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Tuesday, September 30, 2014

"Teaching English..." '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!!


Teaching English

A missionary who has spent years showing a tribe of natives how to farm and build to become self-sufficient gets word that he is to return home. He realizes that the one thing he never taught the natives was how to speak English, so he takes the chief and starts walking in the forest.

He points to a tree and says to the chief, "This is a tree."
The chief looks at the tree and grunts, "Tree."
The missionary is pleased with the response.

They walk a little farther, and the padre points to a rock and says, "This is a rock."
Hearing this, the chief looks and grunts, "Rock."

The padre is really getting enthusiastic about the results, when he hears a rustling in the bushes. As he peeks over the top, he sees a couple in the midst of heavy romantic activity.
The padre is really flustered and quickly responds, "This is riding a bike."

The chief looks at the couple briefly, pulls out his blowgun, and kills them. The padre goes ballistic and yells at the chief that he has spent years teaching the tribe how to be civilized and kind to each other. How could he just kill these people in cold blood that way?

The chief replied, "My bike."




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Monday, September 29, 2014

"To blog or not to blog..?"( Kimo's world #34)

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


Kimo's world #34

To blog or not to blog

To blog or not to blog, that is the question?

Writing a blog  can be  uncomfortable. I write my opinions knowing someone is always in trouble for something said on social media. Knowing that I will be misread by some; others won't get  my tongue-in-cheek cynicism or sarcasm. And then there is always that one out there who just loves a witch hunt.

There are times I start writing, only to back space and delete. How do I articulate this comment so no one is offended but it still gives my pointed opinion? And there it is. If you blog, you accept the reality that someone is trying to take a few words out of context and put on a spin.

"Kimo believes this." "Kimo said that." I have felt so uncomfortable the last few months I had thoughts of taking a rest from Dakinetalk. I could say it was a great experience and now on to a new hobby.

Dakinetalk blog has produced  nearly 1400 blogs in the last five years. That's a lot of blogging. Even on days there are no blogs, dakinetalk still reaches 200 plus hits from  many of the past blogs archived on Google and other search engines.

So I pondered all this, all that has been said and I realized I still love this blogging thing. Despite the worries of putting my thoughts out there flapping in the breeze like clothes on the line.

Besides, If I  quit  where would  the critics go to take out aggression and  bully? If I  give it up then some other poor blogger will inherit them. And that's not aloha.

Blog on!

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Saturday, September 27, 2014

"Less is more..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday)

Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst New York and has worked in
the ophthalmology field of medicine for over 30 years.

Less is more

Living with my mantra…less is more...

I have become a seasoned traveler over the last several years and have learned my lesson about packing.

.I am a firm believer of less is more. I now pack as little as possible, outfits that can interchange, limited shoes and accessories.  I no longer come home with a loaded suitcase full of clothing I did not touch. One jacket  is enough, a few tops, pants etc.

The best part of packing light, there is room to buy things on my trip and not stuff them in the suitcase. They all fit nicely!   



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Thursday, September 25, 2014

"Happy Birthday Adam and Eve..." 'Obama Da Dog' (Source)

Obama Da  Dog is a lifelong resident of  Hawaii....
Obama wishes everyone a happy Jewish new year!
L'shanah Tovah!


Happy Birthday Adam and Eve

Happy Rosh Hashanah, Happy Jewish new year!

They say Rosh Hashanah is the birthday of creation and of Adam and Eve. In honor of Jewish new year we would like to share the following heart warming story.

Adam had been moping around all day in the Garden of Eden and God finally said, "Adam, what's up with all this moping?"

Adam told God that he was lonely. God said He could fix that, no problem. In short order he could make a partner for Adam, and she would be called a "woman." 

God told Adam that the woman would collect his food, cook it for him, and care for all his needs and wants. She would also agree with all his decisions and not question his authority as head of the family. 

God also said that she would bear his offspring and not bother him in the middle of the night if the kids woke up and started crying.

 She would never nag him and would admit when she was wrong. She would also freely give him love and passion whenever he needed it.

Adam said, "Wow, that's a great partner! What is this woman-person going to cost me?"

And God replied, "An arm and a leg."

Adam thought for a minute, then asked, "What can I get for a rib?"
And the rest is history.

