The Slice: Cell abuse causing hang-ups

What would you say if you could speak into the ear of every driver talking on a cell phone? “Watch out!” said Robin Rogers.

She would utter this exclamation in such a way as to suggest that the drivers in question had failed to notice impending danger, which is certainly a possibility.

Kim Kremer would say, “Keep right except to pass. State law.”

“I would say ‘Watch out for the pedestrians,’ ” wrote a friend who asked that I withhold her name. “… Since I was hit by a moving automobile in 2003, I have had the pleasure of meeting more than 10 people who have been hit by cars while walking in the supposed safety of a crosswalk or at a light by turning cars.”

She didn’t indicate how many of these incidents involved alleged cell phone abuse.

I’ll give the last word to Spokane Valley’s John E. Johnson: “I would firmly say, ‘Could you drive any better if I shoved that cell phone…’ ” At that point his message becomes unprintable.

But perhaps you get the idea.

“Hair Stylists to the Rescue Department: A couple of years ago, a stylist at Dan’s Barbershop told Jeanine Coghlan’s husband, Jack, that he should see a doctor about a skin condition on his neck.

Jack did. He learned it was cancer.

The condition was treated successfully.

“One reader wondered: Why some account numbers have the equivalent of a figure larger than the number of all the humans who have ever lived.

I’m not sure. But I think we can safely assume it has something to do with the Lawyer Full Employment Program.

“Pet Names Department: John and Tammy Warner recently acquired a chocolate Lab. The dog’s name is “A’mon” (soft A sound).

The Warners’ 2-year-old daughter, Ava, named the pet. “A’mon” is how she says “come on.”

“New and improved Friday contest: More than 100 readers correctly answered last week’s admittedly easy movie trivia question. But in terms of the prizes, the competition was over before most of those people had even gotten out of bed.

So I’ve come up with new rules.

Today, if you answer correctly via phone or e-mail by 11:59 tonight, I will write your name on a slip of paper. Then, Monday, I’ll place all the slips of paper in a hat or box. And I’ll conduct a blind drawing to determine the winners.

Once again, I will be awarding three highly-coveted reporter’s notebooks.

OK, here’s today’s question: What Academy Award winning 1960 movie starring Jack Lemmon featured a rollicking depiction of what big office Christmas parties used to be like before they went on the wagon?

One guess per customer.

“Today’s Slice question: How do you feel about being in grocery stores at this time of year? A) I enjoy it because of the holiday vibe. B) I dislike it because of the holiday crowds. C) Other.