Canal Canal on the water,Do I look old..?" 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Friday)

Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst New York

( A suburb of Buffalo, N.Y.)

 and has worked in the ophthalmology

 field of medicine for nearly 40 years

Canal Canal on the water, Do I look old?

As I "gracefully"  age, I look in the mirror and think "do I look old"?

This past  weekend I felt like the mirror answered me. We went with friends  to Buffalo's canal side which has evolved over the last few years to a bustling port full of beauty and activities to see and do. 

One of the activities was a Ferry boat ride across the water to view the renovated light house.  It was a small Ferry with standing room and bench seats as well.

As we approached the seats there were a few small areas left to sit on--a woman on the bench that I would guess to be in her late 40's,  asked us if we needed a seat as she would offer her seat and she would stand.   If ever I felt old, that was the time..no mirror needed this time...just harsh reality, and I thought to myself "do I look that old?"

Well the 60's are good for some things--discounts at many places, extra courtesy given, and open seating.Wonder what the 70's will bring?

Hana Hou, (Encore)

"Para Transit Bus Service ain't what it used to be..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen' (Kimo's world #138)

James "Kimo" Rosen is a retired professional photographer
 and amongst other things lived in a tent outdoors for 7 years.
Rosen currently resides on the tropical island of Kaua'i
with his best friend and spiritual adviser Obama Da Dog!

Kimo's world #138~Blog #1812
Editors note;
This blog also appeared as an opinion article in the Thursday July 14, 2016 edition of The Garden Island news;
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-july/article_e0bb0c5f-f2c7-5245-b6fe-ce92275562fb.html

Para Transit Bus Service ain't what it used to be
The Para transit bus service is one of the many  perks of being over 60 and living on the Garden Island.

The Para Transit Bus is one of the many
great perks of being over 60  on the Garden Island!

Recently those at the top of the chain  decided to change the computer system with a new GPS in every bus  plus  new dispatch computers showing all at the central location where every bus is every minute. Eventually down the road allowing customers access to seeing where buses are just by logging onto a computer or smartphone.

This all sounds great, however there is an old expression, "if it ain't broke, why fix it?"

Somebody decided that each Para Transit driver every day shall drive a different route. Before drivers had fixed routes they were familiar with and riders that looked forward to their drivers knowing their needs. Many para transit customers are wheel-chair bound and have special needs. It takes time for the drivers to get to know the needs of those with special needs. A routine is imperative for the job to be done efficient.

This would be like having a cleaning service sending you a different person every week instead of having a person of routine who knows what you like. 

Lucy is  one of the many aloha spirited
 Para transit bus drivers.
Currently they must drive
a different route everyday.
A fixed route seems
to make more sense to
a majority of the drivers and
passengers.

The Para Transit drivers are some of the most Aloha oriented people I have ever met. The people running the Kauai bus have no idea what it's like to be a passenger or driver, they seem to have no common sense?

The drivers go to work and 
have no idea where they are starting their day, North, South, East, or West side of the island.
Whomever is responsible for the recent change in demanding that every para transit driver have a different route every day needs to be fired--no second chances, no let's talk about it. 

I do not know how much money was spent on this new program for the Kauai bus, but every driver I have talked with and every passenger I have spoke with is very disappointed. Most people say nothing because that is the local way.

The only people that are thrilled are the ones who sold the program and those who profited with commission sales through this idiotic program. It would be interesting to see who profited from this program and how much did this cost the taxpaying public?

Technology is not always the best choice, in many instances the human element out trumps(excuse the pun) them all.
Editors note;
This blog also appeared as an opinion article in the Thursday July 14, 2016 edition of The Garden Island news;
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-july/article_e0bb0c5f-f2c7-5245-b6fe-ce92275562fb.html

Hana Hou, Encore!

"At the Zoo..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Friday)

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

At the Zoo

This week we decided  to take the time to hang out at the Buffalo Zoo for a couple hours.  We had not been there since the improved polar bear exhibit. We felt bad since they shipped all the bears away except one lonely cub that was playing in the water but the exhibit was 100% better than previously. 

