"Fund Raising for ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday)

Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst New York and has worked in

the ophthalmology field of medicine for over 30 years.

Fund Raising for ALS, Lou Gehrig's Disease

ALS has been around for many many years, ever since the baseball star passed away for the disease.   It is recently that there has become a new awareness of this terrible debilitating disease for which there is no cure still.  

Whoever came up with the “ice bucket” challenge is genius. This challenge to dump ice water  on ourselves and donate,  is sweeping the entire world.  It has become an international challenge and has raised over 40 million dollars for the cause in a very short time.  

My son and daughter in law just did their challenge recently. The reason for ice water dumping is to replicate the feeling of pain in the body nerves that the water causes and inform people what it feels like to get this disease.

I lost a friend and colleague to this disease a few years ago. It is a most debilitating and sad disease that can take a life swiftly in a few years as it progresses quickly.  With no treatment or cure, it is a death sentence in most cases, first the speech is affected and movement and nerves follow,  until the person is left in a wheelchair unable to move, function  or communicate.  

It seems to affect those in the 40-50 age group and is extremely sad to stand by and watch helplessly.  I pray that this ice bucket challenge continues to raise money for research and treatment options that need  to be discovered.

There are so many causes out there to donate to; cancer, Alzheimer’s, M.S.; hopefully some day there will be treatments to be discovered, maybe not in my lifetime, but someday.

I remember when the first Polio vaccine came out and trying the first oral immunization I received at a very young age. Who would have ever thought a treatment would be discovered.  

Kudos go out to those bright and progressive minds that spend a lifetime in search for disease treatments and cures.  Your research and perseverance does not go unnoticed and our civilization and civilizations to come will be forever in your  debt.   


P.S.
Check out this YouTube of ice bucket challenge bloopers;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQlvW0aFnKo

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

"MIDDLE EAST PEACE EXPLAINED..." 'Obama Da Dog' (Source) originally seen on Facebook...

Obama Da Dog lives in Kapa'a, Kaua'i Hawai'i
 and is a lifelong Hawai'ian resident.

MIDDLE EAST PEACE EXPLAINED

A female CNN journalist heard about a very old Jewish man who had been going to the Western Wall to pray, twice a day, every day, for a long, long time.

So she went to check it out. She went to the Western Wall and there he was, walking slowly up to the holy site. She watched him pray and after about 45 minutes, when he turned to leave, using a cane and moving very slowly, she approached him for an interview.

"Pardon me, sir, I'm Rebecca Smith from CNN. What's your name?"

"Morris Feinberg," he replied.

"Sir, how long have you been coming to the Western Wall and praying?"

"For about 60 years."

"60 years! That's amazing! What do you pray for?"

"I pray for peace between the Christians, Jews, and the Muslims."

"I pray for all the wars and all the hatred to stop."

"I pray for all our children to grow up safely as responsible adults and to love their fellow man."

"I pray that politicians tell us the truth and put the interests of the people ahead of their own interests."

And finally "I pray that everyone will be happy".

"How do you feel after doing this for 60 years?"

"Like I'm talking to a f%&#@g brick wall!"

P.S.
Check out this YouTube of a girl on horseback doing the ice bucket challenge;
http://youtu.be/UPyWHkEKxqg

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"Super Ferry Rebound..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Classic Wednesday)

Bettejo Dux, a resident of Kauai for over forty years, is an award winning writer, columnist, novelist, peace and environmental 
activist who knows, and loves Kauai with a passion that shows up in her work.

Above photo; Bettejo signs her novella for a fan at her recent book signing

and 84th birthday bash at Birdies in Kalaheo.

Super Ferry Rebound

Here we go again. I’d like to spend a moment or two on the Superferry. I’ve lived on Kauai for 45 years and sailed our channels many, many times. The Kaiwi Channel between Oahu and Maui. The Ka’ie’ie Waho Channel between here and Oahu. Been seasick too many times to count and that was in an open boat. I could sit on deck and throw up.

