Rainbow Books

Rainbow Books is one of the most reliable used bookstores that’s merely a walk away from UH Manoa. Video Games, DVDs and the main staple, used books, are available at affordable prices in a relaxed atmosphere where conversations flow free and unhurried. While the books are easy to reach, the aisles are sometimes crowded with them due to the small size of the store. The employees do the best they can with the situation, making the books into neat little piles when they’re unable to put them on the shelves. However, the piles do tend to get messy at times. Parents with underage children should keep an eye on them as the pornography section is very easy to access without any barriers or wrappers on the adult magazines or books. One of the best things about Rainbow Books is that as long as you don’t block the aisle, you can sit down and read for as long as you want and the employees won’t tell you to get off the floor. I’ve spent a fair amount of time in bookstores doing nothing but sitting down and reading, and I say that it’s a great relief not to get scolded for sitting on the floor. The employees are also quite happy to talk to you if they’re not busy doing their work; I had conversations with them myself and quite enjoyed the experience. So if you want to go to a good used bookstore without the hassle of bus travel, Rainbow Books is one of the best.

Recently, I was introduced to Kangen water by a close friend of my father. Kangen water is alkalized water produced from a water ionizing machine made by a company named Enagic. The term Kangen is basically a Japanese word meaning “returning to source / origin.” There are other companies who sell water ionizers but Enagic is the company that offers the highest quality product. So high, that the Japanese approved its use as a medical device.

At first, I was highly skeptical about the water because the company Enagic sells the device through representatives via a multi-level marketing format. That fact immediately made me doubtful on the worthiness of the product. Yet, I knew my dad’s friend, John, was a very honest and caring friend so I allowed him to supply with me additional information regarding Kangen water. Basically the Enagic water ionizer is a machine that ionizes the water and has the ability to make the ph balance of the water alkaline through the process electrolysis. The resulting alkaline water is water that has smaller water molecules which makes the water easier to absorb by the cells in the body – essentially making it‘wetter’ water. In addition, the alkaline water helps to reduce the acidity of the body which is beneficial as most chronic diseases dwell in acidic environments. Other positive attributes of the water is its high antioxidant value, purity, and its ability to address a number of chronic ailments such as diabetes, allergies, bowel problems, and more. This was all the information that John gave me at the time. It all seemed quite impressive that it sounded to good to be true. Later that evening I went home to research the alkaline water claims on the Internet and found a site that from the famous natural physician, Dr. Weil who stated that the alkaline water hype was baloney. That was all that was needed for the natural skeptic in me to immediately stop my interest in this ‘miracle’ water. John continued to extol the virtues of the water to my family members, while supplying them with the water month after month. I just ignored any conversation about the water from then and politely declined when offered more water.

About six months later which is now present time, the topic of Kangen water came up again after I suffered from a medical condition relapse. It would take a while to accurately describe my multiple symptoms but basically my well-being is extremely low and one of problematic symptom is my inability to take much fluid as I get too nauseous from them. Again, my father and grandmother prompted me to try the water as they were very concerned for health. Eventually, without much thought or expectations I tried the water and too my surprise it didn’t make me nauseous and within minutes I somehow just felt ‘better’. Being more of a natural pessimist and not easily susceptible to placebo affects, I was encouraged by this event. I have never believed much in natural cures, etc. and have always preferred real western medication so my biases definitely did not affect my reaction to the water. I have now been taking the water for about three weeks and while I wouldn’t call it a miracle cure, I definitely would say that I have felt progressively better which has enticed me to further research the water.

So again, I searched the Internet for information though this time looking also at positive reviews of the water instead of solely negative. I was quite amazed to have found a lot of positive remarks about alkaline water from sources other than customer testimonials – from sources from medical physicians, university research labs, and medical journals. A particularly convincing source of information came from a famed Japanese gastroenterologist, Dr. Hiromi Shinya. Dr. Shinya was an instrumental figure in the development of modern colonoscopy procedures. As a result, "many and probably most of the fundamental principles of the procedure [colonoscopy] were developed by Dr. Shinya" (Sivak 2004, p. 978). Performing over 300,000 colonoscopies, Dr. Shinya noted a link between intestinal health and disease. He routinely prescribes an alkaline diet and alkaline water resulting in astonishing improvements in health. This YouTube video,
of actual colonoscopic procedures show before and after views of colons that have showed dramatic improvement after a three month trial of an alkaline diet along with Kangen water. I found this proof convincing because Dr. Shinya is a well-renowned physician with no vested interests in the Enagic company yet he highly recommends Kangen water and offers convincing proof of real life colonoscopies.

