The Slice: Bus is great except for ‘that guy’

It has been too hot to walk home after work.

So I have rediscovered the bus. It has been fun.

But I had forgotten about a certain inconsiderate creature — the slack-jawed guy who sits with his legs so far apart that he takes up multiple seats.

This is known as looking like a loser.

“Call of nature: Slice reader Marge Wade said an encounter with bears on a camping trip helped her overcome a bout of constipation.

“Just for the record: I know that sometimes I sound like a cranky old fogey. Hey, if the shoe fits.

Readers have endured my rants about the hyper-sexualized way some young women dress these days. And I suppose it would be reasonable to infer that I grew up in a time of chaste fashions and universal striving for modesty.

That, of course, would be ridiculous. I was reminded of that the other night while watching “Hawaii Five-O.” (Was Jack Lord the worst actor in history? Oh, well, the theme music and credits sequence were fun.)

This episode was from 1970. That’s just about when I started high school. Anyway, this one young woman in that show kept appearing in dresses that were mind-blowingly short. I mean really short. Ah, yes, I thought. I remember those.

I would argue that it was a more elegant look than some of what you see today. But perhaps I should simply pipe down.

“Speaking of growing old: On Monday evening, a grocery checker young enough to be my daughter called me “Sweetie.”

She was friendly and all. Still, it sounded like something she must say to customers she pictures drawing Social Security checks.

It made me wonder.

What do cashiers call you?

“By the numbers: Spokane’s Ed Brandstoettner turned 77 on 7/7/7.

Bob Codd, who is 77, shot a 77 at Manito Golf and Country Club on that date.

And if you can’t get enough of numerical oddities on the calendar, Mike McKeehan has one for you. He noted that Nov. 11, 2011, will be 11/11/11.

“Somebody should plan a party,” he wrote.

Be sure to remember that it’s also Veterans Day and Washington’s statehood day.

“Slice answer (What do couples do about socializing when he doesn’t really like her friends and she isn’t all that wild about his?): “Pass the remote,” wrote Gary Polser.

“Today’s Slice question: How do you deal with arm-rest hogs?