"Childbirth at 65..." 'Chester "Unc" Lau' (Source)

Dakinetalk's favorite Uncle (Chester Lau)

"Unc"  is really passionate about creating a national Caregivers day.

'Unc' currently resides on the Hawai'ian Island of Oahu. 

He is a retired cinematographer,

 and  enjoys giving the politicians a bad time...

Above photo of Unc with his boss

Wm F.Sullivan at a Waikiki Foto shop,

Childbirth at 65

 With all the new  technology regarding fertility recently, a 65-year-old friend of mine was able to give birth. When she was discharged from the hospital and went home, I went to visit.

'May I see the new baby?' I asked.

'Not yet,' She said 'I'll make coffee and we can visit for a while first.'
Thirty minutes had passed, and I asked, 'May I see the new baby now?'
'No, not yet,' She said.
After another few minutes had elapsed,
I asked again, 'May I see the baby now?'
'No, not yet,' replied my  friend.

Growing very impatient, I asked, 'Well, when can I see the baby?'
'WHEN HE CRIES!' she told me.
'WHEN HE CRIES?'  I demanded, 'Why do I have to wait until he CRIES?'
'BECAUSE I  FORGOT WHERE I PUT HIM, O.K.?'

L'oncle Ammusant  AKA~ Chester "Unc" Lau

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

"It's called Respect..." 'Glenn Mickens' (Kaua'i County Watchdog)

Glenn Mickens has lived on Kauai  with his wife Ruth for the last 26 years. Born July 26, 1930 in Wilmar, California, USA) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched in four games (two of which were starts) for the 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers. He also played for five years in Japan, from 1959 until 1963 for the Kintetsu Buffaloes. There, he compiled a record of 45–53 with a 2.54 ERA.  Glenn also  served in the Army for 2 years and coached baseball at UCLA for 25 years. 
Last but not least Glenn would really like to see Kaua'i give the county manager style of Government a chance.
Above photo of Glenn Mickens courtesy of Kauai Garden island news, used with permission...

Mr. Mickens is locally known
as one of Kauai county's
political watchdogs
and Nitpickers...
Mahalos Glenn!

 It's called Respect


Editors note;
My good friend, fellow blogger and
opinion writer Mr. Glenn Mickens was
recently harshly criticized by a fellow
opinion writer in the Garden island news.
Enclosed is the link to the Letter that appeared in The Kaua'i Garden Island news.
This blog is Glenn's response to that Letter.  Dakinetalk backs our friend Mr.
Mickens in the Aloha spirit and as a county watchdog and thanks him for caring and doing all he does pro bono from his heart because he cares for the people and  aina (land) of Kauai!
Mayor, County Council and KPD Chief, I appreciate you~Aaron K. Ellegard,Sr.
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-oct/article_f7e95da2-ef77-54bd-84db-32db57e83d44.html     (The letter cutting down our friend)

It's called Respect

  I have the greatest respect for the opinions of others even if I may not always agree with them. But since Mr Ellegard makes some false statements about me and my views (TGI 10/23) I wish to correct them.

His presumption that I have no respect for our administration, Council, Chief Perry and his staff as well as all state and county employees is completely false.

I ask that Mr Ellegard call Chief Perry or any of his officers and find out what
kind of respect they believe I have for him and all those other officers who 
protect us. 

Call our council members and even with some of our disagreements see how many of them respect me and my fellow government "watchdogs" for our testimonies. 

Call our State DOT ( Larry Dill or Ray McCormick) and see what they think of my opinions and the means by which I try and correct what is wrong. 

I believe that he will find that they all respect my 20 years of involvement and opinions even if we do not agree. With no other interest or motive in mind, I and my watchdog friends only want what is best for Kauai and all its citizens. And, many of those friends are "locals" just as you are.

Please don't feel sorry for me, Mr. Ellegard, because I really do have a wonderful life including a wife and family, live in one of most beautiful places on planet earth, had the opportunity to play professional baseball and to coach in my late years. 

P.S.
Check out Glenn's Wikipedia page;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Mickens

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---Blogger-n-chief, dakinetalk blog---

Kapaa Sunset

Sleeping Giant from my backdoor 

i-Phone photo by James "Kimo Rosen

Hana Hou, (Encore) 

"Undecided voters..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen' (Kimo's world #152)

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 #152~Blog #1848
Editor's note;
This blog also ran as an opinion article in the 
October 21,2016 edition of the Honolulu Staradvertiser
http://staradvertiser.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

Undecided voters

How can anyone in America be undecided on who to vote for President?

