Fake Trivia

[Grandfather Alden]

I know this is about an older post, but I was one of those people who believed the bit about James K. Polk being an absinthe drinker. When I learned that wasn't true, I thought it was hilarious that Mr. Jennings made that up; it sounded like something in John Hodgman's "The Areas of My Expertise." Has anyone else read that book? I think it has to be the funniest fake trivia book ever.

I love this blog.

[captainjaneway]

Actually, yes, I've read it. It's hilarious! Some guys even made drawings of the 700 hobos:

http://www.e-hobo.com/

I hope that no one out there has taken this book seriously...

[JenLee]

And if you're gonna mention Jonn Hodgman (more recently famous for being the PC guy in the "I'm a PC.. and I'm a Mac" commercials), you must mention his good buddy Jonathan Coulton, who's like the love child of Tom Lehrer and Fountains of Wayne. Really great, listenably silly music on topics as far-ranging as zombies, killer robots, evil geniuses, and suburban malaise. Wonderful, wonderful stuff!

Top five JC songs right off the top of my head:
1. Re: Your Brains
2. Code Monkey
3. Mandlebrot Set
4. Skullcrusher Mountain
5. and lastly, but not at all least(ly), his absolutely priceless cover of Baby Got Back

[Ken Jennings]

I first read Areas of My Expertise before he was John (Daily Show) Hodgman and thought it was hilarious.

I was also mad that he had gotten to the idea of a fake trivia book before I did! Admittedly, mine would have had fewer hoboes.

(I like your username, Grandfather Alden. That takes me back...)