Journal Expands
New office, same islandwide coverage

by Peter Serafin

We've always loved our office in South Kona-once the teacher's cottage of an old Japanese schoolhouse-where we've been happily ensconced for the past five years or so since moving from Ka'u.
Our friends at the Society for Kona's Education and Art (SKEA) have been fabulous neighbors and landlords; we'll miss seeing them as regularly. But the Journal is expanding; we're moving our editorial offices to the Hilo Bayfront.
Several of our reporters and photographers (and a large piece of HIJ's heart) will remain in Kona. We'll maintain the same islandwide focus and in-depth coverage we've always given you; this move is a way to do that even better.
Many of the ongoing changes to Hawai'i Island are not in the best interest of most of us, nor of the 'aina. From the county seat we'll be keeping an even closer eye on governmental and regulatory entities-so we can provide you with critical information affecting our beloved island, and her people, that you simply won't get anywhere else.
We're always delighted to hear from readers and want to thank the countless people who take the time to share their comments. We always welcome your input, so contact us any time. Mahalo nui loa.
Weekly 'Net Nugget
Where have all the satirists gone? Those descendents of the little boy who asked why the emporor had no clothes? The local Johnathan Swifts, Mark Twains, Lenny Bruces, George Carlins and John Belushis who took great delight in deflating the all manner of manipulation, chicanery, and duplicity.
Many-who once cracked wise only behind the wheel of a taxicab or in certain small cabarets and coffeehouses-are now front and center on the cyber-stage. If Woody Allen is right that a sure sign of intelligence is a sense of humor, than these are some of the smartest political/social commentators around. Here's one we think you'll enjoy as much as we do.

Apple introduces the iRack
www.youtube.com/ watch?v=xcjLEwZqcQI
Send your satirical (though not necessarily political) cyber-faves (or any other link you think worthwhile) to editor@hawaiiislandjournal.com. If we print yours we'll send you something from the HIJ prize vault.
Dept. of Corrections
We reported that chemical agribusiness giant Monsanto had purchased the Burpee Seed Company ("Food Sovereignty: as Grassroots as it Gets" HIJ, 05/05).
Although dozens of reports about the sale have been floating around the Internet, they're all false. Monsanto has bought at least two other major seed companies in the past year-one of which, Seminis, supplies some seed to Burpee-but Burpee itself is still owned by George Ball, Jr.
"No, Burpee has not been sold to Monsanto or Seminis," Burpee's Direct Marketing Director Don Zeidler told HIJ. "That was a crazy rumor started on a blog that just snowballed."
We also told you (calendar listing, 05/05) that Beatrix Potter wrote Winnie the Pooh. As any six-year-old (or parent thereof) surely knows, author A. A. Milne brought the world Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, and Tigger, too. Ms. Potter created Peter Rabbit.

Labor Daze

13
The number of federal charges pending against Stephens Media's Hawaii Tribune-Herald for illegal labor practices.
169
The number of words on the issue published in the company's free Big Island corporate weekly.
20
The number of minutes the reporter spent interviewing Hawai'i Newspaper Guild official Hunter Bishop for the story.
0
The number of words devoted to the specific charges against the company, the union's position, or Bishop's comments.

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