Ten Things That Will Disappear In Our Lifetime..." 'Chester "Unc" Lau' (Source)

Dakinetalks favorite Uncle (Chester Lau)

 talks  about  many things we now know will soon be no more.

"Unc" is a retired cinematographer currently living 

on the Hawai'ian Island of Oahu & giving the politicians a bad time...

Ten Things That Will Disappear In Our Lifetime

More scary than humorous!

Ten Things That Will Disappear In Our Lifetime This is USA oriented, but Canada & the rest will not be far behind..
Whether these changes are good or bad depends in part on how we adapt to them. But, ready or not, here they come.

1. The Post Office
Get ready to imagine a world without the post office. They are so deeply in financial trouble that there is probably
no way to sustain it long term. Email, Fed Ex, and UPS have just about wiped out the minimum revenue needed to keep the post office alive. Most of your mail every day is junk mail and bills.

2. The Cheque
Britain is already laying the groundwork to do away with cheque by 2018. It costs the financial system billions
of dollars a year to process cheques. Plastic cards and online transactions will lead to the eventual demise of the
cheque. This plays right into the death of the post office. If you never paid your bills by mail and never received
them by mail, the post office would absolutely go out of business.

3. The Newspaper
The younger generation simply doesn't read the newspaper. They certainly don't subscribe to a daily
delivered print edition. That may go the way of the milkman and the laundry man. As for reading
the paper online, get ready to pay for it. The rise in mobile Internet devices and e-readers has
caused all the newspaper and magazine publishers to form an alliance. They have met with Apple,
Amazon, and the major cell phone companies to develop a model for paid subscription services.

4. The Book
You say you will never give up the physical book that you hold in your hand and turn the literal pages.
I said the same thing about downloading music from iTunes. I wanted my hard copy CD.
But I quickly changed my mind when I discovered that I could get albums for half the price
without ever leaving home to get the latest music. The same thing will happen with books.
You can browse a bookstore online and even read a preview chapter before you buy.
And the price is less than half that of a real book. And think of the convenience!
Once you start flicking your fingers on the screen instead of the book, you find that you are lost in the story,
can't wait to see what happens next, and you forget that you're holding a gadget instead of a book.

5. The Land Line Telephone
Unless you have a large family and make a lot of local calls, you don't need it anymore.
Most people keep it simply because they've always had it. But you are paying double charges
for that extra service. All the cell phone companies will let you call customers using
the same cell provider for no charge against your minutes

6. Music
This is one of the saddest parts of the change story. The music industry is dying a slow death.
Not just because of illegal downloading. It's the lack of innovative new music being given a chance
to get to the people who would like to hear it. Greed and corruption is the problem.
The record labels and the radio conglomerates are simply self-destructing.
Over 40% of the music purchased today is "catalogue items," meaning traditional music that
the public is familiar with. Older established artists. This is also true on the live concert circuit.
To explore this fascinating and disturbing topic further, check out the book,
"Appetite for Self-Destruction" by Steve Knopper, and the video documentary, "Before the Music Dies."

7. Television
Revenues to the networks are down dramatically. Not just because of the economy. People are watching TV
and movies streamed from their computers. And they're playing games and doing lots of other things that take
up the time that used to be spent watching TV. Prime time shows have degenerated down to lower than the
lowest common denominator. Cable rates are skyrocketing and commercials run about every 4 minutes and 30 seconds.
I say good riddance to most of it. It's time for the cable companies to be put out of our misery.
Let the people choose what they want to watch online and through Netflix.