“Just a note that the channels between the Hawaiian Islands are the worst in the world and great care and planning is necessary for a safe sail,” was a quote from that time in 2005.

My guess would be that those who support this ferry idea have never sailed or motored or kayaked or canoed or dipped a toe in any of these channels.

Our channel, Ka’ie’ie, other than the Alenuihaha Channel — great billows smashing—it is one of the fiercest channels in the state. I’ve never sailed the billows — which racing yachtsman called, “Ali as in jolly, Nui as in phooey, Ha Ha as in crutch”— but I’ve been out in the middle of Ka’ie’ie when it reared up. Out of nowhere. Twenty-five foot seas and winds like spooky, wild horses on a rampage. If my husband had not been an excellent yachtsman, we’d have sunk, never to have been heard from again.

I’d like to talk structure. The Superferry is nothing but a dolled-up troop transport. It also comes in handy to move Stryker tanks, and we need some of those in Waimea to protect us.

This vessel is completely enclosed. One is locked in a space full of people, many of whom are first timers in the channel and will be vomiting. There will be vomiting, and vomiting is catching in an enclosed area. You can’t escape. There’s nowhere to go. Should a fellow passenger vomit on your shoes or in your lap it’s not going to make for a pleasant three-hour journey. Even if you’ve taken seasick pills.

Passengers on a voyage from Oahu to Maui called it the “barf barge.” The thing had to be scrubbed and scraped and stink refreshed after docking before any one could make another voyage. Most passengers refused ever to board again. They flew back home and waited for their cars to return.

We need a ferry. A slow boat from island to island. With an open deck. Maybe cabins. A dining room and bar. No cars. Or troops. Or Strykers. How do you think people got island to island before there were planes?


Great tourist attraction. Think about it.



You've read me for 45 years. Now watch and listen to me on http://www.hoike.org/ Arts and Entertainment "CHILDREN OF THE EXTINCTION."
Here is the video link:
http://vp.telvue.com/preview?id=T01393&video=205423
Ho'ike Kaua'i Community Television
4211 Rice Street, Suite 103
Lihue, HI 96766
(808)246-1556

*SUPPORT LOCAL ACCESS!!*

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? 

If you would like to express yourself about any subject you feel passionate about, please  feel free to submit a guest blog to dakinetalk. Please limit guest blogs between 200-500 words, along with a short bio and photo of yourself. Send all blog submissions to; jrsensei@hotmail.com  who knows your blog could go viral!

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

"WE ALL NEED PROFESSIONAL CARE GIVERS ..." 'Chester Unc" Lau' ( True story)

Dakinetalks favorite Uncle (Chester Lau)

"Unc"  is really passionate about creating a national Caregivers day.

Any help , support or ideas would be greatly appreciated...

'Unc' currently resides on the Hawai'ian Island of Oahu. 
He is a retired cinematographer,
 and  enjoys giving the politicians a bad time...

WE ALL NEED  PROFESSIONAL CARE GIVERS 

WARNING !!! 

Like Death & Taxes,the day will come,EVERY ONE WILL NEED PROFESSIONAL CARE GIVERS

 Your working friends & relatives will not be able to help you 24/7, Social Security alone will not help long term care.You will need $3,000 or more per month for long term care.You get up one morning  & discovered that you cannot balance your self , walk with out a walker or manage your daily routines. 

Your spouse can help temporarily but  someday he or she will need the professional care givers too,are you  prepared to face this calamity ? 

You are now out of  the work  force,  will you have the financial resources  to handle the situation ?  think  about it !!!  I am retired  and not in the care giver business. I have  experienced my own health problems.

For  now I am  fortunately in a professional care  home however  it is killing my meager financial savings !!!

Sample of Information from Chester Lau

No one lives forever , be thankful that you have the good fortune to enjoy & love them while they are alive, to ease the pain for survivors & loved ones, every one should prepare in writing a step by step "What to do in the event of  one’s demise " in advance. 

