Yeah, I ‘won,’ but I’m still below average

Unable to resist the impulse to constantly humiliate myself, I take the Slate News Quiz most Fridays. Since it’s timed, which I hate, it only takes a moment.

And sometimes, when I do slightly better than usual, I share the result with y’all.

Today is one of those days. As you see, I defeated the “senior editor” who was this week’s star contestant.

But I still lagged behind the average reader. Of course, I suspect that a lot of them are hiding behind their anonymity and cheating. I just don’t know how.

This test is ridiculous, though. Seriously — I’m supposed to know which of four weird names starting with Z is that of the racehorse that “is the early favorite to win this year’s Kentucky Derby?”

I wish they’d stick to actual, relevant news that serious people could be expected to know. Of course, even then, I’d often miss because of the time pressure. I’m not a quick-draw artist. I have to think about things.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering how senior you have to be to be a “senior” editor at Slate, the answer is “about 29, apparently.” Whenever I see the title “senior something” next to a picture of a kid, I look that kid up. She graduated from college in 2015, so she’s probably about 29, but I can’t know for sure, can I?

We old guys are pathetic, aren’t we?…

7 thoughts on “Yeah, I ‘won,’ but I’m still below average

  1. Brad Warthen Post author

    Tell, you what — I’ll help you cheat on that racehorse question:

    It’s not Zardoz.

    This is Zardoz:

    I bet you’re sorry I showed you that, and you’re doing your best to forget it right now. Good luck…

    Reply
  2. bud

    I face planted. Only 5 correct. I even saw the Derby horses, evening gown and convict escape story but just didn’t retain the details.

    Reply

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