8. The "Things" That You Own
Many of the very possessions that we used to own are still in our lives, but we may not actually own
them in the future. They may simply reside in "the cloud." Today your computer has a hard drive and you
store your pictures, music, movies, and documents. Your software is on a CD or DVD, and you can always
re-install it if need be. But all of that is changing. Apple, Microsoft, and Google are all finishing up
their latest "cloud services." That means that when you turn on a computer, the Internet will be
built into the operating system. So, Windows, Google, and the Mac OS will be tied straight into the Internet.
If you click an icon, it will open something in the Internet cloud. If you save something, it will be saved to the
cloud. And you may pay a monthly subscription fee to the cloud provider. In this virtual world, you can access
your music or your books, or your whatever from any laptop or handheld device. That's the good news. But,
will you actually own any of this "stuff" or will it all be able to disappear at any moment in a big "Poof?"
Will most of the things in our lives be disposable and whimsical? It makes you want to run to the closet and
pull out that photo album, grab a book from the shelf, or open up a CD case and pull out the insert.

9. Joined Handwriting
Already gone in some schools who no longer teach "joined handwriting" because nearly everything is done now on
computers or keyboards of some type (pun not intended)

10. Privacy
If there ever was a concept that we can look back on nostalgically, it would be privacy. That's gone. It's
been gone for a long time anyway.. There are cameras on the street, in most of the buildings, and even built
into your computer and cell phone. But you can be sure that 24/7, "They" know who you are and where you are,
right down to the GPS coordinates, and the Google Street View. If you buy something, your habit is put into a
zillion profiles, and your ads will change to reflect those habits. "They" will try to get you to buy something else. Again and again.
All we will have left that can't be changed are "Memories".

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Youtube...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsM8D31Wfg0

Phallic Traffic Barriers Offend Some Scott Township, Penn., Residents But Town Unlikely To Remove The Concrete Posts

By Jonathan Vankin, Mon, September 30, 2013

Maybe the residents of Scott Township, Penn., should look on the place as a tourist attarction.

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/phallic-traffic-barriers-offend-some-scott-township-penn-residents-town-unlikely-remove?

"Late Term Abortion is Awful..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Classic Wednesday)

Bettejo Dux has lived  on the Cosmic island  Garden Island
of Kaua'i over 30 years. She is a weekly columnist in the local
newspaper (The Garden Island News) and is a published author
of the Novella "The Scam." Order your copies below.
www.bettejodux.com

Late  Term Abortion is Awful

I do agree that late term abortion is awful and would prefer it be performed only to save the mother's life. Nevertheless, I think to have an abortion is a woman's decision. It's her body. It's her future and the future of the child she does not wish to bear and raise. 

If you don't want to have an abortion, or your family or your religious leader forbid it, don't have one. But leave those of us, who feel free to make that choice, alone. It's none of your business. 

If one is married, of course her husband should have a say. Still, if  my life were in jeopardy and  if I carried full term and my husband insisted I sacrifice my life for the unborn, I'd divorce him. Fortunately that was a decision I didn't have to make. My husband agreed 

What offends me most, however, is the continual religious harping. Not all of us are Christians. 

Further, I find it very difficult to understand these same Christians who never complain- or even mention- our country's compliance in the cold blooded murder of innocent children-and men and women, too-in these stupid endless wars for profit. Not to mention the lives of our own sons and daughter's

These wars will end when those of us who love kids stand up and shout, "Not our kids, not their kids, you don't."

Peace and love Bettejo Dux

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

"Fond Memories of Halloween..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday)

Judith Whitehead  lives in Amherst, N.Y. and has
worked in the ophthalmology field of medicine for
over 30 years. Today she talks about her memories 
of  Halloween...Enjoy

Fond Memories of Halloween

Soon it will be an all American, fun holiday to celebrate once again this year, All Hallows night or as we all know it as Halloween.  Every year this holiday brings back many fond memories of celebrating  as ayoung child growing up in Buffalo.  

October can be a chancy season here in Buffalo; I can remember
going trick or treating in rain, snow and very cold weather.  Some years we would have to wear winter coats over our costumes in the cold;  we would not let the rain or wind keep us from going out. 

 My dad would fashion a trick or treat “box” for me to carry some seasons.  He would make a  box with a  string
that would go over my shoulder to carry all my loot home.  It was awkward to  carry but I would never
hurt his feelings and I would always go along with his ideas; he was always the one to take me out every
year.  

