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'Isn't that something...'
10/06/2008 13:04  - (SA)  

Want to know more?
Answerit can help.

David Moseley

I know I don't have to watch it if I don't want to, but I just can't help myself sometimes. It's a like driving past a car wreck - you don't really want to see scenes of horror, but you always wonder if you might catch a glimpse of an impaled driver or decapitated passenger.

I'm talking, naturally, about the last segment on the news. More specifically, the last few minutes of the news on e. I'm not entirely sure if the SABC 3 news does the same, and I don't have Dstv so I can't comment with any authority on the international productions.

Some one, at some stage of development, decided that the best way to end the news is with a trippy snippet from an obscure part of the planet. Every now and again the segment might take place in a major city, but whatever's going on is as obscure as it gets - and completely irrelevant to the wellbeing of mankind.

"Hey Neil, come quick, there's a duck on TV that can quack the national anthem while swimming in a pot of stew." Hang on Ashley, I'm trying to get the dog to bowl a googly.

Good news

Surely, though, there is some actual positive news in the world that doesn't involve an animal doing something a human can do in the first place. If you landed from Mars (or the Free State) and turned the television on at 19:00 you wouldn't even wait for the petrol attendant to fill up your spaceship (or ox wagon). You'd be out of here so quickly that not even the goldfish who can re-enact Hamlet in mime would lift your spirits.

Just picture the news at the End of Days, the final broadcast before the lights go out for the very last time.. "and in other news, petrol has reached R76 a litre for the first time since 9 o'clock this morning, interest rates have been abolished because the last house in the world with a mortgage was repossessed by the bank today, while in Africa, the severed frozen head of Robert Mugabe has said it will refuse to accept the run-off results against the frozen spleen of Morgan Tsvangirai... the two are contesting the last grain of wheat in Zimbabwe.

"In international news Barack Obama Jnr says that moving the White House to Kabul is not a publicity stunt, while in Britain, oh wait that sunk last year. But, hey Jeffrey, guess what?"

What's that Deborah?

"Well, it seems that in an aquarium in Florida they've taught a porpoise how to whistle the Last Post through its blowhole... isn't that something, Jeffrey?"

It surely is Deborah, it surely is...

Send your comments to David.

Disclaimer: News24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24. News24 editors reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.

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  cricketing canine
10/06/2008 13:27
does neil really have a dog? - kg
 
  Haha... classic
10/06/2008 13:29
The worst part is, they tend to pick up on something that is several days old, and in an attempt to make it seem fascinating, smile like they're from Black-Hole-Sun-Ville... - Ryan Matthews
 
  Damn David
10/06/2008 13:32
You must get DSTV!Then you'll realise that the only pull locals broadcasters have are bizzare fluffy animal stories to keep your attention.Besides they get these stories from the international channels anyway.Cutting edge -my double hip!Hey ,there goes Elvis! - psycobabble
 
  Thanks for putting a smile on my face.
10/06/2008 13:40
Wow nice piece, good to see somebody still has a sense of humour at news24. :D - Jim
 
  Oxwagon?
10/06/2008 13:54
I am not happy with your stereotyping of people who live in the Freestate. - JP Strauss
 
  JP Strauss rebuttal
10/06/2008 14:10
dave...I am extrmely happy with your stereotyping of people who live in the Free State ;) - adam
 
  Hey JP ....
10/06/2008 14:12
Get a life. Oops, sorry, there is no life in the Free State - KD
 
  HOW CAN YOU FORGET!!
10/06/2008 14:13
the immortal Riaan Cruywagen and his little coments after every one of those.HA-HA - shane
 
  Oxwagon
10/06/2008 14:15
Oh JP - we may all be driving them soon given the price of petrol! Any way we all know that you all drive Mercs, so your humour failure can be forgiven - Judith Taylor
 
  Yes, Oxwagon!
10/06/2008 14:16
I'm not happy with JP Strauss not being happy with your stereotyping of people from the Free State - Gavin Buckle
 
  Free State
10/06/2008 14:16
At least we can afford DSTV in the Free State. Get a life. - PB Dippenaar
 
  news
10/06/2008 14:19
You very nearly succeeded in getting me to watch e-news tonight. Thank God sanity prevailed. - taurus
 
  I know I don't have to read this if I don't want to
10/06/2008 14:19
But I just did. Thanks for the trippy snippets David, although I fear that the End of Days might just be next year already, if the R76 per litre for fuel announcement is anything to go by... - Jaco
 
