Tag: Good

Stopping unhealthy payments, passing good ones: A successful legislative technique


Check this out : Aloha to Hawaii’s ‘Lone Ranger’

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By Keli‘i Akina

Legendary soccer coach Bear Bryant is credited with saying: “Offense wins video games … protection wins championships.”

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If that’s the case, then the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii is the Metal Curtain, the ’85 Bears and the 2000 Ravens of legislative advocacy. What you see won’t all the time be flashy, however it’s formidable.

Yearly, there are literally thousands of payments launched on the Hawaii State Legislature. Of these, lots of get heard and transfer by means of the committee course of, requiring monitoring and testimony.

Keli’i Akina

Within the 2023 session, the Grassroot Institute submitted 142 written testimonies on roughly 82 payments. We tracked lots of extra. Since unhealthy payments are inclined to outnumber good ones, which means we performed lots of protection.

A few of these payments had been riddled with sensible and constitutional points. Others proposed extra laws on companies or tax hikes and different measures certain to extend the price of residing in Hawaii.

However like an incredible defensive crew, my Grassroot Institute colleagues had been there to dam many of those proposals earlier than they reached the top zone.

Contemplate the truth that not a single main tax hike handed this yr — not the wealth asset tax, the capital beneficial properties hike nor the carbon tax. That’s what good protection seems to be like.

Because the session progressed, the Grassroot crew grew to become the main critic of utilizing state funds to advertise tourism — a view that’s beginning to resonate on the Capitol. Finally, the Legislature refused to allocate any cash in any respect to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, which now’s searching for a discretionary handout from the governor.

We additionally had been the one group to level out the various issues with the governor’s proposed “customer influence charge,” and it, too, failed to achieve the top zone.

One other invoice we helped block would have allowed a “deliberative course of” exception to the state’s open data legislation. If enacted, it could have created a serious loophole within the state’s transparency necessities. That invoice went down.

One invoice that we failed to dam has the potential to just about kill the cryptocurrency enterprise in Hawaii. However the sport isn’t over but, so now we’re encouraging individuals to ask Gov. Josh Inexperienced to veto that measure.

By way of offense, I wish to have seen extra good payments handed, however our crew is getting higher on that rely too. We supported a variety of excellent payments, a few of which made it fairly far, if to not the governor’s desk.

We even crafted 15 mannequin payments of our personal that had been launched by completely different legislators. One among them is ready for the governor’s signature: SB674, which might authorize Hawaii to hitch 37 different states within the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact and make it simpler for docs from these states to apply right here and assist alleviate our acute physician scarcity.

However it’s the nature of legislative advocacy that we’ll all the time should play extra protection than offense, particularly contemplating what number of payments are launched and the way typically these payments would enhance taxes or add extra laws.

Victories just like the passage of SB674 are thrilling, and I can’t wait to see extra of them. However I’m completely satisfied that we now have a powerful defensive crew too. Simply think about how a lot larger the worth of paradise can be with out it.

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Keli‘i Akina is president and CEO of Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

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Prime 5 Important Ideas for Shopping for Good High quality Used Automobile Elements – 2023 Information

In case your automobile breaks down and also you want a spare half for it, you would possibly need to begin in search of a used automobile half which you could buy. Nevertheless, it’s not clever to stroll into a primary auto half retailer, discover the half, and purchase it – as a substitute, the method of trying to find a used automobile half is a little more demanding. To not frighten you, however there are some steps that it is best to think about earlier than shopping for a used half, and this text will train you what issues it is best to think about. Let’s have a look:

1. The place to Purchase the Elements

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One of many first steps to find the suitable half on your automobile is to discover a dependable used elements supplier. A number of locations promote these elements, together with auto half retailers, junkyards, automobile wreckers, and it’s also possible to discover provides on-line. Earlier than you select a spot to buy the elements, just remember to do some digging in regards to the worth they go for, in addition to examine costs from a number of totally different sources.

2. Ask For a Affirmation of the ID

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No matter half you might be in search of, it would be best to know that it’s respectable. You need to use the physique quantity or the Automobile Identification Quantity (VIN). If you happen to get a component, however can not see or find the VIN or physique quantity, you may take it to a automobile half retailer for identification.

