Hot potatoes: Nickle and Dimed

A close encounter with Meter Readers has transformed another motorist into a former downtown Spokane cuss-tomer. Seems “Janette” tried to beat the Spokane parking jinx June 27. At 4 p.m., she pumped 20-plus nickels into meter No. 2575, near The Onion restaurant. In fact, she pushed in an extra nickel to ensure that she was covered until 6 p.m. However, she noticed she didn’t get extra time for that last nickel. It was a sign of things to come. In reading Janette’s comment on Huckleberries Online, I was reminded of my January encounter with Diamond Parking as a result of a botched attempt to use the confusing automated machine in a parking lot near the Opera House. But let’s return to Janette’s story. She found a ticket on her windshield when she returned to her car and noticed that the meter had shorted her 40 minutes. Her reaction? “I’m thinking twice about my next parking-necessary visit if the city can’t get its meters working right,” she said. “I can walk to a salon near my house. But I prefer the atmosphere and service of downtown business.” And you wonder why “shop local” themes resonate elsewhere in the Inland Northwest?

5 DUIs = felony? Pshaw

Idaho may be light-years behind Washington when it comes to job pay, tax-free groceries and major-league sports teams, but Idaho knows how to handle DUIvers better. Three noninjury DUIs in five years, and you’re facing a felony in the Spud State. Ask white supremacist Vincent Bertollini, who checked into the cross-bar motel as a result of a third DUI charge and life on the run. You can see why we Idahoans aren’t impressed with the change in Washington law that transforms the fifth DUI in 10 years into a felony, although it’s a staggering step in the right direction. … French Fries (or, “M’s manager Mike Hargrove quits while he’s ahead”): 1) eight-game winning streak, 2) 12 games over 0.500 for first time in years, 3) no longer fall guy, 4) prayer not needed when Jeff Weaver pitches, and 5) no more summers spent with undereducated jocks.

Pie to cure your curse?

So, how do you shake a Gypsy curse? Columnist Doug Clark has chronicled the fact that it continues even if the party of the first part dies – Gypsy king Jimmy Marks, in Spokane’s case. In Stephen King’s “Thinner,” a cursee could pass along the curse, if he had someone else eat a specially made pie. If that loophole’s still in effect, I’d pass on invitations to join Spokane Mayor Dennis Hession for dessert. … Hat Tip – to Mayor Sandi Bloem and the CdA chamber for shooting down plans by a Fourth of July parade entry to fire off simulated blasts from a theatrical 50-caliber M-4 mounted on a replica of Gen. George Patton’s command vehicle. There’s a time and place for big-boy noise on holidays – like at the fireworks show that ended Lake City’s annual celebration. … This edition of Hot Potatoes was brought to you by the number “8,” or the number of neo-Nazis who gathered at the Spokane County Courthouse during Hoopfest as part of a worldwide remembrance day for the late David Eden Lane, four fewer than the last racist demo in Spokane five years ago. Or the 33 percent drop in attendance is another way to measure progress.

Read D.F. Oliveria’s Huckleberries Online blog at www.spokesmanreview.com/blogs/hbo