"Deposit returns, a win win for everybody..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen' (Best of Dakinetalk)

This blog originally appeared  as dakinetalk
blog #146 on 08-08-10
http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2010/08/deposit-returns-win-win-for-everbody.html

Deposit returns, a win win for everybody

When I was a child you could buy a bottle of soda and the corner store or grocery store and return it to the same store yo bought it at for a deposit. many state have started this procedure again.

Most people living in Hawaii do not even know where to go to recycle, and why drive 20 miles to receive a $1.00 refund, it costs more in gas. The solution is not more deposit money to be collected but to have the store that sold the item accept it back.

OK, you say it's going to cost the store too much money having to hire someone to do this job? My sister who lives in Buffalo N.Y. told me every convenient type store and grocery store has a Kiosk type machine, available 24-7, that scans your returns and gives you your deposit money back on the spot. Many states have adopted this user friendly procedure.

I hope our state and local government's can adopt a similar procedure, it would be win win for everybody, the consumer gets his deposit back at his next visit to the grocery store and the grocery store has people returning more frequently,hopefully they stop in and buy something.

The only problem I see is that the current way makes it easy for the state to keep the deposit since most don't bother with returns.

Could it be our politicians just don't want to improve the system?

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

"Sadly, antisemitism is still alive...." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday)

Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst New York and has worked in

the ophthalmology field of medicine for over 30 years.

Sadly, antisemitism  is still alive

Being born in the 1950’s just 10 yrs after the end of WWII our world still remembered what happened in Europe and specifically Germany all too well.  The wave of antisemitism was still fresh in
every ones’ mind  and most Jews in this country were mindful of not making their heritage stand out. 

I remember when starting public school I did not speak of my ethnic background, wear any jewelry announcing what my faith was and tried to blend in.  Even though the war was fought in Europe, there was plenty of antisemitism in the United States and across the world. I remember well our anti-Semitic neighbors when I was a small child and how scared I felt.   

It has been over 60 years since the War in Europe ended where my dad fought with many of my friends parents and we all learned that History could repeat itself if we did not keep the past in the present.

  I married within my faith, raised my children as such and made sure they knew  about the past and what happened to our people,  and how they almost became extinct.  They were raised to become proud of their faith and did not grow up feeling the same fear I did as a child. I am horrified about what I am now hearing in Ukraine and how once again the Jews are being singled out and counted just as they were in Nazi Germany so many years ago.  How can history  be repeating itself again?  Why is it that in hard times we single out a race to be the scape goat  ?

Antisemitism has never left our world; it only waits for an  opportunity to rear its ugly head when an opportunity  presents itself.  There will always be followers and there will always be leaders;  have we become any smarter, any more educated as to what the right thing to do is? 

When I hear things like “you must sign up to identify yourselves”, as they are trying to do in Ukraine, I get a sick feeling  once again as I did so many years ago.  The survivors from the holocaust in Germany and Europe are disappearing and ageing out and although they have tried to document their stories to be preserved for all time, there are still many disbelievers of the event despite the evidence that remains in Europe.  I can only hope and pray  that people have become more intelligent and humanistic over the years and come to realize that we are all God’s children ; we  are a melting pot of humans that can coexist  with some effort.  We all have gifts to offer, we all have a right to live on this earth – The
Jews have a saying, “he who saves a life, saves the world”.  We live by that mantra – it is the very thought that kept people alive in the concentration camps; the will to live and survive.

Despite all the hatred that still exists among us today, I still try and believe there is some good in everyone.  No one person is born with hate; hatred  is taught and nurtured by those that only have hate
in their hearts.  We as a human race have come a long way from the antiquated thinking of decades behind us; we are now more accepting of same sex marriages and freedom of expression that could not have taken  place in the 1950’s.  

We still have a long way to go in accepting peoples beliefs;  I am hoping that in my lifetime we can show no tolerance for persecution of peoples beliefs and become more accepting of peoples differences.  

How boring life would be if we all believed in the same thing and could not exchange different ideas.  I pray for peace and acceptance in our next decade of life on earth.

P.S.
Sign the petition,
Ensure Ukraine  Jewish registry is not enforced!
http://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/secretary-of-state-of-the-united-states-ensure-ukraine-jewish-registry-is-not-enforced-and-does-not-escalate


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

This blog originally appeared on 3-17-10 Dakinetalk blog #66

Blogger's addiction


Some people are addicted to alcohol, some to drugs, others to caffeine, sugar and junk food.

