Carl Ballantine, an inveterate quipmeister whose stand-up comedy persona, an incompetent magician known as the Amazing Ballantine or Ballantine the Great, predated and influenced the antic characters of Steve Martin and others, died on Nov. 3 at his home in Hollywood. He was 92.
He died of age-related causes, his daughter Saratoga Ballantine said.
“As my father always said to me about why anybody died, ‘He stopped breathing,’ ” Ms. Ballantine said.
Over the course of a six-decade career, Mr. Ballantine became familiar to audiences as a comic actor, especially after landing the role of the scheming, profiteering seaman Lester Gruber on the television series “McHale’s Navy” in 1962.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
optimism is good for you
A recent issue of the journal Circulation provides hard evidence that optimism and health are connected. Researchers studied nearly 100,000 women over eight years, tracking how many heart attacks they suffered and how long they lived. The conclusion? Optimism is good for you.
“Optimists had a 16% lower risk of having heart attacks,” says the lead author, Dr. Hilary Tindle of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. And this study, it turns out, is not the first to link optimism with better health. A 2004 study of nearly 1000 elderly Dutch people found a connection between optimism and a lower risk of death from heart disease. The reverse seems to hold true, too. Pessimists—who were followed in a 2000 Mayo Clinic study that looked at more than 800 patients over 30 years—ran a 19% higher risk of early death than optimists.
Being an optimist also has been associated with a healthier immune system and an ability to better cope with physical pain. Still other studies have connected a positive attitude to a quicker recovery from heart surgery and a reduced likelihood of re-hospitalization, as well as to a superior ability to handle the emotional upheaval of life-threatening illnesses like cancer.
“Optimism and pessimism affect health almost as clearly as do physical factors,” says Dr. Martin Seligman, director of the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania.
“Optimists had a 16% lower risk of having heart attacks,” says the lead author, Dr. Hilary Tindle of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. And this study, it turns out, is not the first to link optimism with better health. A 2004 study of nearly 1000 elderly Dutch people found a connection between optimism and a lower risk of death from heart disease. The reverse seems to hold true, too. Pessimists—who were followed in a 2000 Mayo Clinic study that looked at more than 800 patients over 30 years—ran a 19% higher risk of early death than optimists.
Being an optimist also has been associated with a healthier immune system and an ability to better cope with physical pain. Still other studies have connected a positive attitude to a quicker recovery from heart surgery and a reduced likelihood of re-hospitalization, as well as to a superior ability to handle the emotional upheaval of life-threatening illnesses like cancer.
“Optimism and pessimism affect health almost as clearly as do physical factors,” says Dr. Martin Seligman, director of the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania.
medical observations
I don't remember the title, but it was by a Dr. Rattner who, according to the brief bio, was a longtime AMA member and chief of surgery at Oak Park Hospital.
Dr. Rattner began by saying that the article was not a clinical treatise, but simply his attempt to record a few of his observations as he completed 30 years of medical practice.
His first observation was that every day, about one out of 10 Americans go to some medical practitioner -- doctor, clinician, nurse, etc. -- with some kind of complaint: an ache here, a pain there. He said it was his opinion that at least half of them had no diagnosable physical problem. Oh, he didn't deny that they hurt, but he maintained that half of them had no physical cause for the hurt. So he would do what so many of his colleagues did in such a case: He would give his patients an aspirin or a placebo of some kind and tell them to call the next day, if necessary. Most did not call.
Dr. Rattner began by saying that the article was not a clinical treatise, but simply his attempt to record a few of his observations as he completed 30 years of medical practice.
His first observation was that every day, about one out of 10 Americans go to some medical practitioner -- doctor, clinician, nurse, etc. -- with some kind of complaint: an ache here, a pain there. He said it was his opinion that at least half of them had no diagnosable physical problem. Oh, he didn't deny that they hurt, but he maintained that half of them had no physical cause for the hurt. So he would do what so many of his colleagues did in such a case: He would give his patients an aspirin or a placebo of some kind and tell them to call the next day, if necessary. Most did not call.
Monday, November 09, 2009
22@Barcelona
BARCELONA, Spain - How can a city resuscitate an entire depressed, old inner-city district, many of its blocks marked by abandoned factories?
Even more challenging: How to transform the same area into a high-powered knowledge hub that adds jobs by the thousands and draws dozens of high-powered national and international firms?
The "free enterprise" American approach might be to bring in the bulldozers, create an industrial park that displaces the old residents and maybe offer companies public subsidies to move in.
Not Barcelona. Ten years ago this entrepreneurial city decided to build a modern "knowledge economy" close to downtown in its old, waterfront Poblenou district, once a leading cotton mill center, renaming it "22@Barcelona, The Innovation District."
Their central idea: Talent is the gold of our time, crucial to building thriving new economic clusters. Talented people (and cutting-edge firms) want lively urban environments instead of the isolation of corporate campuses. They're anxious to brush shoulders with other gifted people from companies, universities and the artistic realm.
So the district has been consciously shaped to include attractive green spaces, restaurants and entertainment, bike lanes, and plentiful public transit both within the area and between it and greater Barcelona.
But to create that environment - and not force out the families and workers living there - the Barcelona politicians decided on an ingenious but highly controlled form of real estate redevelopment.
Even more challenging: How to transform the same area into a high-powered knowledge hub that adds jobs by the thousands and draws dozens of high-powered national and international firms?
The "free enterprise" American approach might be to bring in the bulldozers, create an industrial park that displaces the old residents and maybe offer companies public subsidies to move in.
Not Barcelona. Ten years ago this entrepreneurial city decided to build a modern "knowledge economy" close to downtown in its old, waterfront Poblenou district, once a leading cotton mill center, renaming it "22@Barcelona, The Innovation District."
Their central idea: Talent is the gold of our time, crucial to building thriving new economic clusters. Talented people (and cutting-edge firms) want lively urban environments instead of the isolation of corporate campuses. They're anxious to brush shoulders with other gifted people from companies, universities and the artistic realm.
So the district has been consciously shaped to include attractive green spaces, restaurants and entertainment, bike lanes, and plentiful public transit both within the area and between it and greater Barcelona.
But to create that environment - and not force out the families and workers living there - the Barcelona politicians decided on an ingenious but highly controlled form of real estate redevelopment.
Friday, November 06, 2009
How to Live Forever
Hawaii International Film Festival attendees should take note of a new documentary -- submitted after deadline and therefore not part of the print program. "How to Live Forever" screens at 6 p.m. Sunday, and is an intriguing exploration of health and longevity by veteran filmmaker and photojournalist Mark Wexler, who will be available for a question-and-answer session following the screening.
The Los Angeles-based Wexler spent three years interviewing several dozen people over 100 years old (including the oldest woman, who was 115), and visiting "longevity hot spots." Inspired by his mother's death and the arrival of his own AARP card, Wexler began contemplating the question in the minds of many people tiptoeing into middle age: "Is this all there is? Will there be more?" Throughout the film, he explores the benefits -- or detriments -- to society now that technology can extend human life significantly.
Everyone who lives a long time, and remains healthy doing it, is optimistic and possesses a sense of humor. "A lot of it, in the end, is attitude," Wexler said from his home in Los Angeles. Indeed, your belief systems may have as much effect on your longevity as your cholesterol levels.
It's hard not to listen when 94-year-old fitness legend Jack Lalanne walks through his gym and says, "This is where I take care of the most important person on this Earth ... me! I work out for two hours a day. Jack LaLanne can't afford to die; it would wreck my image!" And later in the clip: "The good old days are this second! Who makes it happen? You!"
Learn more about the film at www.liveforevermovie.com ...
The Los Angeles-based Wexler spent three years interviewing several dozen people over 100 years old (including the oldest woman, who was 115), and visiting "longevity hot spots." Inspired by his mother's death and the arrival of his own AARP card, Wexler began contemplating the question in the minds of many people tiptoeing into middle age: "Is this all there is? Will there be more?" Throughout the film, he explores the benefits -- or detriments -- to society now that technology can extend human life significantly.
Everyone who lives a long time, and remains healthy doing it, is optimistic and possesses a sense of humor. "A lot of it, in the end, is attitude," Wexler said from his home in Los Angeles. Indeed, your belief systems may have as much effect on your longevity as your cholesterol levels.
It's hard not to listen when 94-year-old fitness legend Jack Lalanne walks through his gym and says, "This is where I take care of the most important person on this Earth ... me! I work out for two hours a day. Jack LaLanne can't afford to die; it would wreck my image!" And later in the clip: "The good old days are this second! Who makes it happen? You!"
Learn more about the film at www.liveforevermovie.com ...
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Queen's Medical Center
The Queen’s Medical Center has witnessed a lot of change since its establishment in 1859. It watched as Honolulu transformed from acres of farm lands to an industrial cityscape. It stood by as sovereign rule was replaced by a democratic government. It has withstood hurricanes, earthquakes, fires and even a few bad fashion fads.
But two things have remained just as they were 150 years ago: the hospital’s location nestled among a garden of trees off of Punchbowl Street and its mission of providing quality healthcare services to improve the well-being of Native Hawaiians and all the people of Hawaii.
It is hard to imagine that what is today the largest private hospital in the state, not to mention the entire Pacific Basin, was created by two 20-somethings, Alexander Liholiho ‘Iolani and Emma Rooke.
Both were studious and accomplished children, adept in reading, writing and worldly knowledge. Alexander would grow up to rule Hawaii as King Kamehameha IV, and Emma would be his queen.
But two things have remained just as they were 150 years ago: the hospital’s location nestled among a garden of trees off of Punchbowl Street and its mission of providing quality healthcare services to improve the well-being of Native Hawaiians and all the people of Hawaii.
It is hard to imagine that what is today the largest private hospital in the state, not to mention the entire Pacific Basin, was created by two 20-somethings, Alexander Liholiho ‘Iolani and Emma Rooke.
Both were studious and accomplished children, adept in reading, writing and worldly knowledge. Alexander would grow up to rule Hawaii as King Kamehameha IV, and Emma would be his queen.
talk to your genes
The best thing that could come out of the debate on health care reform won't be the passage of a bill in Congress. It will be a shift in personal attitudes. Health care happens one person at a time. So let me speak personally to you. If you want the best possible health for yourself, the most important thing you can do today is talk to your genes.
I doubt that any doctor has ever made that recommendation. All of us, including medical students, were led to believe that genes are fixed. The ones we are born with don't change; new ones cannot be added. Those facts remain the same, but there's a huge story being overlooked. Genes have no effect unless they are switched on, and when you switch on beneficial genes, every cell in your body benefits.
Recent research by Dr. Dean Ornish and his colleagues has shown that adopting positive measures including exercise, meditation, and diet creates beneficial changes in five hundred genes.
This single finding could revolutionize your health, because what it means is that every bite of food you eat, every step on the treadmill, every moment of deep relaxation is talking to your genes. And your genes talk back by sending chemical signals to every cell indicating how your life is going.
Genes are alert, and when you change anything in your life, they respond.
Nothing is left out. Your cells are getting chemical signals right now that tell them if you are in a good or bad mood. They know if you ate trans fats at lunch, if you are in love, or if you inhale polluted air.
Now is the time to take advantage of this breakthrough by talking to your genes in a new way. Forty years ago it was an uphill battle to convince Americans that smoking was dangerous, but eventually attitudes shifted and a major health risk was dramatically diminished. At present the big risks are just as controllable. They include obesity, sedentary living, and stress.
Start to talk to your genes about these issues. This isn't just another call to get you to exercise, meditate, and diet. Those are all good things, and yet most people ignore them. Why? Because despite their best intentions, people are conditioned by old habits. Your body can't break those habits on its own, but it can become your ally.
To win your body over, take a walk when it's beautiful outside, devote five minutes to meditation or stress management, nourish yourself with healthy food, and above all, be aware that the power to change rests with you. Small beginnings can lead to major results once you know that each step is like a conversation with your body. Your genes are listening. Tell them something good as often as you can.
