"Everyones enjoying Kauai's most precious asset..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

Kauai's multi-use trail  is the best use of taxpayer ever on
the cosmic garden Island....Aloha,

Check out my opinion article in the (12-30-12) edition of the Kaua'i Garden Island news,"In defense of the bicycle path."
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-sunday-dec/article_9df63d74-5256-11e2-9856-001a4bcf887a.html

In response to Mr. Micken's numerous opinion articles concerning his opposition to the multi-use trail...  I am surprised that  Mr. Mickens with the many articles on this matter  has not heard the following, or has he?

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-saturday-december/article_b1655dce-4656-11e2-b858-001a4bcf887a.html   (The multi million white elephant)

Federal monies were  granted for the sole purpose for a multi-use trail and were granted for that  project and that project only.

Kaua'i could not had said, OK we'll use it on roads instead.  With that said if Kaua'i had refused the millions in federal money, another city somewhere else in America would had gotten the money. 

Every day I see, mothers jogging while pushing babies in carriages  dog-walkers, Seniors power walking, families, visitors, bicycle enthusiasts, tourists with rental bicycles supporting the local business's that rent bikes, , skateboarders, roller-bladers, roller-skaters and people in wheel chairs exercising their arms while others not able to use their arms  or legs using  their electric scooters and many average Joe's and Joe-Anne's just out enjoying  themselves and burning off some calories and breathing fresh ocean air all while  enjoying one of Kauai's most precious asset's.  

The Multi-use trail is the best use of taxpayer monies ever on the cosmic island of Kauai.


http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-sunday-dec/article_9df63d74-5256-11e2-9856-001a4bcf887a.html


 check out my opinion article in the (01-04-13) Kaua'i Garden Island News, " A creative way to fill Congressional seats  also check out, "We can’t afford the bike path," a letter in response to this blog

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-friday-jan/article_ed5e92a0-5641-11e2-9ae3-001a4bcf887a.html

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

"Why not sanction killing as a sport..? 'Bettyjo Dux' (Classic Wednesday)

Bettejo Dux  has  lived on the cosmic Island of Kaua'i  for
over 40 years. She is a people lover, animal lover and lover of life.Today
she talks about  a new sport... Enjoy!
www.bettejodux.com

Why not sanction killing as a sport?

Rap Brown, a Black Panther, said, “Violence is as American as cherry pie.” That’s certainly true.

Americans are also innovative. Resourceful. We are entrepreneurs. We love to make money.

We have industrial parks, doggy parks, national and state parks. Why don’t we have killing parks?

Think of it. They’d be large wild and wooded areas. Fenced. Patrolled. Good jobs.

Just as in a ski resort, one with the killing instinct could rent a weapon — or weapons — ammo, armored vests, boots, camouflage suits, helmets, binoculars. The works.

You could buy time. A one-day killing spree? A week? You’d need tents and stuff. Food and water. Wow!  

You hunt those who are hunting you.  

Hey, you could sell tickets to those who would like to watch — in safety of course — the killers stalking.

Coffins. Funerals. Ribbons. Medals. Photos of the winners. Photos of the dead. Videos. YouTube. Facebook.

Sorry, I gotta run. I want in on this.

I’m writing my representative in Washington and asking for a franchise.

Peace and love, Bettejo Dux

This blog also appeared as an opinion article in the 12-21-12 edition of the Kaua'i Garden Island News;
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-friday-dec/article_b98607aa-4b3e-11e2-a846-0019bb2963f4.html

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

"Why Jews Eat Chinese Food On Christmas..." 'Obama Da Dog' (Encore)

"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 this same day of Christmas in the Kaua'i Garden Island news; under the title;" A holiday tradition...." http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-saturday-december/article_a5e97f0c-2dfc-11e1-b984-001871e3ce6c.html

This blog originality ran as Dakinetalk Blog # 521 on 12-24-11. Because of it's popularity  our editors decided to run it again an an encore blog!

The big question this time of year is why do my people (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, treyf (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!

Extra, Extra read all about it,  sign of the times,Newsweek  prints final edition and will go 100% electronic.
http://en.rian.ru/business/20121224/178379163.html




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

"The Truth About Santa Claus..." Douglas Dunn' (Encore)

Guest blogger Douglas Dunn on the beach with his daughter JoAnn back in 1981. Doug is a regular commenter and guest-blogger on dakinetalk... 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.


This blog originally ran as dakinetalk blog # 520 on 12-23-11. It was so popular our editors decided to run it again allowing more people to read this beautiful 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.


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


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

" "How safe Do we really feel these days ..." '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  the recent massacre 
at Sandy Hook elementary school in Connecticut  and what is happening? ;D(.

How safe Do we really feel these days

      Why is our country going through such turmoil these days; isn't it enough that so many have to deal with loss from the War we have been embroiled in over the last several years.  In view of all the recent killings in public places it makes you take pause if we are really safe anywhere these days.  Never before did I have second thoughts while going to the movies on a weekend to relax.  I ask myself,  will this be one of those times when a troubled individual will lash out into the crowd and attack innocent bystanders?  Over the recent years movie theaters  began safeguards  by the police but is that enough to make us  feel safe and secure.  Do we 
need to carry protection with us to stop such an incident if it should occur   

When my children were growing up I never gave it a second thought to ask myself if I was sending them to a safe 
place; what has happened to our society, our children, and our troubled adults that they feel they have to lash out and hurt themselves and many others at the same time.  