A person can be addicted to anything from bubble gum to sex and places in between.

There is one addiction I am trying to overcome which is the most addicting of all addictions, blogging  addiction. I am faithfully a member of  blogger's anonymous and am trying to curtail my blogging . Like any addiction,  blogging  need's support of fellow friends and associates.

So please try and help me curtail my addiction, or else you will need to continue reading my most inner thoughts, or is this addiction incurable? 

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

"IN THE FRAY AGAIN..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Classic Wednesday)

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

IN THE FRAY AGAIN

I had an interlude. Interesting. Fun. Difficult. A new ‘personality’ was born. In May last year I became a ‘columnist’ in the Wednesday Garden Island Wellness section. I had 32 columns published. I loved the wonderful full color  picture Carol Ann Davis took of me.

Photo of Bettejo by Carol Ann Davis.

A black and white copy – a  photographic piece of art- was displayed in a local art gallery at Kukui Grove Mall. I also had the distinction of having the most ‘recommends’-108-of any columnist since ‘recommending’ columnists began in the Garden Island.

My healthy ego was busting out all over. My self-esteem soared to pinnacle heights. To gaze in the mirror was to see stars in my eyes. I walked on air.

But it wasn't me. I am, and always have been, one who loves to rock the boat. Make waves. Stir the pot. Rattle the cage. Shake things up and scrawl a Bettejo.

So many topics on Kauai went unstung. GMOs. Milk factories. Christian mafia types galore. Too many grizzly patriarchs to shake a stick at. Cell towers. Jesus camps. Jesus!!

Greedy landholders.

Greedy? A rogue by any other name should smell so skunk. And that’s insulting skunks.

Why is it so few on Kauai see another vision of Kauai? A different future? All they see is the same old same old. More suburban sprawl. More Malls. More cars. Buy one get one free. They go home and breed. Everybody loves his car. Cars. We need more super highways to accommodate them.  More traffic jams.  Everybody loves the smell of CO2  in the morning.

Metropolitan Kalaheo is going to get an ABC store. Walk to this convenient store and buy cheap junk food and stuff for higher prices. Walk don’t waddle.

Love the sound of traffic rumbling by.  Drones and helicopters spying by.

Love vast fields of Franken corn to feed  Franken cows who produce  Franken milk. Franken ice cream. Franken yogurt. Franken cheese. Even Franken Tee shirts to sell to  tourists. Surfers and swimmers and kids and tourists swim in Franken cow poop, which-like old fashioned humuhumunukunukupua’a-goes swinning by.

Swimming bye bye.

Everybody needs more war games.More profit for pubs and bars and grass shacks of ill repute. More forbidden beaches.

More dead whales and dolphins and seals and other living things.Collateral? They get in the way. Who needs ‘em?

I’m fed up with cutsey wootsy. Think positive thoughts. Be agreeable. Get along. Meditate. Hide under the bed and all the bad sick old stuff  that doesn’t work, never did work, will go away. Maybe if you close our eyes or keep them glued to the boob. Buy ear plugs and strap a fresh air tank to your back. Buy a cheap one at Walmart and breath through a hose in your nose.

Remember to kill all the chickens. Barking dogs, prowling cats, bleating  goats. Let the hills be alive with  the sound of Musac.

Don’t dream of a different future. Don’t express it or write about it. It’s a mess but be happy.

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

"Dog and God..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen' (Column)

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 was published in my bi-weekly column in the Kaua'i Garden
Island news on 04-21-14 titled " God and Dog." Please click on
the link below and check recommend...
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/guest/god-and-dog/article_a44eea30-c911-11e3-95b1-0019bb2963f4.html?_dc=976351797347.8883

Dog and God

There are 26 letters in the English alphabet.

Every writer has the same ingredients to write anything from fiction and  non-fiction, to poetry,songs, great recipes and  newspaper columns.

Some writers can write best selling classics, just as some chefs can create 5 star  gourmet dishes.

Just as the constitution states that all men are equal, all writers are also equal, given the 26 letters they have to work with.Once you have use of the ingredients of the 26 letters you need a few other key elements. A vivid imagination, aesthetic enthusiasm and  the desire  to share part of your soul with your readers.  

