January 29th, 2010 Michael Zimmerman Posted in General InterestComments Off
The Chinese New Year is just two weeks away. To help celebrate, Mr. Clear Englebert, author of Feng Shui for Hawaii, will give free feng shui lectures at four Oahu libraries.
As reported in the Honolulu Advertiser, these lectures will focus on the different schools of feng shui and explain chi energy and how to attract and maximize its positive flow. Englebert explains why some energy is considered negative and how to deflect it. He will also discuss furniture selection/placement, locating powerful spots in a room, harmonizing your home with the surrounding land and using feng shui in a tropical garden.
The lecture dates, times and locations are:
Tuesday, Feb. 2, 6:30pm at the Kapolei Library (693-7050)
Thursday, Feb. 4, 6:30pm at the Kailua Library (266-9911)
Saturday, Feb. 6, 2:30pm at the Mililani Library (627-7470)
Sunday, Feb. 7, 2:30pm at the Kaneohe Library (233-5676)
January 7th, 2010 Michael Zimmerman Posted in General InterestComments Off
Here are ten things I didn’t get for Christmas, but am still hoping for. I want the President to….
1. Take responsibility and stop blaming Bush. You’ve been on the job a year now and it’s time to take ownership of the economy, national security, etc.
2. Profile the enemy. It may not be politically correct, but the President’s job is to save American lives. Have the courage to admit that a 23 year-old Muslim man is a greater security risk than a 58 year-old grandmother. You’re in the business of saving lives and common sense is required.
3. Tell us you get it. Admit that our Islamist enemies want to kill us and that they won’t stop, no matter how much you try to make them like us.
4. Agree with and act on Charles Krauthammer’s statement: “Whenever a jihadist volunteers for martyrdom, we should grant his wish”.
5. Stop the double-talk and use the word “terrorist”. The American people realize that someone who walks into an abortion clinic and shoots the doctor is an extremist (the President’s favorite euphemism). 71% of Americans very clearly recognize that someone who boards a plane and attempts to kill all 300 civilians aboard is a terrorist.
6. Treat terrorists as unlawful combatants; not as common criminals due all rights and privileges of an American citizen.
7. Keep Guantanamo Bay open. Recognize that 75% of Americans don’t want prisoners transferred to the continental United States or returned to their homeland where they can resume their jihad to kill more Americans. Also, publicly admit that if Guantanamo Bay was miraculously closed tomorrow that Al-Qaida’s recruiting efforts would not end.
8. Tell us he has accepted the resignations of Attorney General Eric Holder because he is not meeting our national security needs and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano because she is not qualified for her position.
9. Stop apologizing to the entire world. Enough is enough and it’s time to publicly express pride in the many great things America has accomplished during its history.
10. Stop trying to spend this country into bankruptcy. Come to your senses and realize we cannot spend 10% more than we make every year without ruining the economy.
January 6th, 2010 Michael Zimmerman Posted in General InterestComments Off
Robert Crandall, former CEO of American Airlines, was interviewed by Neil Cavuto on Fox News today. In a discussion about Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano’s performance, Crandall said:
“Why do we continually put politicians in jobs they know nothing about?”
Michele Henry is the owner and she is always so friendly.
I take my wife to Tea at 1024 on a “date” three to four times a year and we thoroughly enjoy it every time. We’ve been to afternoon tea at Neiman Marcus’ Mariposa and the Royal Hawaiian, but we get the most enjoyment at Tea at 1024 by far.
This place is different. Everyone gets to choose their own tea cup to drink from. There are Victorian hats and feather boas available for the women. The decor was redone in 2009, is bright and is very relaxing.
Tea Service begins with your choice of tea and a house salad (usually spinach) lightly dressed with Vidalia onion vinaigrette dressing and feta cheese. This is followed by chicken curry, egg salad, cheddar cheese & tomato and crab & olive tea sandwiches (they’re all outstanding). Homemade scones with clotted cream & strawberry jam and assorted pastries complete this tasty meal. My wife and I always leave with a full stomach and the price is right.
