Local pols had their mouths open and their hands out as we "flASHback" on the week’s news that amused and confused:

» Gov. Neil Abercrombie injected himself into the Korean crisis by offering to host talks, while U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard fanned fears of a nuclear strike on Hawaii. Just what the situation needs: more bombast.

» Senate Judiciary Chairman Clayton Hee said he gutted a law protecting reporters’ confidential sources to rein in the "reckless abandon of so-called journalists." Especially the ones who report the reckless antics of elected so-called leaders.

» Sen. Sam Slom denounced a bill to regulate feeding of wild birds that mess neighbors’ property, asking, "Are we really going to talk about bird poop? I mean really?" Hey, for the Senate, that’s high intellect.

» A House resolution asks that Hawaii criminal justice employees be required to get "implicit, unconscious bias training." I guess it would violate union rules if the training was explicit and employees had to stay awake.

» Seven House members used a recess day to hold a fundraiser at Ferguson’s Irish Pub. It was political sustainability at its best: Donors could get drunk while helping to re-elect lawmakers who will give them plenty more reasonsto get drunk in the future.

» Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is also on the fundraising trail, charging $2,000 a head for an evening of his company. The theme is, "Get Your Building Permits Here."

» U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz said $1.1 million he raised for his campaign in the past quarter was "an incredible show of support for our efforts to build a more prosperous Hawaii." Well, more prosperous Hawaii politicians, anyway.

» Analysts say the 2014 campaign won’t start in earnest until U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa decides whether she’ll run against Schatz or Abercrombie. It’s hard for her to make the decisions that Dan Inouye used to make for her.

» Maili kayak fisherman Isaac Brumaghim posted a video of a 9-foot shark jumping out of the sea to snatch a mackerel he was reeling in. Put a red jacket on the beast and you’d swear it was Gabbard grabbing for publicity.

» The state Ethics Commission, which fired former Executive Director Daniel Mollway for dubious work habits and management, unanimously rejected his demand that his successor, Les Kondo, be fired for "rogue and arbitrary" actions. Don’t go away mad, Dan; just go away.

And the quote of the week … from state Rep. Roy Takumi on a failed bill to count school hours outside the classroom as instructional time: "I believe learning occurs not just in a classroom. It can occur playing football. It can occur being on the newsletter committee. It can occur on the prom planning committee." If only it could occur in the Legislature.

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