"Smoking outside the nursing home..." 'Chester "Unc" Lau' (Source)~Happy New Year 2016~

Dakinetalk's 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...

"I am PRO-CHOICE ON EVERYTHING WITH RESPONSIBILITY..."

Unc sends out Happy New Year 2016 greetings to all!

Smoking outside the nursing home

Jane and Arlene are outside their nursing home, having a drink and a smoke, when it starts to rain. Jane pulls out a condom, cuts off the end, puts it over her cigarette, and continues smoking.
Arlene: What in the hell is that?

Jane: A condom. This way my cigarette doesn't get wet.
Arlene: Where did you get it?
Jane: You can get them at any pharmacy.

The next day, Arlene hobbles herself into the local pharmacy and
announces to the pharmacist that she wants a box of condoms.

The pharmacist, obviously embarrassed, looks at her kind of strangely (she is, after all, over 80 years of age), but very delicately asks what size, texture, brand of condom she prefers.

'Doesn't matter Sonny, as long as it fits on a Camel.'
The pharmacist fainted.

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

"Discrimination needs to end.." 'Glenn Mickens' (Special to dakinetalk blog)

Glenn Mickens has lived on Kauai  with his wife Ruth for the last 26 years. Born July 26, 1930 in Wilmar, California, USA) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched in four games (two of which were starts) for the 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers. He also played for five years in Japan, from 1959 until 1963 for the Kintetsu Buffaloes. There, he compiled a record of 45–53 with a 2.54 ERA.  Glenn also  served in the Army for 2 years and coached baseball at UCLA for 25 years. 
Last but not least Glenn would really like to see Kauai give the county manager style of Government a chance.

Discrimination needs to end

Mr. Mickens is locally known
as one of Kauai county's
political watchdogs.
Mahalos Glenn!

AJA baseball is once again kicking off.

I have been the biggest opponent of this leagues discriminatory practice of allowing only those with Japanese blood to participate. And, no matter if you want to call it cultural or use any other term for the practice, it is flagrantly discriminatory.

Since I was 15 years old I have spent my life in baseball and it has been very good to me. When I got out of the Army in 1953 and was invited to spring training with the Dodgers, I was shocked and sickened to find out that the great Negro ball players on the Dodgers---Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Don Newcomb, Joe Black and Jr Gilliam could not stay in "our " hotel nor eat with us. 

Born and raised in So Calif I had never seen black and white rest rooms, black and white drinking fountains, nor any other facilities where race prohibition was used. 

For those in the South this discriminatory practice was a cultural thing---Negros were thought to be inferior to whites and slavery was one of the ways of using this terrible bigotry for that purpose. 

Dodgers owner, Branch Rickey had the vision and brains to break this wrongful practice by signing Jackie Robinson and today we see some of the greatest Negro players making baseball the greatest sport ever played. And not only are African Americans enhancing baseball (and ALL sports) but Cuban, all Latin countries, Japanese, Korean and many other countries are participating to the benefit of baseball. 

People, why not  insist that  the President of AJA baseball, Tom Shigimoto open this fine league to all and any players who have the ability to participate.

Race or ethnic background should NEVER be a criterion for participating in any sport---only desire and ability.

Wherever my worldly travels took me to play, coach, or watch baseball, it was a sport that brought all people together. Each team respected the players on the other team without animosity whether or not they won or lost. With sports, all sports, the world can be a better place to live and be an example for countries to get along without wars. The Olympics are probably the greatest example of world sports uniting nations. 

Think of the Kenyans that come to our country and dominate the marathons---other runners do not hate them for their ability but salute them. 

I have great respect for those Japanese who have kept baseball alive for so long on Kauai and I only ask that the league be made stronger by letting all who can compete play. 

P.S.
Check out Glenn's Wikipedia page;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Mickens


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"Everyone has become a publisher with the option to unfriend ..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen' ~Kimo's world #105~

James Kimo Rosen is the Blogger-n-chief
of dakinetalk blog and lives on the cosmic
island of Kaua'i with his spiritual advisor
Obama Da Dog!  

