HIFF-Bound?

Wanted to take a poll out there to see how many of you are going to check out the Hawaii International Film Festival this year. Several of my co-workers are hard core HIFF fans who use their personal vacation days to do three-a-days of these movies. Are they nuts or do you do the same? I have honestly never been, but would one day like to go.

Tickets for this year’s HIFF just went on sale last Friday. The event will take place from October 9th-19th at Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18. For those who will be attending, are considering attending, or just like to read 😛 , here are the details from their press release:

HONOLULU – General admission tickets are set to go on sale Friday, September 26th for the 28th annual Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF). This year’s lineup of 150 films come from over 36 countries, including Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Guam, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom and the United States.

HIFF’s 2008 program is being held at the Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18 Cinemas from October 9 – 19. Opening the festival this year and having its international premiere is one of the most anticipated Korean films of the year, THE DIVINE WEAPON. Released in early September in Korea, it easily garnered the #1 box office spot. Among others being showcased is the Korean-style Western and #1 box office hit from Korea THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD, whose lead actor, Jung Woo-Sung, will receive an Achievement in Acting Award from HIFF, and the acclaimed docu-drama RAIN OF THE CHILDREN from New Zealand director Vincent Ward.

General admission tickets are available for $10 or $9 for students, seniors, children and military. Tickets may be purchased in person at HIFF’s box office at Dole, by phone at Honolulu Box Office at 550-8457 (TIKS), by fax at 536-2707, or online at www.hiff.org. Special discount tickets are available for HIFF members and sponsors. Download high resolution images of the films, view the Program Book online, or check out the full movie schedule here.

Talk to me!
* Do you go to HIFF religiously? What’s the draw for you?
* Have you gone to HIFF just once? Why haven’t you returned?
* Have you ever been to HIFF? Why or why not?
* Are ya gonna check it out this year?
* Which movies are you planning to watch?

Happy October 1st tomorrow gang!

When You Know, You Know

Yesterday, we went to finalize our tuxedo style and colors. To my own surprise, I was uncharacteristically finicky about the colors and the overall presentation of the entire get-up. Men don’t usually care about this kinda stuff, but for some reason, I did.

The one for me was an easy one. White/Cream was the only color option (of course!), but the rest of the ensemble (style, patterns, etc.) was duck soup. As soon as I saw the one I wanted, I knew. The ones for the fellas and the papas posed a greater challenge. We were initially gonna have the boys in a pink-ish style to match the ladies, but the I wasn’t quite feeling the vest. After hours of deliberation (minutes actually), we decided to go grey/silver on um. The dark pink/mauve accent will come in the way of the handkerchief or a flower. Hours (minutes) more, and we decided on the papas’ color and style. Whew!

Our point person Elsie teased about my long decision making process, but said, “But when he knows, he knows.”

I thought to myself, that’s exactly how I felt about the lady when we first started dating.

Talk to me!
* What kine tuxedo style did you choose/will you choose?
* Are tails still in? Ha!
* Should I change my color to baby blue ala Dumb and Dumber?
* Want me to “man up” and stop getting mushy on you? Haha!

Happy Fun day Monday yo!

Fave Five Friday – Traffic Pet Peeves

Thought I’d give y’all a break from the wedding fave fives and mix things up a bit this week son. Let’s do pet peeves, but not just any pet peeve, traffic related pet peeves. Oh yeah! I can see all of your minds spinning. Relax tampax! We’re not in traffic right now. No need get all habuts. Just think about um, no need re-live um! 🙂 Anyway, check um out and post yours below k?

1. Tailers – I go at a reasonably brisk pace already (ok, I speed!) so for somebody to tail me means they’re really flyin’! What’s worse is when both lanes to the side of me are wide open and they continue to follow me. I slow down just to irritate them more. Too bad so sad.
2. Turtles (in the fast lane!) – Even more irraz if they are oblivious to their surroundings (they don’t realize how much traffic they are holding up behind them). Worse when the only lanes open are clogged up by slow drivers going the exact same speed.
3. Parking lot buffoons! – This is when people go to their car, get in, turn their engine on, and then never come out! Meanwhile you’re waiting for them to come out for ages. What do you do? Honk? Rev your engine? Go back and forth hoping they’d see you. Worse when they have their reverse lights on this whole time!
4. Slow Cutter Offers  – It’s one thing to cut you off, but it’s another to cut you off and then go slow. And these aren’t the punk types who do it on purpose. These are, again, oblivious peeps, who don’t know how to change lanes in the flow of traffic.
5. Chatty Fatties – Idiots who talk on their cell phone and let it effect their driving (slowness, swerving, etc.). Let’s be honest, we all talk on the phones while driving, but at least we don’t forget how to drive. I personally use an earpiece so both of my hands are free to use the wheel (plus I won’t burn my brain with radiation 😛 ).
6. Smokestacks/Litter Bugs Me – Had to add this one in cause it’s annoying too. Smokers who hang their arms out the window and waft their stinky fumes into my car. Also litterers (is that a word?). I can’t stand seeing someone toss junk out their window with disregard to everyone but themselves.

