Valley Folklore Society Helps Shoot Down Another Urban Myth

Awidely circulated Internet list titled “2005 Darwin Awards” caught my eye with this item:

“When his .38-caliber revolver failed to fire at his intended victim during a holdup in Long Beach, Calif., would-be robber James Elliot did something that can only inspire wonder. He peered down the barrel and tried the trigger again. This time, it worked.”

The item also caught the eye of the San Fernando Valley Folklore Society, debunker of urban myths on its snopes.com website. The society said it was unable to verify the unknown author’s item, or several others on the list, through “the news sources we routinely search.”

(The society also pointed out that the folks at DarwinAwards.com, authors of several books about documented fatal goofs, said they are not responsible for the above list.)

I phoned Long Beach police, who also said they had no record of the looking-down-the-barrel mishap.

There. I trust I’ve saved Long Beach’s honor.

Next they’ll ask you to bring offerings too: Charlotte Fournier of Laguna Woods sent along a note showing just how difficult the requirements of some healthcare providers can be (see accompanying).

Unusual dual businesses: Today’s discoveries (see photos) include:

* A Saco, Maine, optician whose place is crawling with food (from Judi Birnberg of Sherman Oaks).

* A Flagstaff, Ariz., store that specializes in feet and crumpets (from Linda Gatons of Hacienda Heights).

* And taken from Only in L.A.’s voluminous photo collection, a store in Corona for the really formal camper (from Marty Kreta).

Chew on this: The crime log of the Los Alamitos News-Enterprise reported that a restaurant received “harassing phones calls” from a customer because it had been “unable to supply her with a yokeless egg.”

miscelLAny: I visited the Getty Museum the other day and couldn’t help but notice Ed Ruscha’s “Standard Station,” a 1966 oil rendering of a gas station.

I was relieved to see that Ruscha left the prices off the gas pumps.

It would have been too painful to be taken back to a time when you could fill up your tank for less than 30 cents a gallon.

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.

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