This coupon clipper pressed his case
Who says newspapers aren’t necessities? A subscriber was arrested last week after allegedly threatening the Desert Sun newspaper by phone because it had made no deliveries to him for two days. A Palm Springs police spokesman said the man had mentioned blowing up the Sun building “if he didn’t get his coupons.”
Unofficial economic indicators: Employees at one restaurant in Costa Mesa are asking customers to help fund their retirement plans (see photo). Their situation could be more dire. At least they don’t yet have a jar out for health benefits.
Unclear on the concept: Though he joked he was “someone who not only had a hard time in college zoology but also flunked first-grade math,” Skip Tamborin of Van Nuys said he could still see a contradiction in an animal ad (see accompanying).
Politician for rent? I’ve got to do more research on a sign spotted by Kurt Bronner of Encino (see photo). I sure hope it doesn’t refer to L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
Freeway sights: This was a new one for me: a guy shaving while driving on the San Diego Freeway. Shaving his head, not his face. He was quite a multitasker too. Feeling the driver in front of him wasn’t going fast enough, the shaver sped into another lane while working on his pate.
At least he was using an electric razor.
Unfortunate Timing Department: Little did officials of the Museum of the American West in Griffith Park know that the park would be hit with a major fire after they had sent out postcards advertising a “sizzling summer sale.”
Some people will grumble about anything: The controversy began when a grocery shopper with a full cart allowed another shopper with just one item to cut in front of her in line in Pacific Palisades. The latter wrote to the Palisadian-Post to praise the “selfless” gesture of the former.
Which brought a letter to the editor from a third party, one who harrumphed: “I would argue that selflessness is not a virtue. It accomplishes nothing and ultimately forces people to be interdependent. To become dependent is to rely on others for judgment, to not think for oneself. To be an independent individual is the greatest of virtues.” Commented columnist Jacki Horowitz: “How dumb I’ve been all these years! Returning stray dogs and lost wallets to their owners! Holding the door open for old ladies.... All hail Palisadian Plato! Selfishness rules!”
You think you have problems: A Huntington Beach resident complained to police that some kids had thrown a beach ball at his parked vehicle. “An officer responded,” the Wave newspaper said, “and determined that the ball had not caused any damage....”
miscelLAny: When Long Beach officials installed the breakwater several decades ago, they turned the ocean there into a lake. So there’s a bit of irony in the name of the new exhibit at the city’s Aquarium of the Pacific: “Catch a Wave.” It’s a tribute to surfing. I guess it will be educational for Long Beach youngsters. Let them learn what an ocean wave is in case they’ve never seen one.
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.