[net.tv] journalistic stupiditty

msc@qubix.UUCP (Mark Callow) (05/30/84)

I had to share this with you.  Sorry the newsgroup isn't quite appropriate
but it was the closest I could think of.

Heard today on the news on KNEW radio, Oakland, California.

"Trade deficit grows.  Coming up after this message for (xyz) Toyota"

< A Commercial for the self proclaimed largest volume Toyota dealer in
  California >

"The commerce department announce that the trade deficit last month grew
to twelve point nineteen billion dollars."  (Then he read an explanation
of what a trade deficit is.)  "The previous month's deficit was
twelve point eight billion dollars".

12.19 > 12.8 ?????? Arrgh!!!!  Either they really believe that or the
previous figure was twelve point *zero* eight billion.

I always thought those crooked financial types had a reason for
mis-saying decimal fractions. :-)
-- 
From the TARDIS of Mark Callow
msc@qubix.UUCP,  decwrl!qubix!msc@Berkeley.ARPA
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"I'm a citizen of the Universe, and a gentleman to boot!"