Arrow-right Camera

Color Scheme

Subscribe now

This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.

The Slice: Get your bids in now on the Review Tower


We're not exactly sure how the people posing out front of the tower are doing, though.
 (The Spokesman-Review)

Sometimes it’s easy to tell that someone is not from around here. There’s a vintage postcard currently for sale on eBay — starting bid, $4.99. It shows the Review Tower. Next to a picture of the card, the seller wrote, “I believe the building is still standing.”

I was at work when I read that. So, with a quick glance or two at my surroundings, I was able to confirm that.

Yes, it’s still standing.

The seller’s code name on the online auction site is “mom6933.”

Speaking of the newspaper building in downtown Spokane, she also wrote, “The architect is beautiful.”

I’m sure he’d be pleased to hear that if he wasn’t long dead.

But we probably ought to cut mom6933 some slack. If her eBay seller profile can be believed, she is a 71-year-old Virginian. Her 76-year-old sister is closing an antiques business and sought help in selling off the inventory.

I’ll bet it is a cute little shop.

I wonder if it’s still standing.

“Hot air index: One of the things they teach in Marketing 101 is that newspaper columnists and disc jockeys crave ranting material. And one way to get these professional social observers’ attention is to compile lists ranking cities.

It doesn’t really matter if the list grades cities in terms of “friendliness” or “best bratwurst.” The idea is to attach a sponsor’s name to the survey that produced the list and then wait for what amounts to free advertising.

Well, a spokeswoman for a certain brand of deodorant declined to admit to me that all of that is true. So I won’t mention the name of the product that sponsored the “Top 100 Sweatiest Cities Study.”

I will say, though, that any ranking that says Spokane (No. 56) is hotter than Knoxville, Tenn. (No. 57) or Baton Rouge, La., (No. 66) or Cincinnati (No. 89) is a joke.

“Top pop: Slice voters picked Ward Cleaver of “Leave it to Beaver” as their all-time favorite TV dad. Homer Simpson came in second, ahead of six other also-rans.

One fan of Beaver’s dad praised the character played by Hugh Beaumont for being a caring, sensitive parent who helped his sons through reasoning and by example, “Not by trying to be a pal.”

Others expressed admiration for his patience, sartorial style (he wore a tie at home) and his ability to knock off from work at 3 in the afternoon.

“This date at Expo ‘74: Grand Funk.

“True or false: At an airport in another city, you can find the gate for the flight to Spokane just by looking for people dressed several notches below “casual.”

“Just wondering: What’s the story behind your personalized e-mail address?

“Slice answer: If Brian Kermode actually looked like his driver’s license picture, his nickname would be “The guy who has just been asked to step out of the car.”

“Today’s Slice question: What social trend or lifestyle fad has you convinced the apocalypse is near? (Please try to choose just one.)

More from this author