In regard to the claims against the efficacy of alkaline water, since I have no background in neither medical nor scientific studies, I cannot confirm or dispute the claims. Also due to the scope of this paper, it would not be possible to compile an adequate amount of clinical research support to afford a definitive stand on the issue. I could however, give my personal opinion and experience with alkaline water and provide some evidence that provides ample evidence proving that alkaline water can be very effective for many health conditions. The strongest evidence is the fact that the very stringent Japan Ministry of Health and Welfare approved the Enagic brand alkaline water ionizer for use in medical facilities throughout the Japan. They state that alkaline ionized water (AIW) produced by this equipment is known to be effective against gastrointestinal fermentation, chronic diarrhea, indigestion and hyperchylia as well as for controlling gastric acid. Official Pharmaceutical Guidelines of Japan, Vol. IT' by Japan Public Documents Association, Hirokawa PublIshin Co., 1996.

- Jennifer Tsukamoto

In this techie society keeping up with the latest and greatest gadgets is difficult; every week there is a new product. As students, we like to stay up to date but with our dwindling budgets it’s almost impossible to purchase all that’s out there. Nevertheless, here is a short list of gadget must haves that won’t break the bank.


1) The USB Aircraft Mouse ($17)

While this is not a wireless mouse, its hip design and user interface makes up for its rigidity. Besides, wireless mice are not always the best way to go… they need batteries and sometimes their response time is a bit lagged. Now a days it's cool to have a different type of computer mouse. This USB Aircraft mouse is compatible with Windows XP and Vista so it will work with most computers and it just looks cool (no word if it works on Mac). The Aircraft Mouse is available in black or white and features two buttons, a scroll wheel and LED lights in red and blue. Size: 149 x 109 x 30 mm. This is not exactly a gaming mouse, however, if you're just looking for a peripheral that will simply look good for office work, then 800 DPI are more than enough.

Features:
• Cool aircraft design
• Resolution: 800dpi
• Plug and play
• USB interface
• LED light up when it is plug into USB port
• Support Windows 2000/XP/VISTA
• Dimension: 155 x 115 x 35mm (approx.)
• Weight: 90g

You can find the USB Aircraft Mouse at brando.com


2) Rapid Charger with One-Touch Discharge Battery Charger. ($39.04)

Keeping your batteries full of life whenever you need them is a must.
According to a study done by the California Integrated Waste Management Board in 2008, the average person uses 14.7 batteries per year. With the average household being 2.5 people. If the initial purchase is 4 rechargeable batteries, the initial outlay for the rechargeable batteries and charger is $51.99: 4 batteries at $3 each, and $39.99 for the charger.

For non-rechargeable batteries, you spend $56 per year, assuming each battery is a $1.50 each, and this cost could be higher in some cases. Rechargeable batteries accept approximately 100 recharges, or approximately 2-3 years. In the first year of use you would save $14. Granted most people wouldn't recharge their batteries 100 times, because as we all know the more times you recharge a battery, the less usage time it has BUT for the sake of the argument... this charger can save you some cash.
Now check out for yourself why the Rapid Charger is such a remarkable product!

This marvelously compact, brilliantly designed product features a bright, eye-catching LCD display that reveals all the performance data you need to know at a glance. This Rapid Charger energizes AA or AAA NiMH rechargeable batteries with amazing speed.

What is NiMH, you ask?

NiMH stands for Nickel-Metal Hydride, the materials used in some battery packs. Unlike NiCad batteries, NiMH batteries do not use heavy metals that may have toxic effects. In addition, they can store up to 50% more power than NiCad batteries and do not suffer from memory effects.

As anyone who has endured long charging waits before being able to enable their digital equipment, a quick-charging device such as this Rapid Charger is a necessity. And one touch is all it takes to discharge! Nothing could be easier. With this little charger you get the rapid charge you need for all your digital devices.

Specifications:

• Chemistry: NiMH
• Capacity: 2500 mAh

For use with the following:
• Digital Cameras
• CD Players
• MP3 Players
• Portable Radios and all other electronic equipment using AA batteries
• Charge Time: Approximately 2 Hours (for 2 - 2000mAh Batteries)
• LCD Charging/Discharging Indicator
• Includes 4 - AA rechargeable Batteries

You can find the Rapid Charger at jumbomarketplace.com


3) Mini Bluetooth Keyboard ($39)

If you are into playing video games online this is the keyboard for you. This Bluetooth keyboard enables you to easily have text conversations with your online friends, instead of using the time consuming controller options.

This Mini Keyboard is a Bluetooth enabled keyboard. Its portable and tiny design can be used for travel, school, or any other working environment with a Bluetooth enabled interface. This new wireless Mini Bluetooth Keyboard perfectly combines compactness and functionality.The device supports technology Bluetooth version 2.0 and can be connected to any compatible handheld computer, the smart phone or even game console PS3.