3. The Historical past of the Half

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When used elements, it would be best to make it possible for it doesn’t have defects. Though it might probably look completely superb on the surface, it is perhaps deformed and break afterward. Therefore, you will want to rebuy the half, which implies that you’ll spend more cash than you wanted. Ask in regards to the age and the mileage of the half, in addition to whether or not it has been modified previously.

4. Contemplate the Significance of the Half

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There are some elements that it is best to by no means buy used. For instance, radiators, transmissions, and alternators ought to by no means be purchased used, and they need to include a assure. However, different vital elements, like automobile engines, for instance, might be bought used. In case you are in search of used engines, you may try https://www.usedpart.us/database/used-engines/, and see if you’ll find one that can suit your wants.

5. Ask for the Guarantee

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Though it’d sound not possible, even some junkyard will supply a guaranty on the used elements that you just buy, and that’s the reason it is best to at all times ask whether it is included. And whether it is included, just remember to learn what it states. Some on-line retailers would possibly embrace a guaranty; nonetheless, they’re usually poorly designed, therefore, make sure that you at all times ask what the guarantee states.

Conclusion

Shopping for used auto elements can show to be a greater funding than shopping for a brand new one. And as you may see, there are numerous issues that it is best to take note of when shopping for used automobiles. So, now that you recognize and perceive the significance of the following pointers don’t waste any extra time and begin trying to find a used car half that can get your automobile up and operating.

Get Out, Evil! Keep In, Good Fortune!


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At round this time of 12 months, the Japanese have a good time a pageant referred to as Setsubun.  Whereas there are regional variations on learn how to have a good time it, lots of them contain roasted beans and an Oni, or demon.  In accordance with custom, individuals within the family pelt the Oni with the beans whereas saying, “Oni wa soto!  Fuku wa uchi!” which suggests, “Get out, evil!  Keep in, luck!”

“Why did you gown me up in an Oni go well with?” the Hawaii State Tax Watch Doggie instructed me at some point.  “This may’t be good.”

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“It’s Setsubun,” I mentioned.  “We’re going to take some cute footage and publish them on social media.”

I whipped out the ol’ smartphone and tapped the digicam icon.

“I don’t purchase it,” he snarled.  “I wager you’ve got one thing else in thoughts.”

“I mentioned it’s Setsubun.  Simply following custom.”

“What’s in that bag you’ve got there?”

“Beans.”

“They give the impression of being form of dry and arduous, and – HEY!  Why are you throwing them at me?”

“Common excise tax OUT!”

“Ain’t taking place, Boss – OW!  You already know that tax makes a lot cash with a low price that they’ll by no means, ever do away with it!”

“Success IN!”

“YAP!  That’s annoying!”

“Stratospheric earnings tax OUT!”

“You’ve obtained to be kidding me!  No manner the general public employee unions will ever –”

“Success IN!”

“PTUI!  I can’t even eat these silly beans!”

“Draconian tax enforcement OUT!”

“However jeez!  How are they ever going to herald the bucks until they make a number of examples of individuals by raking them over the coals and assessing them hundreds of thousands of {dollars} that they’ll by no means have the ability to pay?”

“Success IN!”

“You’re not carried out but??”

“Particular funds OUT!”

“Why?  Don’t we’d like devoted funding sources for these necessary packages?  It’s manner an excessive amount of hassle for our authorities staff to hike over to the Legislature to justify their actions!”

“However we elected these legislators to supervise spending our tax cash!  Success IN!”

“If I break a tooth on one among these beans, I’ll by no means allow you to overlook it!”

“And I’m out of beans!  That was nice!  You had been a splendid Oni!”

“I’m going to chunk you on the schnozzola!!”

And that’s how our Setsubun pageant went.  We want the most effective of fortune to all of you – and remember to preserve watching our lawmakers, as a result of the legislature is in session!

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Good Bread is Good Drugs

Panasonic SDR2550
Panasonic SDR2550 makes breadmaking simple.


