Dis And Dots
As we used to say in another column incarnation, this week it’s a bit of Dis, Dots an’ Da Oddah T’ing:
My fellow Americans made me proud again, this time with overwhelming disapproval of any sort of U.S. involvement in the bloody Syrian civil war. Power has not gone to the heads of the people – unlike a certain someone in the White House … And how many in D.C. now clamoring for war with Iran have ever fought in a war themselves or lost a loved one in battle? Other than John McCain, not one that I know of …
It’s all well and good that officials from Pop Warner to the NFL are trying to limit concussions. But I find it at least a bit ironic that players continue to celebrate big plays by banging face masks and slapping one another in the helmet … The days of celebratory butt slaps apparently are over and done …
Regarding Adm. Cecil Haney, commander of U.S. Naval forces in the Pacific who graced MidWeek‘s cover last week: I had the honor of being seated beside him during a luncheon at his home a while back, and found him to be a smart and charming man. He actually spent most of our conversation asking me about the newspaper business and seemed genuinely interested in the subject. We wish him all the best at his new assignment with the Strategic Air Command in Nebraska. America is lucky to have leaders such as him … And may that fifth star come soon, sir …
Kudos to Hawaii Opera Theatre for breaking up the schedule to three seasonal operas instead of cramming three into six winter weeks. I like to listen (again and again) to each opera and go over the lyrics (again and again) before attending so I’m familiar enough with the opera to almost sing along in Italian (not that anyone would ever want to listen). Thanks, HOT, this is much less like cramming for college finals … Puccini’s Turandot opens Friday …
As a bird lover, I was delighted to see H. Douglas Pratt’s new book, A Pocket Guide To Hawaii’s Birds And Their Habitat (Mutual Publishing). Pratt has done remarkable research on both native and introduced birds, and Jack Jeffreys’s photos make identification of species easy. This is a great addition to any Hawaii nature lover’s collection …
And dots all, folks …
