An official hello from several Uncle Sams

At the Paramount Theatre in Oakland last week, Jean Amos attended a naturalization ceremony for a friend, and noticed that the welcoming video featured former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Amos was surprised that President Trump wasn’t featured, but I’m assured by a representative of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which administers the ceremonies, that there’s nothing unusual about that and that it sometimes takes a while for a new president to get around to making such a video. The practice was started with George

W. Bush, and continued with Barack Obama. In olden days, when she was head of Homeland Security, a Janet Napolitano video was used, too; a new video features Homeland Security chief John Kelly.

Writing about Kelly’s appointment, the Boston Globe described him as “unhinged,” and nominated him as a candidate for the honor of being Trump’s worst appointee. Howdy, y’all, and welcome to America.

I think this rotation of welcomers could be expanded: Tom Hanks? Stephen Curry? Beyoncé?

A Ford van spotted in Piedmont by Andrew Monach seemed to have conflicting bumper stickers: “Love Trumps Hate” and “MSNTHRP.”

“When Amazon offered $13.7 billion to buy Whole Foods,” observes William Rodarmor, “the critical question was ‘paper or plastic?’ ”

A proud plug for The Chronicle: Julian Grant came across a July 16, 1970, editorial, “A New Look at Homosexual Marriage,” in which it was noted that men and women “derive great security, pride and social acceptance” through marriage, and “consideration should be given to allowing the homosexual minority the same rights to this sense of fulfillment.” Forty-five years later, notes Grant, the Supreme Court reached the same conclusion.

The culture question: At a Thursday, June 22, reception at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts’ Bedford Gallery for the exhibition “Sweet n Low,” James Brzezinski spotted Tom Waits. This exhibition, which is open through Sept. 3, is a juried show for which artists were asked to “extend the genre of cute from cuddly and precious to creepy and ironic . ... We’re looking to unleash the roly-poly, goofily-gamboling, saccharine-honeyed creatures on this earth and beyond!” said curators.

And Mark Aronoff was browsing around the website Invaluable when he came across a listing — with “too much info” — for the sale of “Lot 79: Ludwig Bemelsmans, painting, oil on canvas, impotent” work ... To which Aronoff says, “This must have been from the late stages of his career, perhaps midcentury or preViagra.”

Kathleen Hartzell blows the whistle on a demon who just might make a good villain in a horror movie. In the Share section of the West Marin Commons, the owners of Henry, a rooster purported to be “quite handsome,” plead for relief. “Lately, we find that when he is out free-ranging, it is not always safe to turn one’s back on him if you are in close proximity. He gets especially riled up if one is shaking out blankets or rugs (especially red! Does he have some ranging bull inside of him?)”

Henry’s owner is giving up attempts “to teach him better manners,” and looking to place the bird with a new family. P.S. At the intersection of 22nd and Church streets on Friday, June 23, Karyn Logsdon came across hundreds of yellow duckies arrayed in rows on the curb and nearby. If whoever parted with those birds is feeling lonely and in need of a fine feathered friend, perhaps a rooster would fill the bill?

Steve Kawa, who was aide to former Mayor Willie Brown, then served as chief of staff for Mayors Gavin Newsom and Ed Lee, was guest of honor at a farewell event for City Hall department heads last week. Kawa is known as the “iron man” at City Hall, also “the enforcer,” “the shadow mayor” and “the sphinx.” Rose Pak used to describe him as one of “the mayor’s baldies.”

A room in the mayor’s suite of offices now bears a sign saying it’s “Steve’s Conference Room.” And the City Hall tough guy grew teary as he told the gang assembled to pay tribute, “Here we are — we’re all educated, we all have homes, we all have jobs. But we work for those who aren’t educated, don’t have homes and don’t have jobs. And isn’t that a hoot! That’s a hoot and a half! I can’t imagine anything better than that.”

PUBLIC EAVESDROPPING “When I die, I want my team members to bury me, so they can let me down one more time.” Young man discussing his work with young man, overheard on Concord BART platform by John Alecca