[BeetleB]

> Not to mention things like entertainment and sport news are useful for making small talk (I like to try to be an accommodating co-worker).

Sorry to be that jerk, but:

If you need to follow the sports/entertainment news to engage in small talk when coworkers discuss these issues, it just means you don't know how to do small talk.

[ccpotato]

I said I like to be accommodating. I personally would rather little to no interaction unless it's pertinent to work at hand.