It’s the “B” word again. That’s right, the Star-Bulletin reports a Sunday night street brawl in Wahiawa, this time landing three men in custody for attempted murder. The weapons? Cricket bats. If you don’t recall my earlier references, check these earlier posts.

Ah, it’s campaign season again. I missed the invitation to Neil Abercrombie’s birthday party fundraiser last night in the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom.

Gold level donors paid $10,000 for a table of 10, with “Maile” and “Plumeria” levels following at $4,600 and $2,300 respectively. Mere mortals were asked for $230 for a single ticket. I trust a good time was had by all.

Speaking of fundraisers, Lt. Gov. Aiona held five events in June, with two on the Big Island, and one each on Maui, Kauai, and Oahu, all at $100 per ticket. Sen. Roz Baker had a $500 a ticket fundraiser at the Pacific Club on June 18, coordinated by lobbyist John Radcliffe. Republican Rep. Colleen Meyer held a $500 per person event at the Oahu Country Club on June 19 organized by her legislative office manager, Roosevelt Freeman. That’s interesting, because a $500 per ticket House fundraiser isn’t the usual fare, and this one sounds a bit sticky in terms of separating legislative and campaign activities. Mayor Mufi Hannemann had three fundraisers in June, including a $1,000-$4,000 at Michelle’s Restaurant organized by Linda Wong, and a $100 per ticket event hosted by lobbyists Platinum Advisors in San Francisco.Republican Lynn Finnegan’s supporters are scheduled to gather on July 17 at Diamond Head Grill for $500 per person. Hawaii County mayoral candidate Lorraine Inouye has a $1,000 per person fundraiser scheduled in Honolulu on July 10.

The K-5 News at 9 p.m. yesterday included a story on “record high” milk prices. In New York. There it’s news that milk costs around $4.50 a gallon. Unfortunately, the report never thought to mention that here in Hawaii we’re used to paying that much for a half-gallon, unless you’re able to shop regularly at Costco. So why did a news editor let this story into their very limited news lineup? Go figure.

It appears that Gannett Pacific is no more following a reorganization announced on Friday. The headquarters of what is now going to be called the West Group is moving from Phoenix to Des Moines. Meanwhile, according to the announcement, the Honolulu Advertiser, along with The Arizona Republic and the Tucson Citizen, will report directly to Robert J. Dickey, president of U.S. Community Publishing.

For those who missed my friend Chuck’s comment back yesterday morning, here it is:

Mahalo fo da mention, Ian.

I would frame it this way: do we want a 15-month recession or a 15-year depression? Japan is the poster child for what happens when the central gov’t colludes with banks to hide bad debt and borrows to “stimulate” the economy (those $600 checks): 18 years of deflation/erosion where good jobs are replaced with part-time McJobs.

Better to let the insolvent go bankrupt. Their ecological niche will be filled by solvent lenders, maybe from overseas, or someone like Buffett.