That’S Why Passwords Are Secret

Sat., Aug. 12, 2000

By Paul Turner srpaulturner@gmail.com

Hey, Little Beaver.

You aren’t the only one to use a summer camp nickname as a computer password.

* And so forth: “Yesterday my 5-year-old niece, Taylor, received a letter from her kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Moen, informing us of an orientation,” wrote Linda Hughes. “The letter said that this was a time for the children to get acquainted with the room and learn where the drinking fountain, bathroom, coat closet, et cetera were located.

“Taylor’s sister, Shayla, had been in Mrs. Moen’s class two years ago and we have visited many times. I told Taylor that she already knew where everything was.”

Taylor agreed that she knew about the drinking fountain, bathroom and closet. But she said she didn’t know how to find the “et cetera.”

* Odd but true: The other night at the airport, we saw this one guy stand back a few feet from a baggage carousel and actually allow others near him to access the conveyor.

* Urges that should be resisted:

1. The urge to run around waving a cordless microphone in faces.

2. The urge to overstate your role in the Mariners’ season.

3. The urge to mask your deep insecurities by constantly referring to the supposedly swinging life you led before moving to Spokane.

4. The urge to think it’s really cool when men decide against growing up.

5. The urge to believe that your experiences define life in Spokane.

* Just wondering: What happened when you typed in your name as a dot-com/dot-net/dot-org Web site?

* Slice answer: “One of the cheapest cheapskate moves I have ever seen is compliments of my friend Tim,” wrote Bob Mosher.

Tim has been known to ask for hot water in a restaurant. Then he adds ketchup, salt and pepper and calls it tomato soup.

* High-growth categories in the Spokane Yellow Pages:

“Safes and Vaults”

“Executive Search Service”

“Spas — Beauty and Day”

- Qwest Dex

* Warm-up questions: Doesn’t Qwest Dex sound like a modern parent’s idea of a stylish baby name? What’s the hardest you’ve been hit by a two-way door? How would the political climate of Spokane change if everyone opposed to fluoride moved out? How many people around here hope they never become famous because of certain photos?

* Today’s Slice question: When shaking off after a swim, what area dog sends water flying the farthest?

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