www.thegardenisland.com

Monk Seal and Me...

Search This Blog

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

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

Guest-blogger Bettejo Dux is one of Kauai's most interesting people, she has lived on the cosmic island of Kaua'i for over 40 years... She is an animal lover, people lover and enjoys life to the fullest.  Elections are around the corner and today Bettejo talks about  the killing machine, politics and more. The above photo was taken on 08-12-12 (her 82nd Birthday)  in Bettejo's favorite room in her house, the room with all the books...www.bettejodux.com
Fascism...

Isn't that an awful word?  Many like to ‘believe’…would certainly prefer to ‘believe’…the concept died at the end of the Second World War with Benito Mussolini. Did it? Call it something else and therefore the reality it exists isn't. It’s so Orwellian it boggles.

I would like to begin by quoting Benito. He said, “We do not have to be the century of socialism, liberalism and democracy.”Think about that. There is certainly a great frothing at the mouth about the very idea of socialism, although most  frothers don’t even know what it means. It’s an economic term. We know that today-we can measure- the happiest people on earth live in secular, socialistic democracies. A socialistic economic structure is a middle way between communism and capitalism which are also economic terms. Factor in taxes, which exists which ever which way you wander and  about which our very own Benjamin Franklin said,”Our Constitution is in actual operation: everything appears to promise it will last: but in this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.”

When you look at the pie chart of Federal spending-taxes- you find these numbers: one says thirty cents out of every tax dollar the government spends goes to the military, the other says forty six cents goes to the military.  Either way we plunk an awful lot of  tax dollars into the killing machine.

If this were your household budget you’d be spending 30 or 46 cents out of every dollar you earn killing rats, and, unfortunately, the stuff you’re using to kill rats isn't working, it seems to create more rats thereby making it necessary for you to buy more rat poison to kill more and more rats. As the rat population grows the expense to kill them goes up and the rent doesn't get paid, the kids don’t get fed, old folks who need medical attention don’t, the roof leaks, and  you’re working your butt off buying rat poison. Eventually this economic truth does the domino theory shuffle and lots of other things-books, non-essentials, stuff- falls off the economic map and puts people out of work. People who write books, sell books, and other stuff lose their jobs because you can’t afford to buy these things. Eventually, you end up there, too. So, if communism doesn't work and socialism is out of the question we’re stuck with an economic structure hitting the skids. Hear those domino's clicking?

…and we haven’t even got to democracy. There are many in this country who remind us, on every occasion, that we are a Republic not a democracy. But many of us find it strange that much of our military budget goes into pushing that which we don’t want or have into foreign countries who don’t have it. But we’re certainly on the Mussolini path. No democracy, no socialism here, by George.

Then there’s the word liberal. Another mouth frother. Liberal is all tied up with secular which is all tied up with religion which is all tied up with fascism, ask Benito. Isn't  that where we came in?

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



Bettejo  also  publishes her own blog column.
You can check it out at ;  http://www.bettejo.wordpress.com .   Besides her blog she recently published and authored the humorous fiction book, "The Scam," check it out at(www.bettejodux.com) or  on Amazon.
http://www.bettejodux.com/

Monday, August 20, 2012

"Serenity Now..." 'James "kimo" Rosen'

Eric Briksa enjoys a delicacy at Costco outdoor
cafe in Lihu'e, Hawai'i. A giant hot-dog and giant drink
still only $1.50! One can't even buy a soft drink
for that price at most places.
Aloha, Check out my Opinion article in the October 15,2012 edition of the  Kaua'i Garden Island news, " Serenity Now." It's about Costco outdoor cafe!http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-monday-oct/article_98c1583a-1691-11e2-ad86-001a4bcf887a.html
 
Serenity Now

Costco outdoor cafe in Lihu'e is  still the place  to go on for an inexpensive  meal on the cosmic island of Kaua'i. No membership card is asked for at the outdoor cafe, so anyone, even non-members line up in the never ending lines on a daily basis.
Where else can you get a 100% 1/4 lb plus beef frank  with  optional sauerkraut and a refillable 24 oz. soft drink for $1.50?

Costco  outdoor cafe  still has not grasped the aged old  concept of 'roped of lines' as banks and most fast food restaurants employ ,where the next person in any line  goes to the next available ordering window.  