Features:

• Bluetooth V2.0
• 83 keys
• Connect button to connect bluetooth in your PC and Playstation 3
• Slim body that save working place
• On/Off button at the back
• Operating distance: 15 meters
• Powered by 2pcs AAA batteries (Not included)
• Dimension: 140 x 70 x 12mm (approx.)
• Weight: 66g



You can find the Mini Bluetooth Keyboard at gadget4all.com


4) USB Flash Drive Wrist Band ($16)


Flash drives are useful to transport digital information from one device to another, especially for students. You may have written documents on a computer that is not connected to a printer so getting it from a PC to a printer dock can be a headache, this stylish little flash drive not only facilitates this problem but with it’s conventional transport ability, it is easy to carry around and find with ease.

The USB Flash Drive Wrist Band is a fashionable and stylish mass storage device. It is shockproof and moisture proof fashion gadget that you can wear wherever you go. With its seemingly weightless feature your data will come along with you even to the beach. Just plug it into any USB port, and your computer will automatically detect and configure your files without
restarting the computer.

Features:

• 512MB flash memory
• Mobile data storage and exchange
• Easy to view, edit, and copy files
• Made of flexible rubber, soft and comfortable
• Shockproof and moisture proof
• Small, light, portable
• Convenient for data-carrying
• Low power consumption
• High durability

Colors:

• Red
• Yellow
• Blue
• Green
• Orange
• Purple

You can find the Wrist Band USB flashdrive on GraphicIce.com

5) Microsoft LifeCam VX-5000 ($34.40)

Webcams are everywhere. Many PCs (and all Mac laptops) have them built in, and the prices for those sold separately have bottomed out. Microsoft's LifeCam VX-1000 sells for just $20. But you get what you pay for, so if you want a Microsoft model, skip that stinker and get the LifeCam VX-5000 for under $40. This premium model offers digital pan, tilt, and zoom, and its 640-by-480 resolution yields video quality just a little lower than that of a standard-def DVD.

Anyone shopping for a webcam probably has an older laptop with a thicker screen and wants to place the webcam on a desk or clamp it to an LCD screen. The VX-5000 looks good, thanks to a subtle color ring (it comes in blue, green, or red) around the casing. It has a cool bendable hinge that folds easily and clips onto your laptop screen or desktop monitor.

Once you find a place for it on your desk, you can simply plug in the USB cable and start using the VX-5000 with Windows Live Messenger. While Live Messenger is not as popular as AIM, most people at least have this app installed.

The 1.3-megapixel, 640-by-480 sensor on the VX-5000 is not going to set the world on fire with its stunning quality, but Microsoft has added a few tricks to improve the feed. One result is that the VX-5000's image looks about twice as bright as that of the LifeCam VX-7000, a poor performer when it comes down to actually seeing the person during a video chat.
Calls using Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger are consistently crisp and bright no matter what the lighting conditions. Low-light performance is critical, since most webcam users don't have a lamp pointing at their face at all times. The camera lets you control lens position by making slight pans to the left or right, 3X zooms (enough to go from a shoulder view to a headshot), and up-and-down tilts. We're not talking camcorder-level controls here, but they're enough to let you reposition the webcam for a more centered view without having to get up from your chair and make manual adjustments. These digital adjustments use the camera driver, so you can access them from Live Messenger, Skype, Yahoo! Messenger, or whatever webcam tool you use.

Audio quality for video chats are just passable. As long as you're sitting at your computer, your buddies can at least hear you talking. Because of the small microphone, if you move too far from the webcam, the audio goes silent faster than with other webcams, and it just doesn't pick up very well from even a few feet away. You're better off having a separate microphone hooked up.

Features:

• World Class VGA Optics - see more clearly with 2x the light collection than regular VGA optics
• Superior Low-light Performance - auto-adjusts for low-light conditions
• Bend, fold & shape the flexible base for the best angle on laptop screens, flat panels & traditional monitors
• Video Effects
• 1.3 megapixel camera
• 3X Digital Zoom
• Built-in microphone
• Weight: 0.3 Kg

You can find the LifeCam VX-5000 on Amazon.com


Elizabeth Gutierrez- Rainbow Connection Staff Writer

Skype recently became available on the iphone on March 31, 2009, however, the service is also available on the Nokia N800/N810, the PSP, and the (still not available in the U.S.) SkypePhone.

Skype is a software application that allows users to make phone calls over the Internet for a minimal fee. Not free like advertised. There have been rumors of Skype being available on the BlackBerry but the processor, which is used in most recent BlackBerry devices, is only 312Mhz. This is nowhere near the 400 MHz, which Skype requires as a minimum for operation. If you do happen to have a phone that is able to download the Skype application the start up is very easy. You can either download it straight to your phone using a Wi Fi connection or from any computer connected to the Internet. There is a short registration process and once you are connected, contacts are easily imported from your phone to the Skype address book. As for the calling service, Skype allows you make your first phone call for free and calls are clear and uninterrupted.

