School missing something

Even the non-cynics among us have to be rolling their eyes about the latest irony in our public school system: the construction of a fabulous new school, with an equally fabulous wood shop that’s missing only one component. That would be the most essential component: a shop teacher.

Presumably, the state Department of Education will correct this once its fiscal cloud lifts. But in the meantime, we can all wonder whether there might be an out-of-work carpenter who could run the class. Like, one of those who built the shop, for example?

HPR survives NPR fallout

Among the myriad ways of spinning the facts surrounding the firing of National Public Radio political analyst Juan Williams, surely this one is rising to the top of the list: The wrong person got fired here.

Maybe NPR President Vivian Schiller is painfully aware of this, too. Yesterday she apologized for "the process following the decision," including firing the 10-year veteran over the phone.

Schiller couldn’t have timed it worse, in the midst of national pledge drives at NPR affiliates.

Hawaii Public Radio seems OK, though, finishing its drive Friday without repercussion — but a few were not so lucky. Thanks, Viv.