I doubt that any doctor has ever made that recommendation. All of us, including medical students, were led to believe that genes are fixed. The ones we are born with don't change; new ones cannot be added. Those facts remain the same, but there's a huge story being overlooked. Genes have no effect unless they are switched on, and when you switch on beneficial genes, every cell in your body benefits.
Recent research by Dr. Dean Ornish and his colleagues has shown that adopting positive measures including exercise, meditation, and diet creates beneficial changes in five hundred genes.
This single finding could revolutionize your health, because what it means is that every bite of food you eat, every step on the treadmill, every moment of deep relaxation is talking to your genes. And your genes talk back by sending chemical signals to every cell indicating how your life is going.
Genes are alert, and when you change anything in your life, they respond.
Nothing is left out. Your cells are getting chemical signals right now that tell them if you are in a good or bad mood. They know if you ate trans fats at lunch, if you are in love, or if you inhale polluted air.
Now is the time to take advantage of this breakthrough by talking to your genes in a new way. Forty years ago it was an uphill battle to convince Americans that smoking was dangerous, but eventually attitudes shifted and a major health risk was dramatically diminished. At present the big risks are just as controllable. They include obesity, sedentary living, and stress.
Start to talk to your genes about these issues. This isn't just another call to get you to exercise, meditate, and diet. Those are all good things, and yet most people ignore them. Why? Because despite their best intentions, people are conditioned by old habits. Your body can't break those habits on its own, but it can become your ally.
To win your body over, take a walk when it's beautiful outside, devote five minutes to meditation or stress management, nourish yourself with healthy food, and above all, be aware that the power to change rests with you. Small beginnings can lead to major results once you know that each step is like a conversation with your body. Your genes are listening. Tell them something good as often as you can.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
how to get rid of ants
We have these little tiny light brown ants that don't want to go away. Though they seem sort of controlled by using Terro.
Here's another formula I might try from Kokua Line.
Question: Is there any low price homemade recipe to put on the kitchen counter to get rid of or kill those pesky black ants found in my sink, counter or trash can?
Answer: Bernarr Kumashiro, insect taxonomist at the state Department of Agriculture, suggests a boric acid mixture that he says works well for most ant species.
A general formula calls for one cup water, 1/3 cup sugar and one teaspoon boric acid powder. Mix well, then put a few drops into small containers, such as something the size of a film canister cover, and place along the ant trail.
Kumashiro warned to keep this away from children and pets.
"If ants do not readily take to the bait, use a toothpick, dab into the mixture, and make a small trail of droplets leading to the container," he said. Refill when the mixture hardens.
"Keep in mind that this is a relatively slow-acting ant poison, and that the worker ants must be allowed to lap it up and take it back to the nest to feed the rest of the colony," he said.
Within a few days, Kumashiro said, "the whole colony will be killed and you should see no ants."
For a few ant species, this concoction won't work. If so, Kumashiro suggests putting a few drops of liquid dishwashing detergent in water in a spray bottle, then spray ants as you see them. This will also get rid of ants, "but new ants will re-appear from the same nest, and this process must be repeated several times," he said.
Here's another formula I might try from Kokua Line.
Question: Is there any low price homemade recipe to put on the kitchen counter to get rid of or kill those pesky black ants found in my sink, counter or trash can?
Answer: Bernarr Kumashiro, insect taxonomist at the state Department of Agriculture, suggests a boric acid mixture that he says works well for most ant species.
A general formula calls for one cup water, 1/3 cup sugar and one teaspoon boric acid powder. Mix well, then put a few drops into small containers, such as something the size of a film canister cover, and place along the ant trail.
Kumashiro warned to keep this away from children and pets.
"If ants do not readily take to the bait, use a toothpick, dab into the mixture, and make a small trail of droplets leading to the container," he said. Refill when the mixture hardens.
"Keep in mind that this is a relatively slow-acting ant poison, and that the worker ants must be allowed to lap it up and take it back to the nest to feed the rest of the colony," he said.
Within a few days, Kumashiro said, "the whole colony will be killed and you should see no ants."
For a few ant species, this concoction won't work. If so, Kumashiro suggests putting a few drops of liquid dishwashing detergent in water in a spray bottle, then spray ants as you see them. This will also get rid of ants, "but new ants will re-appear from the same nest, and this process must be repeated several times," he said.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
reasons we pray
72% pray for the well-being of others, 60% for forgiveness, 27% for personal success, and 21% for money or other material things.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Letterman scandal
David Letterman, who built his career skewering philandering politicians and show business “weasels” and “boneheads,” finds himself in the middle of his own celebrity scandal, after he admitted having multiple affairs with employees of his production company, Worldwide Pants.
For the intensely private Mr. Letterman, the revelations, which resulted from a bizarre extortion attempt, are sure to be extremely embarrassing, especially as he tries to extend his lead in the late-night contest. ”I have had sex with women who work for me on this show,” he told his audience on Thursday night, calling himself “creepy.” He added that he hoped “to protect my job.”
More seriously, they raised questions for both his company and CBS about whether his actions constituted sexual harassment or at least abuse of a power relationship over employees.
For CBS, the episode is doubly embarrassing. The network has been put in a precarious position of trying to steer clear of fallout from some highly questionable activities engaged in by its biggest star, who is experiencing his biggest surge in popularity (and ratings) in years.
For the intensely private Mr. Letterman, the revelations, which resulted from a bizarre extortion attempt, are sure to be extremely embarrassing, especially as he tries to extend his lead in the late-night contest. ”I have had sex with women who work for me on this show,” he told his audience on Thursday night, calling himself “creepy.” He added that he hoped “to protect my job.”
More seriously, they raised questions for both his company and CBS about whether his actions constituted sexual harassment or at least abuse of a power relationship over employees.
For CBS, the episode is doubly embarrassing. The network has been put in a precarious position of trying to steer clear of fallout from some highly questionable activities engaged in by its biggest star, who is experiencing his biggest surge in popularity (and ratings) in years.
2009 Ig Nobel Awards
Can't get milk from a cow? Try calling her Bessie or Buttercup. A pair of British researchers who found that dairy cows with names yield more milk than unnamed cows are among this year's winners of the Ig Nobel awards, the annual tribute to scientific research that on the surface seems goofy but is often surprisingly practical.
Other winners honored Thursday at Harvard University's Sanders Theater included scientists who found that empty beer bottles are much better weapons in a bar brawl than full bottles; researchers who used bacteria in panda poop to reduce kitchen waste; and in homage to the worldwide financial meltdown, the executives of four Icelandic banks who contributed to the island nation's economic collapse.
The 19th annual event with the theme "Risk," sponsored by the scientific humor magazine Annals of Improbable Research, featured real Nobel laureates handing out the prizes.
Other winners honored Thursday at Harvard University's Sanders Theater included scientists who found that empty beer bottles are much better weapons in a bar brawl than full bottles; researchers who used bacteria in panda poop to reduce kitchen waste; and in homage to the worldwide financial meltdown, the executives of four Icelandic banks who contributed to the island nation's economic collapse.
The 19th annual event with the theme "Risk," sponsored by the scientific humor magazine Annals of Improbable Research, featured real Nobel laureates handing out the prizes.
Kirkland Signature
If you shop smartly, and go for Costco's Kirkland Signature house brand, you can save money.
Costco wants to let consumers know how much they could save by buying its private, in-house Kirkland Signature brand. Some stores recently had a display -- two shopping carts filled with items side by side -- one with national brands amounting to $437.85 and the other one with the Kirkland brand amounting to $229.35. The resulting difference is $208.50, or 47.6 percent in savings.
But what's behind the Kirkland Signature brand?
The Kirkland brand was established 15 years ago, according to Costco, and named after the city in Washington state where the company once had its home base (today's headquarters are in Issaquah).
Kirkland currently makes up about 10 percent of the products you see in a Costco warehouse, and is still growing. You can find Kirkland products in nearly every department -- from olive oil to coffee, macaroni and cheese, pumpkin pie, vanilla ice cream, dog food, vitamins, laundry detergent, cookware, toilet paper, towels, beer and bedsheets.
Costco's goals in developing the brand, said CEO Jim Sinegal, were to develop popular items where the company could control the packaging, and drive down national brand prices. In instances where the right product wasn't available at the right price, Costco decided to create its own.
National brands usually are launched with expensive ad campaigns with the goal of becoming a household name that consumers automatically seek.
House brands, which used to be perceived as a lower-quality version of the national brand, are making a comeback in this economy and gaining a better reputation. Costco insists that its Kirkland products are either better than or equal to the national brands.
Costco wants to let consumers know how much they could save by buying its private, in-house Kirkland Signature brand. Some stores recently had a display -- two shopping carts filled with items side by side -- one with national brands amounting to $437.85 and the other one with the Kirkland brand amounting to $229.35. The resulting difference is $208.50, or 47.6 percent in savings.
But what's behind the Kirkland Signature brand?
The Kirkland brand was established 15 years ago, according to Costco, and named after the city in Washington state where the company once had its home base (today's headquarters are in Issaquah).
Kirkland currently makes up about 10 percent of the products you see in a Costco warehouse, and is still growing. You can find Kirkland products in nearly every department -- from olive oil to coffee, macaroni and cheese, pumpkin pie, vanilla ice cream, dog food, vitamins, laundry detergent, cookware, toilet paper, towels, beer and bedsheets.
Costco's goals in developing the brand, said CEO Jim Sinegal, were to develop popular items where the company could control the packaging, and drive down national brand prices. In instances where the right product wasn't available at the right price, Costco decided to create its own.
National brands usually are launched with expensive ad campaigns with the goal of becoming a household name that consumers automatically seek.
House brands, which used to be perceived as a lower-quality version of the national brand, are making a comeback in this economy and gaining a better reputation. Costco insists that its Kirkland products are either better than or equal to the national brands.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Huckleberry Farms closing shop
Huckleberry Farms, a natural health foods store at Nuuanu Shopping Plaza, is closing after 24 years in business.
"It's a combination of the economic downturn and other factors," said owner Pete Pascua.
Walgreen Co. of Deerfield, Ill., bought the leasehold interest to the plaza last year and plans to redevelop the site and eventually open a store, although no specific timeline has been set.
Huckleberry Farms has agreed to the termination of its lease.
A total of about 25 full- and part-time employees will lose their jobs at the store, although some have found other jobs, according to Pascua.
Customers absorbed the news with sadness, some even breaking into tears, according to Pascua. Many longtime customers are used to being greeted on a first-name basis by the store's employees.
"I am very sad and shocked," said Karen Walker of Kailua, who was stopping in to pick up a few items when she learned the news.
Walker has been a regular for three years and comes in for salads and produce, as well as oatcakes.
"The people here are great," she said.
"It's a combination of the economic downturn and other factors," said owner Pete Pascua.
Walgreen Co. of Deerfield, Ill., bought the leasehold interest to the plaza last year and plans to redevelop the site and eventually open a store, although no specific timeline has been set.
Huckleberry Farms has agreed to the termination of its lease.
A total of about 25 full- and part-time employees will lose their jobs at the store, although some have found other jobs, according to Pascua.
Customers absorbed the news with sadness, some even breaking into tears, according to Pascua. Many longtime customers are used to being greeted on a first-name basis by the store's employees.
"I am very sad and shocked," said Karen Walker of Kailua, who was stopping in to pick up a few items when she learned the news.
Walker has been a regular for three years and comes in for salads and produce, as well as oatcakes.
"The people here are great," she said.
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
world peace?
The state of Hawaii has observed United Nations International Peace Day since 2007.
What can we do, in practical terms, for world peace?
We pray for world peace every day. We, as Buddhist priests, preach to people about compassion and respect. We say that if all people are compassionate and respectful to each other, there will be no war and world peace will be realized. Therefore, we try to be compassionate and respectful to everyone no matter what their religious beliefs.
Although the ultimate goal for all religions might be the same, unfortunately many people who never see eye to eye are religious leaders. Ideally religious leaders should shake hands, cooperate and lead each of our congregations to the same ultimate goal. But realistically it is hard or even impossible to do this because each belongs to a separate organization. If I suggested doing something to realize our ideal with other religions, the headquarters of the organization I belong to would understand and sympathize with the basic concept, but on a practical level they would not be able to accept it.