Rosen plays mini golf as Obama Da Dog

cheers him on...

Above photo courtesy;Irina Briksa

Everyone has become a publisher with the option to unfriend 
Kimo's world #105~

I have over 1300 friends on Facebook.  

I have friends whom post their dirty laundry daily, almost like they're in therapy.

Some will talk of their illnesses.
Some will talk dirt on their neighbors or relatives.
Some will post jokes.
some will post what they just ate for lunch.
some will  use words you never heard in the bible.
Some will be offensive and you wonder how facebook has not 86'ed them.
Some will get in trouble for being misunderstood and having someone else repost what they said. 
Some are looking to do you in, so watch everything you post.

I was brought up to respect differences of opinions.Believe it or not I have friends that will unfriend you should they not agree with you politically or spiritually. The irony is many of  these people call themselves liberal.

 I  look at my Facebook timeline as my own personal magazine.
 If I could, I  would sell to consumers. I still have publishing in my veins from the days I published Alaska People Magazine.

 I  like to post my daily blog, interesting news stories, funny memes and Sunrises.
However I too am guilty of posting  a meal photo, contrary to the fact I swore I'd never  become one of those people, oh well.

No matter what you use your timeline for--one thing is  for certain, everyone has become a publisher with the option to unfriend ;-)

P.S.
Obama Da Dog's  7th birthday  was on Christmas day and the local paper (TGI) ran  a story and headline all about her on the front page! 
" Obama's birthday on Christma"
http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/obama-s-birthday-on-christmas/article_ec56ebe0-4733-57e5-a5ac-c05040cd9160.html

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"65 degrees in Buffalo and 45 degrees in LA..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday)

Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst New York
( A suburb of Buffalo, N.Y.)

 and has worked in the ophthalmology
 field of medicine for over 30 years

65 degrees in Buffalo and 45 degrees in LA.

  Getting ready for Christmas eve and welcoming our sonny boy home for the holiday.

 We have reversed our climates for this week--65 degrees in Buffalo and 45 degrees in Los Angeles,  go figure?

I am not complaining one bit,only about the $400.00 donation I have given my snow plow  guy for the year.  It's OK,a small price to pay for great weather.

About to put a spaghetti parm in the oven  and go for a walk this  warm breezy day. Happy holidays to all.Anyone looking for us...we will be at the movies and out for a Japanese dinner with our family,our long celebrated tradition.

Judy, Judy, Judy!  ;-)

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"Why Jewish People Eat Chinese Food On Christmas..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen' (By Popular Demand)

"Obama Da Dog wishes everyone a Joyous Holiday season and to remember

 that everyday is Thanksgiving even though today is Christmas..." 

Note; This blog also appeared as an opinion article in a past edition 

of  the Kaua'i Garden Island news under the title;" A holiday tradition...." This is also
the fifth time running this on an annual basis...

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-saturday-december/article_a5e97f0c-2dfc-11e1-b984-001871e3ce6c.html

Why Jewish People Eat Chinese Food On Christmas

It's a tradition that started since most Chinese people are not Christian and do not celebrate the holiday, therefore those in the restaurant business stay open when literally everything form shopping malls, movie theaters, bowling alleys, sporting events, public libraries, public pools, even grocery and drug stores are closed on Christmas. 

On December 25Th, the United States is pretty much closed down, but 90 years ago, things were really closed . It was either church or family and friends at home. Therefore  Jewish people had nothing to do until they discovered Chinese restaurants were open.   
Chinese restaurant owners did not discriminate. They did not care whether they served blacks, Jews, Portuguese  or space aliens. They treated all their customers with due respect. This was unique at a time when a Jewish person could be turned away at the door of a restaurant since anti-semitism was a real thing. The Chinese restaurant owners didn't care and  the more people meant more  money.  

