Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Musings: Asking Too Much?

The rain had just passed and a small patch of sky was on fire in the east when Koko and I went out walking in the murky light of a cloudy pre-dawn. The waning moon shone weakly through the overcast, causing an oval of blue above the Giant to assume a pearly glow.

A truck passed, and the driver greeted me with a quiet toot of the horn, as he does each morning when he sees me on the road, and the horses responded by nickering softly in the pasture. Further on, Koko jumped when we heard pigs grunting in the bush, and she kept looking over her shoulder until we turned back.

Returning in the light of sunrise, I could tell from the yellowing guinea grass, brown wedelia and fried lauae fern that Roundup had been sprayed along the guardrail recently, with no notice, no warning. A lot of people and dogs walk along that section of road and we were all exposed, unknowingly. I know some people don’t care — remember the famous “Roundup is so safe I’ll drink it” line? — but I do. I realize the state and county aren’t ready to give up their roadside death-dealing, but it seems they could at least post a sign before and/or after they spray poison so we can avoid it if we choose.

Is that asking too much?

One of the low-income residents I work with was expressing concern yesterday that the food stamp office had been moved from the State Building Lihue in over to Eleele, which presented a bit of a hardship for her and the many other recipients who don’t have cars. Meanwhile, there’s an article in today’s Star-Advertiser about how furloughs and Lingle’s reorganization of the Dept. of Human Services has resulted in a severe backlog of processing applications for benefits, just as so many of us had predicted. It’s also created burdensome work loads for the employees who remain. And all this comes at a time when the demand for assistance is at a peak:

In May there were 139,816 people statewide on food stamps, up 18 percent from the year before.

[Linda] Tsark, the food stamp administrator, said 79.8 percent of food stamp applications statewide are "timely," which means they are processed within 30 days, or seven days for emergency assistance. That is down from 87 percent in July 2009. Federal guidelines require a 95 percent timeliness rate.


I continually see people getting totally stressed out because they have lost their jobs, have no financial reserves and then must wait weeks for unemployment benefits and food stamps to kick in. As a result, an already trying time is made that much more difficult. It seems a wealthy nation like ours should be able to respond quickly to folks in such dire straits.

Is that asking too much?

Meanwhile, as the U.S. is supposedly ending combat missions in Iraq today — while leaving behind 50,000 troops that could possibly be involved in fighting — 19 American soldiers have died in Afghanistan since Saturday. How much longer do you suppose the carnage there will continue, for no good reason?

Ironically, the reactionary outcry over building a mosque some 10 blocks from the Twin Towers site is working to boost recruitment, donations and support for the Taliban, according to an article in Newsweek:

America’s enemies in Afghanistan are delighted by the vehement public opposition to the proposed “Ground Zero mosque.” The backlash against the project has drawn the heaviest e-mail response ever on jihadi Web sites, [Taliban operative] Zabihullah claims—far bigger even than France’s ban on burqas earlier this year. This time the target is America itself. “We are getting even more messages of support and solidarity on the mosque issue and questions about how to fight back against this outrage.”

Zabihullah also claims that the issue is such a propaganda windfall—so tailor-made to show how “anti-Islamic” America is—that it now heads the list of talking points in Taliban meetings with fighters, villagers, and potential recruits. “We talk about how America tortures with waterboarding, about the cruel confinement of Muslims in wire cages in Guantánamo, about the killing of innocent women and children in air attacks—and now America gives us another gift with its street protests to prevent a mosque from being built in New York,” Zabihullah says. “Showing reality always makes the best propaganda.”


The cessation of “Iraqi Freedom” operations prompted Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to make this announcement to the Iraqi people:

”You are regaining the sovereignty of your country,” Mr. Maliki told a divided nation in an address on state-run TV. “Our relations with the United States have entered a new stage between two equal, sovereign countries.”

Um, yeah, right. But anyway, now that we’ve finally “freed” Iraq, perhaps we could focus on releasing our stranglehold on the independent nation of Hawaii.

Is that asking too much?

46 comments:

Anonymous said...

So who was the guy who said "I will drink the stuff" ?