There are surely some religious leaders who have been trying to realize the harmony of all religions, too, which gives me hope. Recently, interreligion dialogue has been active all over the world and even here in Hawaii. In order to lead each of our congregations toward the same ideal, it would be a good idea to share common issues. World peace surely would be the common issue that we can cooperate on to do something on a practical level. It is important for everyone, all countries in this world, to realize that.
What can we do, in practical terms, for world peace?
We pray for world peace every day. We, as Buddhist priests, preach to people about compassion and respect. We say that if all people are compassionate and respectful to each other, there will be no war and world peace will be realized. Therefore, we try to be compassionate and respectful to everyone no matter what their religious beliefs.
Although the ultimate goal for all religions might be the same, unfortunately many people who never see eye to eye are religious leaders. Ideally religious leaders should shake hands, cooperate and lead each of our congregations to the same ultimate goal. But realistically it is hard or even impossible to do this because each belongs to a separate organization. If I suggested doing something to realize our ideal with other religions, the headquarters of the organization I belong to would understand and sympathize with the basic concept, but on a practical level they would not be able to accept it.
There are surely some religious leaders who have been trying to realize the harmony of all religions, too, which gives me hope. Recently, interreligion dialogue has been active all over the world and even here in Hawaii. In order to lead each of our congregations toward the same ideal, it would be a good idea to share common issues. World peace surely would be the common issue that we can cooperate on to do something on a practical level. It is important for everyone, all countries in this world, to realize that.
Monday, September 28, 2009
complaining to the city
this is a good opportunity to let readers know how to report a missing, misspelled or mangled sign or other city-related problems:
Go to the department's "Information and Complaints" Web page — www.co.honolulu.hi.us/csd/publiccom — and click on "Report a Problem." Fill out an online form to report problems about traffic signals, street lights, road conditions, street signs, curbs or gutters, sewers or storm drains, sidewalks, refuse/bulky-item pickups, fire hydrants, public restrooms, parks or beaches, playgrounds/equipment or "other."
Or do one of the following:
» E-mail the complaint to complaints@honolulu.gov.
» Fax the complaint to 768-3751.
» Call in the complaint to the department at 768-4381.
» Stop by in person at the Complaints Office at Room 302-B at City Hall.
"Our complaints officer will then direct the problem to the appropriate agency for action," said Gail Haraguchi, acting director of the Customer Services Department.
The procedure outlined can be used for all city-related complaints, said Gail Haraguchi, acting director of the Department of Customer Services.
The exceptions, she said, involve potholes and abandoned vehicles, which have their own hot lines.
Call the pothole hot line directly at 768-7777 or the abandoned-vehicle hot line at 733-2530. Both numbers are also listed on the city Web page.
Go to the department's "Information and Complaints" Web page — www.co.honolulu.hi.us/csd/publiccom — and click on "Report a Problem." Fill out an online form to report problems about traffic signals, street lights, road conditions, street signs, curbs or gutters, sewers or storm drains, sidewalks, refuse/bulky-item pickups, fire hydrants, public restrooms, parks or beaches, playgrounds/equipment or "other."
Or do one of the following:
» E-mail the complaint to complaints@honolulu.gov.
» Fax the complaint to 768-3751.
» Call in the complaint to the department at 768-4381.
» Stop by in person at the Complaints Office at Room 302-B at City Hall.
"Our complaints officer will then direct the problem to the appropriate agency for action," said Gail Haraguchi, acting director of the Customer Services Department.
The procedure outlined can be used for all city-related complaints, said Gail Haraguchi, acting director of the Department of Customer Services.
The exceptions, she said, involve potholes and abandoned vehicles, which have their own hot lines.
Call the pothole hot line directly at 768-7777 or the abandoned-vehicle hot line at 733-2530. Both numbers are also listed on the city Web page.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
longevity diet
So what does the world's oldest man eat? The answer is not much, at least not too much.
Walter Breuning, who turned 113 on Monday, eats just two meals a day and has done so for the past 35 years.
"I think you should push back from the table when you're still hungry," Breuning said.
At 5 foot 8, ("I shrunk a little," he admitted) and 125 pounds, Breuning limits himself to a big breakfast and lunch every day and no supper.
"I have weighed the same for about 35 years," Breuning said. "Well, that's the way it should be."
"You get in the habit of not eating at night, and you realize how good you feel. If you could just tell people not to eat so darn much."
Walter Breuning, who turned 113 on Monday, eats just two meals a day and has done so for the past 35 years.
"I think you should push back from the table when you're still hungry," Breuning said.
At 5 foot 8, ("I shrunk a little," he admitted) and 125 pounds, Breuning limits himself to a big breakfast and lunch every day and no supper.
"I have weighed the same for about 35 years," Breuning said. "Well, that's the way it should be."
"You get in the habit of not eating at night, and you realize how good you feel. If you could just tell people not to eat so darn much."
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Disney unites with Marvel
The Walt Disney Co. is punching its way into the universe of superheroes and their male fans with a deal announced Monday to acquire Marvel Entertainment Inc. for $4 billion, bringing characters such as Iron Man and Spider-Man into the family of Mickey Mouse and "Toy Story."
The surprise cash-and-stock deal sent Spidey senses tingling in the comic book world. It could lead to new rides, movies, action figures and other outlets for Marvel's 5,000 characters, although Marvel already was aggressively licensing its properties for such uses.
Stan Lee, the 86-year-old co-creator of "Spider-Man" and many more of Marvel's most famous characters, said he was thrilled to be informed of the marriage Monday morning.
"I love both companies," he said. "From every point of view, this is a great match."
The deal is expected to close by the end of the year and marks Disney's biggest acquisition since it purchased Pixar Animation Studios Inc., the maker of "Up" and "Cars," for $7.4 billion in stock in 2006.
Marvel would follow another storied comic book publisher into the arms of a media conglomerate. DC Comics, the home of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, was bought by Warner Bros. — now part of Time Warner Inc. — in 1969.
There will be some lag before Marvel's trove of characters are fully developed at Disney, because of licensing deals Marvel has with other studios.
For example, Sony Corp.'s Columbia Pictures is developing the next three "Spider-Man" sequels, starting with "Spider-Man 4" set for a May 2011 release. News Corp.'s 20th Century Fox has the long-term movie rights to the "X-Men," "Fantastic Four," "Silver Surfer" and "Daredevil" franchises.
Both studios maintain those rights in perpetuity unless they fail to make more movies.
Separately, Viacom Inc.'s Paramount Pictures has a five-picture distribution deal for Marvel-made movies, the first of which will be "Iron Man 2," set for release next May. Paramount said it expects to continue working with Marvel and Disney.
The surprise cash-and-stock deal sent Spidey senses tingling in the comic book world. It could lead to new rides, movies, action figures and other outlets for Marvel's 5,000 characters, although Marvel already was aggressively licensing its properties for such uses.
Stan Lee, the 86-year-old co-creator of "Spider-Man" and many more of Marvel's most famous characters, said he was thrilled to be informed of the marriage Monday morning.
"I love both companies," he said. "From every point of view, this is a great match."
The deal is expected to close by the end of the year and marks Disney's biggest acquisition since it purchased Pixar Animation Studios Inc., the maker of "Up" and "Cars," for $7.4 billion in stock in 2006.
Marvel would follow another storied comic book publisher into the arms of a media conglomerate. DC Comics, the home of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, was bought by Warner Bros. — now part of Time Warner Inc. — in 1969.
There will be some lag before Marvel's trove of characters are fully developed at Disney, because of licensing deals Marvel has with other studios.
For example, Sony Corp.'s Columbia Pictures is developing the next three "Spider-Man" sequels, starting with "Spider-Man 4" set for a May 2011 release. News Corp.'s 20th Century Fox has the long-term movie rights to the "X-Men," "Fantastic Four," "Silver Surfer" and "Daredevil" franchises.
Both studios maintain those rights in perpetuity unless they fail to make more movies.
Separately, Viacom Inc.'s Paramount Pictures has a five-picture distribution deal for Marvel-made movies, the first of which will be "Iron Man 2," set for release next May. Paramount said it expects to continue working with Marvel and Disney.
Friday, September 11, 2009
heart-healthy foods
What we know for sure about diet and what protects the heart is a relatively short list.
That's the conclusion of new research based on an analysis of nearly 200 studies involving millions of people.
Vegetables, nuts and the Mediterranean diet made the grocery list of "good" heart foods. On the "bad" list: starchy carbs like white bread and the trans fats in many cookies and french fries.
The "question mark" list includes meat, eggs and milk and many other foods where there's not yet strong evidence about whether they're good or bad for the heart.
***
Ten Foods for a Healthy Heart
That's the conclusion of new research based on an analysis of nearly 200 studies involving millions of people.
Vegetables, nuts and the Mediterranean diet made the grocery list of "good" heart foods. On the "bad" list: starchy carbs like white bread and the trans fats in many cookies and french fries.
The "question mark" list includes meat, eggs and milk and many other foods where there's not yet strong evidence about whether they're good or bad for the heart.
***
Ten Foods for a Healthy Heart
protect against identify theft
A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company:
1. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put 'PHOTO ID REQUIRED.'
2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the 'For' line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.
3. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SS# printed on your checks. (DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have It printed, anyone can get it.
4. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. I also carry a photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a Name, address, Social Security number, credit cards.
Unfortunately, I, an attorney, have first hand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieves ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more. But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:
5. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.
6. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).
But here's what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even thought to do this.)
7. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the internet in my name.
The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.
By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks..
Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, if it has been stolen:
1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3.) Trans Union : 1-800-680 7289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line):
1-800-269-0271
[via raynette 2/12/09]
Scambusters' look at the above advice.
Here's the FTC site on identity theft. And the U.S. Department of Justice site.
1. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put 'PHOTO ID REQUIRED.'
2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the 'For' line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.
3. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SS# printed on your checks. (DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have It printed, anyone can get it.
4. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. I also carry a photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a Name, address, Social Security number, credit cards.
Unfortunately, I, an attorney, have first hand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieves ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more. But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:
5. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.
6. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).
But here's what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even thought to do this.)
7. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the internet in my name.
The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.
By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks..
Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, if it has been stolen:
1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3.) Trans Union : 1-800-680 7289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line):
1-800-269-0271
[via raynette 2/12/09]
Scambusters' look at the above advice.
Here's the FTC site on identity theft. And the U.S. Department of Justice site.
Monday, September 07, 2009
HMSA on YouTube
The Hawaii Medical Service Association has branched out from digital cable television to YouTube to reach more people with healthy-living information.
Residents have access to a variety of free videos 24 hours a day on YouTube.com/HMSANow.
The greatest thing about the move is that HMSA Now will be available to an unprecedented number of people because most people prefer going online for health information and videos," Michael Stollar, HMSA vice president of marketing and communications, said in announcing the development. "On YouTube we'll reach hundreds of thousands more people in the community."
Videos are available about healthy lifestyles, disease prevention and health promotion.
Residents have access to a variety of free videos 24 hours a day on YouTube.com/HMSANow.
The greatest thing about the move is that HMSA Now will be available to an unprecedented number of people because most people prefer going online for health information and videos," Michael Stollar, HMSA vice president of marketing and communications, said in announcing the development. "On YouTube we'll reach hundreds of thousands more people in the community."
Videos are available about healthy lifestyles, disease prevention and health promotion.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Successful Don'ts
In my last two columns, I shared 16 time-saving tactics of successful people. In this column, I'd like to share 10 things successful people DON'T do.
Successful people:
1. Don't major on the minors. Don't waste time on those unimportant, unessential things that are not relevant to your life or work.
In "The Purpose-Driven Life," Rick Warren writes, "It's human nature to get distracted by minor issues. We play Trivial Pursuit with our lives." Determine what's important and meaningful to you. Weigh how much time and effort you've put into something and compare it with the result or satisfaction you get from it.
2. Don't procrastinate on things that are important. Accomplishment requires action. There's always a price to pay for procrastination, and that price could be your success. Let your desire for success and progress be greater than the urge to procrastinate.
