Poll-ish Humor, Nov. 25: DOOR 2 -- M - Z NAMES

DOOR 2: My last name begins M - Z

You know only one thing about someone: his or her occupation. Based only on that, which person would you be most likely to initially regard favorably?

Do you think it is possible for a deeply racist joke -- one depending on an extremely negative stereotype of a racial group -- to be very funny?

Yes

I'm not sure.

You are talking to a colleague -- seemingly intelligent, born and raised in the United States -- and you realize that the person has an amazing gap in his or her knowledge. Of the following, which would disturb you most about this person?

He or she doesn't have a clear idea of what countries we fought in World War II.

He or she doesn't understand the difference between a star and a planet.

He or she cannot name the current vice president of the United States.

He or she cannot locate Europe on a map.

He or she cannot tell you what 50 percent of 100 is.

How do you think historians will ultimately rank the presidency of George W. Bush?

Disastrously. The worst president ever.

Not the worst, but a failed presidency, in the lowest tier.

Not a successful presidency, but not among the lowest of the low.

Average.

Better than average.

Way better than average.