You gotta have heart:Long Beach superpatriot Ski...

You gotta have heart:

Long Beach superpatriot Ski Demski called to talk about his chances of making it into the Guinness Book of World Records in two decidedly unrelated categories.

One pertained to the unfurling of his 505-by-255-foot American flag from cables strung across Boulder Dam on May 1. That feat did, in fact, make page 191 of the 1997 Guinness book in the “world’s largest flag” section.

And the other category? “I had bypass surgery,” Demski revealed. “Guess how much.”

“Quadruple?” we said.

“Nine-way bypass,” he replied.

“Sounds like a Guinness record,” we said.

“Guinness doesn’t include that kind of category,” Demski responded, sounding disappointed. “Besides,” he added, “my doctor said he’d once done an 11-way bypass.”

NAME GAMES: Streets named after notables are common in the Southland but, in some cases, the honorees aren’t as obvious as you might think. Take Hoover Street in L.A. It honors the memory not of President Herbert Hoover but of Dr. Leonce Hoover, a pioneer Angeleno.

Gregory Way and Peck Drive, which intersect in Beverly Hills, aren’t a tribute to the actor. The streets (if we may use so mundane a term for that glamorous burg) were named for two early-century residents.

Whittier Drive in Beverly Hills was named not for John Greenleaf, the poet, but for Max, the businessman, points out resident Steven Herbert.

And Arnaz Drive, also in that city, refers to Don Jose de Arnaz, a large landholder in the 19th century.

Don Jose de Arnaz did not have a wife named Lucy.

BE KIND TO PLANTS DAY? Jaci Antram of the Russ Reid Co. reports that 56 Pasadenans were asked to define philanthropy during a man-on-the-street survey on National Philanthropy Day (which, we’re sure you knew, was Nov. 15).

Twenty-two were judged correct for saying it involved charity or volunteer work or benefiting mankind. Twenty-four others said they hadn’t the foggiest.

And then there were these interesting definitions of philanthropy:

* Stamp collecting (2 people)

* Has to do with philosophy (1)

* Medicine (1)

* Going from place to place with different women (1)

* One who is indifferent to various cultures (1)

* Something to do with animals (1)

* Inferiority (1)

* Gardening (1)

miscelLAny

A flier sent out by the UCLA Health Network includes a map that seems to have a multiple-choice question on the location of Pacific Palisades. On the other hand, if that map’s correct, a motorist on Pacific Coast Highway could perform a double bypass of the Palisades.