One obstruction for Jews to get over was that Chinese food was filled with non-kosher ingredients like shellfish and pork. Some just held their nose and ate it. In the late 1950s, there evolved this humorous concept of “safe treyf.” (non kosher food) Obviously, treif (non-kosher food)is forbidden but “safe treyf” means it’s prohibited but OK. If you can’t see the pork in the won-ton soup stock, Or if the shrimp in the shrimp chow mein is chopped up into little tiny pieces  that you really can’t recognize then it’s OK.

The irony about all this hoopla of Jews having nothing else to do on Christmas is that Jesus himself was a practicing Jew and I would bet my matzo ball soup he would most likely had eaten kosher Chinese food on December 25Th with a message of peace and aloha to one and all.


 Merry solstice, Happy Christmas and rejoice in Chanukah!

Now as an encore or as in Hawaii we say Hana hou, enclosed is a poem and joke to go with today's blog!
"Twas the night before Christmas and there was hardly a sound,
As Jews jumped in their cars and drove to Chinatown.
Their orders were given to waiters with care,
In hopes that won-ton soup soon would be there.

The children finished their noodles and nestled in their beds,
While visions of fortune cookies danced in their heads.
Now, Moment takes an inquiring look,
At how this love affair with Chinese food took."—Nonna Gorilovskaya

A Chinese / Jewish Restaurant Joke

A Jewish man and a Chinese man were conversing. The Jewish man commented upon what a wise people the Chinese are.

"Yes," replied the Chinese man, "Our culture is over 4,000 years old. But, you Jews are a very wise people, too."

The Jewish man replied, "Yes, our culture is over 5,000 years old."

The Chinese man was incredulous, "That's impossible, he replied. Where did your people eat for a thousand years?    

Mele Kalikimaka & Haouli Makahiki Hou!

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

"The truth about Santa Claus..." 'Douglas Dunn' (A holiday tradition, 5 years and counting!)

Guest blogger Douglas Dunn on the beach with his daughter JoAnn back in 1981. Doug runs a small publishing consulting business in San Diego county and is a  certified American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter (for Deaf people),  last but not least he has been a Democratic Party media spokesperson and has had  the good fortune to work with Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Doug also drives a Nissan Leaf !

Santa Claus and JoAnn Dunn back in 1977, "Yes there really is a Santa!" By the way JoAnn is now   married and a  Mom to two lovely granddaughters.

Editors note;
This blog originally ran as dakinetalk blog # 520 on 12-23-11 and on  12-24-12, blog #888 .also on 12-23-13, Blog , #1185  and # 1439. It was so popular our Blogger-n-chief decided to run it again for a  5th year in a row, allowing more people to read this beautiful touching holiday story.

The truth about Santa Claus

When my daughter JoAnn was eight years old, she came home from school one December afternoon, very upset. Some kids had been teasing her because she still believed in Santa Claus. Her Dad had told her there was a Santa Claus, and she knew that Dad would never tell a lie.

“Daddy,” she said, “I’m eight years old. I’m old enough to know The Truth. Is there really a Santa Claus?” Parents dread this question almost as much as, “Where do babies come from?”

But when a child asks for THE TRUTH, it is time to be straight with them.

“Okay,” I answered. “If you’re old enough to know The Truth about Santa Claus, then you’re old enough to know the truth about the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy as well.”

“I want THE TRUTH.”

“Well, your Daddy is really the Easter Bunny. And your Daddy is really the tooth fairy. [Pause] Santa Claus is real.”

Her eyes grew big and round. “Santa Claus really comes each Christmas Eve and leaves presents?”

I said, “The Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy are mythical characters, made-up for holiday fun. Santa Claus is real. He really lived and is based on a real person. But it is often difficult for very small children to understand about the real Santa Claus, so over the years a lot of make-believe and fantasy have been added to make it more fun.”

