[BITList] The Cuckoo

[John Feltham]

A contestant on "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" had reached the final  
plateau. If she answered the next question correctly, she would win  
$1,000,000. If she answered incorrectly, she would pocket only the  
$32,000 milestone money.

As she suspected it would be, the million dollar question was no
pushover. It read, "Which of the following species of bird does not
build its own nest, but instead lays its eggs in the nests of other
birds"? Is it the:

a) condor
b) buzzard
c) cuckoo or
d) the vulture

The woman was on the spot. She did not know the answer. She was double  
on the spot, because she had used up her 50/50 lifeline and her  
audience poll lifeline. All that remained was her phone a friend
lifeline and the woman had hoped against hope that she would not have  
to use it, because the only friend that she knew would be home  
happened to be a blonde.

But, the contestant had no alternative. She called her friend and gave  
her the question and the four choices. The blonde responded
unhesitatingly, "That's easy. The answer is c, the cuckoo."

The contestant had to make a decision and make it fast. She considered  
employing a reverse strategy and giving Regis any answer except the  
one that her friend had given her. And, considering that her friend  
was a blonde, it would seem to be the logical thing to do. On the  
other hand, the blonde had responded with such confidence, such  
certitude that the contestant could not help but be persuaded.

"I need an answer," said Regis.

Crossing her fingers, the contestant said, "c, the cuckoo."

"Is that your final answer"? asked Regis.

"Yes, that is my final answer."

Two seconds later, Regis said, "I regret to inform you that the answer
is absolutely correct. You are now a millionaire! "

Three days later, the contestant hosted a party for her family and
friends, including the blonde who had helped her win the million
dollars. "Jenny, I just do not know how to thank you," said the
contestant. "Because of your knowing the answer to that final  
question, I am now a millionaire. And do you want to know something?
It was your assuredness with which you answered the question that
persuaded me to go with your choice. By the way, how did you happen to  
know the right answer"?

"Oh, come on!" said the blonde. Everybody knows that cuckoos don't
build nests. They live in clocks!"

ooroo

Bad typists of the word, untie.




-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.bcn.mythic-beasts.com/pipermail/bitlist/attachments/20090807/f3c8e6bd/attachment.shtml