It was Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s turn to go traveling and Mayor Peter Carlisle’s turn to befuddle us at home as we “flASHback” on the week’s news that amused and confused:

» Abercrombie went to Los Angeles to greet Chinese leaders before heading to Washington for a governors’ sit-down with President Barack Obama and then back west to meet with Hollywood moguls. Whichever of the three is running the country on any given day, Abercrombie has us covered.

» As debate persisted on whether to build the $5.27 billion Oahu rail project, the city prepared to start heavy construction next month on the first leg from Kapolei to Pearl Highlands. If you can’t win the debate with reason, drown it out with jackhammers.

» To make it easier to borrow big for rail, city Managing Director Doug las Chin last year quietly suspended City Council-imposed debt guidelines — without notifying the Council. When Carlisle travels, Chin steps in as acting God.

» Carlisle declared in his State of the City address that rail is the only viable option for sustaining Oahu’s future. At the least, it’s the only viable option for sustaining his political future.

» With public opinion polls turning against rail, the mayor pledged to do a better job of publicizing positives about the project. Only in government do they get a do-over after spending their first $5 million in rail PR dollars incompetently.

» The state House is moving a package of stimulus bills described as a “Matrix” to position Hawaii for economic recovery. If it’s anything like the movie, the fun will be in telling the dream world from the reality. 

» Legislators may broaden the definition of school instruction time to include activities outside of class, including recess. There’s much to learn on the playground. Accountability in our public schools is built on dodgeball theory. 

» Speaking of which, teachers strongly objected to the Board of Education’s decision to require performance evaluations of themselves and principals. It seems giving report cards is more fun than getting them.

» The University of Hawaii and NASA need volunteers for an extraterrestrial encampment on the Big Island to test foods that astronauts would eat on a mission to Mars. What a perfect chance for six lucky legislators to get the free meals they covet. 

» Kauai Police Chief Darryl Perry returned to work in defiance of his suspension by Mayor Bernard Carvalho, only to be denied his badge and gun on the mayor’s order. Locking up the gun didn’t stop either from repeatedly shooting himself in the foot. 

And the quote of the week … from Carlisle on rail: “You deserve the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.” And until we get it, we’ll just have to make do with the spin.

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