"Hello There..." '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

Check out the recent YouTube video of Bettejo's 84th Birthday bash and booksigning party at Birdies  in Kalaheo;
http://youtu.be/5iVelkZ_0eo

Hello There

Bettejo signs her novella for a fan at Birdies in Kalaheo...

Hi, it's me Bettejo, with my weekly column right here at Kimo's blog and Ho'iki Community Television's Art and Entertainment site. If  you know how to get here, please come in-let's be friends-and tell your friends, family and neighbors, how to come in, too.

Let's get lively. Let's get acquainted. Let's get known out there.

The company here-Jay, Julia and Kainoa-is delightful, The set is simple and perfect, great lighting-no close ups, Mr. DeMille. I will attempt to be entertaining. And Sassy. As long as I'm not profane or call names-which going's on are not my stele-I can say what I want. No more censorship, no more editors, no more mysterious black outs or displacements. I will try to have new current, controversial, conversations with you. Hope to include you in any of the issues or subjects I discuss. Be my guest.

Today I sit with two of my favorite writers, me-CHILDREN OF THE  EXTINCTION-and Chris Hedges-DEATH OF THE LIBERAL CLASS. Remember writers not only write, they  speak and  read. I'll admit most of my friends are on bookshelves and I have a lot of them.

Chris-a respected journalist who tired of media suppression-said, and I quote:

"Governments are owned by corporations, run by psychopaths lying about an imaginary economy based on debt, fueled by illegal wars, destroying ecosystems, poisoning food and water, decreasing education, increasing prisons, manipulating the media, foreclosing homes, suppressing energy technology, making s struggle, starving, humiliating, and killing the world.

That's a mouthful, but does it sound truthful? Do we not experience-daily-this madness, right here on Kauai? Are these statements-perchance-part of the 'orthodoxy' we do not dare-or cannot, or are forbidden to express?

Let's think about property taxes. A hot topic. And let's think about the future.

Do you think there are those who see the future as a place where only the top 10% can afford to own property and homes and pay the taxes? They who live in gated ghettos for the rich or on small, useless but beautiful, gentlemen farms?

Where enormous corporations own vast acres of dollar crops spraying  pesticide and herbal toxins in the air, which also foul the water in the oceans, the streams, rivers, and aquifers. Crops not to be eaten on Kauai by those of us who live here, but grown for profit. People  be bleeped.

Where a large military, police and political force is present to control those of us who protest this destructive abuse and misuse. They will be assured roofs over their heads, water in their tubs and swimming pools, and power in their dwellings.

What's left of us, if lucky, will live in overcrowded-rigidly controlled-lower income ghettos and make beds, cook  food, clean, moot clerk, dig ditches, mow lawns, and serve they who have the bucks to afford us. Classic third world structure envisioned for Kauai.

What think you? Care to talk about it?

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

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"How to impress..." 'Marvin Gross' (Source)

Marvin Gross is a Financial consultant currently residing in Western N.Y.
Today Marvin shares  about how to impress...enjoy!

How to impress

An old guy (not in the best of shape) was working out in the gym

When he spotted a sweet young thing... He asked the trainer that was nearby "What machine in here should I use to impress that sweet thing over there?"

The trainer looked him up and down and said "I would try the ATM in the lobby"

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"If all business's priced themselves like the airlines..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen' (Kimo's world #28)

James "Kimo" Rosen on the sidelines  with Buffalo Bills Quarterback
Doug Flutie during the 1998 Pro-Bowl in Honolulu.
James “Kimo” Rosen is a retired professional photographer living in
  Kapa'a Hawai'i with his best friend Obama Da Dog, Rosen also blogs as a hobby

Kimo's world #28)

If all business's priced themselves like the airlines


Imagine if restaurants, supermarkets and all business enterprises  priced themselves like the airlines.

 Why is checking the price of airline flights like playing the stock market, up one day,  down the next.?

Flights from smaller airports can be cheaper. weekend trips are less expensive when you depart on Saturday and return on Monday.Departing on a Friday and returning on a Sunday can wind up costing 2-3 times more than the cheapest time to book.

Airlines release their last-minute weekend deals on Tuesdays, so being flexible can save you money.
Tuesday and Wednesday are the cheapest days to fly. The weekends are the most expensive.

On a Hawaiian airlines flight  of 102 miles  flight from Lihue  to  Honolulu fares can  start at  $89.30 one way, however you can wind up paying  fares of $97, $103, $117, $128,162,192, 207etc. for the exact same seat. There are also plus  fee's of $25.00 for the first bag and $35.00 for the second and each additional bag.

