The Slice: It’s make or break for lakes

Who’s No. 1? Get ready for The Slice’s Preseason Top 20.

You know how there are all sorts of polls for college sports? Sure.

Well, with summer looming over the near horizon, The Slice is about to compile a poll ranking Inland Northwest lakes. And you, the readers of this column, get to be the pollsters.

All you have to do to cast your vote is call or write The Slice and name the lake that you regard as the region’s best. E-mails are fine. Just be sure to include your name and a daytime phone number. (I’ll randomly select a few voters to receive prizes.)

Unlike the self-important organizers of those football and basketball polls, the administrator of this one will admit right up front that it’s all entirely subjective.

So use any criteria you like in evaluating local lake superiority.

Best for water sports? Quietest? Cleanest water? Best scenery? Size? Best public access? Overall No. 1 summer recreation vibe? Best campgrounds? Fewest drunken yahoos? Most entertaining beach scene? Nicest people? The perfect distance from Spokane? Best fishing?

You make the call.

Get your vote in by 5 p.m. Tuesday. I’ll print the results next weekend.

“Slice answer (pets/picture window): “My Scottish terrier Fiona spends most of her day on the back of the couch either sleeping or watching the neighborhood,” wrote Patti Ormsby of Coeur d’Alene. “This was the first place she went the day we brought her home and she will climb over guests sitting on the couch. It’s kind of hard on the upholstery.”

Not to mention the guests.

“But she is awfully cute,” said Ormsby.

“Roses by any other names: Since the spring of 1998, it has been a Slice tradition to occasionally count the number of hits certain names register in the S-R’s electronic archives (going back to 1994). So here’s how the tally stood early Tuesday afternoon.

Caitlin, 861; Kaitlin, 540; Katelyn, 494; Kaitlyn, 439; Caitlyn, 158; Katelynn, 111; Katlyn, 76; Kaitlynn, 51; Katelin, 42; Kaytlyn, 22; Kaytlin, 19; Caitlynn, 14; Kaitlen, 14; Caitlan, 10; Catelyn, 8; Katlynn, 7; Kaitlan, 7; Caitlen, 7; Catelynn, 3; Katlynne, 3; Caytlin, 1; Caitlinn, 1.

“Slice answer: “For about 10 years, I went through four or five pairs of $10-$15 sunglasses each year,” wrote Kevin Flatt of Nine Mile Falls.

He broke some and lost others.

Then, eight years ago, he bought a high-quality pair for $225.

Those, he never misplaced. “In the long run, I actually save a bunch.”

“Warm-up questions: What would be your first demand in talks aimed at hammering out peace accords with the backyard yellow jackets? Is there a Northwest accent?

“Today’s Slice question: Inasmuch as many people don’t know their neighbors these days, some families come up with private nicknames to describe those who live nearby. So what are some of the nicknames your family uses for neighbors?