I’m highly skeptical of polls and tend to make fun of them. Some of them are fun. Or depressing. Or both. A poll by Zogby International yielded these gems:

60% of Americans were able to correctly name Superman’s fictional home planet (Krypton), but only 37% could name the planet closest to the sun (Mercury).

23% could name the recent winner of the TV show “American Idol” (Taylor Hicks), but only 11% could name the recently named Supreme Court Justice (Samuel Alito).

60% knew that Homer was the father of Bart on “The Simpsons”. But only 20.5% knew that Homer was the ancient Greek author of The Iliad and The Odyssey.

74% knew that Larry, Moe and Curley were the Three Stooges. But only 42% could name the three branches of government (judicial, executive and legislative).

57% could identify J.K. Rowling’s fictitional boy wizard (Harry Potter), but only 50% could name the British prime minister (Tony Blair).

Oh, dear.

Reinhard Kargl

Journalist and media professional currently based in Los Angeles, California. Focusing on science and technology.