FIVE-DOLLAR BOUNCE? Just about everyone is talking...

FIVE-DOLLAR BOUNCE? Just about everyone is talking about Orange County’s sudden financial crisis, even if it’s gallows humor. . . . Superior Court Judge John M. Watson this week was routinely explaining to jurors the county’s payment of $5 per day for jury duty. Watson suggested: “I’d cash those checks quickly if I were you.”

REMEMBERING HOME: Many members of the local Vietnamese American community will be thinking of their homeland Saturday. At their request, Westminster and Garden Grove have declared Saturday as “Vietnam Human Rights Day.” . . . Nguyen Tu Mo, head of a local committee for Vietnamese rights, explained: “While we live in peace and prosperity here, we cannot forget the depressing situation in Vietnam, where the people are still ruled by communists.” . . . The city proclamations include a call for the release of political prisoners there.

WHATTA GUY: Patty Beeler of Fountain Valley thinks so much of her cousin, Brian Harris of Stanton, that she sent his name and picture into Teen magazine for its “Guy of the Year” contest. Turns out the magazine considered him quite a guy. Harris, 14, was one of two runner-ups--among 10,000 entries--pictured in the December issue. . . . He made news last year--leading to two national TV appearances--when he started a pen-pal club to promote better understanding among the races. His reaction to the Teen recognition: “It was like, a neat thing. A lot of the girls noticed it.”

LOCAL LOYALTY: When La Palma officials wondered what were the best trees for a street median and sidewalk planting plan, they surveyed 19 neighboring cities to see which trees they liked. The winners: crape myrtle, bradford pear and brisbane box. La Palma officials chose those three, but added a fourth: palm trees. . . . After all, they explain, the city is La Palm a, not La Crape Myrtle.

TONIGHT: Truman Capote’s “A Christmas Memory” at 8, Alternative Repertory Theatre, 1636 S. Grand Ave., Santa Ana. Info: (714) 836-7929.

WEATHER: Mostly sunny, windy. Highs: mid-60s; lows: low 40s. (B8)

* The Top of Today’s News is on A2