The Slice: In tough times, name could be a political asset

Visitors from Denmark noted that one political candidate’s last name seen on campaign signs in Spokane means “cheap” in Danish.

No, you’ll have to guess. For a lot of voters, calling someone cheap – even in a foreign language – would be an endorsement.

Spilt communication: Barbara Smith ordered a latte and asked that it be made with skim milk.

The young woman taking her order said they only had nonfat.

Postcards to The Slice: Barb Beck was back East and sent one featuring a pretty, rural scene from “Amish Country.”

“The biggest difference between this place and Spokane is humidity,” she wrote.

And all the deciduous trees.

Cindi John sent a card from Texas. “The biggest difference between Dallas and Spokane is Blue Bell ice cream,” she wrote.

And the way they make fried chicken.

Pet-sitter’s surprise: North Idaho’s John McTear and his wife, Betsy, had to go out of town. So a friend, Linda Wright, agreed to house-sit and watch the pets.

One evening she let the old dog, Pugsley, out into the yard. The pooch proceeded to have an unpleasant encounter with a skunk.

Wright called another friend, Maxine Sullivan, and asked for help. Sullivan drove 25 miles to assist in the deskunkification of Pugsley.

Using cleansing concoctions recommended online, they bathed the old dog for a long time – past midnight.

“Talk about friends!” wrote a sincerely impressed McTear.

But despite these valiant efforts, Pugsley still smelled like Pepe Le Pew when the couple got home. So they tried a classic technique, washing her with tomato juice.

“The result: Skunk marinara,” said McTear.

And their friend Linda? Well, she was at a church function some time later when she discovered that, despite multiple washings, the clothes she had on while helping poor Pugsley still reeked.

Let us pray.

Today’s Slice question: Ever had a great idea that you neglected to write down and then forgot?