"Spring has sprung..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Classic Wednesday)

Bettejo Dux has lived on the cosmic Garden Island of Kaua'i for over 40 years.
Bettejo is a regular columnist in the Garden Island news and is the author of the
famed novella, "The Scam."
www.bettejodux.com

Spring has sprung

The grass has riz. I wonder where the birdies is?
Wonder no more, dear reader, they're all singing their hearts out in my  jungle. Waking up-and going to bed in my barn/house-is like waking up in an aviary. A feathered chorale fills the air with perfumed sound. If I could cage several in happy cages and install one in every household on Kauai the happiness factor would rise a thousand percent.

Another clue about health and happiness on Kauai-anywhere for that matter- is the importance of green plants  in your life. I've read that it is most important for the human eye to see green living things, but what I know is: first came the grass, then came the trees, then came life on planet earth, our home.

We all know green living plants are the best photosynthesizers. They turn carbon dioxide into oxygen. A day spent in the woods, or in a tree strewn park adds years to your life. Lying down on  a clean green  lawn or meadow can, if you allow it, fill you heart with joy. Add bird songs, blue skies, a sweet pineapple juice rain and sunshine-maybe a good book- and you have everything you need. It's a universal truth. Try it.]

Maybe part of what made my 83-year-young journey possible were the years I spent riding in those long tall gloriously green fields of sugar cane. I was out there five days a week-my leopard, Beauregard, was a union horse-with the field hands and the mules. They loved us. We loved them back.

Here is a really good suggestion about  making your life better. Grow house plants. Honest. Find a container-pottery, ceramic, porcelain, glass or  plastic-fill it full of the good earth. Potting soil isn't that expensive and a bag  goes a long way. I'll be happy to share some of Ari's composted poop-then find something green you like- it doesn't have to be exotic-and stick it in feet first. There are plants that love to grow indoors  Experiment. Water it with coffee grounds, slip it some cut up pieces of banana skin, egg shells or even talk to it. Touch it. Dust it. Give it a name. It will become as dear to you and your family as a four-legged pet. Easier and less expensive to care for, too.

Fill your house, every room-living, bedroom, bath and kitchen-with life. Turn it into a green house.
Philodendron is a good plant to start with. The name means tree lover. It's beautiful foliage and there are several hundred species. Organic wheat-grass in little pots on table tops and clustered in  corners-some plants like company-can end  cut up and sprinkled on top of soups and salads. You can drink it, too. Herbs and sprouts are neat and tidy. Great aromas!  Mixed in with hard-boiled-free range eggs-bread-less egg salad sandwich style- and feel the energy.

Someone wrote, "If you want to be happy overnight, get drunk. For a weekend get married. For a lifetime learn to garden. Indoors.

Bettejo,  a few years ago  with her nephew....

P.S. Our local newspaper , The Kaua'i Garden island news ran a story about the wild chickens of Kaua'i. The chickens are everywhere and most consider them a nuisance. The story really had me going for a while until I realized the author of the article 'April Fuhl' is April Fool!  Very funny, check it out! Mahalo to editor-n-chief Bill Buley for having a sense of humor!
http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/something-to-squawk-about/article_b5c77456-b969-11e3-a45d-0019bb2963f4.html#.UzsJrdlGAew.facebook

P.S.S.  Kaua'i  blogger Andy Parx talks of the recent ultralight fatality and what really happened!   Great blog! 
http://parxnewsdaily.blogspot.com/2014/04/ride-painted-pony-let-spinnin-wheel-turn.html

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"Test for Alzheimer's..." 'Marvin Gross' (Source)

Marvin Gross is a Financial consultant currently residing in Western N.Y.
Today Marvin shares  the Alzheimer's test....enjoy!

Test for Alzheimer's

If you are over 45 yrs old, you MUST  take this Alzheimer's Test How fast can you guess these words  and fill-in the blanks? 1._ _NDOM 2. F_ _K 3. P_ N_S 4. PU_S_ 5. S_X 6. BOO_S | | | | | | | | | | Answers: 1. RANDOM 2. FORK 3. PANTS 4. PULSE 5. SIX 6. BOOKS You got all 6 wrong....didn't you? You do NOT have Alzheimer's You are a Pervert!! Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook...

"The human race..." '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!!

The human race

"A little girl asked her father: “Where did the human race come from?”

The father answered, ‘God made Adam and Eve; they had children; and so was all mankind made.’

A couple of days later the little girl asked her mother the same question.

The mother answered, ‘Many years ago there were some monkeys from which the human race evolved.’

The confused girl returned to her father and said, ‘Dad, how is it possible that you told me the human race was created by God, and Mom said we evolved from monkeys?’

The father answered, ‘Well, Dear, it is very simple. I told you about my side of the family, and your mother told you about hers.’”

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"Helping the homeless..." 'Judith Whitehead (Inspiration Sunday)

Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst New York and has worked in

the ophthalmology field of medicine for over 30 years.