3. Don't try to be perfect in everything. Although we might like to do all things to perfection, in today's busy world there isn't enough time or energy to do this. Thankfully, not everything we do needs to be a masterpiece.
Be perfect in those areas that demand perfection (i.e. taxes, legal and financial matters). Identify those things for which "good enough is good enough."
4. Don't focus only on themselves. Make it a habit to express appreciation, give credit where credit is due, and do what you can to help others succeed.
5. Don't compare themselves with others. There will always be people who are better than you are, and that can make you bitter. And there will always be those who are worse than you, and that can make you vain. Any way you look at it, being bitter and vain is a bad combination!
6. Don't fill their lives so full that there's no margin for peace or relaxation. Just as it would be difficult to read a book that has no margins or paragraph breaks — one that has text filling the entire page — so is a life that is crammed too full with work and other activities. Be sure to leave margins in your life. For well-being it's a necessity, not a luxury!
7. Don't always stay in their comfort zone. Too often we get too comfortable where we are and don't enlarge our boundaries and abilities. There isn't anyone who isn't capable of doing or being more.
Dare to venture out and be all that you can be. According to Erica Jong, "If you don't risk anything, you risk even more." Eleanor Roosevelt said, "You must do the thing you think you cannot do." If we're afraid to do something, sometimes we just have to "do it afraid."
8. Don't give up. There is a saying that "if at first you don't succeed, you're about average." We need to go beyond that first attempt. The more we persevere, the closer we get to our goal. According to famed football coach Vince Lombardi, "The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will."
9. Don't let one incident ruin the entire day. Don't let something that happened this morning ruin your entire day, and definitely not something that happened yesterday or last week! Let bygones be bygones.
10. Don't always take themselves too seriously. Cultivate the ability to laugh at yourself. Nobody's perfect all the time. Find the humor in what happened. Someone has said, "He who can laugh at himself will never lack for amusement." Perhaps we might be our own best source of amusement!
According to professional golfer Arnold Palmer, "The road to success is always under construction." That being so, the good news is that we are all "works in progress"!
Successful people:
1. Don't major on the minors. Don't waste time on those unimportant, unessential things that are not relevant to your life or work.
In "The Purpose-Driven Life," Rick Warren writes, "It's human nature to get distracted by minor issues. We play Trivial Pursuit with our lives." Determine what's important and meaningful to you. Weigh how much time and effort you've put into something and compare it with the result or satisfaction you get from it.
2. Don't procrastinate on things that are important. Accomplishment requires action. There's always a price to pay for procrastination, and that price could be your success. Let your desire for success and progress be greater than the urge to procrastinate.
3. Don't try to be perfect in everything. Although we might like to do all things to perfection, in today's busy world there isn't enough time or energy to do this. Thankfully, not everything we do needs to be a masterpiece.
Be perfect in those areas that demand perfection (i.e. taxes, legal and financial matters). Identify those things for which "good enough is good enough."
4. Don't focus only on themselves. Make it a habit to express appreciation, give credit where credit is due, and do what you can to help others succeed.
5. Don't compare themselves with others. There will always be people who are better than you are, and that can make you bitter. And there will always be those who are worse than you, and that can make you vain. Any way you look at it, being bitter and vain is a bad combination!
6. Don't fill their lives so full that there's no margin for peace or relaxation. Just as it would be difficult to read a book that has no margins or paragraph breaks — one that has text filling the entire page — so is a life that is crammed too full with work and other activities. Be sure to leave margins in your life. For well-being it's a necessity, not a luxury!
7. Don't always stay in their comfort zone. Too often we get too comfortable where we are and don't enlarge our boundaries and abilities. There isn't anyone who isn't capable of doing or being more.
Dare to venture out and be all that you can be. According to Erica Jong, "If you don't risk anything, you risk even more." Eleanor Roosevelt said, "You must do the thing you think you cannot do." If we're afraid to do something, sometimes we just have to "do it afraid."
8. Don't give up. There is a saying that "if at first you don't succeed, you're about average." We need to go beyond that first attempt. The more we persevere, the closer we get to our goal. According to famed football coach Vince Lombardi, "The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will."
9. Don't let one incident ruin the entire day. Don't let something that happened this morning ruin your entire day, and definitely not something that happened yesterday or last week! Let bygones be bygones.
10. Don't always take themselves too seriously. Cultivate the ability to laugh at yourself. Nobody's perfect all the time. Find the humor in what happened. Someone has said, "He who can laugh at himself will never lack for amusement." Perhaps we might be our own best source of amusement!
According to professional golfer Arnold Palmer, "The road to success is always under construction." That being so, the good news is that we are all "works in progress"!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Green Lama
A lot of comics from the past are offensive to modern sensibilities, reflecting as they do the derogatory racial stereotypes prevalent at the times. Not so "Green Lama," a 1940s character being reprinted by Dark Horse.
In some ways, the Lama is fairly forgettable as '40s characters go. He was published by the obscure Spark Publications. His costume was unremarkable -- hood, cape and leotard ensemble, all in various shades of emerald. Like Superman, Dr. Fate and a half-dozen others, his powers were super-strength, speed, flight and invulnerability. Like Batman, Sandman, Green Arrow and a host of others, his secret identity was the standard-issue "bored playboy" (Jethro Dumont). Like Captain Marvel, Johnny Quick and others, his powers were activated by a magic word or phrase ("Om Mani Padme Hum"). Like the Lone Ranger, Mandrake the Magician, The Spirit and many others, he had an ethnic sidekick (Tsarong).
But in other ways, the Lama was unique. For one thing, despite his regrettable name, Tsarong often acted more as an adviser than a sidekick -- despite not being white. Plus, the Lama was drawn by the remarkable Mac Raboy ("Captain Marvel Jr."), who was revered then and now for his graceful figures, clean embellishment, storytelling skills and breathtaking mastery of anatomy, foreshortening, design, perspective and rendering. Also, as his name implies, the Green Lama's powers didn't derive from the scientific and industrial prowess of the West -- they came from, and practically idolized, Tibet and its Buddhist tenets.
But most importantly, "Green Lama" may be the most enlightened comic book I've read from the '40s. For example, a full-page house ad in "Green Lama" No. 2 (February 1945) makes a plea -- no, a demand -- for tolerance. Under a stark image of a U.S. helmet next to a battlefield grave marker with no name, the text reads in part, "Let's put an end to the foul prejudice fanned by our enemies ... When you find anyone -- yourself included -- thinking, speaking, acting with racial or religious prejudice -- STOP IT! If Smith, Kelly, Cohen or Svoboda is good enough to die for us, he's good enough to live with us ... as an equal. Be American!"
You're not going to read that in "Sheena, Queen of the Jungle" in the 1940s!
And in "Green Lama" No. 5 (May 1945), there's a story even more remarkable. The Lama reacts to a bigoted American soldier by taking him behind enemy lines and showing him the logical end of racial prejudice: Nazi Germany. Realizing that he's acting like the enemy, the soldier has a change of heart, even buying the "Negro" soldiers he had previously abused some ice-cream sodas!
As Chuck Rozanski says in his foreword, "though the underlying egalitarian message may seem obviously virtuous today, it was practically suicidal in 1945."
And it was. Spark Publications began receiving hate mail, of course. But the publisher didn't back down -- in fact, they turned it up a notch. In "Green Lama" No. 6, they published a real letter from an anti-Semite on the first page of the hero's adventure. In "An American Story," the Lama goes to Texas (where the letter was from) to confront the writer (fictionalized), whom he shows the error of his ways -- as he breaks up a KKK-like hate group, complete with white hoods.
Wow! Why is this title not famous?
Here's a hint: It was canceled two issues later.
There are a number of pedestrian reasons why this might be so. The market was flooded with new comics after the wartime paper-rationing was eased, and a lot of books came and went during the Lama's short run (1944-46). And some of the Lama's backup features, like Angus MacErc and Lt. Hercules, were painfully bad.
But it seems more likely, as Rozanski speculates in his foreword, that "Green Lama" was simply too liberal for its times. "It doesn't take a huge leap of logic," he writes, "to realize that when you write comics that are deeply offensive to a significant number of your readers, for many of whom racism was a deeply ingrained value in 1945, you're going to lose some sales."
In some ways, the Lama is fairly forgettable as '40s characters go. He was published by the obscure Spark Publications. His costume was unremarkable -- hood, cape and leotard ensemble, all in various shades of emerald. Like Superman, Dr. Fate and a half-dozen others, his powers were super-strength, speed, flight and invulnerability. Like Batman, Sandman, Green Arrow and a host of others, his secret identity was the standard-issue "bored playboy" (Jethro Dumont). Like Captain Marvel, Johnny Quick and others, his powers were activated by a magic word or phrase ("Om Mani Padme Hum"). Like the Lone Ranger, Mandrake the Magician, The Spirit and many others, he had an ethnic sidekick (Tsarong).
But in other ways, the Lama was unique. For one thing, despite his regrettable name, Tsarong often acted more as an adviser than a sidekick -- despite not being white. Plus, the Lama was drawn by the remarkable Mac Raboy ("Captain Marvel Jr."), who was revered then and now for his graceful figures, clean embellishment, storytelling skills and breathtaking mastery of anatomy, foreshortening, design, perspective and rendering. Also, as his name implies, the Green Lama's powers didn't derive from the scientific and industrial prowess of the West -- they came from, and practically idolized, Tibet and its Buddhist tenets.
But most importantly, "Green Lama" may be the most enlightened comic book I've read from the '40s. For example, a full-page house ad in "Green Lama" No. 2 (February 1945) makes a plea -- no, a demand -- for tolerance. Under a stark image of a U.S. helmet next to a battlefield grave marker with no name, the text reads in part, "Let's put an end to the foul prejudice fanned by our enemies ... When you find anyone -- yourself included -- thinking, speaking, acting with racial or religious prejudice -- STOP IT! If Smith, Kelly, Cohen or Svoboda is good enough to die for us, he's good enough to live with us ... as an equal. Be American!"
You're not going to read that in "Sheena, Queen of the Jungle" in the 1940s!
And in "Green Lama" No. 5 (May 1945), there's a story even more remarkable. The Lama reacts to a bigoted American soldier by taking him behind enemy lines and showing him the logical end of racial prejudice: Nazi Germany. Realizing that he's acting like the enemy, the soldier has a change of heart, even buying the "Negro" soldiers he had previously abused some ice-cream sodas!
As Chuck Rozanski says in his foreword, "though the underlying egalitarian message may seem obviously virtuous today, it was practically suicidal in 1945."
And it was. Spark Publications began receiving hate mail, of course. But the publisher didn't back down -- in fact, they turned it up a notch. In "Green Lama" No. 6, they published a real letter from an anti-Semite on the first page of the hero's adventure. In "An American Story," the Lama goes to Texas (where the letter was from) to confront the writer (fictionalized), whom he shows the error of his ways -- as he breaks up a KKK-like hate group, complete with white hoods.
Wow! Why is this title not famous?
Here's a hint: It was canceled two issues later.
There are a number of pedestrian reasons why this might be so. The market was flooded with new comics after the wartime paper-rationing was eased, and a lot of books came and went during the Lama's short run (1944-46). And some of the Lama's backup features, like Angus MacErc and Lt. Hercules, were painfully bad.
But it seems more likely, as Rozanski speculates in his foreword, that "Green Lama" was simply too liberal for its times. "It doesn't take a huge leap of logic," he writes, "to realize that when you write comics that are deeply offensive to a significant number of your readers, for many of whom racism was a deeply ingrained value in 1945, you're going to lose some sales."
