Humor & Fun : NPR

The Selective Subculture Of 'Fantasy' Gamers

The plotlines are complex and mysterious, but with time and effort, "you can unlock the secret," says Frank Lantz. Above, Serah's fiancee, Snow Villiers. Square Enix hide caption

toggle caption

Square Enix

Opinion

Fractured Culture

The Selective Subculture Of 'Fantasy' Gamers

January 31, 2011 • The complexity of the role-playing game Final Fantasy acts as a gatekeeper, keeping out all but the most persistent. And hard-core fans say that's just the way they like it.

The Selective Subculture Of 'Fantasy' Gamers

Listen · 2:54 2:54

Transcript

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/133371941/133384198" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Sunday Puzzle

No Business Like Snow Business

January 29, 2011 • You are given clues, and each answer has the letters S, N, O and W in it.

No Business Like Snow Business

Listen · 7:30 7:30

Transcript

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/133338451/133348363" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Baseball's 'Iron Man' Cal Ripken Plays Not My Job

Cal Ripken Jr., pictured above in 1997, spent his entire career playing for the Baltimore Orioles. He retired in 2001. Ted Mathias/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Ted Mathias/AFP/Getty Images

Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!

Baseball's 'Iron Man' Cal Ripken Plays Not My Job

January 28, 2011 • The Hall of Famer Baltimore Oriole holds the record for most consecutive games played. But at all 2,632 games, he was wearing pants, so does it really count as a "streak"? Ripken answers three questions about real streakers in sports.

Baseball's 'Iron Man' Cal Ripken Plays Not My Job

Listen · 11:22 11:22

Transcript

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/133302574/133303217" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

It's All Politics

It's ScuttleButton Time!

January 28, 2011 • Governments in the Mideast are falling. The reason: No ScuttleButton. That's what makes America — and Fridays on this blog — great.

'Angry Birds' Flies Toward The Game Board

This spring, Mattel plans to release Angry Birds Knock On Wood, a board game based on the wildly popular Angry Birds digital game. Courtesy of Mattel hide caption

toggle caption

Courtesy of Mattel

'Angry Birds' Flies Toward The Game Board

January 25, 2011 • The wildly popular digital game Angry Birds has been downloaded more than 50 million times in the past year. In May, Mattel plans to release a board game that aims to capture the same spirit of revenge and the joy of knocking things over.

'Angry Birds' Flies Toward The Game Board

Listen

Transcript

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/133213871/133219908" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Sunday Puzzle

Two B's Or Not Two B's

January 22, 2011 • Every answer is a familiar word with two B's in a row somewhere inside it. You are given an anagram of the other letters in the word. For example, given "oat," the answer would be "abbot."

Two B's Or Not Two B's

Listen · 6:53 6:53

Transcript

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/133146609/133156198" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Singer-Songwriter Lucinda Williams Plays Not My Job

Listen · 10:38 10:38

Transcript

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/133022851/133100625" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Sunday Puzzle

Show Us Your Independent Streak

January 15, 2011 • Every answer is a familiar two-word phrase, name or title containing the consecutive letters I-N-D, as in "independent." For example, given the clue "19th-century British prime minister," the answer would be "Benjamin Disraeli."

Show Us Your Independent Streak

Listen · 7:22 7:22

Transcript

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/132965520/132975232" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Def Jam Founder Russell Simmons Plays Not My Job

Gerald Janssen

Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!

Def Jam Founder Russell Simmons Plays Not My Job

January 14, 2011 • We've invited hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons to answer three questions about weight-loss guru Richard Simmons.

Def Jam Founder Russell Simmons Plays Not My Job

Listen · 10:16 10:16

Transcript

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/132937442/132938155" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Sunday Puzzle

Think They Rhyme? Think Again

January 8, 2011 • Every answer is a made up two-word phrase in which the two words look like they should rhyme, but they don't. For example, given the clue "desires trousers," the answer would be "wants pants."

Think They Rhyme? Think Again

Listen · 7:05 7:05

Transcript

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/132771652/132781912" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

NFL's Tony 'The Goose' Siragusa Plays Not My Job

Courtesy Tony Siragusa

Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!

NFL's Tony 'The Goose' Siragusa Plays Not My Job

January 7, 2011 • We ask the former defensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens to play a game called "Mary Had A 340-Pound Defensive Tackle, His Fleece Was White As Snow." Three questions for "The Goose" about Mother Goose.

NFL's Tony 'The Goose' Siragusa Plays Not My Job

Listen · 12:13 12:13

Transcript

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/132742356/132742495" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

History

Passing One Of Many, Many Gavels

January 5, 2011 • The House of Representatives goes through a bunch of the lacquered wooden mallets every year, as they're broken from frequent use or given away as gifts.

Passing One Of Many, Many Gavels

Listen · 3:33 3:33

Transcript

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/132641490/132671449" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Xtranormal

Technology

Behind Rise Of Xtranormal, A Hilarious DIY Deadpan

January 5, 2011 • Have a gripe to bring before the court of Internet opinion? The computer-animation outfit Xtranormal has made a business out of helping people like you hit the meme-creation jackpot.

Behind Rise Of Xtranormal, A Hilarious DIY Deadpan

Listen · 4:08 4:08

Transcript

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/132653525/132407706" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Sunday Puzzle

Remember These Names From 2010?

January 1, 2011 • It's our annual year-end news quiz, prepared with the help of Kathy Baker and Tim Goodman. You are given names you've probably never heard of before 2010, but became famous during the past 12 months.

Remember These Names From 2010?

Listen · 7:46 7:46

Transcript

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/132556000/132582995" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Monday January 31, 2011

The Selective Subculture Of 'Fantasy' Gamers

Saturday January 29, 2011

No Business Like Snow Business

Friday January 28, 2011

Baseball's 'Iron Man' Cal Ripken Plays Not My Job

Tuesday January 25, 2011

'Angry Birds' Flies Toward The Game Board

Saturday January 22, 2011

Two B's Or Not Two B's

Friday January 21, 2011

Tuesday January 18, 2011

Singer-Songwriter Lucinda Williams Plays Not My Job

Saturday January 15, 2011

Show Us Your Independent Streak

Friday January 14, 2011

Def Jam Founder Russell Simmons Plays Not My Job

Saturday January 8, 2011

Think They Rhyme? Think Again

Friday January 7, 2011

NFL's Tony 'The Goose' Siragusa Plays Not My Job

Wednesday January 5, 2011

Passing One Of Many, Many Gavels

Behind Rise Of Xtranormal, A Hilarious DIY Deadpan

Saturday January 1, 2011

Remember These Names From 2010?