The Slice Colville Has That Special 30-Year Reunion Feel
A reader named Mary shared her theory about the difference between Seattle and Spokane.
Being in Seattle, she said, is like attending a 10-year high school reunion. Everyone is trying to be impressive and play one-upmanship, et cetera.
Living in Spokane, she suggested, is like being at a 20-year reunion. People have relaxed and are concentrating on enjoying life.
Hmmmm. Interesting. Of course, we skipped our 20-year reunion, so we’re in no position to judge.
Most foul-mouthed workplaces: Readers’ nominations included The Spokesman-Review, Kaiser-Mead, EZ Loader Boat Trailers, The Shed, any middle school, Spokane County Jail, wherever there is a Spokane Parks and Recreation league flag-football game (for referees), Corner Club Tavern, Sunset Junction, the flight line at Fairchild Air Force Base, Burlington Northern Railroad offices/shops and McDonald’s drive-throughs.
Wanting to look cool without dying for it: “Has anyone else noticed that in movies lately the actors whose characters smoke are obviously not smoking,” wrote Mitch Finley. “They puff, hold the smoke behind the lips, do the best they can to give the impression of inhaling, then blow the smoke out again. But it’s easy to spot. John Travolta, in ‘Get Shorty,’ is a most recent obvious example.”
Selective lisping: New Athol mayor Lanny Spurlock knows a few people enjoy making fun of his town’s name, sometimes including him in the jokes. But he doesn’t gripe. In fact, he phoned us to share a few of the things he has been called. You can guess.
Good news/bad news: Pat Palmer is glad that people around here still hold doors open for others. But he said he has noticed a decline in the percentage of beneficiaries of this small act who express thanks.
Three reasons to turn off the TV: Annoying third-tier celebrities hosting coverage of holiday parades, that one CNN anchor who looks like a Ken doll and the carpet-cleaning commercial featuring history’s most ridiculous “attempt” to crack an egg into a pan.
Today’s Slice question: What’s the toughest undergraduate course offered at an Inland Northwest college? , DataTimes MEMO: The Slice appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Write The Slice at P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; fax (509) 459-5098.