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
taking care of your brain
| Most of us start worrying about dementia after retirement - and that may be too little, too late. Experts say that if you really want to ward off dementia, you need to start taking care of your brain in your 30s and 40s - or even earlier. | |
| 1.
| Join clubs or organizations that need volunteers. If you start volunteering now, you won't feel lost and unneeded after you retire. |
| 2.
| Develop a hobby or two. Hobbies help you develop a robust brain because you're trying something new and complex. |
| 3.
| Practice writing with your nondominant hand several minutes everyday. This will exercise the opposite side of your brain and fire up those neurons. |
| 4.
| Take dance lessons. In a study of nearly 500 people, dancing was the only regular physical activity associated with a significant decrease in the incidence of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. The people who danced three or four times a week showed 76 percent less incidence of dementia than those who danced only once a week or not at all. |
| 5.
| Need a hobby? Start gardening. Researchers in New Zealand found that, of 1,000 people, those who gardened regularly were less likely to suffer from dementia! Not only does gardening reduce stress, but gardeners use their brains to plan gardens; they use visual and spatial reasoning to lay out a garden. |
| 6.
| Buy a pedometer and walk 10,000 steps a day. Walking daily can reduce the risk of dementia because cardiovascular health is important to maintain blood flow to the brain. |
| 7.
| Read and write daily. Reading stimulates a wide variety of brain areas that process and store information. Likewise, writing (not copying) stimulates many areas of the brain as well. |
| 8.
| Start knitting. Using both hands works both sides of your brain. And it's a stress reducer. |
| 9.
| Learn a new language. Whether it's a foreign language or sign language,you are working your brain by making it go back and forth between one language and the other. A researcher in England found that being bilingual seemed to delay symptoms of Alzheimer's disease for four years. And some research suggests that the earlier a child learns sign language, the higher his IQ - and people with high IQs are less likely to have dementia. So start them early. |
| 10.
| Play board games such as Scrabble and Monopoly. Not only are you taxing your brain, you're socializing too. Playing solo games, such as solitaire or online computer brain games can be helpful, but Nussbaum prefers games that encourage you to socialize too. |
| 11.
| Take classes throughout your lifetime. Learning produces structural and chemical changes in the brain, and education appears to help people live longer. Brain researchers have found that people with advanced degrees live longer - and if they do have Alzheimer's, it often becomes apparent only in the very later stages of the disease. |
| 12.
| Listen to classical music. A growing volume of research suggests that music may hard wire the brain, building links between the two hemispheres. Any kind of music may work, but there's some research that shows positive effects for classical music, though researchers don't understand why. |
| 13.
| Learn a musical instrument. It may be harder than it was when you were a kid, but you'll be developing a dormant part of your brain. |
| 14.
| Travel. When you travel (whether it's to a distant vacation spot or on a different route across town), you're forcing your brain to navigate a new and complex environment. A study of London taxi drivers found experienced drivers had larger brains because they have to store lots of information about locations and how to navigate there. |
| 15.
| Pray. Daily prayer appears to help your immune system. And people who attend a formal worship service regularly live longer and report happier, healthier lives. |
| 16.
| Learn to meditate. It's important for your brain that you learn to shut out the stresses of everyday life. |
| 17.
| Get enough sleep. Studies have shown a link between interrupted sleep and dementia. |
| 18.
| Eat more foods containing omega-3 fatty acids: Salmon, sardines, tuna, ocean trout, mackerel or herring, plus walnuts (which are higher in omega 3s than salmon) and flaxseed. Flaxseed oil, cod liver oil and walnut oil are good sources too. |
| 19.
| Eat more fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants in fruits and vegetables mop up some of the damage caused by free radicals, one of the leading killers of brain cells. |
| 20.
| Eat at least one meal a day with family and friends. You'll slow down, socialize, and research shows you'll eat healthier food than if you ate alone or on the go. |
http://www.northjersey.com/news/health/The_time_is_now_for_preventing_dementia.html
[forwarded from Donna]
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Paula Abdul leaving American Idol
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Paula Abdul has decided to quit the top-rated U.S. television show "American Idol," ending weeks of speculation about her future as a judge on the popular singing contest.
Making her announcement on her Twitter feed on Tuesday, Abdul said "with sadness in my heart," she had decided not to return to "Idol" which is due to start auditions for its ninth season within days. She did not give any reason.
Abdul, 47, a singer/dancer turned TV personality, has been a mainstay of the show since it was launched in 2002 and quickly became an audience juggernaut for News Corp's Fox network, growing into an estimated $1 billion-plus brand.
"I'll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day 1 become an international phenomenon," said Abdul, who was known for finding something positive in almost every performance.
"What I want to say most, is how much I appreciate the undying support and enormous love that you have showered upon me."
Fox and the show's producers FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment said they were "saddened" that Abdul would not be returning to the show as she had been "an important part of the 'American Idol' family over the last eight seasons."
"While Paula will not be continuing with us, she's a tremendous talent and we wish her the best," they said in a joint statement, also giving no reason for her departure.
Abdul's future with the show had been unclear since the eighth season ended in May with speculation rising as producers locked in new contracts with some of the other key players.
Making her announcement on her Twitter feed on Tuesday, Abdul said "with sadness in my heart," she had decided not to return to "Idol" which is due to start auditions for its ninth season within days. She did not give any reason.
Abdul, 47, a singer/dancer turned TV personality, has been a mainstay of the show since it was launched in 2002 and quickly became an audience juggernaut for News Corp's Fox network, growing into an estimated $1 billion-plus brand.
"I'll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day 1 become an international phenomenon," said Abdul, who was known for finding something positive in almost every performance.
"What I want to say most, is how much I appreciate the undying support and enormous love that you have showered upon me."
Fox and the show's producers FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment said they were "saddened" that Abdul would not be returning to the show as she had been "an important part of the 'American Idol' family over the last eight seasons."
"While Paula will not be continuing with us, she's a tremendous talent and we wish her the best," they said in a joint statement, also giving no reason for her departure.
Abdul's future with the show had been unclear since the eighth season ended in May with speculation rising as producers locked in new contracts with some of the other key players.
10 Secrets To Success
For years, Investors Business Daily has run a daily column with their "10 Secrets to Success," as follows:
1. How you think is everything. Always be positive. Think success, not failure. Beware of a negative environment.
2. Set goals. Write down goals and devise a plan to reach them.
3. Take action. Goals are nothing without action. Don't be afraid to get started now. Just do it.
4. Never stop learning. Go back to school or read books. Get training and acquire skills.
5. Be persistent and work hard. Success is a marathon, not a sprint. Never give up.
6. Analyze details. Get all the facts, all the input. Learn from your mistakes.
7. Focus your time and money. Don't let other people or things distract you.
8. Don't be afraid to innovate; be different. Following the herd is a sure way to mediocrity.
9. Deal and communicate with people effectively. No person is an island. Learn to understand and motivate others.
10. Be honest and dependable; take responsibility. Otherwise, Nos. 1 through 9 won't matter.
1. How you think is everything. Always be positive. Think success, not failure. Beware of a negative environment.
2. Set goals. Write down goals and devise a plan to reach them.
3. Take action. Goals are nothing without action. Don't be afraid to get started now. Just do it.
4. Never stop learning. Go back to school or read books. Get training and acquire skills.
5. Be persistent and work hard. Success is a marathon, not a sprint. Never give up.
6. Analyze details. Get all the facts, all the input. Learn from your mistakes.
7. Focus your time and money. Don't let other people or things distract you.
8. Don't be afraid to innovate; be different. Following the herd is a sure way to mediocrity.
9. Deal and communicate with people effectively. No person is an island. Learn to understand and motivate others.
10. Be honest and dependable; take responsibility. Otherwise, Nos. 1 through 9 won't matter.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
nonkilling
A school for impoverished victims of war in Africa has been renamed in honor of Glenn Paige, a Hawaii professor emeritus of political science whose book inspired the teaching of non-violence to children.
Now called the Glenn Paige Nonkilling School, the two-room school in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was formerly named for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Paige, a retired University of Hawaii scholar, said he has never visited the school, but his book, "Nonkilling Global Political Science," inspired its formation in 2006. He has also helped to support the 180 students, who are casualties of war, disease and abandonment.
"The school was originally named after me. But I strenuously objected as being unworthy, and suggested it be named either after Martin and Coretta King, or Mohandas and Kasturba Gandhi. They chose Complexe Scolaire Martin Luther King. Now they just renamed it by surprise for my 80th birthday on June 28," Paige said.
"It is something of a miracle ... how an academic book from Hawaii ends up as inspiration for a poor village school in the DR Congo that aspires to grow from nothing into a model for genocide-preventing, nonkilling education in Africa," he said.
Paige self-published his book and made it free on the Internet in 2002. It has been translated into 17 languages, soon to be 34, he said. He is helping the school on his own as chairman of the Governing Council of the Center for Global Nonkilling, which he originally founded as the Center for Global Nonviolence in 1994.
Paige said he coined the word "nonkilling" to describe a radical concept that advocates much more than the word "peace."
"A nonkilling society implies not only the exclusion of killing among humans, but moreover the absence of threats, weapons or justifications to kill," he said. "We have to cross the threshold of lethal pessimism that killing is inevitable."
Now called the Glenn Paige Nonkilling School, the two-room school in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was formerly named for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Paige, a retired University of Hawaii scholar, said he has never visited the school, but his book, "Nonkilling Global Political Science," inspired its formation in 2006. He has also helped to support the 180 students, who are casualties of war, disease and abandonment.
"The school was originally named after me. But I strenuously objected as being unworthy, and suggested it be named either after Martin and Coretta King, or Mohandas and Kasturba Gandhi. They chose Complexe Scolaire Martin Luther King. Now they just renamed it by surprise for my 80th birthday on June 28," Paige said.
"It is something of a miracle ... how an academic book from Hawaii ends up as inspiration for a poor village school in the DR Congo that aspires to grow from nothing into a model for genocide-preventing, nonkilling education in Africa," he said.
Paige self-published his book and made it free on the Internet in 2002. It has been translated into 17 languages, soon to be 34, he said. He is helping the school on his own as chairman of the Governing Council of the Center for Global Nonkilling, which he originally founded as the Center for Global Nonviolence in 1994.
Paige said he coined the word "nonkilling" to describe a radical concept that advocates much more than the word "peace."
"A nonkilling society implies not only the exclusion of killing among humans, but moreover the absence of threats, weapons or justifications to kill," he said. "We have to cross the threshold of lethal pessimism that killing is inevitable."
Monday, August 03, 2009
Hawaii Auto Parts
After my mom ruined the rim and tire (Toyota Corolla 2005, tire size P195/64R15), I went looking for a replacement
Going through the Yellow Pages
Lex Brodie 949-4539
ToyotaHawaii.com 564-1150
Abes Auto Recyclers 455.4200 www.abesautorecyclers.com (Pearl City)
Auto Recycling www.autorecyclinghawaii.com 841-7872 (Sand Island)
Revolution Motorsports 772-5698 426 Ward www.rev808.com
None of the websites were very helpful
But then I happened to go to Costco to check their tire availability and asked the guy about the rim. He gave me the reference to Hawaii Auto Parts 845-1134, 1918 Republican Street 730-400 MF which sells used rims.
The rim cost $35. Then I saw they had used tires too so I bought a used tire. Another $35 or so. I guess it was a good deal (definitely cheaper than Toyota), but now when I drive the car I can hear an uneven sound like something's out of whack.
[got the rim and tire on 6/16/09]
Going through the Yellow Pages
Lex Brodie 949-4539
ToyotaHawaii.com 564-1150
Abes Auto Recyclers 455.4200 www.abesautorecyclers.com (Pearl City)
Auto Recycling www.autorecyclinghawaii.com 841-7872 (Sand Island)
Revolution Motorsports 772-5698 426 Ward www.rev808.com
None of the websites were very helpful
But then I happened to go to Costco to check their tire availability and asked the guy about the rim. He gave me the reference to Hawaii Auto Parts 845-1134, 1918 Republican Street 730-400 MF which sells used rims.
The rim cost $35. Then I saw they had used tires too so I bought a used tire. Another $35 or so. I guess it was a good deal (definitely cheaper than Toyota), but now when I drive the car I can hear an uneven sound like something's out of whack.
[got the rim and tire on 6/16/09]
Friday, July 24, 2009
20 Ways To Waste Your Money
Whether a newbie or seasoned budgeter, nearly everyone has spending holes -- leaks in your budget that drain money with you hardly noticing.
