Transatlantic tedium:A colleague received a note from...

Transatlantic tedium:

A colleague received a note from a friend in London who said that weariness over the Simpson trial there has given rise to an equivalent of “when hell freezes over” among the smart set.

The new phrase is, “when Judge Ito says finito. “

WRONG VENUE: No sooner did we mention the cruise line map that shows Los Angeles south of Ensenada than readers Rod Doty, Barbara Seely and others found more evidence that the earth had shifted. A recent Times’ crossword puzzle said the answer to the clue, “Pasadena campus: Abbr.,” was . . .

“UCLA.”

The clue obviously should have been worded: “Pasadena football team: Abbr.” The Bruins play their “home” games in the Rose Bowl.

OH, THOSE COLLEGE KIDS: For our tasteless cheer of the week, we bring you this report from a spectator at the USC-Arizona football game in Tucson. He noticed that when Trojan fans gave their victory salute, some Wildcat rooters claimed that the two-fingered gesture referred to a former Trojan football star who is on trial. The Arizona boosters wisecracked: “Second-degree murder!”

MOTORIST’S VERDICT: Phil Miller saw a car on a local freeway that had the words, “Leave O.J. Alone!!” painted on its side.

FRAME JOB: Irwin Zucker came upon a sign in Hollywood that coincidentally sums up the feelings of Simpson fans who suspect a conspiracy among his accusers (see photo).

GOOD NEWS, PEDESTRIANS: The city Department of Transportation informs us that the Downtown traffic light we recently pictured--the one that flashed “Walk” and “Don’t Walk” symbols at the same time--has been repaired.

JUDGING FOR HIMSELF: Henk Friezer was at a garage sale not far from UCLA’s home stadium when a jogger wearing a headset stopped to browse. Suddenly, Friezer noticed, other bargain hunters were whispering and gesturing in the direction of the newcomer. “He had become the browsed,” said Friezer.

The jogger, clearly uncomfortable, trotted off. Some shoppers actually walked to the edge of the driveway to see him disappear into the distance.

Southern Californians are blase about movie actors. But when they see Judge Ito in public--now that’s something. . . .

Ito, by the way, bought nothing before declaring his visit finito.

miscelLAny You know you’re in West L.A. when . . . you walk into a fast-food joint and observe that its closed-circuit security TV has a color screen. We only wish we had dressed in something a bit more flashy for the occasion.