Ken Bone an undecided voter in then 2016
presidential election got his 15 minutes
of fame for being stupid

For the last 15 months every  major network and cable news station has spent every day covering the two major candidates running for Potus.

Whomever is undecided at this point on whom they want for president has either been living in a bubble or just got released from solitary confinement.

Therefore I ask why do the networks concentrate  countless days on the undecided voter? Are there really undecided voters or is this really just a ratings game for the undecided network and cable executives who cannot figure out why ratings do so well with these two candidates no matter what you title the show?

I have heard through my sources after the election that Hillary and Donald may sign a contract for their own reality shows.

Stay tuned, just because the election may soon be pau,(finished)  this battle is far from over!

In God we Trust!
Kauai iPhone Sunrise photo
courtesy of
James "Kimo" Rosen

Editor's note;
This blog also ran as an opinion article in the 
October 21,2016 edition of the Honolulu Staradvertiser.
The Staradvertiser has a paywall so posted is their edit of this blog;

http://staradvertiser.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

How can anyone in America be undecided about 
who to choose for president?
For the last 15 months, every major network and cable news
 station has spent every day covering
the two major candidates running for the presidency.
Whomever is undecided at this point must either have 
been living in a bubble or just got released
from solitary confinement.
Why do the networks concentrate countless days on 
the undecided voter? Are there really
undecided voters, or is this really just a ratings game
 for network and cable executives who cannot
figure out that the ratings with these two
 candidates will be high no matter what?
I have heard that after the election, the candidates
 could sign contracts for their own reality shows.
Stay tuned. Just because the election will soon
 be pau, this battle is far from over.
James “Kimo” Rosen Kapaa, Kauai

More dakinetalk reading on Donald Trump; (Great reading!)

(All Trump related  blogs by James "Kimo" Rosen unless otherwise indicated)

1-Trumped by "The Donald" 'Obama Da Dog' (Special political edition)

http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2015/08/trumped-by-donald-obama-da-dog-special.html

2-Trump supporters must come out of the closet! (Kimo's world #118)

http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2016/03/trump-supporters-must-come-out-of.html

3-Trump, the election and the Jewish connection...(Kimo's world #119)

http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2016/03/trump-election-and-jewish-connection.html

4-Trump-fulling... (Kimo's world #120)

http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2016/03/trump-fulling-james-kimo-rosen-kimos.html

5-A poem about Donald J. Trump...

http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2016/04/a-poem-about-donald-j-trump-james-kimo.html

6- Trumps Failing businesses are his strengths...

http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2016/05/trumps-failing-businesses-are-his.html

7-Extra! Extra! Read All About It!--Trump Hijacks Republican party into Hell

http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2016/08/extra-extra-read-all-about-it-trump.html

8-Trump and the race for President, a nasty one fueled by the media (Carrie Eckert)

http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2016/04/trump-and-race-for-president-nasty-one.html

9-Win or Lose, Could Trump Be A Secret Agent For Hillary

http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2016/08/win-or-lose-could-trump-be-secret-agent.html

10-Raccoon's and Trump~Larry Arruda~(Source)

http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2016/08/raccoons-and-trump-larry-arruda-source.html

11-Definition of Trump

http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2016/09/definition-of-trump-james-kimo-rosen.html

12-Hillary and Donald Trump walk into a bakery

https://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2016/09/hillary-and-donald-trump-walk-into.html

13-Kaepernick and Obama, trump this Kool-Aid

http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2016/10/kaepernick-and-obama-trump-this-kool.html

14-Hoping one thing will remain after the election

http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2016/10/hoping-one-thing-will-remain-after.html

Hana Hou, Encore!

"Halloween is upon us..." '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

Halloween is upon us

Halloween is one of the biggest holidays celebrated next to Thanksgiving and Christmas in the United States of America. Not only is it celebrated by many people, it is a huge money maker for the retail business. Back in August the stores start to entice customers with sales on decorations and candy bags for a holiday that is about to be celebrated 2 months in the future. Now that Halloween is only a few weeks away, Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations are being displayed everywhere both mail order companies and retail stores offering big discounts in an effort to beat their sales from previous years.

Judith's front porch in the
spirit for Halloween

Halloween or all saints day is a pagan holiday which seems to be celebrated by all faiths. I must admit, we enjoy decorating our home outside and seeing the little ones who bang at the door starting early in the evening, most start at 5:30 pm. I start collecting bags of candy which get smaller every year with their contents and grow in cost every year months in advance.I store candy and hide it in the house to prevent the celebration early.. I use a Hallmark empty book of spells that holds the candy, that states different sayings as it is slowly opened for the trick or treaters -they actually hang around to hear what other sayings the box will say which is amusing to us.