These small drips can add up to big bucks. Once you find the holes and plug them, you'll keep more money in your pocket. That spare cash could be the ticket to finally being able to save, invest, or break your cycle of living paycheck to paycheck.
Here are 20 common ways people waste money. See if any of these sound familiar, and then look for ways to plug your own leaks.
These small drips can add up to big bucks. Once you find the holes and plug them, you'll keep more money in your pocket. That spare cash could be the ticket to finally being able to save, invest, or break your cycle of living paycheck to paycheck.
Here are 20 common ways people waste money. See if any of these sound familiar, and then look for ways to plug your own leaks.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Jerry Coffee on Islam
Now comes HCR100, a resolution declaring Sept. 24 as “Islam Day” introduced by state Rep. Lyla Berg and co-sponsored by Rep. Faye Hanohano. It passed, of course, and was voted for by every woman present that day in both legislative chambers (and all but three of the men). Never mind the obvious: There is no declared “Christian Day,” no “Judaism Day,” no “Buddhism Day,” no other “Day” generically honoring another religion.
But the greater irony is this unanimous female celebration of Islam, a system as much political as religious, which is based upon a Quran embodying several specific and significant rules concerning women that have apparently gone unnoticed.
James Arlandson, Ph.D, college professor of religion and philosophy, author, expert on Christianity vis-Ã vis Islam, says, “Islam, in its purest form, honors and elevates women, we are told; but does it?” He then goes on to list the top 10 rules of the Quran that “oppress and insult women”:
* * *
In his column “Just What We Need, Islam Day” (May 20), Jerry Coffee argues against having a state-sponsored Islam Day based on his (mis)understanding of Islam’s position on women.
To support his argument, Mr. Coffee quotes James Arlandson, whose hatred for Islam is well-documented. His writing, like state Sens. Hemmings and Slom, and others before them, is no more than a string of superficial indictments and factual inaccuracies based on bigotry, intolerance or failure to understand the basic principles of interpretations of the Quran. Relying on such sources for Islamic knowledge is no different than asking the KKK for their opinions of African Americans.
* * *
Jerry Coffee’s column condemning “Islam Day” is on thin ice when he quotes passages from the Quran to prove that Islam oppresses and insults women. To be “fair and balanced,” he also should have listed similarly outrageous quotes from the Bible. There are lots of them. One of my personal favorites goes: “You wives will submit to your husbands as you do to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of his body, the church; he gave his life to be her Savior. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives must submit to your husbands in everything.” (Ephesians 5:22-24) Presumably this includes marital rape, even domestic abuse.
* * *
I’ve noticed Jerry Coffee has been getting big hits (below the belt) in MidWeek letters recently. Well, I want to thank Mr. Coffee for speaking out for us in the silent majority. Why do we need an Islam day except to appease the PC crowd?
Where do Republicans get their “marching orders”? How about the Constitution, that includes a couple things like free speech and warnings against things like treason.
My opinion, Mr. Coffee’s opinion, is not hateful speech. This is America, and not an Islamic-dominated country that prohibits free speech, rigs elections, denies your mother, wife, sister or daughter basic rights, or stones any one of them if they get raped.
My opinion, his opinion, is not hateful rhetoric. People are freely allowed to disagree with you without you labeling them hateful.
* * *
Jerry Coffee’s anti-Islam rant, the guest column from a local Muslim leader that followed, and recent letters on the topic remind me that the root of so many of the world’s problems today is religion and the narrow, small-minded world view it inevitably breeds.
* * *
Pretty arrogant, don’t you think, referring to yourself (as John L. Busekrus did in his June 24 letter) as part of a “silent majority.” I have no idea how many people agreed with my earlier letter on Jerry Coffee’s Muslim Day column. Judging from letters to MidWeek, I gather more than just a few. But I won’t be so foolish as to claim majority status.
Mr. Coffee’s column went beyond civil discussion and disagreement. It attempted to paint a large group of people as evil based on quotations from ancient religious text. As I and several other letter-writers have pointed out, the same kinds of outrageous quotations exist in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles.
Our Constitution protects our right to say just about any stupid thing we want. But if we are going to rise above the self-destructive behavior of the last eight years, people of conscience need to speak out against those who abuse that right to society’s detriment. They can start with Coffee and move on up to Limbaugh, Coulter, Hannity, Malkin and others who incite hatred for a living. I am not talking censorship here, I am talking vociferous feedback. Maybe an “outspoken majority” can keep these folks from flying too far off the handle.
* * *
after publishing my column, “Just What We Need, Islam Day” (May 20), MidWeek invited Mr. Hakim Ouansafi, president of Hawaii Muslim Association, to write a rebuttal. This is great for lively pro-and-con dialogue occurring in professional journals where the other side is presented in the same issue. But with MidWeek‘s weekly format, many readers who may not have read my original column are left only with the impressions of the rebuttal - all negative. For that reason, on this singular occasion, I feel justified in rebutting Mr. Ouansafi’s rebuttal.
* * *
Defying some of his fellow conservative Christian critics, one of the most prominent religious leaders in the country told several thousand American Muslims on Saturday that "the two largest faiths on the planet" must work together to combat stereotypes and solve global problems.
"Some problems are so big you have to team tackle them," evangelical megachurch pastor Rick Warren addressed the annual convention of the Islamic Society of North America.
Warren said Muslims and Christians should be partners in working to end what he calls "the five global giants" of war, poverty, corruption, disease and illiteracy.
A Southern Baptist, Warren has a record of upsetting fellow Christian conservatives by calling old-guard evangelical activists too partisan and narrowly focused. Ahead of his speech Saturday, bloggers who follow Warren had already denounced his appearance at the convention as cozying up to extremists.
* * *
Jerry Coffee states in his rebuttal that the point of his original column “Just What We Need, Islam Day,” was to point out the irony of our female legislators initiating and leading the passage of Islam Day because of his interpretations of Islamic theology.
As expected, his best defense was to take the offense by citing incendiary quotes and questionable conclusions. It’s simply a waste of time to pursue this. But I truly believe that we are not going to make it through the 21st century unless we drop the witch hunt and look at the bigger picture of what unites us as humans, not what divides us. We might begin by looking at ways that we can honor and respect our Muslim brothers and sisters. For example, most Muslims pray five times each day, including before dawn. How many of us can say that prayer is better than sleep?
A fundamental tenet of Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam and many other religions is to love one another. This is the spirit of aloha and this is why our all our legislators acted as they did. No political correctness is one thing, but how about a little aloha?
* * *
J. B. Young says that “people of conscience need to speak out against those who abuse that right to society’s detriment” (It’s Hate Speech). He goes on to name those whose beliefs he deems hateful - all conservatives. Young makes no mention of those on the left who do the same: Randi Rhodes, Bill Maher, Rachel Maddow, Keith Olbermann - as if only conservatives are capable of inciting hate.
Anyone who does not believe as liberals do are instantly branded racist, haters, yokels, boors, oafs, uneducated and not worthy of free speech and the right to assemble.
But the greater irony is this unanimous female celebration of Islam, a system as much political as religious, which is based upon a Quran embodying several specific and significant rules concerning women that have apparently gone unnoticed.
James Arlandson, Ph.D, college professor of religion and philosophy, author, expert on Christianity vis-Ã vis Islam, says, “Islam, in its purest form, honors and elevates women, we are told; but does it?” He then goes on to list the top 10 rules of the Quran that “oppress and insult women”:
* * *
In his column “Just What We Need, Islam Day” (May 20), Jerry Coffee argues against having a state-sponsored Islam Day based on his (mis)understanding of Islam’s position on women.
To support his argument, Mr. Coffee quotes James Arlandson, whose hatred for Islam is well-documented. His writing, like state Sens. Hemmings and Slom, and others before them, is no more than a string of superficial indictments and factual inaccuracies based on bigotry, intolerance or failure to understand the basic principles of interpretations of the Quran. Relying on such sources for Islamic knowledge is no different than asking the KKK for their opinions of African Americans.
* * *
Jerry Coffee’s column condemning “Islam Day” is on thin ice when he quotes passages from the Quran to prove that Islam oppresses and insults women. To be “fair and balanced,” he also should have listed similarly outrageous quotes from the Bible. There are lots of them. One of my personal favorites goes: “You wives will submit to your husbands as you do to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of his body, the church; he gave his life to be her Savior. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives must submit to your husbands in everything.” (Ephesians 5:22-24) Presumably this includes marital rape, even domestic abuse.
* * *
I’ve noticed Jerry Coffee has been getting big hits (below the belt) in MidWeek letters recently. Well, I want to thank Mr. Coffee for speaking out for us in the silent majority. Why do we need an Islam day except to appease the PC crowd?
Where do Republicans get their “marching orders”? How about the Constitution, that includes a couple things like free speech and warnings against things like treason.
My opinion, Mr. Coffee’s opinion, is not hateful speech. This is America, and not an Islamic-dominated country that prohibits free speech, rigs elections, denies your mother, wife, sister or daughter basic rights, or stones any one of them if they get raped.
My opinion, his opinion, is not hateful rhetoric. People are freely allowed to disagree with you without you labeling them hateful.
* * *
Jerry Coffee’s anti-Islam rant, the guest column from a local Muslim leader that followed, and recent letters on the topic remind me that the root of so many of the world’s problems today is religion and the narrow, small-minded world view it inevitably breeds.
* * *
Pretty arrogant, don’t you think, referring to yourself (as John L. Busekrus did in his June 24 letter) as part of a “silent majority.” I have no idea how many people agreed with my earlier letter on Jerry Coffee’s Muslim Day column. Judging from letters to MidWeek, I gather more than just a few. But I won’t be so foolish as to claim majority status.
Mr. Coffee’s column went beyond civil discussion and disagreement. It attempted to paint a large group of people as evil based on quotations from ancient religious text. As I and several other letter-writers have pointed out, the same kinds of outrageous quotations exist in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles.
Our Constitution protects our right to say just about any stupid thing we want. But if we are going to rise above the self-destructive behavior of the last eight years, people of conscience need to speak out against those who abuse that right to society’s detriment. They can start with Coffee and move on up to Limbaugh, Coulter, Hannity, Malkin and others who incite hatred for a living. I am not talking censorship here, I am talking vociferous feedback. Maybe an “outspoken majority” can keep these folks from flying too far off the handle.
* * *
after publishing my column, “Just What We Need, Islam Day” (May 20), MidWeek invited Mr. Hakim Ouansafi, president of Hawaii Muslim Association, to write a rebuttal. This is great for lively pro-and-con dialogue occurring in professional journals where the other side is presented in the same issue. But with MidWeek‘s weekly format, many readers who may not have read my original column are left only with the impressions of the rebuttal - all negative. For that reason, on this singular occasion, I feel justified in rebutting Mr. Ouansafi’s rebuttal.
* * *
Defying some of his fellow conservative Christian critics, one of the most prominent religious leaders in the country told several thousand American Muslims on Saturday that "the two largest faiths on the planet" must work together to combat stereotypes and solve global problems.
"Some problems are so big you have to team tackle them," evangelical megachurch pastor Rick Warren addressed the annual convention of the Islamic Society of North America.
Warren said Muslims and Christians should be partners in working to end what he calls "the five global giants" of war, poverty, corruption, disease and illiteracy.
A Southern Baptist, Warren has a record of upsetting fellow Christian conservatives by calling old-guard evangelical activists too partisan and narrowly focused. Ahead of his speech Saturday, bloggers who follow Warren had already denounced his appearance at the convention as cozying up to extremists.
* * *
Jerry Coffee states in his rebuttal that the point of his original column “Just What We Need, Islam Day,” was to point out the irony of our female legislators initiating and leading the passage of Islam Day because of his interpretations of Islamic theology.
As expected, his best defense was to take the offense by citing incendiary quotes and questionable conclusions. It’s simply a waste of time to pursue this. But I truly believe that we are not going to make it through the 21st century unless we drop the witch hunt and look at the bigger picture of what unites us as humans, not what divides us. We might begin by looking at ways that we can honor and respect our Muslim brothers and sisters. For example, most Muslims pray five times each day, including before dawn. How many of us can say that prayer is better than sleep?
