I can’t decide whether it’s more appropriate to duck or play chicken as we plant tongue in cheek and "flASHback" on the week’s news that amused and confused:

» Opening his re-election campaign, Gov. Neil Abercrombie said his low popularity in public-opinion polls is because of the hard choices he’s had to make since taking office. Exactly — all of those times he chose to open his mouth when he should have kept it shut.

» The governor marked the end of his long and bitter labor dispute with public school teachers by quoting Shakespeare: "All’s well that ends well." Shakespeare also said, "The empty vessel makes the loudest sound."

» Al Nagasako of the teachers union opposed Abercrombie’s preschool plan before the Legislature as a voucher system, saying, "If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s not a chicken." Legislators’ confusion was evident in their questioning: "Quack quack?" "Cluck? Cluck?"

» A Senate bill to gut Hawaii’s shield law protecting confidential news sources and exclude many online media was criticized as "ignorant of what’s going on in the world." Senators are spreading their wings; they used to confine their ignorance to what’s going on locally.

» The city was shorted $33 million on rail taxes in the first half of the year because the state ran four months late in processing tax returns. You know we’re in trouble when our state leaders can’t even handle the only thing the government usually excels at — raking in taxes.

» Hawaii taxpayers are rushing to file state taxes by Monday’s deadline after last week’s federal crunch. That’s the 808 way: We’re fined if we file a day late, but the state can drag its feet as long as it wants inprocessing the returns.

» Hawaii’s tax system ranks next to last among the states for growing a small business, according to a national entrepreneurial group. Our tax specialty is growing a big government.

» Hawaii Democrats are planning a lawsuit to end the state’s open primary system that allows anybody to vote in Democratic primaries. The party’s governing philosophy is shifting from a big tent to a small cabal.

» A Maui man who claimed to be related to the late Gov. John A. Burns was sentenced to five years in prison for driving a stolen truck. It could have been worse; if he’d said he was related to Neil Abercrombie, he might have gotten life.

And the quote of the week … from City Council Chairman Ernie Martin on rude behavior by attendees at Council meetings: "I do not appreciate condescending body language or chatter while the Council members are making comments." I agree. It’s common courtesy to hold your laughter untilthey finish their comments.

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