The Slice : A blue candidate from the red planet?

Slice readers Mary Dorsey and Marlys Buzby both think Idaho gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brady looks just like the late actor Ray Walston.

“I keep waiting for the antenna to come out of his head,” wrote Dorsey.

That’s a reference to Walston’s signature role in the old TV show, “My Favorite Martian.”

As both women live in Washington, their observations probably can’t be considered negative campaigning. Besides, if they had wanted to be nasty they would have alluded to the actor’s portrayal of the devil in “Damn Yankees.”

“Pet peeve: After you’ve lived here long enough, you start to accept things that might have struck you as odd once upon a time.

Take, for instance, the presence in Spokane of people who regard themselves as edgy and countercultural but who also play golf. Maybe that seemed strange to you years ago. But you get used to it.

Well, Jennifer Read, who works at Whitworth College, is a newcomer. She hasn’t had time to get numb re: certain local quirks.

So she had a question.

“What’s up with so many of my fellow citizens selling puppies and other animals from out of the back of their cars — especially on Saturdays along Division?”

She added that the practice raises animal-welfare issues and can’t be good for the city’s image.

You’re right, Jennifer.

But the sad fact is that no place in the United States is more backward than Spokane when it comes to indifference to the overpopulation of cats and dogs.

We ought to be ashamed. But apparently we don’t know any better.

“Feedback: “I must admit I don’t understand the Slice column.” — Margaret Powell

“Invitation of the week: “Hello, Paul … I am a dance teacher with the Spokane Dance Company and we’d love to offer you the opportunity to learn to dance.” — Diane Davidson

“West side story: “Seattle TV news folks like to encourage local panic at the mention of snow,” wrote Fran Gorton. “Any snowfall is labeled a storm.”

Two things come to mind.

I’m not really sure all Spokane TV weather people can claim to be appropriately matter-of-fact in their discussions of snow.

But given the way people around here drive after the first flurry, maybe encouraging panic is simply realistic.

“Another phone number palindrome: OK, this one does not include the area code. But Lyn Dedas reported that her number is 624-0426.

“Today’s Slice question: What happened when you were suddenly reminded that autumn leaves often mask buckled sidewalks?