The Slice: Watching at the height of an important dispute

If you see a young person and an adult suddenly position themselves rigidly back to back while a third party looks on, don’t worry.

You probably are not about to witness a duel.

Chances are you’re seeing the aftermath of a kid saying “You know, mom, I’m taller than you now.”

Sometimes it’s a close call. Hence the back-to-back throw-down.

How old were you when your height exceeded that of a parent?

One highlight of spending time within earshot of a police/fire radio scanner: Hearing first responders note the locations and themes of citizens’ tattoos.

Slice answer: Several readers said the No. 1 way they could improve their image would be to lose weight.

One way Spokane has not changed: “Sadly, Spokane is as non-diverse and intolerant of gays and lesbians as ever,” wrote Glen Jones, who has lived in our area for 68 years. “That said, Spokane is a great place to live and I look forward to the day when people in Spokane learn to accept others as they are.”

Readers recall the loudest sounds they have heard: Answers included the Air Force’s SR-71 “Blackbird” on the ground undergoing engine maintenance/testing, certain astonishingly powerful dragsters, and a George Thorogood concert at the Opera House in the 1990s.

But Laura Parker had her own observation. “The loudest noise by far are the many, many trains that run through Cheney between 12 a.m. and 4 a.m. and blast their horns as though they are approaching a super highway clogged with rush hour traffic.”

Please state the nature of the emergency: “We have a business and the first three numbers of our Federal ID number is 911,” wrote Lois Hattenburg.

Once, when trying to reach a government agency, she punched in those digits by mistake. She subsequently told the 911 operator that she had actually been trying to reach the IRS. He chuckled and said there wasn’t anything he could do to help.

Learning to savor every day: Several readers mentioned grave illnesses and multiple deaths in one’s immediate circle as encouraging the appreciation of every sunrise.

Johnny Erp said his experience in Vietnam made the difference. “We had a saying: ‘Every day after ’Nam is gravy.’ It’s true.”

Today’s Slice question: How many preschoolers have underwear issues?