Why would I need to use Skype on my cell phone if I already have a reliable mobile phone service, you ask? Skype offers much cheaper rates than most cell phone plans, it costs 2.1 cents per minute while most wireless customers pay between 50 cents and $1 per minute. Skype allows you to make calls to anyone around the world as long as they are connected to Skype. Overall, Skype is a good alternative to the traditional cell phone plan. With Skype you can pay as you go or have a monthly plan at a low cost, however, every call has a charge and you cannot call those who are not Skype members…even though some sites will tell you that it will.

Additionally, there are claims that say that Skype will allow you to make calls for free. These statements, while technically true are very misleading. Your calls are not free in any sense of the word. You will be charged in two separate locations for your calling activities. The first hit you will take is on your phone plan. The Skype client does not work the way it is implied. Instead of limiting access to just data functionality while placing a Skype call on your phone, the various software solutions will actually place a call to your phone, which then call out to complete the connection. Does this not contradict the entire purpose of loading the software onto your phone in the first place?

The second place you will notice a hit is in your SkypeOut credits. It sounds like such a sweet deal, sign up for an unlimited Skype account (Just under $30), ditch your phone plan and just keep the data. You will be making calls left right and all your friends will be jealous of your low cellphone bills. The reality is that each call you make is deducted from your SkypeOut credits. If you have no credits left — no calling for you!

Elizabeth Gutierrez- Rainbow Connection Staff Writer

What do Omarosa, Kelly Clarkson, and Spencer Pratt have in common? They have all starred on some type of reality television program. Whether it’s watching people in a competition, someone trying to find love, or how a family under unusual circumstances lives, almost everyone is fascinated with reality television. Since the writer’s strike and the poor economy, it seems some television networks are shifting more towards reality television. With no need for scripts or paying huge sums for professional actors, reality television seems like a cheap source of entertainment and easy way for producers to make money. I hadn’t really noticed this till the unexpected start of the latest season of “The Amazing Race”, which started late last year. This made me more aware of the vast number of reality television shows there really are and what stations are dominated by them.

Till this realization, it seems I was numb to the growing number of reality television shows on air now and have subconsciously just accepted it as something that was on. Although I do enjoy watching certain reality television shows, there are too many that make me feel like my brain is slowly rotting away. Many of these shows seem to be on stations like MTV and VHI which is probably why I’ve stopped watching these stations as the years progressed. With shows like “Rock of Love” and “The Real World,” regular people are able to gain their fifteen minutes of fame and will do so through any means possible. Many of the people on these shows will get drunk, fight, or lie on national television which is probably why I’ve stopped finding a lot of these shows entertaining. Even shows that involve competition like “Survivor,” or “Hell’s Kitchen” show how underhanded people can be in order to come out on top. These types of reality television shows make me question what intermediate and high school kids are taking away from those they see on T.V.

In an article by Andy Dehnart (2008) called, “Reality TV Presents Plenty of Moral Dilemmas,” he talks about lessons in morality that can be taken away from reality television shows. Dehnart (2008) cites Professor of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy, Bernard Gert’s ten rules for moral behavior: don’t kill; don’t cause pain; don’t disable; don’t cause loss of freedom; don’t deprive of pleasure; don’t deceive; don’t cheat; keep your promises; obey the law; and do your duty. The last five are more social morals that society holds and is what many in reality television are always pushing to the limits or breaking. One way to test if a situation is moral according to Gert is by asking “Would you be willing for everyone to know that they can break the rules in the same circumstances?” (Dehnart, 2008) It seems that some do reflect on their behaviors during filming and learn from their mistakes while on the show. Some shows have this goal in mind, like Oxygen’s “The Bad Girls Club” which throws seven self-proclaimed “bad girls” in a house together. One of the cast members from season three of the show named Ailea wanted to learn from the mistakes of the other girls in order to help herself overcome her own issues. (Dehnart, 2008) Yet it’s sometime hard to believe that people who have been on reality television shows, especially dating shows, have any moral epiphanies. This is evident from many of the reunion shows where viewers still see girls or guys getting into fights with each other or using profanity toward others.

However, I don’t believe all reality television is bad. In an article by Linda Holmes (2004) called, “Gentler Side of Reality Television,” she points out that many stations have found success though a “geek factor” and not so much through scandal and misery. One example of dominantly “geeky” reality television can be found on TLC. Holmes (2004) comments that TLC was the first to hit it big with the reality television show “Trading Spaces”. Now TLC has expanded with shows like “Jon & Kate plus Eight,” and “Little People, Big World,” which give people insight to the everyday lives of those under extraordinary or interesting circumstances. Although these shows are more “wholesome” there can still be moral questions brought up like exploitation in the case of “Jon & Kate plus Eight” or “18 and Counting”.