The spirit of Halloween
thrives at Judith's place!

Our neighborhood is still a young one and we still will give out over 100 pieces of candy; when we first moved into the area the handouts surpassed 200 pieces. After about an hour, I pass the torch to my husband to continue the task. At that point the kids get older and come in “packs”.

By 9:00-P.M. we close the doors and are done both physically and mentally. The extra candy, if we have any, is thoroughly enjoyed by my best customer, my husband. He makes sure we buy the “good stuff” so he can enjoy the leftovers.

...So until October 31st....Happy Halloween to all kids young and old and be cautious and careful out there. Halloween not only brings out the little cute ones but it also is attractive to the others that are not such desirable people.

Hana Hou, (Encore)

Respect and Patriotism..." 'Larry Arruda' (Special to dakinetalk)

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.

Respect and Patriotism

I have struggled with my emotions and thoughts on the subject of professional athletes, and now others, demonstrating disrespect to the flag of our nation.

 
I'll begin this by saying that I whole-heartedly believe in the freedoms set down for us in our constitution and the reasons provided by our "declaration of independence ".  

I am a Vietnam war veteran who was 18 years old at the time and I did what I was told to do. Right or wrong?,  I don't know anymore, but I was told that I was defending the freedoms of a people that needed help. I was told that it was necessary to "put a stop to communist aggression".

While I believe that the original intentions of the Vietnam war may have been honorable, I now know that there were other ulterior motives by our government for escalating that war.  
With age, comes wisdom and with that wisdom comes knowledge. I now struggle with having confidence in the operations and motives of our government.  

We could not, and did not fly the American flag over our compound in Vietnam.  We were told that its was not permitted at the time because it was not a "declared war" and we were there in that country as "advisors" to the South Vietnamese military. (Some of us had small American flags
 posted inside our hootches.)

  An entire year with no reveille, no retreat, no pledge of allegiance.   And except for the American flag flying over the U.S. Embassy, unless you were lucky enough to get into Saigon, you never saw OLD GLORY against the blue sky. 

On the day that I got out of that country and landed at Honolulu airport, I walked out of that airplane, stepped down onto the tarmac,  looked up and saw our Stars & Stripes flying high over the airport terminal with the blue sky the background, I bent down and put my right hand on the ground and thanked the good Lord for getting me home in one piece.   A sight engraved in my mind, and a feeling engorged in my heart forever. 
Because of this, and my persistence of patriotism, I've come to this conclusion:
While our nations flag stands for the rights to do just what these protesters are doing, it also stands to represent the people of our nation. And it waves over those that have given their lives to defend those freedoms.

  

It DOES NOT represent the "government" that has so blatantly moved to cause those freedoms to perish. The government to which the protest is aimed.   A dishonorable gesture to the most patriotic symbol of our nation, possibly the ONLY patriotic symbol left, is disgraceful, and should not be tolerated.  Our democratic system provides for many other avenues to demonstrate your displeasure with the performance of our government. 

The Constitution of the United States of America also provides you with the right to vote. But it is  very important to be aware of, and educated on the issues involved in your selection.  

Please remember to vote!  

Hana Hou, (Encore)

"A possible solution to feral cat situation..." 'Ali’ilani Kanui' (Special to dakinetalk blog)

 Please welcome back friend and  guest-blogger Ali’ilani Kanui AKA Kit Ellison.
Kit and her family love animals, especially feral cats and  have canvassed for a
Ferry system on the Hawaiian Islands for many years.
Kit  is part Hawaiian and  a long time
 resident of Wailua on the Garden Isle of Kaua'i.

A possible solution to feral cat situation

Now that the dust has settled over the feral cat issues, maybe a quiet voice can be heard.

I have read, spoken with, listened and watched with many people over the issue of the feral cat problem on Kauai. Each person added one or more pieces to the puzzle but no one, as of yet, put the pieces together. Please allow me to try to do so.

Yes, feral cats are necessary to the ecosystem as they keep rat and mice populations in check and yes they need to be neutered and spayed and placed in established colonies as they will hunt within a one-mile radius of their colony. This is on the plus side.

As far as ground nesting birds are concerned, cats don’t generally try for dinner that causes them trouble without them starving. Rats and wild dogs have proven to be a larger problem in that area. If dogs and rats were eliminated more chicks could be raised.

People at their own expense feed ferals, trap, spay/neuter, and generally see to the cats that are in colonies. This means no monies came from taxes for these services. Another plus.