Tea at 1024 is great for a private get together, small parties or even wedding showers. They are open Tuesday through Saturday. Space is limited, so make a reservation at 808-521-9596, especially if you want to go on the weekend.
My wife and I have lived in the Kakaako area for three and a half years and we love it. Here are the top 10 reasons we think you should consider living here too.
4. Easy and convenient access to H-1 (both east and west directions) and major bus lines.
5. Wonderful restaurant choices range from fine dining to local mom & pop eateries. Additionally, terrific shopping is available at the Ala Moana Shopping Center, Ward Centers and the Nordstrom store located on Kapiolani Blvd.
6. Great beach and surfing access at nearby Ala Moana and Waikiki beaches.
December 3rd, 2009 Michael Zimmerman Posted in General InterestComments Off
The 25th Honolulu City Lights will open this Saturday, December 5, 2009. Over the last 24 years, the month-long event has expanded considerably, but has always included a lighted 50-foot Christmas tree. The holiday tree connects lighted Christmas trees and buildings spread out over a “corridor of Christmas lights” through Chinatown, Downtown, the Capitol District and the Civic Center area.
The Opening Night Celebration occurs on the first Saturday in December. Thousands attend the opening night festivities featuring the popular Electric Light Parade, a holiday concert, decorated Christmas trees and wreaths in the Honolulu Hale courtyard and the traditional lighting of the huge City Christmas tree.
November 7th, 2009 Michael Zimmerman Posted in General InterestComments Off
The quotes below were taken from Ralph Peters‘ article “Blood for nothing” that appeared in the New York Post on October 28, 2009.
Quote 1: “AFGHANISTAN isn’t completely hopeless, just useless.”
Quote 2: “Apart from the curious notion that sending more Infantrymen is the way to win hearts and minds, the hearts and minds of Afghans not only can’t be won, but aren’t worth winning.”
Quote 3: “The generals refuse to recognize that, from the local viewpoint, the Taliban are the patriots. We’re the Redcoats.”
Quote 4: “So our troops hold their fire and die to protect Afghan villagers who back the Taliban and to protect an Afghan government the people despise. How, exactly, does this advance our national security?”
November 5th, 2009 Michael Zimmerman Posted in General InterestComments Off
The President promised change. The question is; change to what? If you haven’t asked that question, and millions of Americans haven’t, you’re doing yourself and your family a disservice. Change for the pure sake of change is foolish.
Reform means different things to different people and the House and Senate continue their quest to “reform health care.” We may be nearing the point of no return on this issue. If the House and Senate leaders pass anything resembling the 2,000 page (that’s 4 reams of paper and sits over 8 inches high) bill currently being discussed, it will dramatically change the way Americans receive their medical care, probably forever.
I urge everyone to read the following four thought-provoking articles, written by Stanford University economist Thomas Sowell. He has common sense, he’s not a politician and he writes in plain English. These articles should make you think twice before trusting the House and Senate to alter the American health care system.
November 1st, 2009 Michael Zimmerman Posted in General InterestComments Off
The Centers for Disease Control reported that influenza activity continued to increase in the United States during the week of October 11-17, 2009. Flu activity is now widespread in 46 states, but Hawaii is not one of them (see the map below).
Visits to doctors for influenza-like-illness are increasing sharply and are higher than the number seen at the peak of many regular flu seasons. If you’re experiencing flu systems, it’s imperative that you seek medical attention immediately.
H1N1 symptoms are different from the common cold:
Symptom
Cold
H1N1 Flu
Fever
Fever is rare with a cold.
Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the flu.
Coughing
A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold.
A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).
Aches
Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold.
Severe aches and pains are common with the flu.
Stuffy Nose
Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week.
Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the flu.
Chills
Chills are uncommon with a cold.
60% of people who have the flu experience chills.
