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| February 5, 2012 |
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Ignoring
Clint Eastwood's advice in "Dirty Harry" that
opinions, like certain body parts, are best kept to
yourself.
| Playing
'Cash Cab' with the grandkids |
 Recently,
my wife and I started watching the Discovery Channel show
'Cash Cab'. It comes on right after the required Senior
viewing of 'Wheel of Fortune' on a local station. If you
haven't seen this show, a New York City taxi is equipped
with hidden cameras and flashing lights, and unsuspecting
cab patrons are challenged to play a game of general
knowledge during the ride. Miss three questions, the cab
stops and riders are kicked out, but they can win several
hundred bucks. When stumped, a mobile phone or street
'shout-out' for help is allowed.
This weekend,
Hazel and I went to grade school basketball games with some
of our grandchildren, and afterwards, we stopped for lunch
before taking them home. Whatever reminded me of the show,
I'm not sure, but as I was driving I said to the three
little girls in the back seat, "Ok kids, you're in the
'Cash Cab', wanna play?" "Yeahhhh!!!" they
all shouted, so my wife and I had to quickly think up some
questions that kids 6 to 9 years of age might know.
"For
25 cents," my wife said, "who is Justin Bieber's
girlfriend?" "Selena Gomez!" they all
shouted. I was still about 3 miles from home, and I realized
this might get a little expensive. "Ok", I said,
here's your next question, In 1941, the Japanese attacked
our naval fleet at Pearl Harbor, what state is Pearl Harbor
in?" The three little girls looked at each other, now I
had them. "Louisiana!" one of them said. "Oh,
wrong, it was Hawaii... that's one strike, two more and I'll
have to stop and kick you out." The chorus in the
backseat responded with "WHAT???" "Ron",
my wife said, "we're not going to kick these kids out
on this busy street." "Grampa was just kidding,
kids ... Ron, they wouldn't know anything about World War
Two!" "Hazel", I said, "I have to throw
in some hard ones, or this this going to cost me a fortune."
There was silence in the back seat, evidently they
were counting on getting a fortune.
A few more
easier questions, including another strike, and we arrived
at my daughter's home to drop the kids off. I was on the
hook for $2.50. "Ok kids, here's the deal, I've got
your two and a half bucks right here, I can give it to you
now, or you can risk it all and go double or nothing on a
current events question." They wanted to go double or
nothing. At their age, they either didn't know about the
bird in the hand, or they sensed Grampa wasn't going to
screw them out of the money. "Ok, here's the question,"
I said, "tomorrow is the Super Bowl, who are the two
football teams that will be playing in the game?"
They
didn't have a clue, time was running out, it looked bad.
Hazel said, "Why don't you use your mobile shout-out
and call your Mom?" The 9 year old whipped out her cell
phone. (A 9 year old has a cell phone??)
"Hello
Mom? We're in the 'Cash Cab' and need your help ... which
teams are playing in the Super Bowl?" A pause. "The
Patriots and the Giants!"
I handed a five
dollar bill into the back seat.
Global
Air Aviation Referral Service
I welcome
responses, and will be glad to post them here. Email your
remarks to
ron@global-air.com |
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