New studies found yet more ways to rank Hawaii’s state government as one of the nation’s most futless as we "flASHback" on the week’s news that amused and confused:

» Hawaii ranked as the fourth-worst state for public pension fund liability at $7,923 per capita, but the governor and Legislature say their plan will clear the debt in 30 years if certain assumptions are met. The main assumptions are that either the fund’s portfolio returns 7.75 percent a year or we all drown from global warming by then.

» Another study said Hawaii spends the most on highway maintenance of nearly any state yet suffers some of the nation’s worst roads, leading the author to observe: "If I were a resident of Hawaii, I’d be asking, ‘What did you do with my money?’" It was spent on paving the road to hell with political ambitions.

» A public campaign financing initiative credited with bringing new blood into Hawaii island County Council elections died when state legislators ended funding for the pilot project. That’s our Legislature’s rallying cry: If it ain’t broke, break it.

» U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa kicked her Senate campaign into high gear with an event featuring ringing endorsements from former Govs. George Ariyoshi and Ben Cayetano, former Chief Justice Ronald Moon, former U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka and former bank executive Walter Dods. The Over the Hill Gang rides again.

» University of Hawaii regents said a new president to replace M.R.C. Greenwood must understand Hawaii’s uniqueness, have fundraising expertise, appreciate athletics and value openness. Not to mention be faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.

» Honolulu rail officials received more than 400 submittals on their call for $5 million in artwork to decorate train stations. Handing out coloring books at taxpayer expense really paid off for them.

» Hawaiian Electric Co. released a five-year strategic plan amid complaints about poor service and high electrical rates that are triple the national average. HECO’s usual planning strategy is to run more TV ads to quiet the complaints.

» An Oahu man was arrested after allegedly stealing a dump truck, rampaging through Waikiki’s nighttime streets and parks, marooning himself on the beach and swimming out to sea to evade police. He could face charges as an all-terrain idiot.

And the quote of the week … from Harmeet Kaur Dhillon, a Sikh Republican from California, on repeated campaign donation requests from U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a Hindu Democrat from Hawaii: "Please stop spamming me, and whoever gave her my name from their Indian American mailing list of some sort, may you come back in your next life as a dung beetle." The smell of political karma never changes.

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Reach David Shapiro at volcanicash@gmail.com or blog.volcanicash.net.