Sorry if you are one of these cause I just called you a name. Haha! Give it back to me by posting your comments below man. Shoots!

Credit Card Scam – Be Careful!

My job here at WWE is to take care of all my beautiful babies. 😛 As such, I’m taking a quick break from the silliness and wanted to share this warning I got via email recently. If it helps save at least one of you loyal WWE readers from months of headache from a credit card scam, I’ve done my job.

Please, please, please, take it for what it’s worth though. I can’t confirm for sure whether it’s true or false, but it’s conceivably very possible and isn’t it better to be safe than sorry? Chicky check it!

This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the information, except the one piece they want.

Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it. This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you’ll be better prepared to protect yourself.

One of our employees was called on Wednesday from ‘VISA’, and I was called on Thursday from ‘Master Card’. The scam works like this: Caller: ‘This is (name), and I’m calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My Badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I’m calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a Marketing company based in Arizona ?’

When you say ‘No’, the caller continues with, ‘Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?’

You say ‘yes’. The caller continues – ‘I will be starting a Fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 1- 800 number listed don’t he back of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask for Security.’

You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. ‘Do you need me to read it again?’

Here’s the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works. The caller then says, ‘I need to verify you are in possession of your card’. He’ll ask you to ‘turn your card over and look for some numbers’. There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security Numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he’ll say, ‘That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card . Do you have any other questions?’ After you say No, the caller then thanks you and states, ‘Don’t hesitate to call back if you do, and hangs up.

You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of $497.99 was charged to our card.

Long story – short – we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card Don’t give it to them. Instead, tell them you’ll call VISA or Master card directly for verification of their conversation. The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you’re receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statement you’ll see charges for purchases you didn’t make, and by then it’s almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.

What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a ‘Jason Richardson of Master Card’ with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA scam. This time I didn’t let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is happening.

Please pass this on to all your family and friends. By informing each other, we protect each other.

Talk to me!
* Can you confirm if this is true? (Snope says it’s true.)
* Has this happen to you or someone you know?
* Have you ever gone through a credit card scam or stolen identity crisis? How hard was it to come back from that?
* Tell us where you think those Internet scammers can shove it! 🙂

Where In Hawaii is Edward Sugimoto? – September 24, 2008

No world “Where In Hawaii” records were broken this time around, but M gets the award for persistence as he takes home his second victory in the WIHIES contest (see further below for the answer). For now however, it’s this week’s entry. Post your guesses in the comments below baby!

Where In Hawaii is Edward Sugimoto? – September 24, 2008

Hint: TBA if necessary… (part of me thinks it’ll be easy and part of me says maybe not) *grin*

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Last Week’s Answer
Here’s the answer to last week’s photo:

Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – September 17, 2008: Tree Tunnel on Highway 520 (Maluhia Road) in Kauai

Da “Where In Hawaii” Winnahz Circle!

• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – September 17, 2008: M (Tree Tunnel on Highway 520 (Maluhia Road) in Kauai)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – September 10, 2008: snow (Tasaka Guri Guri, Maui)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – September 3, 2008: M with props to Rodney (Laie Point State Wayside)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – August 27, 2008: nobody!, but dsosa was close (Camp Erdman)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – August 20, 2008: BarbieQ! (Old Koloa Town)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – August 6, 2008: kako mochi (Kincaid’s)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – July 30, 2008: ijiwarui (Dave & Buster’s)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – July 23, 2008: MoOgooGuypAN and Coconut Willy’s wifey (La Pietra Hawaii School for Girls)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – June 27, 2008: GumbysHorse (White Plains Beach, Barber’s Point)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – May 19, 2008: nobody! (the mall fronting Kekaulike Market in Chinatown)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – May 7, 2008: nobody!, but 1dble was pretty dang close (Ward area, more specifically, right in front of the Starbucks/Big City Diner area)

Happy Hump Day Where In Hawaii Wednesday y’all. 🙂

9 Words Women Use

It’s joke time again y’all! The differences between men and women are too amusing to ignore. Here’s the 9 Words Women Use, and what they really mean. This is obviously from a woman’s perspective (thanks I guess Erin!), but if ya gots your rebuttal, feel free to post ’em below. Enjoy!

1. Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
2. Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
3. Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.
4. Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don’t Do It!
5. Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of nothing.)
6. That’s Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That’s okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
7. Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or faint. Just say ‘you’re welcome.‘ (I want to add in a clause here – This is true, unless she says ‘Thanks a lot‘ – that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say ‘you’re welcome‘ … that will bring on a ‘whatever‘).
8. Whatever: Is a women’s way of saying F*** YOU!
9. Don’t worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking ‘What’s wrong?‘ For the woman’s response refer to # 3.

* Send this to the men you know, to warn them about arguments they can avoid if they remember the terminology.
* Send this to all the women you know to give them a good laugh, cause they know it’s true

This just goes to show how confusing/complicated women really are… right?

We Be Clubbin’

For the first time in what felt like ages, I went with the lady and her friends to the W Hotel on Saturday night. I don’t exactly know when it happened, but I think I’ve finally gotten too old for this. LOL!

A few observations that made a brutha feel this way:

* My suddenly sensitive ears started to hurt from the volume of the music
* Everyone looked like kids to me (except this one old lookin’ dude that made me feel good/young. Ha!)
* I found myself complaining about the overpriced beers and thinking how much cheaper it would be to buy it on sale at Costco
* By midnight, I was tired and wanted to go home

It didn’t help that I didn’t know I was going clubbin’ that night, and wasn’t mentally prepared for it. I even had to borrow hand-me-down clothes from my friend (thanks Kelv!), which didn’t help with my “game”, if I were to attempt to have any.

OK, so it wasn’t all that bad, and I’m pretty sure I can still pull off this “clubbin'” thang if I tried or really wanted to, but I guess these days, I’ve got higher priorities in life. Saving money, thinking about the future, you know, the important stuffs.

I remember the days when Thursday nights meant Oceans with the boys. Now, Thursday nights usually means a home cooked meal with the girl… and you know what? I’m perfectly content with that.

Talk to me!
* Do you or someone you know (in your/their 30s) still go clubbin’?
* Where do you like to go?
* What is your drink of choice at the club?
* How do you now spend your (former) clubbin’ nights?

Fave Five Friday, Wedding Songs

I know you peeps are probably sick of all this wedding talk already (esp the dudes!), but I swear it’ll only be a little while longer. I only “axe” this because I have faith in you WWE readers. 🙂

So this week’s Fave Five list is a call out to all you music lovers/experts out there. No song from any generation or genre will be out of the question. We’re looking for those hidden gems out there.

The topic, as made obvious by the blog title, is Wedding Songs. Ones I’ve just gotsta have and overplayed ones to avoid like the plague. If you’re yet unmarried, or married but regret not playing some songs at your wedding… here’s your chance to live vicariously through me! 😉 Holla atcho boy!

Much love y’all!

Da In Da Running list:

1. The Penguins – Earth Angel
2. Stevie Wonder – You Are the Sunshine of My Life or Isn’t She Lovely or Ribbon in the Sky?
3. James Taylor – How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved By You)
4. Tony Terry – Everlasting Love
5. Colbie Caillat – Magic
6. Trey Lorenz – Someone to Hold
7. Keith Martin – Because of You
8. Hi-Five – I Can’t Wait Another Minute
9. Opihi Pickers – Love You Forever (representing’ some Hawaiian flava!)
10. The Stylistics – I’m Stone In Love With You
11. The Jets – You Got It All
12. etc…

(ok, so it’s a little more than 5… hehe!)

Da Overplayed/Avoid list:

1. UNV – So In Love With You
2. All-4-One – I Swear
3. Aerosmith – I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing
4. 98 Degrees – I Do (Cherish You)
5. *NSYNC – This I Promise You

We basically want people to hear the song, reminisce and go “Ohhhhhhh!” once they hear the song that hits home for them. Please help a brutha out and post your suggestions below (songs, artists, both!). I’ll be sure to give you credit during the reception (who’s gonna check? Nah!). 😛

P.S. Speaking of weddings, I recently read a fictional, but amusing post about Twittering a wedding and thought the idea was hilarious. Can you imagine me, or any groom for that matter, at the altar twittering live updates. Too funny!

