Crustycurmudgeon, wake up! It just came over the news this am on TV that the state of CA might be bringing back both Yellow/Black and Black/Yellow plates assuming they can get orders from 2,500 interested customers. Here's an article I found online. But after reading the article, maybe the new plates will not be exactly the same as our originals?
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2012/03/26/california-considers-the-return-of-black-license-plates/
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2012/03/26/california-considers-the-return-of-black-license-plates/