L'Shanah Tovah, May you be entered into the book of life!
(an expression shared on Rosh Hashanah)

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Wednesday, September 24, 2014

"CREATE A LIFE..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Classic Wednesday)


Bettejo Dux has lived on the cosmic Garden Island of Kaua'i for over 40 years...
Bettejo is the author of the famed novellas "The Scam."
and recently published  "Children of Extinction..." 
Both books available on www.amazon.com
 Create A Life

Been there, done that. I’m not bragging, I’m just stating a fact: I’m 84 years young. Suffer from glowing good health. Have no chronic aches or pains or ailments. Take no drugs. Think maybe I did something right. Don’t you?

Someone said, “Men plan… women, too… God laughs.”
So who needs him? Her? It? Them?

I’m a devout non believer. I don’t go to church. I think, on the whole, religion sucks. I don’t pray. When things go bad, as they often do, I roll up my sleeves and get to work.

What do you do? Does it work for you?
How’s your health? Are you overweight? How many pills do you take everyday and growing?

So far-84 years and growing younger-I think I’ve done something correct. Furious that ‘they’ stole the word right.

Okay, I’m being cross and I apologize, but I’m also fed up with people-some people-telling me, because I’m not a scientist, that I don’t know what I’m talking about. I’ll explain. I think I am a pragmatist.

 I’m not afraid to try something that sounds totally silly.
An example. I read a piece by a rather befuddled professor, who told a story about an outdoor beanery-a greasy spoon-in the south. An observer, he noticed some strange contrivances pinned and clipped and hanging around the premises. 

On closer surreptitious observation, he noticed they were all the same. A clear plastic bag, some liquid-looked like water- in which three copper pennies weighted down the bag. Of a curious scientific mindset, he questioned the rustic who served a really good meal.
“Sir,” he said, “What are those?”

And the rustic, with a southern accent, replied, “They’ah fly repellents.”

“Of course. Consisting of?”
“A cleah plastic sack’ a’watah and three shinny pennies.”
“Does it work?”
“See any flies?”
The scientist cleared his throat. “Good fried chicken. I’m from up north, could I have the recipe?”

So okay I’m reading this, and like the scientist, I shake my head. However, as it happened, I had some clear plastic sandwich bags, some water, some pennies, some clothes pins to pins them up, and a few flies. Half my house is a barn. My beloved horse, Aristotle, lives in the bedroom-errr stall-next to my bedroom. Anyhoo, I filled some bags with water, counted pennies. Why three? Pinned them up. And guess what?
No flies.

Try it the next time you have a picnic.
I could go on. I take 10 grams of Vitamin C a day, ala Linus Pauling, and we all know what a fraud he was. At least so I was told by more scientifically evolved minds than mine. I also supplement my diet, ala Adelle Davis, who’s a phony, gone out of style years ago. Yet here I am, 44 years younger.

I could tell you Vitamin C stories you wouldn’t believe.
So what’s this got to do with the price of rice? Or the vast acres of GMO corn-86% of all crops grown in America-or my preference for good old- fashioned home grown veggies. Fruits. Eggs. Honey. Thriving bees. I mean why do I prefer real food, just like my daddy used to grow?

Who knows? Certainly not dumb little old me.
Here is the video link:
http://vp.telvue.com/preview?id=T01393&video=205423
or http://www.hoike.org Arts and Entertainment
*SUPPORT LOCAL ACCESS!!*



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Tuesday, September 23, 2014

" How can we help the homeless without tax dollars..?" 'Chester "Unc" Lau'

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...

How can we help the homeless without tax dollars? 

We can Help the Homeless only if they are unwilling to follow rules to help themselves, like no drugs and  to motivate themselves with hard work, learn an employable skill for employment to help themselves.

I solicited the ACLU and  other compassionate volunteers if they really want to help eliminate homelessness by suggesting  ideas that are humane and tolerable for all to accept.

 My  ideas are;
 1.Charities to donate  necessities like food,medication  and daily needs...
2- Government and  the military to donate surplus Government land, collapsible tents  for temporary housing.

 3-Trade schools and the  DOE  to teach them  employable skills.

  4-Health care professionals to teach  and  regulate health care needs  in temporary camps for BORN AGAIN HOMELESS RECIPIENTS,  let them earn  Dignity and  Self Respect by hard work and  RESPONSIBILITY.

5-Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach a man to fish and he can feed himself for life.
  
6-For chronically  homeless , enforce TOUGH LOVE by getting  them off the public streets.

