Don’t play with the lava

Hawaii folks generally like that visitors find the islands spectacular. We count on it, in fact.

But when that spectacle is fraught with as much danger as a lava flow, close encounters are an undeniably bad addition to the itinerary. Tourists have felt the lure, which is understandable, but this is hazardous stuff, full of toxic fumes. Besides, the roads need to be kept clear for the residents who actually live there.

As for local folks dipping things such as egg beaters and golf clubs into the magma, that’s just plain foolish.

Getting back to standard time

As we emerge from the sugar hangover of Halloween, it’s time — really time — to prepare for the next big event of the fall. It’s not Thanksgiving, or, heaven forbid, Christmas. Sunday marks the end of Daylight Savings Time, and most parts of the mainland will roll back their clocks by one hour. Since we don’t adjust our clocks in Hawaii, we just have to remember that it will be two hours ahead on the West Coast and five on the East.

Easy enough, right?