Just Asking Archives - wayneharada.com

May 22, 2022May 22, 2022

REMEMBER YOUR COMMUNITY MOVIE THEATER?

Just asking…

Remember stand-alone movie theaters?

Before the arrival of mega-plex movie theaters, there used to be your community go-to-place for film-watching. One screen only.

And it worked: screens in Kaimuki, Liliha, Kapahulu, Kailua, Kewalo, Kuhio (in Waikiki), Waikiki, Palama, Aala, etc. Titles rotated – though the Kuhio and Waikiki were deemed first-run spaces, becoming road show sites with extended showings of hit titles.

Other theaters had names like Royal, King, Queen, Princess, Liberty, Cinerama, Roosevelt, Golden Wall instead of place-oriented names.

Multi-plexes – sites with anywhere from six to 10 screens – are the norm now, offering choices of films and even luxe seats. And higher prices, for everything, from admission to snack bar items.

May 17, 2022May 17, 2022

RECALL THE CHINESE CHECKERS GAME?

Just asking:

Anybody still play the long-forgotten Chinese checkers game?

You remember how it all works, often with marbles, sometimes with pegs placed in holes, to hop over your competitor?

My game board was a circular tray, with the triangular sectors hiding storage space to put the marbles to rest until the next game.

Any thoughts to share?

April 23, 2022April 23, 2022

IN FAST FOOD, IS SHORT NAME BEST?

Just asking…

Have you noticed, in recent times, that several fast food brands have stylized their names, going with shorter monickers?

KFC now uses initials, possibly to downplay the “fried” in Kentucky Fried Chicken. For an identifier, an image of The Colonel is part of the logo.

Jamba is the single-term name after Juice was squeezed out.

Ditto, Dunkin.’ The Donuts is gone, maybe because the pastry shop offers a lot more than mere doughnuts.Is this a trend?

Single names kinda work best. From Arby’s to Zippy’s, you’ll find a bunch of one-word branding: Denny’s, Subway, Wendy’s, Starbucks, McDonald’s, for instance.

Which begs a few questions: Will Jack in the Box go someday with only Jack? And Papa John’s, cutting back to Papa or John’s? Domino’s would serve the pizzaria; Popeye’s could drop the Louisiana Chicken and still be known by followers; In-and-Out is vastly popular elsewhere, but not here, and its three-word name is very much in. But King would be presumptuous without the Burger, but Caesars would be recognized without the Little.Can’t quite get it, however, with Raising Cane’s, a chicken hut whose name does not reflect its fame; I researched and discovered the name honors the owner’s Labrador Retriever, Raising Cane’s. Hmmm…

Any reactions/comments?

March 25, 2022March 25, 2022

IS YOUR CELLPHONE READY FOR 5G?

Just asking …Is your iPhone, or any other cell device, prepared for the looming 5G upgrades?

AT&T led the parade, shutting down its 3G — third-generation mode — to beef up to a speedier 5G service.

Verizon will eliminate 3G in December.

T-Mobile, my service, is terminating 3G at the end of March, which, gulp, is next week.

So I went to my T-Mobile store to check if I’m AOK for the switcheroo. Turns out, I am, because I got an iPhone 12 two years ago, my phone already is primed for 5G. My wife’s device, older than mine when I upgraded, was deemed ready for trashing when 3G vanishes at T-Mobile. So we got her an iPhone13 mini. Her data was properly transferred to the tinier new phone, so she’s ready to fly, too.

But are you? If you have popo or kupuna in your ‘ohana, you might want to assist them to updated their phones. If not, elders may lose connection and not know why.AARP Bulletin estimates between 1 and 3 million are 3Gers will need to convert to the 5G mode.

March 11, 2022March 11, 2022