Cookies served without milk left a taste of frustration as we "flASHback" on the week's news that amused and confused:

• Students protesting school furloughs delivered cookies to the Capitol to remind the governor and lawmakers that they're future voters. If half of their parents voted, they'd be spending Fridays with Mr. Kotter instead of Mrs. Fields.

• The state ordered a student art exhibit on "furlough Fridays" removed from Capitol corridors as too political, then relented and let it stay. As if the kids needed more reason to doubt the sanity of the adults who locked them out of school.

• Former Govs. George Ariyoshi, John Waihee and Ben Cayetano shared their secret for making the troubles in our schools disappear: Retire and let it be someone else's problem.

• The state's bond outlook was lowered to negative because our per capita state indebtedness of $3,675 is four times the national median. Gov. Linda Lingle always said she'd leave Hawai'i in her debt.

• President Obama had to apologize for the second time in a year for bad-mouthing Las Vegas. Just think, if the Legislature passes one of the gambling bills in the hopper this year, we can get the president dumping on us, too.

• The state elections office reported heavy traffic on the first day candidates could take out nomination papers for the 2010 election. To prevent gridlock, a separate HOV line was set up for Democratic lieutenant governor candidates.

• City Managing Director Kirk Caldwell far outpaced potential opponents by raising $327,928 for a campaign to succeed Mayor Mufi Hannemann. Most voters never heard of Caldwell, but donors are attracted by his catchy campaign theme: "Get your train contracts here."

• The Hawai'i-based TV series "Lost" kicked off its final season. Next year, viewers looking for a big cast that's totally lost will have to make do with 'Ōlelo's gavel-to-gavel coverage of the Legislature.

• Kona Councilman Kelly Greenwell, who once proposed releasing Guantanamo terrorism suspects on the Big Island, says he may not seek re-election because of frustration with the Sunshine Law. You've got to love a law that both lets in the light and takes out the trash.

And the quote of the week ... from Frank F. Fasi after his final campaign in 2004: "I think I've had it. The last hurrah has taken place." There's always one more. R.I.P, Mr. Mayor.