No matter what, there seems to be no escaping reality television. Many stations have come to adopt various kinds of reality shows and it seems it up to the viewer to figure out which one’s suit them best. Although there are many shows out there that don’t raise too many moral questions, it’s also up to the view to take away what they can from those who that raise many moral issues.

Credible automotive sites like Kelly Blue Book and Car and Driver have published columns noting several ways you can improve fuel economy with your existing vehicle, whether it be a Toyota Corolla or a Ford Excursion. The practicality of some of these suggestions can seem odd; but ultimately, it is the driver who has the biggest impact on just how much fuel your engine is drinking down.

Maintaining tire pressure and changing your oil regularly are a couple of suggestions given that can help to improve the fuel economy of your vehicle; but honestly, maintaining proper tire inflation and changing your oil once every three to five thousand miles is a given. If these two tips are something that you don’t already do regularly, suffering a drop in fuel economy should be the least of your worries. Tire failure and engine damage are likely to be staring you in the face, and the repair costs for those issues will surely outweigh prices at the pump.

Driving with the air conditioning off and the windows down is another tactic to consider, but there are many variables here that affect just how much fuel you can save. Using the air conditioning does increase the overall demand for energy from the engine, thus using more fuel, but driving with the windows down hinders the aerodynamics of the car and can cause the engine to work harder to maintain speed. Some studies have found that using the air conditioning is more ideal than leaving your windows down, but I propose that you do both at particular times. When in slow moving traffic, open your windows as at those speeds aerodynamics won’t matter much. At higher speeds, such as when traveling down highways, aerodynamics becomes crucial; thus, closing the windows and switching on the A/C makes more sense.

Ultimately, it is the driving habits of the person behind the wheel that dictates just how well a vehicle fairs in terms of fuel economy. Erratic driving with sudden bursts of throttle and jamming of the breaks will almost certainly get you fewer miles per gallon. Ideally, drivers need to focus on smoothness. Ease on the throttle from stop-lights and signs. Use the principal of coasting as much as possible. Coasting is a technique where a driver lets the contours of the road and the momentum of the vehicle move him or her along without significant use of the throttle. Also, using the brakes sparingly is a good tip to follow as well. If a driver can maintain speed safely without unnecessarily applying the breaks, doing so will eliminate the need for the engine to bring the vehicle back to speed.

Kapena M. Landgraf - Rainbow Connection Staff Writer

Wednesday: Since I didn’t quite prepare for this dietary change, there wasn’t much available at home for breakfast this morning. Thinking ahead to lunch and my extravagance with meals the day before, I decided on PB&J sandwiches. With the right bread (some include milk in the ingredients while other do not); a PB&J sandwich was my vegan savior! I made one for breakfast and packed another away for lunch. Later, I had an afternoon snack of hummus with cucumber chips at Coffee Line in the Atherton YMCA on University Ave. My plan for a pick-me-up, hot coffee, fell a little flat as; again, I was without non-dairy creamer. It was Earth Day, too, and at the school celebration I felt like I belonged just a little bit more. I even signed up to be in Sustainable Saunders, the campus environmental group I had always been interested in, but did nothing about. Now that I could feel the limits of on-campus eating for those with alternative diets, maybe I could try and do something about it with this large campus organization of students. Later, while trying to make plans with friends, I realized that I pretty much can’t go out to eat! Actually, I could go out to eat, but it was only to Down to Earth, and it was only if my Mom took me out! I had a deliciously meat and dairy-free dinner there. Dessert was the best part though – soy chocolate pudding!

In a world with ever increasing worry as to global warming and mankind’s responsibility to the well-being of future generations, younger consumers like us have become more eco-conscious. Recycling, eliminating wasteful actions, and considering the use of alternative forms of energy have become notable cornerstones in our lives. Among such environmentally friendly responsibilities is the option of purchasing a hybrid vehicle. However, in truth, hybrids are not the only way to go. In fact, if you are a cash-strapped college student seeking transportation that sips unleaded and leaves a carbon footprint as big as a your pinky, smaller compact and sub-compact vehicles should not be overlooked. Here’s why:

For one, hybrid vehicles are complicated machines. Nearly half, if not more, of the vehicle’s components are controlled by computers. Unlike their counterparts, hybrids utilize electric motors, in unison with a gasoline engine, to achieve movement. To get all of these systems to work together is no simple technological achievement. Because of its complexity, repairing hybrids that “break-down” will not be cheap, and mechanics and technicians approved to work on hybrid vehicles are in scarce supply. Furthermore, because hybrids have been on the market for such a short period of time, little data has been collected as to their reliability. To buy one can prove to be a bit of a leap of faith.

