GOP campaigning in the islands fun while it lasted

The islands have brought some measure of comfort to struggling GOP presidential candidates, and not only our own lovely archipelago.

Hawaii and Samoa delivered the bulk of Pacific votes and delegates to teetering front-runner Mitt Romney, both communities where the former Massachusetts governor may have been helped by sizable populations of fellow Mormons. But let’s not overlook Ron Paul, who finally scored his first popular-vote victory last weekend — in the Virgin Islands.

Also, the Texas congressman, a lifelong libertarian, earned the support of the Hawaii Bar Owners Association, which started in 2006 in response to laws enacted to ban smoking in such public places. In that context, its members naturally embrace Paul’s small-government philosophy. And if Rep. Paul finds his way here, lots of Hawaii barkeeps would happily pour him a tall one.

Flash mob was cool; now how ’bout some cookies?

Girl Scouts were never a particularly flashy bunch, but now that the organization’s centennial has arrived, members of troops across the country must figure that it’s their time to shine. Denizens of the State Capitol, in particular, must have been surprised to see Girl Scouts burst into a "flash mob," a surprise bit of public choreography, in the middle of the auditorium on Tuesday.

It’s actually a bit of a trend. Other troops have performed them as part of the anniversary commemoration. Juliette Gordon Low, Girl Scouts’ founder, would have approved. Chronicles report her habit of standing on her head, just to prove she could do it.

A flash mob? Downright demure, by those standards.