August 26, 2006 - Saturday

Several readers responded regarding Jumbo, the elephant facing an uncertain future in New Zealand who may have formerly been in Hawaii.

One message from down under was forwarded to me: ""Jumbo came to NZ in 1978 - I saw old tv nz footage of her being unloaded off a plane and they dated it 1978."

And from a Honolulu Zoo employee:

" I personally don't know anything about an African elephant named Jumbo but it seems to me that the Honolulu Zoo has always had Asian elephants starting with " Empress "...

I sincerely hope that the Honolulu Zoo did not trade an African elephant to a circus ! Circus elephants endure torturous lives filled with tremendous stress and hardship. Let's never forget Tyke who came to her breaking point during a performance at the Blaisdell Center and was shot to death by HPD on Ward Ave.

The reason circus elephants are becoming a thing of the past is the higher awareness that people have that what they are watching is not entertainment but rather animal abuse. If fact, this awareness is even starting to extend itself to zoos. I know of a few that have recently made the decision not to display elephants any longer. Based on the needs of the elephants they are being sent to live in private ( not open to the public ) non profit elephant sanctuaries.

So Jumbo's ties to Hawaii remain a bit of a mystery.

An attempt is being made to reorganize and resuscitate the Honolulu Community-Media Council. A copy of a recent letter soliciting former members to renew their membership and participation is available here.

Finally, I added a couple of photos to my "picture a week" project (PAW), including this one of a broken umbrella found on a picnic table down at the beach one recent morning, adding a few colors to the normal dawn.

Broken umbrella at dawn

August 25, 2006 - Friday

It's Friday, so let's get right to it. Newspaper buffs take note: Among the art objects featured in tomorrow's auction of items from the Persis Collection of former Advertiser publisher Thurston Twigg-Smith is a commemorative wall plaque from the 1966 dedication of the News Building, home of the former Hawaii Newspaper Agency. The two large disks are being sold together as Lot #48.

Click for larger photo

You can check out all the items at www.mcclainauctions.com, or stop by their place today between noon and 6 p.m., corner of Nuuanu and King Street.

Editor & Publisher reported yesterday on The Newspaper Guild's reaction to the cuts at the Akron Beacon Journal.

Another former Star-Bulletin staffer sent along this bit of computer satire inspired by the quote attributed to Bulletin owner David Black, who reportedly cited people "having fun" in newsrooms as evidence that layoffs won't necessarily impact news quality:

After what happened in Akron, Oahu Publications is installing this pop-up warning in all company systems:

August 24, 2006 - Thursday

The Advertiser reported this week on the hostile reaction by older Japanese-American veterans to Ehren Watada's refusal of orders to deploy to Iraq. The head of a veterans' organization was quoted:

"No Japanese-Americans did anything like that and that is why Japanese-Americans are so upset," Wada said by telephone yesterday from his office in Fullerton, Calif. "He is doing something that has never been done by Japanese-Americans."

Never before? Really? What about former Hawaii resident Richard Tanimura, who moved to Sweden when his unit was ordered to active duty in Vietnam back in 1968? I remember that one, and I'm sure there are more cases like that from the Vietnam era.

This in from a reader in New Zealand:

It was in The Marlborough Express, August 23, 2006, from a Fairfax wire story.

The elephant is Jumbo, bought or traded by Tony Ratcliff 30 years ago.

He has the Whirling Brothers Circus.

Jumbo's future is dire.

The circus is fading and closing because, Ratcliff sez, of animal rights activists et al.

He claims he bought Jumbo "from a zoo in Honolulu."

The story goes on that "She was a trade deal, a swap for $14,000 worth of New Zealand logs."

Ratcliff sez he has a $1-million price tag on Jumbo.

 The story continues:

"He says he's contacted Wellington Zoo, Webber Brothers Circus and Orana Wildlife Park.
"He asked the Lion Man, Craig Busch, a mate of his.
"He even asked the Aussie, but no luck."
    The story sez Jumbo can't go back w/other elephants because it's been "estranged from other elephants way too long . . .:

Anyway, my question is -- does anyone remember this elephant being sent to New Zealand in 1975?

I did find this earlier story about Jumbo and the circus.

Looking for a little diversion? You might check out the Accuweather photo gallery for some outstanding pictures.

There was something about that salmon that has appetites working overtime. Here's another savory suggestion from Brenda in Austin, TX:

A few months ago, my mother gave me the nicest compliment to date:
"That was the best fish you've ever made!!"

She brought home a salmon one night and I placed it on a buttered baking pan. Then I stuffed it with whole garlic cloves (almost two pods,) half a can of stewed tomatoes (with juice,) and a cut-up stick of Falfurrias butter.

Then I put in a few sprinkles of Cajun seasonings, and poured balsamic vinaigrette over the fish and a little on the inside. Cover with aluminum foil and bake @ 300 until cooked.

It sounds like a lot of spice and garlic and tangy stuff, but it somehow brought out the flavor of the fish and it was soooooo good! The garlic cloves tasted like mini baked potatoes. mmmmmmm!

I have to admit that I was proud of myself! I completely winged it on this!

August 23, 2006 - Wednesday

The emails started arriving yesterday shortly after noon when news hit the Star-Bulletin newsroom that the Akron Beacon Journal is laying off one-quarter of its newsroom employees, with additional cuts elsewhere to follow. The Ohio newspaper was recently purchased by Star-Bulletin owner David Black and partners.

One quote from Black seemed to garner the most comment:

“I don’t really believe that quality of a newspaper is a direct function of body count in the newsroom,” said Black Press CEO and president David Black in an interview with Reuters. “I walk through way too many newsrooms where I see people just talking or looking on the Internet and having fun.”