It’s almost like an epidemic happening, similar to the way life was in the wild west when  people ran wild  in the streets;  they were not safe to travel on.  Many , many years ago anyone could 
buy a gun or weapon for their self defense; is it too easy to get a hold of   a weapon  these days?

We all have the right to protect ourselves but do we need to install a more thorough way to profile the purchaser.  I don’t have the answers but in light of all these recent occurrences’, it 
surely gives us a reason to think about how we can live a more secure and safe life. 

What makes it even scarier is that the shooters of today walk among us; they are people like you and me ,  they are neighbors and classmates, they are co workers and friends and are unpredictable. 

Our  hearts go out to all those that have  experienced such violence  or lost their lives to such a violent act; the bystanders will never be the same. Their lives will be changed forever and the parents of those children that have lost so much will forever grieve.  Having to 
deal with a child’s death is  traumatic enough but having to lose a child to a violent act is unfathomable.   

How do we deal with our lives on a daily basis knowing that there may be a shooting somewhere in the country again; will it be in our town?  One can only carry on with the premise that we need to continue to believe that there will always be good vs evil and we must continue to look for the good in people and believe that goodness must prevail.   

If we look at people we come across every day and wonder if they are going through  the  mental turmoil that could 
cause them to perform a terrible act, then they will surely win and render us feeling powerless.  We can only go along and view each day as a gift of life; be cautious but not paralyzed and 
enjoy our lives. 

We need to pray for those that are so troubled and teach our children even more so than ever what to do in urgent situations.  We all need to be aware of our surroundings and  take measures to be safe; do not think that if you live in a “safe” area that you can let your guard down.  As we have seen most recently, violence and crime can happen in any neighborhood and because of our financial and current environment, people are reaching a threshold that they never before have had to endure. 

We must stay safe and hope for the best for hope is sometimes all we have to hold on to. 


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

 A Mitzvah is an act of Kindness. It is customary for Jews to perform a Mitzvah when disasters happen... it triggers a chain reaction of making the world a better place. Call it a Mitzvah, call it Kindness or even Paying it forward, it works!

"Drive A Cab if You've Had Too Many..." 'Debbie Eayrs' (Source)

Guest-blogger Debbie Eayrs co-owner of Eayrs plumbing and heating from Homer, Alaska
 is the source of  this informative blog about knowing when to say no to driving after a night 
of partying with friends... ;D) Enjoy!

Hi All

With the Holidays upon us I would like to share a personal experience with my family/friends about drinking and driving.

As you may know some of us have been known to have brushes with the authorities from time to time on the way home after a “social session” out with friends.

Well a few days ago, I was out for an evening with friends and had several glasses of beer/cocktails.  I was feeling a little too jolly, but I still had the sense to know that I may be slightly over the limit.  That’s when I did something that I’ve never done before – I took a cab home.

Sure enough on the way home there was a police road block, but since it was a cab they waved it past.  I arrived home safely without incident.  This was a real surprise as I had never driven a cab before.  I don’t know where I got it and now that it’s in my garage, I don’t know what to do with it.  If anyone has any ideas please let me know.

Happy Holidays to you all.

Seriously though, Please have a Safe and Happy Holiday!

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

"The Mayor and Police Chief are both good men..!"‏ 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

Miracles can happen!  Happy Holidays...! 

check out my opinion article in the 12-26-12 edition of the Kaua'i Garden Island news, " A Christmas Miracle."

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-wednesday-december/article_48d58182-4f23-11e2-b2dc-0019bb2963f4.html

Kaua'i has two things going for it, one we have an outstanding mayor and two an incredible chief of police. They are both dedicated public servants whose lives evolve around their jobs. However their bickering needs to stop.

The Mayor on Feb. 1, 2012 suspended Police Chief Darryl Perry, and placed him on paid administration  leave. The Police Commission ordered Perry back on the job Feb. 22, however the mayor objected per the county attorney and did  not re-instate him until March 12.

This is  all about whether the Mayor or police commission  has the authority to suspend or terminate the Chief of police? 

The mayor is  elected by the  people,  the police commissioners are appointed citizens by the mayor on volunteer duty.

Mayor Carvalho said he spoke with the police commissioners when the incident  happened last February,  they agreed to take the matter to court and to stand by judge’s verdict.  They had their day in court and the verdict  was decided  in the mayors favor, however the police commission is appealing and not living by their words.

Mr. Mayor and Chief Perry, show some true Aloha and give the residents of Kaua'i a truly pono Christmas gift they will long remember? Please  settle your differences without  expensive attorneys at taxpayer expense. 

 In closing I would like to quote the good book, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone.  (John 8:7)

Miracles can happen!

Happy Holidays,

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-wednesday-december/article_48d58182-4f23-11e2-b2dc-0019bb2963f4.html

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