I remember a southern California ag. guy. They wanted to spray for Medfly I think and he said it was perfectly harmless and did drink. Years later (5-10) he had throat cancer. But the controversy was over and they had sprayed.

Joan Conrow said...

Former BLNR Chair Bill Paty said it years ago when they were going to use Roundup on the Big Island to kill pot plants from helicopters.

Dave Smith said...

Actually, Joan, I was at the press conference (in the late 1980s, I believe) when Paty was explaining the DLNR's new plan to use helicopters to spray Roundup on state lands. I don't recall him saying that he would drink it, but he did take some of it and smeared it on his arm, supposedly to demonstrate that it wasn't toxic. Apparently nobody else there, including other DLNR officials, were that comfortable with it to do the same.

Anonymous said...

From smearing some on the arm to drinking it. And that is how urban legends are born.

Anonymous said...

"...releasing our stranglehold on the independent nation of Hawaii.

Is that asking too much?"

Yes it is asking too much. Way, way too much.

Anonymous said...

After people got huhu about poisoning the forest Bill Paty said publicly Roundup was so safe he would drink it

Anonymous said...

Dr, Philip Motooka, was the AG guy who said it was safer than table salt, and safe to drink. More to come

Anonymous said...

"From smearing some on the arm to drinking it. And that is how urban legends are born."

No urban myth broh....
I watched the county council meeting a ways back when someone from the DLNR said "it was safe enough to drink".

The stuff is poison, causes harm to the environment, perpetuates the growth of more resistant strain of weeds, decreases mineral uptake from crops (reduces yields), causes seizures and liver damage in dogs and cats....
people gotta do their homework and not just believe the "pablum" the is feed the minds of the ignorant sheeple who cannot think for themselves.

Anonymous said...

No urban myth broh....
I watched the county council meeting a ways back when someone from the DLNR said "it was safe enough to drink".


From someone saying it is safe enough to drink to someone drinking it. And THAT is how urban myths are born.

Anonymous said...

A shot of roundup in one's nightly cocktail adds a nice spicy flavor. And I highly recommend the couple's roundup sponge bath for young republicans in love. I hear bathing in the same stuff that kills nature is a real turn on.

Anonymous said...

I think people should put their mouth on what they represent.....Syngenta / Monsanto employees, politicians with open pockets, and those too lazy to use non toxic weed control.....
and have a "drink off" with Round Up...then after I see their hospital records, I can assess toxicity or not.

Monstanto has a strong presence in the islands, chemically, genetically, and politically....just ask any politician.....they will agree...Round Up is safe.

Judy Lenthall said...

The Kauai Independent Food Bank has secured over $1million in new SNAP dollars for Kauai. If ANYONE needs help with SNAP assistance, please contact Amy or Wendi at the Kauai Independent Food Bank, 246-3809, press option 3. They do pre-screenings, full applications and also assist with recertifications. BTW, the Lihue SNAP office has NOT moved to Eleele (yet). There continues to be discussions, however, on the need for 3 SNAP offices on Kauai and closures COULD occur. If you need help, just call Wendi or Amy!

Anonymous said...

Capsaicin oil is food. So drink a glass of it. Oh wait, you can't? That must mean it's poisonous I guess.

Anonymous said...

The director of the popular Arab-language TV station Al Arabiya says that the Muslim world is not angry over increasing American opposition to a proposed mosque at Ground Zero, and that any claims to the contrary are attempts to "fabricate a conflict."
"The lack of a unified stance throughout the Islamic world should be seen as response to the current attempt by some to 'fabricate' a conflict, claiming that Muslims are angry with the refusal to build a mosque in such a controversial setting," wrote director Abd Al-Rahman Al-Rashid in an Aug. 29 column in a London daily. The column was translated and posted on the website for the Middle East Media Research Institute.

Some news outlets have claimed that opposition to the Ground Zero mosque may "fuel Islamic extremism" in the Muslim world.

Anonymous said...

may "fuel Islamic extremism"

sounds like FOX.

Anonymous said...

Olbermann, more like.

Anonymous said...

In 'Merica, we believe in freedom of religion. That Islam, sheeyit, it's cult. You know what you can do with yer tolerance. Though I kinda like that stonin' sinners ta death idear. Why wait fer God to pass judgment on them homos?

