They Killed Ken!

You Bastards! by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-09 00:56 · Score: 5, Funny

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Re:You Bastards! by alSeen · 2004-09-09 01:11 · Score: 5, Insightful

They are bastards for putting this on the main page.

Some of us like to be surprised by things. Now slashdot has decided to take it upon themselves to ruin the next 30 shows for their readers that have been watching Jeopardy.

Thank you oh so much /.

Please take this off the main page or reword the article so no one else has to have their enjoyment ruined.
Re:You Bastards! by LiquidCoooled · 2004-09-09 01:15 · Score: 5, Insightful

First we complain thats theres no news.

Then we complain thats the news is duped.

Now we complain that we didn't want to see the news!

(I'm actually 100% behind you on this, im not even American, and have never seen the show, but giving out spoilers on the main page is just bad m'kay!)

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liqbase :: faster than paper
Re:You Bastards! by TopShelf · 2004-09-09 01:24 · Score: 5, Insightful

You would have to hide in a cave to avoid a story like this - it's already on CNN and (presumably) a zillion other news outlets...

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Stop by my site where I write about ERP systems & more
Re:You Bastards! by LordBodak · 2004-09-09 01:30 · Score: 1

Amen. Spoilers on the front page are completely unacceptable. But CNN did it too, so what can we do?

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LordBodak's journal.
Re:You Bastards! by DeathFire · 2004-09-09 01:35 · Score: 1, Informative

Dear Slashdot,

Thank you so much for ruining that for me. I only hope that the source is wrong. In the future when posting material of this nature would you please utilize what is called a spoiler warning.

Thank you,

One pissed off reader.
Re:You Bastards! by Creepy · 2004-09-09 01:41 · Score: 1

if it's any consolation, it was in my local newspaper (on the front page, even) hours before the post here.

bastards.
Re:You Bastards! by ErnieD · 2004-09-09 01:47 · Score: 1

I totally agree. It's like Homer Simpson walking out of the first showing of Empire Strikes Back and exclaiming to everyone in line, "Who'd have thought Darth Vader was Luke's father?"

I have been quite enjoying Ken's ride on Jeopardy, but now that I know when it's going to end, it won't be quite as entertaining.

Great job guys, thanks.
Re:You Bastards! by mwood · 2004-09-09 01:51 · Score: 1

Spoiler? What spoiler? Where is the list of answers? Where are the contestants' questions? Where are the running totals at each score? As yet we know next to nothing.

If I care to pry myself away from the computer that night, I guarantee I'll enjoy that show exactly as much as any other instalment of _Jeopardy!_
Re:You Bastards! by Reducer2001 · 2004-09-09 01:56 · Score: 3, Funny

Shit man, you ruined it for me. I was waiting until Episode III before watching the original trilogy. Thanks.

--
When you get to hell -- tell 'em Itchy sent ya!
Re:You Bastards! by ChairmanMeow · 2004-09-09 01:58 · Score: 1

The good news is, thanks to my bad memory, by the time he loses, I'll have forgotten this article and how he was going to lose, and I'll be surprised.

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Re:You Bastards! by SB5 · 2004-09-09 01:58 · Score: 4, Funny

You would have to hide in a cave to avoid a story like this - it's already on CNN and (presumably) a zillion other news outlets...

I live in my parent's basement you insensitive clod!

--
If what you are reading sounds funny, or sarcastic, lame, or stupid
it is because it is supposed to be. just laugh
Re:You Bastards! by Paulrothrock · 2004-09-09 01:58 · Score: 2, Funny

I do hide in a cave* you insensitive clod!
*cave = my darkened cube, my basement laboratory, my total lack of interest in any news.

--
I'm in the hole of the broadband donut.
Re:You Bastards! by LiquidCoooled · 2004-09-09 01:59 · Score: 1

This TV show isn't even aired in my country, its an American gameshow aimed at an American audience. From what I read, a great percentage of Americans are hooked.

On the other hand, we have shows in this country that Americans have never even heard of, let alone give a rats arse about the outcome.

Of course, there are shows which have international appeal, and had this been one of those shows or movies, then I wouldn't have even mentioned the country. Matrix spoilers or Friends season finale at the time for instance.

(All this is irrelivent really, the number of hours of TV I actually watch is countable on one hand)

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liqbase :: faster than paper
Re:You Bastards! by Class+Act+Dynamo · 2004-09-09 02:06 · Score: 1

Plus it's just a rumor now. Nobody confirms anything. I hope it's not true so that on the 75th show, everyone will be tuned in and everyone will be surprised to see him win. Perhaps they 'leaked' this rumor to keep interest fresh in Ken Jennings. Seemingly fallable 'heros' are more interesting than those who cannot lose.

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My other computer is a Jacquard loom.
Re:You Bastards! by stevew · 2004-09-09 02:07 · Score: 1

I was at a taping of Jeopardy two weeks ago.

They were taping the Kid's week shows to be viewed in late October. Point being the show had just returned from hiatus.

Trebek hadn't seen Ken for a couple months. Even though it plays on TV like it's back-to-back, they did get a break from each other. I imagine that he won't have ANY trouble at all calling the new champion by the correct name.

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Have you compiled your kernel today??
Re:You Bastards! by Liselle · 2004-09-09 02:17 · Score: 3, Insightful

Doesn't make it right to post spoilers, though. It's still bad form, even if everyone else is doing it to get the scoop.

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Auto-reply to ACs: "Truly, you have a dizzying intellect."
Re:You Bastards! by LordBodak · 2004-09-09 02:21 · Score: 1

I know that he wins every night from episode 35 until 74. How is that not a spoiler?

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LordBodak's journal.
Re:You Bastards! by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-09 02:25 · Score: 3, Funny

ObJoke:
Don't other countries allow US made TV shows on their TV systems?
Not if they have good taste.
Re:You Bastards! by Neward+Rylet · 2004-09-09 02:28 · Score: 1

This was also a story in SEPTA's(Philadelphia area's mass transit) daily newspaper!
Re:You Bastards! by DrCash · 2004-09-09 02:36 · Score: 1

It's not /. It's the SF Gate that spoiled it for us. I heard this on the radio this morning. I suspect thousands of local morning DJs across the country probably did the same thing. Damn press! They should've kept it a secret until the show came out!
Oh, my God! They killed Ken! You bastards!
Re:You Bastards! by strider44 · 2004-09-09 02:42 · Score: 2, Insightful

South Park is popular outside the US. Jeoperdy is not.

His pointing out that he isn't American was on-topic. Your idiotic post was not.
Re:You Bastards! by strider44 · 2004-09-09 02:45 · Score: 1

As a sidenote, sorry for acting the troll.
Re:You Bastards! by madprof · 2004-09-09 02:47 · Score: 1

South Park is funny and popular. Who in hell wants to watch US game shows?
Re:You Bastards! by TheFlyingGoat · 2004-09-09 02:47 · Score: 4, Insightful

The CNN article starts with this:

"Editor's Note: CNN picked this story up from The Associated Press, which gives details below. We have no idea as to the status of Ken Jennings' run. If you'd prefer to not know anything, stop reading now."

Slashdot should have done something similar with a "Read More" break.

--
You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life. --Winston Churchill
Re:You Bastards! by gowen · 2004-09-09 03:01 · Score: 3, Insightful

British shows play on US stations. Don't other countries allow US made TV shows on their TV systems?
yeah, but no one shows gameshows from other countries, due to the fact that quiz questions are so culture specific. Do you really think that Brits are sitting round their TV trying to remember whether it was Carl Yaztremski or Carlton Fisk who hit that famous home run in the 1975 World Series?

Or that USians are watching Australian Jeopardy, and racking their brains for the name of the guy who dismissed Don Bradman for 0 in his final Test?

--
Athletic Scholarships to universities make as much sense as academic scholarships to sports teams.
Re:You Bastards! by hpavc · 2004-09-09 03:10 · Score: 4, Funny

They forget an american trivia show wouldn't play well over seas. While things like south park can be obtained on dvd or seen in a movie theater.

Q: What is the captial of Georgia?
A: Atlanta

Thats correct, however we would have accepted

A: Tbilisi

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members are seeing something, your seeing an ad
Re:You Bastards! by mwood · 2004-09-09 03:15 · Score: 1

If I don't care who wins, it's not a spoiler for me. I'm watching for the *other* 29'59" of each show -- you know, when they *play the game*.
Re:You Bastards! by stevejsmith · 2004-09-09 03:50 · Score: 1

God I love the Metro. However it's sad that about 3/4 of all papers picked up are just thrown away -- seems like it would be an excellent opportunity to recycle.

And for the record, it's not SEPTA's paper, it's a free paper that is published all over the world, including two other cities in the U.S.: New York and Boston.

http://www.metropoint.com
Re:You Bastards! by jandrese · 2004-09-09 03:54 · Score: 1

Hey, I rather like Takeshi's Castle and Iron Chef, and both of those are game shows. What you really mean is that nobody wants to see foreign quiz shows, because the material will be impossible for the average viewer (as if Jeopardy's insistance on quizzing about long dead operas is any better).

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I read the internet for the articles.
Re:You Bastards! by blair1q · 2004-09-09 04:05 · Score: 1

You telling us you don't read newspapers at all?
Re:You Bastards! by Snowdog668 · 2004-09-09 04:14 · Score: 1

Friends had international appeal? [shudder]

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I wouldn't say I'm a bad gambler but the last time I went to Vegas I even lost a buck on the soda machine.
Re:You Bastards! by BreadMan · 2004-09-09 04:20 · Score: 1

Although, if somebody's reporting on the status and doesn't say what it is, the reader can safely assume it's not good news. You'd never see a disclaimer like this if the remainder of the story reported on his 100th win.
Re:You Bastards! by Negadecimal · 2004-09-09 05:04 · Score: 2, Funny

A: Atlanta

If it were only in the form of a question...
Tsk.
Re:You Bastards! by drsquare · 2004-09-09 05:11 · Score: 1

I think you're all over-reacting. Like you wouldn't have found out about it anyway from about a million other sources.
Re:You Bastards! by NeoSkandranon · 2004-09-09 05:17 · Score: 1

Yeah except a fair amount of Jeopardy questions are world history, science or other things that aren't really country specific.

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If you can't see the value in jet powered ants you should turn in your nerd card. - Dunbal (464142)
Re:You Bastards! by Carnildo · 2004-09-09 05:31 · Score: 1

This is just a rumor. Ken could have lost before that, or he could still be going. I find 75 to be a suspiciously round number.

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"They redundantly repeated themselves over and over again incessantly without end ad infinitum" -- ibid.
Re:You Bastards! by Wybaar · 2004-09-09 05:39 · Score: 1

Is that the original Takeshi's Castle or the remix?

I wouldn't mind seeing them bring Takeshi's Castle to American TV. It reminds me of American Gladiators, which if I remember correctly also had international versions.

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Y|
Re:You Bastards! by kisielk · 2004-09-09 05:47 · Score: 1

...total lack of interest in any news.

And you are on a site with the title News for Nerds why?
Re:You Bastards! by LiquidCoooled · 2004-09-09 05:48 · Score: 1

I only remember it because the missus got all hyped up about it, and it was shown in America a few weeks before it finished over here.

The papers were full of it, and it was hard for her to keep away from seeing how it ended.

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liqbase :: faster than paper
Re:You Bastards! by coyote_oww · 2004-09-09 05:49 · Score: 2, Funny

Q: What is the captial of Georgia?
A: Atlanta
Thats correct, however we would have accepted
A: Tbilisi
Only if you can pronounce it correctly.
Re:You Bastards! by LiquidCoooled · 2004-09-09 05:56 · Score: 1

From everything I have read, this guy is on a real streak.

Your right, people don't normally watch to root for an individual, but this guy as you rightly say is "sticking it to the man", and that makes it special.

Finding out he's out of it takes something away from the anticipation of watching.

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liqbase :: faster than paper
Re:You Bastards! by AS400+Hacker · 2004-09-09 05:57 · Score: 1

Who is Fisk?
Re:You Bastards! by hey! · 2004-09-09 06:20 · Score: 1

Well, he had to lose some time, so this doesn't change much. Just don't count episodes, and when the approximate time for his demise roles around, you can sit on the edge of your seat wondering whether this is the one where he muffs it.

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Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
Re:You Bastards! by smcg · 2004-09-09 07:22 · Score: 1

This is especially bad seeing how we've been over this kind of thing already.
Re:You Bastards! by twofidyKidd · 2004-09-09 07:26 · Score: 1

"...my total lack of interest in any news."

If this is true, then what the hell are you doing here?

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Hades, PoD: Official Advocate
Re:You Bastards! by Paulrothrock · 2004-09-09 07:26 · Score: 4, Funny

News for nerds is as much about news as it is about wasting time at work.

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I'm in the hole of the broadband donut.
Re:You Bastards! by Jardine · 2004-09-09 07:50 · Score: 1

yeah, but no one shows gameshows from other countries, due to the fact that quiz questions are so culture specific.

Untrue. Canada shows many gameshows from the USA. Partly because no one seems to want to make gameshows in Canada.
Re:You Bastards! by Snowdog668 · 2004-09-09 08:10 · Score: 1

The same thing here. My wife was glued to the set twice a day to see the re-runs, then had to watch the new shows as well. The few times I saw the show it always seemed that the Ross and Rachel characters were either breaking up or making up. It always seemed to be a different season so I assume this was a running gag.

Personally I thought that the final episode was a complete cliche, but then from what little I've seen so was the entire series.

Must be a female thing...

--
I wouldn't say I'm a bad gambler but the last time I went to Vegas I even lost a buck on the soda machine.
Re:You Bastards! by Grant_Watson · 2004-09-09 09:10 · Score: 1

Survivor is based on a Scandinavian show called "Expedition Robinson"

Is that an allusion to Robinson Crusoe, or to some piece of Scandanavian history I wouldn't get?
Re:You Bastards! by iantri · 2004-09-09 09:49 · Score: 1

Oh, come on.. this is kind of obvious..
As a Canadian, I'm sure that you are well aware that the average Canadian knows more about Americans than Americans know about themselves.
There is this little thing about proximity between our two countries.. and, the flood of American culture that pours across the border..
Re:You Bastards! by k98sven · 2004-09-09 10:23 · Score: 1

LOL.. That's even funnier if one knows something about georgian.

With wonderful phrases like: "gvprc'k'vni" (He's ripping us off!).. no vowels for miles. And they're really prounounced without vowels!!

(Unlike Russian and other slavic languages where vowels sometimes look like they're missing, but just aren't written out. For instance 'v' in russian meaning 'in', which is pronounced like something between 'v' and 'va')
Re:You Bastards! by atezun · 2004-09-09 10:24 · Score: 1

I prefer to think of it as America Right.
Re:You Bastards! by madprof · 2004-09-09 11:20 · Score: 1

You clearly know me very well.
Re:You Bastards! by aceat64 · 2004-09-09 11:59 · Score: 1

No it's America Jr. You obviously aren't watch the slashdot minimum required hours of The Simpsons.
Re:You Bastards! by ResidntGeek · 2004-09-09 13:08 · Score: 1

Entirely about news, then.

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ResidntGeek
Re:You Bastards! by Toresica · 2004-09-09 14:06 · Score: 1

They show it in Canada, on Canadian, non-cable channels.
Re:You Bastards! by Toresica · 2004-09-09 14:13 · Score: 1

Must be a female thing...

Nope. I'm female, and definitely did not watch Friends. Maybe it's a non-engineer/geek thing?
Although I don't watch much TV anyway.
Re:You Bastards! by Toresica · 2004-09-09 14:18 · Score: 1

Who in hell wants to watch US game shows?

Apparently enough people watch them that they usually come out with Canadian versions afterwards for me not to watch.
Although I'm not a very informed source, I watch about as much TV as a ham sandwich. ;)
Re:You Bastards! by Toresica · 2004-09-09 14:23 · Score: 1

America Right? Aren't we generally left of the Americans, politically? ;)
Re:You Bastards! by Sonic+McTails · 2004-09-09 14:34 · Score: 1

In responce to your sig, maybe bread was the best thing before sliced bread ?

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This signature was left intentionally blank.
Re:You Bastards! by cubicleman · 2004-09-09 16:43 · Score: 1

This brings up an interesting question.. I haven't studied language theory or anything, but isn't what constitutes a vowel language-specific? I.e. in English we have a,e,i,o,u, and sometimes y, but in Georgian, perhaps c'k is a vowel, or 'pr'.. just a thought.
Re:You Bastards! by True+Grit · 2004-09-09 16:47 · Score: 1

*cave = my darkened cube, my basement laboratory, my total lack of interest in any news.

Ahh, a fellow spelunker. Well met, sir. Could you please point your flashlight somewhere else, its hurting my eyes, thanks.
Re:You Bastards! by k98sven · 2004-09-09 17:22 · Score: 1

Well, Georgian has it's own alphabet. That text was translitterated, i.e. written in the closest match with english pronounciation. So english vowel rules would apply.
(Translitteration is of course language-specific. For instance the writer Chekhov is Tschechow in Germany, Tjechov in Sweden, Tchekhov in France, Czechow in Poland)

In the broad sense, any sound you make by letting air out of your throat without restricting it is a 'vowel sound'.

Now.. which and how many of these sounds are considered valid vowels is language-specific.

For instance, Swedish, one of the languages I'm fluent in, has a,e,i,o,u,y,å,ä,ö, (not accents, they're unique letters) and that x2 because there's a 'hard' and 'soft' version of each.