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My neighbor and longevity guru, Bradley Willcox, is aware of a factor or two about wholesome growing old. As a Professor and Director of Analysis on the Division of Geriatric Drugs, John A. Burns College of Drugs he’s fond of claiming, “the intersection of wholesome growing old and expertise is within the kitchen.” In different phrases, good bread is nice medication.

So, what does this should do with a bread making machine?

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“Wholesome growing old”, says Dr. Willcox means “growing old with minimal continual ailments and excessive bodily and cognitive operate.”

What in regards to the ‘kitchen’ a part of the equation?

“Meals is medication”, he informed me. “It’s an Okinawan expression and it’s true.”

Looks as good as it tastes
Oh yeah, good bread is nice medication…

Does nourishing bread rely as medication?

“You guess,” he replied. “Individuals eat plenty of bread and plenty of it’s no good. Maintaining a healthy diet bread made with complete grains is fiber wealthy and related to a decrease threat of diabetes, coronary heart illness, varied cancers, and higher intestine well being.”

It was time, with expertise, to make my very own bread.

Why go to all this bother? I’m a healthy-food fanatic and the bread accessible commercially is mostly not all that good. Sure, there are some exceptions. For instance the Breadshop on Waialae avenue does a exceptional job of manufacturing healthful, scrumptious bread. At round $10 a loaf or extra, it higher be. However as they are saying, you get what you pay for.

So what in regards to the half about making your individual? Properly it’s a helluva lot of labor, except in fact, you might have a kind of new fangled bread making machines.

That brings us to the topic of this text.

My selection of bread maker, a Panasonic SDR2550, was hardly scientific. My neighbor, Ray Madigan, a yoga instructor, and retired nurse has owned a Panasonic bread maker for over 10 years and has been bragging about his bread for years. I lastly tried a toasted slice.

That was all of the empirical proof I wanted.

It's as easy as hit the button and walk away...
Merely add the elements to the bucket within the correct order, hit the button and stroll away. (The bucket is detachable).

Panasonic’s newest mannequin, the SDR2550 in my kitchen, is a high-tech system with 20 pre-set packages which provides choices to bake all the things from French bread, brioche, sourdough to dense German type rye bread. It should additionally make gluten-free bread, cake, pizza dough and pasta dough.

I used to be primed. I bought yeast, complete wheat flour, rye, and so on.  I acquired many of the elements on Amazon. You possibly can presumably discover it on the town however as everyone knows, it’s simpler to do issues on-line, and regardless of the transport, cheaper than a spot like Entire Meals.

I preppred by studying by way of the guide and watched YouTube movies. The principle factor they drum into your head is to make use of exact measurements and observe the recipes to the letter. Additionally they insist that you just add the elements within the correct sequence, i.e. yeast first, then flour, salt, water, butter, and so on. 

All the things is added to a bit of bucket kind container with a paddle on the underside that mixes and kneads the dough. There’s a tiny dispenser if you wish to add nuts or raisons. After all, this system additionally bakes the bread. There are heating parts, like in your oven. 

Every recipe additionally has a corresponding menu setting on the LED management panel. You set the scale of the loaf, crust shade and if wanted, you’ll be able to program when to start the method.  

This sandwich looks as good as it tastes
You possibly can even make nice sandwiches together with your do-it-yourself bread.

I attempted my first loaf and naturally, broke a few guidelines.

My old school scale wasn’t precisely an atomic clock when it got here to precision however evidently it was shut sufficient. Panasonic prefers that you just weigh probably the most of elements, however I discovered so long as the proportions have been correct, i.e. three cups of flour, the bread got here out advantageous. (Erring on the aspect of warning, I later purchased a digital scale. That stated, I’ve had fairly good luck with recipes that provide the quantity of the elements, ie one cup, one teaspoon, and so on. moderately than the exact weight in grams).

All of the elements have been added within the proscribed order, however I made a decision so as to add some buckwheat (not within the recipe) as a result of I had some within the pantry, so I substituted some wheat flour for buckwheat.  

I pushed the button, anticipating the machine to start out mixing issues however nothing occurred. I checked the guide once more and was reminded that the system has a double sensor that adjusts for room and inner temperature to calculate how a lot time the dough must rise and relaxation. 

