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Monday, 7/21/97 Thoughts on Westwood Village businesses TALK: Survival tips for Bruins looking for fun right outside campus

Congratulations to all of the Bruins spending productive summer days and nights on campus, studying hard and getting ahead! Instead of traveling or going to the beach you've shown that you care. And I'd say that I can relate, but I'm actually on a student trip which I'll tell you about next column. But don't worry, Bruin Talk is here, so enjoy what's in my head this week ... ... For those who were on campus last year, it seems that every month the merchants advertising in the Student Shopper have won another round against the UCLA administration. The Westwood merchants blame UCLA for unfairly taking away their customers with the creation of Ackerman. I blame the fact that there is nothing for the poor students to do in Westwood but go to the movies or the bars - but that's only if you're over 21, or have a good fake I.D ... ... Even Baskin Robbins has a sign in its window supporting the Student Shopper in its fight against UCLA. In related news, Baskin Robbins has two locations on the UCLA campus, in Kerckhoff Coffee House and Northern Lights ... ... And what do the Friends of Westwood really want? They seem to want to keep Westwood dead, which really isn't that tough ... Westwood has real problems, with few pluses ... or can they be called pulses? ... We're revitalizing Westwood, bringing in big and exciting businesses ... and making it look lovely by tearing up the streets and causing traffic ... ... Thumbs up to free parking validation in Westwood ... Thumbs down to anyone giving 20 minute validations. As if 20 minutes is enough to wait in line at the Thrifty pharmacy! While I give credit to the knowledgeable pharmacists, the people at the register are incredibly slow ... Does anyone really care about the little man in Westwood who is struggling to survive? ... Did anyone notice how the new In-N-Out is hurting places like Tommy's of Westwood and UCLA's favorite Roll-Inn "Buck Fifty" subs? Granted, In-N-Out makes a good hamburger, but you've got to feel sorry for the poor guy sitting around doing nothing at Tommy's ... ... In-N-Out isn't the only big business corporation driving out the little ones. Thrifty has driven out smaller pharmacies, and just wait until the gigantic Hollywood Video drives out the two smaller video stores in Westwood ... An inside source has it that Westwood Brewing Company would already be out of business if it wasn't owned by a major condiment company ... Thumbs up for the Jerry's Deli study lounge ... Thumbs down to a $20 sandwich. Hint: Sneak in your buck-fifty to nosh on ... I also have a problem trusting Westwood merchants. Last week, while looking for some refreshment at the Westwood Stop Market, I was in an interesting situation. When I walked up to the register, I asked the guy there how much the Dr. Pepper was, and he said 85 cents. As I walked to the refrigerator to get a colder one, the price dropped from 85 to 70 cents. I walked out. Even though it was only 15 cents I feel someone should stand up for all of the students who have been ripped off there over the years. It was either that, or act like Michael Douglas in Falling Down. At least Michael would pay 50 cents ... For those that don't know, health club memberships are a scam. From someone who has worked at L.A. Fitness, heed my warning ... ... The best way to get the price down is to tell them you have no money - you're a poor college student of course. Go in with friends to get a group deal ... ... Pretend to walk out if the price is still too high for you. I guarantee that they will call you the next day to work out a deal ... ... Those free month/year prize boxes are a scam. Everyone that signs up gets a free week. But they browbeat you to join for that entire week ... This week's no-prize goes to the Bruin that can answer the question for all my loyal readers: How do you know that those cloth towels in those circular towel dispensers in bathrooms are clean? I just happened to see one of them in my local Numero Uno Pizzeria. If you have the answer, e-mail me at the address in the tagline. ... Why is it that when I want to buy shorts, they sure look a lot more like knickers? Why is it that clothes bought at K-mart and Target look like clothes bought at K-mart and Target? Of course, I remember when neon colors were popular ... ... The Surgeon General has announced that computer Solitaire has been shown to be hazardous to your health ... ... As an act of compassion for those that do not have a clue how to get basketball tickets, the easiest way is to pay for the entire UCLA Students Sports Application. It's a lottery system, so chances are that you won't get them, but if you want to go to a basketball game without waiting hours beforehand, it's worth getting. The application is due July 25, and because I'm telling you about this out of the goodness of my heart, please feel free to donate unused tickets to me in care of my e-mail address. Besides, who knows, ticket scalping may be a lucrative occupation next year ... ... Of all the sequels this summer including Batman and Robin, Speed II and the Lost World, the best sequel was "d," none of the above ... ... And finally, a bidding war between the Los Angeles Police Department and the New York Police Department has broken out to recruit former heavyweight champion "Iron Tooth" Mike Tyson. Preliminary reports from any inside source say that the LAPD has been approved by Tyson's manager, Don King, where Tyson will likely join McGruff the Crime Dog to take a bite out of crime ... A.J. Harwin Previous Daily Bruin Story: Bruin Talk, 6/30/97

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