Helping the homeless

I have always been a proponent of giving back to those in need. I have collected donations for countless causes and tried to give of my time and money whenever I could, but until recently I’d never attended a major fundraising event. I felt it was time to be a part of something larger.

My son lives in Los Angeles and works for a philanthropic boss who has been giving back to his community through the contacts he has met over his many years in the music business. So we decided to donate to the From Hollywood With Love concert to benefit the Midnight Mission in Los Angeles.

California has a huge homeless population and has a very organized way of getting people back on their feet through rehabilitation and retooling skills. The mission feeds, clothes and employs thousands of people every year. More than 30 performers donated their time and efforts by holding a four-hour concert that could be attended through a donation to the mission. Not only were the performers excellent, but the message was heartfelt. Previously homeless people stood up to speak of how easy it is to become homeless and the dangers of living on the street.

It’s easy to forget about all of the needy people in our country when we are comfortable and secure in our own homes and jobs. There is a fine line between living comfortably and losing a job and the security that comes with it. It can be lost in an instant. Many Americans live one paycheck away from becoming homeless, and this benefit of talented performers brought that fact home clearly.

As we enjoyed the music, we felt very fortunate and thankful that we were able to attend and donate money to this worthwhile event. There are so many people who fall victim to circumstances beyond their control. It seems that the homeless situation only increases nationwide as our economy struggles to stay afloat.

As we sit in our comfortable homes, we need to realize how many unfortunate people are struggling to survive, and try to make a difference and pay it forward. We felt a great sense of satisfaction as we left the event and are anxious to find more ways to give back in the future.

Those individuals who have so much need to evaluate their priorities. If everyone in some small way decided to give of his time and money, we could make a dent in our homeless situation.

Many influential individuals choose to devote their efforts and monetary support to other countries in need. How about looking at our neighbors here in the United States? Each of our 50 states has a sizable number of people who are living in shelters or on the streets. There are many hungry and needy people right under our noses. Why reach out to other countries when our own people are in desperate need? It gives us food for thought. Giving to others, even if only in small amounts of time or money, can make a huge difference if we all make the effort.

Attending this benefit concert has made me much more aware of the problems plaguing our country. I see it every day working downtown, because our office is only a few blocks away from the Buffalo City Mission. At any given time, we are witness to the homeless and needy on our city’s streets.

We all need to take a step back and realize just how much we have and how lucky we are. There but for the grace of God, go we, the lucky ones.

This blog also appeared in the Buffalo news on 03-26-14;
http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?avis=BN&date=20140326&category=OPINION&lopenr=140329211&Ref=AR&profile=1120

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"Never laugh at a Chinese...." 'Chester "Unc" Lau' (Source)

Dakinetalks favorite Uncle (Chester Lau)

"Unc" is a retired cinematographer currently living 

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

Never laugh at a Chinese

A Chinese man walks into a bank in New York City and asks for the loan officer. He tells the loan officer that he is going to China on business for two weeks and needs to borrow $5,000.

The bank officer tells him that the bank will need some form of security for the loan, so the Chinese man hands over the keys to a new Ferrari parked on the street in front of the bank. He produces the title and everything checks out.

The Loan officer agrees to accept the car as collateral for the loan. The bank's president and its officers all enjoy a good laugh at the Chinese for using a $250,000 Ferrari as collateral against a $5,000 loan.
An employee of the bank then drives the Ferrari into the bank's underground garage and parks it there. 

Two weeks later, the Chinese returns, repays the $5,000 and the interest, which comes to $15.41.

The loan officer says, 'Sir, we are very happy to have had your business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are a little puzzled. While you were away, we checked you out and found that you are a multi-millionaire. What puzzles us is why you would bother to borrow $5,000? The Chinese replies: 'Where else in New York City can I park my car for two weeks for only $15.41 and expect it to be there safely when I return.'

A young "Unc"

P.S. from YouTube;
  A CNN news-clip about the new way to rip of cars.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/l7OadDz3Ums

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"Fun..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Classic Wednesday)

Bettejo Dux has lived on the cosmic Garden Island of Kaua'i for over 40 years.
Bettejo is a regular columnist in the Garden Island news and is the author of the
famed novella, "The Scam." Today she blogs about FUN, FUN, FUN!!
www.bettejodux.com

Fun

Fun is a three-letter word. Easy to read. Easy to pronounce.Hurrah. Hurrah. Find it on page 734 in the trusty Third Edition of  the American Heritage dic-tion-ar-y—honest, that’s what it says on the cover—and the definition of FUN is brief. I’ll accept the first.

1. A source of enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure, often noisy activity. It does go on. Eight lines that it takes my 83-year-old eyes specs and a magnifying glass to read.

And then there’s a USAGE NOTE that chatters and clatters  on for 20 more lines!? The end of which states: “At present however, the ‘attributive’ use (whatever that is) of fun may still raises eyebrows, and writers who want to stay on the safe side are advised to avoid….”

Yeah? Well tell it to da judge. Don’t tell me you fat three- letter- word over weight dic-tion-ar-y thingie what to avoid. Anyhow, I was never comfortable on the safe side. The safe side ain’t no fun. No how. I’d rather play the playfully incorrect game. Wouldn't you?

