"PAGAN EASTER‏..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Vintage Bettejo)

Bettejo Dux has lived on the cosmic Garden Island
 of Kaua'i for over 40 years. Bettejo is a regular opinion 

writer in the Garden Island news and is the author of the

famed novella, "The Scam."  Her latest fiction

 "Children of Extinction" is now  released
 and available on Amazon!

www.bettejodux.com

www.amazon.com

 

PAGAN EASTER‏

Drats! The Christians took all the fun out of Easter.

It's an ancient pagan festival. The Spring Equinox. A  seasonal event. It celebrated the day all the fun things about this yearly event occur. Easter bunnies are a leftover. Eostre was a pagan goddess whose symbol was a rabbit or hare. Easter eggs are also an ancient custom celebrated by many cultures. Hot cross buns are ancient, too. That's a cute story: early Christian leaders tried to put a stop to this tradition but-in the end-cake-baking women wouldn't cave so they gave up and blessed the goodie. Don't you just love defiant women?

Israelites baked sweet buns for an idol-leave it to the Hebrews-beats matzo balls, which I love, but which are not particularly festive.

Even better, dancing, drinking, feasting, noise-making and love-making had been the usual ways in which humans celebrated occasions of communal happiness. Ever since prehistoric times human kind has spent energy on the turning of the seasons. Spent the strongest of these human emotions on spring-a time when the earth is freed from winter and the days grow long-with joyous, sometimes lascivious human behavior-which overcome the powers of darkness. I'll drink to that.

By the way, in those times it was a goddess, Inanna, or Ishtar, who was hanged naked on a stake and then resurrected. Well, at least we got out of that mess.

Another cute story: a cult called Cybele flourished on today's Vatican Hill. Cybele had a lover, Attis, who was born of a virgin, died and was reborn annually. This festival began as a day of blood on Black Friday-which reared its ugly head for three days- after which everybody rejoiced the resurrection. This caused some pretty violent conflicts-Christian versus pagan-as to which story was the true story.  Ring any bells? They're still at it. Whose god is the head honcho? Whose fairy tale is the real one?

An aside: as a devout non believer, I always wondered how it happened that awful Friday became Good Friday. Sounds like a perfectly terrible way to spend a Friday to me.

Eventually Christians accommodated the pagan Spring festival.  The goddess prevailed. Love goddesses. Miss'em.

Also, did you know, there's no celebration of Easter in the New Testament? The patriarchs, once again, gave in. Today most Christians celebrate a "sunrise service" at Easter. A historical pagan celebration but governed by the phases of the moon. Strange how myths begin, evolve and change. Darwinian? I don't know.

Actually, the spring Equinox is essentially related to fertility and a balance of night and day. Hey, some people celebrate with bonfires and jumpin' over dying embers which is believed to assure fertility of people and crops.

I think the world was a much more fun place when god was a woman. Or at least shared the stage. There were girl gods and boy gods, a family, very egalitarian. They were always up to shenanigans. It was a time of celestial giddiness. No great lumbering, bellicose, dim-witted psychopath ran the show. What do you think?

Editor's note, Dakinetalk guest bloggers do not necessarily represent the opinions of dakinetalk. Guest bloggers are given space to express their beliefs and or opinions. We feel there are many roads and like to give people space to express their thoughts,after-all that's what dakine is...Aloha, James "Kimo" Rosen, Publisher

Sunrise therapy can be seen daily on
James "Kimo" Rosen's
Facebook Timeline. 

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

"The Election Office..." 'Robert Bitos Gandia' (Source)

Guest-blogger,Robert Bitos Gandia
.Robert is an avid cook (ono gandule rice) and always laughing!!
Robert lives in Kekaha on Kauai's west-side and loves football!!

The Election Office

 A man walks into the Election office, says to the receptionist:
"I would like to put my name forward for the forthcoming elections
to be an Independent candidate.

The receptionist replied, "Certainly sir Please fill out this form.''
He was filling the form until he came to the question, ''Are you circumcised?''

So he asked the receptionist "Is that question necessary?"

She replied, "If you are circumcised you are not eligible".