My mom would stay home and give out the candy,  that was her job.  We would cover as many homes as we could until I got tired; he carried the flashlight and kept a very close eye on me.  At that
point, it was then his job to carry the heavy box home and  sift through for the safe candy to eat.  

Back in those early days some  people would give out apples; I always knew when I got one placed in my box, it made a clunking  noise and made the box even heavier.  We also carried a box to collect Unicef money, back then for donations, what ever happened to those… 

I went trick or treating for many years until I
was too old to continue the tradition and then transformed into the door guard and babysitter for  otherkids for the holiday.  

All too soon, I  had my own children to carry on the tradition with.  I knew how disappointing it was to have to cover up a costume in bad weather so we would drape clear dry cleaning
bags over our children’s costumes so others could enjoy them as well. It was “dads” job to escort the boys out while I stayed home to give out the candy.  Seeing the other children dressed up was also part of the joy of the holiday. 

Halloween  has become quite a money maker over the years; today the costumes are quite intricate. Nolonger do the plastic molded masks exist that used to suffocate and  poke us in the face.  The costumes are quite lifelike and comfortable and much more imaginative.  I start early in October decorating the porch with
festive decorations, witches and pumpkins with candles and lights. 

 The stores start carrying candy a fewmonths prior to capture the sales; candy is not so  cheap any longer to give out.  We live in a highly populated area of young families with many children and it is not unusual to give out over 100 pieces of candy in a few short hours.  

I still get a charge out of their little faces reaching into my Hallmark  witches book that talks,  to pick out their candy selection.  I start buying candy several weeks in advance to “stock” up  for the crowd.  My children are now grown up and go to their adult parties and still dress up.

I will forever hold on to the memories of celebrating Halloween with my dad; every year they come rushing back to me and still bring a smile to my face when I remember them.  They were innocent and uncomplicated years  to grow up in as compared to today. So let’s hope the weather holds out this year;my camera is ready and so is my decorated  porch and the Hallmark box is ready and full.  

May you all have a Happy   and Safe Halloween this year.

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

"Just a contract" 'Chester "Unc" Lau'

Dakinetalks favorite Uncle (Chester Lau)

 talks  about  how the government needs to
stay out of our personal business...

"Unc" is a retired cinematographer currently living 

on the Hawai'ian Island of Oahu & giving the politicians a bad time...

Just a  contract    

In a democracy, government has no right or business in the personal marriage business. Marriage is personal. All that should be required is a legal written contract.

Government should recognize, concur and help enforce the legal contracts regarding property rights, etc. Lawyers will enforce wills or trusts, so we need only lawyers, not government or any third parties. A legal written contract between lovers would suffice.

If I decided to marry a monkey and leave all my worldly goods to him or her, that’s my business, not a church’s or the government’s.


A new law on same-sex marriage passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor shouldn't be needed. It’s none of their business.

http://www.midweek.com/letter-to-the-editor-10213/

Editors note, the above was published in Oahu Midweek on 10-02-13, the unedited version appears below. Which one do you like better?

Freedom to Love is no business of Government or religious entities

In a Democracy,government have No right or business in the personal Marriage business,marriage is personal between lovers,be it same sex , man & animal or any  entities, a legal written contract by attorneys should suffice between lovers . 

 Government  should  recognize , concur  & help enforce the legal contracts . the  responsibilities are in the contract , mostly for human & property rights before , after death or divorces. 

We don't need government to do anything,the lawyers will enforce the wills or trusts,so we need only lawyers,not any two cents by government or any third parties ,.a legal written contract between lovers would suffice...

If I decided to marry a monkey & leave all  my worldly goods to him or her,that' my business ,not the church or government's .

I am surprise why lawyers have not taken up this subject of  marriage ,they can profit instead of the church or the  state .

No public vote needed on same sex marriage ,it's none of their business. 

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

"As America Melts Down..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

James "Kimo" Rosen along with Obama Da Dog
and President Obama's sister, Maya,
talk story about the recent government shutdown...

As America Melts Down

How can America ever dream of world peace when  our politicians are out to destroy each other and America. Our enemies must be delighted as they watch America meltdown.