That's an important note.. the number of letters considered 'vowels' doesn't always indicate the number of vowel sounds used. English vowels change depending on where they're used too. But not Japanese ones, for instance.
Re:You Bastards! by glitch23 · 2004-09-16 12:54 · Score: 1

Do you really think that Brits are sitting round their TV trying to remember whether it was Carl Yaztremski or Carlton Fisk who hit that famous home run in the 1975 World Series?

Well, they should know shouldn't they? It was the *World* Series afterall, right? People in South Africa probably even know the answer to that one.

--
this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom. -- Lincoln, Gettysburg Address

so who beat him by DarkLox · 2004-09-09 00:57 · Score: 1, Funny

Man...the guy/gal that was smart enough to beat ken....Im willing to bet that they will go undefeated for....eternity.

--
Momma told me that sigs are for the devil

Re:so who beat him by LittleGuy · 2004-09-09 01:01 · Score: 5, Funny

If God/Fate/Time/Karma/CoyboyNeal has a sense of humor, it's someone named 'Barbie'.

--
Mod Karma -1: I sed bad wurds. If I cep my mouf shut, I wud be at riyses.
Re:so who beat him by McKinney83 · 2004-09-09 01:18 · Score: 1

from the article
"A spokesperson for the show told TV Week that it would not disclose whether Jennings lost"

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Winner of The Second Annual Montgomery Burns Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence.
Re:so who beat him by darkmeridian · 2004-09-09 01:21 · Score: 1

He could have had a bad day or the competitor must have had a good day. It's like taking a final; one bad day doesn't mean you are stupid.

--
A NYC lawyer blogs. http://www.chuangblog.com/
Re:so who beat him by GyroGecko · 2004-09-09 01:42 · Score: 1

Not necessarily. All that needs to happen is they need to be within half of his score by final Jeopardy. Then he gets it wrong, they get it right, and they're the new champion. It's already been possible 3 times (I believe? correct me if I'm wrong) out of the 41 shows aired. They don't have to be smarter, just a bit luckier.

(Oh, and I also agree that this shouldn't have been posted main page. I really didn't want to read about this.)
Re:so who beat him by schlyne · 2004-09-09 13:25 · Score: 1

Oddly enough, one of my teachers in grade school had a first name of Barbie, and her husband's first name was acutally Ken. Their last name was something I've forgotten, unforunately...

--
I love deadlines. I like the "whoosh" sound they make as they fly by. -- Douglas Adams

Spoilers? by Capt_Troy · 2004-09-09 00:57 · Score: 5, Insightful

What's up with this? Why not just start posting all the endings for upcoming movies?

Re:Spoilers? by Gallowsgod · 2004-09-09 01:00 · Score: 1

Actually, that would save me both time and money.

--

The belief in a biblical god is an ignorant one
Re:Spoilers? by Jearil · 2004-09-09 01:05 · Score: 5, Insightful

I agree with the parent,

It does seem a bit rude to those of us who watch Jeopardy as if it were a national sport. I know some people who would be horridly offended if you were to tell them the results of every football/baseball/basketball/soccar/nascar/rugby/w ater polo/cricket/volleyball/bullfighting .... etc. before the event was ever aired on TV. It sort of takes away from watching these things when you know the end result.

I know that for the whole last season I'd feel myself compelled to gravitate towards the TV whenever I heard that Ken was on... even if I was in the middle of something else, I found I couldn't concentrate until I watched the damn show. Mostly it was because I wanted to see if that night would be the last night for Ken or not. A few times there was at least a chance he could lose, and finding out by watching was the big event of the evening if nothing else was going on.

So please keep away from the spoilers.. I'm still hoping he's going to go on until Trebek gets sick of him and retires from the job :)
Re:Spoilers? by strictfoo · 2004-09-09 01:10 · Score: 5, Funny

Anakin is Darth Vader!

And they surf lava! It's like Teenage Mutant Ninja Jedi or something

--
I've just signed legislation that'll outlaw Russia forever. We'll begin bombing in five minutes.
Re:Spoilers? by digitalsushi · 2004-09-09 01:11 · Score: 1, Funny

He dies in the chamber along with the Lone Gunmen

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slashdot: where everyone yells sarcastic metaphors to themselves to understand the issue
Re:Spoilers? by dema · 2004-09-09 01:15 · Score: 4, Funny

Why not just start posting all the endings for upcoming movies?

Main character stops bomb from exploding WITH ONLY 2 SECONDS LEFT, then takes female lead into bedroom. Start Barry Manilow music and......credits!

Done.
Re:Spoilers? by untaken_name · 2004-09-09 01:25 · Score: 1

have you every studied proofreading at any level whatsoever?

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http://xkcd.com/386/
Re:Spoilers? by Firiel · 2004-09-09 01:33 · Score: 1

I, for one, would love to see the results of these sports events. But just me, you know... to make the betting that much more lucrative.

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The penal system can't hold all the people that do it. Fill in your own blank.
Re:Spoilers? by dema · 2004-09-09 01:36 · Score: 1

I know some people who would be horridly offended if you were to tell them the results of every football/baseball/basketball/soccar/nascar/rugby/w ater polo/cricket/volleyball/bullfighting

I would be horridly AMAZED seeing as how many of those sports are aired live (:
Re:Spoilers? by cjpez · 2004-09-09 01:40 · Score: 1, Insightful

Er, the story is no bigger than any other story, and this is also on the frontpage of, for example, cnn.com. You'll probably hear about it on your local news, too, if you're foolish enough to watch it. I hardly think that Slashdot bears the full brunt of the blame for that.

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Al Qaeda has ninjas!
Re:Spoilers? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-09 01:53 · Score: 2, Funny

And Rosebud is a sled.
Re:Spoilers? by Jonboy+X · 2004-09-09 01:54 · Score: 2, Funny

Oh, and the soccer game ends in a scoreless tie.

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"In a 32-bit world, you're a 2-bit user. You've got your own newsgroup, alt.total.loser." -Weird Al
Re:Spoilers? by Overzeetop · 2004-09-09 02:01 · Score: 4, Funny

If it's NOT up for a "best picture" Academy Award:

The guy gets the girl, the aliens are defeated, and world is saved.

If it IS up for a "best picture" Academy Award:

The guy gets the girl, and one or both of them die. The safety of the world isn't even part of the story.

You can mail me 1/2 your movie money, or I can take paypal ;-)

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Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
Re:Spoilers? by imr · 2004-09-09 02:03 · Score: 1

hhmmm, spiderman will win in spidey3, hulk too in hulk2, the xmen will win and jean grey is not dead and returns as the phenix, palpatine is in fact the lord of the sith and is anakin's father (he inseminated his mother artificially since he prefers droids anyway, not that there is anything wrong with that.) a terrible empire rise under his rule in sw ep3 ...
Shall I continue or do you see my point about your point being weak?
Re:Spoilers? by dr_dank · 2004-09-09 02:08 · Score: 2, Funny

I know some people who would be horridly offended if you were to tell them the results of every football/baseball/basketball/soccar/nascar/rugby/w ater polo/cricket/volleyball/bullfighting .... etc. before the event was ever aired on TV.

I wouldn't be. I'd just like to know how they got that copy of Grey's Sports Almanac away from Biff.

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Where does the school board find them and why do they keep sending them to ME?
Re:Spoilers? by BuzzLY · 2004-09-09 02:24 · Score: 1

"Don't try to actively seek any information?"

Yes. Of course. We all should have realized that the Jeopardy results would be pasted on the front page of /. Aren't we all idiots?

So, what you are saying is that if we don't want to see leaked results from Jeopardy (which Jeopardy tries very hard to keep secret), we should stop interacting with the world, stop reading /., turn off the news, etc?

God forbid we should expect news sources to show a little restraint and at the VERY least, give us a spoiler buffer zone. Isn't that what the "Read More" link is for?
Re:Spoilers? by Fishstick · 2004-09-09 02:24 · Score: 1

heh, reminded me of the scene in Galaxy Quest where they disarm the self-destruct with plenty of time to spare, but it keeps counting down to 2 seconds because that was the way it always worked in the show.

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There is much cruelty in the universe, John.
Yeah, we seem to have the tour map.
Re:Spoilers? by AndroidCat · 2004-09-09 02:32 · Score: 1

palpatine is in fact the lord of the sith
Sucked in. In Revenge of the Sith, we find out that JarJar was running the whole thing (including finding Anakin) and he becomes emperor after getting a nose job and speech coaching. Listen closely in Return of the Jedi when he says "You fwiends can't help you now." (Kind of a steal from Asimov's Foundation and Empire and the Mule.)

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One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
Re:Spoilers? by DrCash · 2004-09-09 02:40 · Score: 1

I know some people who would be horridly offended if you were to tell them the results of every football/baseball/basketball/soccar/nascar/rugby/w ater polo/cricket/volleyball/bullfighting ....
Offended? Hell, that's an understatement! If you did this in any European country with soccer (er, football?) you'd probably be killed! Seriously!
Re:Spoilers? by Cecil · 2004-09-09 02:49 · Score: 1

Slashdot really Lone Gunman'ed this.

Bonus points for the people who remember what I'm talking about.

--
Random and weird software I've written.
Re:Spoilers? by iabervon · 2004-09-09 02:57 · Score: 4, Funny

Oh, man. I'm definitely not going to see Fahrenheit 9/11 now...
Re:Spoilers? by Chris+Burke · 2004-09-09 03:00 · Score: 1

I think I'm going to have to see that movie just to see if they have to evade any lava sharks while surfing... I'm not sure if it'd mean Lucas was an ironic genius, or if he had to be killed, but I'm sure I'd enjoy it more than any of the rest of the trilogy.

--

The enemies of Democracy are
Re:Spoilers? by Capt_Troy · 2004-09-09 03:02 · Score: 2, Informative

I can't speak for everyone's local news... But on MSNBC countdown last night, the host said, "If you don't want to hear news about Ken from Jeopardy, press your mute button now!" He did give other advance warnings too.

Slashdot needs to be a little more responsible with its reporting.
Re:Spoilers? by mosch · 2004-09-09 03:16 · Score: 4, Funny

Actually the front page of cnn.com says "Is Ken Jennings' 'Jeopardy!' run over?"

It doesn't say that it is, and on which game.

Whoever modded my original post redudnant can eat a bag of cocks. Of course it was redundant, Michael and the other editors need to have it drilled into their heads that this was an enormous fuckup for those of us who decided to start watching Jeopardy for the streak.
Re:Spoilers? by cjpez · 2004-09-09 03:19 · Score: 1

Slashdot needs to be a little more responsible with its reporting.
*snort* Yeah right. All Slashdot does it post links to stories reported elsewhere, it's not like they're some actual news organization or anything. What exactly do they have a responsibility to do? The way I see it, their only real responsibility is to make sure that they bring in enough revenue to keep their jobs. I doubt they're going to lose money because they linked to an article which says how a freaking Jeopardy match came out.

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Al Qaeda has ninjas!
Re:Spoilers? by Politicus · 2004-09-09 03:40 · Score: 1

This is hilarious. Where are the points?

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Politicus
Re:Spoilers? by MarkGriz · 2004-09-09 03:41 · Score: 1

Wikipedia has a section on The Lone Gunmen.
Perhaps it needs an update to the Slashdot Subculture section regarding what it means to be "Lone Gunman'ed"

--
Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder.
Re:Spoilers? by heychris · 2004-09-09 04:20 · Score: 1

What's up with this? Why not just start posting all the endings for upcoming movies?
Anyone remember the game You Don't Know Jack? They had fake commercials at the end of the 'show', and one of them was for MovieEndingPhone!(tm)
Darth is Luke's father!
Kevin Spacey is Keiser Soze!
Rosebud is a sled!
Hi-larious
CC
Re:Spoilers? by LordKronos · 2004-09-09 04:28 · Score: 1

Anakin? Nooooo! It can't be!!!! How come to good ones always go to the dark side? Well, at least we've still got the old wrinkled Senator on our side.
Re:Spoilers? by untaken_name · 2004-09-09 04:44 · Score: 1

You are absolutely correct. I don't 'known' how to use initial caps. Fucktard.

--
http://xkcd.com/386/
Re:Spoilers? by LetterJ · 2004-09-09 04:56 · Score: 1

Yes, but consider the problem with televised coverage of the Olympics when it was held in Australia or even this year, in Greece. The outcome is known several hours (many in the case of the Australia Olympics) before the events are shown as "live". In those cases, most television news will show text of the results with the audio making no indication of winners, allowing those who don't want the outcome spoiled to retain the surprise.

It's just that in this case, the event is taped weeks in advance of it's "live" showing.

--

The Glass is Too Big: My Take on Things
Re:Spoilers? by LetterJ · 2004-09-09 04:58 · Score: 1

I commented above, but things like the Olympics are frequently televised in the United States as "live" during prime time as much as 12-16 hours after it happened. During the Australia Olympics this was often cited as part of the reason for a decline in viewership of the events in the US as they had already heard who won by the time they were able to see the event.

--

The Glass is Too Big: My Take on Things
Re:Spoilers? by LetterJ · 2004-09-09 05:01 · Score: 1

I've always wanted to have a movie have someone stop the bomb something like an hour before it's supposed to go off. It would be a good opportunity for that cocky main character to spout off on "amateurs" waiting till the last minute to save the day.

--

The Glass is Too Big: My Take on Things
Re:Spoilers? by Hamled · 2004-09-09 07:52 · Score: 1

The problem with your logic, here, is that the article that this slashdot post is based upon, claims he loses on his 76th game, not on his 34th. Jeopardy! is taped in advance, and the article in question is using leaked information (true or not), that he has lost, and we will see it later. This is very clear from the article, and perhaps next time you should read it before making a post.
Re:Spoilers? by strictfoo · 2004-09-09 08:27 · Score: 1

Well, at least we've still got the old wrinkled Senator on our side

I've got some bad news...

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I've just signed legislation that'll outlaw Russia forever. We'll begin bombing in five minutes.
Re:Spoilers? by taernim · 2004-09-09 09:19 · Score: 1

Or Alien versus Predator.
Either way, the viewers get screwed.
Wait a minute..... ewwwww.

--
"PC Load Letter? What the $@#% does that mean?!"
Re:Spoilers? by smithmc · 2004-09-09 10:17 · Score: 1

Anakin is Darth Vader!

And Hayden Christensen is Mark Hamill's father. Go figure.

--
Downmodding is the refuge of the weak. Don't downmod, make a better argument!
Re:Spoilers? by Chuq · 2004-09-09 10:49 · Score: 1

Come on then, what happens in 24 series 4?

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- Chuq
Re:Spoilers? by zobier · 2004-09-09 15:11 · Score: 1

People have even been mod'ing original posts redundant lately.

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Me lost me cookie at the disco.
Re:Spoilers? by bryan1945 · 2004-09-09 18:07 · Score: 1

" Oh, and the soccer game ends in a scoreless tie."

That's not a spoiler, that's just normal!

--
Vote monkeys into Congress. They are cheaper and more trustworthy.

Obligatory SNL Quote by StevenHenderson · 2004-09-09 00:58 · Score: 4, Funny

"I'll take 'The Rapists for 500, Trebek!"

Re:Obligatory SNL Quote by farlcow · 2004-09-09 01:02 · Score: 2, Funny

"And it appears Ken Jennings has changed his name to Turd Ferguson"
Re:Obligatory SNL Quote by Whalou · 2004-09-09 01:04 · Score: 2, Funny

Other classics:
Anal bum cover (An album cover)
Penis mightier (Pen is mightier)

--
English is not this .sig mother tongue...
Re:Obligatory SNL Quote by pragma_x · 2004-09-09 01:41 · Score: 2, Funny

Trebek: And now for Final Jeopardy! Write down a letter in the alphabet... any letter at all, like 'A' or 'X'.

Trebek: Okay, lets see what you wrote down. Jeff you wrote, a '2'...?

Jeff Goldblum: Uh.. what is the /letter/ 2... yea.

Trebek: I hate all of you.
Re:Obligatory SNL Quote by Glove+d'OJ · 2004-09-09 01:48 · Score: 1

Anal bum cover (an album cover) for $200, you scurvy dog!
Re:Obligatory SNL Quote by Em+Emalb · 2004-09-09 02:05 · Score: 1

redundant?

LOSER.

Why do I even bother with the front page anymore?

--
Sent from your iPad.
Re:Obligatory SNL Quote by ChairmanMeow · 2004-09-09 02:10 · Score: 1

So, is it time to start singing Weird Al's "I lost on Jeopardy"?

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Re:Obligatory SNL Quote by btlzu2 · 2004-09-09 02:37 · Score: 1

Because you are a sucker, man. A sucker! If I ever had mod points, I'd mod ya up though dude. It's WEIRD seeing you here. ;)

--
Zed's dead baby. Zed's dead.
Re:Obligatory SNL Quote by Fortress · 2004-09-09 03:25 · Score: 1

Don't forget:

"I'll take The Penis Mightier for 500, Trebek."
Re:Obligatory SNL Quote by red+floyd · 2004-09-09 04:13 · Score: 1

All right, Trebek, I'll play your game... I'll take "Anal Bum Cover" for $300!

--
The only reason we have the rights we have is that people just like us died to gain those rights. -- Cheerio Boy

Re:that was a good run though by kgarcia · 2004-09-09 00:58 · Score: 1, Informative

RTFA. 2.5 million

I think they should give Ken Alex's job. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-09 00:58 · Score: 3, Interesting

More people watch Jepordy because of Ken; and he's certainly entertaining.

