The Slice: Fine line between validation, judgment

Paul Turner has been taking some time off this summer. In his absence, we’re diving into the archives here at Slice Central. Today we revisit Aug. 7, 1995. New columns resume Saturday.

Nancy Lindberg and her 8-year-old daughter, Hannah, were about to leave a downtown parking garage after shopping.

So Lindberg asked the little girl to get the ticket out of her wallet. That prompted Hannah to ask: “Mom, did you remember to get evaluated?”

Marketing wins again: We were in Europa, waiting for a pizza, and this little girl nearby, who probably knew about 10 words total, was repeating one of them. “Pocahontas, Pocahontas. …”

This morning’s pointless factoid: Today was a bank holiday in parts of Great Britain.

Slice answer: Most answers to our question about the best reason to avoid socializing with co-workers came in anonymously. “I don’t want to spend the rest of my life in rehab” and “I don’t want to go to prison” were fairly typical.

But Tom Zysk signed his name. And so we salute him for his answer, “To avoid getting caught in their web and having the lifeblood sucked out of you.”

Sue Harmon’s questions about flight attendants’ instructions: “Who in America, in 1995, doesn’t know how to connect seat belts? Didn’t all of their passengers use them on the way to the airport?”

Kid overheard at day care: “There’s a flock of flies in the living room.” – submitted by Leanne Schillinger.

To quote a press release: “One of five Americans say romantic movies on TV have resulted in real-life passion at home, according to a new national survey of TV viewing.” – USSB Telescoop Survey

If breathing doesn’t matter: You might want to call (914) 381-8077 to find out about special Caribbean cruises for cigar lovers.

Mark this down: The 1995 Ms. Bald U.S.A. Pageant will be held in Cincinnati on Sept. 20.

Today’s Slice question: In what way, other than the fact that people didn’t run around yelling “stat,” was your hospital stay most unlike a primetime TV drama?