December 2002 Archives

New Year's

So how are you ringing in the New Year? Western calendar, I mean. Fireworks (with $25 permits and nothing to buy)? Drunken revelry (with a designated driver)? Church or other worship (over the din of pyrotechnics)? A nap and a brief visit by Dick Clark on TV? What's your traditional way of crossing over to the next 365 blank pages? Is there any rich, cultural meaning, or is it all about fun?

Writing from a Distance

It's easier for me to write poetry set in Hawaii when I'm there rather than away. However, I do better with prose when I'm writing on the mainland. This may be because I'm writing from long term memory with prose and short term with poetry. I'm posting a poem I wrote last year while on the beach at Black Point.

Bachi Tales

Bachi, loosely defined as "what goes around, comes around," is a mysterious force. Do any of you have "bachi tales" to share? The more and more I hear about bachi, the more I get drawn into it. It seems to be a truth that exists in all cultures, with just some variation between each? Does the phenomenon happen in today's world? Is it coincidence? I'm curious, which is why I'm asking for stories or opinions.

Junk email

For the heck of it any junk email that I have been recieving goes into another folder (and it is not trash). Once in awhile I scan the subject headers to see what it is all about.

The Day, The Aftermath

Certainly, Christmas and the (non-denominational) "holiday season" is all about love, and peace, and joy, and giving and sharing with your fellow man (or women or bi/quadruped). But getting has it's appeal, too. What did you want this year? What did you receive as a gift this year? Be it a 4 megapixel digital camera or a sweet kiss under the mistletoe... do tell!

Catch Me If You Can

Saw Catch Me If You Can with a friend on Christmas Day.

Justice for Kahealani

I'm sure everybody in Hawaii has heard the story about 11 year old Kahealani being abducted and murdered over her jewelry. When I first saw the story on TV and in the papers, I thought it was another child abduction like the ones that have happened lately in California and other parts on the mainland. But this incident had a frightening twist, the suspect was the boyfriend of her older sister.

Did it at the Last Minute

This would be a really good place (and time) for us to share suggestions for last-minute Christmas gifts that don't appear to be last-minute. Sure, there's always the desperation-obvious li-hing gift pack, or the extras you picked up at the craft fair, but what about for those people who are a bit closer than third-tier gift-receivers?

This Isn't Your Mother's Shoyu

My perception of shoyu is changed forever as a result of seeing this little promotion for Kikoman. Perhaps we need an Aloha Man.

http://yoga.tripod.co.jp/flash/kikkomaso.swf

Information gone wrong

I come home today after work and my answering machine has a message for me. The message says that I am entitled to test out the latest golf club technology.

One problem with this honor.

Sci-Fi Channel in 2003

While watching Taken on the Sci-Fi channel one can not help but wonder about watching the promos for upcoming series and mini-series coming in 2003.

Solaris

Went to see Solaris at Dole Canery on Saturday afternoon.

Remembrance

Today is the 61st anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. As the years wear on, fewer and fewer survivors remain alive to commemorate the event with their first-hand accounts.

Boast About Your Host?

I'm shopping for a virtual host. Who's hosting your site, and how do you feel about the service and value you're getting?

Baby, One More Time

Britney was the hottest woman on the Internet for the fourth year in a row, according to the Lycos 50.

No surprise there, but debuting at number 4 is the Lycos 50 all-time strangest entry, Chu Mei-Feng, who made the list despite almost no interest from searchers in the United States.

I Love the Nightlife (Dave Atell Overture)

Charlie Memminger, the Star-Bulletin columnist, mentioned last week that Dave Atell is bringing Insomniac to Honolulu. Dave's advance man asked Memminger for suggestions, and Memminger passed the solicitation to his readers.

Movie Mistakes

movie-mistakes.com is an amusing site. They tally 94 mistakes in the new Harry Potter film. (Somebody surely pays more attention to a movie than I do.)

Hawaii Nurses Strike Back

With the addition of the Queen's Medical Center, there are now three hospitals facing nursing strikes: Kuakini, St. Francis, and Queen's - by far the largest. And by the reception the picketers are getting with their "Honk If You Love Nurses" sign, most seem on their side in the walkout.

Of course, the strike means a reduction in services (including life-sustaining ones like dialysis - and there's a lawsuit in the works now to force "vital" specialized nurses back to work), and even the turning away of patients. It's frightening.

Taken

Anybody watching Taken a 10 part mini-series on the Sci-Fi channel?

Ed Case Wins!

After the frustratingly close loss at the primaries, Ed Case managed to win the special election for Congress. I think it's a good sign he'll win the January election too, since he won this one by a large margin.

Interestingly, I didn't vote for him this time. I think that's a good thing, because I'm convinced I have the Pen of Defeat when it comes to voting. Every single person I voted for, with the exception of Patsy Mink, lost in the general election (okay, maybe I voted for a BOE winner or two, I can't remember).

Sigh....

I don't like football. I don't watch football. However, I made a huge mistake and watched the game yesterday. I think my blood pressure went up about 20 points. Especially since I am the only Hawaiian I know living in Alabama. It wouldn't have been so bad if I wasn't surrounded by Crimson Tide fans. Everywhere I go.

Couldn't we have won that one? Sigh.....