I hope you enjoy my story created with most of the 26 letters of the alphabet.

Once upon a time lived a grey haired and gotee bearded man with his best friend a dog, on the cosmic Garden island of Kauai.
The man realized his only true friend was his dog, however his dog had many friends. People always said hello to the dog and not to the man. People would buy presents and give treats to the dog and never to the man. The Dog was not only the best friend to the man but made people feel good, even made strangers laugh and smile. Strangers would  always come up to the dog wanting to kiss and pet  the dog, yet nobody wanted to do the same to the man.

This dog was actually a rescue dog that somebody wanted to discard.

This  dog is also very smart, when asked what is on top of the house? She always replies, "roof, roof." When asked the opposite of smooth, she says, "rough, rough."    

This dog just happens to be my dog. She  is so smart I named her  after the 44th president of the United states, 'Obama.'What's so ironic is that I have friends that can't even call my dog by her name, since they dislike President Obama with a passion. Obama therefore  has taken on the moniker of 'Bommers' or 'Boms.'

When I am out in public and call my dog's name or say, "Obama get over here,"  people look at me with strange eyes, like I am crazy.They think I am calling the president, they don't realize my dog's name is Obama.

Upon realizing it, they usually smile and say something to the nature of, "we can tell our friends on the mainland we met 'Obama' on Kauai in person, or should we say, in dog?"

If you are single there is nothing better than a cute dog to attract members of the opposite sex. I cannot even count the number of times someone of the opposite sex has asked the metaphoric question, "can I pet your dog?"  E-harmony and J-date, move over.

To anyone battling depression or just in need of a true friend, may I suggest getting your own 'Obama,' your own rescue dog or even a cat.  I know the fifty dollars I spent to  acquire a best friend is the best $50.00 I ever spent. The dog also came with a bag of dog food, a training video, all shots, a leash, discount coupons and a heart of gold. 

 I would like to quote the chorus of  the song "God and Dog" by Wendy Francisco, it goes like this;
"I look up and I see God, I look down and see my Dog."Simple spelling G O D, same word backwards, D O G." "And in my human frailty...I can't match their love for me."  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H17edn_RZoY

The expression goes, "Dogs are man's best friend."Please visit your local  ASPCA  or humane society and  adopt a dog today, or better yet have the dog rescue you as was my good fortune.  I like to tell people, Obama rescued me, that is "Obama Da Dog! 

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/guest/god-and-dog/article_a44eea30-c911-11e3-95b1-0019bb2963f4.html?_dc=976351797347.8883

P.S.  Watch this heartfelt YouTube;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syUSmEbGLs4#t=148

This week marks the 69th anniversary of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen, one of the most violent and fatal Nazi camps. Watch the video above in commemoration.


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

Great T-shirts!   ;D)

"New beginnings..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday)

Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst New York and has worked in

the ophthalmology field of medicine for over 30 years.

New Beginnings

As we celebrate this week with  the coinciding holidays of Passover/Easter we reflect on how the holidays intertwine; each one observed for different reasons, different causes, they both are based on faith and symbolism;  they are celebrated together with friends and family. Both holidays occur in the Spring of the year and celebrate the common celebration of life.

Happy Passover/Easter to everyone; enjoy the coming of Spring and new beginnings for everyone.

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

Watching cars go by..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen' (Best of Dakinetalk) 62-1271

The best of Dakinetalk!
Blog #62---"Watching cars go by..." originally appeared on 03-01-10

Watching cars go by

For cyclists, congestion is bliss...

When I ride my bicycle in traffic I enter a euphoric state of mind.

On any given day there are thousands of cars on the Kuhio Highway between Safeway and The Coco Palms. Every night between 4:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m., I ride my bike with my dog along galloping along side...

The traffic is bumper-to-bumper, which for a bicyclist makes for safe and comfortable driving on the shoulder.

The experience of passing car after car after car after car is mind stimulating; the cars are at a standstill in their lanes, and I am passing 36 cars every minute. The safest time to ride a bike is during peak traffic.

I am hoping everyone reading this buys another car or two, and I encourage the convention and visitors bureau's to never stop promoting Kauai.

Like a surfer catching a wave, my wave is caught when my own power is more powerful than the giant refineries and petroleum companies.

I beg of everyone to do nothing to stop this wonderful traffic.

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