To Our Readers:

It’s all around us, permeating the very air we breathe . . . but how much do you really know about pop culture? How devoted are you to UFO conspiracy theories, Roseville pottery or Dr. Laura’s Internet pix? Think you know the value of that Hardy Boys lunch box in the attic? Perhaps a pop quiz on pop culture will settle the score, or, at the very least, inspire you to read this special millennium issue of the Los Angeles Times Magazine, edited by senior editor Pamm Higgins, from cover to cover:

True or false: The first widely reported case of alien sexual abduction took place in Brazil. You can start your own microradio station for about $1,500. You can still find great deals on Stickley furniture at the Rose Bowl swap meet. “Gidget” is actually an acronym for Girls In Day-Glo Esoteric Tankinis. In the not-so-distant future, personal video recorders will pick a TV lineup for you, further reducing the need to think while watching the tube. Celebrity is the most powerful cultural phenomenon in our country. You should never, EVER throw away anything you get at McDonald’s, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, LAX, Toys ‘R’ Us, Pottery Barn or any other commercial establishment. Ever.

Now, if you answered any of these questions correctly, it’s a divine sign that you should read on. If you answered all of them correctly, it’s a signal from the pop culture gods that your self-esteem will get a big boost from this magazine. And if you were completely baffled by this little quiz, please, let us fill all those gaps in your pop culture IQ.

Enjoy. And remember: That Mr. T memorabilia just might fund a great four years at the Ivy League school of your choice. One more thing. Please be on the lookout for future millennium issues of the magazine: science and technology (July), fashion (August), Hollywood (November) and future leadership in Southern California (December).

ALICE SHORT