Watch out! If you're having fun at your job, don't let the boss see it! He might fire somebody. And heaven forbid there be talking at any point in the day.

From Honolulu writer Glenda Chung Hinchey:

Guess what! Your photo of your salmon dinner looked so good, I decided to buy some salmon fillets yesterday. This is what I did:

Spray oil on the bottom of a 9x13 glass pan, no rack, and on the tops of 3 salmon fillets.
Broil the salmon fillets, one side only, until opaque.
Boil juice from 2 lemons, minced garlic, and capers.
Take the pan out of the oven and spoon the sauce over the salmon.
EAT.

It was delicious. Thanks for the idea.

Thanks. I'll have to try it with the broiler.

Attorney Jim Bickerton says Ed Case "has crossed the line with this false personal attack" on Meheula.

Here's a letter I wrote to the HS-B on Wednesday (8/16). They have not run it yet to my knowledge. I'll be surprised if they print it given their editorial stance, but you never know. If they don't run it by Monday, please mention their silence as Bill Meheula deserves not to have his reputation undefended I think it carries a little weight as I am not known as a partisan, nor am I considered part of any old-boy network; my credentials are basically outsider/gadfly. 

Click here to read Bickerton's letter.

Helen Lind, reporting for duty. My mother just came across this photo and passed it on to me. It was taken shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack, probably in early 1942, in the yard where my parents were living at the time, which was on Kealaolu Avenue in Kahala just mauka of the corner of Farmers Road. Later that year, they moved down to the house they've lived in for about 64 years now. She says the rifle wasn't really part of her responsibilities, but everyone had to have a gas mask.

Click for larger photo

August 22, 2006 - Tuesday

An op-ed by Nick Shou published in the Los Angeles Times several days ago noted the 10th anniversary of the publication of Gary Webb's "Dark Alliance", which tied the CIA to drug trafficking, a claim that was later repudiated by Webb's own newspaper, the San Jose Mercury News.

It notes that while Webb was vilified, other investigations appeared to confirm his essential findings:

Meanwhile, spurred on by Webb's story, the CIA conducted an internal investigation that acknowledged in March 1998 that the agency had covered up Contra drug trafficking for more than a decade. Although the Washington Post and New York Times covered the report -- which confirmed key chunks of Webb's allegations -- the L.A. Times ignored it for four months, and largely portrayed it as disproving the "Dark Alliance" series. "We dropped the ball on that story," said Doyle McManus, the paper's Washington bureau chief, who helped supervise its response to "Dark Alliance."

The op-ed is apparently drawn from Shou's new book, which was noted by Editor & Publisher.

Tina Shelton interviewed three local women on the topic of domestic violence on Hawaii Public Television's Island Insights last night. It was a cut above other recent programs, both due to Shelton's interview style and guests who were prepared, articulate and focused. In my view, it raised the bar for programs to follow.

A USA Today story looks at the Case-Akaka campaign in the broader context of the age issue and begins with a long look at Robert Byrd's reelection bid. Byrd is 88 and running for his 9th Senate term.

The story notes the broader context:

Byrd and Akaka represent the leading edge of a trend, said John Challenger, head of the executive outplacement firm Challenger Gray & Christmas. "People just aren't retiring any more," he says. As baby boomers reach retirement age, companies concerned with manpower shortages are deciding "they can ill-afford to lose these people," Challenger said.

The Washington Post ran an interesting story a couple of days ago on targeted advocacy advertising. It's also worth a read.

August 21, 2006 - Monday

One reader commented on yesterday's note about the Cayetano Foundation:

Just between me and thee, I think it's commendable that Cayetano turned over the remains of his campaign fund to charity. I wonder sometimes what happens to the monies of other politicans. (Harris, for example.) I suppose they make gifts, but keep it secret?

I made the mistake of asking a friend the other day how his job was going. We were both younger back when I saw him more regularly, and he was gung ho about his work, always looking to improve, innovate, and lead. Like the whisteblowers profiled in the story by Rob Perez yesterday, he now has a different take on the workaday world.

It pays the bills. I'm beginning to believe that it's the same wherever you go, so you might as well suck it up, do the job, take the money and go home. No need to put your heart and passion into what you do for a living. Some "manager" will just suck the life out of your efforts anyway.

Cynical, I know... I'm putting my passion to work elsewhere.

Painful. Someone had to work perversely hard to squeeze the life and vision out of him. My friend works in the private sector, but this same process certainly marks public employment as well, perhaps to a greater extent. If we paid more attention to this process of progressive disempowerment in the workplace and its disastrous impact on productivity, we might have a better understanding of what's wrong with our economy and what to do about it.

For those interested in the recent flap over Ed Case's position on Hawaiian issues, Attorney Bill Meheula has made his recent comments, as well as some related documents, part of his personal web site, www.billmeheula.com.

And do check out a very promising newcomer to the web, www.Hawaiirama.com, a new effort by former Businessweek.com writer and island resident Alex Salkever. It is now offering up an interesting, breezy, and informative view of the islands that is full of useful tips, including direct comparisons of hotels and services. Here's Salkever's own description:

Hawaiirama is a blog about Hawaii. We cover the Islands like a giant beach blanket. We live here and we know Hawaii. Our goal is to make Hawaii more fun and more accessible for everyone, be they a visitor fresh off the plane or a local who was born and raised in the islands. We tell you where to surf, eat, shop, hike, swim, fish, drink, dance, dive and sleep. Since we believe everyone should think of Hawaii as more than just a pretty place, we also tell you about the history, culture, and nature of the most isolated island chain on Earth.

August 20, 2006 - Sunday