The Slice: Avoid huff when they puff

Here’s how to be a good ambassador for the Northwest during your domestic travels this summer.

When visiting locales that lack smoking restrictions, do not get all smug and say, “Good God, you people are primitive.”

Instead, try “I’m not laughing at you, Miss. It’s just that I had forgotten about the absurdity and laws-of-physics futility of the whole ‘No Smoking Section’ concept.”

Pet peeve: “Why do weather people always remind us to put on sunscreen only when it gets really hot?” wrote Anne Remien. “Do they not know it’s sun and not the temperature that causes sunburn?”

Stuff in the freezer that might require some explaining: “There’s an elk hide and deer hide in there waiting to be made into buckskin,” wrote Jeannie Maki.

Most common husband-and-wife name combo: Sue Kelly, who is married to Mike, feels certain that their names pairing would rank in the top 10.

Couldn’t stop laughing: You know that TV commercial for the place that offers to buy your gold jewelry? Well, Ila Jensen thought she heard the announcer say that they would even “wear it” right there in front of you. That struck her as odd. She thought, where’s the appeal in that?

Then she figured out that the announcer was saying “weigh it,” and that realization cracked her up.

Slice answers: Several readers said they would be willing to try 1950-style train travel as an alternative to modern air travel. They urged me to get back to them when the transportation time machine is ready.

Finish this sentence/multiple choice: Around here, hot weather really brings out the …

A) Tendency to text while steering a boat. B) Woo girls. C) Fecal incidents. D) Urge to replace evaporated lake water with perspiration. E) Permanently affixed sunglasses. F) 1 a.m. public yelling. G) Swimsuit controversies. H) Spawning repartee. I) Other.

Today’s Slice question: Why do you keep in touch with some friends from your past and not others?