at times , when the deadlines around here get to be overwhelming and the nine - to - five number threatens to become too much of a donkeywork , I daydream of pursuing a 2nd career — that of a extremely - compensated plot show protester who can put my knowledge of Potent Potables and State Capitals to use compete for fabulous hard currency award . I dream of go bad onJeopardy !
The producers of that game show take a step last week toward making my dream fare true when they announce thatJeopardy!would start screening possible contestant through an on-line quiz . Would - be contestants can maneuver to theJeopardy ! Web sitewhere they can sign up for the preliminary screening test ; the quiz will be conducted later on this week . Once I sail through that — and really , it ’s a foregone ending that I will — it ’s only a issue of time before I take my rightful home alongside Ken Jennings in theJeopardy!pantheon .
Assuming I ’m able-bodied to take the quiz , that is . Because , in a wrinkle that ’s all too familiar to Mac user who surf the Web , theonline trial FAQwarns that things may not flow so smoothly feed my choice in ironware .
Although we do not encourage you to take the trial on a Mac , the test is compatible with the Mac OX operating system . For the best experience , you should :
Why do you hate me , Alex Trebek ?
OK — so it ’s probably not as drastic as all that . The FAQ does say that the mental test will probably at least influence on the Mac , which is a decided improvement over the Bad Old Days of limited Mac compatibility for many on-line offerings . I ’ve noodled over the many technological reasons why the run might not go for Mac users , and the only explanation that I can occur up with is that “ Jeopardy ! ” producer probably did n’t want to pass a flock of metre examination for Mac compatibility so they slapped this warning up there as a way to cover themselves just in case some Mac drug user suffers an prematurely expert glitch . ( “ What is sheer laziness , Alex ? ” )
Which isJeopardy’sright , I suppose , though it does n’t make much sentiency when one of the stated goal of your on-line quiz is to increase the range , reach , and handiness of your contestant searches . “ Our online testing process allows our many viewers the opportunity to take the test from their very own electronic computer , at home base , at the berth — about anywhere , ” executive producer Harry Friedman tellsthe Hollywood Reporter — unless they happen to be Mac users , apparently .
All mighty , so this is hardly a sign and prognostication that the Mac is living on take up time or a reason to march down to the “ Jeopardy ! ” studios , demanding satisfaction fromJeopardy’screator ( “ Who is Merv Griffin , Alex ? ” ) . In the past couple of week , we ’ve gotten a Mac - compatible airfare tracker from an airline ( “ What is Southwest Airlines ? ” ) and a Mac - friendly electronic filing system from a governance agency ( “ What is the U.S. Patent Office ? ” ) , so an online quiz that may or may not work like it ’s supposed to on the Mac is hardly something to get dented out of flesh over .
And yet , when Alex Trebek is handing over the oversized gewgaw check displaying my profits , do n’t mean I ’m not going to bring it up .