The Slice: Fresh produce inviting, but there are limits

IF YOU’VE BEEN THINKING of adopting a dietary regimen featuring lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, this is definitely the time of year to go for it. The cherries, plums, peaches, corn and tomatoes all look so inviting.

Just remember not to overdo it. For anyone hoping to comfortably exist in polite society, moderation is the key.

I’ll say no more.

“Question for adult males: When you think back on some of the brainless stunts you pulled with fireworks as a kid, are you astonished and grateful to still have all your fingers?

“Slice answer: A new “fest” inspired by the weekend activities at Cathy Kraus’ house would have to include some variation of the word “putter.”

“One last “Born to Run” rewrite: This comes from a friend who is a major Bruce Springsteen fan.

“The highway’s jammed with cell phone junkies who won’t hang up and drive.”

“Speaking of highways: The Slice received an e-mail from reader Karen Gill, which I present without comment.

“Since we first moved to this area (Cheney to be exact) six years ago, I have become more and more impressed with the fact that the Spokane highways are jammed with the kindest people,” she wrote. “They don’t honk or shake fists or crowd you out when you goof up or need to merge in when it is already crowded. I am also impressed with the number of people who smile at me as we drive along. That’s Spokane!”

“Odds and ends: The nominations for the office of Spokane Village Idiot were obviously heartfelt. Still, they amounted to rounding up the usual suspects. So, never mind.

Same goes for the suggestions about romantic places to get married.

A reader named Russ wants to remind those displaying newspaper-page American flags in their windows that those things don’t last forever.

And a South Hill reader named Paige got a kick out of a local TV news person telling viewers that if they were experiencing a power outage, they should “Call the number on the screen.”

That must have been for those who have solar-powered televisions.

“This date at Expo ‘74: Soviet gymnast Olga Korbut.

“Today’s Slice question: Perhaps you are familiar with programs in several large cities where children from disadvantaged urban backgrounds get to go spend a part of their summer vacation with families who live in idyllic country settings. New York’s “Fresh Air Fund” is one example.

Well, what if a program were established where low-income Spokane area kids got to spend a summer weekend with families who have lake places?

Could that work? One key, of course, would be that host families not be elitist snobs or condescending twits.

But my experience suggests that when given the opportunity to do the right thing, many people rise to the occasion.