In last Monday’s Quiz #3 (here),
contestants were asked to identify the bogus paragraph. Although
takers of earlier quizzes complained that they were too easy,
they would have done better to study harder. In order to get a
passing grade to a decent number of the takers of Quiz#2,
it had to be graded on a curve so steep it looked like an excuse,
about something, from the Obama Administration.
Quiz #3 was a bit livelier in content, and had more takers.
The first three to identify the bogus paragraph were,
interestingly, the first three to hand in their papers:
MoneyMatters, Monty.Crisco, and Bill Lannon, though MoneyMatters
had read the story about the students’ complaining about
substandard condoms, which takes a little luster off his success.
They will each get a bottle of bubbly and an autographed copy of
Bob Tyrrell’s new book — but only if they send us their real
names and addresses.
Jameson Campaigne guessed item #3 because, he said, “The
rest read like daily dispatches from the New York
Times, so they must be true.” That’s exactly
the point, of course, as R Martin noted: “You’ve made your point:
when it comes to government behavior it’s hard to distinguish
believable from unbelievable.”
Maddox made a similar comment: “I say they are all true
because the world we now live in is absolutely crazy! None of
theses stories are more absurd than what we read every day about
actions taken by our dear leader and his crowd of crooks.” Just
so, Maddox.
Bill agreed that “All of the stories are entirely
plausible” and he agreed with Eric Cartman, that the
transgendered bikini-wearers wouldn’t have put their tops back
just because the cops showed up. Excellent point! In Washington
it’s always the cover-up that gets you into trouble. And for the
record, it was Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, not Horseneck Beach in
Massachusetts.
Ray thought item #2 was bogus, arguing that “two different
mandatory retirement ages based on gender? Yea right, and I have
some oceanfront property for sale in Arizona.”
Yeah, right. You can’t make this stuff up because some
government crazy has beaten you to it, although Ray must learn to
read a bit more closely: the issue was not different mandatory
retirement ages but different ages for pension eligibility. And a
point to note: in the U.S., from 1956 to 1962, women were allowed
to retire at 62 (with benefits reduced by 25%) but not
men.
Ray was joined in his guess by pump shoes, who said he
(she?) was going with number 2, “because, even in the UK, I doubt
there is a Recognition of Gender Act.” Ah, but there is, pump
shoes, though it is actually called the Gender Recognition
Act.
But then Ray handed in a second blue book: “I’ve Chengdu my
mind, it’s the INTRO that’s bogus! Here’s what tipped me off: ‘A
bottle of bubbly and an autographed copy of the new book by
American Spectator editor Bob Tyrrell goes
to the first three readers who correctly identify the bogus
paragraph.’ Well, there’s your bogus paragraph. A bottle of
‘bubbly,’ as if!”
C’mon Ray, don’t be such a cynic. The champagne will be on
the way to the winners as soon as we get their addresses. But,
you, for your doubting, will have to be the very
first with the correct answer next time in
order to get the bubbly. Second place will get you exactly what
you think the winners of Quiz #3 are getting.
And for all the paternity lawyers, congratulations on
spotting the flaw in the bogus paragraph. You all deserve a
bottle of whiskey, but we know the Surgeon General would
disapprove, and you know, and we know you know, how much we value
his opinion.
Well, that’s the recap. Thanks for participating.
Oh, and please note: all participants, indeed all readers,
are invited to send in genuine news items for future quizzes.
Anyone whose item is used in a quiz will get an autographed copy
of Bob Tyrrell’s new book (or, if they prefer, one of his
previous books, or a copy of Upstream,
publisher Alfred Regnery’s excellent book on the conservative
movement.) — except Ray, who will have to
send in two items.
