The Slice; With your help, we’ll be all talk

Fri., Sept. 21, 2007

Paul Turner The Spokesman-Review

Well, we’ve survived another Talk Like a Pirate Day (earlier this week).

Maybe it’s time for a few celebrations that are slightly more Spokane-centric.

Sure, let’s completely clog the calendar.

How about Talk Like a Vintage Car Restorer Day.

Or Talk Like a Yard Sale Zombie Day.

Or Talk Like a Zags Fan (when they’re winning) Day.

Or Talk Like Someone Who Says “Drug” Instead of “Dragged” Day.

Your turn.

“James Taylor vs. Neil Young: OK, let’s say you sort of like them both but can afford a ticket to just one of the October concerts. How do you decide?

Maybe The Slice can help.

Just consider:

Taylor provided a guest voice for an episode of “The Simpsons.” On the other hand, his second album was called, all kidding aside, “Sweet Baby James.”

Young’s father wrote a children’s novel called “A Boy at Leafs’ Camp,” which was read by virtually every hockey-loving Canadian boy about 45 years ago. But, according to a couple of sources, Neil’s middle name is Percival.

Young was friends with fellow Canadian Joni Mitchell. Taylor was married to Carly Simon, whose 1972 “No Secrets” album cover was an important piece of pop culture.

OK, I hope that helps you decide.

“Sounds reasonable: Arlie Robinson’s 4-year-old granddaughter, Jillian, recently held a sea shell up to her ear.

Her grandmother asked if she could hear the ocean.

No, said Jillian. But she thought she could hear the toilet.

“If you didn’t know it was a movie about Jane Austen: A letter-clipping ticket stub that said “Becoming Jan” could conceivably be from a film about Jan Brady (the early years).

“Warm-up questions: How many quilters often leave home with a tape measure still draped around their necks? What was your all-time most memorable moment of misspeaking while reading a story aloud to a child? How many people would want to coach youth sports teams if it wasn’t for dealing with modern parents? Do the people at yoga stress you out? Does your boss love the sound of his/her own voice?

“Today’s Slice question: When someone from another part of the country accepts a position as head of a high-profile Spokane area business or institution, do you immediately begin speculating about how long that person will stick around?

Local journalism is essential.

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