Anonymous said...

In lib'r'l 'Merica we only believe in religious rights when they poke a thumb in the eye of mainstream Christian values. We loves us up a Imam who preaches a mess o hate fer the West.

Anonymous said...

Yep, mainstream Christian values like love yer fella man. Whoops, that's kinda gay. How's about not passin' judgment unless yer without sin? Nah, that's too squishy. Let's just kill all them suckers who don't believe likes we do. That Constitution don't always match up with the Bible, do it?

Anonymous said...

Yeah cuz its the Mericun mainstream Christians who kidnap ya and cut off yer head and vidjo tape it and send it in ta Al Juzeera to show on the teevee if'n ya don't believes like we does. Derrrrrrrrrrrr. Oo. I got me sum drool on my s'penders. Oh, I gotsta go. I gots me a ACORN meetin to tend to and the Ed Shows cumin on soon

Anonymous said...

Nah, us mainstreamers jus likes ta drop a bunch a bombs onna Iraqis an' Afghanis an' let God sort it out. We ain't like them heathens who send their videos ta al jazeera, we likes ta keep our killin an maimin civilians ta ourselves. jus like we did with them slanty eyed southeast asians onna accounta they ain't like us and God don't care 'bout them no how. yeehawww!

Anonymous said...

Yup that shore is what that war wuz about. It wus tha kill Asians cuz they don't look like us or b'lieve in Jebus war. You shore nailed 'er right on the head. Are you shore yore not Howard Zinn or No-am Chompy? You is just sa smart n wize.

Anonymous said...

Nosirreee Bob, they's librals. I'ma God fearin gun totin 'Merican, jus like you 'n Sarah. We shure as shit ain't lettin no commie 'spousin' slant eyed devil 'er raghead cultist try ta spread some un'merican bs 'roun these parts. Hey, yer pretty danged smart yerself. Are yew Beck er Rush er Gingrich er that other God fearin' 'Merican O'Reilly?

Anonymous said...

I didn't jest get runned over by the turnip truck. You is too eye-ronic to not be a libr'l.

Anonymous said...

Our "boys" are NEVER COMING HOME! Someone's a victim, BLAME THEM!
All troops are "combat troops." If not I guess counter-insurgency operations are not combat!

The USA must maintain a "presence" worldwide in case anyone gits uppity so we can apply overwhelming force until they yell "Uncle Sam you da MAN!

Anonymous said...

Eyeron, ain't that next to Eyeraq? You funnin' me? You must be one of them slick TV er radio fellas. I know, yer Ted Haggard. I can tell ona couna yer a God fearin sin hatin 'Merican.

Anonymous said...

I enjoy reading stupid attempts to bastardize the English language.

Keep it up, you all sound like morons - if that was your intent - good job.

Anonymous said...

"'Merican"
Did you mean Mexican?

Anonymous said...

That's curious. NPR's rules of engagement were censored. Wonder why. Maybe seen as implicit and illicit criticism of the blogger?

Joan Conrow said...

Sorry to derail your conspiracy theory, Anon., but they were not "censored." It seems there was something wrong with the comment function because I saw you tried to post them three times.

Anyway, here they are:

The following attributed to NPR, via "Anonymous":

"First things first: If you can't be polite, don't say it. Of course, we don't want to stifle discussion of controversial issues. Some topics require blunt talk, and we're not always going to agree with each other. Nonetheless, please try to disagree without being disagreeable. Focus your remarks on positions, not personalities. No personal attacks, name calling, libel, defamation, comments about someone's mother, hate speech, comparisons to notorious dictators - you get the idea. And under no circumstances should you post anything that could be taken as threatening, harassing, bullying, obscene, pornographic, sexist or racist.

Don't use obscenities -- even if the word in question is often used in conversation. We're not going to list the words we object to; you know what they are. Remember, this is a public forum and we want everyone to feel comfortable participating.

Anything you post should be your own work. You're welcome to link to relevant content and to quote limited amounts from other people's work with attribution and any associated copyright notice and consistent with "fair use" principles of copyright law. But that doesn't mean you can copy and paste wholesale.

