Will you be my Valentine? Even if I’m in prison?

Happy Valentine’s Day, and be thankful that you can openly celebrate it.

In a few Muslim countries, like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Iran, marking this "annual commemoration of love and affection between intimate companions" (to quote Wikipedia) can get you in trouble. That’s because the occasion is rooted in Christianity, although generally it’s regarded now as a secular event.

In the Russian province of Belgorod, it’s just plain Nanny Statism, with officials saying such holidays hurt the "formation of spiritual and moral values in youth." Same at a school in Somerset, England, which barred its young students from exchanging Valentine’s cards on grounds they are not mature enough for romance.

Maturity is a prerequisite for romance?

Film industry needs you, too

Excuse me?

Relativity Media LLC and Shangri-La Industries, makers of films such as "Frost/Nixon" and "Polar Express," want the state to expand the film production tax credit from 15 percent to 35 percent on Oahu, and from 20 percent to 40 percent on the neighbor islands. Oh, and tax credits for new production facilities and exemptions from hotel room taxes.

This could bring more film and TV jobs to Hawaii, they say. How many and for how long remains a guess.

Perhaps Medicaid recipients, pensioners and those who depend on social services — once they’ve taken the hit for the state’s $844 million budget deficit — can dig a little deeper to help out these folks.