Not everybody feeling the recession

Recent news about several high-profile local jobs got us comparing.

There’s the upcoming vacancy on Hawaii’s Supreme Court, due to the mandatory retirement of Associate Justice Simeon Acoba in March, when he turns 70. The 10-year term pays $206,184 annually.

And up at the University of Hawaii, three top jobs are expected to be filled this week: Vassilis Syrmos, tapped as UH vice president for research at $239,016 annually; Cynthia Quinn, as the Board of Regents’ executive administrator at $140,016 yearly; and Steven Smith, interim veep for information technology, $225,000 yearly.

Nice work, if you can get it.

Wie shows up the critics

Michelle Wie has failed to win a tournament in three years, so her captain’s pick for the second time to the Solheim Cup was met with criticism. Then came vindication over the weekend: She was among only three of the dozen U.S. members who walked away from the match in Colorado without a losing record against Europe.

In team games, Wie recorded five birdies in her first match and sank the winning putt on the 17th hole of another. While Europe won 18-10, she finished with a 2-2 record, second best on the U.S. team.

Now, if Wie can only return to the championship circle on the regular LPGA tour.