Schwarzkopf Humble in Choice of Venue to Sign His Book

The business of things.

* Norman Schwarzkopf comes to town Saturday to sign copies of his just-published autobiography, “It Doesn’t Take a Hero.”

And where will the general be signing his book?

One of the city’s more prestigious bookeries in La Jolla or University City maybe? Forget it.

He’ll be at the Price Club on Morena Boulevard (1 to 2:30 p.m.).

The San Diego-based Price Club chain has become a kind of reverse-chic venue for hot authors to hold their signing parties.

Ivana Trump and Oliver North used the Price Club in Orange County and Robin Leach went to the Price Club in San Francisco.

The mania has also spread to Washington. Marilyn Quayle told Time magazine that she shops at the Price Club.

* San Diego Fire Capt. Al Burnett, who conducted an auction of sports memorabilia Friday for the Catfish Club, says he has great respect for money:

“I can hear a dollar bill falling 10 feet behind me and tell you what side it landed on.”

* In modern politics you’ve got to worry about all the interest groups.

Dianne Jacob, running for the Board of Supervisors from the East County, has been at pains to chase the good-ol’-boy (and good-ol’-girl) vote.

She wears Western clothes and calls her campaign trips to shopping centers “mall stomping.” She began her campaign at the Lakeside Rodeo grounds, where she galloped in on a horse.

Last week she was back at the rodeo grounds for a rally, complete with barbecue, country-Western music by Greasewood (“a band from Jacob’s own Deerhorn Valley”) and a calf-roping competition.

But, although courting the down-home vote, Jacob doesn’t want to anger any animal-rights types.

A press release about the rally quotes her as saying:

“I was impressed with how well treated the calves are in the team roping competition. Unlike traditional calf roping, the animals are protected and never thrown to the ground.”

There’s no comment from Jacob on how well the beef liked the barbecue.

Creepy Digs

Do the right thing (or at least make an attempt).

* If you’re staying this week at the Howard Johnson Harborview, you might want to check under the bed.

The International Reptile Breeders Assn. is holding its annual convention. (Beware of lounge lizards.)

* Faculty critics of Tom Day, president of San Diego State University, aren’t giving up.

Now they’re circulating a periodical gag bulletin called “Meekly.” (The official SDSU bulletin is called “Weekly.”)

“Meekly” even has a motto: “All The News That’s Fit To Print Until Day Is Gone. “

* For the record: Controversial gay activist John W. (Jack) Campbell has not contributed money to San Diego congressional candidate Lynn Schenk.

Campbell has, however, contributed to EMILY’s List, a nationwide effort to elect Democratic women who support keeping abortion legal.

EMILY’s List has endorsed Schenk and 43 other candidates nationwide and is helping them raise money by circulating their names to likely contributors.

* University of San Diego officials say that, if the Bush campaign has not confirmed by 5 p.m. today, the campus will have to withdraw its offer to host a presidential debate Sunday.

Unless the debate is a sure thing, USD cannot afford to pay for the lighting, air-conditioning, communications gear and media accommodations that would have to be installed this week.

* Yes, there is a woman awaiting sentencing on drug charges in San Diego whose rap sheet lists her aliases as Bono, Springsteen and Cher.

So far she’s not been able to raise the $5,000 bail and there are no plans for a concert.

Rock and Restraint

How tight will security be for Wednesday’s big rock concert at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium?

By the numbers: 1,200 security guards, 200 cops, 500 two-way radios, temporary fencing, screening for booze-drugs-weapons, no beer sold at the stadium, “ingress and egress restrictions,” a handout to everyone warning of the rules and penalties, and more.

And remember, have a nice time.