Kinda Funny

Via the Dec 29, 2006, installment of The Writer's Almanac:

There have never in history been so many opportunities to do so many things that aren't worth doing. - William Gaddis

Via Today's Papers, an article of the same title by Robin Shulman in The Washington Post reports on this ironically funny/sad situation:

It was an ethics exam in a journalism class, and someone may have cheated. Ironic? Yes. Unfortunate? Certainly. But what made the incident particularly notable was where and when it took place: at Columbia University, one of the premier journalism schools in the country, at a time when media ethics are much in question. On Friday, Columbia's Graduate School of Journalism convened a meeting to discuss misconduct in the final exam for the required ethics course "Critical Issues in Journalism." But the school was so wary of making specific accusations that, afterward, it was not even clear what misconduct had taken place.

Via The Huffington Post, the audio Bible that, among other celebs, features Samuel L. Jackson as the voice of God is a big hit. From an AP article on cnn.com:

It's been at or near the No. 1 spot among the best-selling books listed on Wal-Mart's Web site since its early fall release. The retail chain Family Christian Stores say it's the fastest-selling audio Bible it has ever stocked. The 21-hour production, which lists for $49.99, features the voice talents of more than 250 singers, clergy and actors, including Denzel Washington, Cuba Gooding Jr., Angela Bassett and Alfre Woodard. Blair Underwood portrays Jesus, and Samuel L. Jackson, who played a Scripture-spouting hit man in "Pulp Fiction," is the voice of God. "It's really good and it's transcending every barrier. We're thrilled with the way that the product has turned out," said Paul Caminiti, vice president and publisher of Bibles for Zondervan, a Grand Rapids-based division of News Corp.-owned HarperCollins.

Don't forget to put it on your wish list.

From the October 30, 2006, installment of The Writer's Almanac:

In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress. - John Adams, 2nd president of the United States

Via The Huffington Post, GamePolitics.com reports on some comments by O'Reilly on his radio show. IPod owners and computer geeks...now you know where you stand.

I don't own an iPod. I would never wear an iPod… If this is your primary focus in life - the machines… it's going to have a staggeringly negative effect, all of this, for America… did you ever talk to these computer geeks? I mean, can you carry on a conversation with them? …I really fear for the United States because, believe me, the jihadists? They're not playing the video games. They're killing real people over there.