I think it'd be cool if the host actually knew all the stuff when interacting with the contestants.

Re:I think they should give Ken Alex's job. by Lord+Kano · 2004-09-09 01:16 · Score: 1

I think it would be cool to have Ken as a guest host every once in a while.

LK

--
"Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
Re:I think they should give Ken Alex's job. by Ubergrendle · 2004-09-09 01:25 · Score: 4, Insightful

Don't underestimate Trebek... he's a pretty smart guy himself. If for no other reason than he's read trivia questions for 20 years straight. ;)

Seriously, he's more than a stuffed shirt that you see on most other gameshows.

--
John Maynard Keynes: "When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do?"
Re:I think they should give Ken Alex's job. by TrentL · 2004-09-09 01:53 · Score: 1

You can tell Trebek is pretty damn smart if you watch the show for awhile.

Contestant: What is "Stradvania"?
Trebek: Sorry, the correct answer is "Tunzunia". Stradvania was emperor during the 12th century under the Piscians, not the Mendians.
Re:I think they should give Ken Alex's job. by CreatureComfort · 2004-09-09 02:06 · Score: 1

That's why I always loved watching Ben Stein. The payouts were smaller, but the fact that the host was competing against, and regularly beating, the contestants was great.

--
"Unheard of means only it's undreamed of yet,
Impossible means not yet done." ~~ Julia Ecklar
Re:I think they should give Ken Alex's job. by hey · 2004-09-09 02:17 · Score: 2, Insightful

I have noticed that too but I wonder if the researchers provide Trebek with info on possible near misses. eg: The operating system Linus Torvalds wrote? What is Unix? Sorry, Unix was written by AT&T. Linux is the correct answer.
Re:I think they should give Ken Alex's job. by BuzzLY · 2004-09-09 04:58 · Score: 3, Interesting

Perhaps he is intelligent... but he's an asshole.

Quoted from http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,6216,00.html :

It also may be that Trebek is too tied up with potential court dates to appear on the show. The 59-year-old host was sued Monday by a United Airlines employee, who says he left her with serious hand injuries during a confrontation at Los Angeles International Airport.

Marlene Andrade, 31, of Hawthorne, California, claims Trebek got irate last May when she said his carry-on luggage was too big for the plane. She allegedly asked him to place his bag through a metal template at the front of an X-ray machine to test whether it was too big. She claims Trebek lifted the hinged plate and began passing the luggage through anyway. "He said... 'Don't you know who I am?' " says Andrade's lawyer, Steven Lerman. "And she said, 'I don't care who you are, these are the rules.' "

Andrade alleges that Trebek then slammed the plate down on her hands, and she's seeking unspecified damages for the incident. Trebek has declined to comment on the matter, pending ongoing litigation.
Re:I think they should give Ken Alex's job. by tsunamifirestorm · 2004-09-09 10:27 · Score: 1

On 60 Minutes they interviewed Trebek and he said he gets about 70% of the answers right. However, he said that he probably wouldn't win because his reflexes are not that great.

Bummer. by keiferb · 2004-09-09 00:59 · Score: 4, Interesting

You know, my local radio station's morning guys were reporting that he had lost on like... day 15 of his streak. They obviously were accounting for the pre-taping and all, but I'm glad to see he keeps going.

Jeopardy just won't be as fun to watch after he's gone. Ken's converted Jeopardy from an interesting game-show to a serious spectator sport in my house. It just won't be the same.

Re:Bummer. by ch-chuck · 2004-09-09 01:35 · Score: 2, Interesting

No doubt the ratings have shot thru the roof, as well as the advertising revenue. Makes me wonder if it was somehow rigged to achieve that end.

--
try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }
Re:Bummer. by dills · 2004-09-09 02:15 · Score: 1

Well, that's kind of interesting.

They shoot 5 episodes per day. 15 days...is 75 episodes.
Re:Bummer. by Kombat · 2004-09-09 02:33 · Score: 4, Informative

No doubt the ratings have shot thru the roof, as well as the advertising revenue.

Jeopardy doesn't get the ad revenue; the TV stations do. Jeopardy is a syndicated TV show, which means that networks sign a contract at the beginning of the season. $3 million for 100 shows, or something like that. If the ratings go up during the season, that's great for the network (because they can charge more for advertising time), but the producers of Jeopardy don't see any of that. They've already signed their contract, and are delivering the agreed-upon number of shows for the agreed-upon sum of money.

Now, next season, the show's producers may be able to cite the increased ratings as a factor in requesting a higher-paying contract this time. However, given that the whole "Ken" thing is really just an unusual, one-time curiousity, it'd be hard for Jeopardy's producers to convince the networks that the increased ratings will stick for the entire upcoming season.

What I'm saying is, the networks are profiting from this much more than the show itself, so no, it wouldn't make much sense for Jeopardy producers to "rig" the show to keep Ken around. The networks would have a lot more motive for such manipulation than the producers, but the networks have no control at all over how the show is produced, so it'd be impossible for them to carry out such meddling.

--
Like woodworking? Build your own picture frames.
Re:Bummer. by Colonel+Cholling · 2004-09-09 04:20 · Score: 1

but the networks have no control at all over how the show is produced

Are you kidding? They have plenty of control. "Bring back the smart guy or we'll drop your show in favor of Masturbation Island or Mennonite Jailbait in Vegas!"

I mean, they canned a great show like Cop Rock, didn't they?

--

I am Sartre of the Borg. Existence is futile.
Re:Bummer. by keiferb · 2004-09-09 04:29 · Score: 1

First, I'm not sure if it was exactly 15 days, but they also broke for the season halfway through his run.

Now, whether or not the show's "seasons" actually match the taping schedule is a whole different ball of "What is wax?"... but it'd be interesting to find out.
Re:Bummer. by Drakonian · 2004-09-09 05:18 · Score: 1

I wouldn't say it's a one-time curiousity. It's more that he was the first smart person to benefit from the rule changes that allow you to keep going until you lose. I'm sure there are lots of brilliant people who have been on the show who could have put together pretty substantial runs.

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Random is the New Order.
Re:Bummer. by Kombat · 2004-09-10 00:07 · Score: 1

In case it wasn't obvious, that Anonymous Coward was not actually me. Cute attempt at impersonation though.

--
Like woodworking? Build your own picture frames.

Re:that was a good run though by LiquidCoooled · 2004-09-09 00:59 · Score: 1, Funny

from the article: walking away after his 75th straight game with about $2.5 million overall in cash and prizes.

Thats a whole lotta prizes.

--
liqbase :: faster than paper

Thanks by asesti · 2004-09-09 00:59 · Score: 2, Insightful

Glad I don't watch this show or I would be pissed...

Loaded questions by essiescreet · 2004-09-09 01:00 · Score: 1

So, do you think that they took all the topics that he was weak on, loaded the board with them, and screwed him? Sounds likely to me. I don't know, however, because I don't watch TV...

Re:Loaded questions by tuxter · 2004-09-09 01:13 · Score: 2, Insightful

No. There are laws regarding this sort of stuff. In Australia I believe it's the lotteries commision. It will be stipulated by the local lotteries and gaming commission of where the event is actually held. The Questions will be picked totally at random. Of course, as we know, with all of these things, they are totally secure, and not open to any form of malicious tampering

I'm Sorry Alex... by Banjo+Kazooie · 2004-09-09 01:00 · Score: 1

Trebek is such a fruit.

Sorry, couldn't help myself. :)

Categories that Ken lost on... by bje2 · 2004-09-09 01:00 · Score: 5, Funny

- How to please a woman
- Things to do outside
- Post 1970's pop culture

in all seriousness, i think his run has been great...obviously it's helped jeopardy's ratings...heck, jeopardy has even made it onto my TIVO season pass list, so i can follow the exploits of Ken Jennigs each day...

--

"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true." - Homer Simpson

Re:Categories that Ken lost on... by Zorilla · 2004-09-09 01:22 · Score: 2, Insightful

I wasn't surprised at all that Ken, a guy from Utah, barely knew anything in the music categories.

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It would be cool if it didn't suck.
Re:Categories that Ken lost on... by bje2 · 2004-09-09 01:24 · Score: 1

see, but he can surprise you...being a mormon, you wouldn't think he would know a lot about alcohol and drinks...yet, he usually cleans up in the "potent potables" categories...

--

"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true." - Homer Simpson
Re:Categories that Ken lost on... by B3ryllium · 2004-09-09 02:02 · Score: 4, Funny

He has a wife. He has 1.3 million dollars (and going). I think he at least knows how to please a woman. :)
Re:Categories that Ken lost on... by Reducer2001 · 2004-09-09 02:08 · Score: 1

Personal experience has shown me that many religious people are also hard drinkers. They sin on Saturday and repent on Sunday. Repeat.

--
When you get to hell -- tell 'em Itchy sent ya!
Re:Categories that Ken lost on... by DrCash · 2004-09-09 02:43 · Score: 1

He has a wife. He has 1.3 million dollars (and going). I think he at least knows how to please a woman. :)
Yeah,... but he lives in Utah! Ok, change woman to women. :-)
Re:Categories that Ken lost on... by sehryan · 2004-09-09 02:44 · Score: 4, Funny

You know what he can do with all that money?

Two chicks at the same time.

--
The world moves for love. It kneels before it in awe.
Re:Categories that Ken lost on... by sehryan · 2004-09-09 02:59 · Score: 2, Funny

So then I guess he is already doing two chicks at the same time.

--
The world moves for love. It kneels before it in awe.
Re:Categories that Ken lost on... by colmore · 2004-09-09 03:42 · Score: 1

I always find posts like this irritating. I know it's a joke, but it represents a sentiment that many people really hold, that people who work hard at their interests must in some way be deficient in the rest of their lives.

Sure Ken probably isn't a "regular Joe" but that's no reason to assume he doesn't get along well with women or enjoy hiking. I would think Slashdotters especially would resist this kind of stereotyping, since the world generally passes the same judgement on our kind.

As for the post 1970s pop culture, maybe or maybe not. But really, is he missing out on much?

--
In Capitalist America, bank robs you!
Re:Categories that Ken lost on... by orange_6 · 2004-09-09 05:31 · Score: 1

On the July 13th show, Ken said that he and his wife made flashcards for drinks just for the potent potables category.

More info here (Jeopardy forums)
Re:Categories that Ken lost on... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-09 05:41 · Score: 1, Funny

Didn't the Mormons invent that?
Re:Categories that Ken lost on... by schlyne · 2004-09-09 13:28 · Score: 1

You mean he's not going to sit around and just do nothing?

--
I love deadlines. I like the "whoosh" sound they make as they fly by. -- Douglas Adams

What "Game" ? by e2ka · 2004-09-09 01:01 · Score: 5, Insightful

Could you at least put the subject of the article somewhere in the description?

Sure, I agree with RTFA, if I can determine it is worthwhile...

Re:What "Game" ? by MightyYar · 2004-09-09 01:10 · Score: 1, Insightful

Safe to say you wouldn't find it interesting, if you don't know who Trebek and Ken are. Safe to say you won't be on the show, as well! :)

--
W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
Re:What "Game" ? by Nadir · 2004-09-09 01:12 · Score: 2, Insightful

I only wish that people in the US recognized that there is more to the world than the States.
Like 6 billion people more.

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--
The world is divided in two categories:
those with a loaded gun and those who dig. You dig.
Re:What "Game" ? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-09 01:19 · Score: 4, Insightful

I only wish that people that frequent a US based website would understand why said website seems to be US centric. Sheesh.
Re:What "Game" ? by Ford+Prefect · 2004-09-09 01:49 · Score: 4, Insightful

I only wish that people that frequent a US based website would understand why said website seems to be US centric. Sheesh.

I only wish that people who contribute to a US-based website with a significant international audience would understand why people get pissed off when said website seems to be US-centric in a particularly impenetrable way.

I hadn't a clue what this article was supposed to be about. Some mention of 'Jeopardy', 'game-show' or whatever would have helped greatly...

--
Tedious Bloggy Stuff - hooray?
Re:What "Game" ? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-09 01:54 · Score: 3, Informative

I only wish that people who insisted that a US based web site be more international would read the God-damned FAQ Just because you can read the site from anywhere doesn't mean you ass needs to be kissed.
Re:What "Game" ? by Xoro · 2004-09-09 02:05 · Score: 1

Going to a US website and whining about US-centrism is like going to Paris and whining for a McDonalds.

Oh, and if you're ever in the US, be sure to check out google while you're here. You'll find that simply looking up the answer to your question is a much faster (and more polite) resolution. Maybe they have something similar where you live, so you don't have to play the "Ugly Euro" every time you visit.

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Kill, Tux, kill!
Re:What "Game" ? by e2ka · 2004-09-09 02:30 · Score: 1

I only wish that people in the US recognized that there is more to the world than the States. Like 6 billion people more.

Actually, I'm from the US, and I still had no idea what this is about.
Re:What "Game" ? by jdavidb · 2004-09-09 03:03 · Score: 1

If it makes you feel any better, I had trouble figuring it out, too. My only clue was "Mr. Trebek." I was wondering what this new "SFGate" game show was, and if the host "Mr. Trebek" was the same one who hosted that old Jeopardy show I used to watch ten years ago.

--
Secession is the right of all sentient beings.
Re:What "Game" ? by Vellmont · 2004-09-09 03:12 · Score: 1

Yah, I feel the same way about british TV shows with large US viewership. They should explain all the weirdo british slang so us yanks can understand it. Barney Rubble.. TROUBLE!!!

Sorry man, but everyone here knows what Jeopardy is. Even though I don't watch Jeopardy I've at least heard of this guy who's won all the money. The point is of course it's incumbant on YOU to learn what the US cultural reference means. If you aren't comfortable with that, then you shouldn't be here.

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AccountKiller
Re:What "Game" ? by toetagger1 · 2004-09-09 04:14 · Score: 2, Insightful

News for Nerds. Stuff that matters."

Where does it say that this is only for ammercians? I whish they would say in the title what the content is, without having to RTFA to find out if it is intersting or not!

Wait a minute, ...

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who | grep -i blond | date cd ~; unzip; touch; strip; finger; mount; gasp; yes; uptime; umount; sleep
Re:What "Game" ? by Vellmont · 2004-09-09 04:34 · Score: 1

It did mention "Mr Trebek", who's don't nothing BUT Jeopardy for something like 20 years.

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AccountKiller
Re:What "Game" ? by Xoro · 2004-09-09 05:16 · Score: 1

Oh, for pity's sake.

Complain to ICANN, then, but quit embarrassing yourself with this nonsense.

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Kill, Tux, kill!
Re:What "Game" ? by stanmann · 2004-09-09 06:25 · Score: 1

Well, except that it does. google on .org suffix domain and you will find that .org generally means US, thats why there are the .org.uk,.org.au,.org.ca, etc. CAN a global entity use just .org, SURE, but .org generally means us.

--
Food not Bombs is a nice platitude but it breaks down when you notice that the Bombees are usually well fed
Re:What "Game" ? by hc00jw · 2004-09-09 06:29 · Score: 1

Lets break this down:

Slashdot is a U.S. site. See faq. Now will you keep your end of the bargain?

The FAQ? I hate to retread old ground, but if it's a U.S. site, then why doesn't it a) Say so in a clear and obvious manner or b) Move itself to a U.S. domain?

And to quote the FAQ:

We're certainly not opposed to doing more international stories, but we don't have any formal plans for making that happen.

God, this misses the point so widely. We don't want more international stories, we want less U.S. specific stories. Or at least put them in their own section! And this:

[T]he vast majority of our readership is in the U.S.

Maybe if you posted less U.S. specific stories, you would have a wider international acceptance? We have a chicken and egg situation here. The whole FAQ answer is so arrogant!

Back on with the reply to my post:

Of course it doesn't say "News for U.S. Nerds". Be interested or don't be.

Why doesn't it say "News for U.S. Nerds"? I came to slashdot, and I thought "Oohhh... news for nerds, that applies to me!". Except, today, I have found out that it doesn't wholly apply to me, because I am not American. Now then, if it said "news for american nerds", this misunderstanding wouldn't have happened, and we wouldn't be wasting our time with this here argument.

Do you think everyone in the U.S. cares about the show?

Good god man, you've missed the point again. Of course not. My point is, I don't even know what the hell the article was on about (which is why I clicked it, because it perked my interest), and the fact that the authors assumed the slashdot crowd would is just know is, once again, just plain arrogant.

Do you think noone outside the U.S. cares?

Missed the point again. If people are interested in U.S. culture, they will read a U.S. centric web site. Obviously now, I know that slashdot is a U.S. centric web site, but I didn't when I made the post, and the fact that I didn't know that slashdot is a U.S. centric web site I think is a fault of the designers for not making clear. (See slogan argument above).

Do you think that every story must be custom-tailored with your decerning tastes in mind?

Again, you've missed the point. Of course I don't read every story on slashdot, but I at least the stories should have potential to be relevant to me. This article has no potential relevance to me what-so-ever, so it should either be put in a U.S. section, or I should be able to filter it out with my preferences (should be turned on by default).

Do you think at all?

This from somebody who can't see past his own nose, let alone outside of his own country? Please.

Quit being such a bratty twit.

