The ‘Commuter Tie’ Is a Smashing Idea for the Busy Driver

For your driven-to-distraction file, Thomas Pink’s “Commuter Tie” ($95) comes with a breast pocket that will hold an iPod nano “safely and securely.” That, the company says, will allow the driver “to have his hands free to grab his morning coffee.” (And his cellphone. And maybe his steering wheel occasionally.)

Sounds ideal. But one online critic cautioned “Commuter Tie” users to guard against “a curious tightening around the throat.”

Fruit fright: After this column published a photo of a lemon that looked like a strange creature with a big schnoz, I heard from Claire Federici of UC Riverside’s department of botany and plant sciences.

“Bud mites cause damage that results in deformities,” she said. The fruits may have “various finger-like projections” or they may resemble the heads of animals or humans.

Or space aliens. Federici sent along a shot of what she calls her “shy Yoda” lemon (see photo).

Male call: Target stores apparently have been trying to attract single women, noted Ellen O’Donnell of L.A., among other readers (see accompanying). Notice there’s a provision for the return or exchange of the “husband.”

Male call (cont.): Actually the item was a Valentine’s Day card for hubby.

Safe sod: “I think my neighbors put out this sign to protect their front lawn against passing dogs,” said Joyce Thompson of L.A. (see photo).

“However, dog owners may feel freer about letting their charges onto the grass, considering that they don’t have to worry about the lawn getting pregnant.”

I want to see you again in 90 years: “My grandfather, Edgar Williams of Huntington Beach, went in for his annual checkup,” wrote John Abatzoglou. “The doctor said he was pretty healthy for an 87-year-old. But his insurance company may have been slightly over-optimistic. Obviously, my grandfather was thrilled” (see accompanying).

miscelLAny: A piece of gauze that a star Gonzaga basketball player stuffed in his bleeding nose in a game against Pepperdine was put up for sale on EBay a few days ago.

It was nothing to sneeze at, either. Bids actually reached $60 before it was pulled from the site. The seller said that Gonzaga had requested that he remove the item because the player, Adam Morrison, is a student-athlete. The seller said he hoped to re-auction it next year if Morrison turns pro.

Ah. I can breathe easier now.

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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.