The Slice: Cute, cuddly photo can earn you a special prize

I’ll mail the first coveted reporter’s notebook of the year to the reader who sends me the best photo of a small child and a large dog who are devoted friends.

Bonus points for pictures of them playing in the snow.

Headlines readers would like to see in 2011: “EWU bans shortening of nickname to Eags” — Jan Jenne

“Lotto winner’s charity supports struggling Spokanites” — Pam Pierson

“Spokane local, Cheryl Bruno, wins Mega Millions” — Cheryl Bruno

“Cure for breast cancer found” — Patti Livingstone

“Winter ends a month early: Snow piles gone by Wednesday” — Jay Fintz

“Peace breaking out all over the world” — Cheri Catt

“Home sales triple” — Celia Benzel

You’ve stopped rockin’: “When you recognize only one name on the lineup for ‘Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve’ and you don’t even know what that guy does to be a celebrity,” wrote Bob Curry.

After you slipped and fell, when did you realize you were injured: “When it felt like my brain was rattling around inside my head,” said Ellen Hodde.

Slice answers: Several readers told about their snowblowers gagging on buried weekly shoppers or the daily newspaper. “I heard a big thud,” wrote Robert Fischbach.

“It is in shreds on our front lawn,” wrote Donae Thornburg.

“It stopped so fast I thought I broke something,” wrote Wes Jewell.

New age: “I just turned 55, and my husband thinks I now qualify for the senior discount at some places,” wrote Carol Nelson. “Is that right?”

I don’t know, Carol. But if you find yourself in a news story covered by one of the twentysomethings who spend half an hour working for Spokane area media, you might wind up being described as elderly.

Inland Northwest vs. Inland Empire: My new estimate of when that will be settled is 2030.

Today’s Slice question: When sleeping on your side, do you always place a pillow or clump of covers between your knees?