The Slice: It would have been playing during Expo ’74

Like countless others, I have long admired the 1974 movie “Chinatown.”

I like the writing, the musical score, the acting, the story – you name it. But the film occasionally makes me wonder. There’s that famous ending line – “Forget it, Jake. It’s Chinatown.”

Well, would that pack the same punch if we replaced “Chinatown” with the name of a local neighborhood or town? OK, that would not make sense. But please indulge me. And pick your favorite.

A) “Forget it, Jake. It’s Airway Heights.” B) “Forget it, Jake. It’s Spirit Lake.” C) “Forget it, Jake. It’s the South Hill.” D) “Forget it, Jake. It’s Peaceful Valley.” E) “Forget it, Jake. It’s Tumtum.” F) “Forget it, Jake. It’s West Central.” G) “Forget it, Jake. It’s Spangle.” H) “Forget it, Jake. It’s Rathdrum.” I) “Forget it, Jake. It’s Post Falls.” J) Forget it, Jake. It’s Colville.” K) “Forget it, Jake. It’s Minnehaha.” L) “Forget it, Jake. It’s Browne’s Addition.” M) Other.

Slice answer: The question asked if, when it comes to personal technology, your home would enter into the Dark Ages if not for one competent, capable person.

Mike Cain knew exactly what I was talking about.

“Sue is an IT genius. Indeed, without her technical wizardry, our home’s contact with and ability to function in the modern world would cease. In fact, absent her civilizing influence, I’d probably be sitting in a loincloth in the mud pit that would be our backyard banging rocks together.

“The above is only a slight exaggeration. I often smile at the realization that any 6-year-old walking by with a smart phone could instantly have infinitely better location data than I get after 40 minutes with a sextant, tables and plotting tools. But efficiency isn’t always the point, is it?”

Routine or rut: Spokane Valley’s Barbara Kehrer saw the Slice discussion of what would happen if a longtime regular at a restaurant wished to try something other than his or her usual.

“That’s me,” she wrote.

At the establishment she frequents, they start her order before she has even sat down.

So she asked one of the waitresses what they would do if she wanted to order something other than her usual.

“I’d just eat it myself,” said the waitress.

Today’s Slice question: What is the No. 1 thing many people do not understand about your line of work?

Write The Slice at P. O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; email pault@spokesman.com. Anonymous rants are welcome, but it might be a good idea to remember your name probably shows up on Caller ID.