Question, why are there so many feral cats on Kauai? That is easily answered by an article in TGI about kittens killed.

For one thing, many people can not afford the cost of spay/neuter at the vet and are afraid to use the pound because their cat can show fear and/or anxiety and be put down because it’s a “feral and they have that right” so Bobby or Sissy cat are free to litter away. What will happen to these unwanted kittens? Take them to the animal shelter to be killed?

No, they get dropped in areas where there are other cats to have a fighting chance. I have seen this too many times for it not to be true. One person told me, “If I take these kittens to the pound they will be dead before I can get to my car.” Many people I spoke with feel this way.

Solution? Start a no-kill shelter, ask island vets to donate one day a week or month to treat cats and kittens free of charge, humane society also. Forget tags, tattoo ears or chip at reduced price, first shots $10, ask for and you’ll find foster homes, and do what Lanai did. Get a place/space donated for a sanctuary where cats can find forever homes. It can be done. Anyone like to help?

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---Blogger-n-chief, dakinetalk blog---

Hana Hou, (Encore) 

"Another complete waste of taxpayer money ..." 'Glenn Mickens' (County Watchdog)

Glenn Mickens has lived on Kauai  with his wife Ruth for the last 26 years. Born July 26, 1930 in Wilmar, California, USA) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched in four games (two of which were starts) for the 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers. He also played for five years in Japan, from 1959 until 1963 for the Kintetsu Buffaloes. There, he compiled a record of 45–53 with a 2.54 ERA.  Glenn also  served in the Army for 2 years and coached baseball at UCLA for 25 years. 
Last but not least Glenn would really like to see Kaua'i give the county manager style of Government a chance.
Above photo of Glenn Mickens courtesy of Kauai Garden island news, used with permission...

Mr. Mickens is locally known
as one of Kauai county's
political watchdogs
and Nitpickers...
Mahalos Glenn!

 Another complete waste of taxpayer money

 For those of you not familiar with the TIGER grant that our county just went after and obtained, let me brief you on what it does and does not do.

Kauai county was awarded about $14 million of Fed funds with our needing to put up $2 million of county funds to get it---Fed or local all our tax money. The stipulation to get this grant was, "Research, demonstrate or pilot projects are eligible only if they result in surface transportation infrastructure."

The Council has introduced Resolution 2016-57 which is solely for the reconfiguration of Rice Street in Lihue---taking away 2 of the 4 existing lanes and adding bike lanes, wider sidewalks, crosswalks and amending and establishing parking restrictions and bus stops.

Kauai county residents
Please vote for
Mel Rapozo!
Glenn Mickens
Kimo Rosen
and this blog
support Mel!

 

Since on a prioritized list of what Kauai needs to address the most, traffic would be #1 or #2. To spend our time and money to secure a $14 million grant is commendable BUT to get it for jamming up traffic on Rice Street is ridiculous.

Rice street was once 2 lanes and our engineers in their wisdom added 2 more lanes to keep vehicles moving without slowing them down. Now, with even more vehicles on the roads than there were when 2 lanes were added our "leaders" want to exacerbate the traffic problems and narrow the street even more than it once was!!

Please cast one of your 7 Kauai
council votes for Arthur Brun.
Arthur is on the left. Kimo Rosen
in da middle and Mayor
Bernard Carvalho jr. on the right.

The administration has also said that this Rice street reconfiguration will slow traffic down (VERY TRUE) and make it more conducive for people to stop and go to the stores and restaurants--not true!! 

The current Kaua'i
county council
about to change
after election day!

The businesses like Big Save market, Sears and all the others that were once there moved to other locations (Kukui Grove) and are not coming back. To say that we can use this grant to make Lihue a "Town Core Mobility and Revitalization" project is a dream and a complete waste of money. Lihue is now a government headquarters, county and state and not an area that people will flock to to walk, bike or shop. 

Norma 'Doctor' Sparks is a newcomer running for County council.
Please cast your vote for Norma! We call her Dr. Doctor!
Read the blog; "Dr. Doctor give me some news;
http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2016/09/dr-doctor-give-me-some-news-james-kimo.html

Like the gold rush days, when the gold petered out the towns became ghost towns and that's what happened to Lihue. It is what it is today and no amount of money will change it. Go after grants that we need and benefit all the people and not ones that will negatively effect us.

P.S.
Check out Glenn's Wikipedia page;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Mickens

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---Blogger-n-chief, dakinetalk blog---

Kapaa Sunrisee

i-Phone photo by James "Kimo Rosen

Hana Hou, (Encore)