Interim UH chief has familiar feel

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents may not be ready to choose a permanent replacement for outgoing President M.R.C. Greenwood, but in the meantime it has chosen a technocrat as a temporary proxy — David Lassner, the university’s longtime information technology executive.

The regents decided to formally vote on Lassner, 58, next week and some 36 years after he began working in various roles at Manoa. Greenwood’s contract gave her $475,000 a year, while Lassner would get a bonus of about 30 percent to $325,008 a year if he is chosen.

A committee will search for a permanent replacement. In the meantime, the IT experts will be well represented at UH’s highest levels.

Postal changes could have upside

If you’re among the millions of Americans who enjoy front door service from your friendly neighborhood postman, life could soon be taking a different turn.

Congress is considering legislation that would limit postal service to only curbside and cluster-box deliveries, requiring people to walk to their mailboxes out on the street or go to a single site where multiple customers get their mail.

It’s all about cost savings, since the Postal Service continues to lose money like it was going out of style — $16 billion last year.

If the proposal somehow is approved, you might be saddened to see your letter carrier less often, but on the flip side you likely would get to see your neighbors more often, out at the curb or at the cluster box, plus get in a little bit of exercise.