Answers for the youth

They say newspapers are doomed because young people don't read them. So I started asking some young folks why that was, and they said it was too boring and the news was too irrelevant.

"Wait," I said. "You mean you don't like stories on community generosity?"

Blah, they said.

So I asked a bunch of those 20 to 30 somes to e-mail me, the city reporter, what questions they had and what issues around Coeur d'Alene they wanted to talk about.

They did, and I'll share them, but not before proper caution.

They're correct, however, that these inquiries aren't coming up at any meetings any time soon.

In parentheses are the substitute words I had to use to protect the language of the more refined. We, the newspapers, still have to play by a set of rules, you know.

I should also warn you there is no point to this column.

On with the show!

Dear Tom, Is it me or are there an abundance of compact car parking spots at the Kroc Center, and only about one third actually have compact cars parked in them? When did a Ford F150 become a compact car?

Katie P. - Coeur d'Alene

Great question, and second most important Kroc-related question behind: "Wait, where are all the kids' parents?"

The funny thing is, even when two compact cars are parked side by side, it's still too tight!

I used to figure it was meant as a way for patrons to stretch before workouts, disjointing and sliding from car doors cracked an eighth of the way open, but now I think it's a politically motivated stunt.

Hear me out. During the center's grand opening, it was revealed that "Yoga" classes would be called "Stretch and Tone" classes or something similar because people might find "Yoga" offensive as it carries California, liberal connotations. True story, and hilarious to boot. That in mind, I think it was a well thought-out ploy by the ultra conservatives somewhere to get Gore-loving, environmentally conscious, compact-car-driving liberals to ding their doors. Glad I'm here to clear that up.

Dear Tom, What kind of suppor there for bringing a minor league baseball team to Coeur d'Alene, and maybe have a new ballpark installed in Riverstone?

Dustin A. - Coeur d'Alene.

Very little is my guess. It would probably require public money for the stadium which, if proposed, might start a riot at the city meeting. Taxpayer money is for job creation, not play time. Haven't you heard?

Dear Tom, Is it just me or (are the restaurants in River stone) the best place in town to drive home (tipsy) from? It's too far north for the critical mass of downtown patrols to cover, and it is near enough to "back roads" so you can more easily navigate home.

Matthew W. - Coeur d'Alene.

Yes indeed, these are the questions on the younger generation's mind. Whaddaya mean only 30 percent of the city turned out to vote?

Somehow, though, I really, doubt this was the intention when the place was being built.

Speaking of critical masses downtown Dear Tom, I'm only 28, so why do I feel so old when I go to (downtown bars on Sherman Avenue)?

Billy S. - Coeur d'Alene

Cat out of the bag? That's a 500-pound gorilla running loose!

I hear you Billy, but I'm OK with the kids behaving wild downtown. Kids are kids, after all, but has anyone else noticed the middle-aged men who visit in the summer and behave the exact same way?

Is this a part of taking up golf? Is this what a midlife crisis looks like? Is this to whom tourism caters?

I'm dying to figure this out. And one story idea that I'm still trying to build the courage to pitch to my superiors would be to ride along in a taxi one Friday night in the summer and record all the conversations between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m.

What a delight that would be.

But I have a possible solution. I think it's time some power mandate that every hotel room television have one of those information channels that turns on every time the TV does, welcoming visitors to Coeur d'Alene while reminding them of proper behavior.

"While it's perfectly all right to remember your college years fondly, a couple of important reminders while you enjoy beautiful downtown Coeur d'Alene" One last question, then I'll move on: Is this unique to Coeur d'Alene or should I get Lake Tahoe on the phone?

Dear Tom, As a loyal Cd'A Press reader, I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your front page story today (Monday, Oct. 19) regarding the Huckleberry couple. I found it heartwarming, sincere, and sweet and I was proud of you for writing it. It's too bad our society doesn't have more journalists like you. Thank you. Linda R. - Coeur d'Alene Oops. Accidentally slipped in a little fan mail. Won't happen again. More questions!

Dear Tom, If I were a moderately rich man, could I build a super big house on Tubbs Hill if I promised not to restrict access to all the tweens and teeneyboopers who come up to (consume alcohol and engage in adult-like behavior) under the trees by the lake? - Brian P. - Coeur d'Alene. Keep it above the belt, Brian. Make fun of political issues, make fun of politics, but don't make fun of the hill. It's the one thing everyone in this town loves. I mean, it's the hill. Tom Hasslinger is the city reporter for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached at 664-8176 ext. 2010 or at [email protected].