Short meeting, Victor Borge, thick slices, Plonkavision

When all the senior management is out, at the bureau offices or otherwise, the 10 a.m. meeting is very short. Today’s could be a record at 9 minutes 45 seconds. And as a minute-related video, the Minute Waltz comedy routine with Victor Borge and Leonid Hambro:

Thick slices

• Plan aims to protect lake: Monitoring key to effort to keep nutrients out, metals in place : A complicated issue written in a way that makes perfect sense, editors said. Story by Becky Kramer.
• BlueRay faces securities fraud suit: Action says firm should repay $4 million : Kudos from editors - This story by reporter Parker Howell is part of a long string about plans for a BlueRay plant in Spokane.
• Mr. Irrelevant: Life at the bottom is all fun and games : For others who aren’t in the loop, an explainer about the title bestowed on the last pick in the NFL draft.

The Plonkavision theory

A question we hear sometimes - “Is that a Plonka photo?” The running joke is that photojournalists Brian and Kathy Plonka make photos feature various body parts, particularly heads and feet. While the complete Plonkavision collection actually features a great variety of shots, editors tend to remember those various body parts.

“Eventually we’ll put them all together,” photo editor Larry Reisnouer said yesterday.

At right are four photos that prove this point, the top two by Brian and the bottom two by Kathy. The lake-and-feet photo was published today on the front page.

The captions! Clockwise from bottom left

» Three-year-old Jade Harlow, of Coeur d’Alene, plays Monday at the edge of Lake Coeur d’Alene. KATHY PLONKA The Spokesman-Review

» Chad Phillipe of ACS Ponies and Petting Farm with one of their dozens of friendly farm animals, June 12, 2008, available for hands on enjoyment. BRIAN PLONKA The Spokesman-Review

» Some 60 plus years after Denis Mikkelsen survived the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 5, 2007, Christmas lights in his Airway Heights home have long replaced the bombs and confusion on that fateful day. BRIAN PLONKA The Spokesman-Review

» A member of Spokane Blind Bowlers club waits for the competition to begin at Lilac Lanes in Spokane on March 20, 2008. KATHY PLONKA The Spokesman-Review