He asked what difference it would make if he was circumcised?
She replied, "To become a politician, you have to be a complete prick"

Sunrise therapy can be seen daily on 

James "Kimo" Rosen's
Facebook Timeline. 

Hana Hou, Encore) Shared From Facebook

"Next Year at Taco Bell..." 'Kimo's world #66' (Special Classic annual Passover blog)

Happy Passover everyone!

 "Obama Da Dog a recent convert to Judaism celebrates Passover, the Jewish holiday celebrating freedom from Egyptian bondage and slavery..." This blog was published as an opinion article on 04-07-12 in the   Kaua'i Garden Island news; "Next year at Taco bell..." http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-saturday-april/article_7269225a-8071-11e1-8efb-0019bb2963f4.html

This blog originally ran on 04-24-11, Dakinetalk Blog #268 & on 04-06-12 Dakinetalk Blog #626

and again on 04-14-14 Blog #1268

http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2011/04/next-year-at-taco-bell.html

http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2012/04/happy-passover-next-year-at-taco-bell.html

http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2014/04/next-year-at-taco-bell-james-kimo-rosen.html

'Kimo's world #66' (Special Classic annual Passover blog)

Plus a special Buzzfeed about how a stolen i-phone turned positivie! ;-)
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/i-followed-my-stolen-iphone-across-the-world-became-a-celebr#.fmwB9D60a

 Next Year at Taco Bell

Everyday of the year is someone's birthday, and with all the religious and secular holidays, it gets hard  deciding which ones to celebrate.

Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday, since it is an American holiday, and not a Christian or Jewish holiday.

The rules of holidays are what I question.  For the  Jewish holiday of Passover, Jews (my people) are not suppose to eat leaven (bread or anything with yeast for 8 days.) This tradition started with the Jews escape from Egyptian bondage and slavery. While on the run they had limited time, only time to make a quick flat bread, that didn't have time to rise. therefore we eat Matzo as a remembrance of hard times. (Matzo is  a bland  cracker with very little taste consumed  during the  8 day long holiday of Passover.

We celebrate Passover with humbleness by abstaining from  bread, however we prepare huge holiday meals of a roasted brisket with pan fried potatoes, matzo ball soup with chicken,  elaborate salads and special cookies made from matzo meal instead of flour. I don't believe the Jews had time to make those items either if they didn't even have the time to bake bread? The basic rule, if it rises don't eat it during Passover. Noodles, pasta rice, beans etc, are all off the menu.

Eggs are on the menu even though they are a leavening agent in many baked goods. Whipped egg whites are a a leaven agent. Egg whites trap air bubbles in the batter, so when whisked, egg whites are folded into a batter, they hold the air in and help the baked goods attain a light, puffy rise. (added in 2015 edition)
http://www.craftsy.com/article/purpose-of-eggs-in-baking

The other irony is when you mix flour and water in a warm environment it creates sourdough, which is a sour yeast. I therefore believe that the matzo cracker would had risen in many cases.

The Jewish people  eat matzo and have elaborate gourmet meals to remember the days of slavery.

Why not just enjoy a nice spontaneous meal on the move, as most probably did during the exodus?

How about going through the drive through at Taco Bell, after all tortilla's are unleavened. This would sure make one humble and  an appropriate way to remember hard times.

Next year at Taco Bell! 

Happy Passover, Happy Easter and Happy April showers.

(Editor's note,  the last words at every Passover Seder are, "Next year in Jerusalem," next year at Taco bell is a play on words and my attempt at humor.)    ;-)

Editor's note, Dakinetalk guest bloggers do not necessarily represent the opinions of dakinetalk. Guest bloggers are given space to express their beliefs and or opinions. We feel there are many roads and like to give people space to express their thoughts,after-all that's what dakine is...Aloha, James "Kimo" Rosen, Publisher


P.S.
A Touching story;
"I Followed My Stolen iPhone Across The World, Became A Celebrity In China, And Found A Friend For Life."
From BuzzFeed;

Wow, best story I have read! Worth the read, you won't be sorry..
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/i-followed-my-stolen-iphone-across-the-world-became-a-celebr#.fmwB9D60a

Sunrise therapy can be seen daily on 

James "Kimo" Rosen's
Facebook Timeline. 

