If you love the smell of the Legislature in the morning, you’ve come to the right place as we "flASHback" on the week’s news that amused and confused:

» With Hawaii’s recovery still fragile and the electorate on edge, the Legislature opened its 2012 session with little fanfare. The James Gang liked to slip into town quietly, too.

» Senate President Shan Tsutsui said the difference between this year’s Legislature and other recent years is that lawmakers aren’t starting off in a big hole. I’m sure it won’t take long for them to dig one.

» Leaders from both houses said legislators will avoid side issues and focus on jobs and the economy. A Legislature without side issues is as likely as a plate lunch without macaroni salad and rice.

» House Speaker Calvin Say said he won’t consider legislation to legalize gambling unless it passes the Senate first. Vices are always easier to sell when they come pre-pimped.

» The Ethics Commission ruled that legislators could attend a farm lobby dinner called "A Taste of Ag" only if they paid $50 for the value of the food and drink. For our lawmakers, a sprinkling of ethics makes any food taste bitter.

» House Minority Leader Gene Ward introduced a bill that would make it legal to operate "driverless" cars in Hawaii. He should think about how it’s worked out to operate the local GOP that way.

» Experts are attempting to determine whether a large shark that circled off Kaena Point was a great white or a mako. That’s like trying to tell the difference between a House member and a senator circling the buffet line at "A Taste of Ag."

» Mayor Peter Carlisle indicated he won’t ask the Legislature this year for an extension of the excise tax surcharge for Oahu rail. He’s confident that the Train to Nowhere has enough funding to get there.

» While Carlisle was flying off on yet another trip to Washington, D.C., former Gov. Ben Cayetano and former acting Mayor Kirk Caldwell both announced plans to run against him. Carlisle said he’ll stand on his record if he’s ever on the ground long enough.

» A dwarf galaxy more distant than any ever observed was discovered by astronomers using the Keck II Telescope on Mauna Kea. They achieved the breakthrough after pointing at the state Capitol to calibrate their optics.

And the quote of the week … from Sen. Will Espero on attempts to restrict free meals for legislators: "People don’t understand the process. I’ll meet with you for free. I’ll meet with you for a cup of coffee. I’ll meet with you over lunch. But meals and food do not sway any legislator’s vote here." The savvy lawmaker holds out for a goodnight kiss.

Reach David Shapiro at volcanicash@gmail.com or blog.volcanicash.net.