Attention Job Applicants: Know Your Penal Code Before Filling Out the Form

A matter for the spelling police: Anne Franklin of Westminster writes, “Our company received an employment application from a young man who disclosed a prior arrest for marijuana possession as a ‘mister meaner.’ ”

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We’re No. 25! A poll by Travel & Leisure Magazine and AOL found that of 25 major cities in the nation, L.A. was the least friendly.

All those mister meaners, I guess.

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Dressing down L.A.: Even if Angelenos knew they weren’t as warm and fuzzy as Nashville (voted most friendly), the Travel & Leisure balloting indicated that folks here could be deluding themselves about some other categories.

For instance, Angelenos ranked L.A. fifth most stylish, while tourists graded the City of Angels a shabby 13th.

Visitors thought L.A. ranked a poor 24th in the category of “most attractive people,” while residents ranked themselves a more comely 19th.

Outsiders also found L.A. restaurants mediocre -- 14th in the country -- while Angelenos gave them a ranking of 11th. Which isn’t totally bad news for the local economy. Tourists seemed inclined to skip the food here and get right to the bars, which they ranked 10th best.

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Dressing down L.A. (cont.): I’m always in favor of any research that might keep more people from moving to this area.

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I beg your pardon! Gwen and Derek Bjornsen saw an ad for what sounded like some, uh, used clothing (see accompanying).

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Oh, that L.A. lifestyle: Ann Hart of Thousand Oaks found a one-stop-shopping opportunity for couples (see photo).

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Such a deal: Bill Fawcett and Marvin Barab noticed an unusual exercise device for sale (see accompanying). “How many threads to the mile?” wondered Barab.

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Unclear on the concept: Jeff Robbins of Buena Park chanced upon a sign that was apparently posted a tad too soon at a construction site (see photo).

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Mondegreen of the Day: Contributing another language misadventure, Cathy Thomer of Sierra Madre writes: “When I was growing up in North Hollywood in the 1960s, police arrested a young hippie couple in our neighborhood. Our parents wouldn’t discuss it with us, but my best friend, Francine, told me she overheard her parents say that they were arrested for smoking ‘near the water.’ ”

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miscelLAny: The website www.sportsbybrooks.com says of reports that Sly Stallone’s script for “Rocky VI” was scuttled: “Who said movie executives weren’t humanitarians?”

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Steve Harvey can be reached at (800) LATIMES, Ext. 77083, by fax at (213) 237-4712, by mail at Metro, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012, and by e-mail at [email protected].