 Here is one for you" Never be afraid of dying, it will only happen when it's supposed to & when it does happen, it will be all right.  The memory of dying should be comfort rather than grief "(Readers Digest) "Better if you owe Government taxes & they can't collect  !  Let your loved ones benefit from your blood & sweats instead of the Government who don't even say "  THANK YOU  " but wants more !!!  (Chester Lau).

BE NICE TO ME WHEN I AM ALIVE, NO TEARS AFTER I AM GONE !!! 

Please notify my Executors 

IMMEDIATELY with this step by step instruction for them to follow in the event of my demise with priority as follow:

1= Executor         Ph:--------------------Cell--------------------                              SSN- _ _ _  _ _ _ _ _ _Email :-----------------------------
Address-----------------------

2=Executor Mrs.------- Ph:------------------Cell---------------
SSN--------Email---------------------
address-------------------------

3=Executor Mrs. ------------Ph: --------------------Cell            
SSN-------------    Email :-----------------------------
Address-------------------------

    I appointed three (3) Executors,because in time of need,not all are available due to work or health issues.

Think about it and remember to enjoy every second of your life, because time races by so much quicker than you think.

So take care of yourself, be happy, love deeply and enjoy life  !

Here's wishing you a wonderful and beautiful day.

  DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT GROWING OLD…

FEW PEOPLE GET THE PRIVILEGE

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

"ALS, Robin Williams and the ice bucket challenge..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen' (Kimo's world #29)

James “Kimo” Rosen is a retired professional photographer living in
  Kapa'a Hawai'i with his best friend Obama Da Dog, Rosen also blogs as a hobby

Kimo's world #29

ALS, Robin Williams and the ice bucket challenge



There has been a viral phenomena happening the last few weeks called the ALS ice bucket challenge.

My question is how many of the movie stars, athletes or your neighbors partaking in the ice bucket challenge even know what "ALS" stands for? Are they only doing this for narcissistic reasons, showing off on social media?

It's alleged purpose is to bring awareness to ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)disease, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. How many are actually donating money or just having fun dousing themselves in ice water?  Is this challenge really raising awareness? Most these people do not even know what  ALS stand or  what happens symptomatically to people with ALS?

 ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.
 A deadly disease that destroys your nervous system and muscle activities leaving it's victims pretty much helpless, inoperable and eventually with paralysis and not being able to control bodily functions or even  feed themselves.

ALS stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. The ice bucket challenge  seems like a waste of good clean drinking water.Donate money instead of dousing oneself in ice water, but remember even when donating money many times 90% or more of your donation to non profits go towards CEO's salaries, rents etc. 

I am going to tie this in with the recent  alleged suicide of actor and comedian Robin Williams. You have a so called physically healthy person at least during the time of his demise and you have  ALS patients clinging on to life with every last effort.

I have a theory  and spin that I have not heard  anywhere else. Could it be Robin William's suicide was framed? He was a known drug abuser. Could he had been in trouble with the wrong crowd, could someone actually had staged his suicide?

A man as in love with life  and  laughter  as Robin does not commit suicide no matter what all the shrinks have been telling us. Laughter is healing. Robin may have been depressed,  but killing himself? Maybe, maybe not?He was best-fiends with actor Christopher Reeves who played superman and was paralyzed from the neck down from a horse back riding accident.

There is a story that while Christopher Reeves was  still in the hospital  trying to face his new life of paralysis and depression. Robin Williams came to visit his friend dressed in blue scrubs. He made Reeves laugh for the first time in months, at that point Reeves decided life was still worth living.

Imagine if  Robin Williams with some sort of Hollywood magic could had given his health to a person with advance ALS. Imagine if suicidal people could give  their lives to people fighting for their lives. We know that's not possible, however I believe Williams would had done  just that.

The state of Oregon has  legalized assisted suicide, for some suicide is a means to an end. Who would want to be totally paralyzed, not able to control bodily functions and never even feed oneself? Suicide for some is better than suffering through a horrendous terminal illness. 

