[Roger Slater]

Originally Posted by Janice D. Soderling

Will everybody please stop watching American Idol and subscribe to a real newspaper.

Why can't I do both?

After all, I have to know what the newspaper critics thought of last night's performances, don't I?

John, I looked it up. Your valley was very green.

[peter richards]

I'm not going to stop watching American Idol because I refuse to start. A newspaper with black, squigley signs printed on paper comes to our door every day, but I'd be careful about calling it real. England will beat Australia at cricket - probably not as often as they'll lose.

[Janice D. Soderling]

John, spoken like a true poet.

Roger (and Marion) of course you can and will. I figured someone would jump on me for that. But I don't have a television and I didn't know any other show to name by name. "American Idol" was used as a synecdoche, the specific to represent the general. Just wanted to make sure you hadn't all fallen asleep with the remote in your hand.

Alas, poor Cassandra! I knew her, Horatio, a woman of infinite
pessimism, of most excellent prophecy.

[Rick Mullin]

Janice,

In this particular case I am going to agree with John. Google may be finished, but (once again) the human race and life as we know it are not.

Rick

[Janice D. Soderling]

I'm Janice, but that's OK. Janet is the metrics whiz.

The human race will likely go on as before, Rick, I agree. Life as we know it, well, I am not so sure about that. Life isn't even as we knew it ten years ago. Hey, you are the one who wrote that great poem about--I don't remember the details, but I remember the poem, you were driving in your car and there was the police officers and the homeless man. Great poem that made an impression but I can't quote it. You know though, you wrote it.