A Law That’s One of a Kind
Complaints are pouring in here about that new state law. You know which one I mean. The one that prohibits a certain activity in bars, restaurants and other public buildings. And at home.
Cloning, I mean.
Yup, a law sponsored by state Sen. Pat Johnston (D-Stockton) now makes it illegal to clone a human being.
Grumbled reader Dennis Drissi: “There goes my science project. Guess I’ll have to stick to the old backup--the mashed potato volcano.”
SPEAKING OF PHYSICAL SPECIMENS: Lisalee Anne Wells came upon a marquee for a restaurant that prompted her to observe: “While I might like ‘low fat’ men as offered, I can’t imagine who would look for the ‘boneless and skinless’ ones” (see photo).
LIST OF THE DAY: As part of our continuing American English vs. King’s English discussion, film flubs authority Bill Givens points out that English audiences howled when the trailer for the whale yarn “Free Willy,” first played there. Givens pointed out in A & E Monthly magazine that “willy, in British slang, refers to that male body part unmentionable in polite society.”
“Free Willy” wasn’t renamed overseas, but Givens, author of “Roman Soldiers Don’t Wear Watches,” points out that several other films have been loosely translated in foreign release, including:
* “City Slickers” (1991): In France, “Life, Love and Cows.”
* “Wayne’s World” (1992): In Taiwan, “The Rambunctious and Clever Boys.”
* “Body Parts” (1992): In Thailand, “Cut to Pieces and Then Create Hell.”
* “Dangerous Liaisons” (1988): In Malaysia, “Vipers in Heat.”
* “House Sitter” (1992): In Taiwan, “I’ve Got Half a Wife in My Soup.” (The latter could have also been an alternate title for “Body Parts.”)
And pity the poor marquee changer faced with this one:
* “Diamonds Are Forever” (1971): In Hong Kong, “Man as Tough as Iron and Gold and Steel Uncovers the Gang Dealing With Diamonds.”
CLONING GONE WRONG? “Watch out for that house coming down Sumner!” said Elmer Neto of La Verne after spotting a sign warning of oncoming residences in Claremont (see photo).
SPEAKING OF HOUSES ON THE MOVE: By coincidence, Frank Williams of Rancho Cucamonga wrote about the time he was asked to pick up Assemblyman George House (R-Hughson) at Ontario airport.
“A group of legislators was using my conference room for a meeting,” said Williams, executive officer of the local chapter of the Building Industry Assn., a home builders group.
Williams had never met the assemblyman, so as he waited in the airport he held up a sign with “HOUSE” spelled out in big letters.
A local newspaper reporter happened to walk by Williams. Seeing the “HOUSE” placard, the reporter said, “Williams, you’ve been around those home builders too long.”
miscelLAny
Pieces of coal said to have been salvaged in 1994 from the Titanic will be raffled at the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museums in Hollywood and Buena Park on Jan. 15.
Some people suspect that Ripley’s is trying to capitalize on the popularity of the new “Titanic” movie. Believe it or not!
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Rambunctious Steve Harvey can be reached by phone at (213) 237-7083, by fax at (213) 237-4712, by e-mail at steve.harvey@latimes.com and by mail at Metro, L.A. Times, Times Mirror Square, L.A. 90053.