The Slice: Believe it: Exact change can be a gift

The Slice had asked about situations where readers happened to have just the right amount of money.

“I received a ‘rewards’ certificate for an office supply store, based on my previous year’s purchases,” wrote Penny Simonson.

It was for $34.41.

“So I went to said store and made my purchases – art supplies and things I wouldn’t normally treat myself to. At the checkout … yep, my total came to exactly $34.41.”

For a moment, Simonson and the cashier experienced a bit of “Who’s on first?” confusion.

They eventually established that the rewards certificate and the purchases each came to exactly $34.41.

“Neither of us could believe it.”

Re: Spokane Indians players who made it to the majors at some point: It’s a fairly long list. I’ve been haphazardly compiling it over on The Slice Blog since last spring. But reader Les Norton mentioned several names I didn’t have, including Mike Strahler.

Norton was friends with a number of the players. “We had those guys in our backyard roasting hot dogs and drinking beer.”

Many of the players would go on to be bigger stars. But Strahler, who had stints with the Dodgers and Tigers in the early 1970s, held one distinction. His presence made the host’s wife blush. “He was a really good looking guy,” Norton said.

Saturday contest: We’re coming up on the 50th anniversary (March 2) of the first airing of the classic “Twilight Zone” episode “To Serve Man.”

Remember when the woman who deciphered the aliens’ language tries to save her boss and blurts out the awful secret just as he is boarding the spaceship? Sure. Well, phone The Slice and record your impression of her warning. You might win a coveted reporter’s notebook.

You don’t have to be female to enter.

Today’s Slice question: To what extent is hearing “Dave’s not here, man,” a part of life for guys named Dave?

Yes, that’s a reference some who are quite old or quite young wouldn’t get. But I suspect a high percentage of those actually named Dave will understand.