Maybe I am the ultimate conspiracy therapist, but I do not believe Robin William committed suicide and I do believe that patients with ALS should have the right to commit suicide in their later stage of the disease if that's their choice.

If  you  believe dumping a bucket of ice water on yourself will find a cure for ALS,  then start dousing yourselves for the cures of every disease including all cancers and mental illnesses.


Ice water is not going to find the cure for any disease. Vodka and ice, maybe?

P.S.
A local man has created the trash bucket challenge!  Great concept!
Check it out!
https://www.facebook.com/thetrashbucketchallenge

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/26351468/local-man-creates-spinoff-of-ice-bucket-challenge

P.S.S.

Former president George W. Bush  challenges Bill Clinton to the 'ALS 'ice bucket challenge.  Check it pout!;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po1R1NgOMsE

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

"Baby boomers can learn new things..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday)

Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst New York and has worked in

the ophthalmology field of medicine for over 30 years.

Baby boomers can learn new things

Last week we had almost decided to remove our overgrown  deer eaten bushes in our front flower beds, they have been there for the last 13 yrs and were looking overgrown and ratty. 

My neighbor who is a landscaper and retired biology teacher came to offer advice; he told us that he does this every few years, cut the bushes down to a stump and they will re-start growing next year and will be like new bushes if you can stand the emptiness in the front bed.   

We decided to take his advice and thought if they don't come back, we can always replace them.  It took us over 2 hrs to hack these bushes apart. We raked all the scraps into a tarp and tied them up. What a pile we had on the curb.  Our beds do look clean and tidy now and lucky for us the rubbish collectors took every scrap, so a word to the wise, cut back scrubs and save some money for yourselves.

 Its worth the effort, even baby boomers can learn new things.

    
P.S.
Check out this man on the moon bake beans ad, it's very funny!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZgD89VYkVc

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

"Atheist on an airplane..." 'Robert Bitos Gandia' (Source)

 Guest-blogger,Robert Bitos Gandia.
Robert is an avid cook (ono gandule rice) and always laughing!!
He works at Syngenta as a Research Associate.
Robert lives in Kekaha on Kauai's west-side and loves football!!

Atheist on an airplane

An atheist was seated next to a little girl on an airplane and he turned to her and said, "Do you want to talk? Flights go quicker if you strike up a conversation with your fellow passenger."

The little girl, who had just started to read her book, replied to the total stranger, "What would you want to talk about?"

"Oh, I don't know," said the atheist. "How about why there is no God, or no Heaven or Hell, or no life after death?" as he smiled smugly.

"Okay," she said. "Those could be interesting topics but let me ask you a question first. A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same stuff - grass. Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out a flat patty, but a horse produces clumps. Why do you suppose that is?"

The atheist, visibly surprised by the little girl's intelligence,
thinks about it and says, "Hmmm, I have no idea." To which
the little girl replies, "Do you really feel qualified to discuss
God, Heaven and Hell, or life after death, when you don't know shit?"

And... then she went back to reading her book.

P.S.
Check out this hilarious YouTube of a dog playing with the image in the mirror!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSPG2H41kEU

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

"Hello There..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Classic Wednesday)

Bettejo Dux, a resident of Kauai for over forty years, is an 
award winning writer, columnist, novelist, peace and environmental 
activist who knows, and loves Kauai with a passion that shows up in her work

Check out the recent YouTube video of Bettejo's 84th Birthday bash and booksigning party at Birdies  in Kalaheo;
http://youtu.be/5iVelkZ_0eo

Hello There

Bettejo signs her novella for a fan at Birdies in Kalaheo...

Hi, it's me Bettejo, with my weekly column right here at Kimo's blog and Ho'iki Community Television's Art and Entertainment site. If  you know how to get here, please come in-let's be friends-and tell your friends, family and neighbors, how to come in, too.

Let's get lively. Let's get acquainted. Let's get known out there.

