The Slice once suggested that there are parents here who would feel like failures if their children stayed in Spokane.

That angered some of my readers. No way, they argued.

Who’s right?

Multiple choice: Which of these injuries did you incur while raking leaves? A) Groin pull. B) Concussion. C) Blister near thumb. D) Torn ACL. E) Bitter beer face. F) Other.

“Monster Mash” question: Because of their occupations and work shifts, how many locals could plausibly assert that they were working in the lab late one night?

Pronouncing “Schade”: Kent Brennan, grandson of brewery operator Bernhardt Schade, said the reader offering instruction on how to say the name (Oct. 14) had it backward. “Shoddy” is correct, said Brennan.

Just wondering: Do you find that you don’t really have much problem with people here making fun of Spokane but resent it when outsiders do?

Annual pet-peeve item along these exact lines: It bugs Barb Beck when locals refer to the Seattle area as “the coast.”

“It isn’t,” she said.

Flashing back to last Monday: It was early. Janet Culbertson, not altogether awake, was looking at the features section when she glimpsed a headline referring to “Managing cougar populations.”

For a moment, she thought this alluded to older women who pursue younger men. “Do we have that many cougars in Spokane?” she thought.

Then she realized the piece was about big cats.

Spokane, then and now: Vera Snyder moved back to Spokane after being away for many years.

What has changed? People have gotten way, way more serious about backyard cooking, she said. “What’s with that?”

Vera, that is a reflection of this area’s twin loves: the outdoors and food.

Today’s Slice questions: Have you ever really been comfortable with the idea of purchasing only Halloween candy that you would not be tempted to sample yourself? We all understand the strategy. But isn’t it more fun to hand out treats that you regard as appealing?