With our news sources, we're all doomed

[Ira]

Celebrity Jeopardy last night.

Soledad O'Brian from CNN, Harry Shearer, and some famous gay designer guy that I never heard of. (Gay squared.)

Final Jeopardy:

Of the five permanent members on the U.N. Security Council, the country with the smallest land mass.

Now, I'm not putting anyone down for not knowing this here, but to me, this was a no-brainer. Actually, the whole GAME last night was a no-brainer, written for celebrities.

Harry Shearer gets the correct answer, the U.K., the designer doesn't, but is a designer supposed to know this anyway?

And Soledad O'Brien says France.

A "newswoman."

I almost fell off the couch, so if anyone catches her on CNN today, please let me know if any comments about this goof are made on her show.

[sdtripper2]

Ira:

Celebrity Jeopardy last night.

Soledad O'Brian from CNN, Harry Shearer, and some famous gay designer guy that I never heard of. (Gay squared.)

Final Jeopardy:

Of the five permanent members on the U.N. Security Council, the country with the smallest land mass.

Now, I'm not putting anyone down for not knowing this here, but to me, this was a no-brainer. Actually, the whole GAME last night was a no-brainer, written for celebrities.

Harry Shearer gets the correct answer, the U.K., the designer doesn't, but is a designer supposed to know this anyway?

And Soledad O'Brien says France.

A "newswoman."

I almost fell off the couch, so if anyone catches her on CNN today, please let me know if any comments about this goof are made on her show.

I just happened to catch that last question of that show and I too felt the
same way as you. This kind of promotes the stereo type of having a pretty
face just reading a teleprompter of those setting in the news chairs of our media outlets.

[Ira]

That's the thing, Steve--it's no longer a stereotype. It's reality.

They've just been talking heads for a long time, and aside from some great special investigative programs, like Frontline, all they do is read from a teleprompter.

And I bet you that Katy Couric, head ANCHOR for CBS news, would have said China.

Either that or Poland.

[Miriam C.]

Now Now fella's. Give the poor woman a break. Perhaps she was thinking of the UK as a group of countries and not the boundries of England. UK is in fact an incorrect answer if you take in all the land masses it used to claim. I bet she doesn't keep up with the changing world map.

[Ira]

Now Now fella's. Give the poor woman a break. Perhaps she was thinking of the UK as a group of countries and not the boundries of England. UK is in fact an incorrect answer if you take in all the land masses it used to claim. I bet she doesn't keep up with the changing world map.

Well, she's not allowed to include INDIA any longer!

[madjack]

Ira, take heart....al Jazerra(sp?) launches an English language service today ..............

[sdtripper2]

Aunti M & Ira:

<snip>Of the five permanent members on the U.N. Security
Council, the country with the smallest land mass.
And Soledad O'Brien says France.

You would think that a professional woman such as Soledad O'Brien would
have known this answer after reading all the important news that passed her
lips over the past years of being an anchor person for CNN?

How many times would she have had to read something about the UN
Security Council to know that bit of information?

I can give Soledad slack now
after some thought. France is the smallest country as far as any worthwhile
actions concerning world events and the effects they have upon them.
So Soledad may have been thinking along those lines and rightfully so.
As Anti M, suggests maybe Soledad doesn't keep uP with the physical map
of the world but does keep uP with the attitudes of the rest of the world,
as far as the small relevance of France in the world community. The French
attitude is of a world power such as its history would elude to the shadows
of its past. Sort of a Napoleonic attitude if you will, always wanting the last
word in the European Union for example. Their true colors have been
shown in past years with the continual barbs they shove towards America
every chance they get. I would characterize there small importance and
their attitudes towards America as one of a jealous old lion that has lost
many teeth over time and is not happy because of its loss in stature.
Seeing the new lion that has risen uP across the waters the old lion still
broods for the pride it once had.

[Ira]

Oh, Steve--I can buy the France sucks argument, but she sure should have known about land mass.

There are only FIVE permanent members of the Security Council, and everyone "should" know that the U.K. is the smallet.

It's an island. Not a CONTINENT like Australia.

Plus, every time she got a right answer, she stared into space like a dummy, and Alex had to remind her:

"Uh, Soledad--your turn to pick again."

LIKE TEN TIMES!

[sdtripper2]

So Ira:

I am in total agreement with your heart felt opinion that Soledad should have
known that answer. However I was trying to weave in Anti M's give-a-lady a
break argument of the UK cluster effect and all sea's surrounding that land
mass. By saying France has shrunk in relevance as the water spaces around
the UK take uP more virtual land mass I was hoping to give safe haven for
the beautiful if not geographically challenged Soledad.

I See one more time it is hard to pull one over on our Story Teller who lives
in the warm regions of the Florida peninsula.

[Ira]

I tell you, Steve--I gotta get a life:

It REALLY upset me that she didn't know this answer. It kind of destroyed my faith in gorgeous anchorwomen.

I'll still stare at their boobs, but the faith won't be there.

[Miriam C.]

OH alright. There is just no defending some people. But if you say UK you really are talking about the United Kingdom and not England.

Perhaps it is malnutrition.

[Ira]

:laughter:
OH alright. There is just no defending some people. But if you say UK you really are talking about the United Kingdom and not England.

Perhaps it is malnutrition.

England, Scotland and Ireland--that's it.

This is the U.K. or Great Britain for the empire, and England just for England.

But even the EMPIRE is still the smallest land mass.

[sdtripper2]

Ira::)

<snip>It kind of destroyed my faith in gorgeous anchorwomen.

I'll still stare at their boobs, but the faith won't be there.

Think of it this way Ira, this will build character and even more worldly
knowledge in you for future writings and musings. Soledad has brought
you this gift so stop and smell the roses. Your understanding that she
is not just another boob but a struggling anchor woman with dreams and
map quest aspirations should bring you solace. Be kind and go forth in the
faith that you know the answers and she will come along in her own time.
Your a bigger man now Ira, and your attitude through your writings may
change the landscape of history if not Soledad's geographic prowess.

Keep the faith with her Ira, ...
May the beauty of Soledad surround your spirit like the sun on a gorgeous day.

[Miriam C.]

Ira I can see that you are really upset about the lack of intellegence in a favored newscaster.

Just turn the sound off and pretend. Read the bottom scroll bar.

[Ira]

There's a weatherwoman on the local Fox station here who I don't care WHAT she knows!

As long as she keeps wearing those tight sweaters.