The Slice She Took It On Faith That He Knew His Stuff

Mike French works at Holy Family Hospital as a nurse anesthetist.

He recently met with a 91-year-old patient and discussed with her an upcoming procedure. That seemed to go OK.

Later, French found out that she thought he’d said he was an atheist.

Coming next month: Hasbro, the maker of G.I. Joe, is introducing 12-inch action figures patterned after World War II’s “Tuskegee Airmen.” The pioneering black aviators broke the military’s color barrier, and the fighter pilots went on to establish a distinguished combat record.

Ultimate Inland Northwest put-down: “What part of California are you from?” - Guy Bailey, Sandpoint

Bailey, who gets asked that despite having moved to Idaho from Oregon, suggested that this question tops the simple “Are you from California?” query because it assumes guilt.

For the record, The Slice believes that moving from one state to another is a time-honored American tradition that, to the best of our knowledge, is still not a crime.

Slice answer: A Coeur d’Alene reader borrowed one of her daughter’s malapropisms when suggesting a name for a television drama set in a Spokane hospital. She’d call it “Secret Heart.”

This happened on a weekday at 3:30 in the afternoon: A friend observed two guys in dress shirts and ties take turns urinating behind a not particularly secluded tree at Hamblen Park on the South Hill. That’s right next to a grade school.

“What’s this world coming to?” our friend wondered.

Don’t ask.

Local Tattoos Department: Vegetarian David Friedman makes a statement with the image of jalapeno peppers, cherries, apples, bananas, corn and grapes on his right arm.

Arlene Stromberger’s “Stupid Father of the Year Award”: Goes to the guy who took a small boy to see the R-rated movie “Ransom.” He was seen trying to console the obviously upset youngster, who looked to be about 6 years old. “Remember, son, those people didn’t really die, they were just pretending.”

Sorry about the “North By Northwest” mix-up Saturday: We had been misinformed.

Today’s Slice question: Why are you hanging on to all those old and worn-out shoes you never wear?

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: The Slice appears Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. Write The Slice at P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; fax (509) 459-5098. Loretta Spence suspects local drivers must be becoming among the nation’s most adept when it comes to obstacle- course-like strategic swerving.