Catalina, Hawaii -- They’re All Islands Out in the Pacific Somewhere, Right?

For Buck Baker, the mention in this column of dumb tourist questions about Catalina brought back memories of his youth in Laguna Beach.

“The beach was my baby-sitter growing up,� Baker recalled. “And I can’t tell you how many times a tourist from the Midwest or back East would ask me which one of the Hawaiian Islands Catalina was.�

Follow these simple directions: Proof that the movies are part of a topsy-turvy industry was provided by Tom Chandler (see photo).

Food for thought: I came across a beachside eatery where a notice about adjacent construction could have been interpreted as another type of warning (see photo).

Dog daze: One unfortunate trend in our society is the increase in violence during sporting events. I’m saddened to bring you another example.

I wrote recently that a pooch named Gorgeous George was entered in the 50-yard Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals at Los Alamitos Race Course.

Well, the dachshund’s trainer, Nancy Papai of Torrance, writes that “Gorgeous George did not do so well� at the weekend race. “In fact, I think I heard the word ‘disqualified’ mentioned.

“George is actually a very sweet dog until another wiener dog looks at him and then the ‘You lookin’ at me attitude?’ shows up and he decides to rumble.

“He made it out of the starting gate and then he and about three or four other wieners decided to mix it up. So he never did make it to the finish line ... “

Fortunately for Gorgeous George, the authorities have decided not to press charges.

Just what they don’t need: The police blotter of the Seal Beach Sun reported that “two males reportedly stole energy bars from a store� on Pacific Coast Highway.

MiscelLAny: When the Mighty Ducks lost the first two games of the Stanley Cup finals to the New Jersey Devils, the New York Times dismissed the Anaheim team with this headline: “Ducks Are in Danger of Losing Their Dignity.� The Ducks have since won games three and four, meaning, I guess, that the danger has lessened considerably.

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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 [email protected].