THE LEFT LANE
Dating in a hurry

Advertiser Staff and News Services

It's a speed-dating event for single professionals ages 25 to 35. The speedy part is you talk to other "dates" for only eight minutes before you meet the next one. After the event, you can log online and choose which "dates" you want to see again. (If it's nobody, 8minuteDating guarantees your next event is free.)

This event starts at 6:08 p.m. Dec. 30 at the Hard Rock Cafe, 1837 Kapi'olani Blvd. Advance registration is required at www.8minuteDating.com. It costs $35 and is limited to 60 people. (A second event Feb. 10 will be for ages 22 to 32.)

Talking with elders

Eldercare Locator (a service paid for by the federal Administration on Aging) says family visits over the holidays are a good time for baby boomers to talk to older relatives about issues such as retirement and health care.

Questions such as "Have you prepared and where do you keep a will?" and "Who has power of attorney?" might not be easy to ask. Those who run the Eldercare Locator say never asking is harder. See www.eldercare.gov or call (800) 677-1116.

Made in China

The United States imported more than $971 million worth of ornaments made in China this year, the U.S. Census Bureau reports. In addition, the United States imported $93 million worth of artificial trees from China.

Those toys under the tree? Yep, those too. The United States imported $820 million worth of stuffed toys (excluding dolls) from China between January and September 2003, the U.S. Census Bureau says, as well as $58 million worth of electric trains, $34 million in puzzles, $57 million in roller skates, $157 million in sports footwear, $32 million in golf equipment and $35 million in basketballs.