Franklin Avenue blogs about an amusing encounter with a 411 operator who didn't know—and wouldn't believe—that the 818 area code is in Los Angeles. Or that Granada Hills is a part of the city too. Funnily, (or ironically), she had no trouble giving him a number in Gardena, which of course is not within Los Angeles. Now she's probably in another state, if not in Bangalore, so she can perhaps be excused at not grasping the territorial nuances that trip up even even some locals. So for anybody who still isn't clear on the concept: Yes, that big basin beyond the Santa Monica Mountains that could fit all of San Francisco, Boston and Washington, D.C inside its borders lies mostly in Los Angeles. In fact, 40% of Angelenos—we're talking at least 1.3 million people—live in the Valley. And most of them like it.

And announcing: A new blog all about Sherman Oaks, sadly anonymous (anonymous no more!) but the blogger pays tribute to long ago real estate schemer Moses Hazeltine Sherman.