Around Town Around Town (May 25, 2005)

A PROBLEM FOR THE MAYAR? ... When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger 's commented that the U.S.-Mexico should be permanently closed last month caused an uproar, he blamed his faulty English, saying he meant the border should be "secured." So presumably, Schwarzenegger will not be too upset if and when he visits Palo Alto's Baylands and sees a potentially insulting language gaffe. In a sign promoting new improvements to the city's sailing station, which were paid for using the 2000 Parks Bond Act, Schwarzenegger 's position is misspelled as "Govonor."

UPCHUCK ... "You're cool!" a local teen boy shouted at the beginning of author Chuck Palahniuk's visit to Kepler's bookstore last Thursday. The evening was Chuck-full of gross giveaways. Before reading a new short story from his latest book, "Haunted," Palahniuk (also the author of "Fight Club") had Kepler's staff hand out air fresheners in the shape of T-bone steaks that smelled like teriyaki beef. The author then instructed his assembled fans to unwrap their meat and let the stinky smell pervade as he read a story from the new book. Needless to say, some less sturdy stomachs were feeling a bit queasy by the end of the gruesome tale. The author also brought a boxful of plush severed limbs with him, which he tossed into the audience before the requisite Q&A session. And, sure enough, each fan that asked a question received a gift as well: a bathmat, also in the shape of a juicy steak.

BELTED ... It's amazing and disturbing, but there are still numerous drivers and automobile passengers who refuse to wear their seat belts. In fact, earlier this year Palo Alto police officers did a local survey, sitting in one location and counting the scofflaws, and watched up to 83 percent ride by with no restraint. So, police received a state grant and last week were out en masse enforcing the law, part of this month's national "Click it or Ticket" campaign. More than 120 violators were caught on the first day officers were out in force. "We'd like to think issuing these situation are going to make people more aware of the safety aspect," Officer Chris Hammett said. P.S. There's an $89 fine for the first offense.

COLORFUL TALK ... Artist Samuel Yates, who is in search of the Color of Palo Alto, will speak about his project at the Palo Alto City Council Chambers on Friday, June 3 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Yates is half-way through his public art project, where he is taking photographs of all city parcels, and them averaging their color to find the city's official color. He has taken up residence in a solar-powered garage in front of Palo Alto for the year to complete his work. The talk, part of the First Friday Art Walk, is sponsored by the Pal Alto Art Center.

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