The baby apes were adorable and since the zoo added many more sponsors, the place looked cleaner and kept up.  I know it takes a lot to fund a Zoo but  the displays were sparse with animals which made us feel somewhat sad.  

Its a great place for the young; many moms had their little ones with them and a learning area has been set up just for them.  Now I have had my zoo fix for this year.  Now on to better and bigger things to discover.

Hana Hou...

"Declaration for Independents..." 'Larry Arruda' (Source of this viral email)

Please welcome guest-blogger Mr. Larry Arruda.
 Larry was born and raised in Lihu'e Kauai.Graduated from Wilcox Elementary in 1959

and Kauai High School in 1963. Larry is a Vietnam war veteran. Larry served 30 years in Costa Mesa California  as a highway design administrator. Larry Retired in 2002 and moved back home to Kauai in 2003.

Declaration for Independents

"I THINK THIS GUY HAS IT ALL COVERED.  I COULDN'T SPOT ANYTHING HE LEFT OUT."Larry Arruda

Editors note,   
Larry Arruda, is the source not
 the author of the enclosed viral email.

I am the Democratic-Republican-Liberal-Progressive's Worst Nightmare.
I am a White, Conservative, Tax-Paying American , Gun Owning  Veteran
That's me!

I believe in  the freedom of religion, but I don't push it on others.

I believe in American products and buy them whenever I can.

I believe the money I make belongs to me and not some liberal
governmental functionary, Democrat or Republican, that wants to share
it with others who don't work!

I'm in touch with my feelings and I like it that way!

I think owning a gun doesn't make you a killer; it makes you a smart American.

I think being a minority does not make you noble or victimized, and
does not entitle you to anything.  Get over it!

I believe that if you are selling me a Big Mac or any other item, you
should do it in English.

I believe there should be no other language option for business.

I believe everyone has a right to pray to his or her God when and
where they want to.

I don't hate the rich. I don't pity the poor.

I know wrestling is fake and I don't waste my time watching or arguing about it.

I've never owned a slave, nor was I a slave. I haven't burned any
witches , and neither have you!

I believe if you don't like the way things are here, go back to where
you came from and change your own country!  This is AMERICA ...We like
it the way it is and more so the way it was ...so stop trying to
change it to look like Russia or China, or some other socialist
country!

If you were born here and don't like it... you are free to move to any
Socialist country that will have you. I believe it is time to really
clean house, starting with the White House, the seat of our biggest
problems.

I want to know which church is it, exactly, where the Reverend Jesse
Jackson preaches, where he gets his money, and why he is always part
of the problem and not the solution?  Can I get an AMEN on that one
also think the cops have the right to pull you over if you're breaking
the law, regardless of what race or color you are.

And, no, I don't mind having my face shown on my driver's license, nor
the necessity of showing my identification, to conduct normal business
or especially to vote . I think those policies are more than
prudent....

I think if you are too stupid to know how a ballot works, I don't want
you deciding who should be running the most powerful nation in the
world for the next four years.

I dislike those people standing in the intersections trying to sell me
stuff or trying to guilt me into making 'donations' to their
cause....Get a job and do your part to support yourself and your
family!

I believe that it doesn't take a village to raise a child, it takes a
man and woman ...

I believe 'illegal' is illegal no matter what the lawyers, or
progressive Democrats  think!

I want to return this country to the values it was founded on, and
prospered under for over 200 years!

My Country...I hope this offends all illegal aliens.

Hypothetically,  my great, great, great, great grandfather watched and
bled as his friends died in the Revolution and the War of 1812.

My great, great, great grandfather watched as his friends died in the
Mexican American War.

My great, great grandfather watched as his friends and brothers died
in the Civil War.

My great grandfather watched as his friends died in the Spanish-American War.

My grandfather watched as his friends died in WW I.

My father watched as his friends died in WW II and the Korean War.

I watched as my friends died in Vietnam , Panama and Desert Storm.

My son watched and bled as his friends died in Afghanistan and Iraq ..