Tiredness
Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold.
Tiredness is moderate to severe with the flu.
Sneezing
Sneezing is commonly present with a cold.
Sneezing is not common with the flu.
Sudden Symptoms
Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days. The flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours.
The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.
Headache
A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold.
A headache is very common with the flu, present in 80% of flu cases.
October 23rd, 2009 Michael Zimmerman Posted in General InterestComments Off
When the Democrats regained control of the House of Representatives in 2006, they pledged to work five days a week. On October 7, 2009, they backed away from that pledge and adopted a 2.5 day work week. Talk about aiming high. This gives them plenty of time to focus on what’s really important to them; running for re-election.
I think reducing the number of hours Congress works is a great idea. The less time they spend legislating, the less damage they do and the less of our money they spend on their pet projects. A half-day of work is plenty. I do have one objection to this 50% cut in their work week: their pay remains the same. No matter how good or bad our economy is, regular people will never be allowed to work 50% of the time for full pay. The Congressmen should reduce their pay as well.
I truly wonder what kind of parents Hollywood elites make. I wonder if Whoopi Goldberg, Harrison Ford or Debra Winger would willingly deliver their 13 year-old daughter into the arms of someone like Roman Polanski. Why they would defend Polanski’s rape of a 13 year-old girl in 1977 is beyond me. Watch Whoopi Goldberg and you decide if we should listen to the Hollywood “stars”:
By the way, what do you think would happen if a man said it wasn’t (using Whoopi’s words) “rape-rape”?
Immediately after the Obama administration reported a record budget deficit for the fiscal year ended September 2009 of $1.4 trillion, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said the United States must live within its means once its economy recovers if it is to preserve global confidence in the U.S. dollar’s status. One wonders if Mr. Geithner has attended any of the health care reform conferences held at the White House. To put it lightly, his statement seems to be at odds with the administration’s agenda.
The day Michael Moore freely distributes all of his wealth is the day he can speak to the rest of America about redistributing its wealth.
We live in an entitlement culture and the entitlement appetite gets more ravenous as time passes. There will be no Social Security cost of living adjustment (COLA) next year. Why? Because the cost of living actually declined 4% last year. Not to worry; President Obama says 57 million Social Security recipients are entitled, yes entitled, to $250 each to alleviate their “disappointment” that they were not injured by inflation last year. This is a clear case of the President, and all members of Congress who vote for this payout, creating an entitlement where none exists. No wonder they can’t balance the budget. How can we possibly trust them to enact 2000-page laws totally remaking the way health care is delivered in this country?
October 13th, 2009 Michael Zimmerman Posted in General InterestComments Off
The Susan G. Komen Hawaii Race for the Cure is only five days away. Help Susan G. Komen for the Cure realize its vision of a world without breast cancer by participating in the Komen Hawaii Race for the Cure. The race will be held at Kapiolani Park on Sunday, October 18 at 7:00 a.m.
October 3rd, 2009 Michael Zimmerman Posted in General InterestComments Off
In part 1, we learned more about your airline passenger rights. In the second part of this series, we’ll discuss how you can contribute to this debate and how to prepare before you fly.
What Can You Do?
The national debate is gaining momentum and now’s the time to make sure your voice is heard. There are a number of ways that you can join the discussion.
You may want to join the effort to put more stringent rules into the law books. For example, the Coalition for an Airline Passenger’s Bill of Rights has proposed a set of rights to be written into law, including a requirement that airlines “establish procedures for returning passengers to the terminal when delays occur so that no plane sits on the tarmac for longer than three hours without connecting to a gate.” You can view the proposed Bill of Rights on FlyersRights.org.
In addition, you can sign a Petition for the Airline Passenger Bill of Rights. You can also contact your state’s Senators and Congressmen to make sure they take this issue seriously and work to protect your rights. If you don’t know how to contact your Senators and Representative, you can quickly find their names and telephone numbers by visiting the Congressional Directory.
