Tales of the Golem; or, the Modern Epimetheus

Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash

Dear NPR,

Perhaps "correction" is too strong a word, but I wanted to point out that the Zimbabwean exchange rates cited this morning on Weekend Edition are not consistent. The story begins by saying that a Zimbabwean 50-billion dollar note is worth 33 cents. In that case 1.2 quadrillion Zimbawean dollars are worth about 8000 U.S. dollars, not 4000 as is said at the end of the story.

Horrific as Zimbabwean inflation is, the money should not lose half of its value over the course of a 1:28 news story...

Update: NPR issued a correction on their website. Do I get a tote bag or something? Apparently not.

Update: Okay, Scott Simon acknowledged my letter on the air.

posted by Richard Mason @ Saturday, July 19, 2008