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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

The Slice

She don’t lie, she don’t lie, she don’t lie…Spocaine

Years ago, back when I had slightly more energy, I imagined that it was our civic duty to correct anyone who mispronounced "Spokane."

Every time.

More than once, I exhorted readers of my column to tackle this assignment with evangelical zeal.

I still think it is a fine idea. But I have come to a realization.

Sometimes all you want is to have someone explain why the pants you ordered have not arrived. The fact that a young woman on the phone in Maine pronounced Spokane "Spocain" is not the end of the world as we know it.

Maybe that sounds like surrender. That's not how I mean it.

It's just that I have now decided to face the facts. The only way everyone in the rest of the country will learn to pronounce the name of our city is if Spokane is the location of a mind-blowingly huge disaster covered 24/7 for days and days by national news media.

And who wants that? Especially the media part.



The Slice

The online home for Paul Turner's musings and interactions with disciples of The Slice.