i L i n d . n e t

The Star-Bulletin’s Rod Thompson reports today on an opinion by the Office of Information Practices that a closed meeting of the Hawaii County Council last year to consider potential public danger of lava that was flowing at the time did not violate the sunshine law. The opinion itself isn’t available yet, but according to the S-B, OIP ruled that the meeting was okay because there wasn’t specific legislation on the table at the time or any likelihood of future legislation.

It sounds like a decision that sets the quest for openness back several steps. I’m anxious to read the decision itself to see how bad the damage could be.

For your Sunday reading, take a look at “The Political Trial of Don Siegelman” by former Wall Street Journal editorial page assistant editor Paul Craig Roberts. It’s a rather scathing look at the Bush administration’s Justice Department. It links to a number of other sources, including those making good use of YouTube. And from last week, BBC News reports on the 50th birthday of what is now known as the peace symbol.
I haven’t invited you all over for dinner recently, so this Sunday seems as good a time as any. The menu was a simple chicken with garlic, chili, peppers, and cilantro, accompanied by a picky plate piled with carrots, cherry tomatoes, and different kinds of olives. Bottle of wine and cat optional.

For the chicken, I just sauteéd several chicken thighs, added a little white wine and garlic, then covered. Then I noticed a jar of Sambal Oelek ground fresh chili paste in the refrigerator and plopped a bit into the chicken for a different flavor, then covered and simmered, adding a bit of liquid from time to time, either water or wine. With six or seven minutes to go, I added in a handful of Costco’s colorful mini-peppers that were at the “eat it to save it” stage. Then at the very end, I added a handful of chopped cilantro for accent and flavor. Served over rice. Mixing themes here, a bit of grated Romano cheese, to taste. White wine. Cat, in this case Ms. Kili. A comfort meal, and a pleasure to relive here.