  Har-har
10/06/2008 14:20
I skip the news, and just watch the weather - that's good for a joke every time! - stephan
 
  JP Strauss
10/06/2008 14:23
JP, man, get a life and a sense of humor! I'm a Free Stater and I'm not offended! - FairisFair
 
  The Free State!!
10/06/2008 14:25
Now thats hilarious, (Mars/Free State)thingy. but then again, its true. It feels look way to foreign . LOL - Khathutshelo
 
  News READERS
10/06/2008 14:33
Besides the grinning and silly stories, has anyone noticed how unprofessional our news readers are? They just read what the teleprompter says and hardly pay any attention to grammar. In the end it sounds like a 6year old reading in class. U never know when the sentence end or the next one begins.. and the wrong EMPhasis on the wrong SYLLable. Especially the SABC3 cresh.. One presenter nearly lost it the other night.. was brutal to watch.. - Hein
 
  no room for OFS xenophobia...
10/06/2008 14:40
haha Dave has sparked serious debate over the free state here...I say thank God if you from the fairest Cape...and spare a thought and perhaps a hug for our khaki clad brothers from up north...for remember...they gave us Rassie! - adam
 
  Always needed on a monday...
10/06/2008 14:42
is a good laugh...JP, is there intelligent life out there....in Space? Yes! In the Free State?? No!! Wait hang on, There is...there's Fairisfair...Love it David! - Win
 
  He he he he he
10/06/2008 14:52
Thanks David you had me rolling in my cubicle with hysterical laughter! The bit about Bob's frozen head was great!!!! Can you just imagine! reminds me a bit of Futurama, but you don't have DSTV so I doubt you will know what I am thinking of. Down with the Freestate up with Province!!!!! - Nic the Greek
 
  You rock.
10/06/2008 15:01
Frozen head of Robet Mugabe? That's a classic Dave. And how about, "Bafana-bafana have won the world cup for 3 consecutive times and Mshini wami is South Africa's new national anthem. - NM
 
  enews weather
10/06/2008 15:09
And the best part of enews is Derek van Damme, the kung-fu metrosexual Canadian weatherboy. The advertisements are right, and every night he learns a new town name. The twinks in Cape Town must be loving this guy! - Ryan Matthews
 
  Free State
10/06/2008 15:09
Thanks David and all who've written in about the Free State. What a hoot I'm grinning from ear to ear. Sure my colleagues think I've lost my mind. Keep up the good work!!! - Nikki Potgieter
 
  Dog loses 20kgs
10/06/2008 15:10
Its what generally known as the light and bright and is quite common in newspapers as well (especially local or regional papers). I used to work for a publication which had it as an editorial policy that we needed to have a l&b on the front. Some my favourites ever include . Dog nurses orphaned kittens or ferrets (seriously) rare parrot returns home and of course Dog loses 20kgs on miracle diet. 4 years of journalism school for this? - manci
 
  Free State Internet
10/06/2008 15:11
There are internet in the Free State??? - Graham
 
  OFFENDED
10/06/2008 15:15
Freestates fine I live in BRAKPAN...... - faan
 
  Hey...
10/06/2008 15:27
Some Greek got exclamation marks for Christmas... At least he's a province fan ;) - JF
 
  Hein
10/06/2008 15:29
You mean like when they say-"There were 3 casualities in the accident"? - psycobabble
 
  Error ridden
10/06/2008 15:30
The whole news is error ridden, even the writing of people's names is incorrect. Dont people check this stuff. Is it that tricky? Mind you have you heard the 94.7 bird mention the name Worcester! Poor! - AJ
 
  Free State
10/06/2008 15:36
I always enjoy your little jokes but knocking my province was taking it a bit far for someone who has'nt been here. - Hloai
 
  e-news
10/06/2008 15:46
If I watch the news I watch e-news, it's much better. Oh and the weather man is HOT!!! - Rom
 
  Good laugh
10/06/2008 15:48
Gee Dave, i had a real good cackle now, we all need a little good humour in our lives, in these dark times. I enjoy those odd snippets at the end of the news for that same reason..:-) Keep up the humour. - TJ
 
  Brilliant
10/06/2008 15:49
Good read Dave. - Jason Penton
 
  Free State
10/06/2008 15:50
Adam did u have to rub the Rassie thing in? Shees my team is in the dumps - but be afraid, very afraid, WE SHALL RISE OUT OF THE ASHES and trash the other teams again! (Can't say when though...) - FairisFair
 
     
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