7-Incarcerated them for vagrancy ,mandate they work in prison farms to grow own food to sell for their own up-keeps without tax dollar funds received from sales to divide among workers who participate in the work. 

8-No TV,cigarettes or alcohol ,earn  dignity self respect & releases will depend on good behavior and  acquisition of a payable job.

The Homeless should Not Burden the Tax Payers for their irresponsibility


The Homeless should Not Burden the Tax Payers for their irresponsibility, WE TAX PAYERS COMMITTED NO CRIMES !!! why Do  the homeless or drug addicts have kids when they are unable to care & feed themselves & the kids.Donate the kids to charities or to All who advocated to  "Be fruitful and multiply" without RESPONSIBILITY .  


Homelessness is a major problem in the Aloha state...

P.S.
Check out this YouTube;
Father gets a new Ipad for his birthday...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-Gn0YmG52c

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Monday, September 22, 2014

"Sign wavers, guilty by association..." (Kimo's World #33)


James Kimo Rosen is a retired professional photographer living in Kapa'a
 with his best friend Obama Da Dog, Rosen also blogs as a hobby...
This blog also ran as an opinion article in the 09-24-14
edition of the Kauai garden Island newspaper;
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-sept/article_76b9e0bc-43a4-11e4-a50e-dfcbc0286b8f.html






Kimo's world #33
Sign wavers, guilty by association

Politicians must be aware of who they let sign wave on their behalf.

Each sign waver is a direct reflection of the candidate they represent. The candidate is guilty by association if he or she let's a loose cannon sign wave on their behalf.

 I was recently riding my bicycle through beautiful Kapa'a town when I came upon many sign wavers. One sign waver was very rude to me and purposely blocked me on the sidewalk and said a few choice words to me. 

I said nothing and just proceeded on my way.  I am not going to say who this person was sign waving for, however because of this one person, that candidate has no chance in eternal torment of getting my vote.

Candidates, be careful who sign waves for you. There are times that a sign waver can cause more harm than good!

How about a good old fashioned debate amongst the candidates in lieu of waving to people in traffic?


P.S.
On October 18, 2014 an edited version of this blog was published in the Honolulu Staradvertiser. I will copy and paste below, since the Staradvertiser has a paywall for subscribers only;
http://staradvertiser.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

Politicians must be aware of whom they let sign wave on their behalf. Each sign waver is a direct reflection of the candidate they represent.
I was recently riding my bicycle through Kapaa town when I came upon many sign wavers. One sign waver was very rude to me and purposely blocked me on the sidewalk and said a few choice words.
I said nothing and proceeded on my way. I am not going to say who this person was sign waving for. However, because of this one person, that candidate has no chance of getting my vote.
Candidates, be careful who sign-waves for you. There are times that a sign waver can cause more harm
than good.
James “Kimo” Rosen

Kapaa, Kauai


The Garden Island news version; http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-sept/article_76b9e0bc-43a4-11e4-a50e-dfcbc0286b8f.html


Kaua'i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr,
Obama Da Dog  & James "Kimo" Rosen

Those were da days!

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Saturday, September 20, 2014

"It can’t be Fall already..!" 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday)


Judith whitehead lives in Amherst, new York and has worked
in the  medical field of Ophthalmology for close to 35 years...

 It can’t be Fall already

After our horrendous winter last year,  we so enjoyed the beautiful summer with great warm temperatures and sunny days but I guess it’s back to reality…

September is turning out to be a very cold one.  This week the temps dropped into the 50’s with Fall in the Air.  The weather guides are predicting the same terrible winter this year with cold and snow as much as last year.  

I can’t be more depressed about that fact.  Our winters have been so mild for the last several years it’s hard to deal with that depressing  forecast…to remedy that thought I think it’s time to take a quick trip out to the west coast again to catch some sun before the dark clouds approach. Of course it’s still in the 90’s there every day reaching 100 degrees.   

Does make on ponder why we continue to live in this area with North Pole conditions….


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Thursday, September 18, 2014

"Giving birth..." '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!!

Giving birth

I mowed the lawn today, and after doing so I sat down and had a cold beer.

The day was really quite beautiful, and the drink facilitated some really deep thinking on my part and on various topics.

Finally I thought about an age old question:
'Is giving birth more painful than getting kicked in the nuts.’