It should heat up for about half-hour and the pc program takes it from there. (Somebody needed to write plenty of code for this merchandise).

The whole grains provide fiber. Good stuff for the microbiome
The bread is dense and the entire grains present fiber. Great things for the microbiome.

I experimented with one other half dozen or so recipes. I even made complete wheat pizza dough.

When you get used to this machine, all you do is add the elements and stroll away.

How cool is that? It comes with recipes however there are additionally some accessible on-line. You possibly can tweak the “components” a bit however don’t be stunned if it doesn’t aways work (i.e., the bread doesn’t rise). For those who persist with the recipe, likelihood is you’ll have good outcomes.

Experimentation is laudable however simply beware. What does this inform you? Baking bread is simply as a lot an artwork as a science.

The draw back? It’s about 16 x 8 x 12 so it’ll take up some room in your counter.

At $278 on Amazon, it isn’t low-cost, however boy does it make good bread.

For those who’re considering of getting one thing wholesome for your loved ones this vacation season, you received’t go incorrect with this equipment.

Editor’s observe: A model of the story beforehand appeared within the Honolulu Star Advertiser.

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Finances surplus is nice cause to chop taxes


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By Keli‘i Akina

Thanksgiving is at our doorstep and Christmas is simply across the nook, however all the pieces will not be joyful.

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Contemplating Hawaii’s excessive price of residing and the nation’s report inflation, many Hawaii households are taking a tough take a look at their funds and calculating how inflation and recession will have an effect on their vacation plans, if not their complete financial futures.

However there’s some excellent news: Hawaii has a state price range surplus of about $2 billion, and that’s anticipated to develop to about $10 billion over the subsequent 4 years. It additionally has $800 million in its emergency reserve, or “wet day” fund.

All of which is to say: It’s an ideal time for our returning and newly elected state legislators to chop taxes and take away obstacles to financial progress as a option to decrease the state’s back-breaking price of residing.

Keli‘i Akina

One good place to start out could be to exempt medical companies from the state common excise tax. Not solely wouldn’t it assist decrease our healthcare prices, it additionally would assist tackle the scarcity of medical professionals in our state. 

Should you haven’t accomplished so already, I encourage you to signal and share the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii’s petition asking for simply such an exemption, which yow will discover right here.

And sure, a GET exemption for medical companies would scale back state tax revenues by about $200 million a 12 months. However contemplating the dimensions of the state’s price range surplus, lawmakers may minimize taxes much more and nonetheless come out forward.

One other concept could be to decrease the GET charge typically. Lowering its charge by simply 1 share level — from 4% to three% —  would put $1 billion {dollars} again into the financial system and have the bonus impact of benefiting low-income earners who spend a better proportion of their revenue on the tax. 

Our lawmakers may additionally slash our revenue tax charges, that are the second highest within the nation. And in the event that they wish to assist the tourism business, they might scale back the transient lodging tax, which initially was purported to be solely momentary anyway, leaving vacationers with extra money to spend within the personal sector.

The purpose is, there are many methods our legislators may put a refund into the pockets of Hawaii taxpayers. All that’s wanted is a little bit artistic pondering — and empathy for Hawaii’s struggling households.

Paradoxically, we discovered simply this week that the state went to the bond market to borrow $800 million — which, oddly sufficient, is identical quantity as within the wet day fund.

We may ask why the state wants extra taxes, charges or bond debt, particularly when it has such a cushty price range surplus. However regardless of the cause, it’s nonetheless an ideal time to chop taxes, trim pricey laws, scale back obstacles to housing and, typically, work extra significantly to decrease Hawaii’s exorbitant price of residing.

A state legislative decision urging Congress to reform the Jones Act, which provides to Hawaii’s delivery prices, additionally could be good. 

In any case, we will all see that Hawaii residents are having a tough time as it’s, and the longer term is worrisome. 

Lawmakers can do their half to assist flip this round, retaining in thoughts the excellent news: the state price range surplus. 

What an exquisite vacation reward it might be if our state legislators let or not it’s identified that decreasing Hawaii’s excessive price of residing is to be their main focus within the coming new 12 months.
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Keli‘i Akina is president and CEO of Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

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