QUAINT PAINT

Tabula rasa temptation

It was noted in Erika Engle's TheBuzz column (”;Palama mural deemed accidental advertising,”; Star-Bulletin, July 21) that graffiti vandals will generally not tag over an artistic mural (such as the one at left). While that token of decency is nice, it would be even nicer if they treated blank walls around the island with the same amount of respect.

CHOOSE WISELY

Plethora of political picks

The good news for voters in City Council District 5 is that there are 14—count 'em, 14—candidates in the special vacancy election. Quite a pool to choose from. The bad news is that there are 14—count 'em, 14—candidates in the special vacancy election.

The hopefuls range from seasoned politicians to political neophytes, from age 32 to 77, from environmentalists to lawyers to retirees. Voters in this Manoa-Palolo-Moiliili-Kapahulu district have their research cut out for them as they weed through ads, brochures and talking points to see who deserves their vote. All in three weeks, before the Aug. 7 deadline. May the best woman, or man, win.

SPREAD THE WEALTH

Vaccine production might need a shot in the arm

Public health officials are aware that so-called “;vaccine wars”; might break out if the swine flu outbreak worsens, but are loathe to even discuss the topic as pharmaceutical companies rush to produce enough doses, the Associated Press reports.

Experts warn that during a global pandemic, as exists now, governments may be under tremendous pressure to protect their own citizens first before allowing companies to ship doses of vaccine out of the country. That's bad news for the United States, which makes only 20 percent of the regular flu vaccines it uses. Since factories can't be built overnight, there is no quick fix to boost vaccine supplies, other than to order plenty from overseas and hope the companies adhere to the contracts.