(Included because I have now quoted the post wholly, but I won't dignify with a proper response)
Re:What "Game" ? by WhatAmIDoingHere · 2004-09-09 07:17 · Score: 1

Slashdot seems to be very U.S.-centric. Do you have any plans to be more international in your scope? Slashdot is U.S.-centric. We readily admit this, and really don't see it as a problem. Slashdot is run by Americans, after all, and the vast majority of our readership is in the U.S. We're certainly not opposed to doing more international stories, but we don't have any formal plans for making that happen. All we can really tell you is that if you're outside the U.S. and you have news, submit it, and if it looks interesting, we'll post it. Answered by: CmdrTaco Last Modified: 10/28/00

--
Not a Twitter sockpuppet... but I wish I was.
Re:What "Game" ? by smart.id · 2004-09-09 08:26 · Score: 1

When did the parent poster say that Slashdot was only for Americans? He said it was U.S. centric. It was founded by Americans, and is edited by Americans. It mentions in the FAQ that it is U.S. centric as well. Your argument is based on something you fabricated yourself.

--
blog & fiction: jd87
Re:What "Game" ? by loco_0wnz · 2004-09-09 08:29 · Score: 1

'nuff said :)
Re:What "Game" ? by hc00jw · 2004-09-09 09:21 · Score: 1

I have no intention of getting pulled any further into a flame war with an anonymous troll, as if you read my previous posts, I've answered all your questions, and I don't see any point in repeating myself. I do, however, take exception to this:

If you saw Americans on a site run by French or Japanese calling the owners a bunch of racist inbreds for not explaining every cultural reference, you'd scoff at them. Yet you so self-righteously do the same. Your attitude is arrogant and vile.

I infer from this that you are calling me a racist. I'd like you to point out at any point when I put a slur against Americans in general. My criticisms were always specific, and they were specifically against you, one person (at least I think your one person, obviously I don't know as you are anonymous), not against an entire race. Racism has nothing to do with it, and I am offended that you would slur my name in such a way. I don't have a problem with Americans, I do have a problem with arrogance.

As a side note, the quote in question is a moot point too, as I've already stated, how was I to know this was a U.S. based site? OK, here's the challenge. Go to the homepage, and tell me where it once says that this is a site for Americans? Does it? No. Should it? Yes, as this is indeed the case, and as you've stated, this is an American site, with American culture. I repeat (and I said I wasn't going to, damn it) how was I supposed to know that this was a U.S. centric site? See my previous posts for a continuation of this argument! (Clue, it involves tlds, slogans and the identity of slashdot in general).
Re:What "Game" ? by hc00jw · 2004-09-09 11:12 · Score: 1

Slur your name, indeed. Did you even read the damned thing you quoted? "calling the owners a bunch of racist inbreds" -- are you the owner? No? Just admit it -- you would find an American on a non-American site who made the same sort of complaints you are making to be an oafish boor.
This is a quote taken out of context, here is the full quote:

If you saw Americans on a site run by French or Japanese calling the owners a bunch of racist inbreds for not explaining every cultural reference, you'd scoff at them. Yet you so self-righteously do the same.
OK, so I not the owner, no. But the second sentence in that paragraph? "Yet you so self-righteously do the same.". What do I do the same as? From the first sentence: "you saw Americans on a site run by French or Japanese calling the owners a bunch of racist inbreds for not explaining every cultural reference". Do I need to connect the dots?

And you, sir, are an oafish boor.
And opinions are like a$$hole$, my good friend. Why should I care for yours?

Does any site that might have American content have to be branded with a star, lest you contaminate yourself? Why should it need a disclaimer? Why can't you just read and decide if you like it? Do other people from other cultures need to post a disclaimer before you will allow them to post on the web?
Because I don't know what the article is about! Right, lets start again. I didn't know slashdot was U.S. centric, hence, I did not know that this particular article was about U.S. television (I can infer this information from the first fact, obviously). What would have solved this problem? Putting Slashdot under the .us tld, changing the slashdot slogan / presentation, or even just putting it in a U.S. section! It's not that difficult!
This is the same sort of mentality that stops people from coding their sites in xhtml. "But badly coded html 4 renders correctly in IE6 on a PC". Yes, but that's not the point, blind people cannot access the content. I am the same, I am blind to your U.S. centric content, and do not know what that particular part of the page is about. And it's so easily fixable! Just tell me it's a U.S. centric content... On the home page!

As for your not knowing the site was run by Americans, I simply do not believe you. How did you suppose the topic got posted in the first place? The front-page post says nothing about America, yet you knew enough to call "US-centrism". Could it be because you knew Slashdot was run by Americans?
We have yet another chicken and egg situation here. I now know that slashdot is run by Americans. When I was looking through the story, I did not. I gathered the show was U.S. based, from some of the posts. I then criticise slashdot for it's American bias on what should be a global site. I then have the FAQ linked as evidence that slashdot is supposed to be U.S. centric, and I criticise it again, but this time for not making the point clear. That's this conversation in a nutshell.
Now, back to your quote. This is again all taken out of context, because you are quoting from different parts of the conversation that were written at different times. This is what big companies do when they spread FUD about their competitors products, they take everything out of context. I would be grateful if when you quote me it's in its entirety and in context.

And why do you insist that a site run by Americans must either disguise their nationality [or?] be exclusively "for Americans"?
Because non Americans don't care about American TV, and it's not just Americans who visit this site (it is, after all, under the org tld). If there is going to be stuff that non-Americans won't care about, I think it should *at least* be marked as such! I also never said it has to be exclusively for Americans, I said it has
Re:What "Game" ? by pete-classic · 2004-09-10 03:59 · Score: 1

Could you please explain what's funny about "Ford Prefect" as a name for a person for the American audience? (You insensitive British bastard!)

-Peter

In other news by tuxter · 2004-09-09 01:02 · Score: 1, Funny

Utah is currently in mourning, and salt lake city has ground to a standstill.

Re: technically no by Chess_the_cat · 2004-09-09 01:02 · Score: 1, Insightful

Had you RTFA you would have noticed that they don't disclose whether he lost, but only that he's no longer on the show.

Are you saying he just gave up? If he's no longer on the show then he must have lost. Slashdot fucked up huge on this one. Thanks for letting me know. I've been watching Ken since his first appearance and have been obsessed with this guy. Now I know that in 30 shows he's gone. What's the point now? FUCKERS!

--
Support the First Amendment. Read at -1

More SNL Jeopardy... by bje2 · 2004-09-09 01:03 · Score: 1

"Swords for 200"...

"Yeah, i'll take Ape tit"

--

"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true." - Homer Simpson

Okay by Tjebbe · 2004-09-09 01:03 · Score: 1

This is the first time I had to RTFA just to find out what the fsck it was about.

Future Movements by two-tail · 2004-09-09 01:03 · Score: 1, Funny

After taxes that will be approx. $380,661. His agent, who mysteriously appeared overnight and has not had a chance to speak directly with Mr. Jennings, reports that the impromptu star will be regaining the $1 indirectly through endorsements for life insurance and denture adhesives.

After the endorsements have been completed he will be closeted in the mountains practicing by playing the Jeopardy computer and board games (which he still had to buy himself) until the Tournament of Champions is held. He will also be preparing a few choice remarks for Sean Connery in Mr. Jennings upcoming appearance on SNLs "Celebrity Jeopardy".

Jeopardy rules by jeffkjo1 · 2004-09-09 01:03 · Score: 4, Interesting

Jeopardy rules essentially state that if a contestant leaks the results of a match before it has aired, that they forfeit their winnings. While this story may be true, someone's head will roll for it.

Re:Jeopardy rules by bunratty · 2004-09-09 01:11 · Score: 3, Informative

Most likely an audience member leaked the news. Is Alex gonna send someone over to break his legs, assuming they can figure out who it is?

--
What a fool believes, he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.
Re:Jeopardy rules by Jaysyn · 2004-09-09 01:12 · Score: 3, Funny

You mean those aren't real people in the audience?

Jaysyn

--
There is a war going on for your mind.
Re:Jeopardy rules by ediron2 · 2004-09-09 01:52 · Score: 1

Yeah, it's not like Alex doesn't congratulate Ken on his N-game winning streak 3 or 4 times per episode! And I'd be shocked if the gameshow didn't give their studio audience the date the show would air. Once you have either of those, bob's your uncle.

By the way, what the heck is the origin of bob's your uncle?
Re:Jeopardy rules by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-09 02:07 · Score: 1, Interesting

This is a catchphrase which seemed to arise out of nowhere and yet has had a long period of fashion and is still going strong. It's known mainly in Britain and Commonwealth countries, and is really a kind of interjection. It's used to show how simple it is to do something: "You put the plug in here, press that switch, and Bob's your uncle!".

The most attractive theory--albeit suspiciously neat--is that it derives from a prolonged act of political nepotism. The Victorian prime minister, Lord Salisbury (family name Robert Cecil, pronounced ) appointed his rather less than popular nephew Arthur Balfour to a succession of posts. The most controversial, in 1887, was chief secretary of Ireland, a post for which Balfour--despite his intellectual gifts--was considered unsuitable. The Dictionary of National Biography says: "The country saw with something like stupefaction the appointment of the young dilettante to what was at the moment perhaps the most important, certainly the most anxious office in the administration". As the story goes, the consensus among the irreverent in Britain was that to have Bob as your uncle was a guarantee of success, hence the expression. Since the very word nepotism derives from the Italian word for nephew (from the practice of Italian popes giving preferment to nephews, a euphemism for their bastard sons), the association here seems more than apt.

Actually, Balfour did rather well in the job, confounding his critics and earning the bitter nickname Bloody Balfour from the Irish, which must have quietened the accusations of undue favouritism more than a little (he also rose to be Prime Minister from 1902-5). There is another big problem: the phrase isn't recorded until 1937, in Eric Partridge's Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English. Mr Partridge suggested it had been in use since the 1890s, but nobody has found an example in print. This is surprising. If public indignation or cynicism against Lord Salisbury's actions had been great enough to provoke creation of the saying, why didn't it appear--to take a case--in a satirical magazine of the time such as Punch?

A rather more probable, but less exciting, theory has it that it derives from the slang phrase all is bob, meaning that everything is safe, pleasant or satisfactory. This dates back to the seventeenth century or so (it's in Captain Francis Grose's Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue of 1785). There have been several other slang expressions containing bob, some associated with thievery or gambling, and from the eighteenth century on it was also a common generic name for somebody you didn't know. Any or all of these might have contributed to its genesis.
Re:Jeopardy rules by rnelsonee · 2004-09-09 02:33 · Score: 1

If they have those restrictions for players, they don't for audience members. I went to a taping when they were in D.C. a few months ago (I wanted to see the hotshot political contestants, but ended up getting the day after, when they did the kids show), and there was not requirement that we had to keep quiet about it. This is on par with one of the original articles stating that audience members were told to "spread the news", which may or may not be true. But we didn't have to sign/acknowlede anything to that effect.
Re:Jeopardy rules by johnkoer · 2004-09-09 02:37 · Score: 1

But at the beginning of each show the announcer guy says and our "Champion Ken Jennings with a 74 day total of $2,483,383.42"

So as long as one person in the audience can add 1 to the total mentioned at the beginning of the show, I think they can figure it out.

--
Johnkoerner.com
Re:Jeopardy rules by Chris+Burke · 2004-09-09 03:20 · Score: 1

Doubtful. I heard Alex likes to handle his dirty work himself.

--

The enemies of Democracy are
Re:Jeopardy rules by signe · 2004-09-09 03:26 · Score: 1

Yeah, I actually sat next to Ken's father at a taping in LA recently, and that was the first time he had gone to see Ken (later than the currently airing episodes). Him and his wife had been harassing Ken asking him if they were ever going to get to see a taping.

By the way, really nice people. We got to talk for a bit.

-Todd

--
"The details of my life are quite inconsequential..."
Re:Jeopardy rules by dasmegabyte · 2004-09-09 04:19 · Score: 4, Funny

Oh, they'll figure out who did it. It just might take them a while, since when they're interrogating suspects they can only ask questions in the form of an answer.

Interrogator: This man leaked the ending of the Ken Jennings winning streak.

Suspect: It wasn't me!

Interrogator: *sigh* For the last time, it's "Who is "not me?""

--
Hey freaks: now you're ju
Re:Jeopardy rules by g0_p · 2004-09-09 05:09 · Score: 1

Its also likely is that it was leaked by the network to ensure that there is enough hype before the show airs. I am betting the advertisers are lining up outside the networks offices for slots on the show in which Ken Jennings supposedly loses.
Re:Jeopardy rules by cayce · 2004-09-09 06:17 · Score: 1

And how do you keep the audience from doing so?

That rule must apply only for contestants to leak to the media/public appearances, etc.

This leak must have come from several people in the audience, which started up as a rumor until the media catched on.
Re:Jeopardy rules by stanmann · 2004-09-09 06:34 · Score: 1

Assumedly that is added in post-production. Although Ken and Alex chat about his streak and prize money.

--
Food not Bombs is a nice platitude but it breaks down when you notice that the Bombees are usually well fed
Re:Jeopardy rules by shawnl · 2004-09-09 06:38 · Score: 1

There may be restrictions on contestants revealing results, and I'm sure the show's staff is under similar restrictions, but I doubt that there is much security over all this. Audience members could be the most likely blabbers.

Normally, such security isn't needed. I mean, most of the time the contestants are three nobodies.

But I doubt that this will hurt the ratings much.

The World Series of Poker was over last May, and ESPN enjoys incredible ratings over their broadcasts which are still in their first airings now.

--
Be Seeing You, Shawn Levasseur -Rockland ME
Re:Jeopardy rules by johnkoer · 2004-09-09 06:45 · Score: 1

I don't think so, the graphics and such are, but whenever they read the total you always see ken shaking his head in amazement, so I think it is read while they are taping.

--
Johnkoerner.com
Re:Jeopardy rules by chaboud · 2004-09-09 08:11 · Score: 2, Informative

Jeopardy shows are filmed in five-shows-per-day blocks, with audiences seeing either two or three episodes in rapid succession.

Even the temp selling ice-cream on the lot knows the results of last-week's tapings. No one will find out who leaked this information.
Re:Jeopardy rules by RedWizzard · 2004-09-09 16:18 · Score: 1

Most likely an audience member leaked the news.
Could also be a reporter staking Ken out. "Hmmm, Ken's not spending every day recording Jeopardy shows any more. I wonder what that means?"

wiki wiki wiki by tuxter · 2004-09-09 01:04 · Score: 5, Informative

Some info here.

Re:wiki wiki wiki by shawnseat · 2004-09-09 03:11 · Score: 1

I just went to Wikipedia and perused the articles you mentioned. My confusion is about what you found erroneous in them? They said that evolution is by far the most widely held belief about the origin of species, except in the United States and Southeast Asian Islamic countries (I am not certain about sub-Saharan Africa -- given the recent strong importation of US fundamentalist Christianity, evolution may now be a minority position there also). They said even in these places, the majority of scientists are convinced by evolution, although the percentages are dramatically lower than in the rest of the world. Although it is most strongly championed by fundamentalists in Christianity (and to a lesser extent Islam), creationism is also an important influence politically among mainline denominations of Christianity, which is also true.

Now if you are arguing the articles are too lenient with respect to creationism, note that the great majority of discussion is in the realm of philosophy, politics and religion, which is where it does have (in the countries they mentioned) a significant foothold. And at the bottom of the creationism article, a rather extensive bibliography of creationist/IDist websites are given as well as sites that explain objections to them in more detail. I would have preferred The Panda's Thumb to be added to the bibliography, but otherwise it's a rather strong pair of articles, in my opinion.

--
Religion is the opiate of the masses. The wealthy smoke the real stuff.

It was the summer of JG by savagedome · 2004-09-09 01:04 · Score: 1

The summer of Jeopardy Guy

--

Free XBox, PS2

Don't count on it by Kombat · 2004-09-09 01:05 · Score: 4, Interesting

Remember when someone "hacked" CBS's website and learned that Gervase was the winner? The next 2 weeks were boring, as we all knew the rest of the game was a foregone conclusion - until Gervase got voted off, and we all realized we'd been had.

Ken's winning streak has been fantastic for Jeopardy's ratings (up 35% from the same time last season, last I heard). This could be just another ploy to try and drive the ratings up even further.

Come on, guys. We're notorious skeptics here on Slashdot. Don't believe everything you read.

--
Like woodworking? Build your own picture frames.

Re:Don't count on it by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-09 01:15 · Score: 1, Insightful

me on, guys. We're notorious skeptics here on Slashdot. Don't believe everything you read.
ESPECIALLY when it's posted ON /. ;)
Re:Don't count on it by PhuCknuT · 2004-09-09 01:18 · Score: 1

I don't think this would increase ratings, if anything it will decrease them. Alot of people watch just to see if he'll lose that day, if they know he's gonna win for another month or 2, they will be less likely to watch (except the day he's suppoosed to lose that is).
Re:Don't count on it by Metallic+Matty · 2004-09-09 01:18 · Score: 2, Insightful

While you raise an interesting point, seems kind of like the wrong analysis IMHO. If this was indeed a ploy to raise ratings, its a horrible one. Consider, you KNOW that Ken won't lose for another thirty four games, and then after that he's done. What incentive to you have to watch, knowing that he'll win every night? If anything, this would hurt their ratings. (At least until this 75th game, where he will or will not be defeated, and then we find out if this was true or just a rumor.)
Re:Don't count on it by LordKronos · 2004-09-09 02:09 · Score: 1

I heard on the radio this morning that their intention was to air the episode during sweeps week. If that's true, it doesn't seem like such a horrible ploy anymore.
Re:Don't count on it by mwood · 2004-09-09 02:14 · Score: 2, Insightful

"What incentive to you have to watch...?"