Remember, just have patience in case you pick the wrong line and the person in front of you happens to be  ordering for the tour bus in the parking lot. In that case just repeat after me, "Serenity now..." 

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



Aloha, Check out my Opinion article in the October 15,2012 edition of the  Kaua'i Garden Island news, " Serenity Now." It's about Costco outdoor cafe!http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-monday-oct/article_98c1583a-1691-11e2-ad86-001a4bcf887a.html
 

Sunday, August 19, 2012

"All it takes is one person..." 'Judith whitehead' (Inspiration Monday)

"Guest-blogger Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst N.Y. and has worked in the ophthalmology field of medicine for over 30 years..." Judy talks about paying it forward in all caps... ;D) Enjoy...

 ALL IT TAKES IS ONE PERSON

SOME DAYS WHEN WORKING IN THE MEDICALFIELD YOU GET ONE DIFFICULT PATIENT AFTER ANOTHER; SOME ARE UNHAPPY AND WANT TO SHARE ALL THEIR TROUBLES WITH YOU OR TAKE IT OUT ON YOU. 

ALL IT TAKES IS ONE PERSON TO APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS AND SHARE THOSE THOUGHTS WITH YOU.  IT CAN TURN YOUR WHOLE DAY AROUND.

IT'S SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND...TRY AND PAY IT FORWARD DURING YOUR DAY. IT WILL MAKE YOU AND THE OTHER PERSON FEEL GREAT, WORTHWHILE AND MAKE THEIR DAY.

Hana Hou #1 (Encore) Jewish Trivia...


cid:X.MA1.1256918143@aol.com


Jewish Trivia (You may or may not know - Enjoy!)
The Rooseveltscid:X.MA2.1256918143@aol.com were Jewish Dutch, arriving in NYC in 1682 (Originally named
Claes Rosenvelt before name change to Nicholas Roosevelt) Sarah Delano,
FDR's mother, was descended from Sephardic Jews.
Joseph Stalincid:X.MA3.1256918143@aol.com was originally named Joseph David Djugashvili (translating into "son of a Jew.") As well, all 3 of the women he married were Jewish.

Dwight Eisenhower'scid:X.MA4.1256918143@aol.com father was a Swedish Jew and was so identified in the
West Point Yearbook of 1915.


Hana Hou #2 (Encore) Shared from Facebook...

Saturday, August 18, 2012

"My Dollars on Kollar..!" 'James "Kimo" Rosen'



 

My dollar is on Kollar..! Justin Kollar  for Kaua'i county
Prosecutor. No District attorney's on Kauai, they call
them Prosecutors because in the past most candidates
were not attorney's or educated. Justin is not
only educated but a decent guy!
Remember to vote!  I like to say our local race is between
 Justin Time and Justin Sane.
Photo above of Justin Kollar courtesy of the campaign to
elect Justin Kollar


Aloha, Check out my opinion article in the '10-19-12' edition of the Kaua'i Garden island news, "My Dollar on Kollar!

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-friday-oct/article_0900bd32-19c3-11e2-b0c3-0019bb2963f4.html
The  Kaua'i county  primary  for Prosecutor was clearly won by Justin Kollar defeating incumbent Shaylene Iseri Carvalho with 51% of the vote (6883 votes) to Iseri Carvalho's 49% of the vote. (6691 votes) 
Justin Kollar clearly the winner by 50% plus one! 

I am hoping in the future if the  primary winner is decided by more than a 50%  plus one margin to do what Honolulu and many municipalities do,  declare that candidate the winner without  requiring them to partake in  another expensive and stressful election cycle three months later.

Why vote for the exact same thing in the general election? The taxpayers save money with one less ballot and the candidates can concentrate on their jobs vs. waiving signs and  blocking sidewalks for the next 3 months?

 I've got my Dollar on Kollar! Kollar, the best candidate for your taxpaying dollar.


http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-friday-oct/article_0900bd32-19c3-11e2-b0c3-0019bb2963f4.html


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


 

Friday, August 17, 2012

"Fat is different nowadays..." 'Obama da Dog'

Fat is different now,
 we  now call fat woman full figured,
we tell fat men they should play football.


