The power of the kilt continues

[Father Bill]

(I've seen fiancée spelled a lot of different ways. Even in the newspaper, which one would hope would at least get basic spelling and punctuation correct - even though they're supposedly writing for an audience with a sixth-grade education.)

A lot of newspapers appear to be written by people who are hoping some day to EARN a grade six education.

Father Bill,
Former English Teacher

[Whidbey78]

A lot of newspapers appear to be written by people who are hoping some day to EARN a grade six education.

Father Bill,
Former English Teacher

The people I see on TV news aren't much better. They only use complete sentences about half the time. Example: "Going now, live, to four-alarm fire downtown. Firefighters from several departments responding. Ambulance crews on-scene. Flames sixty feet high. Reports of explosion. Residents evacuated. Can be seen blocks away. Traffic blocked. Much smoke. Can't breathe. Must...find...Spock."

Obviously, the last part was my creation. Last night I sat through five minutes of this. Made skin crawl. Gave headache. Changed channel. Why news guy talk like caveman?

[kc8ufv]

The people I see on TV news aren't much better. They only use complete sentences about half the time. Example: "Going now, live, to four-alarm fire downtown. Firefighters from several departments responding. Ambulance crews on-scene. Flames sixty feet high. Reports of explosion. Residents evacuated. Can be seen blocks away. Traffic blocked. Much smoke. Can't breathe. Must...find...Spock."

Obviously, the last part was my creation. Last night I sat through five minutes of this. Made skin crawl. Gave headache. Changed channel. Why news guy talk like caveman?

Perhaps they are trying to do what I do in my log notes - Get as much info possible in as short of a time, even if it makes no sense without surrounding context. That, or they are trying to use Japanese grammar with English vocabulary.

[Chirs]

The people I see on TV news aren't much better. They only use complete sentences about half the time. Example: "Going now, live, to four-alarm fire downtown. Firefighters from several departments responding. Ambulance crews on-scene. Flames sixty feet high. Reports of explosion. Residents evacuated. Can be seen blocks away. Traffic blocked. Much smoke. Can't breathe. Must...find...Spock."

Obviously, the last part was my creation. Last night I sat through five minutes of this. Made skin crawl. Gave headache. Changed channel. Why news guy talk like caveman?

Sound bites.

Studies have shown that the general public's attention span is somewhere near 8 seconds. Now, one must remember that those studies are being done for and by the advertising business so...much salt required. However, it is generally believed that people will remember simple better than complex.

[Whidbey78]

Studies have shown that the general public's attention span is somewhere near 8 seconds.

I thought that was the attention span of a goldfish! I guess my attention wandered when I was reading about studies on atten--oh, look a bunny!!

Maybe you have a point.