The Slice: The call goes out to Slice readers

Perhaps you can help.

“I’m not from here but don’t want to sound like it,” wrote Chris DeForest. “How do you remember how to pronounce Moscow and Colville? Cow or Co? Call or Coal? Maybe your readers have some suggestions. Mnemonic devices even.”

I’m sure they do, Chris. Stay tuned.

But let’s not stop with those two. What Inland Northwest place names tripped you up once upon a time? Manito? Latah? Pend Oreille? Tekoa? Cheney?

And is the accepted pronunciation of those indicative of there being an Inland Northwest accent?

An inquiring mind wants to know: Spike Cunningham is curious about how other readers of the features section peruse the comics.

“Do readers have a set pattern in which order they read the comics? Start at the top left and work down? Start at the top right and work down? Jump around, starting with their favorite?”

Arguably one way GU basketball fans are unlike football fans in certain Southeastern states: GU fans might be troubled, a little anyway, if they suspected the players never went to class.

Slice answers: Rich Victor, who works for Frito-Lay in Moses Lake, said the thing people don’t understand about his job is that the company makes a wide array of snack foods, not just two.

When Teri Maurice tells people she is an indexer – she compiles indexes appearing at the back of nonfiction books – people sometimes say “Oh, you mean someone actually does those?”

And here’s how Ted Redman explained his work. “If I had been an actual spy, I would not be able to tell you I was an intelligence officer.”

Warm-up question: Can you remember when you stopped being concerned about the sight of an unoccupied, parked car with its lights on?

Today’s Slice questions: Jeff Nadeau used to be a little taller. About an inch and a half taller. “Proof that gravity sucks,” he said.

When did that start to happen (or when do you expect it to happen) to you?

While we’re on the subject …

You know how families record the growth of children, often with a tape measure and a pencil? Sure. Well, does anyone employ similar monitoring tactics to keep track of shrinkage? And are there any kitchen walls or strips of cloth where grandparents and granchildren are being simultaneously charted as they head in opposite directions?

Write The Slice at P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; email pault@spokesman.com. Coming Saturday: He has to eat it outside.