what is the update on bahooka's rufus??? the dreaded question continues? - General Tiki

T THOR's Member Joined: Apr 30, 2004 Posts: 610	T THOR's Posted posted on Sat, May 17, 2014 6:37 AM I don' t blame you at all Big Kahuna. My patience is worn to a paper thin membrane as well. I think at this point, the hope would be for the press, Frank or Chris, to recognize that there IS NEW story to tell..and NOW. We have plenty of updates since the initial articles were posted Months back. Amoung other things, we have: All of those "representing Mr.zhu", now Jorge included, have failed to display any real follow through suggesting they truly were passionate about the final outcome of Rufus, ignoring all sources reaching out to them for closure. Their current stand is silence. This suggests foul play of some sort to me, fully. As So Cal Savage commented, I am beginning to believe that their loyalty to Alan Zhu, possibly money motivated, far outweighed their true concern for the outreach of this community or the welfare of Rufus. It feels very "slippery" to me...and all involved in this hush up conclusion. We also have reached a progressive point in this story where we have seen a clear track record of Mr. Zhu and his spokesmen, making claims to appease the public concern for Rufus' mew home that NEVER came through. They told the press, when they decided to keep the fish, that their reasons were for the safety of the fish, and moving them, they agreed would be too risky. They stated as quoted by the press, that a new large 2000 gallon tank was being constructed for Rufus and the other Pacus that would be featured happily in this New restaurant. Zhu,s spokesman was even suggesting that the funds raised to move Rufus to Damon.s be given to him cover the costs of this new tank and the handling to do so. No tank ever was constructed ! After all this, we have to accidentally discover that Rufus is suddenly gone from his home...his former tank of 30 some years laying dry in the corner of a dusty construction mess. No explanation . Zhu felt no moral obligation to reassure this community that was more than obviously concerned for the outcome of Rufus, where the hell he had gone to. Like we should all just forget about the whole thing. Then added to this, as well as an update for news, is this mysterious claim by Zhu, based only on his word, that he somehow transported this fish (How..a five gallon bucket ?) to, and I heard two versions of this story... a man made "river" or pond on his property, though I also heard it was on his wealthy friends property...and yet another person who spoke directly to the former Chef at Bahhoka said Zhu told him Rufus was thrown into a river in Long Beach!!!! What the hell is the REAL story??? My gut says its a fabricated story to get us all to shut up. Otherwise , Zhu and Jorge and any other involved party would be OVERJOYED to show communicate the happy outcome if for no other reason, to get people off his back!! Again, this guy is aware of the sentiment Rufus has to hundreds of people...likely more since this story was exposed outside our Tiki Community. He feels no obligation or humanitarian good will to invite the press to document the happy closure to the Rufus saga. We know his word is worth absolutely nothing, so we simply have a vanished Rufus. I really would hope people reading this will also reach out to the press in numbers and impress their concern rather than just watch all this happening. Myself and So Cal Savage have done this and apparently have not impressed the fact, enough, that this INDEED is all NEW story to tell...NOW. It leaves the public to add up the evidence and use their instincts and gut to make some conclusions. If we cannot positively account for where this fish ended up... Be it a fish pond or a dumpster, we cannot make closure on this...PERIOD. In this case, I don't think we should be allowing Zhu to think everyone is supposed to shut up and join this community to go spend money to eat in his new restaurant, founded on such dark ,greedy and heartless circumstances. If that doesn't make for some bad ju ju nothing will!! I want to remind everyone that Rufus is dear to the hearts of many. However, In addition to this, this entire story and its outcome is very symbolic for all of us here who proclaim our passion for preserving the spirit of "tiki" and the things it is made up of. We lose landmark places, ever so rapidly to greedy, culture ignorant developers, foreign and local. Rufus was very much the mascot and heart of Bahooka. I still can't believe he was left behind by the previous Bahooka family, frankly...and this is the result. Help tell this story!! Make a difference if we can...or at least be a community that displays a powerful united spirit to fight for what we so fondly embrace and celebrate! [ Edited by: THOR's 2014-05-17 08:07 ]

I don' t blame you at all Big Kahuna. My patience is worn to a paper thin membrane as well.

