Investigative Report: Top Ten Lists
By Shelley Smarz, TG Co-op Student
David Letterman
From The Late Show with David
Letterman:
Top Ten Canadian Complaints About U.S. TV
Shows
10. Whenever they show Niagara Falls, always
"happens" to be on U.S. side
9. Not enough exciting canoe chases
8. No Monday night curling
7. Just when we get hooked on "Dweebs" -- poof! It's gone
6. One too many award shows hosted by David Letterman
5. It's really hard to play along with "Jeopardy" after you've
drunk a couple dozen Molsons
4. Not a single Canadian featured in O.J. trial
3. "E.R." never about frostbite
2. During "Cheers" reruns, real beer should pour out of the TV
1. Too much Dave, not enough Paul
Anyone who has ever seen The Late Show is familiar with
David Letterman's use of top ten lists. There are other uses for
these besides Letterman. A top ten list is a clear, concise and
organized way to present data. It's no wonder that they are used
everyday to compare stocks, political party popularity and hockey
standings.
All of this information (in one form or another) and too much more
can be found in Russell Ash's book, The Top 10 of Everything
1996. It contains everything from the top ten largest polished
gem diamonds, to the top ten dog names in the United Kingdom.
Full of interesting and informative facts on some of the strangest
subjects imaginable, this book is ideal for trivia buffs and
future Jeopardy champions. The reason it is so exceptional
is the vast amount of raw data contained in the lists, making
detailed information accessible and tedious research articles
easier to write.
The Top Ten Strangest Lists contained in The Top 10 of
Everything 1996:
Complied by Shelley Smarz
10. Largest banks in the world
9. Most common murder weapons/methods in the U.S.
8. Most expensive teddy bears sold at auction in the U.K.
7. Countries that have the largest duck population
6. Worst gun massacres (in the world)
5. Top consumers of Kellogg's Corn Flakes (in the world)
4. Polonius' precepts for Laertes (from Shakespeare's
Hamlet)
3. The worst records of all time
2. Largest bells in the Western world
1. Longest words in the English language
For more information:
Top Ten List
Archives
Copyright © 1996 TG Magazine/The Students Commission
tgmag@tgmag.ca