Airline fares  from Los Angeles to Chicago have an even greater variance   starting at  low as $109 one way all the way up to  nearly $2,000.

Now imagine if restaurants price themselves like the airlines;
That would mean on  a busy day a hamburger could cost $25.00 or more (similar to food trucks on Kauai) or on a not so busy day a hamburger might cost $2.50. I know the price I would prefer!

If you want a good deal on steak and lobster go out to eat on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Pizzas would be most expensive on the weekends, however Mondays would be a great deal on Pizza.

Going shopping at the supermarket on Tuesdays or Wednesdays  could mean hundreds of dollars in savings or going on the weekends would make one go broke.

The same is true for buying new cars, who ever pays sticker price on anew car? Who ever pays listed price on real estate? I have even found that my neighbors who have the exact same cable packages all pay a different price than me. Of course I have the best deal, because everything is negotiable.

Thrift stores are getting too expensive and trendy too. Ironically I have seen cheaper prices on new clothes than  paying for used clothes that were once worn by dead people.

The key to getting a good deals is never being afraid to ask for it. Maybe it would be good if restaurants, supermarkets and all business's charged like the airlines?

For those upset over merchants charging premium prices for water during the recent hurricane watch and wanting to prosecute for price gouging just take a look at the airlines and every other business being guilty of the same.

It's all about supply and demand, free enterprise and capitalism!

Obama Da Dog with a fake deer and live chickens...

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"Garage Sale Frenzy..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday)

Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst New York and has worked in

the ophthalmology field of medicine for over 30 years.

Garage Sale Frenzy

 Once again it was the week of our neighborhood garage sale; every beginning of August for the last 10 years our neighborhood does a joint effort, advertises and combines all our efforts to have the biggest sale ever.  We even included the neighborhood behind us this year to participate.  Garage sales are a wonderful way to clear out unused clothing, items that have been treasured by our significant other that have outlived their usefulness and children’s  items  that  they have left after leaving the nest; they amount  to   treasures that they could not part with but did not want to bring to their new abode so they ask if they can leave them in the house for future use.  We have a whole lot of those things.

Garage sales can be exhausting to say the least; first comes the dredging   of closets and bringing up from the basement all the old stuff.  Then comes  the organizing and tagging of every item so as to make it clear for any shopper to identify.   Tables all organized and set the night before because anyone who has ever had a sale in their house knows that the times posted mean nothing to the serious shoppers. 

It seems that 8AM -3PM means  “come any time” and our first shopper was at our doorstep early Friday morning at 7:30AM.  Not to worry, I was ready for them; my first priority was to unload anything and everything I had hung out, boxed up or displayed for the public.  Prices seem to mean nothing as well; they translate into a conversation starting with “will you take half the price?”  Sure, why not just give it to you…Then there are those shoppers that want practically a warranty on the item that they are paying a few dollars for…I often got asked, “does it still work?” and “is it the real thing”? 

Towards the end of the first day I did sell my larger items that I was happy about; but was left tired and hot after standing in the sun for 8 hours pitching my best sales talk to so many for so few dollars.

I have made it a rule in our house that nothing comes back into the garage that goes unsold; all left over items get carted away to charities.  During the last few hours of my sale I will put signs on the items that are large that say “take me home - I am free” .  And my last ditch effort to get rid of those items that no one will take is to line up the leftovers on the curb; there is always a junk man who will scour the neighborhood after  dark to get some treasures.  Surprisingly this year I had a knock at my door after dinner time to ask me if he could take the items on the curb which I thought was very considerate.

So, I feel my sale was a success because it met my three criteria; I was able to get rid of a lot of unused items,  got a little chaching for my purse, and got a little tan to boot.  My husband always says “never again” after the sale is over, but we know better.  Come next  Spring we will be sorting again for our annual sale so as to not break tradition; it’s a great way to catch up with the neighbors and have a little friendly competition amongst friends.  We always compare notes at the end about our most  trying customers and biggest sales because garage sales bring out the best and worst in people. Every customer is a potential sale and I enjoy the challenge. 

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"The Magic Bank Account..." '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...

The Magic Bank Account

Imagine that you had won the following *PRIZE* in a contest: Each morning your bank would deposit $86,400 in your private account for your use. However, this prize has rules:

The set of rules:

1. Everything that you didn't spend during each day would be taken away from you.

2. You may not simply transfer money into some other account. 

3. You may only spend it.
4. Each morning upon awakening, the bank opens your account with another $86,400 for that day.

5. The bank can end the game without warning; at any time it can say,“Game Over!".  It can close the account and you will not receive a new one.

What would you personally do?

