“Wow!!!!” “Congrats!” “Next step: New York Times crossword puzzle!”
The texts started coming thick and fast on Friday after I achieved the modern-day equivalent of immortality: I became a clue on “Jeopardy!”
The category was “Points of View,” and the clue was this:
“Lenore Skenazy, who wrote of letting her 9-year-old ride the NYC subway alone, moved this term from raising chickens to raising kids.”
If you can’t guess the answer, just Google my name. OK, OK, I’ll make it easier. It’s “What is free-range?”
So, how does one become a “Jeopardy!” clue? It’s easy! Just let your 9-year-old do something the world considers dangerous — in my case, ride the New York City subway alone. Then write a newspaper column about why the world is wrong. Then write some more columns about it and appear on the “Today” show, MSNBC, Fox News, National Public Radio, Good Morning America, The Daily Show, BBC, CBC (that’s Canada), ABC (Australian Broadcasting Company), Le Monde, Der Spiegel, the South China Post — I think you get the idea — defending yourself. Then graciously accept the nickname “America’s Worst Mom.”
Then start a blog about the issue and give it that catchy name, manage to trademark said name (shoutout to Dale Cendali, America’s top intellectual property lawyer and my dear friend from college) and write a book with the same title. Do it fast, fearing your social capital may evaporate.
Next, speak at about a million schools, as well as corporate behemoths like Microsoft and DreamWorks.
Keep finding new ways to spread the word. Do a reality TV show (“World’s Worst Mom,” now on YouTube). Headline the Bulgarian Happiness Festival. (In the process, learn to make Shopska salad — fantastic Bulgarian tomato salad.) Speak in Bendigo, Australia — a town you reach by passing through Kangaroo Flats. (I HIGHLY recommend Bendigo. It was a gold rush town just after California’s, and it looks like a movie set of Victorian San Francisco.)
Never stint in the hunt for new readers and leaders! For instance, about 10 years ago I wrote to Matt Welch at the Libertarian magazine Reason to propose a new content line:
“Hi Matt! Looking over all the topics on the Reason blog — ever fascinating — I see one that’s not covered much: Parenting…. “And yet, I was angry to learn about parents who’d been arrested for letting their kids wait in the car, or walk to the pizza parlor, or play in the park. I couldn’t believe some daycare workers had to check in on sleeping babies every 15 minutes to record their sleep positions. I heard from teachers who had to fill out hazardous materials reports for each different brand of baby wipe and dish soap in their classrooms.”
Reach out to everyone else you can think of, too, including this very newspaper! And while you’re at it, get bills passed in eight states that say it is not against the law to be a Free-Range Kid. Or to be a Let Grow kid, as Let Grow is the nonprofit that grew out of “Free-Range Kids.”
In short: if you want to be on “Jeopardy!” (“Jeopardy! Masters,” actually), and have the contestant answer the clue correctly, just dedicate about 16 years to one specific topic and all its strange, infuriating ramifications, become the world’s leading expert on the topic, and write about it nonstop, including in sometimes self-referential, syndicated columns.
Voila: You are now a part of pop culture. It’s just that simple!
I was a clue on “Jeopardy!”
Lenore Skenazy is president of Let Grow, a contributing writer at Reason.com, and author of Has the World Gone Skenazy? To learn more about Lenore Skenazy ([email protected]) and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM
Shop For Night Vision | See more…
Shop For Survival Gear | See more…
Please Support These Patriotic Sponsors
Solar Power Generator Discounts Along With Free Shipping
- 10% OFF for Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro Series with code "JADEAL"
- 10% OFF for Jackery SolarSaga 200W Solar Panel with code "JADEAL"
- 10% OFF for Jackery Solar Generator 1500 Series with code "JADEAL"
- 10% OFF for Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Series with code "JADEAL"
- 10% OFF for Jackery Explorer 1500 Portable Power Station with code "JADEAL"
- 10% OFF for Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro Portable Power Station with code "JADEAL"
- 10% OFF for Jackery Explorer 500 Pro Portable Power Station with code "JADEAL"
- 10% OFF for Jackery Explorer 300 Pro Portable Power Station with code "JADEAL"
- 10% OFF for Jackery SolarSaga 100W Solar Panel with code "JADEAL"
The University of Georgia is represented by the Georgia Bulldogs . The Bulldogs participate in the Southeastern Conference's (SEC) Eastern Division of the NCAA.
They play their home games in the storied Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia. The first season in Georgia was in 1892. In 1942, 1980, and 2021, the Georgia Bulldogs won three national championships.
The Georgia Bulldogs have additionally been crowned the National Champion in four additional seasons by at least one polling organization (1920, 1927, 1946 and 1968).
The Georgia Bulldogs are tied for second place in conference history with their 15 conference titles, including 13 SEC titles, and their 59 bowl appearances, which ranks second all-time.
In addition, the program has produced five top picks in the National Football League (NFL) draft, two Heisman Trophy winners, numerous winners of various national honors, and many others.
Longhorns football represents the University of Texas in Austin often known as Texas, UT or the Texas Longhorns. The Longhorns represent the Big 12 Conference in the NCAA Division. They play in Austin, Texas, at the Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
The Texas Longhorns are ranked third and seventh, respectively, in terms of all-time wins and win-loss records, with over 900 victories and an overall win-loss percentage of.705.
The legendary program also boasts four national titles, 32 conference titles, 100 First Team All-Americans, and two Heisman Trophy winners.
Get your Texas Longhorns Revival T-Shirt today. The Texas Longhorns Rustic Revival shirt is also a fan favorite.
Many college sports fans like to wear their gear all around town, get your Texas Longhorns Centered gear and show your support.