DO IT

Comedy group offers course on how to be funny

Want to be funny? Think it's a skill you can learn? The folks at Comedy Foundations, a performing arts program, think so, and they're offering several classes to help you become the next Stephen Colbert or Tina Fey. A great comedic performer needs to understand the fundamental skills of comedic writing, comedic acting and improv, according to the program, and that's what these workshops teach. In addition, there's a sketch comedy writing course, a musical improv class, a specific program for teens and an immersion program from David Razwosky, Second City's artistic director.

Classes begin Sunday:

» Led by Second City Immersion graduate Dawn Nash, the Comedy Foundations course runs 3 to 6 p.m. Sundays through March 29 and costs $100 per month.

» The child/teen Intro to Improv course will be held 1:30 to 3 p.m. Sundays through March 29 and costs $100 per class, per family.

» The Strictly Sketch Comedy class runs 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays, Jan. 24 and 31, and Feb. 7. It costs $150.

All class sizes are limited, so sign up early. Call 256-7661 or visit www.HawaiiComedian.com.

IN CONCERT

Honolulu Pops reschedules concert

Next week's Honolulu Symphony Pops concert featuring David Koz has been moved to May.

The appearance by the saxophonist has also been moved from the Blaisdell Concert Hall to the Waikiki Shell and is set for 7:30 p.m. May 23.

Tickets to next week's concerts will be refunded: Ticketmaster.com purchases will automatically be refunded; those who bought tickets at Times supermarkets must call Ticketmaster; tickets purchased at the Blaisdell box office or Macy's must go to the point of purchase for refunds.

Symphony Pops season ticket holders will automatically be given premium seating for the Shell concert. Those unable to attend may exchange their tickets for other concerts. Call 792-2000.

'Motivator from Hawaii' to sign books

Motivational speaker Saitia Faaifo will sign copies of his books, “;The Riches of Respect”; and “;Seven Letters to Live by: Respect,”; at 3 p.m. tomorrow at Barnes and Noble at Ala Moana.

Faaifo, who grew up in Kalihi, and works for Comcast Cable Communications in the San Francisco area, but promotes himself as “;The Motivator from Hawaii.”;

His self-published books are largely based on stories of his family and his experiences growing up in Hawaii, and how they built his character and strengthened his determination to succeed. Faaifo considers it a guide to living and to his team-building philosophies.

HOME & GARDEN

Studio hosts workshop on faux finishing

Belle Arts Studio in Kailua is holding a free faux-finishing demonstration on Saturdays, tomorrow through Jan. 24 from 10 to 11 a.m.

Sessions will be held at the studio at 1051 Keolu Drive, No. 104A. Visit bellearts.net for more information. Call 286-7535 for reservations.

Learn to unclutter your life at KCC class

Start the year off in a clutter-free direction by enrolling in “;Unclutter Your Life Inside and Out”; at Kapiolani Community College.

The class will cover the AAHAA System, devised by instructor Marilyn Nagel, which helps shift awareness to break old habits and support permanent change.

Registration is being taken now for the course, which runs Feb. 2 through March 9. Class hours are 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the campus, 4303 Diamond Head Road.

Cost is $75, with an $11 book fee paid to instructor during the first class.

Call 734-9211.

Organizer teaches how to get your act together

Professional organizer Ruth Wong will be teaching the following time management classes at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. All classes meet in Shilder College of Business Room D103:

» How to Manage Time and Get Things Done, (P09976), 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Feb. 14. Cost, $45. Sweater suggested.

» Organize Your Workspace for Greater Productivity, (P09977), 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Feb. 21. Cost: $45. Sweater suggested.

» Overcoming Roadblocks to Getting Things Done, (P09978) 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Feb. 28. Cost, $45. Sweater suggested.

Take all three classes at a discount, $120, as Manage Your Time, Workspace, and Productivity (P09975).

» Time Management Tune-up Refresher course (P10117). You must have taken a previous time-management class to take this out. Hours are 9 to 11:30 a.m. Jan. 31. Cost, $25 .

Call 956-8400 to register or visit www.outreach.hawaii.edu.

Spider-Man's new sidekick carries presidential aura

WASHINGTON » Spider-Man has a new sidekick: The president-elect.

Barack Obama collected Spider-Man comics as a child, so Marvel Comics wanted to give him a “;shout-out back”; by featuring him in a bonus story, said Joe Quesada, Marvel's editor-in-chief.

“;How great is that? The commander in chief to be is actually a nerd in chief,”; Quesada said. “;It was really, really cool to see that we had a geek in the White House. We're all thrilled with that.”;

The comic starts with Spider-Man's alter-ego Peter Parker taking photographs at the inauguration, before spotting two identical Obamas.

Parker decides “;the future president's gonna need Spider-Man,”; and springs into action, using basketball to determine the real Obama and punching out the impostor.

Obama thanks him with a fist-bump.

Obama has said that as a child, he collected Spider-Man and Conan the Barbarian comic books.

The Obama story is a bonus in Marvel Comic's Amazing Spider-Man No. 583, available in comic book shops nationwide.