Academics, athletics and politics collided in Manoa as we "flASHback" on the week’s news that amused and confused:

» Retiring University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood said she doesn’t get how a bungled Stevie Wonder concert grew into "a full investigation of all the things the university does." Let’s just say you’re not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy.

» Legislators and academics said Greenwood’s replacement will gain acceptance only if UH regents include lawmakers and other stakeholders in the selection process. Or regents could save themselves the drama and let Sen. Donna Mercado Kim make the pick.

» UH-Manoa chancellor Tom Apple got the regents’ OK to forgive the athletic department’s $13 million debt. In the long run, it’s cheaper than leaving the department to pay it off by organizing more Stevie Wonder concerts.

» Yielding to fan pressure, UH athletic director Ben Jay reversed his decision to name all Manoa men’s teams Warriors and instead will go with Rainbow Warriors. When forced to change your mind, it’s always nice to have a spare.

» The state wasted $176,454 on two botched Quest mailings and has to spend $117,170 on a third, causing one human resources consultant to ask if "it’s oversight, incompetence or massive error." He could encompass all three by simply saying, "It’s the state."

» Gov. Neil Abercrombie is asking his Facebook pals what they think of 293 bills passed by the Legislature that now await his approval. For the duration of his re-election campaign, the following earlier statement is suspended: "I am the governor. I’m not your pal."

» Mayor Kirk Caldwell said the city could run out of money next year if the City Council doesn’t raise taxes or fees to balance the budget. It’s harder than he thought to live within his campaign promises.

» The city will buy $5 million worth of artwork, mostly sculptures, to decorate 21 stations along the Oahu rail line. Reflecting the history of the $5.26 billion project, the statues will have a bovine theme: cash cows, sacred cows, taxpayers having a cow.

» Oahu water users are outraged that the Board of Water Supply’s change to monthly billing means paying a $7.02 billing fee every month instead of every other month. We’re getting more soaking for our water dollar.

» The city concluded voting last week to elect hundreds of Honolulu neighborhood board members around Oahu. Winning candidates serve two-year terms; losers have to serve four years.

And the quote of the week … from Greenwood on the lack of respect shown top UH officials in the Wonder Blunder investigation: "Folks don’t get to the positions that our regents are in, or for that matter that I’m in, because we’re idiots." They must get that way after accepting the positions.

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