Coining a name: Enough talk about the...

Coining a name: Enough talk about the sick economy. Let’s begin today by turning our attention to a real Moneymaker--L.A. attorney Vincent Moneymaker.

He’s heard all the name jokes and has a few of his own.

“My father is a Rich Moneymaker,” he points out, referring to attorney Richard Moneymaker.

Vincent says that the name has been traced back several generations to Germany, where family lore has it that a descendant acquired his name because he manufactured money for the government. Then he came to America--apparently, in a hurry.

“Unfortunately, it appears that the authorities were after him,” Vincent Moneymaker said. “He evidently took some of the money that he made.”

Would-be moneymaker: Lee Herschman noticed this anonymous plea for cash on a cul-de-sac in North Hollywood. Herschman hasn’t noticed any offerings left around the sign.

Don’t forget your binoculars: We’re used to stories about organizations leaving L.A. County--but the L.A.-area office of the National Weather Service?

Yup. It’s holding a ground-breaking ceremony today to prepare for its 1994 move from Westwood to Oxnard, where it’ll still call itself the L.A. office. Our fair city, as you know, officially stretches south as far as Anaheim, home of the hapless L.A. Rams.

Like others leaving L.A., the NWS says it wanted to own its own property and be close to its new radar system in Ventura County. Even the weather forecasters probably noticed that the air is also cleaner up there.

It must be near Cy Press: We consider Willa Cornett an Angeleno of sorts because she lives where the Rams are based. Anyway, Willa sent away to Garland, Tex., for a birthday present for her daughter-in-law, Nancy. Fortunately, the package contained the correct Zip code. For it listed Willa’s home as “Anna Hines.”

Bart symbol: Just because Homer Simpson’s kid occasionally acts up in class, does he deserve all this? First, his family is publicly blasted as unrepresentative of America by President Bush. And, now, blatantly sexist patches featuring Bart’s visage are being circulated by current and former aviators all over Southern California to protest the uproar over the Tailhook sexual abuse scandal. You can believe Bart’s sister, Lisa, gave him an earful over that patch.

Candidate of the month: Glendale-based Baskin-Robbins, the company that gave us Gorba-chocolate, has challenged its customers to come up with flavors for the presidential candidates. Sorry, but you already have a flavor for George Bush: Rocky Road. As, for Bill Clinton, may we suggest: Slick Vanillie?

miscelLAny:

The first man to drive from Long Beach to Catalina Island was Howie Singer, who made the 26-mile journey in a bit more than eight hours in his Amphicar. No one has ever attempted to break his record.