New Page 1

Bipartisanship in Action: Democratic Party Activist Don Strickland & a GOP Friend

of mine stumble onto earth-shattering discovery at virtually the same time!

Water on Mars!

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/0504/WaterOnMars2_gcc.jpg

Question: Ready or Not?

In a recent Larry King interview with Jon Stewart, Larry asked John if America was ready for a woman or a black president.
Jon looked at him quizzically and said, "This is such a non-question. Did anyone ask us in 2000 if Americans were ready for a moron?"

Robin Woods, Precinct 426, HD 40, appeared as a contestant--& winner!--on Jeopardy late last year.

She answered some questions providing an insider's view of her experience.

How did you qualify to get on the program? Be as specific as possible.
The Jeopardy Brain Bus came to Denver University in September 2007.They were searching for College Week contestants, but were also giving the

adult test to non-college students. They guaranteed the first 1,000 people an opportunity to take the test so I arrived a couple of hours before they were

scheduled to start.
They pre-screen candidates with a 10-question pretest.If you passed that test (no passing criteria was given and you could take as long as you
wanted to answer the questions) then they invited you to come back an hour or so later to take the actual 50-question Jeopardy! test.
The Contestant Search crew spent a lot of time telling us what to expect and answered questions. Normally, the 50-question test is administered via
video and you write your response on an answer sheet. However, because the college candidates had a different test, the college candidates had the video
test and the adult candidates received a 50-question booklet of written questions. The test time limit is 25 minutes and we had to read and answer

our questions while the college video was playing so the audio from that was a little distracting because I was thinking about the answers to the college

questions while I was trying to read and answer the adult test.
At the end of the 25 minutes they collected and scored the exams while you waited.They tell you that you need at least 35 correct answers to be called back
to play a mock game and do a mock interview. Everyone waits around for the results. This was during the Colorado Rockies playoffs so people with radios

were trying to keep up with with the score and relaying them to everyone else.
About 12 college students and 16 adults passed the test (they don't reveal scores) and stayed for the mock game. We played in groups of 3 standing with
real signaling devices with a mock game on the screen. Each group went through about 15 questions. After your group finished, each member was interviewed
for about 3-5 minutes about family, work, hobbies, what you would do with the money if you won.
They tell everyone that passing the test does not guarantee that you will be on the show or even that you will be in the contestant pool. If you are put in
the contestant pool you will be in it for the next 18 months and you aren't eligible to take the Jeopardy! test again for a year.

I had taken the online test a couple of years ago and been invited out to Los Angeles to audition. Nothing ever came of it, so I was really surprised when

I received a call the following month (October 2007) asking me if I would like to go out to Los Angeles to tape a show in November. Of course I said yes, but I
almost did not get the message. I had been away from my desk when they called and left a voice mail message. Nobody ever left me voice mail so I couldn't
remember the password for my voice mailbox. I got kicked out of voice mail & I was ready to give up, but on my 8th or 9th try, I remembered my password.

I called Jeopardy! back immediately and told them that I would love to be on the show.
You appeared on three programs. How long did it take to film these shows?
Jeopardy! tapes twice a month on two consecutive days.A week of shows is taped on each day, 3 shows in the morning and 2 shows in the afternoon.

They have a contestant pool of 12 people each day.The first day consists mainly of out-of-town contestants and the second day consists mainly of local

contestants. Out-of-town contestants are scheduled for both days and guaranteed to be on the show by the second day.
My first show taped from about 11-11:30 am. Then I had 10 minutes to change clothes, get my face touched up, get re-miked and tape the next show

around 11:45 (I was late and delayed taping.) The third show was taped around 12:30 pm and then I was done.
Where did filming take place?
Taping was at Sony Picture Studios in Culver City. The writers were on strike and I felt a little like a scab crossing their picket line. The Contestant
Coordinators are great and really make the contestants feel like Queen (or King) for a Day. I had a wonderful time.
They say it's easier watching TV than being an actual contestant. Your take on that?
It is much easier at home. The other contestants aren't buzzing in ahead of you and answering the questions you want to answer. You have a lot of
adrenaline when you are playing on television. It is also hard to keep track of the score. I only knew the score when there was a commercial break or
during a Daily Double. At home, I always win lots more money.
What was your brightest moment?
My brightest moments were when I almost ran the Mom's category and I almost ran the Sport category.
Your most duh moment?
My biggest duh moment was when I got the Daily Double in the Cool Cars category. I am thinking about cars and they ask me about fuel. At home,

I would have figured out the correct answer, but when everyone is staring at you the answer eludes you. I also had a couple of questions where I rang

in to say the right answer and found myself saying something totally WRONG.
What was the ritual of preparing for the program like? Impressions.
Everyone has to be at the studio by 8 am, 3 hours before taping. We go through security and then are more or less sequestered in the Green Room

(it really is green.) There are 2 makeup artists who make everyone up (they can work miracles :) While people are taking turns being made up,

the Contestant Coordinators talk about what to expect and give tips on how to play. An hour or so before taping we go up to the studio and practice

buzzing in and playing mock games with the real Jeopardy! board. They also made us practice before the afternoon taping. I literally answered hundreds

of questions in 2 days. After a while the questions and games just all blurred together.
How much did you interact with Alex Trebec?
Alex talks to the audience and answers questions from them during all the commercial breaks, so we learned a lot about him. Contestants only chat

with Alex during their interview, at the end of taping while the credits are rolling, and for a few seconds when he takes a photo with you. One of the

Contestant Coordinators had asked me to play a joke on Alex. So when he came to stand next to me for our souvenir photo, I reminded him that it was

Naked Picture Day. After the photos, he walked over to the audience and announced to them that I had told him it was Naked Picture Day.
Winnings?
I earned $17,700 before taxes (have to pay federal and California state taxes on all earnings). Still have not received any winnings.Everyone is told before

appearing that they will be paid up to 120 days after the show airs.
Here's another question: Say the third place person wins $1,000, does he/she get to keep that? Or is it winner takes all?
Only first place receives the money that they have earned. Second place receives $2,000 and third place receives $1,000 regardless of how much money

they have accumulated. The winner does not have a guaranteed minimum, so if you win with one dollar that is all that you get--& the opportunity to play again.
Expenses--travel, hotel, food?
Out-of-town contestants agree to be present for 2 days of taping. Initially, you must pay for all of your own travel and hotel expenses. If you are the Champion

& have to return on a day not included in the original 2 taping days, then they will pick up airfare expenses, but not hotel expenses. However, Jeopardy!

contestants can receive a discounted room rate at a local hotel. The hotel provides free shuttle service to the airport & also takes the contestants to the

Sony Picture Studios in the morning. Jeopardy! provides lunch at the canteen on the lot for all contestants. All of your other meals are at your own expense.
Other?
I had a great time. I have wanted to be on Jeopardy! since I was 8 years old and I finally figured out how to phrase a response (I think it was "Where is
Poland."). My only regret is that I can never be on the show again.

World Clock

Deer Trail Website http://hometown.aol.com/deertrail131/Community.htm

Who You For? http://www.wqad.com/Global/link.asp?L=259460

Who You For II? www.IndependentPrimary.com

Progressive Rating Score: www.irregularnews.com

New! Check out www.americantowns.com for news in your town

Pick your President http://www.PickYourPresident.org

Check it Out--www.license.shorturl.com/

Funny money http://blip.tv/file/520347
Breathtaking bridge (below)

This test is based on how "cool" you were in High School--what crowd you ran with,

car you drove, dances you attended etc., but it's still pretty accurate--