The headline: “City receives first FTA rail payment”

But, according to the story, the payment has not been received. It will only come following the expected future signing of an agreement sometime before October 2011. That’s 2011, not 2010. So far, they have only the verbal assurance of FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff that it’s been included in the proposed federal budget. That’s a very, very long way from actual receipt of the payment. In my view, the headline is quite misleading.

At one level, I know it is simply paranoid to think that such errors could be connected to the Advertiser’s strong pro-elevated rail editorial stance. At another level, I keep feeling a nagging doubt. Too bad, because I think Sean Hao’s reporting on rail has generally been excellent.

Did you catch the BBC interview with David Murdock, chairman of Dole Foods broadcast on Hawaii Public Radio? Not knowing much at all about Murdock, it was an eye-opener. He’s a macho vegetarian, with a “you’ve got to be tough to overcome food temptation” attitude. In the interview, Murdock discusses his start in business, but doesn’t get around to how he moved from building and selling a house to amassing quite a fortune. He does mention owning nearly all of Lanai, although the don’t talk about his proposed renewable energy projects. Give it a listen.

And here are some things to track over at the legislature, where several bills that would restrict public access to information are alive and well.

I hear that the Hawaii Dental Association is making the rounds lobbying to revive HB 1212, HD1, SD1, which in its current form eliminate the requirement that the record of complaints lodged against licensed professionals, from contractors and plumbers to dentists, as well as the disposition of those complaints, be a matter of public record. The bill died in conference committee last year but carried over to the current session. Interestingly, the Hawaii Dental Association, which is reportedly the primary backer of the bill, does not appear to have a lobbyist registered with the Ethics Commission.

Both DCCA and the Office of Information Practices have warned against denying the public access to information about complaints. It is the kind of information that can become a matter of public safety and consumer protection.

A pair of bills aimed to provide the Hawaii Tourism Authority with a broad authority to withhold documents and discussions from the public to protect information about Hawaii’s competitive advantage in tourism. HB 2445 and SB 2187, SD1 have already been reported out of the initial committees.

In its testimony, which for some reason was not included in the testimony made public on the capitol web site, OIP said it was concerned that the language was overly broad and needs to be narrowly defined if the bill moves ahead.

Meanwhile, if you were surprised by the data on lobbying by public agencies posted here over the weekend, several bills that would restrict public agencies from using public funds for lobbying and purchasing gifts for public officials are stalled without being scheduled yet for hearings. All have double referrals, meaning that the deadline for moving out of the first committee is rapidly approaching. The bills are SB2515, SB2916, and HB 2841.

So here’s the solution to that problem–More dogs!

This is Ms. Hina. She’s one of those sentinels along the route of our morning walks. She can somehow see us coming from down the street and around the corner, and starts barking right away, apparently worried that a day might come where we would walk right past her house without offering her a dog biscuit. It hasn’t happened yet, but just in case, she keeps barking. We’re told that it’s a “special” bark. Could be.

She then alerts other dogs farther along that same little back road–Kala, Yeats, Hoku, and then, down at the end, Mr. Maka. The bag of dog treats is substantially lighter after we escape at the other end of the block.

Click on the Hina’s photo for more of today’s dogs.

Bonnie and I agreed that he was more alert and able to interact than he has been in some months. He displayed a sense of humor, and was able to dredge up some detailed memories of people and places dating back to his high school days, more than 75 years ago.

And he looked remarkably good, which led to my best line: “Yes, the hair color is natural. And, no, I didn’t inherit it.”

But I noticed some contrary signs. Although he remembers and can identify people in the photo of his high school graduating class, he doesn’t seem to remember specifics of his family back in Long Beach, California.

When I suggested he say hello to his family over there, he looked at the camera and said: “Hello, people in Long Beach. I’m told I’m supposed to be interested in you.”

That was painful, although he said it with a smile and an accompanying chuckle.

Then there was a brief moment as the tray with his dinner was brought in. Remember, by this time Bonnie and I had been there talking with him for over half an hour. So the tray arrives. He looks up at the nursing assistant who brought it in, and he asks: “Is…Ian and Bonnie coming?”

In that moment, he has forgotten that we’re already there with him. Or perhaps its more like having entered a parallel universe where he’s focused on his meal and we don’t exist.

But in this other universe, we’re sitting alongside the bed where we’ve been interacting with him for a while, and we both respond. “This is for you, it’s your dinner,” I said.

He looked at us and seems to realize the disconnect that had just happened. It flashes on his face as those moments collide in his consciousness. Then, briefly, he closes his eyes. It’s a poignant second in which he accepts the realization. Seems to get a grip. And moves on.