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Humor & Fun Games, puzzles, and contests plus odd stories from comedy, art, and society.

Humor & Fun

Friday

Sunday Puzzle

Alma Maters (Or, A Smart Male)

Every answer is the name of a college or university. Given an anagram, the contestant names the school. For example, if the clue is "lay" plus "e," the answer is "Yale."

Alma Maters (Or, A Smart Male)

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Fresh Air

Mike Judge: Mining Comic Joy From Workplace Pain

Fresh Air

Extract, the latest film from the writer and director of Office Space and the creator of Beavis and Butt-head, is another exploration of stupidity in the American workplace.

Mike Judge: Mining Comic Joy From Workplace Pain

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Thursday

iPad Morphs From MADtv Sketch To Apple Device

When Apple computer announced its highly anticipated iPad Wednesday, the name sounded very familiar to two writers for the comedy show Mad TV. Five years ago, Bruce McCoy and Tami Sagher wrote a sketch about a then-fictional Apple device, the iPad. That sketch has now gone viral. The two writers offer their insight.

iPad Morphs From MADtv Sketch To Apple Device

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Saturday

Not My Job: 'Game Change' Author Mark Halperin

Mark Halperin is editor-at-large and senior political analyst for Time magazine. hide caption

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Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!

Not My Job: 'Game Change' Author Mark Halperin

Mark Halperin's new book Game Change — which he co-authored with John Heilemann — details all the backbiting, sex, lying and anger that was the 2008 presidential campaign. We'll see how the senior political analyst for Time magazine holds up against the NPR News Quiz.

Not My Job: 'Game Change' Author Mark Halperin

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Science

The Formula For Perfect Parallel Parking

You finally find a spot along the curb, between two hulking SUVs, and it looks pretty tight. Do you go for it or move on? Not to worry; geometry can save you.

The Formula For Perfect Parallel Parking

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Saturday

Sunday

What To Do With 800 Pinball Machines? Play Them!
Charla Bear/NPR

What To Do With 800 Pinball Machines? Play Them!

David Silverman sees pinball games as "scrapbooks" of American history and culture. He's amassed a collection of more than 800 of them, which he keeps behind his home in Silver Spring, Md. His dream is to someday open the National Pinball Museum — but until then, he invites you to come over for a game.

What To Do With 800 Pinball Machines? Play Them!

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Saturday

Technology

Web 2.0 Suicide Machine: Erase Your Virtual Life

If you're on Facebook or some other online community, you know how easy it is to fritter away hours in the Twitterverse. Want your real life back? One Web site will help you end it all — virtually.

Web 2.0 Suicide Machine: Erase Your Virtual Life

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Thursday

New Jobs For A New Decade

When Play Means Pay: Video Game Jobs On The Rise

Employment in the video game industry is rapidly expanding as people turn to mobile devices and social networking sites for entertainment. Colleges around the country are tuned in, offering courses or degrees for many people who grew up playing games on computers and consoles.

When Play Means Pay: Video Game Jobs On The Rise

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Tuesday

Pop Culture

John Oliver: Topical Comedy, With A Crisp Accent

Fresh Air

You might recognize British comedian John Oliver from his seat across the desk from Jon Stewart on The Daily Show. This month, Oliver stands up (literally and figuratively) in a new comedy series for Comedy Central. Oliver brings the funny for a conversation with Fresh Air host Terry Gross.

John Oliver: Topical Comedy, With A Crisp Accent

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Sunday

Sunday Puzzle

I'll See Your Susan Boyle And Raise You A Balloon Boy

It's time for Will Shortz's annual names-in-the-news quiz. Will gives the names of people that you almost certainly never heard of before 2009, but who became suddenly famous during the past 12 months.

I'll See Your Susan Boyle And Raise You A Balloon Boy

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Friday

Science

Calling All Puzzle Gurus: 65 Math Mysteries

Father-daughter team Eric and Natalie Yoder share brainteasers from their new book, One Minute Mysteries: 65 Short Mysteries You Solve With Math. Get your slide rule ready and see if you can solve their stumpers.

Calling All Puzzle Gurus: 65 Math Mysteries

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Tuesday

'Romeo And Juliet': Just As You Misremembered It

Robert M. Johanson and Anne Gridley in Romeo and Juliet. Paula Court hide caption

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Paula Court

Theater

'Romeo And Juliet': Just As You Misremembered It

In a new off-Broadway production, Shakespeare's classic is retold through the fuzzy recollections of people who slept through English class. The play is more about how we remember — or thought we remembered — the greatest love story of all time, and less about who said what on that balcony or whatever.

'Romeo And Juliet': Just As You Misremembered It

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Sunday

Movies That Should Die With The Decade

Mike Myers as Guru Pitka in The Love Guru Paramount Pictures hide caption

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Paramount Pictures

The Decade At The Movies

Movies That Should Die With The Decade

Ever slap down $10 for a ticket for a film so foul you choked on the popcorn? It's time for payback. Film critic Bob Mondello names the worst offenders of the past 10 years.

Movies That Should Die With The Decade

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