The Slice: Say no to stuffed bunnies

Editor’s note: Paul Turner has suited up and joined the S-R team covering the Final Four in Arizona. In his absence, the Today section is recycling a few Slice classics. Today, the column that ran on April 3, 2003:

There is a stuffed bunny overpopulation crisis in Spokane.

Certain local babies are in danger of being buried alive under mounds of toy rabbits. And it’s not even Easter yet.

Grandparents, it’s time to show some restraint.

Theme songs for those still driving on studded tires: 1. “He’s a Rebel.” 2. “I Fought the Law.” 3. “Desperado.” 4. “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough.” 5. “Thunder Road.”

One reader wonders: “Do you know a single man who likes those short capri pants that women wear and that are expected to be all the rage again this spring?” wrote KXLY weather czarina Kris Crocker. “I’ve yet to meet one. Those pants have been banned at my house.”

Well, I suspect Rob Petrie on “The Dick Van Dyke Show” thought they looked fetching on his wife, Laura.

But in real life, your Slice host cannot recall ever having a conversation about capri pants.

Speaking of TV weather forecasters: There’s a reader who has been urging The Slice to take up his cause. He said he has noticed that Spokane’s on-air weather people say “northern Idaho,” instead of the “North Idaho” he much prefers.

Somehow assuming I’m on his side, he wants me to look into this. But I haven’t gotten around to querying my friends in broadcasting. So perhaps this mention can constitute a request for place-name policy statements.

And if any TV folks have thoughts about capri pants, I’ll take those, too.

Road report: “I think it was in the S-R that I read something like, ‘The sun will burn out in about 5 billion years,’ ” wrote Mike Storms. “This means the Spokane North-South Freeway will be finished in the dark.”

Today’s Slice question: You know how someone will sigh and say “It could be worse,” or “What are you gonna do?” and someone else will volunteer, “My father used to say that all the time”?

Well, years from now, what saying or expression are people going to associate with you?

Write The Slice at P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; email pault@spokesman. Would a laugh-track help your family?