Humor & Fun

Sunday May 29, 2005

Sunday Puzzle

Changing 'Gurgles' to 'Turtles'

May 29, 2005 • NPR's Puzzlemaster Will Shortz quizzes one of our listeners, and has a challenge for everyone at home. This week's winner is Mary Sheedy from Hollidaysburg, Pa. She listens to Weekend Edition on NPR station WPSU in State College, Pa.

Changing 'Gurgles' to 'Turtles'

Listen

Transcript Toggle more options

• Download
• Embed
  Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4671494/4671495" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
• Transcript

Friday May 27, 2005

Culture

Skateboarding Pioneer Stacy Peralta

Fresh Air

May 27, 2005 • Peralta wrote and acts in the new movie 'Lords of Dogtown'. The feature evolved from Peralta's 2002 documentary 'Dogtown and Z-Boys.' Both films are about the community of skateboarders in California in the 1970s who originated extreme skateboarding.

Skateboarding Pioneer Stacy Peralta

Listen

Toggle more options

• Download
• Embed
  Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4669636/4669637" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Wednesday May 25, 2005

Piano Puzzler

Puzzler for May 25, 2005

May 25, 2005 • Pianist Bruce Adolphe offers a new puzzle challenge for classical music fans. He rewrites a popular melody in the style of a classical composer and challenges a listener -- teamed with NPR's Fred Child -- to identify both. This week's contestant is Craig Campbell of Ashland, Virginia.

Puzzler for May 25, 2005

Audio will be available later today.

Diversions

Knowing Your Places: Geography Expert

May 25, 2005 • For many of us, places like Azerbaijan, Georgia and the Caspian Sea may be hard to plot on a map. But not so for the 2005 National Geographic Geography Bee champion. The contest, held in Washington, D.C., ends today.

Knowing Your Places: Geography Expert

Listen

Transcript Toggle more options

• Download
• Embed
  Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4666550/4666551" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
• Transcript

Sunday May 22, 2005

Sunday Puzzle

Listing 'Snail' Categories

May 22, 2005 • NPR's Puzzlemaster Will Shortz quizzes one of our listeners, and has a challenge for everyone at home. This week's winner is Judy Kessler from Lexington, Mass. She listens to Weekend Edition on member station WGBH in Boston.

Listing 'Snail' Categories

Listen

Transcript Toggle more options

• Download
• Embed
  Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4661893/4661894" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
• Transcript

Wednesday May 18, 2005

Piano Puzzler

Puzzler for May 18, 2005

May 18, 2005 • Pianist and composer Bruce Adolphe returns with a classical twist to the "name that tune" game. He rewrites a popular melody in the style of a classical composer and challenges a listener -- teamed with NPR's Fred Child -- to identify both. This week's contestant is Roger Mills of Saugatuck, Mich.

Puzzler for May 18, 2005

Audio will be available later today.

Sunday May 15, 2005

Sunday Puzzle

Matching Near-Homonyms

May 15, 2005 • NPR's Puzzlemaster Will Shortz quizzes one of our listeners, and has a challenge for everyone at home. This week's winner is Stephen Grady from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. He listens to Weekend Edition on member station WSCL in Salisbury, Md.

Matching Near-Homonyms

Listen

Transcript Toggle more options

• Download
• Embed
  Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4652629/4652630" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
• Transcript

Thursday May 12, 2005

Sports

Sklars on Sports: Calling All Rogue Kickballers

May 12, 2005 • Alex Chadwick chats with Randy and Jason Sklar, host of the ESPN show Cheap Seats, about their visit to a game staged by the World Adult Kickball Association. The group's goal is to recruit "rogue" kickballers.

Sklars on Sports: Calling All Rogue Kickballers

Listen

Transcript Toggle more options

• Download
• Embed
  Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4649464/4649465" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
• Transcript

Movies

'Monster-in-Law' Co-Star Wanda Sykes

May 12, 2005 • Ed Gordon speaks with actress and comedian Wanda Sykes about her new film acting alongside Jennifer Lopez and Jane Fonda, who's acting in her first film role in 15 years.

'Monster-in-Law' Co-Star Wanda Sykes

Listen

Transcript Toggle more options

• Download
• Embed
  Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4649281/4649282" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
• Transcript

Wednesday May 11, 2005

Piano Puzzler

Puzzler for May 11, 2005

May 11, 2005 • Pianist Bruce Adolphe offers a new puzzle challenge for classical music fans. He rewrites a popular melody in the style of a classical composer and challenges a listener -- teamed with NPR's Fred Child -- to identify both. This week's contestant is Andy Qualls of Bloomington, Ind.

Puzzler for May 11, 2005

Audio will be available later today.

Monday May 9, 2005

Hidden Artists' Names

May 9, 2005 • NPR's Puzzlemaster Will Shortz quizzes one of our listeners, and has a challenge for everyone at home. This week's winner is Rabbi Joshua Waxman from Fort Washington, PA. He listens to Weekend Edition on member station WHYY in Philadelphia.

Hidden Artists' Names

Listen

Transcript Toggle more options

• Download
• Embed
  Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4635057/4635058" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
• Transcript

Wednesday May 4, 2005

Piano Puzzler

Puzzler for May 4, 2005

May 4, 2005 • Pianist and composer Bruce Adolphe returns with a classical twist to the "name that tune" game. He rewrites a popular melody in the style of a classical composer and challenges a listener -- teamed with NPR's Fred Child -- to identify both. This week's contestant is Tom Walters of Richmond, Vermont.

Puzzler for May 4, 2005

Audio will be available later today.

Tuesday May 3, 2005

National

Paying the Bills Playing Online Poker

May 3, 2005 • Los Angeles writer Kevin Arnovitz speaks with an entertainment industry couple that has turned to online poker as a way to pay their bills.

Paying the Bills Playing Online Poker

Listen

Transcript Toggle more options

• Download
• Embed
  Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4628883/4628884" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
• Transcript

Effect of Online Poker's Popularity on 'Real' Gambling

May 3, 2005 • Alex Chadwick talks with Los Angeles writer Kevin Arnovitz about the growing popularity of online poker, and how it's begun to affect the wider world of gaming.

Effect of Online Poker's Popularity on 'Real' Gambling

Listen

Transcript Toggle more options

• Download
• Embed
  Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4628880/4628881" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
• Transcript

Monday May 2, 2005

Law

Is Texas Hold 'Em Illegal in Texas?

May 2, 2005 • Larry Schooler of member station KUT in Austin, Texas, reports on legal issues surrounding card gambling games in Texas, like the popular Texas Hold 'Em game. There are different opinions over whether the game is actually legal in the state.

Is Texas Hold 'Em Illegal in Texas?

Listen

Transcript Toggle more options

• Download
• Embed
  Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4627318/4627319" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
• Transcript