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

The Slice It’s Time We Celebrated The True Unsung Heroes

We know there are already a lot of national holidays.

But we would like to see one more - a day to honor those people who agree to feed friends’ pets when they are away.

Slice answer: “Your home can be tidy enough for company 100 percent of the time,” wrote Chewelah’s Mary McDonnell. “Simply plug the vacuum into a living room outlet and let it remain in view. Tell callers that you were just getting ready to clean.”

That’s a pretty good trick. It’s even better than our own approach - staggering around, feigning amnesia.

“Who am I? Who are you people? Do I live here? Is this a dream? Why hasn’t anyone dusted?”

And you think YOU need to get a life: Ears pricked up here at Slice Headquarters when a nearby Swell Paper reporter was overheard phoning Jill St. John.

This colleague noticed our interest. But she was baffled about why we cared about her conversation with Bill St. John.

Hello movie lovers: OK, we admit it. For some strange reason, we kind of like Bill Stanley’s slightly oddball movie introductions on KSPS-TV’s “Saturday Night Cinema.”

Video generation: “Our daughter buys VCR tapes especially made for animals,” wrote Wilbur’s Margaret Underwood. “She has sent us several photographs of her cats utterly entranced with watching TV. We worry that the cats may spend too much time watching TV and will never learn to read or write.”

The Slice’s Subjective Poll of the best 1963 girl-group hits (including three we just made up…Hey kids, try to spot the fakes and then ask a boomer to grade your guesswork):

1. “One Fine Day” - Chiffons

2. “Be My Baby” - Ronettes

3. “He’s So Fine” - Chiffons

4. “Da Doo Ron Ron” - Crystals

5. “My Boyfriend’s Back” - Angels

6. “Foolish Little Girl” - Shirelles

7. “Then He Kissed Me” - Crystals

8. “Don’t, Not There” - Darlenes

9. “Hickey Machine” - Scrumpy and the Slutz

10. “Ooo-la-la This” - Hot Meals

Today’s Slice question: Did anyone stick to their apres-storm made-during-the-blackout vows to burn candles more often (because they’re beautiful, smell good and generally class up the ambiance), watch less TV (for a zillion reasons), et cetera?

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Drawing

MEMO: The Slice appears Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. Write The Slice at P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; fax (509) 459-5098. Try naming 10 Spokane TV news anchors who no longer work here.

The Slice appears Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. Write The Slice at P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; fax (509) 459-5098. Try naming 10 Spokane TV news anchors who no longer work here.