The company here-Jay, Julia and Kainoa-is delightful, The set is simple and perfect, great lighting-no close ups, Mr. DeMille. I will attempt to be entertaining. And Sassy. As long as I'm not profane or call names-which going's on are not my stele-I can say what I want. No more censorship, no more editors, no more mysterious black outs or displacements. I will try to have new current, controversial, conversations with you. Hope to include you in any of the issues or subjects I discuss. Be my guest.

Today I sit with two of my favorite writers, me-CHILDREN OF THE  EXTINCTION-and Chris Hedges-DEATH OF THE LIBERAL CLASS. Remember writers not only write, they  speak and  read. I'll admit most of my friends are on bookshelves and I have a lot of them.

Chris-a respected journalist who tired of media suppression-said, and I quote:

"Governments are owned by corporations, run by psychopaths lying about an imaginary economy based on debt, fueled by illegal wars, destroying ecosystems, poisoning food and water, decreasing education, increasing prisons, manipulating the media, foreclosing homes, suppressing energy technology, making s struggle, starving, humiliating, and killing the world.

That's a mouthful, but does it sound truthful? Do we not experience-daily-this madness, right here on Kauai? Are these statements-perchance-part of the 'orthodoxy' we do not dare-or cannot, or are forbidden to express?

Let's think about property taxes. A hot topic. And let's think about the future.

Do you think there are those who see the future as a place where only the top 10% can afford to own property and homes and pay the taxes? They who live in gated ghettos for the rich or on small, useless but beautiful, gentlemen farms?

Where enormous corporations own vast acres of dollar crops spraying  pesticide and herbal toxins in the air, which also foul the water in the oceans, the streams, rivers, and aquifers. Crops not to be eaten on Kauai by those of us who live here, but grown for profit. People  be bleeped.

Where a large military, police and political force is present to control those of us who protest this destructive abuse and misuse. They will be assured roofs over their heads, water in their tubs and swimming pools, and power in their dwellings.

What's left of us, if lucky, will live in overcrowded-rigidly controlled-lower income ghettos and make beds, cook  food, clean, moot clerk, dig ditches, mow lawns, and serve they who have the bucks to afford us. Classic third world structure envisioned for Kauai.

What think you? Care to talk about it?

Go to www.hoike.org scroll down and on the right of your screen click on Arts and Entertainment-

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

"How to impress..." 'Marvin Gross' (Source)

Marvin Gross is a Financial consultant currently residing in Western N.Y.
Today Marvin shares  about how to impress...enjoy!

How to impress

An old guy (not in the best of shape) was working out in the gym

When he spotted a sweet young thing... He asked the trainer that was nearby "What machine in here should I use to impress that sweet thing over there?"

The trainer looked him up and down and said "I would try the ATM in the lobby"

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

"If all business's priced themselves like the airlines..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen' (Kimo's world #28)

James "Kimo" Rosen on the sidelines  with Buffalo Bills Quarterback
Doug Flutie during the 1998 Pro-Bowl in Honolulu.
James “Kimo” Rosen is a retired professional photographer living in
  Kapa'a Hawai'i with his best friend Obama Da Dog, Rosen also blogs as a hobby

Kimo's world #28)

If all business's priced themselves like the airlines


Imagine if restaurants, supermarkets and all business enterprises  priced themselves like the airlines.

 Why is checking the price of airline flights like playing the stock market, up one day,  down the next.?

Flights from smaller airports can be cheaper. weekend trips are less expensive when you depart on Saturday and return on Monday.Departing on a Friday and returning on a Sunday can wind up costing 2-3 times more than the cheapest time to book.

Airlines release their last-minute weekend deals on Tuesdays, so being flexible can save you money.
Tuesday and Wednesday are the cheapest days to fly. The weekends are the most expensive.

On a Hawaiian airlines flight  of 102 miles  flight from Lihue  to  Honolulu fares can  start at  $89.30 one way, however you can wind up paying  fares of $97, $103, $117, $128,162,192, 207etc. for the exact same seat. There are also plus  fee's of $25.00 for the first bag and $35.00 for the second and each additional bag.