The GOP may have their differences but need to realize that appealing affordable health care for the 42nd time and not having their way is not reason enough to penalize innocent Americans.

Congress will still get their paychecks during the government shutdown,  however the average American struggling  to pay basic living expenses are the ones who will suffer.

The Tea party made a pledge to make Obama fail no matter what, even if it bankrupts your  friends, family and neighbors.

The blatant disrespect the GOP has for President Obama is not warranted with rational thought, it is only warranted through racism and hate.

Martin Luther King may had a dream, but President Obama and  many Americans are now living a nightmare.

P.S.
I had a Letter to the editor published in the 10-03-13 edition of the  Honolulu Staradvertiser; I am copying and pasting the whole letter since it was published on a site with a pay-wall.

Shutdown driven by hate for Obama
(Honolulu Star-Advertiser | 2013-10-03 | USA | Page: 12)

How can America ever dream of world peace when our politicians are out to destroy each other and America? Our enemies must be delighted as they watch America melt down.

GOP members may have their differences, but need to realize that attempting to repeal the Affordable Care Act for the 42nd time and not getting their way is not reason enough to penalize innocent Americans.

Congress will still get their paychecks during the government shutdown. However, the average American struggling to pay basic living expenses is the ones who will suffer.

The tea party made a pledge to make President Barack Obama fail no matter what, even if it bankrupts your friends,family and neighbors. The blatant disrespect the GOP has for Obama is not warranted by rational thought. It is only warranted by racism and hate.

Martin Luther King Jr. may have had a dream, but Obama and many Americans are now living a nightmare.

James "Kimo" Rosen
Kapaa, Kauai

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

"Peace & Love..." 'Bettejo Dux'

Bettejo Dux has lived on the cosmic garden island

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

Today Bettejo blogs the  true meaning of LOVE...Enjoy!

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

Peace & Love

Once again, I think, peace and loves are one of those inseparable benevolent duos. Like love and truth, they go hand-in-hand. It’s wonderful to read that voices within the religious community are being raised for peace. War is not the answer is a cry the Quakers, my dear friends, have been hosting for years. Thank you guys.

I think most of us devout non-believers have been rooting for peace for years. We do not pray. We attempt to cajole, convince, reason our way to a peaceful solution to humankind’s considerable problems. The only question I would ask is: why just one day? Why not try, maybe, once a month? Saturday’s are good.

Instead of churches, temples, mosques and synagogues, why not parking lots at the mall? Or neighborhood centers or parks? On this holy of holiest Jewish days, rules could be broken. Stars of David banners artistically combined with Picasso’s  dove of peace could be silently passed out to strangers. Now that would be a day of atonement.

You know what? You could even have a table where Christians and Jews and Muslims could stand together holding hands and praying together.

Kids could have lemonade stands for peace. Others could sell cookies or t-shirts or baseball caps or bumper stickers. Veterans for peace could hand out petitions. Old-fashioned soapbox hooters could hoot for peace.

Peaceniks could sing folk songs. Darling girls in peace patterned bikinis could wander through the crowds tossing flowers. Peaceful aromatic hot dogs could be vended. Little kids could chase around on scooters lisping, ‘Peace in our time’.

Overhead small planes could drop leaflets. Skywriters could write PEACE in the sky ‘til the cows came home. Flocks of doves could be set free to wing and flutter and swoop down for handfuls of scattered birdseed . White doves on the grass. At last.

Films on the subject could be shown. Lectures could be offered as to why it’s better to spend money on peaceful efforts than it is to blow guys and gals and little kids and seniors and innocents to smithereens.

The party could go on all night.

Hey, there’s money in this. And what won’t guys do for money?

On military bases, peace advocates could come out of the closet. Peacefully. Joyfully. Maybe, if they’re allowed to carry guns, these could be tossed in nets and swung from trees and posts with white dove origami dangling down.

At sea, sailors-crew and officers and captains-men and women too-could strip down to their skivvies and swim three times-race around-their warships.  Challenge the more belligerent to a peaceful dunking contest.

