Here’s a Hot One That Should Rank Right Up There With Police Log Fans

Ah, the sounds of summer! The police log of the Seal Beach Sun said that a woman who was “heard screaming and yelling obscenities inside a home” was merely “having problems with her ceiling fan.”

Attention, Seal Beachites: Lyndon Dowdle read about an instrument that can cut down on the din in your neighborhood (see accompanying).

Duel in the streets: In Anaheim, Bruce Walker found the inspiration for the 1979 Dustin Hoffman-Meryl Streep movie, “Kramer vs. Kramer” (see photo).

Sprawling L.A.: Berlin felt like home, sort of, to Robert Jensen of L.A., when he came upon a park named after the City of Angels (see accompanying). It turns out that Berlin and L.A. are sister cities. In honor of our car culture here, L.A. Platz naturally houses a parking garage.

This mystery may never be solved: The police log of the Los Alamitos News-Enterprise said, “A resident reported losing a 10-pound jar of mayonnaise.” (I hope it wasn’t for the Labor Day picnic.)

And try to figure this one out: After I mentioned that Century 21 Beachside Realtors has an office in Brea, a reader pointed out that it also has branches in Rancho Cucamonga, Upland and Mission Viejo. Must be great for the workers, being so close to the ocean.

Who says American kids aren’t learning? On Amazon.com’s Web site, Jon Hershey of Long Beach spotted what surely is a representative book being read to the pre-kindergarten crowd (see accompanying).

Everyone has a slip now and then: The Los Angeles Independent’s police log listed the arrest of a driver who, after being advised of his rights, said: “Yes, I understand and want to clear this up. I haven’t used drugs in 14 years, that’s the truth!”

He then added, “Well, I did smoke some crack cocaine last night, or it could have been early this morning.”

Treated like a dog: If you bring along your pooch to dine outdoors at the Sweet Life, on 3rd Street in L.A., the waiter will deliver a bowl of water to your companion.

I just hope your dog isn’t a big drooler.

More on the drinking life: Mike Jelf of Lomita was watching a 1958 rerun of TV’s “Perry Mason” in which Mason and secretary Della Street were exulting over still another victory. Then came this bit of merriment over one disclosure:

Mason: “There’s one thing about this case that still puzzles me.”

Street: “What’s that?”

Mason: “What could they possibly put in a cup of coffee that makes it worth a dollar?”

As I said, this was 1958, so I guess it wasn’t a shot of espresso. Or steamed milk. Or chocolate sprinkles.

miscelLAny: You can still get a cup of coffee for a dime at Philippe’s, the 94-year-old eatery near Union Station.

*

Steve Harvey can be reached at (800) LA-TIMES, ext. 77083, by fax at (213) 237-4712, by mail at Metro, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A. 90012 and by e-mail at steve.harvey@latimes.com.