Please stay on topic. Think of it this way -- if you hosted a book club meeting at your home, you wouldn't want someone to show up and insist on discussing reality TV shows.

Rambling is the kiss of death. Keep your comments to 400 words or less. Generally, anything beyond a few paragraphs had better be very, very interesting to the larger community. We reserve the right to edit for brevity, clarity and other purposes.

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Anonymous said...

Oh, I didn't post them. I'm just a curious regular reader. Thanks for the explanation though. I've seen lots of critical things disappeared from the comments but this one didn't seem critical, so I was curious.

Joan Conrow said...

No, you haven't seen "lots of critical things disappeared from the comments."

Anonymous said...

Yes, you have not seen critical things disappeared from the comments. Now move along. Nothing to see here.

Anonymous said...

7:34 did not post them.

I did, a different anon. - your blog posting system was doing weird things. I was unable to attribute the source via link and wanted to cite where the rules came from.

I can agree that critical items are not deleted (from what I've seen) but pointed accusations - mean and unwarranted statements - have been deleted.

Note, I do not always agree with the writer but am glad she shared what I believe to be common courtesy guidelines.

Anonymous said...

I can agree that critical items are not deleted

Er, right.

Anonymous said...

I thought someone was going to nail down who drank the poison? Must be, as someone said, an urban myth after all.

Anonymous said...

September 3, 2010 9:42 AM

Unbelievable, sheople, serious do you have no idea how to do any research or find out anything on your own?

http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/roundup-weed-killer-is-toxic-to-human-cells.-study-intensifies-debate-over-inert-ingredients

"Doctors there examined patients who drank Roundup, either intentionally or accidentally, and determined that their sicknesses and deaths were due to POEA, not glyphosate."

Do you need their names? I don't understand.

Anonymous said...

I don't understand.

That is obvious.

Pay attention, now. Joan said BLNR chairman Bill Paty said he'd drink the stuff. Somebody else said, no, he only smeared it on his arm. Then someone else said Paty only said it was safe enough to drink. Then someone said it was Dr. Philip Motooka who said that. The point is, an unsubstantiated claim about a particular person was made and challenged.

We get that YOU think the only relevant point is that Roundup is dangerous to drink. Well, duh. But that's not what we're talking about.

Sheople.

Anonymous said...

No, it was put forth that Dr. Philip Motooka was the So Cal ag guy who DID drink the stuff after saying it was harmless.

Anyway, the point of it all was that Roundup is often portrayed as being perfectly harmless, but it's not.

Anonymous said...

No Dr. Philip Motooka was the one who said it was safe enough to drink.

But otherwise agree with 11:18.

Anonymous said...

I agree with 10:50, if you are unable to find, through legitimate documentation - who cares - it is unverified and you think, through this blog you are going to get answers?

whatever.

Homer says duh.

Anonymous said...

What is Joan talking about "haven't seen critical things disappeared from the comments"?

Anonymous said...

11:12 AM

love it when the self righteous are wrong.

sheople - LOL

Anonymous said...

the most common way men in India commit suicide is by drinking roundup. They are driven to suicide by the failure of their genetic modified crops.the indigenous seeds had genes and traits that could deal with drought, not s the new seeds. crop failure... gmo and suicide with roundup are all heavily connected. does it matter whether it is the so called inactive ingredient POEA or the glyphosate that is deadly?It's all part of the formulation...

Anonymous said...

and the goods from Dr, Motooka will be given to Joan for review, sorry i don't have a scanner, and they are old documents

Anonymous said...

NPR was alleged to have said "And under no circumstances should you post anything that could be taken as threatening, harassing, bullying, obscene, pornographic, sexist or racist."

"Could be taken" Wow! could not anything be taken to be one of these 7 dirty subjects? No discussing the Meese Commission findings, Hate speech and examples of hate speech, etc. Could a statement like "I hope you go to heaven" (or get your just deserts) be taken ass a "threat". If you are going to censor just do it and don't pretend you don't censor by creating cut-outs that can be applied to any speech you subjectively don't like.

I learned the truth from Lenny Bruce