Giving ’em an inch is like giving ’em a mile

State House members might have appreciated the Abercrombie administration’s proposal to relax the ethics ban against their accepting inexpensive gifts, but political realities came to play. The proposal has been shelved, hopefully for good.

Legislators and other state employees now are prohibited from accepting gifts costing more than $25. State employees cannot accept gifts intended to influence or reward official action, which covers just about everything. The bill would have exemptions for tickets for charitable events. As convicted felon Jack Abramoff, promoting his book about political corruption, told Kentucky legislators last month, any gift to a politician, no matter how small, is a form of bribery.

Container ship sailors turn into white knights

Three Canadians are lucky to have survived a collision of their family sailboat with a container ship that came to their rescue in rough seas Tuesday about 280 miles northeast of Hilo.

After the trio’s sailboat quickly sank, the crew of the Hawaii-bound Horizon Reliance was able to pull Mitchell James aboard in rough seas and driving rain. Container ship Capt. James Kelleher had to fight darkness and the rain to save James’ brother Bradley and James’ 9-year-old son West, who recalled saying, "I’m going to die, I’m going to die."

Having been rescued by the ship that collided with their sailboat, Mitchell James said, "If it wasn’t for the ship … who knows? It was close."

The ordeal hasn’t made them skittish about the sea, though. The family wants to go sailing again — once they raise enough money to buy a new boat.