Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Considering a Tattoo?

I have seen many heavyweight people who had tattoos put on their bodies when they were younger and thinner. Some of the tattoos were obviously small birds or geckos. Not any more. Now their tattoos look more like distorted chickens or alligators.

Young people beware: what may look fashionable on you today may not be tomorrow.

(Letter published in The Maui News December 16, 2004, and Lahaina News December 16, 2004)

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Life is tough - or is it?

Every time I think life is tough, I realize that some things are easy.

Drumsticks are easy to eat. They have handles for picking them up.
Shrimp have built-in handles too. And spare ribs can only be eaten by hand.

And best of all, French fries have two handles - one at each end.

Who says things are tough?

(Letter published in The Maui News November 7, 2010, and Lahaina News November 18, 2010)


Sunday, October 24, 2010

Want a culinary experience . . or just a meal?

Living in Hawaii, most of us get the same questions from visitors. They all want to know where they can go to dinner. However, we need to know whether they just want to eat, or if they want a dining experience.

Some people like a place with decor and ambiance. Along with it, they get menus describing each portion with many superlatives.

For example, the vegetables specify where they are grown, how they are picked, and placed on a bed of some special herb that comes from still another place.

The steak dishes give the entire history of the steak from the time the cattle were born to when it gets on your plate.

In a fine dining restaurant, reading the menu is like hanging around a library.

But for those who just want to eat, I send them to my kind of place.

(Letter published in the Maui News July 30, 2010, and Lahaina News August 12, 2010)

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Outsourcing has gone too far

Outsourcing of American products has gone too far. We know that for years, our cars, refrigerators, appliances, clothing, furniture, tools, etc. are being built in other countries.

It is a shock to find that now, Pepto-Bismol is being made in Mexico. Just thinking of it gives me indigestion.

(Letter published in The Maui News September 26, 2010, and Lahaina News September 30, 2010)

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Politicians tell the best lies

It's election time again. Political candidates are making promises that they know are outright lies. We, the public, know they are lies. But we vote for the candidate who tells us the most appealing lie.

We deserve what we get for being gullible again.

(Letter published in The Maui News September 7, 2010, and Lahaina News September 9, 2010)