The wagering on the Daily Doubles? Wondering how Contestant X could possibly, possibly not know the question to *that* answer? The chitchat they use to fill the time slot when the play is too rapid? Seeing what sort of categories appeal to a left-handed pipefitter from Oshkosh who once bungee-jumped off the Sears Tower? The schadenfreude when a player relearns that pushing the button too soon makes it go dead? Discovering what the writers' idea of Really Tough Physics Questions is?
Re:Don't count on it by imadork · 2004-09-09 03:45 · Score: 1

Ken's winning streak has been fantastic for Jeopardy's ratings (up 35% from the same time last season, last I heard). This could be just another ploy to try and drive the ratings up even further.
That 75th episode where we all think Ken will lose wouldn't happen to bo during sweeps week, would it? just a thought...

Re:that was a good run though by LiquidCoooled · 2004-09-09 01:05 · Score: 3, Interesting

Well, they say (again in the article) that the most recent aired show was his 41st win, and that he had $1,380,661.

Now, if this news is right that his final curtain closes on show 75, its roughly on course.

--
liqbase :: faster than paper

Outsourced by rlp · 2004-09-09 01:06 · Score: 5, Funny

He didn't really lose - they just brought in someone from overseas who agreed to win less money. :-)

--
[Insert pithy quote here]

Re:Outsourced by SomeOtherGuy · 2004-09-09 09:12 · Score: 1

He didn't really lose - they just brought in someone from overseas who agreed to win less money.

Ok. I know this is already a +5 funny, but I would love to give it A 6. I really did laugh out loud at that one. Kudos.

--
(+1 Funny) only if I laugh out loud.

It had to end sometime by Xentax · 2004-09-09 01:06 · Score: 4, Interesting

Assuming this speculation is true, the real question is "how".

I mean, I'm sure even Ken would/will/did get tired of playing sooner or later. 75 games sounds like a nice round number to stop on; he set the single-game score record with something right around 75,000, as I recall (maybe even 75k even?).

So, it'll be interesting (to me) to see if he more or less quit on purpose - either just not coming back by choice, or obviously throwing the game to lose.

Xentax

--
You shouldn't verb words.

Re:It had to end sometime by trentblase · 2004-09-09 02:29 · Score: 1

Whenever I'm watching and I don't know the answer, I say "who is your mom" and "why does your mom like giving me head". Ken should totally do that.... uhhh Beavis.
Re:It had to end sometime by Xentax · 2004-09-09 02:39 · Score: 1

I agree with you but only up to a point. Remember, by 75 games, we're basically talking about his whole life for ... what, a year or so, counting season breaks, etc.?

Balanced against that, there are several factors. Maybe he doesn't want to be a celebrity; it might be too late for that, but the longer he stays in the game and the more he earns, the harder it will be to fade back into obscurity.

Maybe he's rigged the game somehow to come so far (I *highly* doubt this), and he knows he needs to quit before someone figures him out.

Maybe he's going to go do who wants to be a millionaire next. Why settle for 30 grand a day when he can get a bunch more in a day or two?

He'll come back for a tournament of champions, almost surely, pick up another quarter or half million (pre-tax) there.

And even if none of that applies, I think if you took a survey, you'd find a LOT of people who'd be perfectly happy to live, work-free, on 80k a year (assuming your math works out). Lots of people work 40+ hours a week to make a lot less than that.

Most of us like to joke about the "problems" wealthy people have, but maybe he's already gotten a taste of those and decided he doesn't want to go there, and the more he wins, the more of that he'll have to deal with.

Xentax

--
You shouldn't verb words.
Re:It had to end sometime by multimed · 2004-09-09 03:25 · Score: 1

And let's face it--he's a pretty bright guy generally speaking, and a software engineer. One would think he's more than capable of turning that money into a considerably larger chunk through business ventures if he so chooses.

--
Vote Quimby.
Re:It had to end sometime by ACNiel · 2004-09-09 06:38 · Score: 1

I think it is more probable that they finally changed the password on the server that housed the questions.

Dumb question, but I gotta ask. by blcamp · 2004-09-09 01:06 · Score: 1, Funny

I presume he will be in the Tournament of Champion... but hasn't he already won? He'd be the only one there! :p

(Note - "Champion" singlular intentional)

--
The problem with socialism is that they always run out of other people's money. - Margaret Thatcher

Re:Dumb question, but I gotta ask. by Buzz_Litebeer · 2004-09-09 01:20 · Score: 1

I was wondering that too.

If you have 1 guy win 75 games, will the tourney of the champions basically be him... maybe they could clone him, that would be one hell of a match.

--
If you don't vote, you don't matter, so don't waste your time telling me your opinion

In other news... by HungSoLow · 2004-09-09 01:07 · Score: 1, Funny

Alex Trebek was seen torching the SFGate offices, screaming obsenities and cursing their poor reporting ethics!

No spoiler warning on this? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-09 01:07 · Score: 1, Insightful

I just happened to look at the front page and now it's ruined for me. Thanks a ton guys. At least put a little more...ambiguous title on it and hold the spoiler for inside the article so that I can choose whether to click on it or not.

Thanks again.

Re:No spoiler warning on this? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-09 03:25 · Score: 1, Insightful

There is no evidence that it's true. The information is based on what someone told some guy running a blog. It's not very credible, but it is fun to consider.

My buzzer was failing! by michael+path · 2004-09-09 01:09 · Score: 5, Funny

It should be noted that during the taping of this episode, Jennings said "Mr. Trebek, I don't believe my buzzer is working correctly."

Re:My buzzer was failing! by Peyna · 2004-09-09 02:28 · Score: 1

I've seen several contestants claim that their buzzers were not working correctly, but they're really just getting beaten by someone else. I imagine if a contestant raised the issue, they would stop for a moment and test it out. (And since it "didn't affect the outcome of the game" they don't show it on TV.)

--
What?

So who beat him? by earthforce_1 · 2004-09-09 01:10 · Score: 1

The article doesn't mention. I imagine the winner will now gain some notoriety of his own, short of like Capt. Brown after allegedly shooting down the red baron, Lothar Von Richtoven.

--
My rights don't need management.

Re:So who beat him? by The+I+Shing · 2004-09-09 01:42 · Score: 1

Lothar von Richtofen was Manfred von Richtofen's younger brother. It was Manfred who was supposedly shot down by Capt. Brown, although it's widely speculated that it was shots by ground forces that downed the fabled Red Baron.

Ken Jennings, on the other hand, has never flown a Sopwith Camel or a Fokker Tri-Plane, but could probably correctly answer a series of increasingly-difficult trivia questions about them.

--
You are in error. No-one is screaming. Thank you for your cooperation.

Thanks for ruining it... by Cesaro · 2004-09-09 01:12 · Score: 2

I would really have appreciated not having the content of this on the front page. This kind of ruins the intrigue of watching the show and wondering "I wonder if he'll win again tonight"

I'm not too impressed Michael for revealing this. It just isn't right for folks like me that actually like to watch the show.

A few thoughts... by inblosam · 2004-09-09 01:12 · Score: 1

What makes Ken so amusing? I don't have cable so I can't check it out for myself.

I like the idea of contestants (like Ken) taking Trebek's spot. Maybe just for a show or two. However, Trebek just reads the question and the answer, so there really isn't much required (other than presentation, rules monitoring, keeping things going, acting stuff, etc.).

Anyone know background information more on Ken too? Does he just ingest everything he reads...has no life...or just is super smart. I read about a kid that won the geography bee and he attributed it to his parent's rule of only educational video games. Something I would like for my own kids.

Mason-powered site for searching Utah Homes and foreclosures.

That was my sig. Ok, yes it was an advertisement. But hey, I built the site.

Re:A few thoughts... by warrax_666 · 2004-09-09 01:26 · Score: 1

Does he just ingest everything he reads...has no life...or just is super smart.

He's a mormon. You decide which of those applies to him.

--
HAND.
Re:A few thoughts... by Masami+Eiri · 2004-09-09 01:30 · Score: 1

Maybe its different in your area, but Jeopardy runs on the networks... CBS around here. Thus, you shouldn't need cable...
Re:A few thoughts... by Zorilla · 2004-09-09 01:35 · Score: 1

What makes Ken so amusing? I don't have cable so I can't check it out for myself.

I think the only Jeopardy! shows I've seen on the cable channels were the stupid variations, like the one for kids that had a really annoying host. The broadcast stations where you live must suck, as most would usually play the original show in syndication.

--

It would be cool if it didn't suck.
Re:A few thoughts... by bje2 · 2004-09-09 01:44 · Score: 1

some of the things that make him amusing:
(from wikipedia)

Jennings has become known for his quirky behaviors:

He writes his name in a different style each day, with styles ranging from cursive script to block letters to dots.

Every time his total winnings are announced at the beginning of the show, he shakes his head in disbelief.

The good luck charm in his pocket is a plush "Totoro" toy, from the movie My Neighbor Totoro.

He will often attempt to pronounce foreign words, phrases, or locations with an accent.

On Final Jeopardy! and the Daily Doubles he almost always wagers an amount that could bring his total to a multiple of $5,000, or at the least a multiple of $1,000.

He did not want to beat the $52,000 single-day record of former five-day champion Brian Weikle just "for the sake of beating it" (from the Jeopardy! forums). He intentionally tied this record three times. However, on the episode aired July 23, the final episode of the Jeopardy! season and Jennings' 38th win, he entered Final Jeopardy! with a total only $600 shy of the record, and beat it with a final total of $75,000. (He would have broken the record with $60,000 in his 30th win, but missed the Final Jeopardy! question and finished that game with $32,000).

--

"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true." - Homer Simpson
Re:A few thoughts... by inblosam · 2004-09-09 04:08 · Score: 1

I'm a Mormon, but that still doesn't answer my question. Does he read a lot? Has he studied jeopardy for years and years preparing? Or has he just worked hard to get a good education and memorize lots of facts not really important to every day life? Scientifically Mormons have just been shown to have less cancer and better health, and Mormon men generally do have more education than non-Mormon men.

So what... by StevenHenderson · 2004-09-09 01:14 · Score: 1

You guys act like this guy is SO SMART. Come on, now...Alex Trebek knows ALL of the answers.

...and NO it is NOT because he has them all in front of him. :)

Re:So what... by multipartmixed · 2004-09-09 01:25 · Score: 4, Funny

> Alex Trebek knows ALL of the answers

Yes, but does he know the questions?

--

Do daemons dream of electric sleep()?
Re:So what... by untaken_name · 2004-09-09 01:40 · Score: 1

You are correct. It is because he spends time going over each and every question weeks before it ever appears on the show. This is so that he may ensure correct pronunciation and also so that he may be ready with acceptable variations on answers. It is possible that before hosting the show, he was reasonably widely learned, however his knowledge has increased dramatically from the early shows, due in large part to his receiving the answers and retaining them as well as combining them with other bits of information he already possessed.

--
http://xkcd.com/386/
Re:So what... by Eslyjah · 2004-09-09 02:14 · Score: 1

Yes, but does he know the questions?

What is no.
Re:So what... by Bob+Cat+-+NYMPHS · 2004-09-09 07:53 · Score: 1

Alex told me he does not know all the answers. I think he was stretching the truth. He doesn't know MOST of the answers.

Yes, I was actually on the show.

--
The latest Slashdot meme.

No it won't by Noose+For+A+Neck · 2004-09-09 01:16 · Score: 1

How could another season of the same guy winning over and over again possibly be interesting?

--

Software piracy is victimless theft.

Re:No it won't by Rico_za · 2004-09-09 01:27 · Score: 1

What, like Schumacher in F1, (it's like Indycarts only better)
or Tiger Woods in Golf,
or the Chicago Bulls in the Jordan era?
They all have/had huge followings, just because they're so good, they've almost raised it to an art form.
Re:No it won't by Noose+For+A+Neck · 2004-09-09 03:07 · Score: 1

Did you even read the article summary?
At least with the examples you mentioned, you don't really know ahead of time that they will be winning for the rest of the year.

--
Software piracy is victimless theft.

Re: technically no by Zorilla · 2004-09-09 01:17 · Score: 1

Sorry, I guess information wants to annoy you..err..be free, I mean.

--

It would be cool if it didn't suck.

Never heard of a spoiler warning?!?!?! by jjh37997 · 2004-09-09 01:17 · Score: 1

Gee.... thanks Slashdot! Guess there's no reason for me to watch jeopardy anymore. First you tell me that the Lone Gunmen are dead hours before the show aires and now this! Thanks for nothing.....

Re:Never heard of a spoiler warning?!?!?! by ttrafford · 2004-09-09 03:01 · Score: 1

Reminds me of a line from "Quiz Show". Paraphrased: People don't tune in to watch you answer difficult questions, they tune in to watch the money.

Comment removed by account_deleted · 2004-09-09 01:19 · Score: 1

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Enough by intx13 · 2004-09-09 01:20 · Score: 1

I'm not really surprised that he was beaten. I would think that after 75 games of jeapardy with nothing but wins (not even really any close calls) one would get tired of it. I mean think of it, if they had taped them day after day in a row, it would still have been over two straight months of taping! Even an uber-nerd can only take so much geekiness.

It seems to me that he wasn't so much "beat" as he was "leaving while it still was fun".

Re:Enough by slimak · 2004-09-09 01:42 · Score: 1

I thought they taped multiple shows a day (5 sticks out in my mine for some reason). If so, then it may only have been a few weeks....although it probably would have gotten pretty hellish after 5-6 days of mulit-hour trivia.

The 75th game eh? He wasn't beaten...he was bored! by PortHaven · 2004-09-09 01:23 · Score: 1

Really....

He lost after winning 75 games. Anyone who understands genius realizes that he did not lose. He simply was bored and allowed someone else a shot.

Re:Erm... by smooth+wombat · 2004-09-09 01:27 · Score: 3, Informative

Jeopardy is a tv game show wherein three contestants choose from various categories. Each category has 5 answers. Each choice is actually the answer. The contestant must phrase their answer in the form of a question.

For example, the category might be Space. A contestant chooses the box for $200. The answer as revealed is "The closest natural satellite to Earth". The contestant who buzzes in first would answer, "What is the Moon?" If the contestant is correct they get the money.

Ken has been on Jeopardy since forever (ok, since last season) and has won more money and rounds than any other previous contestant.

However, even though I am from the US I do agree with your sentiment. Who cares? Yes, the guy has an amazing amount of knowledge on a wide range of subjects. Yes, it is a geeky thing to be amazed at this breadth of knowledge. Still, as the local source of trivia in my office I don't care about this guy.

--
We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower

Re:What? by east+coast · 2004-09-09 01:30 · Score: 1, Insightful

I AM NOT IN U.S., YOUR INSENSITIVE CLODS

I'm not in the UK but I've seen every episode of Blackadder...

--
Dedicated Cthulhu Cultist since 4523 BC.

Re: technically no by MarkGriz · 2004-09-09 01:30 · Score: 1

Are you saying he just gave up? If he's no longer on the show then he must have lost

$2.5 mil is not bad for 75 days work. I'd gladly retire on that. He probably got bored and is working on his book "Beating Jeopardy for Dummies"

Slashdot fucked up huge on this one. Thanks for letting me know. I've been watching Ken since his first appearance and have been obsessed with this guy. Now I know that in 30 shows he's gone. What's the point now? FUCKERS!

What's the point? I think for many people, it's the fascination with how some person can know so much. While I agree it was pretty crappy for SFGate to run this story, I don't think knowing he's gone detracts too much from watching him several trounce his lowly opponents. You didn't expect him to be there forever, did you?

Support the First Amendment: Read at -1.

Re: your sig.

Seeing as the First Amendment guarantees you the right to speak, but doesn't require me to listen, I fail to get the meaning of your sig.

--
Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder.

What? Who? by achapman · 2004-09-09 01:31 · Score: 1

Some explanation of this might be helpful for the majority of Slashdotters who aren't in the US. Jeopardy? Ken - Barbies's boyfriend?

obMST3K by Asprin · 2004-09-09 01:32 · Score: 1

For some reason, the headline made me think of MST3K instead of South Park.

Go figure.

This is the song, written for the train chase.
This is the chase, Rocky and Ken!
He tried to kill me with a forklift!
Olé!

--
"Lawyers are for sucks."
- Doug McKenzie

TIAJ by pjt33 · 2004-09-09 01:32 · Score: 1, Funny

Local thing? Are you saying that the US is a [i]proper[/i] subset of the world? Mod this guy down as a troll!

The losing Final Jeopardy question of Ken Jennings by jkottke · 2004-09-09 01:34 · Score: 5, Informative

Thanks to a tipster, I broke this story on my site yesterday morning...AP and /. have no love for weblogs? ;). This morning, that same tipster has provided the Final Jeopardy question/answer which cost Ken his streak. If you don't mind the spoilers, click through to find out.

Re:The 75th game eh? He wasn't beaten...he was bor by legojenn · 2004-09-09 01:35 · Score: 1

Maybe he just got Weird Al's song stuck in his head and couldn't concentrate.

--
I make a reasonable middle-class wage by going to work and not spamming blogs with scams.

You Would Be Spoiled... by diver8 · 2004-09-09 01:35 · Score: 2, Informative

Come on guys, I saw this on the local news this morning, hours before I checked Slashdot - so regarless of whether Slasdot posted the story, you were bound to find out about it sooner or later.

The guy was bound to loose sometime, you couldn't be terribly surprised by that! At least we can continue enjoying his run until it ends... it's not like we know what questions bring him down.

