with thanks to Language Log for the pointer:

Categories: Humor    

    11 Comments

    1. Dan Simon says:

      What a shameless ripoff of this

    2. Mike McDougal says:

      Dan wins with the first post. The original is still the best.

    3. Sonicfrog says:

      Each is catering to a different audience. Note how much more verbage is in the English one. The American one is well suited for the average U.S. TV demographic, as is demonstrated by the ample use of terms “fuck” and “bullshit”, establishing the mass media paradigm that is typically followed in these type of reports.

      This is Michael Alexander, back to you…..

    4. Mike McDougal says:

      Thanks, Michael. I just spoke with neighbors here in Springfield who insist that this has gone far enough and that the city needs to do something about it. Earlier today, a spokeman for the city told me that, quote, “they will give it the attention it deserves.”

    5. rhhardin says:

      It’s misusing bullshit, which entails unconcern with truth and accuracy.

      Crap is probably the word they want.

    6. MaryG says:

      I thought it was funny!
      Thanks for posting, EV.

    7. Breaking News: Some BS Happening Somewhere says:

      [...] via Mark Liberman via Eugene Volokh [...]

    8. CheckEnclosed says:

      But there were bears, BEARS!!

      Have you learned nothing from Colbert?

    9. A. Zarkov says:

      They left out the now obligatory T&A which Fox News started and everybody else now copies. Just hit mute and enjoy the scenery.

    10. Dotar Sojat says:

      I am shocked and saddened, no…angered and outraged, no…amazed and apalled, oops, I thought I was writing to NPR. Never mind.

    11. Big John says:

      I find that if I delete every adjective preceeding a noun or verb in any news anchors story, the story actually becomes sensible, truthful, or at least interesting.