The Slice: Trying to read Lilac City’s state of mind

Boise resident Dawn Larzelier mentioned to a Gem State newcomer that she used to live in Spokane.

“Spokane,” said the newcomer. “Isn’t that in northern Idaho?”

No, it just seems that way to Democrats.

“For the record: Pluto will be included in The Slice’s next Earth Day ranking of the planets.

A now deceased friend of mine was a pal of the astronomer who discovered it. So this column won’t be turning its back on Planet 9.

“Ten for Tuesday: 1. If Arizona State and Arizona are willing to regularly play Northern Arizona in football, how come WSU and UW won’t ever put EWU on their schedules?

2. “On one of our longer trips as a family we came up with ‘opportunipee’ as the word for a restroom available just when you need it,” wrote Martin Wells.

3. Carol Bryan was scanning the S-R’s web site when she saw “Ongoing Coverup.” She looked again and realized the section heading said “Ongoing Coverage.”

4. “Are you aware that 65 percent of the people who use statistics make them up?” asked Susan Svitak.

5. A reader saw a sign in a store in Polson, Mont., that read “Children unattended will be given a latte and a free puppy.”

6. Barb Farnsworth’s throw rugs move from east to west. Nance Nicholls’ move north to south.

7. A local Brand X publication recently ran a classified ad for a house that said it came with an “Oversized 2 cat garage with alley access.”

8. One reader’s pet peeve: “People who pronounce the word ‘strength’ as if there were no ‘g’ in it.”

9. Noting that not all old shows can be seen, no matter how many cable channels you get, Sandy Tarbox wonders what vintage programs Slice readers would like to see back in some channel’s lineup.

10. The huckleberries-swimming-in-vodka mash in the back of Holly Bickford’s fridge got its start 33 years ago. The berries are still purple. “But a rather muted shade.”

“Slice answers: The family TV-watching session got a bit uncomfortable for Laura Visco when a nature show suddenly focused on a certain body part of an aroused male whale. “Mom, what is that?”

It’s a reason to change the channel.

And Sidney Blomquist once rented “A Boy and His Dog” to watch with her young granddaughters. Big mistake. It turned out it’s a raunchy romp through a kinky future.

“Today’s Slice question: When you swap hospital experience stories with friends and relatives in other parts of the country, how do the Spokane area’s medical centers stack up in the comparison?