Cellphone Etiquette Has Had Spotty Local Reception So Far

“I finally saw it, the very nadir of cellphone manners,” began the note from writer Steve Emmons. “It was in the Souplantation in Costa Mesa during lunch. A guy talking on his cellphone actually put his hand over the mouthpiece, turned to the people at the next table, and said, ‘Will you keep the noise down? I’m trying to talk!’ ”

Added Emmons: “What’s next? ‘Switch tables with me -- the reception here at this one is awful’?”

Cell-mania (cont.): I’m glad Emmons wasn’t at a recent U2 concert attended by Pauli Peter of L.A.

Related Peter: “It’s customary during a rock concert to hold up lighted candles or lighters. At a recent U2 concert, fans solemnly held up cellphones with screens lighted instead (and no, they were not all picture phones!)”

Wonder how many spectators grudgingly interrupted their cellphone conversations to participate?

At a loss for words: Charlotte Decker of Covina was impressed with a for-sale ad for a talented Pomeranian but wanted to know what it speaks beside dog: cat, chipmunk, hippo? (See accompanying.)

Something else warm and fuzzy: Edward Marks of L.A. read a blurb about a vacancy for an office that he points out could overheat in the summer (see accompanying).

Talk about a tough golf club: Barbara Boyne noticed that the rules for the Riverside Women’s Golf Club seem to take into account the possibility of the group’s board saying something profane about the members’ play (see accompanying).

Square deal for motorists? The Long Beach Traffic Circle, scene of innumerable scary driving experiences, was created in 1935 and quickly sparked an urban legend.

An unconfirmed story held that the designer, or one of his relatives, was killed there. I was told by a guy in a bar that the deceased designer was actually buried in the Circle, which is the converging point of Pacific Coast Highway, Lakewood Boulevard and Los Coyotes Diagonal.

A few years ago, the Museum of Contemporary Art gave a mock salute to the intersection in one of a series of outdoor billboards (see accompanying).

Now comes word that the Circle itself is being buried. Or rather its name is.

It has been rechristened the Long Beach Roundabout, which, to me anyway, has more of a frolicsome ring.

Officials told the Beachcomber newspaper’s Steve Propes that the Circle has technically been the Roundabout since 1993, when “yield” signs were placed at the entry points. But few people knew because it wasn’t until recently -- 12 years later -- that “Roundabout” signs were put up.

Hey, it’s a long word to spell out.

miscelLAny: This month’s the-glass-is-half-full award goes to the restaurant hostess who, according to San Diego magazine, chirped to some arriving customers there would be a short wait.

“One of our diners is choking,” she explained.

And sure enough, a few moments later, paramedics were spotted rolling the unfortunate diner out the door.

I’m surprised he wasn’t speaking to his attorney on a cellphone.

Steve Harvey can be reached at (800) LATimes, Ext. 77083, by fax at (213) 237-4712, by mail at Metro, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles CA 90012, and by e-mail at steve.harvey@ latimes.com.