Women always maintain that giving birth is way more painful than a guy getting kicked in the nuts.
Well, after another beer, and some heavy deductive thinking, I have come up with the answer to that question.

Getting kicked in the nuts is definitely more painful than having a baby; and here is the reason for my conclusion;
A year or so after giving birth, certain women are very often heard to say, "It might be nice to have another baby..."

On the other hand, you never ever hear a guy say, "You know, I think I would really love to have another kick in the nuts."

I rest my case.

P.S.
YouTube, How to open wine with a house key;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsjX9sYTTvA#t=103

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Tuesday, September 16, 2014

"CVS spins end to tobacco...‏.‏" 'James "Kimo" Rosen

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

Above photo, Rosen at Rocky River Alaska 1984


CVS spins end to tobacco

Headlines similar to  this are  appearing in almost every major newspaper in the country," "CVS Renames Itself CVS Health as It Ends Sale of Tobacco ..."

If CVS and Longs are so concerned about health, why are shelves still stocked with alcohol and pharmacies still dispensing addictive prescription drugs? And do I dare mention the rows of high calorie snack food and sugary candy?

Cigarettes are one of the most heavily taxed consumer products in the United States. Federal, state and local governments collect more money from the sale of cigarettes than retailers, wholesalers, farmers and manufacturers combined. 

 By eliminating tobacco sales in 8,000 stores CVS is getting free editorial space in nearly every newspaper from The New York Times to the Garden Island, ad space that would've cost a bloody fortune. 

 My spin is that CVS has found a way to look good at the tail end of statistics already in free fall. And we fell for it.

 According to Gallop trends annual Consumption Habits poll, cigarette smoking has gone from a high of 45% percent of our nation smoking in 1955 to 20% in 2011. And it is still dropping. The promotional itself states that 18 million people smoke. 

Despite the millions of research compilations proving the deadly health effects of tobacco use, CVS continued pushing the product until now, with tobacco sales so low shelf space can be better used by more popular consumer purchases. 


P.S.  This blog was also  featured as an opinion article in 09-18-14 edition of the Honolulu Staradvertiser


Check out my opinion article in the 09-18-14 edition of the  Honolulu Star-Advertiser; I copy and pasted it below for those who do not have a subscription;  http://staradvertiser.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx


Tobacco ban at CVS a cynical maneuver

If CVS and Longs are so concerned about health, why are their shelves still stocked with alcohol and pharmacies still dispensing addictive prescription drugs?
And do I dare mention the rows of high-calorie snack food and sugary candy?
Cigarettes are one of the most heavily taxed consumer products in the United States. Federal, state and local governments collect more money from the sale of cigarettes than retailers, wholesalers, farmers and manufacturers combined.
By eliminating tobacco sales in 8,000 stores, CVS is getting free editorial space in nearly every newspaper, from The New York Times to the Star-Advertiser — ad space that would have cost a fortune.
Despite the millions of research compilations proving the deadly health effects of tobacco use, CVS continued pushing the product until now, with tobacco sales so low that shelf space can be better used by
more popular consumer purchases. James “Kimo” Rosen
Kapaa, Kauai
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Monday, September 15, 2014

"Time sure flies..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen' (Kimo's World #32)

James Kimo Rosen back at his portrait studio in Homer Alaska,1987.
Rosen is a retired professional photographer living in Kapa'a
with his best friend Obama Da Dog, Rosen also blogs as a hobby



Kimo's world #32
Time sure flies

The old expression, "Time sure flies," is as true today as it was  when my parents used to say it. Remember back when you were a kid time went relatively slow.

I remember being in grade school and the time from September until school was out for the summer in June, seemed like an eternity.

My ex recently sent me some photos of my past, one of the most  fun times in my life. Ironically I have no photos from that era or prior era's since all my belongings got lost in storage, long story, sore subject, especially having been a professional photographer for over 25 years and the keeper of family heirlooms.

Looking back seems like a lifetime ago and on the other hand it feels like it's still that same time in space.

We  have all gone through different phases in our lives. As you get older you realize how fast life passes us by. Our teens with acne. Our twenties alive with youth. Our thirties making us look mature. Our forties giving us that first gray hair.  Our fifties when we realize our mortality and  our sixties where most of us  realize  the winter of our lives is upon us...

