A test of your powers of observation

Walt apologizes for his absence over the past weekend. Hey, everyone's entitled to celebrate Labour Day, right? I'm all in favour of labour. I could watch people working for hours.

As a bit of compensation for the paucity of posts, and before we get to hard news, let me pass along a little quiz, submitted by Agent 1, to test whether your brain is working. Here it is.

Can you spot the blonde?

Scroll down...

Farther down...

Here she is!

Aren't you embarrassed that you didn't notice it before? The blonde is the one with the wrong leg up!

Footnote: Our man in southern Africa reports that the famous Reed Dance was performed in Swaziland over the weekend, in spite of the condemnation of wimmin around the world. Ed. has yet to receive a picture of this year's ceremony, but you can click here to see an older pic.

The Million Dollar Question

Agent 38 has forwarded this politically incorrect story...

Sally, competing on 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire?', had reached the final plateau. If she answered the next question correctly, she would win $1,000,000! If she answered incorrectly, she would pocket only the $25,000 milestone money.

As she suspected the Million Dollar Question was no pushover. It was:
Which of the following species of birds does not build its own nest but instead lays its eggs in the nests of other birds? Is it:
A) the condor
B) the buzzard
C) the cuckoo
D) the vulture

Sally was on the spot! She did not know the answer. She had used up her 50/50 Lifeline and her Ask the Audience Lifeline. All that remained was her Phone-a-Friend Lifeline. She hoped she would not have to use it because her friend was...well...a blonde.

But she had no alternative. She called her friend and gave her the question and the four choices. The blonde responded unhesitatingly, 'That's easy. The answer is C: the cuckoo.'

Sally had to make a decision and make it fast. She considered employing a reverse strategy and giving any answer except the one that her friend had given her. And considering her friend was a blonde that would seem to be the logical thing to do. But her friend had responded with such confidence, such certitude, that the contestant could not help but be convinced.

Crossing her fingers, Sally said, 'C: The cuckoo.'
'Is that your final answer?'
'Yes, that is my final answer.'
'That answer is absolutely correct! You are now a millionaire!'

Three days later, the contestant hosted a party for her family and friends, including the blonde who had helped her win the million dollars. 'I just don't know how to thank you, ' said Sally. 'But how did you happen to know the right answer?'

'Oh, come on,' said the blonde. 'Everybody knows that cuckoos don't build nests. They live in clocks!'