One more reason for the low turnout:Dave...

One more reason for the low turnout:

Dave Johnson of Hacienda Heights was driving to work on election day when he noticed a building with a sign over the entrance announcing, “Polling Place.” It was next to a red poster that was apparently left over from another event. The poster proclaimed: “Just Say No.”

UNEASY LIES THE GOLD CROWN: These days, it’s difficult to be shocked by what comes out of a singer’s mouth. But no one at a Paul Anka concert in Las Vegas expected to see a crown pop out of the entertainer’s dental work and land in the audience.

Anka is demanding a refund of sorts. He has filed suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court, accusing his dentist of malpractice.

Of course, the incident could have been worse. Anka could have been warbling that famous lyric in his song, “My Way”--”There were times I’m sure you knew/ When I bit off more than I could chew.”

MYSTERY OF THE DECADE: It might not rank up there with the deciphering of the Rosetta Stone, but county engineer Peter Lee can explain the cryptic numbers on a parking lot sign at the County Arboretum in Arcadia (see photo).

When the sign was requested 12 years ago, Lee said, the painter asked a county Public Works office manager “to count the number of letters that would be needed, possibly for billing purposes.”

The manager “put the counts next to the text,” Lee continued. “And, for some reason, that’s how they were put on the sign.”

Indeed, we were able to confirm, with the aid of our pocket calculator, that “County of Los Angeles” contains 18 letters while “Department of Public Works” has 23. You’ll notice that the conscientious painter had to run together the words “public works” in order to fit in the “23.”

TIME WARP: Now for a mystery that is still unsolved. Walter Bergstrom of Valencia sent us the accompanying limousine company’s ad and asked, “What happened to the fourth hour?”

TOUCHED BY A HELLS ANGEL: A colleague was struck (well, not literally) by a motorcycle he saw--”low, mean, chromed, gray and custom-painted with ‘Ghost Rider’ on the tank and license plate.” It was piloted by a biker who was “all black leather and denim, studded, booted, dripping chains and a Maltese cross.”

Alas, “this RUB (Rich Urban Biker) kind of spoiled the effect when he stomped into a Woodland Hills espresso bar and ordered a butter croissant. Even said please.”

LINGERING ELECTION DAY IMAGE: It was the guy in a Clinton mask walking up and down 2nd Street in Belmont Shore, holding what appeared to be bundles of money. At least we think it was a mask.

OH, MY ACHING BACK: A journalism student at College of the Canyons in Valencia was discussing the passage of Prop. 215, which allows the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. “I wonder if my chiropractor would prescribe some for me,” she quipped.

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We noticed that the watermarks on our ballot stub were images of the state capitol under a huge cloud. A prophecy of bad times? Or merely recognition of the passage of Prop. 215?