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Monday, June 17, 2013

The Salt

Sandwich Monday: The Wendy's T-Rex Burger (R.I.P.)

No one can hear you screaming, Wendy.

June 17, 2013 For this week's Sandwich Monday, we try "The T-Rex Burger," a nine-patty monster that, until this week, had been on the menu of a renegade Canadian Wendy's franchise.

Summary

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Sunday Puzzle

You'd Better Sit Tight For This One

June 16, 2013 Every answer is a familiar two-word phrase or name in which the first word starts SI and the second word starts with T. For example, given "unadorned set of facts," you would say, "simple truth."

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Saturday, June 15, 2013

Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!

Not My Job: Astronaut Buzz Aldrin On Getting Mooned

American astronaut Buzz Aldrin in July 1969.

June 15, 2013 Sure, Aldrin has been to the moon, but what does he know about getting mooned? We'll quiz him to find out with a game called "Drop your pants and take a bow."

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On Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!Playlist

Friday, June 14, 2013

Ask Me Another

Blinded Me With Science

June 14, 2013 To pay tribute to Thomas Dolby's 1982 New Wave classic "She Blinded Me With Science," guest troubadours Paul & Storm have reworked the lyrics to describe different scientific principles and discoveries. So put on your safety goggles and play along!

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On Ask Me AnotherPlaylist

Ask Me Another

Submit It In Reduplicate

June 14, 2013 Did you know Ke$ha's song "Tik Tok" demonstrates a linguistic oddity? And we're not talking about her spelling. "Reduplicated" words contain repeated syllables, but with different vowel sounds. Puzzle guru Art Chung leads contestants in a game full of reduplicated word pairs.

Transcript

On Ask Me AnotherPlaylist

Ask Me Another

Small Screen Adaptations

June 14, 2013 TV shows based on popular films are sometimes successful (Buffy The Vampire Slayer), and sometimes not (Spaceballs: The Animated Series). In this game, players must "adapt" movie titles into shorter series versions by removing a letter to form a new, more succinct title.

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On Ask Me AnotherPlaylist

Ask Me Another

Long Before They Were Famous

June 14, 2013 A long time ago, many people's surnames indicated their occupations. If your name was "Mason," you worked with stone, if your name was "Coleman," you worked with coal, and if your name was "Sanders," you ran a medieval chicken empire. Guest musicians Paul & Storm hint contestants to an occupational surname and a celebrity who bears it.

Transcript

On Ask Me AnotherPlaylist

Ask Me Another

Jad Abumrad: Accidental Scientist

Jad Abumrad.

June 14, 2013 The host of WNYC's Radiolab never set out to create a wildly successful public radio show that tackles hard questions about life and the universe. But that's just one of his many happy accidents. Hear as Abumrad reveals how he broke into radio, and plays a game about unintentional scientific discoveries.

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On Ask Me AnotherPlaylist

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

All Tech Considered

Is Virtual Reality Gaming Destined For A Comeback?

Actor Tamara Bruketta experiences the Oculus VR version of SoundSelf at the E3 gaming conference in Los Angeles.

June 12, 2013 The last time most video game players were excited about virtual reality was the 1990s. But at the E3 gaming conference this week, game developers have been tinkering with Oculus VR's new hardware. It's not ready for consumers yet, but Oculus Rift holds the promise of reviving the dream of VR.

Summary

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

All Tech Considered

Did Sony Already Win Gaming's Next-Gen Console War?

Sony Computer Entertainment President and CEO Andrew House introduces the new PlayStation 4 at an Electronic Entertainment Expo media briefing in Los Angeles on Monday.

June 11, 2013 It's that time again, when the video game gods unveil the new beasts that they will soon release into the wild and see who comes out on top. But at its E3 presentation this week, Sony may have taken the early lead with its PS4, a next-generation system with features that seem aimed at those disappointed with Microsoft's Xbox One.

Summary

Monday, June 10, 2013

The Salt

Sandwich Monday: The Politician

Artist's rendering

June 10, 2013 For this week's Sandwich Monday, a very quick look at a new sandwich from the West Virginia chain Tudor's Biscuit World.

Summary

Sunday, June 09, 2013

Sunday Puzzle

Follow Homer To Find Your Way

June 9, 2013 For each given category, name something in the category beginning with each of the letters H-O-M-E-R. For example, if the category were "Chemical Elements," you might say Helium, Oxygen, Magnesium, Einsteinium, and Radon.

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