What’s in a Name? Some Misleading Information

After reading Kimi Yoshino’s article on Leisure World, I couldn’t help but sympathize with the residents who say the name contradicts their active lifestyle. And I understand why they would be tired of such puns as Geezer World and Seizure World.

Yet I’m afraid that if the Laguna Woods community adopted a different moniker, it might start a chain reaction in other towns and cities whose names don’t measure up for one reason or another.

I hate to think of the resulting chaos.

* La Puente and Mission Viejo, for instance, are grammatically incorrect. They should be El Puente and Mision Vieja.

* La Crescenta is Spanish for ... well, it doesn’t mean anything (crescent would be “creciente”). Crescenta was a word the town founder liked.

* La Jolla, contrary to myth, does not mean “the Jewel.” For that effect, a name change to La Joya would be necessary.

* Palmdale referred to the local Joshua trees, which were mistakenly thought of as palms.

* Seal Beach is hopelessly out of date; it’s been years since seals have frolicked off its shores.

* And as for Los Angeles being the City of Angels, well no more need be said.

Back to geezers: Or this geezer. An article in my AARP Bulletin about nonsensical sayings reprised this gem, uttered by ex-Gov. Gray Davis during his last campaign: “My vision is to make the most diverse state on Earth, and we have people from every planet on the Earth in this state.”

More nonsense: Beth Oliver found a parking lot that customers are welcome to use -- they just can’t leave their cars (see photo).

There’s a right way and ... : In Irwindale, Doug Stokes saw a sign at a truck yard that is very specific about the speed limit -- but not so attentive to the wording on its signs (see photo).

What will they think of next? Advertisers are always looking for a new ploy. I found a for-rent notice that had an echo (see photo).

The Riordan jinx: I don’t want to say it’s the kiss of death to receive an L.A. mayoral endorsement from Richard Riordan, the former job holder, but let’s look at the facts.

In 2001, he backed businessman Steve Soboroff, who lost in the primary.

In that runoff, Riordan backed Antonio Villaraigosa, who lost.

In the primary, this time around, he endorsed former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg, who became former mayoral candidate Bob Hertzberg when the votes were counted.

Villaraigosa made the runoff again and is no doubt praying Riordan will just ignore him.

miscelLAny: Historian David Clark wrote that in the middle of the 19th century, when violence in the dusty little pueblo of L.A. was common, letters jokingly addressed to “Los Diablos” were promptly delivered to Los Angeles.

But at least L.A.’s palms aren’t Joshua trees.

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.