Three weeks have floated into the moonlight since the operator of the Inglewood Oil Field impersonally announced – public relations be darned – that they no longer wanted to negotiate a retooling of drilling regulations with the City Council and the Culver City community.

Why did Sentinel quit talks the day of the debate?

Sentinel Peak Resources, the owner since last January, did what people who have something to hide do best. They are hiding.

Oh, it’s not as if they are childishly ducking behind a fat tree trunk. They make themselves unavailable in three communities – public relations be darned.

The number for Sentinel’s office on South Fairfax is a secret – public relations be darned.

Greasing the dirty palms of a homeless man in the ‘hood, I obtained the number: 323.298.2291.

If sophistication is not a requirement for becoming amused, dial the number.

The recorded ill-mannered opening/closing response invites you to dial the desired extension “if you now it.” If you don’t, tough toenails. The transcribed operator hangs up without warning.

Your next clever tactic is to call Sentinel’s headquarters in Englewood, CO. You start with the owner’s hotline and meet another recording.

You try a 720 number, the main office.

A cheery voice answers.

This promptly kills speculation that all Sentinel employees are in various stages of dead.

Ms. Cheery helpfully explains that the public relations people who could field my questions are in Bakersfield.

We can all write the following sentence in unison:

“When … I… dialed…the …661…number…a …recording…said…no one…was …available.”

Ever?

Public relations be darned for Sentinel Peak Resources.