None of them died for the Mexican Flag.

Everyone of them died for the American flag, and liberty.

Texas high school students raised a Mexican flag on a school flag
pole, other students took it down. Guess who was expelled...the
students who took it down.

California high school students were sent home on Cinco de Mayo
because they wore T-shirts with the American flag printed on them.

Enough is enough!

This message needs to be viewed by every American; and every American
needs to stand up for America .

We've bent over to appease the America-haters long enough.

I'm taking a stand.

I'm standing up because of the hundreds of thousands who died fighting
in wars, preserving liberty and freedom both, here and in other
besieged nations, for the American flag, and all she stands for..

If you agree, stand up with me.

And shame on anyone who tries to make this a racist message.

AMERICANS, stop giving away Your RIGHTS!  Let me make this clear! THIS
IS MY COUNTRY!

This statement DOES NOT mean I'm against immigration!

YOU ARE WELCOME HERE, IN MY COUNTRY, welcome to come legally, as did
my grandparents:
      1. Get a sponsor
      2. Learn the LANGUAGE, as immigrants have in the past!
      3. Live by OUR rules!
      4. Get a job!
      5. Pay YOUR Taxes!
      6. No Social Security until you have earned it and Paid for it!
      7. NOW find a place to lay your head!

If you don't want to forward this for fear of offending someone, then
YOU'RE PART OF THE PROBLEM!

We've gone so far the other way . . . bent over backwards not to offend anyone.

Only AMERICANS seems to care when American Citizens are being offended!

WAKE UP America !!!

  I MISS MY COUNTRY!   God Bless America

Hana Hou, (Encore)

"A proposal to vote for Mel Rapozo..." 'James "{kimo" Rosen (Kimo's world #137)

James "Kimo" Rosen is a retired professional photographer
 and amongst other things lived in a tent outdoors for 7 years.
Rosen currently resides on the tropical island of Kaua'i
with his best friend and spiritual adviser Obama Da Dog!

Kimo's world #137~Blog #1809

A proposal to vote for Mel Rapozo

Presidential politics has destroyed my core friendships. Jerry Seinfeld said, "true friends are the ones that will either help you move or offer you a ride to the airport." Right now my friends would do neither, although many would probably volunteer to drive me to the airport if I had a one way ticket to anywhere.

Local politics are not as intense. Nobody will unfriend me or not talk to me if I say I am not going to vote for Joanne Yukimura, Gary Hooser,  Kipu Kai, Derek Kawakami, Mel Rapozo or the other guys.

Why not unfriend me for voting for a local council member? It's closer to home?

It would seem much more appropriate to unfriend someone on a local level than a national basis of where you never really get to know the candidate except through the deceptive media.

Kauai county councilman
Mel Rapozo

So, here's my stand. I will talk to you if you vote for Mel Rapozo. Mel currently serves as county chair for the  7 person elected county council.  Mel works tirelessly  around the clock to help the people of Kauai county.  Every time I have had any kind of situation or problem and have emailed the county council at large Mel has always been the first to respond with an answer that always says, "Kimo, I will get on it immediately,"and he does.  So far every situation has had positive results.

I can't say who I will not talk to on a local level, but I will most definitely talk to you if you vote for Mel Rapozo. I encourage you to vote for Mel Rapozo. His heart is in it for the right reasons.

 I have a proposal, for all to vote for Mel Rapozo!

iPhone Photography with PIP app;
All images Copyright 2016-James "Kimo"Rosen~

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

Smile, laughter is healing!   ;-)

"Chillaxin..!"'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Friday)

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

Chillaxin

Today I decided to take the day off. Having my son visiting from L.A. I had planned some extra time to spend with him and do a “me day” today. An extra day to chill and do some things around the house is much appreciated at the end of a busy work week.

Starting the day at our favorite “diamond in the area” restaurant, Mardes is like a step back of time, located in our very own Mayberry USA. Hidden in a neighborhood nearby and locally owned by a family, it is a step back in time.

Judith and son Joel
'Chilaxin' before he   heads back
to LA...