We talked about the historical figure, St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, who used to go out on Christmas Eve with gifts for poor children who would otherwise have no Christmas. But like all real human beings, he eventually grew old, and died at the age of 73 on December 6, 343. But after Nicholas, others took up the role. We read together stories from newspapers and magazines of people up to the present day who spread joy by giving Christmas gifts in secret. There are lots of them! Santa Claus is not only real, but alive and doing very well in the modern world.

“If you’re old enough to know THE TRUTH about Santa Claus,” I concluded, “maybe you’re old enough to BE a Santa Claus.”

“BE a Santa Claus?” she asked, brightening.

It was too close to Christmas to make extensive plans for the current year, but we talked about ideas for the next year.

The following year JoAnn and I contacted our local Post Office and arranged to receive letters that underprivileged children had sent, addressed to Santa Claus. We found that the Post Office believes in Santa Claus, too, and takes its role seriously, and does deliver letters from children in need to real Santa Clauses.

We were able to identify three needy families, and deliver a real Christmas to each one. Instead of random gifts through large organizations for “boy—age 9” or “girl—age 6,” we responded to specific requests from individual children. What fun we had shopping, wrapping, and planning a Christmas Eve delivery route — just like any real Santa!

We felt our adventure that first year was successful. All of the children we found were in difficult situations, and it appeared they would have had no Christmas without us. But much of our energy had been spent screening the letters to choose which children were most needy. We also considered that poverty alone is no indicator of whether or not a child will have Christmas. Many families, poor but loving, will make sure their little ones enjoy holiday magic.

The following year JoAnn and I tried a different approach. We located an agency that provides care for children who had been removed from their families on account of child abuse or neglect. A social worker helped us make arrangements to be Santa for six children in a group home who needed a Santa Claus. Over lunch, she told us about the personal stories of each one of these special children who had endured terrible experiences that few others can ever imagine. We learned that the real “truth” about Santa Claus is that the “naughty” and “nice” list is part of the fantasy myth. In reality, there are no “naughty” children; that problematic behavior only represents troubled pasts cured with compassion and caring, not further deprivation. The real Santa Claus gives unconditionally. The social worker gave us each child’s list, and told us what each child had requested from Santa. Again, we provided the items on their lists, and enjoyed our merriest Christmas ever. We were hooked. We continued this tradition for several years, adapting our routine when my wife Thelma joined our family, and trying different variations such as sponsoring “Santa Claus” for children at Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity orphanage in the Philippines.

I appreciate the lessons Santa Claus has taught my daughter, and the values he has shared with her. Our Christmases are celebrations of true joyfulness, and in the truest possible measure of true value. I do believe in Santa Claus! I especially appreciate the opportunity Santa Claus gave one father to pass on his values to a young daughter.

Note, epilogue; My approach to telling my daughter “The Truth about Santa Claus” was adapted from another true story that had inspired me several years earlier. It was an article in Reader’s Digest about a little Jewish boy who had grown up in New York City, feeling left out of Christmas, but felt he could not celebrate a holiday that might betray his religious and cultural heritage. But he did feel he could, in good conscience, give a gift to those who do celebrate it and BE a Santa Claus to children in need. I was so moved by the story of how he became a real Santa Claus, that I was inspired to hold it in my heart and, at the right time, do something similar. The pointed question -- demand! -- from my daughter for THE TRUTH gave me the opportunity to act on that. Just as those who come from a Christian background celebrate Christmas to remember the birth of a Jewish boy who grew up to become a great rabbi, my story about my daughter is also inspired by a modern Jewish role model.

P.S.From Seinfeld; YouTube; Happy Festivus day!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQFLqMyo0fo

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook...
Happy Holidays!

"A Bad Influence..." ' Chester "Unc" Lau' (Source)

Dakinetalk's 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...
"I am PRO-CHOICE ON EVERYTHING WITH RESPONSIBILITY..."

A Bad Influence

Unc back in the day as a cinematographer!

Unc as a young man in
the Korean war...