I think at this point, the hope would be for the press, Frank or Chris, to recognize that there IS NEW story to tell..and NOW. We have plenty of updates since the initial articles were posted Months back. Amoung other things, we have:

All of those "representing Mr.zhu", now Jorge included, have failed to display any real follow through suggesting they truly were passionate about the final outcome of Rufus, ignoring all sources reaching out to them for closure. Their current stand is silence. This suggests foul play of some sort to me, fully. As So Cal Savage commented, I am beginning to believe that their loyalty to Alan Zhu, possibly money motivated, far outweighed their true concern for the outreach of this community or the welfare of Rufus. It feels very "slippery" to me...and all involved in this hush up conclusion.
We also have reached a progressive point in this story where we have seen a clear track record of Mr. Zhu and his spokesmen, making claims to appease the public concern for Rufus' mew home that NEVER came through. They told the press, when they decided to keep the fish, that their reasons were for the safety of the fish, and moving them, they agreed would be too risky. They stated as quoted by the press, that a new large 2000 gallon tank was being constructed for Rufus and the other Pacus that would be featured happily in this New restaurant. Zhu,s spokesman was even suggesting that the funds raised to move Rufus to Damon.s be given to him cover the costs of this new tank and the handling to do so. No tank ever was constructed !
After all this, we have to accidentally discover that Rufus is suddenly gone from his home...his former tank of 30 some years laying dry in the corner of a dusty construction mess. No explanation . Zhu felt no moral obligation to reassure this community that was more than obviously concerned for the outcome of Rufus, where the hell he had gone to. Like we should all just forget about the whole thing.
Then added to this, as well as an update for news, is this mysterious claim by Zhu, based only on his word, that he somehow transported this fish (How..a five gallon bucket ?) to, and I heard two versions of this story... a man made "river" or pond on his property, though I also heard it was on his wealthy friends property...and yet another person who spoke directly to the former Chef at Bahhoka said Zhu told him Rufus was thrown into a river in Long Beach!!!! What the hell is the REAL story??? My gut says its a fabricated story to get us all to shut up. Otherwise , Zhu and Jorge and any other involved party would be OVERJOYED to show communicate the happy outcome if for no other reason, to get people off his back!! Again, this guy is aware of the sentiment Rufus has to hundreds of people...likely more since this story was exposed outside our Tiki Community. He feels no obligation or humanitarian good will to invite the press to document the happy closure to the Rufus saga. We know his word is worth absolutely nothing, so we simply have a vanished Rufus.

I really would hope people reading this will also reach out to the press in numbers and impress their concern rather than just watch all this happening. Myself and So Cal Savage have done this and apparently have not impressed the fact, enough, that this INDEED is all NEW story to tell...NOW. It leaves the public to add up the evidence and use their instincts and gut to make some conclusions. If we cannot positively account for where this fish ended up... Be it a fish pond or a dumpster, we cannot make closure on this...PERIOD. In this case, I don't think we should be allowing Zhu to think everyone is supposed to shut up and join this community to go spend money to eat in his new restaurant, founded on such dark ,greedy and heartless circumstances. If that doesn't make for some bad ju ju nothing will!!

I want to remind everyone that Rufus is dear to the hearts of many. However, In addition to this, this entire story and its outcome is very symbolic for all of us here who proclaim our passion for preserving the spirit of "tiki" and the things it is made up of. We lose landmark places, ever so rapidly to greedy, culture ignorant developers, foreign and local. Rufus was very much the mascot and heart of Bahooka. I still can't believe he was left behind by the previous Bahooka family, frankly...and this is the result. Help tell this story!! Make a difference if we can...or at least be a community that displays a powerful united spirit to fight for what we so fondly embrace and celebrate!

[ Edited by: THOR's 2014-05-17 08:07 ]

Post #717248 by THOR's on Sat, May 17, 2014 6:37 AM