Yeah, I really don't get the email thing . But the rules about books seem pretty clear. And, according to Tim's podcast, the production asked repeatedly if anyone had anything like that. Keith just seems pretty clueless about how he's perceived. He makes Malan seem very self-aware.

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Cindy, there's a very interesting theory that the Noah and the Flood story originates in a catastrophic flood in the Black Sea around 5600 BC (Wikipedia story here).

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Maybe the email he found was from before the start of the show and he just replied ? Otherwise -- yes -- it makes no sense.

Also, I missed Tim Gunn on Conan last night but I hear that he's been asked to do the fashion commentary for NBC for the Emmy Awards. Now, I will watch NBC's broadcast!

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Kathy, that is interesting. Thanks. I think I watched a History Channel (or the like) show about that theory.

Hey Matt, any improvement with your dad?

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But the rules [spoiler]

Yeah, totally. And whatever he's saying, I think it's important to note that the show went out of its way to make it clear that no one caught him or accused him, or even really suspected him, of using the books. [The point]-------------[Keith]

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sumi - from what I understand Keith left the set when the designers were going to shoot promos, went to his boyfriend's and emailed the producers from there. All the designers knew that they weren't allowed to leave production without permission and Keith never told anyone where he was going.

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Sure, but they also weren't allowed to use e-mail/the internet wherever they were. So what on earth was he thinking?

He might have been able to weather one of those things - maybe even the book, though unlikely. But all three together?

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Yes -- the contestant was CLEARLY in the wrong and just won't admit it. What about that bad apology that was shown in the episode?

ION, Nasa is helping look for the Ivory Billed Woodpecker!

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A religion that requires belief in Roddy McDowall ever conceiving children requires more faith in the fantastic than I'm able to muster.

Well, since he's dead it would be some sort of miracle (or many sorts), but I get your meaning.

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Cindy-

I still think using 'literal' will elicit responses that are more sensational than they are useful.

I think the problem might be that we have different ideas about what's useful.

I doubt I would ever select "Different or no opinion,"

Oh, that's not something that would be presented to you as an option. That's the category that's used if you say "None of those describe me," or "I don't know" or "I'm not comfortable answering this question" or whatever.

My actual perfect answer would probably not be an option

I think that's true of most people. But a survey that includes a perfect option for every individual isn't much use as a survey. The point of the thing is to summarize, not to capture every unique belief. If a respondent won't pick an answer, in most situations our interviewers are trained to probe with "Well, could you say which one comes closest?" and things like that. If you still won't pick, it's a refusal.

An opinion poll will not provide detailed, comprehensive descriptions of every individual respondent's unique responses. I'm not sure how to respond to your concerns, because to me it seems like, "This hammer is useless for slicing carrots!" Sure, but it's not designed for that. If it was a survey with limited options for describing your hair color, or race, or political beliefs, would you have the same problem answering? And/or would you feel like the answers weren't useful because of the limitations? I still feel like the "useful" thing is the sticking point.

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