CNN did post a good disclaimer, though:

Editor's Note: CNN picked this story up from The Associated Press, which gives details below. We have no idea as to the status of Ken Jennings' run. If you'd prefer to not know anything, stop reading now.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/09/tv.jeop ardy.ap/

Perhaps the ./ editors should take their cue, just out of fairness.

--
Check my journal for gmail invites!

Re:Erm... by Dr.+Evil · 2004-09-09 01:36 · Score: 1

It's a U.S. trivia gameshow famous for generally academic questions across a broad spectrum of categories. The most recent incarnation of the show has been running for maybe 15 years.

They used to have a 5-show winning streak limit, they'd then take a collection of 5-show winners and play them in a "tournament of champions" for a big pool of cash.

Recently, they lifted the limit, and now this fellow has gone on to win well over a million dollars, maybe two or three million if he's gone on for 75 shows.

The fellow has become a mild celebrity. Almost a throwback to the quiz shows of the 1950s(?).

Now the questions aren't really that hard, the hardest part is knowing just enough about everything... however the questions are phrased in such a way that the answers sound really really impressive. Oh and you have to buzz-in, and you're penalized for wrong answers... so you need to be fast and certain too.

E.g. for a vague category of "powers" you might get a "question" of "1024", the answer being "what is 2 to the power of 10?"*.. to a computer geek, it's mind-numbingly simple... to a first year comp-sci student, they should all know the answer... to a technoboob, you'd seem like a genius.

I don't think the show gets out of the Americas much because many of the questions focus on U.S. politics, history and geography. So the skew on U.S. education is very very heavy... E.g. a question on Africa would probably involve the nile, Madagascar, the Sahara, Indian Ocean, Rift Valley, something really damned obvious... whereas a U.S. geography question would be far more specific involving the individual geography or historically significant sites of individual states.

*Yeah, everything is phrased backwards. The answers are in the form of a question.

Don't count on it Indeed by MarkPNeyer · 2004-09-09 01:37 · Score: 5, Informative

Everyone should RTFA here - big time. This whole thing is based on something that showed up on this 'TV Week' website, and the company is not confirming the story...

--

My blog

I can't blame /. for this spoiler.. by buzzsport · 2004-09-09 01:38 · Score: 1, Informative

Both foxnews and drudgereport have these currently on their front page headlines.. I saw it there first.

They killed kenny??? by eric_ste · 2004-09-09 01:38 · Score: 1, Funny

Don't worry, He'll be back tomorrow.

Re:The what where now? by Rew190 · 2004-09-09 01:39 · Score: 1

Uh, Slashdot is primarily for Americans. Read the FAQ within the past, oh, 4 years?

Nevermind, I just saw looked at your UID.

RTFFAQ

He quit cos he didn't want to beat the record by lvanblerk · 2004-09-09 01:41 · Score: 1

The record for most appearances on a game show is 75 and Ken didn't want to beat it "just for the sake of beating it". Just like when he intentionally drew with the daily winnings record of $52000. He just equalled the record and walked away.

--
-- My funny sig is in my other pants

Re:Anyone who is really upset by this spoiler... by BuzzLY · 2004-09-09 01:41 · Score: 1

Funny how comments like this always seem to be anonymous.

Fact is, geeks and nerds love Jeopardy. Ken is a geek, too, so we feel a sort of kinship, and most of us are rooting for him to soak Jeopardy for all it's worth. I personally hate Trebek, since he's a complete asshole (off the set), but I love the show.

I am sorely disappointed that there was no spoiler warning. I have /. as my home page, so of course as soon as I launched my browser and saw the article I was a little miffed. I am not pleased, but I have to say that I will continue to watch, to see if he breaks any other records, and because I like to try to answer the questions myself. And there is a very small part of me that thinks, perhaps, that this is a joke, and he gets knocked out sooner than 75 days.

Support the First Amendment: Kwit yer Bitchin... by Big+Sean+O · 2004-09-09 01:41 · Score: 1

You tell me I have a right to speak but I don't have the right to tell you what you don't want to hear?

Sounds like a pretty narrow view of the first amendment.

----

Besides which, did you think he was going to play forever? Did you think that it wouldn't be on the news when he lost?

--
My father is a blogger.

The local radio station here.. by lobsterGun · 2004-09-09 01:41 · Score: 1

The local radio station here is reporting that this is a hoax and that Mr. Jennings streak goes on.

Re:The local radio station here.. by feyhunde · 2004-09-09 02:18 · Score: 1

Make Sense.
Jeopardy tapes five eps a week. This would be about six weeks worth of episodes before he bites it. Considering the Tourny coming up soon, which is another 3 weeks, this could be true, but means the leak happened real quick after the actual fact.

--
I'd say more, but my guild is raiding.

Re:What? by FreeTheFurniture! · 2004-09-09 01:45 · Score: 1

I'm not in the U.S. and I do care. As much as you feel the U.S. is not the world, neither are you.

Sorry, I'm eating up karma cause I'm pissed at /.

Re:that was a good run though by GyroGecko · 2004-09-09 01:46 · Score: 1

Am I the only one who thinks Jennings might not have been beaten? Apart from the fact this article could be wrong, what are the odds that he'd lose after exactly 75 games? As well, $75,000 is his current highest one day record. Did he decide to step aside and give other people some chances?

Re:I've seen some unworthy stories on Slashdot bef by untaken_name · 2004-09-09 01:46 · Score: 1

Hi! Here's an idea: If you don't like America and don't want to read about American things...don't.
I know it's a terribly radical concept, but one has the ability to "click" on the "back button" as soon as one discovers that the topic in question is one of the dreaded "American" topics. Then, you are saved from needing to post snotty comments that make you look like a complete jackass. Of course, I'm sure you were forced to both read and post in this thread. You had no choice. Hello international audience, welcome to "the Internet."

--
http://xkcd.com/386/

Ironic title ? by Dave21212 · 2004-09-09 01:47 · Score: 1

Ha ! c'mon Micheal, you had to know that when you posted the spoiler you would get blasted for pulling a Lone Gunmen.

Do you even remember chrisd's famous title "The Lone Gunmen Are Dead" ? I smell a deliberate spoiler. By the way, Rosebud was his sled.

Thanks for ruining my mom's day (she's a big fan and will undoubtedly hear about it).

--
"Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech."--Benjamin Franklin

Going to happen by delcielo · 2004-09-09 01:48 · Score: 1

While I generally agree with you, this particular one doesn't really bother me, as it was inevitable.

There was no end to the season, thus dashing our hopes for a perfect run, etc. Ken was/is going to lose eventually. So I know that the inevitable happened. Oh well.

--
Hot Damn! It's the Soggy Bottom Boys!

Re:Going to happen by Ctrl-Z · 2004-09-09 02:56 · Score: 1

Right, but now you know that he will keep winning for several more weeks. It is inevitable that when one becomes as successful as Mr. Jennings, people begin to root for the underdog. Now they know that the underdog won't win for several more weeks. Kinda takes the excitement out of it.

--
www.timcoleman.com is a total waste of your time. Never go there.

Good for ratings by donbrock · 2004-09-09 01:49 · Score: 1

They should advertise the losing show in advance. I predict that viewership for that show will be comparable with the superbowl.

--
The Truth About Slashdot

Michael YOU killed Jeopardy! Lone Gunmen redux! by John+Harrison · 2004-09-09 01:49 · Score: 3, Insightful

Michael why on earth would you post this on the main page? Don't you people learn? Remember the Lone Gunmen? Don't you have a policy in place now?

If people are interested enough for Ken Jennings to be news for nerds then they are interested enough to not want it spoiled.

Take this off the main page or modify it immediately.

Idiot.

--
Lasers Controlled Games!

Re:Michael YOU killed Jeopardy! Lone Gunmen redux! by Paulrothrock · 2004-09-09 02:09 · Score: 1

Could someone explain this for me? Michael killed the Lone Gunmen?

--
I'm in the hole of the broadband donut.
Re:Michael YOU killed Jeopardy! Lone Gunmen redux! by John+Harrison · 2004-09-09 02:20 · Score: 3, Insightful

When the Lone Gunmen died on X-Files chrisd posted the news ahead of time on the /. main page. This caused no small amount of complaining.
chrisd even made a joke about it in a later posting. Notice though that he didn't post the actual spoilers this time, just that there were spoilers to be found and where to find them.

--
Lasers Controlled Games!
Re:Michael YOU killed Jeopardy! Lone Gunmen redux! by Old+Wolf · 2004-09-09 13:01 · Score: 1

My country is only up to season 8 you insensitive clod!

Re:this guy WRITES QUIZ SOFTWARE FOR A LIVING by BuzzLY · 2004-09-09 01:50 · Score: 1

Um... you can't really be that dumb, can you?

What difference does writing the code have to do with the questions? He doesn't come up with the questions/answers, and no amount of knowledge of the software system used to present those questions is going to give him an advantage.

Besides, I seriously doubt he writes the code used on Jeopardy itself. I am sure they have rules about contestants not having any ties to the show.

Re:small point by untaken_name · 2004-09-09 01:50 · Score: 1

That's why there are "back" and "home" buttons on your browser. Grow a fucking pair of balls and realize that not every single story on /. is going to be posted specifically for *you*. Sometimes, they're going to interest a group of people known as "not you." /. has not failed, in this event. It is working properly, you have failed to excercise discretion.

--
http://xkcd.com/386/

Re: technically no by GyroGecko · 2004-09-09 01:50 · Score: 1

You didn't expect him to be there forever, did you?

Of course not, but thats why people watch. It's thats the suspense that draws you in. He could lose anyday. Thats partially why so many more people have started watching Jeopardy since Jennings came on.

feeling like an outsider ... by fadir · 2004-09-09 01:52 · Score: 2, Insightful

Well, technically I am one here.
I have not the slightest clue what you are talking about. It's a game show, that's what I understood so far.
But what the hell is this show about?

Seems I have to move to the U.S. for some weeks each year to be able to understand /. postings nowadays.

The article might be funny for you, but I would like to see at least 1 sentence regarding the backround to give foreigners a chance to get the whole picture without milking google for ages.

Re:feeling like an outsider ... by darketernal · 2004-09-09 02:26 · Score: 1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeopardy!
kthxbye
Re:feeling like an outsider ... by fadir · 2004-09-09 03:10 · Score: 1

Thanks for the hint, but the article itself doesn't even state that it's Jeopardy! ... and that's what I meant.

Re:Thanks a whole freakin' bunch! by east+coast · 2004-09-09 01:54 · Score: 1

Thanks, but I still don't know who Rosebud is.

In the sequel to Citizen Kane, we learn that "Rosebud" was merely the third-to-last word. The man's penultimate word was "Henri", leading one to suspect that the pairing of the two names suggested a liason of some sort.

By the end of the sequel, we learn that his last word was "moutard", and that he was ordering his last meal: Roast beef on rye with mustard.

--
Dedicated Cthulhu Cultist since 4523 BC.

Fortune in Jeopardy? by failedlogic · 2004-09-09 01:55 · Score: 1

I read in my local newspaper (it was prob an AP story too), the Ottawa Citizen, last week that if it were revealed when Jennings lost (e.g. the audience knows ahead of time), there are clauses in the Jeopardy contract that states the winner will not collect the reward.

This begs the question, is his +- $2 million fortune in Jeopardy? And what are his after tax winnings?

Re:Erm... by Zixia · 2004-09-09 01:58 · Score: 1

Jeopardy is a tv game show wherein three contestants choose from various categories. Each category has 5 answers. Each choice is actually the answer. The contestant must phrase their answer in the form of a question.

For example, the category might be Space. A contestant chooses the box for $200. The answer as revealed is "The closest natural satellite to Earth". The contestant who buzzes in first would answer, "What is the Moon?" If the contestant is correct they get the money.

And, frankly, the format is nothing more than a stupid gimmick that does nothing but frustrate me. The contestants invariably add 'what is...', 'who is...', 'where is...' or whatever to the start of their answer-cum-question, where you could just as easily add the same words to the start of the 'answer' to come up with a question.

From your example, I can turn it around to ask 'What is the closest natural satellite to the Earth', with the answer of 'The Moon'. Really, what is the point of having the contestants answer in the form of a question when the format is so trite?

It would be far more interesting should they REALLY turn it around and reveal the answer as 'The Moon' and have the contestant have to come up with a question like 'what is the closest natural satellite to the Earth', or 'what waxes and wanes on roughly a 28-day period', or something equally plausible. That would make the contestants actually THINK. As it stands, Jeopardy is no more interesting than other game shows.

Re:I've seen some unworthy stories on Slashdot bef by hattig · 2004-09-09 01:59 · Score: 1

I didn't even know what it was about until I clicked on it, and read halfway down the fucking comments.

If the story had said "Ken has left the gameshow Jeopardy after 75 appearances" in the damn story submission, then fine. But it didn't. It left the majority of the readership reading at that time clueless as to what it was about. I mean, it was posted at around 5am US time, sheesh. Why post it then, why not post it at a time when Americans will be up and browsing Slashdot at work?

Re:What? by Planx_Constant · 2004-09-09 02:00 · Score: 2, Informative

Check this out (it's the FAQ): http://slashdot.org/faq/editorial.shtml#ed850

I don't complain when The Register posts articles about british television shows. And if I did, I would expect people to laugh at me.

--
Heisenberg might have been here.

Re:Obligatory Cheers Quote by lucabrasi999 · 2004-09-09 02:00 · Score: 4, Funny

From the episode where Cliff made it onto Jeopardy

Alex: "And the categories are, `Civil servants' `Stamps from around the world', `Mothers and sons', `Beer', `Bar trivia' and 'Celibacy'?

Re:The losing Final Jeopardy question of Ken Jenni by lucabrasi999 · 2004-09-09 02:06 · Score: 2, Insightful

AP and /. have no love for weblogs?

Nothing personal intended, but I would not use anybody's weblog for the basis of a story. I would confirm it somewhere else, first. Believe it or not, not everything you read on a blog is true.

Another vote for parent by GeorgeH · 2004-09-09 02:07 · Score: 1

This is totally a spoiler and Slashdot shouldn't have included the number of games he won.

--
Why can't I moderate something "Wrong" or at least "Grossly Misinformed"?

Who? What? Eh? by CaptainBaz · 2004-09-09 02:09 · Score: 1, Insightful

SF Gate (via the AP) is reporting that your pal, Ken Jennings

Who he?

has been beaten after his 75th(!) game.

75th game of what? Tiddlywinks?

I fully expect Mr. Trebek to hold a wake, or to keep calling the champion 'Ken' for the rest of the season.

Who on earth is Mr Trebek?

Slashdot Ruined my Morning by BondGamer · 2004-09-09 02:11 · Score: 1, Insightful

A big thank you to the editors for posting this story front page! I mean could they have been anymore stupid?

Re:The losing Final Jeopardy question of Ken Jenni by Peyna · 2004-09-09 02:11 · Score: 1

The time of the post on your website says "posted September 089, 2004 at 09:36 am." The oldest story I can find using Google's news service is The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Online which does indeed give you credit. (and Google says the story is 12 hours old.)

Every news article after that (9 hours old or newer) cites the TV Week article, and the TV Week article only cites "sources."

Usually the writer of a particular article will have his name and e-mail address or telephone number. You should contact them and demonstrate that TV Week got the information from you and didn't give you credit for it. I've found them for the most part to be pretty agreeable.

--
What?

Re:Erm... by dk90406 · 2004-09-09 02:13 · Score: 1

I don't think the show gets out of the Americas much because many of the questions focus on U.S. politics, history and geography

The show runs in many other countries as well. But in Denmark (for instance), they naturally ask about Danish politics, history and geography.

In other news... by slavemowgli · 2004-09-09 02:13 · Score: 1

In other news, Ken is now planning to start a new business that sends emails to people, telling them how to MAKE MONEY FAST!!!111 :)

--
quidquid latine dictum sit altum videtur.

Re:Support the First Amendment: Kwit yer Bitchin.. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-09 02:15 · Score: 2, Insightful

What does the first amendment have to do with anything? Sure he has the right to do this but so what.

This is just a matter of common courtesy. Of course trying to find that on the internet is pretty difficult.

In other news... by curtvdh · 2004-09-09 02:21 · Score: 1

Nicole Kidman and the kids are dead
Bruce Willis is dead
Rosebud is his sled

Goddam spoilers on the front page...

Re:Jeopardy rules (OT: Bob's Your Uncle) by shadowcabbit · 2004-09-09 02:21 · Score: 1

There is another big problem: the phrase isn't recorded until 1937, in Eric Partridge's Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English. Mr Partridge suggested it had been in use since the 1890s, but nobody has found an example in print. This is surprising.

Not necessarily. Given a slow rate of propagation of certain elements of slang or speech from 1890-1937, I'm not surprised that no writer used it in a work until Partridge's dictionary. Certainly you wouldn't see it in a scientific journal, and the odds of it appearing in a novel are slim if the phrase didn't spread much outside of certain circles. It's important to remember that the concept of a meme becoming widespread in a short time is due in part to a globalized media infrastructure (specifically the Internet) allowing rapid dissemination of information; though even that is a relatively recent phenomenon (q.v. "All Your Base" taking about six months to actually gain in popularity, versus the Star Wars kid becoming popular almost overnight). The ultimate point being that slang words like "bob's your uncle" from Britain and "yinz" from Pittsburgh, PA, USA did not spread in usage because they did not get carried out of those areas often enough, sometimes staying within a very narrow area (I live in Erie, PA now, about 100 miles north of my birthplace of Pittsburgh, and have yet to hear "yinz" used by anyone who's not a Pitts. native). (big disclaimer: I'm a software engineer, not an etymologist; though I did take my fair share of English courses in school, and having a healthy interest in language in general.)

