Althouse: They made fun of Katie Couric for saying that the Dutch skate on their canals.

March 3, 2018

They made fun of Katie Couric for saying that the Dutch skate on their canals.

And now look...

The Dutch are skating on their canals.

32 comments:

OldManRick said...: They are skating there because it's a rare event to be enjoyed by the locals not an everyday thing that the kids use to get to school. Like when the Thames froze over during the little ice age.; 3/3/18, 6:09 PM
traditionalguy said...: Nice work Katie.; 3/3/18, 6:11 PM
OldManRick said...: For reference, it happened in 2013 and before that it hadn't happened since the 1990's.

https://www.quora.com/Do-the-canals-ever-freeze-in-Amsterdam; 3/3/18, 6:13 PM
Jim Gust said...: Thanks, global warming!; 3/3/18, 6:17 PM
buwaya said...: Its funny anyway.
Btw, global warming.
That was another punchline.; 3/3/18, 6:17 PM
Darrell said...: For reference, it happened in 2013 and before that it hadn't happened since the 1990's.

A summary of the times Katie Couric has actually been right.; 3/3/18, 6:23 PM
Danno said...: Darrell, her record isn't even that of a broken clock.; 3/3/18, 6:36 PM
Danno said...: Und wo ist Hans Brinker?; 3/3/18, 6:36 PM
Earnest Prole said...: A perky blind chipmunk occasionally finds a nut.; 3/3/18, 6:39 PM
Ralph L said...: I read a short story before HS in which some Dutch boy skated on their canals in a race. Couric grew up a couple miles away, though in Arlington Co. not Alexandria, but I'll bet she read the same one.
She's still a dick.; 3/3/18, 6:41 PM
PuertoRicoSpaceport.com said...: Who is this "they" that you speak of, Ann?

I never heard anyone making fun of Katie Couric for claiming the Dutch skate on their canals. Of course they do, though only when they are frozen.

Perhaps you have a link?

What I did hear a lot of funmaking about was her claim that they routinely commuted to work skating on the canals.

I woulod also note that the canal does not seem very frozen in the video. There are standing puddles in spots and the canals coming in from the side are unfrozen with ducks swimming in them. And is that a guy being fished out of a hole in the ice? That was my first thought though on closer look I can't tell if that is what happened or if he just fell.

John Henry; 3/3/18, 6:46 PM
Bill said...: I'm relieved that America's Sweetheart is finally getting vindication.; 3/3/18, 6:52 PM
rcocean said...: Katie Couric right = Stopped Clock time.

Anyone seen a Dutch boy with his thumb in the dyke?

Bueller? Bueller?

Anyone?; 3/3/18, 6:58 PM
rcocean said...: BTW, the Dutch are like super tall.

I've never seen so many human giraffes until I went to Amsterdam.; 3/3/18, 6:59 PM
Ann Althouse said...: "I never heard anyone making fun of Katie Couric for claiming the Dutch skate on their canals. Of course they do, though only when they are frozen. Perhaps you have a link?"

The hell, John Henry. I just got done responding to you in the jack jumping post, pointing out 2 things in the linked article that you apparently hadn't seen and now here you are with a sarcastic remark about wanting a link when the link is right there on the post. Did you take a vow to become a troll just now or what?; 3/3/18, 7:01 PM
Otto said...: A women being correct is big news; 3/3/18, 7:10 PM
Fernandinande said...: How do all Dutch recipes begin?

Borrow six eggs ...; 3/3/18, 7:13 PM
Bob Boyd said...: You had me at "They made fun of Katie Couric"; 3/3/18, 7:15 PM
Be said...: They certainly used to. Admittedly, one girlfriend up in Friesland still makes fun of me for my pipe dream trip of visiting her just to do that. "Bev: 1.) It's getting too warm in most of Holland to do that; the ice isn't stable. 2.) What the heck is wrong with you? You're from the Cold, you should be Attracted to the Hot!"

She works in tourism, so generally only gets Winter time off; spends a couple weeks in Warm Places, then prepares for Bridge Season.; 3/3/18, 7:28 PM
mockturtle said...: I think she was implying it was their mode of transportation.; 3/3/18, 7:29 PM
AZ Bob said...: Google it. She said they skate to work.; 3/3/18, 9:20 PM
PuertoRicoSpaceport.com said...: Perhaps I came across as a bit harsher than I meant to. If so, apologies, Ann. Not trolling. Not there, anyway.

The post title was "They made fun of Katie Couric for saying that the Dutch skate on their canals."

Since there were no quote marks, I read that as you saying they made fun of KC for saying the Dutch skate on their canals. I did read the article, saw the video, listened to Couric say it and listened to a former Amsterdamer discuss Couric's stupidity and Amsterdam skating just the other day. (Adam Curry, Noagendashow.com)

As far as I can tell nobody made fun of her for saying the Dutch skate on their canals. There would be no reason to, it is absolutely true, if relatively rare

They, and I, made fun of her for saying

"now why are they so good at (garbled)? Well, because Skating is an important mode of transportation in a city like Amsterdam"

and that this was why they are such good skaters and do so well in the Olympics.

Since the canals seldom freeze and then only for short periods, That statement, by KC, is certainly mockworthy.

No transcript but audio clip here:

http://adam.curry.com/enc/1518382650.141_katiecoouricbogativedutchskatingstatementolympicopeningceremony.mp3

John Henry; 3/3/18, 9:30 PM
Phil 314 said...: Elfstedentocht; 3/3/18, 10:01 PM
Phil 314 said...: Elfstedentocht 1985; 3/3/18, 10:09 PM
Mark Daniels said...: How very Hans Brinker.; 3/3/18, 10:14 PM
Mark Daniels said...: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95FYjPSiz_g; 3/3/18, 10:18 PM
Sebastian said...: Ah, yes -- Couric. I remember that bitch. So much more knowledgeable than Sarah Palin.

Data point #3011 to show we are being patronized by our inferiors.

Though Noonan was being charitable.; 3/3/18, 11:00 PM
mikee said...: PRSpaceport: Here in Texas, we have fun driving on black ice in Dallas every other year or so, for a day or so. Couric surely will tell the world that Texans are good at driving on ice because of this experience. And the world will tell Couric that she is, has been, and will remain an illogical ass for doing so.; 3/4/18, 12:06 AM
Jaq said...: Anybody who watched Hans Brinker and his Silver Skates knows the Dutch skate on their canals, whenever they can. So do the Canadians whenever they can.; 3/4/18, 6:44 AM
Jaq said...: During the Little Ice Age, thank God that’s over!, they did it a lot more.; 3/4/18, 6:47 AM
Clyde said...: Was Al Gore there in Amsterdam or in Massachusetts?; 3/4/18, 1:54 PM
Luke Lea said...: The Dutch once moved troops that way to beat Louis XIV's troops in a battle, or so I've read.; 3/4/18, 7:40 PM