A fundamental tenet of Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam and many other religions is to love one another. This is the spirit of aloha and this is why our all our legislators acted as they did. No political correctness is one thing, but how about a little aloha?
* * *
J. B. Young says that “people of conscience need to speak out against those who abuse that right to society’s detriment” (It’s Hate Speech). He goes on to name those whose beliefs he deems hateful - all conservatives. Young makes no mention of those on the left who do the same: Randi Rhodes, Bill Maher, Rachel Maddow, Keith Olbermann - as if only conservatives are capable of inciting hate.
Anyone who does not believe as liberals do are instantly branded racist, haters, yokels, boors, oafs, uneducated and not worthy of free speech and the right to assemble.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Time 100
While googling Margaret Thatcher (hero of VE), I came across the Time 100.
Time has profiled those individuals who - for better or worse - most influenced the last 100 years. They are considered in five fields of endeavor.
Glancing at the Artists & Entertainers category. I note no Michael Jackson. No Elvis. Who's there? The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Frank Sinatra.
Glancing over the list, I'm familiar (or at least recognize) only about half of them. Which might tell you something about me.
Time has profiled those individuals who - for better or worse - most influenced the last 100 years. They are considered in five fields of endeavor.
Glancing at the Artists & Entertainers category. I note no Michael Jackson. No Elvis. Who's there? The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Frank Sinatra.
Glancing over the list, I'm familiar (or at least recognize) only about half of them. Which might tell you something about me.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Times to buy Star Markets
Times Super Market, founded 60 years ago by the sons of Okinawan immigrants, is buying 82-year-old Star Markets in a deal that brings together two longtime fixtures in the Hawaii food service industry.
Honolulu-based QSI Inc., the parent of Times, and Star Markets jointly announced yesterday that they have signed a definitive agreement for QSI to buy Star's seven supermarkets, which will be re-branded with the Times name.
Honolulu-based QSI Inc., the parent of Times, and Star Markets jointly announced yesterday that they have signed a definitive agreement for QSI to buy Star's seven supermarkets, which will be re-branded with the Times name.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Carroll Cox
Carroll Cox is a tireless watchdog, putting in countless hours combing through government documents, attending public meetings and following up on tips from whistleblowers to expose wrongdoing.
Last week he was busy in Leeward Oahu, shooting photographs and video of tons of construction concrete dumped in Mailiili Stream, home to the endangered Hawaiian stilt and other rare birds. Cox was alerted to the dumping by city workers who he said were told to dump the debris and keep quiet. His video ended up on the local news, exposure that caused the city to stop the practice and prompted city, state and federal investigations.
The approach is vintage Cox, who through his nonprofit Envirowatch Inc. is plugged into a community network that alerts him to potential misconduct, environmental and otherwise.
Accessibility aids his work — he's reachable through his Web sites www.carrollcox.com and envirowatch.org and a Sunday morning radio show on KWAI — but what really drives him is the personal knowledge that a government without oversight is capable of terrible things.
Q: What strategy works best, in terms of lobbying for change?
A: Going to the legislators has proven fruitless over the 15 years I've been doing this, so I try to take it to the public. There's an informal network of agencies, businesses, people who are willing to talk, willing to blow the whistle, without becoming too involved. They want to solve a problem, but they don't want to be an activist.
Last week he was busy in Leeward Oahu, shooting photographs and video of tons of construction concrete dumped in Mailiili Stream, home to the endangered Hawaiian stilt and other rare birds. Cox was alerted to the dumping by city workers who he said were told to dump the debris and keep quiet. His video ended up on the local news, exposure that caused the city to stop the practice and prompted city, state and federal investigations.
The approach is vintage Cox, who through his nonprofit Envirowatch Inc. is plugged into a community network that alerts him to potential misconduct, environmental and otherwise.
Accessibility aids his work — he's reachable through his Web sites www.carrollcox.com and envirowatch.org and a Sunday morning radio show on KWAI — but what really drives him is the personal knowledge that a government without oversight is capable of terrible things.
Q: What strategy works best, in terms of lobbying for change?
A: Going to the legislators has proven fruitless over the 15 years I've been doing this, so I try to take it to the public. There's an informal network of agencies, businesses, people who are willing to talk, willing to blow the whistle, without becoming too involved. They want to solve a problem, but they don't want to be an activist.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Restaurant Row Theatres shutting down
The lights will go out soon for the dollar movie theater at Waterfront Plaza after more than 15 years in business at the location.
The last discount movie -- which can be seen for $1.25 admission per person during the weekdays -- will be shown on Aug. 9.
Scott Wallace, president of Hollywood Theaters, which operates the nine-screen discount theater, said he agreed to a deal with Pacific Office Properties Trust Inc., run by the Shidler Group, to exit his lease early.
"The landlord made us an offer we couldn't refuse," said Wallace, echoing a line from "The Godfather."
Wallace declined to disclose the amount of the deal, saying only that it was in the multimillion-dollar range. About 40 theater employees, mostly part time, were informed of the shutdown yesterday.
* * *
[8/3/09] Restaurant Row theatres have shown their final shows. Shucks, I thought I had another week.
The last discount movie -- which can be seen for $1.25 admission per person during the weekdays -- will be shown on Aug. 9.
Scott Wallace, president of Hollywood Theaters, which operates the nine-screen discount theater, said he agreed to a deal with Pacific Office Properties Trust Inc., run by the Shidler Group, to exit his lease early.
"The landlord made us an offer we couldn't refuse," said Wallace, echoing a line from "The Godfather."
Wallace declined to disclose the amount of the deal, saying only that it was in the multimillion-dollar range. About 40 theater employees, mostly part time, were informed of the shutdown yesterday.
* * *
[8/3/09] Restaurant Row theatres have shown their final shows. Shucks, I thought I had another week.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Billy Mays
Billy Mays, the loud, fast-talking pitchman who epitomized the infomercial spokesman, died Saturday at his home in Tampa. Mays, who would have turned 51 on July 20, was found by his wife. Police do not suspect foul play.
However, Mays was aboard Saturday's U.S. Airways Flight 1241 flying from Philadelphia, which suffered a rough landing when its front tire blew out. He told a Tampa TV station that he was struck in the head during the incident. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday.
Dressed in a trademark blue shirt and khaki pants, the husky, bearded Mays had been among the best-known infomercial hucksters on TV for more than two decades, pitching cleaning products, wonder tools and other "as seen on TV" items that eventually made their way into retail stores.
However, Mays was aboard Saturday's U.S. Airways Flight 1241 flying from Philadelphia, which suffered a rough landing when its front tire blew out. He told a Tampa TV station that he was struck in the head during the incident. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday.
Dressed in a trademark blue shirt and khaki pants, the husky, bearded Mays had been among the best-known infomercial hucksters on TV for more than two decades, pitching cleaning products, wonder tools and other "as seen on TV" items that eventually made their way into retail stores.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Michael Jackson
We've just learned Michael Jackson has died. He was 50.
Michael suffered a cardiac arrest earlier this afternoon at his Holmby Hills home and paramedics were unable to revive him. We're told when paramedics arrived Jackson had no pulse and they never got a pulse back.
A source tells us Jackson was dead when paramedics arrived. A cardiologist at UCLA tells TMZ Jackson died of cardiac arrest.
Once at the hospital, the staff tried to resuscitate him but he was completely unresponsive.
We're told one of the staff members at Jackson's home called 911.
La Toya ran in the hospital sobbing after Jackson was pronounced dead.
Michael is survived by three children: Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince "Blanket" Michael Jackson II.
* * *
When you think of Michael Jackson, the first thing that comes to mind might be his unique dancing ability — particularly his moonwalk dance, where he would spin then glide in reverse, giving an effortless impression that he was impervious to the laws of gravity. But those skills sometimes overshadowed his undeniable musical talents and innovations, which spanned several decades, beginning in the '70s and lasting into the new millennium.
It all began for MJ as a member of the Jackson 5, a sibling outfit comprised of him and his brothers.
* * *
Listening to and watching Michael Jackson tributes all day. On IMEEM, CNN, MTV, K59, and of all places Fox Business News. I'm kind of numb.
Michael suffered a cardiac arrest earlier this afternoon at his Holmby Hills home and paramedics were unable to revive him. We're told when paramedics arrived Jackson had no pulse and they never got a pulse back.
A source tells us Jackson was dead when paramedics arrived. A cardiologist at UCLA tells TMZ Jackson died of cardiac arrest.
Once at the hospital, the staff tried to resuscitate him but he was completely unresponsive.
We're told one of the staff members at Jackson's home called 911.
La Toya ran in the hospital sobbing after Jackson was pronounced dead.
Michael is survived by three children: Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince "Blanket" Michael Jackson II.
* * *
When you think of Michael Jackson, the first thing that comes to mind might be his unique dancing ability — particularly his moonwalk dance, where he would spin then glide in reverse, giving an effortless impression that he was impervious to the laws of gravity. But those skills sometimes overshadowed his undeniable musical talents and innovations, which spanned several decades, beginning in the '70s and lasting into the new millennium.
It all began for MJ as a member of the Jackson 5, a sibling outfit comprised of him and his brothers.
* * *
Listening to and watching Michael Jackson tributes all day. On IMEEM, CNN, MTV, K59, and of all places Fox Business News. I'm kind of numb.
Farrah Fawcett
Farrah Fawcett, the 1970s "It Girl" who was known for her cascading golden hair and bombshell body, died in a Santa Monica hospital today, ABC News has learned. She was 62-years-old.
Farrah Fawcett dies after a long battle with cancer. The 1970's icon was 62.
"After a long and brave battle with cancer, our beloved Farrah has passed away," Fawcett's longtime romantic partner Ryan O'Neal said in a statement released by Fawcett's publicist, Paul Bloch. "Although this is an extremely difficult time for her family and friends, we take comfort in the beautiful times that we shared with Farrah over the years and the knowledge that her life brought joy to so many people around the world."
Fawcett first stepped into the spotlight playing Jill Munroe in the TV series "Charlie's Angels" in the 1970s. The series became a smash hit and Fawcett quickly became an iconic pin-up model for millions of men. She pioneered a feathered hairstyle dubbed the "Farrah Do" or "Farrah Hair" that remained in vogue throughout the decade.
Farrah Fawcett dies after a long battle with cancer. The 1970's icon was 62.
"After a long and brave battle with cancer, our beloved Farrah has passed away," Fawcett's longtime romantic partner Ryan O'Neal said in a statement released by Fawcett's publicist, Paul Bloch. "Although this is an extremely difficult time for her family and friends, we take comfort in the beautiful times that we shared with Farrah over the years and the knowledge that her life brought joy to so many people around the world."
Fawcett first stepped into the spotlight playing Jill Munroe in the TV series "Charlie's Angels" in the 1970s. The series became a smash hit and Fawcett quickly became an iconic pin-up model for millions of men. She pioneered a feathered hairstyle dubbed the "Farrah Do" or "Farrah Hair" that remained in vogue throughout the decade.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
icarly.com
I'm starting to watch this kid's show on Nickolodean and am finding it enjoyable.
It's sort of a junior version of LaVerne and Shirley with a little flavor of Pee Wee's Playhouse (on their show in a show anyway), also starring Jerry Trainer as a young Jim Carrey.
This Jerry Trainer somehow seems familiar, but I guess I don't really know him from anything.
It's sort of a junior version of LaVerne and Shirley with a little flavor of Pee Wee's Playhouse (on their show in a show anyway), also starring Jerry Trainer as a young Jim Carrey.
This Jerry Trainer somehow seems familiar, but I guess I don't really know him from anything.
Ed McMahon
Ed McMahon, who died Tuesday morning in a Los Angeles hospital, was a carnival barker, game-show host and TV pitchman for Budweiser beer and American Family Publishers' Sweepstakes, but he will always be best remembered as Johnny Carson's sidekick for 30 years on NBC.
Mr. McMahon died at age 86 at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center with his wife, Pam, and other family members at his side, according to his longtime publicist, Howard Bragman.
