TALKING UP: It was last July when...

TALKING UP: It was last July when Supervisor William G. Steiner was invited to speak at tonight’s dinner for the National Assn. of Purchasing Management at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Costa Mesa. Steiner answered that he’d appear “unless anything major comes up.”. . . It did, but Steiner’s keeping the date. Says Steiner: “I’m going to talk about the strategy for the county’s survival. And it will be upbeat because I’m optimistic about this county’s future in the long run.”

NEW WAR: Santa Ana Unified school board members this week are kicking around a way to persuade the county to return 100% of the $50 million it invested in the bungled bond pool: Get students and staff to organize public protest rallies. The district, already suffering a crippled budget, isn’t happy with a suggested 70% return. . . . Trustee Audrey Yamagata-Noji suggested the protests, but colleague Robert W. Balen backs her, adding: “This is getting like the ‘60s again. It’s feeling good.”

TRADERLAND: If you had the Reggie Jackson and Willie Mays trading cards, would you swap them for a Walt Disney and a Tomorrowland Flying Saucers? . . . Disneyland is passing out a limited edition 41-card set--one per day to each guest the next 41 days, starting Saturday. The cards will be given out in chronological order--the late Walt Disney himself first, later the Flying Saucers and House of the Future, two attractions long retired. . . . The 41st card: The Indiana Jones Adventure ride opening March 3.

STEEP ALOHA: If you’re thinking about a home in Hawaii, be prepared to pay the price. Coldwell Banker Corp. on Wednesday released a survey of the average cost of a 2,200-square-foot home in 280 U.S. cities. Honolulu (fourth most expensive, at $556,333) edged out Newport Beach (fifth, at $541,667) for the first time. . . . Two other local cities the real estate bankers listed: Yorba Linda at $284,750, and Mission Viejo, $265,750.