Hana Hou, Encore) Shared From Facebook...

"Springtime in Buffalo..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday)

Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst New York.

 and has worked in the ophthalmology
 field of medicine for over 30 years

Springtime in Buffalo

Springtime in Buffalo unveils many things. Although we still have small snow piles, believe it or not, we can at least see the grass and mud now.  My lawn is full of reminders that the deer have camped out on my lawn all winter. 

 The chipmunks are coming out to recover from winter and gorging themselves on birdseed and the mice have been very busy this winter.  My back yard is full of tunnels and trails kind of like a Halloween maze that will need to be filled in.  

The mouse made a nest out of the
burlap tree covers

The most amazing structure was discovered this week.  Under the snow by my porch was a "wig" like structure that was made for 
a winter home.  Lifting it up from the flower bed at first reassembled a wig of sorts,  but upon further inspection revealed finely  woven strands of burlap that we had covered the bushes with this winter...a mouse hotel. Amazingly built it must have housed  many mice because it was the size of the snow shovel. 

Looks like I have my Spring work cut out for me...and now that they have moved into my garage I am going to have to do the 
DEED.  I do not want them in my house!!!

Ah yes, Spring brings so many new smells and fresh air but also the creatures out of their hiding spots.  Now to protect the annuals that will be coming up for the deer to feast on....

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

Sunrise therapy can be seen daily on 

James "Kimo" Rosen's
Facebook Timeline. 

"Not only Good but Great Friday..!‏" 'Obama Da Dog'

Obama Da Dog is  a Life long resident of  Kapa'a Hawaii.
Happy Passover, Happy Good Friday,
Happy Aloha Friday and good Sabbath!
This blog also appeared the same day
04-03-15 in The Garden Island News.
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-friday-april/article_4f46deec-d9cf-11e4-99de-7f0c6ae2b5ed.html

Not only Good but Great Friday!

Today is 'Good Friday' also know as "Holy Friday."  It is the Friday immediately preceding Easter Sunday. It is celebrated traditionally as the day on which Jesus was crucified.

Tonight  is also the first day of Passover. All Jewish holidays start in the evening (Erev)The holiday celebrates the deliverance of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. 

On top of being Good Friday and the first Seder of Passover it is also the start of the Jewish Sabbath which begins at sundown.It is also referred to on the Hawaiian islands as 'Aloha Friday!'

Many believe the the Bible instructs us to remember Christ’s death by observing the last supper. Ironically the last supper for the most part is the Jewish celebration of Passover. In the last few decades many Christian churches have conducted their own Passover Seders and many Jews have come to believe in Jesus and call themselves Messianic Jews.

Many Jews believe every Friday to be a Good and Aloha Friday,  since commencing at sundown on Friday begins the Sabbath, the day of rest lasting until sundown on Saturday.  Jewish children are taught that every Friday is a day of rest and a feast like that of Thanksgiving is common for the Sabbath meal.

Remember every Friday is an Aloha Friday,a Good Friday,and this year it also brings in the Passover and the Sabbath. 

Have a Good Friday, A Great Aloha Friday, Happy Passover and wonderful Sabbath.

This is just one GREAT FRIDAY. Let's just  call it the Friday of Friday's.

This blog appeared this same day 04-03-15 in The Garden Island news under the title;
'Best Friday of all.'
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-friday-april/article_4f46deec-d9cf-11e4-99de-7f0c6ae2b5ed.html

Sunrise therapy can be seen daily on 

James "Kimo" Rosen's
Facebook Timeline. 

Hana Hou, (Encore)  Shared From Facebook

"THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Vintage Bettejo)

Bettejo Dux has lived on the cosmic Garden Island of Kaua'i for over 40 years.

