GOOD KARMA: “Little Buddha,” a new movie...

GOOD KARMA: “Little Buddha,” a new movie directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, makes its U.S. premier Saturday night at The Ojai Playhouse. . . . The film relates the story of a Seattle boy believed to be the incarnation of a revered Buddhist monk. Ojai landed the movie’s first showing as a benefit for the Ojai-based American-Bhutan Council, which wants to educate Americans about the tiny Buddhist nation near Tibet. Much of the film takes place in Bhutan.

COLD ACT: Three Dog Night will play this weekend’s Strawberry Festival as one of the headliner bands. . . . Ironically, the name Three Dog Night represents the kind of weather that threatens the delicate crop. The term comes from Australian aborigines who bed down with their dogs, adding more pooches as the weather grows harsher. A three-dog night is the coldest. Meanwhile, Oxnard officials consider turning over the festival to a nonprofit group (B1).

GOP HUMOR: Ronald Reagan knew how to tickle America’s funny bone. . . by poking fun at himself. But Reagan didn’t make the conference at his presidential library on political humor. And, other than quoting Reagan, there was precious little self-deprecating humor. Strikingly, Dan Quayle figured out the formula. Referring to his own time as the butt of jokes, Quayle said: “You see where President Clinton said he was the most assaulted American leader? President Clinton, read my book. “

UP IN SMOKE: No matter how delicious, you know that french fries, doughnuts and other deep-fried foods aren’t good for you. And, studies show that barbecued chicken or steaks cooked over an open flame can become coated with cancer-causing smoke residue. . . . Given the evidence, you suspected that government someday might crack down on deep-fat fryers and charbroilers. County supervisors are considering it, but not for reasons you’d think (B1). They want to cut back on the 220 tons of air pollutants emitted from restaurants each year.