Notes from the Aloha State

Making a splash on the islands
While we didn't file last week, we were in no shortage of interesting topics generating from paradise. For instance. I read the following article in USA Today, and have to admit that Mrs. Morganobrien and I did some searching for Punahou High School while we were in Oahu:


Barry in his Punahou days

Hawaii's latest lure: Obama tourism?

By Herbert A. Sample, Associated Press Writer
HONOLULU — It happened to Plains, when Jimmy Carter became president and a tiny hamlet in western Georgia became famous as the hometown of a certain peanut farmer.
It happened to Crawford, Texas, when George Bush took the White House and the town closest to his getaway central Texas ranch blossomed with tourists and the businesses that catered to them.

But Honolulu, which already lures millions of tourists each year, is only beginning to see development of tourism tied to Barack Obama, the Hawaii native son who becomes the 44th president of the United States in January.

And I have to admit, I'm pissed I didn't make this flight and I'm now convinced that there's nothing Tyler is incapable of:


When a hero comes along, have the strength to carry on

Hansbrough, Thompson aid ill passenger on flight
The Associated Press
Published: December 1, 2008

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.: North Carolina forward Deon Thompson won't soon forget the top-ranked Tar Heels' flight home from the Maui Invitational.

Thompson, reigning national player of the year Tyler Hansbrough and team video coordinator Eric Hoots helped carry an unconscious passenger to the airplane's galley where paramedics treated him before the flight home on Thanksgiving Day. Thompson, a 6-foot-8 junior, called it a scary moment.

After last week, I can now proudly announce that I've visited all fifty states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. And I'm not even thirty although it is creeping up.

Unfortunately, I've yet to get a hit from Wyoming, the lone holdout as I strive to get hits from all fifty states. Do I have to write about FE Warren to make it happen? Dick Cheney? Yellowstone? What gives?

Regardless, God Bless America.