Shoots! Have a good weekend y’all!

Heavenly Matrimony?

These hilarious marriage-related jokes were forwaded to me recently. They were so amusing that I thought I’d post it for you, my blogfriends (yes, one word), to read for kicks. Married peeps, please tell me they’re not true! Haha!

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You have two choices in life:

You can stay single and be miserable,

or get married and wish you were dead.

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At a cocktail party, one woman said to another,

“Aren’t you wearing your wedding ring on the wrong finger?”

“Yes, I am. I married the wrong man.”

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A lady inserted an ad in the classifieds:

“Husband Wanted”.

Next day she received a hundred letters.

They all said the same thing:

“You can have mine.”

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When a woman steals your husband, there is no better revenge than to let her keep him.

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A woman is incomplete until she is married. Then she is finished.

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A little boy asked his father,

“Daddy, how much does it cost to get married?”

Father replied, “I don’t know son, I’m still paying.”

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A young son asked,

“Is it true Dad, that in some parts of Africa a man doesn’t know his wife until he marries her?”

Dad replied, “That happens in every country, son.”

===================================================================

Then there was a woman who said,

“I never knew what real happiness was until I got married… and by then, it was too late.”

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Marriage is the triumph of imagination over intelligence.

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If you want your spouse to listen and pay strict attention to every word you say – talk in your sleep.

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Just think, if it weren’t for marriage, men would go through life thinking they had no faults at all.

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First guy says, “My wife’s an angel!”

Second guy remarks, “You’re lucky, mine’s still alive.”

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A Woman’s Prayer:

Dear Lord, I pray for: Wisdom, To understand a man, to Love and to forgive him, and for patience for his moods. Because Lord, if I pray for Strength I’ll just beat him to death.

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SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST…

 

Husband and wife are waiting at the bus stop with their nine children.

A  blind man joins them after a few minutes. When the bus arrives, they find it overloaded and only the wife and the nine kids are able to fit onto the bus. So the husband and the blind man decide to walk.

After a while, the husband gets irritated by the ticking of the stick of the blind man as he taps it  on the sidewalk, and says to him, “Why don’t you put a piece of rubber at the end of your stick? That ticking sound is driving me crazy.”

The blind man replies, “If you had put a rubber at the end of YOUR stick,  we’d be riding the bus, so shut the hell up!”

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What’d you think? Laughed your butt off? Cried yourself to sleep because they were spot on? Vent away in the comment area below. Post your own wedding joke if ya got um too! T.G.I.F. tomorrow! Yay!

Where In Hawaii is Edward Sugimoto? – September 17, 2008

snow broke a new world “Where In Hawaii” record by correctly guessing last week’s photo as the very first commenter! WOAH! Talk about being duck soup! I really gotsta make these harder yeah? I’m hoping this week’s one will keep you guys stumped for at least a day or so. Hurrr we goooo!

Where In Hawaii is Edward Sugimoto? – September 17, 2008

Hint: It’s in Kauai… perhaps somewhere with a lot of trees? *grin*

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Last Week’s Answer
Here’s the answer to last week’s photo:

Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – September 10, 2008: Tasaka Guri Guri Sign, Maui

Da “Where In Hawaii” Winnahz Circle!

• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – September 10, 2008: snow (Tasaka Guri Guri, Maui)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – September 3, 2008: M with props to Rodney (Laie Point State Wayside)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – August 27, 2008: nobody!, but dsosa was close (Camp Erdman)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – August 20, 2008: BarbieQ! (Old Koloa Town)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – August 6, 2008: kako mochi (Kincaid’s)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – July 30, 2008: ijiwarui (Dave & Buster’s)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – July 23, 2008: MoOgooGuypAN and Coconut Willy’s wifey (La Pietra Hawaii School for Girls)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – June 27, 2008: GumbysHorse (White Plains Beach, Barber’s Point)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – May 19, 2008: nobody! (the mall fronting Kekaulike Market in Chinatown)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – May 7, 2008: nobody!, but 1dble was pretty dang close (Ward area, more specifically, right in front of the Starbucks/Big City Diner area)

Happy Hump Day Where In Hawaii Wednesday y’all. 🙂