Finally, if you have your own bad experience on the tarmac, you can submit a complaint form to make sure the incident is recorded.
Prepare Before You Fly Before you get on your next flight, visit FlyersRights.org to download and print two important documents that you can carry on the plane. The first document is the Emergency Kit Document, which lists items you should keep handy on your next flight. The second document is the Stranded Passenger Survival Guide, which features information on what you can do if your plane is stranded on the tarmac for an unreasonable amount of time.
In summary, take some time to learn your rights and prepare before you fly. You decide if you’d like to take part in the conversation.
September 27th, 2009 Michael Zimmerman Posted in General InterestComments Off
The mark of any good leader is the ability to surround oneself with a highly competent team of professionals who know what they’re doing. No one, not even this President, can be all-knowing. So, when seven past CIA Directors all speak with one voice and provide specific advice about how to preserve the Nation’s security (in this case, halt the Attorney General’s criminal investigation into alleged abuses in the CIA’s interrogation program), the President should listen and follow that advice. This advice is doubly true for the President who has no executive experience, no foreign policy experience, no experience in intelligence and no national security experience.
The President appeared on no less than five Sunday morning news programs on September 20. When asked about the additional troops requested by the very General (Stanley McChrystal) that Obama installed in May 2009, the President responded by saying no troops would be sent until he evaluates our strategy. That indicates we are just beginning to review our Afghanistan policy. Isn’t it odd, actually it’s quite sad, that the President failed to recall that he just concluded a “careful policy review” and adopted a “comprehensive, new strategy for Afghanistan” on March 27, 2009. Meanwhile, General McChrystal’s report and troop request have been languishing on the President’s desk since the end of August. The President has time to give countless health care speeches and appear on Sunday morning news programs. Why doesn’t he take the time to read the General’s report and make a decision?
While addressing a joint session of Congress on September 9, President Obama said he would largely solve the cost problem of his health care proposal by eliminating “hundreds of billions of dollars in waste and fraud” from Medicare. Isn’t he just insulting the American public’s intelligence? If Obama is right and $500 billion can be painlessly removed from the Medicare budget, what is he waiting for? Health care reform isn’t a necessary element to saving half a trillion dollars. Why didn’t the administration begin harvesting these painless billions in savings when they took office eight months ago? I think the American people know the answer.
Israel is undoubtedly America’s staunchest ally in the Middle East. Did the President sell out Israel in his speech to the United Nations on September 23? In that speech, he called for an “independent Palestinian state with contiguous territory that ends the occupation that began in 1967…” First, Gaza and the West Bank have never been contiguous. To make them so would divide a now contiguous Israel in half. While I’m sure the Palestinians love this concept, shouldn’t the President support Israel, the target of hundreds of Palestinian terror attacks? Finally, the President speaks of “the occupation that began in 1967.” Has he forgotten that the territory in question was gained following the 1967 war between Israel and several Arab states (Egypt, Jordan, and Syria)?
September 24th, 2009 Michael Zimmerman Posted in General InterestComments Off
In 2004, Mississippi Governor, Haley Barbour, signed a wide-ranging tort reform bill. It included a $500,000 limit on pain-and-suffering awards in medical malpractice cases and $1 million in other cases, punitive damage caps, venue reform, joint and several liability limitation, relief of premises owners from liability to contractors’ employees for hazards known to the contractor and product liability relief for “innocent sellers”. Prior to the 2004 reforms, Mississippi’s legal system was tilted against civil defendants. The 2004 law changed all that.
So, what were the results? Simply put, the number of medical malpractice claims plummet by 91% from the peak. The state’s largest medical liability insurer dropped its premiums by 42% and has offered an additional 20% rebate each year since tort reform went into effect.
Given four years of impressive results, why haven’t the health care reform bills in Congress included this type of measure? Some would say–probably rightly–it’s about payback to lobbyists and hefty campaign contributors.
