Reaction to State Stamp From Angelenos: What Are We, Chopped Liver?

“Greetings from California,” says the new state stamp. Shouldn’t that be “Greetings from Northern California?” Or more accurately, “Greetings from San Francisco?” The stamp is dominated by the Bay Bridge, lighted at dusk, with the Transamerica pyramid and the rest of the snooty San Francisco skyline in the background.

A tourism spokeswoman up there told the Chronicle she was “honored that San Francisco is selected to be represented in the majority of images.” But why was L.A. snubbed? The City of Angels has plenty of landmarks. What about the famous Big Donut stand? The frankfurter-shaped Tail of the Pup? The sculpture of the bearded clown in a tutu on Main Street in Venice?

An L.A. tourism spokesman denied L.A. was overlooked, pointing out, “We got the palm trees.” Well, I’m not even sure those are ours. None of them resemble my favorite: the microwave tower disguised as a palm along the San Diego Freeway.

But L.A.’s No. 1 in this category: Or so Britain’s Economist seems to think. Jack Ramsey of Glendale noticed that the magazine has an article about gangs in south London with the headline, “Not Quite Los Angeles, Yet.”

Escaping L.A.: On an overseas vacation, Bob Dickie of La Canada Flintridge came upon an Irish company with two specialties that are related, if you think about it .

It’s the best combination business I’ve heard of since Linda Wright of Norco and other readers alerted me to a store for camping honeymooners (see photos). The latter company, by the way, came about through a merger of two stores.

What a way to go: Frank Huff of Huntington Beach received a letter from a funeral home with a unique service: a bit of jazz singing on the waters (see accompanying).

Names that fit the business: Introducing Pasadena real estate agent Meg Middleman....

Annals of miscommunication: Anaheim contractor Scott Gannon dispatched a worker to pick up a set of plans that had been left on his project manager’s porch.

The worker phoned from the location later and asked which one he should pick up. “Pick them all up,” a somewhat puzzled Gannon said. “How many are there?”

“About 15,” the worker said.

A few minutes later, he showed up in his pickup truck, carrying no plans but a spectacular collection of plants.

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miscelLAny: The Web site www.laradio.com reports that KZLA radio host Peter Tilden was shocked to hear the reports of airport security personnel using phony Social Security numbers, lying about criminal records and living illegally in this country. Said Tilden: “I think the passengers should start scanning the airport people.”

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Steve Harvey can be reached at (800) LA-TIMES, 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 [email protected].