Secondly, hybrid vehicles can do more damage in the long run than conventionally powered vehicles. The big issue here has to do with the batteries they use. Though batteries have become smaller, more powerful, and cheaper to build, they still contain highly toxic chemicals. The batteries in hybrid vehicles are very large, and the disposal of these batteries – which have a life span of less than ten years – will definitely become an environmental issue.

Lastly, hybrids are not cheap. According to sources like Kelly Blue Book, hybrids can cost upwards of three to eight-thousand dollars above their non-hybrid counterparts, sometimes even higher. If you were to do the calculations yourself, you’d find that it would take several years of owning a hybrid to justify the added cost of buying one. Cars like the Honda Civic, Chevrolet Aveo, Toyota Yaris, or even the Volkswagen Jetta diesel earn comparable fuel economy ratings and meet similarly strict emissions regulations as hybrid vehicles, but cost thousands of dollars less to purchase and maintain.

Kapena M. Landgraf - Rainbow Connection Staff Writer

Most Colleges, with the exception of the few conservative ones, have your typical cluster of left-
wing radicals exhorting their views on campus. This is not surprising since the majority of college
professors have sympathies towards the left one way or another and are more willing to work
with them to arrange protests or festivals of ‘resistance’. Still, even if you disagree with the
protester’s politics, they’re a good sign that our democratic system is still healthy and stable
since they’re free to do their protests without getting brutally beaten or executed simply for
having a different opinion. I’ll relate some of my own personal experiences with them during my
attendance at college.

I have a friend who is a radical communist, however, he’s one of the more independent minded
left-wingers I have ever met and I enjoy his unpretentious, down-to-earth sense of humor.
Although I do get irritated with his stereotyping at times; we usually just talk about our favorite
movies, shows and the personal things that annoy us from time to time. However, I have
sometimes scolded him for stereotyping people (Especially blonde women). But we get along
pretty well.

Now my friend had invited me to a few protest rallies against the War in Iraq. I accepted the
invitation because I enjoy spending time with him and his goofiness undercuts the more somber
mood of some of the other protesters. I felt rather out of place in the group because I felt like the only non-left-wing Capitalist protester who was against the War in Iraq. Still, we never got
arrested by the police for our protest nor did they attack us with no provocation. There was a
guy who booed at us from his apartment complex, but that was the extent of the complaints
against us. The only drama that I went through in those marches was that I needed to
desperately go to the bathroom at one march and during another march; I got rather sweaty and
tired. The very fact that I was able to participate in those marches easily without having to go
through grueling interrogations nor did I have a hard time finding the group in the first place
shows that free speech is still valued here, even if some people will respond with rudeness.
Another good example of why the left-wing groups show that we’re still the land of the free is the
existence of Revolution Books. As the New York Revolution Books web site says, they’re a
communist group dedicated to ‘making a better world’ and selling books with a Marxist
perspective and fiction from non-white writers. I mostly go over there because my professors
often order the class readings through Revolutions Books. I once went over there occasionally for fun, but I soon realized that if I kept going there, I’d probably drive some of the communists
insane with my constant questioning of the left. So I decided that it would be better just to not
visit the store anymore and go spend most of my time at Rainbow Books. Still, in all of my time
living near the place, I have never heard any news about it being vandalized by some irate
person who disagreed with the political views of the store nor did any right-wing radical fringe
movement tried to destroy it because they were ‘terrorists’ or any other inflammatory label
hastily drawn by the group.

They don’t get as much exposure to the mainstream crowd as other bookstores do, but that has
more to do with the fact that people tend to rely on well-known sources for their information
rather than any vast conspiracy against them. Of course, that may be a good thing since more
exposure will encourage those with an ax to grind to get into an inflammatory argument with the
workers from Revolutionary Books. I remember this argument that one of the Revolutionary
Books employees had with somebody who had ties to the military. Both side were not able to
convince the other of the ‘rightness’ of their viewpoint and I spent some time telling the military
lady that not all Hawaiians were like that employee. While I’m sure she was grateful for the
comfort, I’m not sure that I got through to her. Still, they’re not jailed or horribly executed for
being Communists; if the protestors do get arrested, it’s because they’ve trespassed on private
property or an asshole in the group thinks that goading the police with physical harassment is a
noble act against the establishment.

I believe one of the reasons why the left-wing groups are flourishing besides the fact that
democracy is still alive and well is the fact that the public is swinging toward favoring a Democrat
president. The Republican senate did a really lousy job with the War on Terror regardless if it
was a good idea or not in the first place. As a result, most of the public has become disenchanted
with them and is looking towards the Democrats for new idea on how to deal with Iraq and bin
Laden as well as our troubled economy among other things. It also helps that Barrack Obama is a
charismatic, articulate speaker, which definitely helped him to win the election.

