Surrender in the Grass:A man who was...

Surrender in the Grass:

A man who was arrested Wednesday after digging up part of a front lawn could be a finalist in the 1991 Stupid Criminal Tricks competition. He allegedly removed a section of the lawn of the LAPD’s Wilshire Division station, police said.

Seized as evidence was a shopping cart containing sections of the green stuff.

As police approached, Sgt. Roger Davis said, the intruder “was getting ready to put the shovel in the ground and he saw us and he made like he was tamping down the ground.”

The alleged grass-lifter, arrested on suspicion of theft of city property, hinted that he might try to devise a kind of Drought Defense in the courtroom. He reportedly told police he needed some of the city’s well-watered turf for his barren yard.

Sun Valley seems to be overflowing with culture these days. Not only is the San Fernando Valley community home to the new World Wrestling Museum and Hall of Fame, but it’s also the site of the Tribute to America Museum at U-Pick Parts in Sun Valley.

U-Pick, a self-service junkyard that charges $1 admission, fashions itself as “a veritable playground for visitors,” and it’s easy to see why.

First, it boasts the semi-famous arches that formerly adorned the Studio City car wash, which was torn down several months ago after being denied landmark status. U-Pick owner Sam Adlen also displays a mannequin boldly riding a motorcycle into outer space. And he has an exhibit of “the 10 worst automobiles” of recent years, based on a Wall Street Journal survey.

The “10 worst” showroom stands as a reminder to motorists on the adjacent Golden State Freeway that, no matter how bad the traffic, things could be worse.

List of the Day:

U-Pick’s 10 classic clunkers, in no particular order (based on recalls, complaints from watchdog groups and/or general ugliness):

1--1970 American Motors Gremlin.

2--1969 Subaru 360.

3--1977 Plymouth Volare.

4--1975 Citicar (electric).

5--1960 Chevrolet Corvair.

6--1978 Jaguar XJ6.

7--1980 Renault LeCar.

8--1984 Pontiac Fiero.

9--1971 Plymouth Cricket.

10--1973 Fiat 124 Coupe.

But that isn’t all U-Pick offers. It has also joined the long list of businesses saluting Desert Storm. The junkyard recently unveiled a display of military vehicles, including a Jeep, a half-track and an ambulance, dedicated “to the heroic U.S. troops of Desert Storm.” None of the vehicles, by the way, saw service in the Persian Gulf.

Which reminds us of another offbeat tribute to the troops. Long Beach held a parade over the weekend that was advertised as a “Rio-Style Salute to Desert Storm.”

Thought of the Day, from Morris Kight of Hollywood:

“Did you ever notice how people who have ‘Fortune Teller’ businesses at their residences, offering advice on how to accumulate wealth, find love, etc., almost invariably live in a run-down, paint-peeling house, with a large, old gas-guzzler parked out front?”

miscelLAny:

The Department of Water and Power’s general manager is named Daniel Waters and its chief financial officer is named Norm Powers.