TOO MUCH COVERAGE

An EXPERT is giving a press conference.

EXPERT

And we expect that the current financial crisis will not clear up until at the earliest the second quarter of next year. Yes?

REPORTER

Mike Kimble, Wall Street Journal. Any chance of property values going back up soon?

EXPERT

Too soon to tell. Yes?

DUDE

Tristan Boylston, The Independent Financial Thinker. Can we see this crisis as a failure of capitalism

EXPERT

As big as the crisis is, we feel that's too harsh a verdict. Yes?

KID

Luke Purdy -- you can call me mags. I'm here for my blog. What's up with the economy?

EXPERT

I'm sorry I prefer to restrict these briefings to more major media outlets.

REPORTER

What's your opinion on the state of the blogosphere today?

EXpERT

I haven't given it much thought, honestly, and I'd prefer to stick to questions on the financial crisis. Um, Luke I told you I don't answer questions from bloggers.

KID

Actually my question is for this guy (indicates REPORTER) What's your opinion of the man running this briefing?

REPORTER

Let's see. He's credible. Ducking the tougher questions but mostly a cooperative source.

EXPERT

MOSTLY cooperative? I'm giving you all the information we can verify...

DUDE

I have a question for the blogger.

EXPERT

There's no time for that...

DUDE

(excited)

How does it feel to be talking to a reporter of the WALL STREET JOURNAL --- right at this moment?

KID

Let's see. Invigorating. Exciting. I feel a sense of validation that my career is going the right way.

DUDE

And you do consider your blog a career?

KID

Absolutely. As well as my creative voice.

REPORTER

If I may interrupt...

EXPERT

Please do.

REPORTER

I have a question for you, but I should tell you that this question is for my blog.

EXPERT

You're putting me in a tough spot.

REPORTER

I realize that.

EXPERT

You may ask your question.

REPORTER

Do you like me?

EXPERT

Next question.

KID

Do you like me?

EXPERT

No questions from bloggers!

KID

Man, you just answered HIS question!

DUDE

I will answer that question. No, he does not like you.

KID

That is my opinion also.

EXPERT

Hey, it's not that I don't like you -- it's just that I have important information to get out here...

KID

So you DO like me?

DUDE

Can I quote you on that?

REPORTER

(to DUDE)

What's it like to be asking these questions in front of a reporter for the WALL STREET JOURNAL?

EXPERT

People, please!

REPORTER 2

Liz Carey, Investors' Daily. Would you mind moving to the right a bit?

EXPERT

Not at all. (moves) Is that right?

REPORTER 2

Great. You were sort of our of line of my webcam. I'm live-blogging the coverage of this press conference by bloggers.

KID

Could I ask you what it's like to be live blogging such an important event?

REPORTER 2

You can ask me that, of course.

KID

Do you like me?

REPORTER 2

That is not what you said you were going to ask.

KID

I changed it.

EXPERT

This is probably a good as time as any to tell you people that I am not in fact a financial expert but a live blogger who has created this press conference merely as an art experiment of the behaviors of people when confronted with an expert. Results will be on my Facebook page.