Physically  every thing changes with age. Most of us get fatter, grayer, slower, more forgetful and until the invention of the great blue pill (Viagra) had very little libido left.

I recently spoke with a few friends from my past that I hadn't heard from in close to  40 years. We were talking on the phone and the thing I realized is that our voices were  pretty much the same as they were in our late teens. Although most of us get grayer and  fatter, one thing that remains the same is The human voice.

Now if some doctor or scientist could figure a way for our physical bodies to remain like our voices, we'd all be around  for another 100 years!   How cool being able  to share our meals on Facebook for another century!

Channeling Hawai'i in Alaska, 1987
P.S.
YouTube, Dramamine, a way to control drama;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hEUbezqd88


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Thursday, September 11, 2014

"Last Will and Testament..." 'Chester "Unc" Lau' (Source)

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...

Last Will and Testament

Doug Smith is on his deathbed and knows the end is near.  His nurse, his wife, his daughter and 2 sons, are with him.  He  asks for 2 witnesses to be present and a camcorder be in place to record his last wishes, and when all is ready he begins to speak:

My son, "Bernie, I want you to take the  Mayfair houses."
                   
My daughter "Sybil, you take the apartments over in the east end."
My son, "Jamie, I want you to take the offices over in the City Centre."

"Sarah, my dear wife, please take all the residential buildings on the banks of the river."

The nurse  and witnesses are  blown away as they did not realize his extensive holdings,  and as Doug slips away,  the nurse says, "Mrs. Smith, your husband must have been such a hard-working man to have accumulated all this property".
                    
Sarah replies, "Property ? .... The  #%@&* had a paper route !!!



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Wednesday, September 10, 2014

"Chattel‏... '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.

Chattel

It’s kind of a silly sounding word, isn’t it? It does not roll trippingly off my tongue. There’s a sense of darkness about it. It means possession of something. Cars, cattle, or women…

…Today is such a wonderful time for women, at least in the West.  I would not care to be a Muslim woman in a long black robe- in which she can vote with a green thumb if she can see through the slits. A little less disturbing Sharia law, her hair must be covered and you shouldn’t see her feet.  Allah commands. Ever wonder what the guy’s got against hair and feet?

In our country today, many women are speaking out. I think they are more concerned about the future-the children, the environment, the health of the planet-than men. What do you think?

Women on Kauai are quite vocal in complaining about GMOs, air borne toxins, over-crowded, wrongly sited milk factories, and mass extermination of what ever’s in style to mass exterminate today.

I appreciate what articulate, intelligent, out spoken women have-or had- to say. I love their involvement in the goings on. “This world crisis came about without women having anything to do with it. If the women of the world had not been excluded from affairs, things today might have been different.” That’s a quote from Alice Paul before the passage of the 19th Amendment, which gave us the right to vote. I strongly suggest you find the film Iron Jawed Angels and watch it. Share it. We owe so much to this courageous young woman. We certainly need more like her. If you must identify with a female figure, identify with Alice.

Today, of course, women often play important roles in politics and law.  Think of Sarah Palin- EEEEKKK-an example of a female evangelist who tried her hand at public office. Failed, thank goodness. Hope you watched her exorcism ritual on the tube. It was an insult to human intelligence.

Which brings us back to chattel.

Some biblical quotes will work here. Here’s one: Ecclesiasticus 25:18, 19 &33. “And a man will choose…any wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman…Sin began with a woman and thanks to her we all must die.” 

Really?

The history of women as chattel is woven into many legal codes and cultures. In the Old and New Testament as well as the Quran.  Women are property. There’s a world- wide dominion over women by men. In fundamental patriarchal religious societies that live by the word women are valued as objects. A husband owns his wife...

…and she better shut up and do as told.

A quote from Thomas Aquinas is enlightening: in Summa Theologica, he wrote,  “As regards the individual nature, woman is defective and misbegotten, for the active power of the male seed tends to the production of a perfect likeness in the masculine sex, while the production of a woman comes from the defect in the active power…”

Thomas is a Catholic Saint so I assume he resides in a Catholic heaven. As a devout nonbeliever, who does not believe in either heaven or hell, I might pen a brief note:

“Dear Saint Augustine, to spend all eternity with you would be hell.”

What do you think?


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

Bettejo  speaking on her weekly TV show
on local public access TV.

www.hoike.org

Go to www.amazon.com and your order
 copy of "Children of the Extinction!"




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