Yeah, this is all massively off-topic, but hey. It could come up on Jeopardy some day, and then you'll be sorry for modding it down! :)

--
"Why Subscribe?" Good question...

Deliberate Loss by moankey · 2004-09-09 02:23 · Score: 1

So now when do we find out he had this grin on his face for a second prior to losing leading to the investigation that he had the questions in advance and the fix was in, ala Quiz Show....

Re:small point by JaJ_D · 2004-09-09 02:24 · Score: 1

That's why there are "back" and "home" buttons on your browser

Really wow, thanks for that had you not told me I'd never had know...

Grow a fucking pair of balls and realize that not every single story on /. is going to be posted specifically for *you*

Firstly you are assuming I am male, secondly i realise not *every* story on /. is for me but there is zero context to this story and ANYONE outside the us (approx 6 BILLION people) have NO idea what this story is about.

Sometimes, they're going to interest a group of people known as "not you."

Good point (the only one in your comments to be accurate). But misses the point that /. is a global brand, and so the stories shouldn't be insular, and put stories non-americans MAY be interested in, into context. Not hard, quite simple really... Infact when I posted a story about a Tidel energy farm I stated that "Lynmonth in North Devon (in the south west of the UK)". This helps people not from devon and the UK to know where a) devon is and b) where Lynmonth is.... This is what I mean by context.

It is working properly, you have failed to excercise discretion.

*sigh* An expression involving the words "pot" and "kettle" spring to mind. Let me explain the points to the, shall we say, americans

1) The ONLY link on the page takes you to a news story with no context. If you are from anywhere else on the planet (and for reference Americans make up about 5% (at most) of the population) you have no idea a) what the TV program is, b) what it is about and c) who the hell "ken" is d) what's so special about his/her feet and e) what he's doing. Now some people would put context onto posts like this, i don't know, links to the TV program website, links to other stories about this mysterious "ken" fella (note I am assuming that "ken" is male), links to other /. stories if applicable etc. But instead you get flamed by a twat

For future reference america, there are OTHER people, cultures, TV, etc on this planet. Please dump your american insular existence, realise there are others on this planet, and put stuff like this in context.

I apologise as this is, apparently, to much to much to ask of the /. community.

Jaj

Re:The losing Final Jeopardy question of Ken Jenni by Peyna · 2004-09-09 02:25 · Score: 4, Interesting

I wouldn't call TV Week the most credible news source in the world; however, I think the more interesting part of this is that it appears TV Week blatantly ripped off the info from this guys blog (while one news source gave him credit, and didn't at all state it as fact). Then the AP and a few other news outlets picked it up from TV Week and it spread like wildfire.

I think TV Week should be called out on this one, because clearly their source is the blog, and the blog's source is a named informer; however, they way their article is written, they make it appear that the source went directly to them. This is good for them, because it makes it look like they have people "on the inside" that are willing to give them information.

When the NY Times can have a plagiarizer on their staff for a long time without knowing it, I do not think I would put such actions behind a much less credible periodical as TV Week.

--
What?

SPOILER - Question repost by LookSharp · 2004-09-09 02:27 · Score: 1

Subject: Companies and Corporations. The Answer: This company has a workforce of 17000 people, whose average working year is only 4 months long.

I thought about it a while, and am thinking it could be some seasonal work. I was thinking it might be a sports league, but most seasons are longer than 4 months and/or employ scouts, etc. year round.

Any ideas?

Re:SPOILER - Question repost by shadowcabbit · 2004-09-09 02:36 · Score: 1

What is the Florida Orange Grower's Association?

The key to remember is average working year. Not average over all working years, but average among all employees. If 16,000 people work four months and 1,000 work year round (maintaining the office, handling money, etc.), that will average out to just over four months.

--
"Why Subscribe?" Good question...
Re:SPOILER - Question repost by JBReynolds · 2004-09-09 02:59 · Score: 1

What is H&R Block?

(Tax season, January-April.)
Re:SPOILER - Question repost by shawnseat · 2004-09-09 03:19 · Score: 1

My guess would be H&R Block, but I didn't see the show. :)

--
Religion is the opiate of the masses. The wealthy smoke the real stuff.
Re:SPOILER - Question repost by LordKronos · 2004-09-09 04:56 · Score: 1

It said "average". Sure, they have employees working all year long, but I'm sure they hire a crapload more for tax season only. I always see a ton of H&R Blocks open around new year (like in the shopping malls), then close down after April. A huge spike in Jan-April employment could shift the average quite a bit.
Re:SPOILER - Question repost by LookSharp · 2004-09-09 06:03 · Score: 1

Baseball (Major League Baseball) and Football (the National Footbal League) are both six month seasons.

Thanks anyway.
Re:SPOILER - Question repost by babbage · 2004-09-09 06:44 · Score: 1

I dunno, accounting -- especially professional tax preparation -- is a pretty specialized field that would have to require a well trained workforce.
Some industries can get by hiring lots of untrained workers for the busy season -- retail staff at Christmas, major league sports during the height of their season, planting & harvesting times in agriculture, etc -- but I can't see a profession as analytical as tax preparation being able to get by with just a bunch of high school students & immigrants.
The best guess I've seen is the Florida orange growers association. I have no idea if that is the correct answer (or "question" I suppose), but at least it seems to be on the right track...

--
DO NOT LEAVE IT IS NOT REAL

Interesting months? by belgar · 2004-09-09 02:32 · Score: 1

it will be an interesting few months (or 34 shows).

No it won't -- at least, not now. :P

--
What does it mean to wake out of a dream
and be wearing someone else's shorts?
BNL, Born on a Pirate Ship (1998)

Should Slashdot now be marked with spoiler tags?:P by Lewis+Daggart · 2004-09-09 02:39 · Score: 1

Well.. this just killed the next month of Jeopardy watching for me.

Re: technically no by c.derby · 2004-09-09 02:47 · Score: 1

$2.5 mil is not bad for 75 days work.

I think they actually film 3 or 5 episodes a day (usually Mondays and Tuesdays), so it could have been in as few as 15 days.

--
-- derby

IDIOTS! by robaustin · 2004-09-09 02:55 · Score: 1, Insightful

Get the freakin' spoiler off the main page! You have summarily killed my enjoyment of Jeopardy for the next few months. Asses! --*Rob

I don't get the spoiler anger by LordOfYourPants · 2004-09-09 03:11 · Score: 1

And here's why:

1) Even if Slashdot didn't report on it, other news sites have already reported it.

2) Even if Slashdot had a "WARNING: Spoiler re: Jeopardy" you could limit the story contents to two possibilities: He loses or the Jeopardy set ignites spontaneously.

3) Since interest in him is now mainstream americana, you'd hear about it at the water cooler from someone at work who likes to be the first to break the pop culture/gossip stories or from a family member/friend that does the same.

4) Even if Slashdot DIDN'T post the story, there'd be a group of trolls posting spoilers about the day he loses at +1 over and over to get the info out.

News like this could be prevented if Jeopardy just shot an episode a day and sent it out nightly. Of course, that'd drive up costs.

On the bright side you'll probably never see a spoiler like this again as the odds of someone coming close to his streak are pretty low.

Re:I don't get the spoiler anger by BuzzLY · 2004-09-09 03:58 · Score: 1, Insightful

1) So? That doesn't excuse it. Your mother did use the "friend jumping off a bridge" metaphor with you, didn't she?

2) True, but we wouldn't know WHEN he loses, or what the specifics were. If the 75th day loss is true, it negates some of the excitement of watching every night to see if he finally loses.

3) If you visit New York and walk down an alleyway, you're likely to get mugged. So, why don't you just hand over your money to me right now?

4) It still would have been nice if /. had taken the high road. Yes, the world is full of trolls -- I would just as soon prefer that there were no trolls at /. responsible for delivering us the day's news.

I would imagine that anyone capable of unseating Ken (if that's what ends up happening) is capable of making a pretty good run like he did. My guess is that Jeopardy will modify the rules a bit (although not much -- they gotta love the ratings!).

The odds of THIS spoiler happening again are slim, but that doesn't mean other spoilers won't happen. Which reminds me... in case nobody knows, Darth Vader doesn't die in SW3.
Re:I don't get the spoiler anger by Lewis+Daggart · 2004-09-09 12:15 · Score: 1

1) Even if Slashdot didn't report on it, other news sites have already reported it.

Sooo?

2) Even if Slashdot had a "WARNING: Spoiler re: Jeopardy" you could limit the story contents to two possibilities: He loses or the Jeopardy set ignites spontaneously.

No, actually. He could have lost tomarrow. Or next week. Or the post could be saying that he somehow managed to make it another season without losses.

3) Since interest in him is now mainstream americana, you'd hear about it at the water cooler from someone at work who likes to be the first to break the pop culture/gossip stories or from a family member/friend that does the same.

Only from the folks that read it on slashdot and decided to spoil it for you. if i was at the water cooler and someone spoiled a movie for me I'd be ticked too. As it is, most the people I know have the basic courtisy not to. The others are called 'jerks'.

4) Even if Slashdot DIDN'T post the story, there'd be a group of trolls posting spoilers about the day he loses at +1 over and over to get the info out.

For today's slashdot news visit goatse! Seriously, trolls arent the best example to follow. If its something that troll swould use to tick people off, perhaps its not front page material, no?

Re:The losing Final Jeopardy question of Ken Jenni by jdavidb · 2004-09-09 03:22 · Score: 1

I agree, but I don't trust any source without a lot of confirmation. And in this case just because the "official" media also reports it doesn't make it so ... because they, in fact, got it off of this guy's blog.

--
Secession is the right of all sentient beings.

Offended? by alexborges · 2004-09-09 03:24 · Score: 1

Im offended that you WATCH jeopardy as a national sport.

I mean DAMN, get a life!

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NO SIG

Re:Spoilers? (this'll get a -1, troll, I'm sure) by cjpez · 2004-09-09 03:28 · Score: 1

this was an enormous fuckup

lol. I find it utterly hilarious that you care so much about it that you resort to phrases like "enormous fuckup." Look at it this way: now you don't have to waste seventeen more hours of your life in front of the TV.

--
Al Qaeda has ninjas!

Re:The losing Final Jeopardy question of Ken Jenni by British · 2004-09-09 03:34 · Score: 1

AP and /. have no love for weblogs? ;).

Well, considering people can say anything they want on weblogs, whether it's libel(or is it slander?) or just completely false, no, I don't.

*hugz* to character assasination!

Re:I've seen some unworthy stories on Slashdot bef by untaken_name · 2004-09-09 03:41 · Score: 1

I mean, it was posted at around 5am US time, sheesh. Why post it then, why not post it at a time when Americans will be up and browsing Slashdot at work?

Yes. It is commonly known that no American ever gets to work by 5am. Also, no American would ever browse slashdot from home. I'm sorry it took you a few minutes to be able to tell what the story was about. I am an American who doesn't happen to watch Jeopardy! and so I didn't know what it was about either. However, it only took me about 4 comments to figure it out. I'm still not sure why you compounded your wasted time reading the thread with wasted time commenting about it, specifically about the fact that it is America-related.

--
http://xkcd.com/386/

weird al by nuggetman · 2004-09-09 03:45 · Score: 3, Funny

That's right, Ken--You lost. And let me tell you what you didn't win: a twenty colume set of the Encyclopedia International, a case of Turtle Wax, and a yeard's supply of Rice-A-Roni, the San Francisco Treat. But that's not all. You also made yourself look like a jerk in front of millions of people. You brought shame and disgrace to your family name for generations to come. You don't get to come back tomorrow. You don't even get a lousy copy of our home game. You're a complete loser!

--
...and that's all there is to it.

Re:Erm... by smooth+wombat · 2004-09-09 03:54 · Score: 1

Fritos? Bugles is more like it. Or maybe some Jax.

As far as jealousy is concerned, hardly. I can give the guy kudos. He's done a great job. It bothers me not in the least that he's out there racking up the money. I know that I would not qualify to be on the show simply because it's one thing to sit at home and answer compared to actually being there. Just like an armchair quarterback. It's one thing to bitch about the guy throwing an interception but you go out and try to do what he does. Not as easy as it looks, is it? Same thing here.

As far as reading this thread and responding, I was more curious to see how many people would be whining about Kens demise (in whatever fashion) being published. Besides, the original poster was asking what this was all about. I merely gave him the answer he sought.

--
We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower

Obligatory Cheers - Paraphrased Final J. Spoiler by dman123 · 2004-09-09 03:58 · Score: 1

A: Cowboy Neal, Hemos, and the Pope...

Q: Who are three people who have never been in my kitchen?

--

--
dman123 forever!
Filtering out the -1s and 0s since 1999.

Re:Anyone who is really upset by this spoiler... by angrykeyboarder · 2004-09-09 04:01 · Score: 1

Did anyone really think Ken was gonna never lose? Give me a break!

Also, it never occurred to me that geeks and nerds love Jeopardy!, I thought they (apparently) loved sci-fi...

Re:Erm... by Zixia · 2004-09-09 04:05 · Score: 1

Because then you'd have scenarios like when Cliff Claven from Cheers went on Jeopardy, Trebek read of the names of 3 ladies, and Cliff said:

"Who are 3 women who have never been in my kitchen?"

Clearly a correct "question", but not exactly what the judges are looking for.

I realise that is a possibility, but that's why game shows have rules: they can state that the question must have some level of relevancy to the answer. It shouldn't be too difficult to adjudicate with a decent host and judges.

As it stands, Jeopardy's gimmick turns an average game show in to something quite irritating.

Hope its a hoax by Remlik · 2004-09-09 04:07 · Score: 1

Will I for one hope this story turns out to be false. I have been watching Ken play for the last 20 shows. While it will be nice to see him continue for many more, it sucks knowing that on the 75th show he will lose.

I think standard spoiler methods should have applied here. Perhaps a "Has Ken Jennings met his match!?! Spoilers inside!"

However with the current state of /. I can't say I didn't expect somthing like this.

--
Apple free since 1990!

Yes, he lost.... by Choachy · 2004-09-09 04:12 · Score: 1, Insightful

He lost, but you still wont know when, because youre not going to be counting! Why complain about this being posted? You knew he was going to lose eventually. Now if youre going to count all remaining 34 shows, then youre going to be disappointed, but if youre normal, then you will not keep track, and you will still be shocked the day he goes down. BTW, who'd they bring on to beat him? Stephen Hawking and Ben Stein?

NO SPOILER TAGS?! by j0rd · 2004-09-09 04:17 · Score: 1

YOU BASTARDS!

--
-- /me out

The Final Jeopardy that beat Ken [spoiler warning] by quantaman · 2004-09-09 04:35 · Score: 4, Funny

This is the final Jeopardy question that ended Ken's streak.

Topic: Life, the Universe, and Everything
Answer: 42

Unfortunatly a freak power outtage stopped the answer from being displayed once they gave their answers but afterwards an odd robot came out and told everyone that they were all simpletons and they along with the show were incredibly dreary and pointless and they all got the question wrong anyway but it didn't really matter because Life, the Universe, and Everything don't matter. The robot then talked to Mr. Jennings for a couple minutes after which Mr. Jennings announced in a depressed sounding voice that he didn't really see any point in going on so he was retiring from the show. A spacecraft then landed and an alien then came out and called Mr. Jennings a nerd then flew away.

Well there ya have it, the end of Ken Jenning's streak.

--
I stole this Sig

Re: technically no by darth_MALL · 2004-09-09 04:43 · Score: 1

I think the book he's writing is "Beating Dummies on Jeopardy"

Re:The losing Final Jeopardy question of Ken Jenni by Merovign · 2004-09-09 04:46 · Score: 1

Anything Can Happen, but...

I'm not sure this question sounds legit - it's too vague, in the sense that there seems to be more than one good answer for it. There are a lot of seasonal industries, and there appear (on minimal research) to be several groups that fit the description, though I'm not sure how many of them are "companies."

I haven't watched Jeopardy in many years, but I seem to recall the answers were not very ambiguous.

Of course, after all those years...

Re:I've seen some unworthy stories on Slashdot bef by hattig · 2004-09-09 04:46 · Score: 1

I mainly thought that it wasn't worthy of being posted here ... it isn't like it is a new series of $scifi_show ... just a gameshow. If you are interested in it, you can find out easily, or watch in blissful unawareness ... it was like have a giant spoiler as a story!

What is this "game" you speak of? by Elanor · 2004-09-09 04:48 · Score: 1

No idea who Ken Jennings is.

Had to read the comments to figure out what show you were on about. Isn't jeopardy the one where you have to phrase your answer in the form of a question?

Correction by Radical+Rad · 2004-09-09 04:57 · Score: 1

Q: Atlanta

A: What is the captial of Georgia?

Thats correct, however we would also have accepted

A: What is a hot spot for lesbians?

Re:Anyone who is really upset by this spoiler... by BuzzLY · 2004-09-09 05:00 · Score: 1

Geeks and Nerds love anything that shows either 1) extreme intelligence or 2) tremendous knowledge of truly useless information. Jeopardy satisfies both of these.

One has to wonder what would happen if... by balbord · 2004-09-09 05:01 · Score: 1

...the answer was 42!

And the oscar for the least original stupid joke goes to...

