In the new phrase book, “Wicked French...

In the new phrase book, “Wicked French for the Traveler,” author Howard Tomb points out that one of the few things the French “admire about the U.S. . . . is California.”

So, Tomb recommends such sure-fire conversation-openers as J’ai appris a danser a Los Angeles (“I learned to dance in L.A.”) as well as Bien sur, j’ai egalement une maison a Malibu (“Of course, I have a house in Malibu as well”).

Authentic beach lingo could also come in handy: Vous etes une super nana (“You are one fabulous babe!”).

But if all other attempts to impress fail, you can always quote your good friend, Jacques Cousteau: Aux studios de cinema, il n’y a pas de cruaute, mais seulement l’angoisse de survivre.

Translation: “In zuh movie beezness, zaire ees no cruelty, only zuh struggle to survive.”

A fur-free Beverly Hills?

That’s the goal of the Compassion for Animals Foundation, which is aiming its sights, so to speak, at the town where one can buy a good mink blanket for $90,000 (plus tax).

The Culver City-based group has hired an ad agency that plans an anti-fur campaign featuring full-page newspaper and magazine pleas as well as billboard messages.

Supporter Jack Carone of The Animals’ Voice magazine isn’t discouraged that a proposal to ban the sale of animal pelts in Aspen recently failed by a 2-1 margin.

“In Aspen, opponents of the ban could easily rationalize their decision by citing tourism and the cold climate there,” he said. “What we’re dealing with here (in Beverly Hills) is strictly a vanity issue.”

No telling if the campaign will become as bitter as the effort to ban smoking in the city’s public places did a couple of years ago.

A compromise was worked out that time. And perhaps the same solution will result again.

Beverly Hills’ restaurants, for instance, could become the first in the land with fur and no-fur sections.

Mike Hebebrand has a chance for glory and he doesn’t plan to drop the ball. At least, not too many times.

He is determined to break the world record for juggling while running a marathon in L.A.’s edition on March 4.

Juggling sort of breaks the monotony as far as Hebebrand is concerned.

“The movement you make while running is conducive to juggling,” said Hebebrand, a 24-year-old Moreno Valley teacher who performed in circuses as a youth. “The only difference is your hands are turned so that your palms are facing upward. They get a little tired.”

Hebebrand prefers to use baseballs because “softer balls would be more likely to pop out of your hands.”

Should he muff one, though, all is not lost. In his speciality, there are two world records: 3 hours and 29 minutes (no drops), and 3:22 (unlimited drops as long as the runner picks up the ball and starts juggling where the mishap occurred).

But then you probably already knew that.

The flags were flying at half-mast in the city of Irwindale the other day. After some puzzled queries by residents, the authorities admitted the display was a mistake.

Or was it in memory of the Raiders?