In This Nation Everyone Has a Car
We interrupt our search for a name for the 405/101 interchange while Ron Oliver of Newbury Park tells us about a segment of TV’s “Hollywood Squares.” Says Oliver: “Panelist Martin Mull was asked the question: After China, what is the most populous country? His answer: the San Diego Freeway.”
That’s about the size of it? Brian Kelley saw an ad for a revolutionary kind of tortilla chip that evidently bends but doesn’t break.
It’s surprising how many items are being served in unusual ways these days (see accompanying): beer for those who like to pound down their drinks (from James Carlson), hot sauce by the foot (Betty and Bob Hagenbuch), garlic in a five-fingered container (Gloria Hayes) and lawn material in a can (Carol Orendy).
Your tax dollars at work: A writer-friend was at LAX when he noticed several skycaps watching a Transportation Security Administration worker vigorously swinging a broom back and forth.
“Drivers slowed down to watch,” my friend said. “So did travelers on the sidewalk. If they were like me, I’m sure at first they were wondering if this was some kind of special TSA security effort. Upon closer inspection, it turned out that the TSA employee was practicing his golf swing. Some of the skycaps were giving him tips.”
When some of those “who had stopped to watch realized the guy wasn’t conducting some sort of security exercise, they would sort of ‘hurrumph’ and roll their eyes.
“I suppose you could headline it: “‘Security Sweep.’”
Mondegreens of the Day: “Yes, Steve, there are mondegreens that don’t make sense and those that do,” wrote George Bowden of Encino. “Of the former: a friend who, as a little girl, thought the lyrics to ‘Bonaparte’s Retreat’ were ‘Bone a parsley tree.’ Dumb, right? But another friend who raised her youngsters at Venice Beach said the kids sang along with Paul McCartney’s ‘Band on the Run’ with the words ‘Sand on the Rug.’ Makes sense.”
miscelLAny: What with injuries and court appearances, the Lakers have been without their stars for several games this season. Which makes a Carl’s Jr. bobblehead promotion sort of appropriate.
The restaurant is offering what it calls a “lineup” of five Lakers, but Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant aren’t among them. Would you instead buy Devean George and Rick Fox ($5 apiece with the purchase of an adult combo meal)? Sounds like a bonehead bobblehead combo to me.
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Steve Harvey can be reached at (800) LATIMES, 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.