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

Humor & Fun

Wednesday

Diversions

National Spelling Bee Begins

The Scripps National Spelling Bee starts Wednesday, culminating with the final rounds Thursday night. Carolyn Andrews talks about her job for the past decade: picking the words for the national competition.

National Spelling Bee Begins

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Sunday

Sunday Puzzle

Coming in Second and Third

In the on-air puzzle this week: every answer is a familiar two-word phrase, with the letters "ro" in the second and third positions of each of the words. For example, given the clue "farmers with corn, wheat, etc.," the answer would be "crop growers."

Coming in Second and Third

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Wednesday

Sunday

Opinion

A Four-Mile Commute on Two Wheels

Rebecca Roberts joins two of her colleagues and thousands of fellow Washingtonians for National Bike to Work Day. She avoids being crushed by a garbage truck and enjoys an experience that she has to admit was "downhill all the way."

A Four-Mile Commute on Two Wheels

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Sunday Puzzle

Find the Hidden World Capital

Each sentence read conceals the name of a world capital in consecutive letters. For example, "two jets sank a raft," would produce the answer "Ankara" because "Ankara" is concealed in consecutive letters in "...sank a raft."

Find the Hidden World Capital

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Friday

Diversions

Yoga Class Incorporates Canine Partners

In Seattle, a yoga class meant to "enhance the human-animal bond" brings dogs onto the mat. The teacher of this "partner yoga" class says it helps owners return the undivided attention that their pets give to them.

Yoga Class Incorporates Canine Partners

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Sunday

Mother's Day

For Mother's Day, a Tribute to 'Ma'

The on-air puzzle this week is in honor of Mother's Day. Given a series of words, for each one change one of the letters in the word to "ma" to spell a new word. For example, given the word "croon" you would say "maroon."

For Mother's Day, a Tribute to 'Ma'

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Sunday

Sunday Puzzle

Five Answers Cover the Coast

In the on-air puzzle for this week we play a game of categories based on the word "coast." Given a series of categories, for each one name something in that category starting with each of the letters in "coast." For example if the category was girls names, you'd say Carol, Olga, Anna, Sarah and Teresa.

Five Answers Cover the Coast

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Friday

Diversions

Frank Outlines Internet Gambling Bill

Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts has introduced legislation that would allow online gambling. It's seen as a long shot, coming a year after the House passed a bill that banned the use of credit cards or checks for online gambling.

Frank Outlines Internet Gambling Bill

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Sunday

Sunday Puzzle

Shifting from One Phrase to Another

In the on-air puzzle for this week every answer is a familiar three-word phrase. The middle word in each phrase is "the." Given rhymes for the first and last words, identify each mystery phrase. For example, the answer to "Left the Frame" would be "Shift the Blame."

Shifting from One Phrase to Another

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Sunday

Sunday Puzzle

Two-Letter, Two-Word Tango

In the on-air puzzle this week, given a word, take the last two letters, reverse them, then think of a word starting with these two letters that can follow the original word to complete a familiar two-word phrase. For example, given "flat," you would take the last two letters, "at", and reverse them to make "tax," as in "flat tax."

Two-Letter, Two-Word Tango

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Sunday

Art & Design

Nothing to Sneeze At? Pollen Picassos

Pollen is making its mark as the latest tool for allergy-ridden amateur artists in Decatur, Ga. Louisa Bailey and others ahve put their sniffles aside to draw pictures in the yellow stuff.

Nothing to Sneeze At? Pollen Picassos

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Thursday

Monday

'Fresh Air' Turns 20

Jobrani, Ahmed, Kader: A Comic 'Axis of Evil'

Fresh Air

Maz Jobrani, Ahmed Ahmed and Aron Kader make up the Axis of Evil Comedy group. (They're of Iranian, Egyptian and Palestinian descent, respectively). Their special premiered on Comedy Central last month. It's out on DVD this week.

Jobrani, Ahmed, Kader: A Comic 'Axis of Evil'

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