 I was recently watching re-runs of thew classic TV show the Honeymooners with Jackie Gleason and Audrey Meadows.
When I was a kid everyone used to say how fat Jackie Gleason was. Watching the show now he does not seem fat, maybe a little husky but in today's worlds he would look normal, not fat.

Fat was different when I was a kid, someone 30 lbs overweight was considered morbidly obese, now someone is not morbidly obese until they are alt least 100 lbs overweight.

Fat is different now, we  now call fat woman full figured, we tell fat men they should play football. Although there are thousands of diet fads and numerous articles and TV shows on health and diet everyone feels  more comfortable in their skin these days.

Back in the day, not every kid on the baseball team won trophy's , now everyone wins a trophy for something. 

What ever to happen to the good old days when you could call someone a fat slob, or actually award someone a trophy for outstanding achievement? 

It's time everyone take a serious look in the mirror and know that all men are not created equal!


 
Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Youtube.  "A Hilarious tribute to Jackie Gleason
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CgNwBh8vOY


Hana Hou, Hana Hou (Double Hana Hou today) Shared from Facebook...

Thursday, August 16, 2012

"Gourmet or Gourmand ..?" 'Michael A. Herr' (Aloha Friday)


Renowned author Michael Herr is back guest-blogging on this awesome Aloha Friday talking about  the difference between  connoisseurs and common sewers.  ;D)... Make sure and check out Michael's website at; http://www.michaelherr.com/



It's Aloha Friday.


Gourmet or Gourmand ? Oh, heck, let's just eat.


Aloha folks,


Contradiction: I love to eat . . . but I have little taste. By that I mean that I am no gourmet. I have taste buds, but my stomach more often dictates my eating.

I enjoy food, but I probably do not appreciate it to the degree that some would say I should. For example, I don't like oysters. Miss Manners says that they are the first course of a dinner. I guess I'll come late to that dinner. I have eaten them barbecued . . . but raw? No thank you.

Truffles? Caviar? Other little fancy things? Forget them, where are the pizza rolls?

I love meat, but while I can tell the difference between chuck steak and fillet Mignon I'm happy to eat either one. As long as the steak is rare, very rare.

Wine? I know there's red and white and in-between. But a great wine versus a merely good wine? It's all the same to me. Though I do love champagne . . . mostly for the bubbles.

Coffee? It’s great, as long as you put enough Splenda
and cream in it. But a premium roast or a truck stop brew? All the same to me.No, I'm definitely not a gourmet. I like what I like and I like my servings to be ample.

According to the following definition, I must be more of a gourmand.
"According to some, there is technically no difference in Modern English between the terms gourmet and gourmand. Both have the meaning typically ascribed to gourmet, a person who enjoys and appreciates fine food. However, the two terms differ in their connotative meanings."

Many English speakers feel that gourmand implies a tendency towards gluttony and that a gourmet is a somewhat more reserved individual. The first may be more of a hedonist and the second considered more of a critic, though both are connoisseurs. In older or more conservative usage, gourmand is closer in meaning to glutton."

Glutton? Me? I was going to protest this, but several unpleasant remembrances of time spent in some chilly porcelain bathroom following an evening of excessive eating force me to conclude that, yes, I may indeed be a gourmand. But I prefer that term to glutton.

Okay folks, see you next week.

 


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



check out Michael's website at http://www.michaelherr.com/ 

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this blog site do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Publisher of Dakinetalk the blog, but they could? ;D)

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

"Politics, skeletons and wrongdoings..."‏ 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

Ann Punaho shows her support for president Obama with a
recent one woman sign waiving  event in Kapa'a town
Politics, especially the presidential race is now about the opposing candidates alleged skeletons and wrong-doings than it is about politicians telling us why they are qualified and what they will do to make this a better country.

Democrats want to see Romney's income tax returns and Republicans want to see Obama's birth-certificate for the 500th time. Obama may have smoked pot in high school and Romney may have bullied a gay kid and tied a kennel with a dog in it to the roof of his car, however what does this have to do with rebuilding America?


I am sure both candidates are good men and both want whats best for America.

What would be best for America is to not vote for either of the major two political parties, vote Independent, vote Green, vote anything but traditional Republican-Democrat, otherwise there will never be change.



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



The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this blog site do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Publisher of Dakinetalk the blog, but they could? ;D)