Bettejo is a regular opinion writer in the Garden Island news and is the author of the

famed novella, "The Scam."  Her latest fiction

 "Children of Extinction" is now  released and available on Amazon!

www.bettejodux.com

www.amazon.com

 

THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA

It was September, 1952. I was on Oahu. On the way home from a brief shopping trip-we didn't call them sprees in those days- I sighted and purchased a copy of Life Magazine. Cost me twenty cents. Earnest Hemingway was on the cover. Like everyone in those days, who loved to read, Papa Hemingway was my favorite author. Flipping to page 25 I read this: The Editors of Life Magazine proudly present for the first time and in full a great new book by Earnest Hemingway. The Old Man and the Sea. It sold five million copies in two days.

This work went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1953 and the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954.I went home to open three cans of Campbell's soup for dinner- three soup plates-I went without. I read my dinner.

Today, March 26, 2015, I shared my dinner-soup, made by hand, not canned- with another old man and the sea, Robert Redford-a best acting winner for his brilliant performance-in ALL IS LOST. This is a must see. Inspiring. Stunning. As a sailor I sat glued to my seat, holding my breath, totally lost in his perilous adventure. This was a 21st Century update, in Technicolor and sound- almost mute-on steroids. I think Hemingway would have loved it. I imagined my husband sitting beside me loving it, too.

Reviews read: "GRADE A: REDFORD'S PERFORMANCE IS POWERFUL" "DAZZLING: CINEMA AT ITS PUREST. REDFORD IS TRIUMPHANT."

What struck me, however, was an almost poetic metaphor. Today. Versus yesterday. 2015 versus 1952. A world too rich. A world too poor. Santiago and his skiff and his marlin and his run of bad luck. A 75-year-old man-the character-one character, he's not given a name-in ALL IS LOST and a Columbia 39. Virginia Jean. The mast is 65 feet tall! The monstrous cargo containers that pass him in broad day light in the shipping lanes and see him not. Bad luck.

This old man's courage-his strength, his attitude, he never gives up-reminds me of so many of us on Kauai who battle a force as strong as the wind and the weather and the sea. Forces that would destroy our lives-and the beauty and life of this magnificent island paradise- as surely as the laws of nature and bad luck will destroy this man and his yacht. Forces over which we have no control.

I don't mean to indulge in hyperbola. To be dramatic. I mean to express a real life battle- a seemingly undefeatable battle-so overwhelming, so exhausting- we despair. We lose courage. We lose strength. We need a break but we don't get one. But we don't give up.

The forces of nature are that. Natural. Cruel.

The forces we face here on Kauai are unnatural. Insane. They seem to despise nature. Defy nature. Vast land masses turned into dollars. The production of food grown for profit, not nourishment. Beauty turned to concrete. Fresh water defiled. Fresh air vanquished. Like the old men, we weaken.

But we don't give up.

P.S.
This blog also appeared as a feature column on 
Sunday April 29,2015 in The Garden Island Newspaper;
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/guest/the-old-man-and-the-sea/article_a3c72b62-d5c8-11e4-9891-2732fdce4f00.html

Sunrise therapy can be seen daily on
James "Kimo" Rosen's
Facebook Timeline. 

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

"Finally a solution to traffic Gridlock on Kaua'i..." 'Special fools edition, Kimo's world #65'

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...

Special fools edition, Kimo's world #65
Finally a solution to traffic Gridlock on Kaua'i

I was as surprised as anyone on Kauai that the Planning commission recently approved a  4 lane toll road from Princeville to Lihu'e!

The road is said to be  elevated most of the way and will  employ over 200 full time construction workers to get this project completed in a record predicted 13 months. When completed the toll road is said to employ over 50 full time workers and 30 part time and seasonal.

The toll road usage fee will cost $8.00 each way but a monthly pass can be purchased for $200.00. That is a huge savings if you commute daily.

 Kauai county's new county manager  was quoted as saying,"Finally a solution to traffic Gridlock on Kauai."

This  project is being funded by  a  group of venture capitalists that also star on a syndicated reality show. 

The only thing  that stands in the way is a group calling themselves, 'Friends against anything and everything,'  which is being spearheaded by none other than local political activist April Foolze.

  Happy April Fools Day!  ;-)

Disclaimer
Please note for those of you who take life too serious this is an April's fools joke...  ;-)

Sunrise therapy can be seen daily on
James "Kimo" Rosen's
Facebook Timeline. 

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