I mean fun should be funny. Foolish. Silly. Amusing. Entertaining. Enjoyable.Have fun watching the herd-that’s the human herd-splashing at the beach. Surfing. Climbing and falling graceful- no broken limbs-out of trees. Feeding and window shopping at the malls.  Skating, biking, strolling on the scenic paths  or hiking in the hills. Young humanoids playing in a play ground.

Having fun is a very healthy  occupation. We should all indulge more.

Noisy activity? You betcha. Sing. Dance. Twang a guitar or a uke.  Enjoy a lively raucous-but peaceful-debate or conversation. Kick up your heels, it’s later than you think.

Hop, skip and jump. Clap you hands and chortle.

Watch other living things have fun. A dog chasing  a ball or its tail or just goofing around. A cat or a kitten batting a ball of string. I think birds have fun flying and dolphins and whales have fun cavorting in the sea and sleek  monk seals have fun soaking up sun on  the sand.  I think everything’s more fun when  it’s free.

‘Course it’s also fun to share a glass of wine, a bite of cheese,  a crunchy cracker. A slurpy chocolate ice cream on a stick. A cookie. A cuppa aromatic nose twitching coffee or  tea or a beer on a lanai or a porch or a garage turned into a party place when friends come calling.

At this very moment I’m having fun watching a speckled hen appear and disappear in a shady and  sun speckled  bank. The sun is out. They bask. A red necked crowing rooster follows at a distance.  They have a happy, healthy, freedom loving family. They swallow earth worms whole.

Robert Louis Stevenson, a Scott-he’s got a bar at the Hyatt, a fun place- said, “The world is so full of a number of things, I think we should all be as happy as kings.”

Maybe that should read, “The days are filled  with the funniest things, I think we should all be as funny as kings.”

Fast curtain

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"Identity theft, or not..?" '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.
This blog centers on the fastest growing crime in America, "Identity Theft."
Wait a second the guy in the photo is not Rosen?  Help Police!
Seriously folks, this is a major problem and growing by the day. Please read and pass it on...

This blog also appeared as my bi-weekly column in the Kaua'i Garden Island news
on 03-24-14 with the title " Identity theft, or not?" 
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/guest/identity-theft-or-not/article_2d61f72a-b30c-11e3-9a42-0019bb2963f4.html                         "

Identity theft, or not

I like to call it  electronic pick pocketing, most call it Identity theft.  Either way it is currently the number one crime in America.

The joke goes, "It's true what they say about identity theft being on the increase. I woke up this morning and didn't know who I was."

Seriously, there was a salesman making the rounds in the retirement community where I reside. He was allegedly selling some sort of cellular phone service. He knocked on my door and before he  finished his spiel I said, "not interested."He left cussing me loudly behind his breath, as I pondered if I may had been a little short with him?

I peeked out the curtain as old people like to do and saw my female neighbor mesmerized, talking story with this slick young good looking salesman in her yard.

After the salesman left I called that neighbor and inquired if she bought into his deal and if she had given him any debit or credit card numbers? She said she hadn't, I was relieved she had not bought anything from this man since  I received some really bad energies from him.

... However the salesman before departing her place asked her if he could take a photo of her drivers license, she obliged with letting him take a photo of her Hawai'i  state issued ID. I was besides myself, I was going postal on my neighbor, I was freaking out.

How can anyone let a total stranger come into  their home and allow them to try and sell you something, then when you don't buy anything  they ask for your ID to take a photo of it, and you oblige  them?

I was furious, after-all there all no soliciting signs all over this 55 and over retirement community and second I was outraged this man was preying on seniors. You read about identity theft all the time but never think it will happen to you, your neighbors or your loved ones.

I was hot, I called as many of my neighbors as I had phone numbers on and gave them the heads up and to beware of a man on the prowl.

Finally after contemplating the situation I called the police. I never call the police, I hate calling the police, however in this case I felt justified. I felt my neighbors and  friends were being preyed upon  about by a thief. This man was taking advantage of vulnerable people that sometimes just  need someone to talk to.

The police arrived and detained and questioned the salesman. The police agreed with me that there was something fishy going on, however get this; the neighbor whose ID he photographed did not care to press any charges.  The police then told my neighbor she can not complain in 2 or 3 months from now if there are unwarranted charges on her bank statements for items she never ordered or fake ID issued with her name.

The police agreed with me, my neighbor didn't. Just wish the police would had found enough evidence to stop this man before he finds you. 

Identity theft  is the fastest growing crime in America. The number of identity theft incidents has reached 9.9 million a year, according to the Federal Trade commission.

Be vigilant and report any suspicious phone solicitations, emails asking for personal information, or door to door salespeople demanding identification. These are the modern day Bonny and Clyde's, they must be stopped!

This is me 1982, Rocky River Alaska!

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/guest/identity-theft-or-not/article_2d61f72a-b30c-11e3-9a42-0019bb2963f4.html

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