Photo Op

So, compared with ours, Canada's upcoming federal election may not be a cliffhanger. Prime Minister Jean Chretien timed the vote to virtually assure himself a third term. But the Canadian campaign is mercifully shorter--and even wackier, with Chretien's rivals in the Nov. 27 election ranging from a wetsuit-wearing right-wing evangelist to the blissed-out leader of the Marijuana Party.

"STOP: No visitors beyond this point," warns the sign overlooking the hand-hewn gray granite walls, vaulted gate and peaked Gothic guard tower of Folsom State Prison. It's an intimidating view of the lockup where nearly 100 men were hanged and guards and inmates died in spectacular escape attempts that included a runaway railroad engine and a homemade diving suit.

The feelings of anger and resentment still harbored against Jane Fonda are not as easily pigeon-holed as Al Martinez would have us believe (July 30). While it is true that several years have passed since she was seen "smiling prettily" at a photo op, the stark reality of what she did during that "climate of protest" has in no way diminished. She was there as a private citizen and not in the capacity of peace negotiator (a la Kissinger). During a time that our country was at war, Fonda chose to consort with the enemy, denounce the U.S. and pose for photographs on weapons of death, all while our men and women were fighting, dying, being tortured and living in inhumane prison (forced labor)

For the last few days, Washington has been fixated on the question of whether President Clinton would leave the Middle East peace talks in Camp David to attend the annual G-8 summit in Okinawa. Critics ask: What does the G-8 do anyway, aside from give world leaders a chance to bask in an aura of collective importance? This question would have been fair a few years ago, but these annual meetings are no longer pompous photo-ops, thanks largely to U.S. leadership.

Years from now, when the world looks back on millennial celebrations marking the arrival of Y2K, there will be no shortage of photographs to conjure up memories of the most anticipated party in history. But Roger Tefft of Long Beach had something special in mind. As the creator and editor of "Daybreak 2000" (NorthWord Press, $24.

The Community Services Department has invited Santa Claus to visit Surf City again this year through Dec. 22. Candy canes and picture opportunities will be offered. Appointments to have home visits from Santa are available 6 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For the $20 fee, the 15-minute visit includes a Santa visit for as many as five children. Information: (714) 536-5486, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

You can't be a successful lawyer and not work for banks, Hillary Clinton once said in defense of her shenanigans as a Little Rock lawyer on behalf of the Madison Savings and Loan. Or a senator from New York, or a president of the United States, her husband might have added.

A photographer who wants to take a picture of 100 nude models on a street received permission Friday from a federal judge who said the work is protected under the 1st Amendment. The city had objected, saying the sheer number of nude models violated the privacy rights of residents. U.S. District Judge Harold Baer Jr. decided in favor of Spencer Tunick, who is known for shooting nudes in public places. Tunick planned to take the shot around dawn Sunday on a street in lower Manhattan.

When all the Mexican president's men (and one woman) met to plan his visit to California they were roughly divided into two groups: those who thought President Ernesto Zedillo should look at the future and those who remembered the past. The futurists wanted a long and triumphal tour of the state with at least two major public appearances. Those with long memories wanted a quick one-day visit, with no crowds.