Although Mr. McMahon left "The Tonight Show" with Carson in 1992, the fact that he managed to remain in the public eye owed to the savvy career moves and versatility that took him from selling vegetable slicers on the Atlantic City, N.J., boardwalk to his first job with Carson as the announcer on the game show "Who Do You Trust?" in 1957. Five years later, when Carson was tapped to take over the "Tonight" show from Jack Paar, Mr. McMahon took his seat on the couch next to Carson's desk.
Even today, four years after Carson's death and 17 since the duo left "The Tonight Show," few Americans would fail to identify the phrase "Heeeeeeeere's Johnny!" with Mr. McMahon, whose post-monologue chats with Carson made him one of TV's greatest second bananas.
Mr. McMahon died at age 86 at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center with his wife, Pam, and other family members at his side, according to his longtime publicist, Howard Bragman.
Although Mr. McMahon left "The Tonight Show" with Carson in 1992, the fact that he managed to remain in the public eye owed to the savvy career moves and versatility that took him from selling vegetable slicers on the Atlantic City, N.J., boardwalk to his first job with Carson as the announcer on the game show "Who Do You Trust?" in 1957. Five years later, when Carson was tapped to take over the "Tonight" show from Jack Paar, Mr. McMahon took his seat on the couch next to Carson's desk.
Even today, four years after Carson's death and 17 since the duo left "The Tonight Show," few Americans would fail to identify the phrase "Heeeeeeeere's Johnny!" with Mr. McMahon, whose post-monologue chats with Carson made him one of TV's greatest second bananas.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
IMEEM
I happened to turn to PBS which was running the David Foster tribute, Hitman.
Michael Buble was on and starting to sing Home with a twang alluding to the country version. It turned out the guy who did the country cover (which reached no. 1 on the charts) was there too. It was a guy named Shelton. The only Shelton I knew was Ricky Shelton, but the artist is Blake Shelton (which tells you how much I know music). I remember hearing this version on the radio (K59?) and liked it.
Anyway, I found his video on CMT.
Later on, Boys 2 Men showed up and was doing I Swear and a google search hit on a site called IMEEM. It's sort of like Pandora where it plays the song then plays a related song after that. You have to register to listen to all of the music, but it's free.
I switched to Michael Buble. Then to Sinatra. Then after a while it started playing Chicago music done in a jazzy style. It's kind of catchy. The album is named Bossa N' Chicago. And evidently out of print. Not even listed on Amazon. But you can hear it on IMEEM. (Here's a link to Hard Habit to Break.) They also have a Bossa 'N Beatles. But for some reason I'm more hooked on the Chicago one.
Hey, here's the playlist on IMEEM! (via a Google search of Bossa N' Chicago). Cool.
It seems the singer is Rita Lee who is from Brazil. But the wikipedia entry has no mention of the Bossa albums.
Hey, I see there's a bunch of Bossa albums (of questionable legality on rapidshare).
* * *
[7/1/09] I did a search on IMEEM for Fly Me To The Moon and came across a singer named Olivia Ong. She a jazz singer sort of like Diana Krall or Jane Monheit. But then I see from one of her albums she sings Bossa Nova. And now it sounds like she's singing in Japanese. Anyway, pleasant.
Michael Buble was on and starting to sing Home with a twang alluding to the country version. It turned out the guy who did the country cover (which reached no. 1 on the charts) was there too. It was a guy named Shelton. The only Shelton I knew was Ricky Shelton, but the artist is Blake Shelton (which tells you how much I know music). I remember hearing this version on the radio (K59?) and liked it.
Anyway, I found his video on CMT.
Later on, Boys 2 Men showed up and was doing I Swear and a google search hit on a site called IMEEM. It's sort of like Pandora where it plays the song then plays a related song after that. You have to register to listen to all of the music, but it's free.
I switched to Michael Buble. Then to Sinatra. Then after a while it started playing Chicago music done in a jazzy style. It's kind of catchy. The album is named Bossa N' Chicago. And evidently out of print. Not even listed on Amazon. But you can hear it on IMEEM. (Here's a link to Hard Habit to Break.) They also have a Bossa 'N Beatles. But for some reason I'm more hooked on the Chicago one.
Hey, here's the playlist on IMEEM! (via a Google search of Bossa N' Chicago). Cool.
It seems the singer is Rita Lee who is from Brazil. But the wikipedia entry has no mention of the Bossa albums.
Hey, I see there's a bunch of Bossa albums (of questionable legality on rapidshare).
* * *
[7/1/09] I did a search on IMEEM for Fly Me To The Moon and came across a singer named Olivia Ong. She a jazz singer sort of like Diana Krall or Jane Monheit. But then I see from one of her albums she sings Bossa Nova. And now it sounds like she's singing in Japanese. Anyway, pleasant.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Understanding
Please, tell me the secret formula on how to get rich, be the best thinker, lose weight, have a happy marriage and solve all my problems quickly. There are no secret formulas or shortcuts and beware of the articulate incompetents and false prophets – they sound impressive and clever but lack substance. I can only refer to what Buffett said in the foreword to Poor Charlie’s Almanack: “From 1733 to 1758, Ben Franklin dispensed useful and timeless advice through Poor Richard's Almanack. Among the virtues extolled were thrift, duty, hard work, and simplicity.” Of course, Munger’s views on how to get worldly wisdom help.
Personally, I read a lot. I have to work things out for myself to understand them. I try to use the “see one, do one, teach one” approach used in medical education (but change it to “do many” and in multiple situations and over time). I often go from reality (something I have seen) to find answers among ideas. I don’t try to fit reality to an idea. And then I try to find more examples on an idea from reality. Finally, I try to explain it to someone else. Writing Seeking Wisdom was such an exercise – I forced myself to learn by teaching someone else. And reading Feynman at an early point helped me where I clearly learnt the difference between knowing the name of something and knowing what goes on since knowledge is only valuable if it’s useful and something is only useful if I understand what it means. What I in my book called meaning and asking, “what happens?”
I try to concentrate on learning practical and consequential things that can help me reduce the chance of sorrow.
-- Interview with Peter Bevelin, author of Seeking Wisdom: From Darwin to Munger
Personally, I read a lot. I have to work things out for myself to understand them. I try to use the “see one, do one, teach one” approach used in medical education (but change it to “do many” and in multiple situations and over time). I often go from reality (something I have seen) to find answers among ideas. I don’t try to fit reality to an idea. And then I try to find more examples on an idea from reality. Finally, I try to explain it to someone else. Writing Seeking Wisdom was such an exercise – I forced myself to learn by teaching someone else. And reading Feynman at an early point helped me where I clearly learnt the difference between knowing the name of something and knowing what goes on since knowledge is only valuable if it’s useful and something is only useful if I understand what it means. What I in my book called meaning and asking, “what happens?”
I try to concentrate on learning practical and consequential things that can help me reduce the chance of sorrow.
-- Interview with Peter Bevelin, author of Seeking Wisdom: From Darwin to Munger
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
health insurance
From a post on chucks_angels (arbofvalue) I looked at ehealthinsurance.
The cheapest is the Silver Plan at Kaiser Permanente for only $107 per month.
What does it cover? Well what does it not cover?
drugs: not covered
annual out of pocket: $5000
primary care physician: required
emergency room: $250/visit (Honolulu area)
hospitalization: $500 per day
So by my interpretation, the benefit is that it pays $500 per day hospitalization (which might be a fraction of what it actually costs). But since out of pocket is $5000. It pays for stays in the hospital for over 10 days. Since premium is about $100 per month ($1200 per year). It pays off only if you stay in the hospital for more than 12 days a year. For 12 days, you get $1000 (for two days over 10), but you're paying $1200. For 13 days, you get $1500.
Or it could be that you pay $500 per day for hospitalization and Kaiser pays the balance?
The cheapest is the Silver Plan at Kaiser Permanente for only $107 per month.
What does it cover? Well what does it not cover?
drugs: not covered
annual out of pocket: $5000
primary care physician: required
emergency room: $250/visit (Honolulu area)
hospitalization: $500 per day
So by my interpretation, the benefit is that it pays $500 per day hospitalization (which might be a fraction of what it actually costs). But since out of pocket is $5000. It pays for stays in the hospital for over 10 days. Since premium is about $100 per month ($1200 per year). It pays off only if you stay in the hospital for more than 12 days a year. For 12 days, you get $1000 (for two days over 10), but you're paying $1200. For 13 days, you get $1500.
Or it could be that you pay $500 per day for hospitalization and Kaiser pays the balance?
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Jukebox
Upchucky.com features a jukebox that plays music from 1940's, and from 1955 thru 1999, plus from genres such as Motown, Beatles, Eagles, Beach Boys, Elvis.
[via Paula]
[via Paula]
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Kenny Rankin
One of my favorite singers passed away at 69.
Kenny Rankin, an acclaimed New York-based singer-songwriter who contributed guitar to Bob Dylan’s 1965 classic Bringing It All Back Home, passed away June 7th following complications related to lung cancer, Billboard reports. He was 69. Rankin also penned songs like “Peaceful,” a hit for Helen Reddy and “Haven’t We Met,” which was recorded by Carmen McRae and Mel Torme.
Signed in his teens to a contract with Decca Records, Rankin soon moved over to Columbia Records, where he was recruited to join in on the recording sessions for his labelmate Dylan. Rankin went on to have a notable solo career in his own right, beginning with his 1968 album Mind Dusters and peaking with 1976’s The Kenny Rankin Album, which was recorded live with a 60-piece orchestra.
According to Rankin’s official site, he appeared on the The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson more than 20 times, with Carson himself such a big fan that he wrote the liner notes for Rankin’s Mind Dusters. Rankin also recorded a version of the Beatles’ White Album ballad “Blackbird” for his own 1975 album Silver Morning. The cover was so revered, Paul McCartney asked Rankin to perform his version at the ceremony where McCartney and John Lennon were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Kenny Rankin, an acclaimed New York-based singer-songwriter who contributed guitar to Bob Dylan’s 1965 classic Bringing It All Back Home, passed away June 7th following complications related to lung cancer, Billboard reports. He was 69. Rankin also penned songs like “Peaceful,” a hit for Helen Reddy and “Haven’t We Met,” which was recorded by Carmen McRae and Mel Torme.
Signed in his teens to a contract with Decca Records, Rankin soon moved over to Columbia Records, where he was recruited to join in on the recording sessions for his labelmate Dylan. Rankin went on to have a notable solo career in his own right, beginning with his 1968 album Mind Dusters and peaking with 1976’s The Kenny Rankin Album, which was recorded live with a 60-piece orchestra.
According to Rankin’s official site, he appeared on the The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson more than 20 times, with Carson himself such a big fan that he wrote the liner notes for Rankin’s Mind Dusters. Rankin also recorded a version of the Beatles’ White Album ballad “Blackbird” for his own 1975 album Silver Morning. The cover was so revered, Paul McCartney asked Rankin to perform his version at the ceremony where McCartney and John Lennon were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Friday, June 05, 2009
Kung Fu (the TV series)
[6/5/09] Kung Fu and Kill Bill actor David Carradine was found dead Thursday in a Bangkok hotel room. According to police, the 72-year-old actor appeared to have hanged himself. Carradine's manager said the actor was staying in the Thai capital while shooting a movie called Stretch. Carradine's rep said the death was accidental, telling celebrity new site TMZ, "We can confirm 100 percent that he never would have committed suicide. It was an accidental death. Everybody is in shock."
*** [11/4/12]
Wise Sayings
Favorite Quotes
Quotes of Wisdom
Quotes
Wikiquote
The Kung Fu Book of Wisdom
***
Wikipedia
Kung Fu Episode Guide
Reviews of the DVD set
Kung Fu: the Complete First Season
Kung Fu: the Complete Second Season
Kung Fu: The Complete Third Season
*** [11/4/12]
Wise Sayings
Favorite Quotes
Quotes of Wisdom
Quotes
Wikiquote
The Kung Fu Book of Wisdom
***
Wikipedia
Kung Fu Episode Guide
Reviews of the DVD set
Kung Fu: the Complete First Season
Kung Fu: the Complete Second Season
Kung Fu: The Complete Third Season
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