However, there is a recent event that happened at UH Manoa that is one of the best examples of
how the presence of left-wingers shows that our democracy is still alive and well. A well-known
employee of Revolution Books was escorted off the premise for causing a disturbance within in
campus grounds. According to the April 30th Ka Leo article, the woman, C.J. Jong, was escorted off campus because she had called a female Campus Centre Representive 'A Good German', implying that she was blindly loyal. Now at first glance, one might assume that ‘the man is oppressing the people
again’. However, one needs a few more bits of important information in order to get the whole
picture. The employee is actually a well-known fixture of UH Manoa who quietly hawks the
Communist Newspaper without harassing people. C.J. Jong even points out this fact in the article. The University in turns lets her do what she
wants without insulting her beliefs or letting narrow-minded people assault or degrade her. They
even let Revolution Books set up booths at the Campus Centre and let Not In Our Name hold
rallies and Festivals of Resistance at UH Manoa. I’ve talked with her from time to time and our
conversations went pretty well. It turned out that she had already met my friend and we talked
a little bit about him. She thought that he was pretty intelligent and asked a lot of good questions.
The other important piece of information that I got from my Web Media Professor is that the
reason why she was escorted off the campus; she got into an argument with a person and would
not back down even when common sense indicated that she should have. My Professor also said
that her approach to Rhetoric was more confrontation than open and inviting and resorted to name calling, something a good
speakers avoids if they wish to persuade people to consider their point of viewer. This means
that she was escorted off campus not because she was hawking an alternative newspaper but
because she was causing a disturbance on campus grounds. This shows that even if security may
not agree with their viewpoints, they put their jobs ahead of their politics.

So if examples like these show that we don’t live in a ‘fascist’ society as the host of an alternative
news show said, then why do many left-wingers believe that we’re sliding down the path to
fascism? Well, the left-wing group is just as much affected by their own subjective viewpoints as
the right-wing group. This means they filter events through their own personal beliefs and
interpret them as a good or bad sign based on their hopes and fears for society. Another reason is
that many left-wingers share the right-wingers’ belief that the world is going to hell, although
their definition of it is quite different from the right-wingers. Also, it’s really easy for people
living in a prosperous, First-World country to take their good fortune for granted and interprets
their leader’s mistakes as a sign that their country has jumped off the slippery slope to Fascism.
Still, their hypersensitivity is quite useful in revealing important details that more mainstream
groups may ignore due to lack of exposure or fear of retribution.

Ultimately, no matter how much I may disagree with them on one level; I can take a sense of
relief from them on another level because the fact that they can protest without running the risk
of getting killed or sent to a high security prison where they’re never heard from again shows
that our country is still the place were democracy is alive and well. Granted, America isn’t
perfect, thanks to the economy and all, but the fact that the flaws are on at least an equal footing
with the merits shows that we live in a normal society. And those left-wing protestors are a
straightforward example of it. Now all we need to do is find a way to encourage passionate
political debate that doesn’t degrade into mudslinging and name calling and we’ll be all set.

Let me precede this essay with a statement: I do love my school, UH Manoa, I just think there are necessary improvements not only for this school, but all universities. This may seem like a rant, but it is more a call to arms from experience and resources so that future students can have better experiences with their college years.

We as students need to take action. If there are improvements that we want made or if we want to change budget plans, we need to start writing. Sitting by and passing time taking classes until we graduate is not going to help. If the facilities that we utilize to covet an education are not to par and are actually downright dangerous, how can we be expected to learn? Health hazards now can prove detrimental in the long run as well. If we are breathing mold, or if someone gets stuck in an elevator or classes are ultimately cancelled because the plumbing finally went, we are going to pay for it later in life.

It may not seem like much at first, but this can cause a lot of problems. College has become an extended version of high school. We go through the motions and tolerate as long as we can until we leave with degree in hand. College should be about experience. We need to take action to enhance our experience. It’s time we took charge instead of standing by in the wings waiting. Facilities need to be fixed because they are hazards and not based on the popularity of the major or education offered in that particular building. And if they’re going to cut our classes and options making it impossible for use to stay on any sort of plan, don’t cut our tuition too. Use the money and offer classes. Raise tuition a bit if you need to. If we are stuck in college for extra semesters and years because they do not offer the classes we need, we are paying too much anyway. Increase the tuition and offer the classes now. We as students deserve healthy and comfortable learning conditions.

This applies not only to the classroom settings, but stress levels. If you by credits have a semester left but because of the offering of classes may be held for another year, unnecessary stress can build. And like senioritis doesn’t get bad enough, it’s dragged on. Or even think of the fact that the pressure to graduate quickly easily overrides the desire for particular classes. Students wait an extra semester or year for a class they actually want if a substitute now is available. And if we as students try to place out of a class, we should be able to. In my own experience and a couple of others, we’ve had to stay extra semesters for requirements that were ridiculous. I’m originally from California which, if you’re from there, you know that means I speak Spanish at least moderately from exposure. Coming to UH, I took a Spanish placement test and placed in the 400 levels. And yet, this semester finds me here simply to finish Spanish 202. A fellow student friend of mine is from Brazil and Portuguese was her first language. This semester she too is in Portuguese 202. Why? We should be able to take a substitute on culture or bypass. Teachers also seem to have the same concerns as students.