Furthermore, tort reform shouldn’t apply solely to the medical field. It should apply to everything as was done in Mississippi and the entire nation would benefit immensely. Read the Wall Street Journal article, Mississippi’s Tort Reform Triumph, for more on the positive effects on Missisippi’s business.
September 21st, 2009 Michael Zimmerman Posted in General InterestComments Off
The Susan G. Komen 2009 Race for the Cure’s theme is “The Power of 15.”
This year marks the 15th Anniversary of the Komen Race for the Cure in Hawaii. Your fundraising can make a significant impact when you ask 15 friends to each donate $15, for a total of $225, which is the average cost of a mammogram in Hawaii.
The Online Team Registration deadline has been extended to 6:00 pm Sunday, 09/27/2009.
These aren’t isolated incidents. In 1999, Northwest Airlines left passengers stranded on a plane for 8 hours. In 2006, an American Airlines flight was stranded for 8 hours. JetBlue held passengers on the tarmac for 11 hours in 2007. In many of these instances, passengers were basically held hostage with no food or water and in some cases, had restricted use of the airplane bathrooms.
The information below describes what you can do should you be on a flight that is stranded on the tarmac.
Your Rights
As a result of long delays years ago, the Air Transport Association (includes Delta, United, Continental, Southwest and others) released a Customer Service Plan that states airlines will do the following:
Notify passengers of known flight delays and cancellations
Meet customers’ essential needs during long on-aircraft delays
Allow reservations to be held or tickets to be refunded within 24 hours of purchase
Be more responsive to customer complaints
Visit the Department of Transportion’s web sitefor links to specific airlines’ Customer Service Plans. If the airline you’re flying on isn’t listed on that website, you may be able to find a customer’s bill of rights on the corporate website. For instance, JetBlue offers a Customer Bill of Rights on its website.
September 10th, 2009 Michael Zimmerman Posted in General InterestComments Off
“The timid civilized world has found nothing with which to oppose the onslaught of a sudden revival of barefaced barbarity, other than concessions and smiles.”
August 30th, 2009 Michael Zimmerman Posted in General InterestComments Off
Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) recently spoke at a National Press Club luncheon. Listen to this short clip about health care reform legislation:
Here are some questions that I hope are on most Americans’ minds:
We live in a republic. We elect officials, in this case, Congressmen and Senators, to represent us. To truly represent us, shouldn’t these officials read bills that they vote into law or vote against to prevent from becoming law? Isn’t that one of the primary reasons they are there in Washington?
Conyers’ professed attitude (Why should I read the bill?) in the clip leads me to wonder, do any of our Congressmen or Senators read the bills they routinely vote on?
The Congressman states he needs two days to review the bill. Permission granted. Who said the Nation’s health care system required a complete overhaul in a matter of hours?
Conyers states he needs lawyers to help him understand the bill. He has a law degree. Conyers has been in the House of Representatives since 1964. If he can’t understand bills as written, who can?
Moreover, if 1000 page bills cannot be understood, then why didn’t attorney Conyers join forces with others who can’t or won’t read 1000 page bills to prevent 8-inch-thick bills from being written? After all, he’s been in Congress for 35 years. Why don’t they require bills to be written so they can understand them?
Who writes 1000 page bills that, apparently, no Congressman or Senator can understand, even if they took the time to read the bill?
Is it possible that no one on Capitol Hill wants us to read and understand the bill?
What were the citizens of Detroit, Michigan thinking when they elected John Conyers? What were they thinking when they re-elected him 20 times?
In February, the $787 billion stimulus passed after Congressmen and Senators had just a few hours to review the bill. Didn’t our elected officials learn then that this process should not be repeated?
Doesn’t this cavalier attitude make you question the qualifications of every Congressman and Senator in Washington?
Note: John Conyers is not alone in his failure to read bills before voting. He is merely the one Congressman to make his sentiments known to the public in the clip above.