 Everyone knows everyone, the customers are regulars and the restaurant is so small we can hold a conversation with someone across the room. Still offering breakfast specials that include coffee is almost unheard of in today's business world and walking out of a restaurant feeling full spending little money is another gift.

I know my day will go fast as I watch some HG-TV and refresh my manicure but that's what a day off is all about. Chillaxin!

"Judy, Judy, Judy!"

Hana Hou, (Encore)

Please say it Mr. President, say it! 'James "Kimo" Rosen' (Kimo's world #136)

James "Kimo" Rosen is a retired professional photographer
 and amongst other things lived in a tent outdoors for 7 years.
Rosen currently resides on the tropical island of Kaua'i
with his best friend and spiritual adviser Obama Da Dog!

Kimo's world #136~Blog #1807

Editors note;
dakinetalk blog was scheduled to be on vacation for a full week. It was discovered that  4 days was more than adequate to get the writers bug back.  I'm back with a late edition of Kimo's world.   Hope you enjoy!

Please say it Mr. President, say it!

Omar Mateen, pledged allegiance to ISIS and  gunned down 49 people early Sunday June 12th at a gay nightclub in Orlando, the deadliest mass shooting in the United States and the nation's worst terror attack since 9/11.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/12/us/orlando-nightclub-shooting/
Last week A boy by the name of Mohamed fatally slit the throat of a 13 year old  Jewish girl in Israel as she slept. 
https://adarapress.com/2016/06/30/13-year-old-jewish-girl-murdered-in-her-sleep-by-17-year-old-arab-killers-mother-to-be-compensated-by-p-a-my-son-is-a-hero-he-made-me-proud/
50 people died  and  60  were wounded by suicide bombers at the Istanbul airport which also took  place last week, this is  also said to be the work of radical Islam.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3664710/Two-explosions-gunfire-Istanbul-s-Ataturk-airport-cause-multiple-injuries.html
...And just a few days ago;
Iraqis mourned more than more than 200 people killed in a Baghdad suicide bombing claimed by the Islamic State group.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/02/middleeast/baghdad-car-bombs/
Guns are  not the common denominator. Radical Islam is the culprit and until such time as our President can say who the enemy is these attacks will continue. They will continue with knives, suicide bombs , flying airplanes into buildings and other evil ways. 

 President Obama is telling us we have a problem but refuses to identify it. Imagine going to the doctor and having cancer and the doctor tells you only that your sick,but doesn't identify the disease? How can you heal if you are not properly diagnosed?You need to know what your diagnosis  and  problem is before you can work on a cure.

Please say it Mr. President, This is not a war on the NRA or guns.
THIS IS A WAR ON RADICAL ISLAM!

Editor's note,
This blog appeared 12 days later on July 18, 2016 as an opinion piece in the state of Hawaii's largest newspaper, the Honolulu Staradvertiser. I will include the copy and pasted text along with the URL link since the newspaper has a paywall and only those with paid subscriptions can enter the site.
http://staradvertiser.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

"Enemy isn’t guns, it’s radical Islam"
   Omar Mateen, pledged allegiance to ISIS and  gunned down 49 people early Sunday June 12th at a gay nightclub in Orlando, the deadliest mass shooting in the United States and the nation's worst terror attack since 9/11.
   Last week A boy by the name of Mohamed fatally slit the throat of a 13 year old  Jewish girl in Israel as she slept.
   50 people died and  60  were wounded by suicide bombers at the Istanbul airport which also took  place last week,.
   Guns are  not the common denominator. Radical Islam is the culprit and until such time as our President can say who the enemy is these attacks will continue. They will continue with knives, suicide bombs , flying airplanes into buildings and other evil ways.
   This is not a war on the NRA or guns.

This is a war on radical Islam
P.S.
Please note the following memes are for collection purposes. dakinetalk's vacation ended early. Ended up we could not stay away from blogging. We are addicted to it!   ;-)

Hana Hou-iPhone photography;
All images Copyright 2016-James "Kimo"Rosen~