This could be such a successful human experience we’d want to do it more often.  Peace parties, world round, would be the rage. An American innovation. Wow. We’d really have something to ‘sell’ to he world. Peaceful capitalism at its best.

And if the nasty old warmongers don’t like it, they can stay home.

I want a franchise. Peace popcorn anyone?

P.S.
The TV Show, "The View requested "BED-HEAD" photos for their wall that is their new backdrop. I sent a photo of myself in and it appeared on national TV today. You can see me immediately right of the TV-14 graphic. Not a great photo, but dats me! ;D)

Bed Head is what you look like when you first get out of bed in the morning, no make-up, hair not combed, teeth not brushed, no coffee, at least that's my interpretation...

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

"True Friends..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

This blog is dedicated to my dear friend John Rogers. this  blog is all about his recent visit
to the Cosmic Garden Island of Kaua'i. That's John on the left and yours truly on the right.
This blog also ran as my column the Garden Island News on 10-07-13
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/guest/always-treasure-life-s-true-friends/article_b7584a82-2fa0-11e3-ba43-001a4bcf887a.html

Enjoy!

True Friends

My  father always told me, "your lucky if you can go through life and count your true and loyal friends on one hand."

This past week I received a blast from the past, a friend I haven't seen in  approximately 30 plus years besides  on  a brief layover flight  10 years ago.   He  traveled from L.A. to  Mau'i for the honor of  being the best man at a friends wedding. He was on a whirlwind  vacation consisting of 4 days, with two days totally dedicated to the wedding, rehearsal , rehearsal dinner, the wedding and reception.

He called and said he was coming to Kaua'i for 5 hours. He had to change planes in Honolulu with a 2 hour layover for a flight Kaua'i bound.   I am thinking to myself, why is he doing this for only  5 hours? Would I do the same?

He was scheduled to come in at 1:10, however he did not arrive until 1:35. He finally arrives and the first thing he says is, he needs to be back to the airport to catch a 5:00 o'clock flight back-- which means we'd have to back at 4:00 P.M. That would enable  me enough time to present him with a home made braided  Ti-leaf lei, drive to Costco and  order a deluxe pizza, talk story, then drive him back to the airport.

I did a little Google research before he arrived and found a later flight out. I  advised my friend  to change his flight. There was a flight that departs at 8:44 P.M. This way I could at least show him some of the awesome Cosmic Garden island, I call home.   After much hoopla and talking to Hawai'ian airlines reps in the Philippine's he was able to change his flight to the later  time with a $55.00 penalty fee. 

My friend went with it, he didn't fight the extra charge. He smiled and went with the flow of who cares, it's only money. 

We now had time to go back to my place, collect  my bike , my spare bike, my dog 'Obama'  and cruise the  awesome Kapa'a -Kealia leg of the Pedestrian trail.  My buddy had not been on a bike for years and said it was one of the best days ever for him.

We capped off our day with an Awesome burger and fries at my favorite Kapa'a restaurant, Burger King, the best burger franchise on the Island.The manager made our burgers special to order, double toasted with extra tomatoes, onions and  mayo on the side, delivered  to our tables with  aloha and  the biggest smile I ever saw.

We only had  6 hours to recap 30 years.  We did  it right. We talked about our ailments,  relationships, kids and how time really does fly. We talked about small things, but it is the small things that seem to matter in the long run.

My  friend John is definitely one of the  true and loyal friends I can count on one hand. He spent approximately  $500.00 to come see me  for 6 hours.

A visit from the past, like talking and being with someone from beyond, true friends are a treasure. I am honored and privileged to have such a  true friend!


Although not a trip you could book through a travel agent, this was a trip that only two  true friends could appreciate, Costco deluxe Pizza, a bike ride with Obama Da dog and Whoppers-- life doesn't get much better.

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/guest/always-treasure-life-s-true-friends/article_b7584a82-2fa0-11e3-ba43-001a4bcf887a.html

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