--
"If I have been able to see so far, It is because I went out and bought a damn binoculars" - Ze da Esquina

Re:this guy WRITES QUIZ SOFTWARE FOR A LIVING by julesh · 2004-09-09 05:04 · Score: 2, Insightful

Christ, people, I'm usually the first person to mock the tin foil hat brigade, but don't any of you guys know that the man is employed to write systems for the very quizzes that he's answering questions on? Could that possibly (rather than him being some hero genius to ambition-failing nerds everywhere) explain his winning streak? Isn't this a more reasonable explanation for his fantastic performance than "well, suddenly, this genius just appeared"? Or are dreams nicer to hold on to?

I know you're probably trolling, but: I also have written computer software for a quiz, in my case an Internet pay-to-play one. You don't see me making a fortune off it. Why? Because if I did, I would be scrutinised very closely to ensure I wasn't cheating. If you're right about this contestant (being British, I'd never heard of him until this story -- which I only clicked on because I couldn't work out what it was about), then I doubt he's doing anything even remotely dishonest. In fact, I doubt there is anything dishonest that he could hope to get away with -- someone will almost certainly audit any work he does that ever deals with a live question (or should that be answer?) database.

Re:this guy WRITES QUIZ SOFTWARE FOR A LIVING by julesh · 2004-09-09 05:11 · Score: 1

I strongly doubt he has a chance to see the questions for the show before it goes live. I would imagine that they are treated as highly confidential, and only entered into the database shortly before the show is filmed, probably only 1 or 2 people other than the question researchers having seen them before this happens. Knowing that a contestant works in a situation where he might have access, they would take extra precautions, probably having an independent auditor on site to make sure procedures are followed correctly. They have to; if any of the other contestants accused him of cheating and they couldn't refute any such claims, it would cost them a lot of money. In fact, it would destroy the credibility of the production company. It would probably be the end of Jeopardy, if that happened.

Saw this earlier in an unrealted newsgroup by djrosen · 2004-09-09 05:14 · Score: 1

And wondered WHY they dont do something (like make spectators sign an NDA) or similar to avoid this. Surely this will hurt the ratings that they have been bragging about getting since Mr. Jennings started to slay the competition

Here is where I saw it:
http://tinyurl.com/5vqwm

or:

http://www.google.com/groups?q=g:thl1702264755d&dq =&hl=en&lr=lang_en&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&selm=6992ae43 .0408262203.3273f194%40posting.google.com

So? I watch American Idol, what of it? :)

Re:small point by Xoro · 2004-09-09 05:57 · Score: 1

ANYONE outside the us (approx 6 BILLION people) have NO idea what this story is about.

That's odd, news.google.com shows the story is being carried in Canada and Australia -- has there been an annexation? It's also been previously carried on /., which is where I heard about it.

Do you think everyone understands what every posting is about? All the little projects and personalities? If you don't know something and you're curious, just look it up. Googling "ken jennings" tells you everything you need to know.

For future reference, there are OTHER peoples, cultures, TV, etc. on this planet. Please dump your imperialist liquefactionism and accept the fact than when you visit a site run by people from another culture, not everything is going to be as familiar as your front yard.

Apparently, this is too much to ask of Europe. But then, it always has been.

--
Kill, Tux, kill!

Doesn't add up by yjchung · 2004-09-09 06:13 · Score: 2, Interesting

They only began taping the new season in August. They managed to tape 38 shows already?

Re:Doesn't add up by djrosen · 2004-09-09 08:15 · Score: 1

They tape 15 per week, 3 a day Mon - Wed. This is per Ken on his Leno appearance

Re:The Final Jeopardy that beat Ken [spoiler warni by balbord · 2004-09-09 06:28 · Score: 1

WOWOWOW!!
Dirty minds DO think alike! :P
(checkout my poor excuse for a joke 2/3 posts down hill)

--
"If I have been able to see so far, It is because I went out and bought a damn binoculars" - Ze da Esquina

Jeopardy doesn't worry me by superpulpsicle · 2004-09-09 06:36 · Score: 2, Funny

I swear there is a conspiracy going around making Americans look stupid.

We aired Baywatch. A show about a beach full of drama, where millions of people drown everyday at the same beach.

We aired Southpark. Enough said.

We aired who wants to be a millionaire. The contestants are absolutely no comparison to Jeopardy contestants.

We aired A-Team. No one can hit a target from 5 feet even though they were all vietnam vets.

Re:Jeopardy doesn't worry me by peacefinder · 2004-09-09 14:38 · Score: 2, Funny

We aired A-Team. No one can hit a target from 5 feet even though they were all vietnam vets.

Dude! The A-Team always missed on purpose. It takes real skill to fire a fully-automatic weapon aimed right next to folks and just scare the bejeezus out of 'em. Not to mention blowing up all those cars without actually hurting anyone.

It's the bad guys who are lousy shots!

(Yes, I'm kidding.)

--
With reasonable men I will reason; with humane men I will plead; but to tyrants I will give no quarter. -- William Lloyd
Re:Jeopardy doesn't worry me by WhiteDragon · 2004-09-09 16:37 · Score: 1

We aired who wants to be a millionaire.
To be fair though, we are by far the only country to air the show, or even the first. Check out the Wikipedia article on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire for more about the history of the show.

--
Did you mount a military-grade, variable-focus MASER on an unlicensed artificial intelligence?

He'll be back, they always come back... by Second_Infinity · 2004-09-09 06:48 · Score: 1

Don't forget about the reunion shows, the champions return shows, and the Celebrity shows.

He'll be back, as he actually increased the ratings.

Time by swg101 · 2004-09-09 07:32 · Score: 1

That is minutes and seconds; though those symbols are usually used in measuring directions - i.e. degrees, minutes ('), and seconds (").

--
Like pi? Try 10,000 digits.

SPOILERS by Kombat · 2004-09-09 07:35 · Score: 1

And in other news, the "Planet of the Apes" is Earth, Bruce Willis is a ghost, John Shooter is just a figment of Johnny Depp's imagination, much like Tyler Durden was a figment of Ed Norton's imagination. Actually, Norton's played a few roles in which a mind-job occurs, such as "Primal Fear", where his character gets away with murder by convincing everyone (including the viewer) that he has multiple personaly disorder. Even his own lawyer, Richard Gere, doesn't find out until after he's already helped his client get off the hook.

This is fun! What other movies can we do?

--
Like woodworking? Build your own picture frames.

If only it were that simple... by chaboud · 2004-09-09 07:57 · Score: 1

One of the most common methods of payment for syndication is through barter. Networks syndicating a given show will supply some portion of the commercial time during the show (or, on occasion, at completely different times) in exchange for the right to air the show.

Sony Pictures can then hold on to this time until very close (within hours, if need be) to air-time. Think of the ratings for the show in which Ken falls. Wouldn't you want your commercial to air during that historic event?

Re:this guy WRITES QUIZ SOFTWARE FOR A LIVING by Kombat · 2004-09-09 08:14 · Score: 1

I would imagine that they are treated as highly confidential, and only entered into the database shortly before the show is filmed, probably only 1 or 2 people other than the question researchers having seen them before this happens.

Very unlikely. Think of the logistics of it. Even if they were only "entered into the database shortly before the show is filmed," where are they entered from? Notes and papers in front of them? The questions must be created and researched well in advance, to ensure they are (above all else) correct. Remember on Millionaire, when the question was, "What does the '.com' in internet addresses mean?" The contestant correctly guessed "Commercial," but the answer the host had (and that was programmed into the computer) was "Company." They sent the guy home, then later realized they were wrong, and apologized.

Also, Alex must see the questions well in advance, so he can have a chance to practice the pronounciation. He reads the questions from notes in front of him, not directly off of the monitors.

And finally, while this may just be the way the show is edited, it appears that Alex often even begins reading the question a fraction of a second before they are displayed on the board, which is a hint that he has them in front of him, on notecards. These notecards must be printed up before the show, presumeably well in advance, to avoid such screw-ups like running out of notecards or printer ink. Also, note that 5 shows are taped a day. That's an awful lot of questions to enter into "the database" right before taping starts on that day.

"All right, smartypants, how do you think they do it then?", you're probably asking right about now. Well, I can only speculate, but I would guess that they have a team of 3 or 4 full-time staff members, each of whom probably have very diverse specializations (i.e., there's probably a math/science guy/gal, a history/geography guy/gal, an English literature/art history guy/gal, etc.), who sit around all day, coming up with these questions, thoroughly researching the answers, making sure the spellings are correct, and entering them into a large database, tagged with keywords for categories. This database likely has thousands upon thousands of questions, so even if you were able to gain access to it, the sheer volume of information would be impossible to memorize, without actually becoming an expert on the topic, in which case you don't really need to cheat in the first place!

As each show is prepared, the categories are chosen, and questions that match keywords associated with the episode's chosen categories ("Religion," "Potent Potables," etc.) are randomly chosen from the database, and the database entries are tagged with a timestamp, indicating the last time they were used on an episode, to prevent the same questions from appearing multiple times in back-to-back episodes. Questions that have been used more than a certain number of times are automatically purged from the database.

That's just my guess.

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Like woodworking? Build your own picture frames.

Re:The losing Final Jeopardy question of Ken Jenni by OverlordQ · 2004-09-09 08:18 · Score: 1

You ever stop to think that maybe they didn't get it from him? Wow, what a concept, it's not like this guy was the only one at the studio.

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Your hair look like poop, Bob! - Wanker.

Re:Anyone who is really upset by this spoiler... by angrykeyboarder · 2004-09-09 08:20 · Score: 1

Where does LOTR fit in to this?

Re:small point by untaken_name · 2004-09-09 08:25 · Score: 1

Really wow, thanks for that had you not told me I'd never had know...

You'd never had know if I didn't tell you? Eheheheh. Anyway. You're the one who was apparently 'forced' to read someting relating to *shudder* America. I had to presume you were not aware of the option to go back, because a reasonably intelligent person would just do that instead of trolling. I gave you the benefit of the doubt. Apparently I was incorrect to do so.

Firstly you are assuming I am male, secondly i realise not *every* story on /. is for me but there is zero context to this story and ANYONE outside the us (approx 6 BILLION people) have NO idea what this story is about.

Actually, I was assuming you were NOT male, thus you would need to "grow a pair of balls." I do not know nor care if I get your gender correct. Rather than bothering to research the affected online persona of every person I respond to, I simply respond. If you get offended by that, there is nothing I can do for you. It's interesting that you find the unintentional implication that you might either be or need to become male more offensive than my intended implication that you lacked a spine. I'm not going to draw any conclusions, it's just funny.

Good point (the only one in your comments to be accurate). But misses the point that /. is a global brand, and so the stories shouldn't be insular, and put stories non-americans MAY be interested in, into context.

Firstly, does your browser not have both a 'back' and a 'home' button? Because if it does, then that point of mine was also accurate. You *do* know what the word accurate means, don't you?

So, rather than simply point out that editors should put more context into their posts, a point which can be defended, you simply noted that this story is not of interest to non-Americans. That isn't the same thing. Surely you don't presume to say that it is?

Infact when I posted a story about a Tidel energy farm I stated that "Lynmonth in North Devon (in the south west of the UK)". This helps people not from devon and the UK to know where a) devon is and b) where Lynmonth is.... This is what I mean by context.

How exemplary of you. It's too bad you simply didn't say this to begin with, instead of merely referring to the interest level outside of the US.

*sigh* An expression involving the words "pot" and "kettle" spring to mind. Let me explain the points to the, shall we say, americans

Really? I failed to excercise discretion by pointing out your anti-American (as opposed to anti-contextless posts) post? I see, if I don't agree with you, I must be a hypocrite. Makes perfect sense.

Here's the headline for the linked article: "Has Ken Jennings ended his 'Jeopardy!' run?"
In that short article are references to 'the quiz show,' 'taping,' 'TV,' and 'winnings.' The byline is Los Angeles, which tells you the story took place in America (if you don't know what Los Angeles is, a cursory internet search will tell you). They name the show several times. They talk about its 20 year history. They mention the show "TV Week" which should tell you it is a television program. They speak of 'taping' which should tell you it isn't live. So, from that article, we learn that 'Jeopardy!' is a 20-year old quiz show which is taped and then shown later. We know that unlike previous years, this year winners can go beyond five straight wins. How much more context do you need? If this is your idea of 'no context,' you are stupid. Sorry. Now, the post on the front page of slashdot did not have context. However, the very short article had plenty, contrary to your statement. Perhaps you meant that the post did not have context, but the article did. That, however, is not what you said. I cannot rely on what you meant, because I do not possess ESP. I must go by what you actually said.

c) who the hell "ken" is d) what's so special about his/her feet

As far as I know, there is not

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http://xkcd.com/386/

RE: Foreign quiz shows by bwcbwc · 2004-09-09 08:28 · Score: 1

Actually, BBC America shows the UK version of "Weakest Link" here in the US. And it isn't so weird, except that the "football" questions don't seem to make any sense ;-).

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We are the 198 proof..

Stop the Unrealistic Suggestions by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-09 08:45 · Score: 1, Insightful

Slashdot should have done something similar with a "Read More" break.

I sympathize with those who are crying foul, but most of these suggestions are foolish and unrealistic. Their choice was binary: Publish the story, or don't.

You insist there was some way to cover the story without spoilers. There wasn't. What were they supposed to write? "We've got news about Ken Jennings on Jeopardy. Don't read further if you don't want to know." You'd know immediately: He lost. Granted, you wouldn't know when, or on what question -- but the important point can't be hidden.

This isn't like a movie, where a spoiler could be any number of things (e.g., main character dies, antagonist is revealed to be protagonist's father, etc.). If there's any news about Jennings that could possibly involve spoilers, then you know immediately: He lost. There's no way to effectively obscure it.

Re:Anyone who is really upset by this spoiler... by BuzzLY · 2004-09-09 09:06 · Score: 1

3) Things That Are Fairly Obscure Knowledge Or At Least Were Until The Movie Came Out But At Least I Still Know More About Tom Bombadill Than The General Public.

Translation: by The+Master+Control+P · 2004-09-09 09:36 · Score: 1

"People were beginning to think the game was rigged."

Re:Anyone who is really upset by this spoiler... by angrykeyboarder · 2004-09-09 09:38 · Score: 1

OK, you lost me there. But actually LOTR was well known long before the movie. Everyone I knew was reading the books when I was in school (1970's).

Maybe I should have said Star Wars or Star Trek, instead. My point being that it seems to be a law that if you;'re a geek/nerd (into computers) that you also must be into Sci-Fi/Fantasy.

I'm the former, but not the latter.

lots of links to the same url by chocolatetrumpet · 2004-09-09 10:25 · Score: 1

Let's link every word
to the same url!

Lameness filter, you are bad. Why are you making me put this meaningless text into the bottom? I will pretend it's my signature.

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Spoon not. Fork, or fork not. There is no spoon.

Doesn't anyone else try to answer the questions? by amwassil · 2004-09-09 10:47 · Score: 1

Maybe I'm an oddball, but I enjoy Jeopardy by trying to answer the questions, too. So Ken Jennings gets beaten at 75? Had/has to happen sooner or later. Whenever, he did an amazing thing and I enjoyed playing along, getting some that he missed! I knew Joseph Conrad and Apocalypse Now and Ken didn't!

Re:The Final Jeopardy that beat Ken [spoiler warni by Old+Wolf · 2004-09-09 13:11 · Score: 1

Wasn't the question "What is 6 x 9 ?"

dictionary.com/?q=egomaniacal by JimRay · 2004-09-09 13:33 · Score: 1

egomania (n) - Obsessive preoccupation with the self.

See: kottke.org

I love weblogs. I really do. What I find utterly hilarious, though, is the A-list bloggers, like Mr. Kottke here, who seem to eschew traditional media at every possible chance while simultaneously fawning for every affection from said media.

Yeah, it's perfectly conceivable that Kottke.org broke this Incredibly! Important! Urgent! Breaking! News! Story! It's also possible that someone else in the studio audience alerted our friends at AP, TV Week, etc. or that even - gasp, horror! - actual journalists who follow this sort of thing were doing their jobs. I certainly remember hearing something about this Ken Jennings fellow before Kottke.org "reported" on his winning streak.

It's also just as easily imaginable that you, Jason Kottke, gift to the Jeopardy watching hordes, are the sole source of information on the trials of Ken Jennings and we are all deeply in debt to you and you alone. May we repent now and maybe even start a DropCash campaign to somehow right this egregious wrong.

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My other computer is your Windows box

Mod parent up? by Toresica · 2004-09-09 14:32 · Score: 1

Perhaps they 'leaked' this rumor to keep interest fresh in Ken Jennings.

If they did, it worked.

Re:How does this relate to tech? by insomniakxz · 2004-09-09 22:06 · Score: 1

Well slashdot already had up a poll about "how long will ken jennings go?" so why not post this article up? ...

OT:Support the First Amendment: Kwit yer Bitchin.. by Big+Sean+O · 2004-09-12 23:10 · Score: 1

The first amendment is very pertinent. Either you have freedom of speech or you don't. What good is the first amendment if "societal norms" prevent you from speaking?

Second of all, given all the media attention given to Jeopardy, it would be foolish to think there would be no media attention when Ken stopped being on the show. He's the biggest game show prize winner ever. If you seriously wanted to be surprised, you would have to do more than censor Slashdot.

So, according to GGP, I'm allowed freedom of speech, but not if it offends his world view. I should have common courtesy for people I've never met and have no idea what would offend them.

Plus, if I get it wrong, GGP calls me a "FUCKER".

I still think he's a hypocrite. Either there's freedom of speech or there isn't. If you don't like my message, change the channel.

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My father is a blogger.

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