i L i n d . n e t

Everybody’s reporting on a mystery ailment killing off Kauai’s wild chickens. The Garden Island started it, the Star-Bulletin reported yesterday, broadcast stations followed, as did the Advertiser today.

It’s hard to avoid the thought that this has something to do with avian flu. State officials are quoted as saying this does not appear to be the case, but there aren’t any specifics reported to back up that assessment.

Since hearing this, I’ve thought about dead birds seen in past several days and wonder if these could somehow be related.

In any case, it seems important to get a clear sense of what’s causing the chicken deaths, however desirable the lowering of the population of these wild fowl might be.

It’s 5:25 a.m. and Ms. Kitten in on the floor next to my chair, playing in and around a box that previously contained a shipment of spices from Penzeys. Mr. Duke has been hovering nearby, and just took off across the house on a kitten-like tear. The tiny one isn’t quite up to that kind of run yet, but the day is coming now that her back feet have gone on a growth spurt.

And it does appear that Ms. Kitten has found a good home and it’s a definite win-win. Her prospective people came to meet her yesterday and all had a good time. They definitely want to take her home as soon as they return from a previously planned trip! Which means that we’ll get to have a bit more of the kitten experience before she move off to the next stage of life and a new home.

Getting back to that look at the mayor’s campaign contributions. A quick shuffle of the numbers showed there were clusters of donors from several companies, a few listed below. Colliers Monroe Friedlander led the list with six executives giving a total of $14,000 during this six month period. Others included Nishihama & Kishida, the CPA firm that was at the top of Mayor Hannemann’s cumulative contribution list going back to the 2000 election.

Bundles for Mufi

Colliers Monroe Friedlander (6) $14,000
R.M. Towill (8) $10,300
Kobayashi Group (4) $6,000
Nishihama & Kishida, CPAs, Inc (4) $5,000
Bank of Hawaii (3) $5,000
Queen Emma/Queen’s Health (4) $4,600
CH2M Hill (9) $3,800

I still have to sort out the interests of the mainland donors who gave substantial amounts.