An Airline’s Bid for Business Makes Its Fares Perfect for Penny Pinchers

The airlines really are desperate to attract customers these days. Just look at the bargain that J.J. Shibuya of Pico Rivera received on a cross-country flight (see accompanying). Forgot to ask him if that came with a bag of peanuts.

From airpower to ... dog power? Morris Williams of Huntington Park saw a flier from a company whose vehicle seemed to be canine-powered (see accompanying).

Weird world of animals (cont.): In Manhattan Beach, Patti Garrity came across an ad placed by a person who either has a Datsun or a dachshund (see accompanying).

Still on the move: In L.A.’s car culture, even the appliances have brakes, as this contribution from Pat Elliott of Downey illustrates.

Navigating L.A.: A while ago, I mentioned a poem that would help people memorize the order of downtown’s north-south streets between Main and Figueroa. (No, I’m not going to interrupt this lesson to repeat it. You’ll have to look up my Nov. 7 lecture.)

Now, Nancy Hubbell of Rolling Hills Estates contributes a tip for traversing the San Fernando Valley. She notes that many of the major east-west streets are in alphabetical order.

Going south, you’ll encounter Chatsworth, Devonshire, Lassen, Nordhoff, Parthenia, Roscoe, Saticoy, Sherman Oaks, Vanowen, Victory and Vuntura.

“OK, she admitted, “that last one doesn’t really work.”

Street wise guys: Phil Proctor’s frank admission that he “lived off of Phyllis” for several years -- Phyllis Street, that is -- reminded me of a note I received from Addy Tatto.

“After I moved to North Hollywood, I was directing a friend to the new digs,” Tatto said. “ ‘Turn left off Laurel Canyon, pass Agnes and Ben.’ My friend interrupted to say, ‘They’re a lovely couple. They’ve been together a long time.’ ” Congratulations, Agnes and Ben avenues.

Attention, surfers: Chris Ungar passed along this unusual advisory from the Sun Bulletin of Morro Bay: “Anyone who finds a black carbon-fiber leg on the beach is urged to notify the Harbor Patrol.” The newspaper explained that a man had “lost his prosthetic leg while surfing at Morro Strand State Beach.”

miscelLAny: Bob Trounson of Sierra Madre saw a sign outside a Monrovia car dealership that said:

PRE-OWNED

SALESPEOPLE

WANTED

I assume the company inspects used salesmen beforehand to see if they’ve had any breakdowns.

Steve Harvey can be reached at Metro, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A. 90012, and by e-mail at steve.harvey@latimes.com.