john fink

Irksomes – MidWeek January 24, 2024

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Some things to keep in mind, both from a local and more global perspective, providing clarity in the chilling universe…

  1. When the toilet roll at home appears quite small, don’t hesitate… take out a new roll immediately. It’s socially responsible, and as we all know, the end is always closer than it appears. You need to get to the bottom of this one.
  2. Local restaurants never fail because they stink; they simply go away because people quietly don’t come back. We don’t often read horrible reviews of food places that don’t pass muster (or mustard), but some invariably die an unattended death. We’re too nice locally to rag on places that didn’t meet our culinary standards. We just never go back.
  3. Whilst driving locally in suburbia and the slowing driver in front of you indicates an upcoming left turn, quash that urge to pass by on the right. Far too many here believe they must lurch a little right before turning left. Not true. And thus, the three seconds you save making your bold move in passing might prove damaging.
  4. Everybody understands the leash law (or should) locally; except when it comes to “my dog”, because he/she would “never harm a soul”. Some people simply don’t trust four-legged, free-roaming animals; perhaps traumatic pasts account for those feelings. And dogs do sometimes snap; no matter what you’re your post-incident rationale might be (“she’s never done that”). Fifi may be a wonderful, loving pet and companion- but it’s not your right to allow her to roam freely in public just because you feel like it.
  5. AI (artificial intelligence) advancements are already upon and among us. AI is not COVID, but it may prove as insidious and harmful in some areas. Do your homework, question authority, probe internet “truths”, and understand that we’ve entered a new(er) world that will provide great advancements (medicine) and also chaotic, false moments. Forewarned is forearmed. When in doubt, flesh it out. Hmmm, gotta be tough(er) being a teacher as AI infiltrates…
  6. With the incredible amount of quality plate lunch locations, pot lucks, and casual office lunch extravaganzas, one local law that needs to be proposed/passed is a paper plate strength minimum. No more sagging, weak plates that enhance dripping kim chee liquid detritus to stain pants or carpets! Let’s get serious about this long-ignored state need! Weak plates are no picnic.

Think about it…

Voting Time – MidWeek July 22, 2020

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Ballots are already being mailed this week to registered voters throughout Hawaii, as most everyone will vote locally by mail from now on. Abraham Lincoln once said, “The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” Author/critic George Jean Nathan said, “Bad officials are elected by good citizens who don’t vote.” Witty rationales and quotes go on and on, but not having the time, a ride, a clue, or a great deal of interest are all excuses which should disappear when 2020 primary ballots show up in mailboxes this week.

Look up the candidates, stream archived debates, check the issues; educate yourself on where candidates are coming from or planning to take us. If you can vote but opt not to vote, please don’t complain. If you’re worried about voter fraud, the facts (yes, real facts) show that it’s not been a factor historically. Oregon, which has used mail-only voting since 2000, found that in November, 2016, just .002% of votes cast were fraudulent- mostly by people who voted in two states. That’s two-thousandths of one percent.

The Oregon secretary of state (a former Republican state representative) said that suspicious cases amounted to one out of every 38,000 ballots! The Heritage Foundation has studied voter fraud for years. Their findings? In Hawaii, two voter fraud cases in 34 years- none via mail-in. Colorado? 14 cases in 13 years with 16-million votes cast- eight via mail-in ballot. Oregon had 15 cases in 19 years (14 via mail-in). Utah? One dubious vote out of 971,185 votes, according to a 2008 study. The facts simply do not warrant a groundswell of paranoia or concern about voter fraud via mail-in voting.

Chicago political pundits used to joke about “vote early and vote often”, but that was there, that was then, this is now. And that wasn’t mail-in, either. That tongue-in-cheek phrase has been around for 160 years, and yes, voting shenanigans have occurred. But don’t blame the mail-in process. There were more than 137-million American total votes cast in 2016, and not one single state reported a widespread voter fraud investigation. Not one.

Hawaii has a weak track record of voting in the 21st century. Apathy, stasis, a one party system- whatever. Make a difference; be heard. Has there been a time of greater stress and more confusion in recent history than July, 2020? Help decide your future as you take action on local leadership.

Think about it…