You would buy anything and everything you wanted right? Not only for yourself, but for all the people you love and care for. Even for people you don't know, because you couldn't possibly spend it all on yourself, right?

You would try to spend every penny, and use it all, because you knew it would be replenished in the morning, right?

ACTUALLY, This GAME is REAL ...

Shocked ??? YES!

Each of us is already a winner of this *PRIZE*. We just can't seem to see it.

The PRIZE is *TIME*

1. Each morning we awaken to receive 86,400 seconds as a gift of life.

2. And when we go to sleep at night, any remaining time is NOT credited to us.

3. What we haven't used up that day is forever lost.

4. Yesterday is forever gone.

5. Each morning the account is refilled, but the bank can dissolve your account at any time WITHOUT WARNING...


SO, what will YOU do with your 86,400 seconds?

Those seconds are worth so much more than the same amount in dollars. Think about it and remember to enjoy every second of your life, because time races by so much quicker than you think.

So take care of yourself, be happy, love deeply and enjoy life!

Here's wishing you a wonderful and beautiful day. 

 "DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT GROWING OLD…!" 

'FEW PEOPLE GET THE PRIVILEGE!'

P.S. 
Check out this YouTube, Dog on trampoline!:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU9RSNXaElw

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"Children of the extinction, press release..." '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 of Bettejo a years back playing checkers with her nephew....

FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE
Children of the Extinction
Bettejo Dux
Amazon Books

CHILDREN OF THE EXTINCTION
-A controversial story about Kauai in the future. A future gone bad-

Kalaheo, Kauai, Hi. August 1, 2014—This is a mind-gripping narrative about-for-courageous, concerned, and independent women in a struggle for human existence. Children are the future. How they are to be raised in the new Dark Age is the force that drives this epic.

Hawaii has been hit by a triple whammy: pandemic, tsunami, hurricane. Oahu is a lost cause. No power, no transportation, no communication, no food or water. People are dying in droves of hunger, disease, violent mob behavior.

The military brass, therefor, decide to move the center of command to Kauai, which, in their estimation, still has a chance of survival. They secretly depart in a troop transport carrying six hundred men-their wives and children-and a brigade of Stryker tanks.

Narrated by Reilley Hawkins-former journalist- wife of the Second in command- has been devastated by the death of her only son. She tells the story of an attempt to save the children of Kauai from the clutches of a small but powerful religious faction in the military. They see the local children- tattered, lost, homeless orphans- as a future menial labor force.

There exists, however, a secret civilian/military element who envision another future for the children. Who will win this struggle? This story is so compelling you won’t be able to put it down. You’ll feel as if you’ve known these people all your lives, and meet a search and rescue dog who will quickly find a special place in your heart.

Bettejo Dux, a resident of Kauai for over forty years, is an award winning writer, columnist, novelist, peace and environmental activist who knows, and lovesKauai with a passion that shows up in her work.

Book Information:
Title: Children of the Extinction
Format: paper back
Publication date: August 2014
Price; 14.95: Amazon, Talk Story Book Store, Hanapepe, Kauai, or Bettejo Dux, POBox 601, Kalaheo, Kauai (808) 332-9626

Book signing Sunday, August 17th at Birdies Café 3-6PM. Everyone invited.

Listen to Bettejo on TV talking story about her latest Novella;
http://vp.telvue.com/preview?id=T01393&video=205423

 Bettejo is having her 84th birthday party and book signing! Everyone reading this is invited!
 Please come to Bettejo's Birthday Book Signing Bash at Birdies-in Kalaheo- This coming Sunday, August 17, 3-6PM. It'll be fun. Birdies is a great place. CHILDREN OF THE EXTINCTION is a good read. Hope to see you there. Bettejo 

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"The debt ceiling..." Robert Bito's 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 debt ceiling

I love simple solutions to vexing problems that, seemingly, graduates of Yale, Harvard, and other Ivy League schools cannot comprehend let alone resolve. 

I love it when a complicated situation can be explained in such simple terms!

THE DEBT CEILING

* Democrats don't understand THE DEBT CEILING
* Republicans don't understand THE DEBT CEILING
* Liberals don't understand THE DEBT CEILING
* NO ONE understands THE DEBT CEILING

* SO, allow me to explain.

Let's say you come home from work and find there has been a sewer backup in your neighborhood.
Your home has sewage all the way up to your ceiling.

What do you think you should do --

1. raise the ceiling, or
2. pump out the sewage?

Your choice is coming in November.

P.S.
A great song from Big Island musician Chris Kua. He composed "Hurricane Iselle Song" 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTMyM08bKz4#t=44

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