THE LEFT LANE
Respecting the flag

Today, America celebrates its first Flag Day since Sept. 11, so you're sure to see Old Glory waving everywhere. But we're seeing plenty of newspaper pullout flags that look more pink, ivory and gray than red, white and blue. And the Old Glory on the back of the SUV is looking a little worse for the wear after flapping over the Likelike for the last nine months.

"When a flag is so worn (tattered, ripped, faded) it is no longer fit to serve as the symbol of our country, it should be destroyed in a dignified manner, preferably by burning at a private location," according to the National Flag Foundation.

Perhaps it's time to retire the flag by dropping it off at the Boy Scouts office, 42 Pu'iwa Road in Nu'uanu, where flags will be disposed of "in an appropriate manner," said Tim Thomton, director of field service.

The National Flag Foundation (americanflags.org) offers these other guidelines:

• Never dip the flag to anyone or anything.
• Don't use it as drapery or covering a platform, or for decoration in general.
• Don't use it for advertising purposes.
• Don't let it get soiled. Mend and clean it when necessary.

A fresh look at Harry

It's no magic trick, but there's relief in sight for all who are wild about Harry and can't wait for J.K. Rowling's delayed fifth book. (Originally expected next, it has been pushed back to next year.)

The first trailer of "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" will be shown today before another Warner Bros. movie, "Scooby-Doo." Photos from the trailer also are available on America Online (keyword: Harry Potter).

The sequel, out Nov. 15, will be funnier, scarier and darker than "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone", which grossed $317.6 million in North America, says producer David Heyman.

"It's a year later and Harry is 12," Heyman says. "There's a little bit more danger. The first film was about Harry finding a home and family in Hogwarts."

Quit smoking and live

Quitting smoking at any time will make life not only better, but also longer, a new study from Duke University in North Carolina has found.

The scientists analyzed data taken from a large national sample over 15 years. In general, the earlier people quit, the more years they added to their lives. For example, men who quit by age 35 lived seven to 8.5 years longer than men who kept smoking. But even men who quit after 65 lived one to two years longer. Women who quit after age 65 added three to four years to their lives. The study, financed by the National Institute on Aging, is among the first to demonstrate that former smokers actually live longer than do those who keep on puffing.

Crazy Shirts is awash in production for the first time since the kama'aina company moved shirt printing to California in 1998 — so much that it has had to outsource work to local vendors. The shirtmaker celebrates the opening of its new production plant in Halawa Valley today by printing a commemorative shirt design, shown here.