About one year ago, I was sitting in my 8am class waiting for my instructor to come in. I was having just and idle conversation with a classmate when an angry professor stormed into the room and threw her belongings on the desk in the front rom. Shocked, the class proceeded to inquire the reason for her distress. What followed was a 20 minute rant on the budget cuts and fallible architectural designs of the buildings on campus. She discussed how each building had some sort of major or even dangerous aspect that could cause harm and even more monetary inconveniences for the UH system. Evidently these huge and possibly costly disasters in the making were again being overlooked for other so called “improvements” in other areas. There were a few key complaints that stuck out from the rest of her rant such as the fact that the plumbing in three buildings, especially Moore Hall, was literally about to completely break down. In her own words, “If someone takes a large enough crap, the entire plumbing system in the building could blow”. Talk about a mind opener on a Monday morning. The next was the Kuykendall elevator. Evidently the cord was so deteriorated it could snap at any minute. I have since heard horror stories about friends that have gotten caught in the elevator between floors and literally had to crawl out. One of the last scary possible disasters was the air conditioning systems on upper campus being so old they were officially recycling mold. Recently they have begun replacing the air conditioning systems in different buildings, but not all, and not even the most necessary ones.

These major issues need to be addressed. Budget cuts and misappropriated spending have led to many of these potentially epic misfortunes being ignored. The largest irony is that if any of these troubles actually escalate, the damages and potential lawsuits will cost the school or even the entire UH system significantly more than it would take to fix it now. Even worse, one of the major deductions from the 2009 budget is security. They are closing the MCC dormitories and recently built, “A new privately owned 400-bed dormitories… which will generate a general funds savings of approximately $10,000” (FY 2009-Budget Adjustments). The new dormitories would have cost a significant amount more and have no security whatsoever. So we save a measly $10,000 on security and now not only are the students who live on campus at a higher risk, but other buildings are still waiting for repair. There was also a rather large sum of money, the exact figures were not printed but they were higher than double the $10,000 savings, put forth to build these new dormitories and we still have the old buildings. They will officially serve no purpose. UH would have saved over $30,000 if they had simply fixed up the old building instead of making an entire new section. Granted they were old and rugged dorms, but now we have less space, an extra building, and even less money.

Another big problem is that because there are so many little problems, there is a prioritization problem. What is the most necessary improvement now? What do we have to do to appease the individuals who donate funds to the UH system? Sadly, because the law schools and other specialty majors bring in a significant amount of money the repairs for their buildings seem, for some reason, a little more important. There is the Manoa Deferred Maintenance Backlog which offers a list of every minor to major improvement that has been put on the backburner. High on the list is the improvements necessary for Moore Hall and Kuykendall Hall. The topic for both is “Reconfiguration” which if you look up on the website means that the plumbing, AC, and other repairs (like an elevator) are included. What is also interesting is that this list is 5 pages long on Adobe Acrobat Reader with at least 30-40 deferred improvements. At least twelve buildings, according to the list, are in dire need or reroofing. The number one improvement is in Moore Hall. According to this chart, the reconfiguring of Moore Hall is estimated at $430,000 which is $45,000 just for the design and $385,000 for the actual construction (Manoa Deferred Maintenance Backlog). This list is from 2008. If we look at the 2009 repairs and renovations planned, Moore Hall is finally making the list. What is interesting about this list though is that majority of the $25 million improvements have to do with air conditioning repairs in several buildings. An elevator that could snap at any moment is still not on the list. At least the air conditioning will be fixed in several locations, but again not all. The air conditioning on many of the lower campus buildings was recently repaired over spring break. The music wings and dance rooms had the A/C repaired, and yet, they are failing already. If you look at the repairs lists and see how high of a priority these air conditioning systems in lower campus are, you might need to look towards the bottom. But, if you look at a chart that will prioritize the developments by price smallest to largest, this improvement was very close to the top.

While we as college students go through the motions of figuring out what we want to do with our lives, what our specialties will be, and where we want to go, we need encouragement. We need classes offered that are beneficial to our college experiences and efficient over time to save money. We need an environment that is healthy and we certainly don’t need extra stress that the possibility of faulty architecture brings. Some of the buildings and departments that get their funding and repairs are due to the noise. If we want these buildings fixed, we need to take action. We need to write, rally, or petition. These are only some of the issues I faced and they will probably affect so many others. Don’t be passive in your college experience; you have a right to demand for your education.