Airline fares  from Los Angeles to Chicago have an even greater variance   starting at  low as $109 one way all the way up to  nearly $2,000.

Now imagine if restaurants price themselves like the airlines;
That would mean on  a busy day a hamburger could cost $25.00 or more (similar to food trucks on Kauai) or on a not so busy day a hamburger might cost $2.50. I know the price I would prefer!

If you want a good deal on steak and lobster go out to eat on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Pizzas would be most expensive on the weekends, however Mondays would be a great deal on Pizza.

Going shopping at the supermarket on Tuesdays or Wednesdays  could mean hundreds of dollars in savings or going on the weekends would make one go broke.

The same is true for buying new cars, who ever pays sticker price on anew car? Who ever pays listed price on real estate? I have even found that my neighbors who have the exact same cable packages all pay a different price than me. Of course I have the best deal, because everything is negotiable.

Thrift stores are getting too expensive and trendy too. Ironically I have seen cheaper prices on new clothes than  paying for used clothes that were once worn by dead people.

The key to getting a good deals is never being afraid to ask for it. Maybe it would be good if restaurants, supermarkets and all business's charged like the airlines?

For those upset over merchants charging premium prices for water during the recent hurricane watch and wanting to prosecute for price gouging just take a look at the airlines and every other business being guilty of the same.

It's all about supply and demand, free enterprise and capitalism!

Obama Da Dog with a fake deer and live chickens...

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"Garage Sale Frenzy..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday)

Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst New York and has worked in

the ophthalmology field of medicine for over 30 years.

Garage Sale Frenzy

 Once again it was the week of our neighborhood garage sale; every beginning of August for the last 10 years our neighborhood does a joint effort, advertises and combines all our efforts to have the biggest sale ever.  We even included the neighborhood behind us this year to participate.  Garage sales are a wonderful way to clear out unused clothing, items that have been treasured by our significant other that have outlived their usefulness and children’s  items  that  they have left after leaving the nest; they amount  to   treasures that they could not part with but did not want to bring to their new abode so they ask if they can leave them in the house for future use.  We have a whole lot of those things.

Garage sales can be exhausting to say the least; first comes the dredging   of closets and bringing up from the basement all the old stuff.  Then comes  the organizing and tagging of every item so as to make it clear for any shopper to identify.   Tables all organized and set the night before because anyone who has ever had a sale in their house knows that the times posted mean nothing to the serious shoppers. 

It seems that 8AM -3PM means  “come any time” and our first shopper was at our doorstep early Friday morning at 7:30AM.  Not to worry, I was ready for them; my first priority was to unload anything and everything I had hung out, boxed up or displayed for the public.  Prices seem to mean nothing as well; they translate into a conversation starting with “will you take half the price?”  Sure, why not just give it to you…Then there are those shoppers that want practically a warranty on the item that they are paying a few dollars for…I often got asked, “does it still work?” and “is it the real thing”? 

Towards the end of the first day I did sell my larger items that I was happy about; but was left tired and hot after standing in the sun for 8 hours pitching my best sales talk to so many for so few dollars.

I have made it a rule in our house that nothing comes back into the garage that goes unsold; all left over items get carted away to charities.  During the last few hours of my sale I will put signs on the items that are large that say “take me home - I am free” .  And my last ditch effort to get rid of those items that no one will take is to line up the leftovers on the curb; there is always a junk man who will scour the neighborhood after  dark to get some treasures.  Surprisingly this year I had a knock at my door after dinner time to ask me if he could take the items on the curb which I thought was very considerate.

So, I feel my sale was a success because it met my three criteria; I was able to get rid of a lot of unused items,  got a little chaching for my purse, and got a little tan to boot.  My husband always says “never again” after the sale is over, but we know better.  Come next  Spring we will be sorting again for our annual sale so as to not break tradition; it’s a great way to catch up with the neighbors and have a little friendly competition amongst friends.  We always compare notes at the end about our most  trying customers and biggest sales because garage sales bring out the best and worst in people. Every customer is a potential sale and I enjoy the challenge. 

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