April 19, 2008
Raphael O'Suna
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This economy reminds me of my toothless grandfather who cut the edges of sliced white bread. As long as you ignore the millions of Americans who are perishing economically at the margins, everything is fine and will be fine. Simply cut away from concern and consciousness the margins of society, and the white center–the crustless Wonder Bread–becomes uniformly appealing.
As long as power, influence and privilege remain insulated from the reality of the lower classes, and the lower classes continue to remain aloof from voting, and apparently unaware of how they are manipulated to vote against their own interests, change will not be beneficial.
There are times when crimes and sins lose their taint. As soon as the suffering classes realize this and stop supporting demagogues, Elmer Gantrys, Ellsworth Tooeys and tin men, things may begin to change for the better. In the meantime, I’m betting on power retaining itself.
– Raphael O’Suna, Haiku
April 19, 2008
> MAUI TODAY
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 Nat’l Garlic Day
Day 110 of 2008
256 days left in this year
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HAWAIIAN WORD OF THE DAY — Kulana hoihoi ole: Pessimist
PIDGIN WORD OF THE DAY— Pilta: Filter
HAWAIIAN PROVERB OF THE DAY — “Acquire skill and make it deep.”
HAOLE SAYING OF THE DAY — “No man has learned anything rightly until he knows that every day is doomsday.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
WEB SURF SPOT OF THE WEEK — Draft of Maui County General Plan
WEB VIDEO OF THE WEEK — JibJab.com
PODCAST OF THE WEEK — The Ethicist, NYT
BLOG OF THE WEEK — TheRoot.com
April 19th, 2008: To be honest, we had a trifecta lined up, but we just don’t have the heart. Republican Strategist Kevin Phillips, U.S.Banker Charles Morris and former Morgan Stanley CEO John Mack have all come out with books in the past few months and all have the same message: run, as fast as you can, for cover. The U.S. Financial system is not fixable, they say. It’s going to crash. Mack calls it the “Greater Depression.” Morris calls it “The Trillion-dollar Meltdown.” Phillips just says its “Bad Money.” Buy land that can grow food and learn how to shoot a gun, is the advice, in a nutshell. We’re all used to the fringe elements, the survivalists, the right-wing nutjobs, and their gloom. But it is damned depressing to hear that the unstable were right all along, to hear the really bad news from the suits in the oak-panelled offices who have enjoyed the benefits of good wine and high living. It didn’t help us that the Hawaiian language apparently has a word for pessimist (see above) but none for optimist. We’re going to the beach, right after we go here:
2008 Earth Day Celebration & Plant Sale
Saturday, April 19 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Maui Nui Botanical Gardens
This will be the sixth annual Earth Day Celebration here! As always there will be educational booths focusing on conservation of Hawai’i’s environment, native species & the beautiful culture. Experience old Hawai’i by participating in Hawaiian cultural activities. Enjoy the ‘ono food & great Hawaiian music. Free admission & free parking. Bring the family for a fun, hands-on learning experience!
Maui Nui Botanical Gardens is located across the street from the War Memorial stadium in Wailuku on Kanaloa Ave.
HISTORICAL EVENTS ON THIS DAY — April 19th
- 1739: American astronomer John Winthrop observes “spots” on the sun
- 1852: The California Historical Society is founded
- 1861: The Union blockade of the Confederate States in the Civil War begins
- 1898: Congress authorizes the war with Spain (Spanish-American war)
- 1933: President Franklin Delano Roosevelt announces the U.S. will leave the gold standard
- 1994: A Los Angeles jury awarded $3.8 million to beaten motorist Rodney King.
BORN ON THIS DAY — April 19th
- 1739: American astronomer John Winthrop observes “spots” on the sun
- 1852: The California Historical Society is founded
- 1861: The Union blockade of the Confederate States in the Civil War begins
- 1898: Congress authorizes the war with Spain (Spanish-American war)
- 1933: President Franklin Delano Roosevelt announces the U.S. will leave the gold standard
- 1994: A Los Angeles jury awarded $3.8 million to beaten motorist Rodney King.
- 1995: A truck bomb exploded outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people and injuring 500. (Timothy McVeigh was later convicted of federal murder charges and executed.)