A lady goes to her parish priest one day and tells him, "Father, I have a problem. I have two female parrots but they only know how to say one thing." "What do they say?" the priest inquired. "They say, 'Hi, we're prostitutes. Do you want to have some fun ?" "That's obscene ! " the priest exclaimed, "I can see why you are embarrassed." He thought a minute and then said, "You know, I may have a solution to this problem. I have two male parrots whom I have taught to pray and read the Bible. 

Bring your two parrots over to my house and we will put them in the cage with Francis and Job. My parrots can teach your parrots to praise and worship. I'm sure your parrots will stop saying that...that phrase in no time." "Thank you," the woman responded, "this may very well be the solution." 

The next day, she brought her female parrots to the priest's house. As he ushered her in, she saw this two male parrots were inside their cage, holding their rosary beads and praying. Impressed, she walked over and placed her parrots in with them. After just a couple of seconds, the female parrots exclaimed out in unison, "Hi, we're prostitutes. Do you want to have some fun ?" 

There was a stunned silence. Finally, one male parrot looked over at the other male parrot and said, "Put the beads away, Francis, our prayers have been answered! "

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"Who is Lester Lopes..?" 'James "Kimo" Rosen' (Kimo's world #104)

James Kimo Rosen is the Blogger-n-chief
of dakinetalk blog and lives on the cosmic
island of Kaua'i with his spiritual advisor
Obama Da Dog!  

Who is Lester Lopes?

Editor's note;
This blog also appeared as an opinion article in the Christmas 2015 edition of The Garden Island News!
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-dec/article_48cdcaaf-4b0b-5719-b4c8-ed35b0f9a60e.html

I go to Kapaa Burger King 3-5 times a week to get a diet coke,and one of those times I will treat myself to french fries and use the free WiFi and just relax. I find it one of the most inviting places on the cosmic Garden isle.

They have an area of which I refer to as the 'VIP lounge,' there are four large easy type chairs and a couple small tables located away from the main seating area.

This area is highly attractive to the homeless, maybe that's why I like it, after all, I too was house-less for 7 years.

There was this  man named 'Lester' that hung out there on a daily basis. I would talk story with Lester and he always had something to say about everything, usually negative.

Lester had disability for something from the VA and said  he could afford  a  $500-600 a month to rent a room. I told him check Craigslist. He doesn't know how to use the computer and had to much anxiety to ask the librarian for assistance on the free computers.

I started printing out Craigslist rooms for rent,  he would call but the room was always taken, so he said?

The last time I saw Lester, he  did not look good and was complaining he was tired. I said do you want me to call 911 for you? "No!" I said you need to check into Mahelona, (the closest hospital.) He had a negative excuse, "you can't just check into a hospital," he said.

My friend 'Lester' at Burger King
 3 days before he passed away.

I said, brah, you don't look good. I gave him a few coupons I had for a free french fry  and ice cream.  I  was looking for a cop on the way home to tell  them they should check on this guy, I never found the cop.  

I did find on the front page of the Garden Island news on Tuesday December 8, 2015, that a 62 year old homeless man was found dead in front of a business he slept at.
http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/body-found-in-kapaa/article_1c4a0906-9d6f-11e5-a627-4750d068739d.html

That man was Lester. I wish I could had done more, it was so obvious this man was in need.

I am not a trained professional, this man was highly visible in the public eye--if only myself or someone else had stepped up. I am starting to think what Lester really needed was a friend.

I am going to try and step up and make someone in need my friend. I cannot bring back Lester, but I can shed a tear, hoping he knew somebody cared.

  Lesson learned;
All of us need to step up and make someone in need our friend. Many times they don't want money or food , just someone to talk to, who will will listen and care.

This meme was published on Facebook
to help promote this blog!

Editor's note,
Lester's name was officially released after contacting the next of kin;
http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/kapaa-body-identified/article_be61452c-be7b-5407-a2c5-45a4014e4493.html

James "Kimo" Rosen ~ 1976~ Santa Barbara~
Photo courtesy of  John Franssen

P.S.
Editors note, The photos below were created with photos I took on an iPhone using an app called PIP!

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