliest sound? The prettiest? The most cacophonous?

A lone brown hen, who looks like a piece of Kauai red dirt skips by, scuttling quiet as a mouse down an unmarked path.

Sometimes my grown up puppy, Bootsy, joins me. Even Ari, on occasion, bumbles by. They both love animal crackers. Me, too. We share a bag.

I munch on salmon, crackers and cheese, a potently deviled egg and wicked potato salad. Sip chilled Chardonnay. And let quiet, food and nature nurse me back to health.

I have to feed the zoo dinner but sometimes I return from my house/barn and watch the sky begin to glitter. If I’ve planned it right I can watch the moon rise.

My life is so complicated it takes me a day to prepare for my perfect day but sometimes leftovers fall free into the day after.

Works for me.

Perfect a day that works for you. Make it up. We’ll enjoy it, in our minds, with you.

Bettejo with her best friend Boots

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

"Down to Business..." Obama da Dog' (Source)

Obama Da Dog get's down to business... Enjoy!

Down To Business

A young businessman had just started his own firm.

He'd rented a beautiful office and furnished it with antiques.

Sitting there, he saw a man come into the outer office.

Wishing to appear busy, the businessman picked up the phone and started to pretend he had a big deal working.

He threw huge figures around and made giant commitments.

Finally he hung up and asked the visitor, "Can I help you?"

The man said, "Sure. I've come to install the phone!"


P.S. Photographed with a drone video camera, awesome footage of Hawai'i;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k849mCGYpMQ

Hana Hou, (Encore) An original Kimo meme...

"BEAUTY SECRETS..." 'Bettejo Dux'' (Monday surprise)

Bettejo Dux has lived on the cosmic garden island
of Kaua'i over 30 years. She is an animal lover, people lover and lover of life.

Bettejo is back on Monday by popular demand! 

She will still blog as scheduled every Wednesday.

Today Bettejo blogs about health and beauty secrets, Enjoy!

You can order a copy of her Novella "The Scam "below.www.bettejodux.com

BEAUTY SECRETS

Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t be beautiful at any age. There’s nothing more beautiful than glowing good health and, if you’re young, you can grow ‘towards it’, and, if you’re older, you can maintain and be proud of having got there. This is definitely a do-it-yourself project. Start right now, you can’t start any younger.

Also, don’t let anyone tell you that choosing to be as attractive as you can be is vain or narcissistic-which seems to be the buzzword among many women haters. I’m always amazed and bemused at these strange creatures. Their voices seem to surface as they grow older.

Not all men, mind you-I love men-just a few cranks. If we’re all a product of our past experience what do you suppose happened to them? I kind’a think if they've not had a loving experience with their mothers, their female teachers, or little girls their same age or in their classrooms, this unfortunate happenstance boils stinky toxic.

It has been my experience that they are usually- mostly, often- either over-size bullies or under size geeks. Unattractive. Over weight. Stiff, stodgy, sick and sad looking. They glare. They seem to think a smile would broke da’face(sic). All of them-all of them-with an overwhelming thumping killing machine  dimension. Odd fellows. Fortunately they are few in number. When you encounter one-wherever- always smile that glowing smile, always be sassy and shyly strut your stuff.

Oh, I am so wicked.  You can be wicked, too.

But I digress.

There is something extremely healthy about knowing you look pretty good. Classy. Smart. Attractive. You glow, from the inside out. You smile, because you can. Little kids love you. Strangers you meet, on the street, in the shops, at the Post Office, smile ‘cause they just can’t help it.

So here’s my secret for the day. You know how I push Colette- my Vitamix-and the magic stuff, Brewer’s Yeast and Wheat Germ, Vitamin C and soups and smoothies… and, of course, my teachers, Adelle Davis and Linus Pauling.

But there’s another ingredient I always push, Olive Oil. Have you noticed? I even put a shot in my smoothies. The list of benefits is almost endless. It can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, ease the pain of arthritis, and lower your blood pressure. Use of it also seems to defy the aging process.

Use it instead of butter. On and in everything. Try to find and buy the best extra virgin, cold pressed, Italian grown  oil you can. It’s expensive but so is heart disease and arthritis.

Use it on your skin. One great secret: how often have you heard, “Women when who wear make up, at a certain age, always get that ‘caked’ look.” I’ve heard young girls say that. Well, splash some olive oil on your face and neck and shoulders and whatever else will show-remember your shoulders are the last to go and don’t forget behind your ears-then apply makeup. It works.

Here’s to a long, happy, healthy life. Glow, baby, glow.

Bettejo a few years back with her nephew Tommy

Bettejo proudly displays her books in the background

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

"Hump Day..." '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...We take a  much needed break from the controversy of GMO's and a Racially based court trial in Hawai'i to guest-blogger Judith Whitehead's take onWednesday's (Hump Day!)! Enjoy Inspiration Sunday! ;D)

Hump Day

I always look forward to Wednesdays...they are hump day, the middle of the week to get over so the weekend is that much closer...even better this week. I'm taking an r/r day off for Friday; hang with my son and chill.  Before we know it, he'll be winging his way back to the West coast. 

The weeks seem to move along so quickly  also summer is moving at warp speed. Once mid August hits, We begin to see a hint of Fall in the air, the flowers don't bloom as much and the trees start to loose their leaves; Fall is a nice time on the east coast; I never was much for the humid weather anyways.

Fall brings much to look forward to, birthday celebrations, religious holidays to celebrate with friends and family and a host of other merry occasions.  These are the things that make our lives full and rich and worth living.  

Enjoy the last hints of summer everyone...Fall is in the air.

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