Podcast Summary
Joking about infrastructure bill negotiations: Despite ongoing debates and revisions, the infrastructure bill remains a topic of national conversation, with some finding humor in the process.
During a recent episode of Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, the topic of President Biden's infrastructure bill was discussed. The original cost of the bill was over $6 trillion, but it was revised down to under $2 trillion. The panelists joked about the reduction in cost, with one suggesting that instead of getting less stuff for less money, it's like getting a great deal by buying roller blades instead of a car. This lighthearted moment highlighted the ongoing negotiations and debates surrounding the infrastructure bill in the US. The episode also featured a conversation with hockey player PK Subban and a teacher named Susie Isaac, who shared her experiences and tips on getting young children excited about school. The panelists, Peter Gross, Amy Dickinson, and Josh Gondelman, provided humor and insight throughout the game. Overall, the episode showcased a mix of current events, entertainment, and audience engagement.
Unexpected twists in tech and politics: Senator Sinema's rollerblade vote amused, Facebook rebranded as Meta amidst controversy, a 12-foot skeleton from Home Depot became a hot commodity, SpaceX's launch was delayed due to a toilet malfunction
This week saw some unexpected changes and revelations in the world of technology and politics. Kyrsten Sinema, a senator, sparked amusement on Twitter with her potential rollerblade vote. Meanwhile, Facebook, now Meta, attempted to rebrand itself amidst controversy following a whistleblower's allegations. The metaverse, Meta's new focus, raised concerns about digital existence. In the realm of Halloween decorations, a 12-foot skeleton from Home Depot became a hot commodity, with scalpers selling them for triple the price. SpaceX's planned astronaut launch was delayed due to a malfunctioning toilet on the rocket. These events showcase the intriguing blend of the mundane and the extraordinary in our modern world.
A woman's creative solution to pay off her student loan debt: People go to great lengths to pay off debts and finding creative solutions is important, but be mindful of the impact on personal well-being.
A woman named Tammy Benjamin from Savannah, Georgia, found an unusual way to pay off her $50,000 student loan debt. She started a business where she watched popular TV shows and sent out synopses with witty observations to her employed friends who were too busy to keep up. This business was successful, but Tammy ended up spending 18 hours a day binge-watching and grew tired and sloppy. This story illustrates the lengths people go to in order to pay off their debts and the importance of finding creative solutions. It also highlights the value of hard work and dedication, even if it means sacrificing personal well-being in the short term. Additionally, the conversation touched on the topic of student loans and the challenges of paying them back, which is a common issue for many young people.
Unconventional ways to make and save money: People creatively find ways to make and save money through unconventional methods, such as spreading rumors, selling items online, or eating at amusement parks.
People find creative ways to make money and save money in unexpected places. Wendy mistakenly spread a false rumor about a TV character, while Amy sold her parents' items on Etsy, and Dylan saved money by eating all his meals at an amusement park. Peter's story, although intriguing, was not real. Dylan, the man behind the 6 Flags meal plan, shared his experience and confirmed the validity of the story. Another interesting tidbit was PK Subban's success in the NHL and his experience facing off against his brother Malcolm in a game. These stories illustrate the lengths people go to in order to make ends meet and save money, often with unconventional methods.
Valuing Rules and Respect in Household: Speaker values rules, respects household peace, experienced lost teeth in hockey, and no longer has time for video games
Despite the speaker's competitive nature and past experiences of teasing his siblings and playing hockey, he values the importance of following the rules and maintaining a respectful household. He may have had a rough night against his brother during Thanksgiving, but overall, he prioritizes keeping the peace and acting appropriately. Additionally, the speaker shares that hockey, like other sports, can result in lost teeth due to physical contact, and he has been fortunate enough to keep all of his own. Lastly, the speaker shares that being on the cover of an NHL video game was a significant accomplishment, but he no longer has time for video games due to his busy lifestyle as a professional hockey player.
Hockey player PK Subban's misconceptions about bakeries on Wait Wait Don't Tell Me: Paying attention to details and not making assumptions are crucial in unfamiliar situations.
Icing can have vastly different meanings depending on the context. In hockey, it's a penalty, but in baking, it's a delight. During a game of Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, PK Subban, a hockey player, was asked three questions about bakeries. The first question was about a cake from Cake Boss that tasted unexpectedly. PK guessed it was dry and chewier than a catcher's mitt, but the actual answer was that nobody had tried the cake. The second question was about a German bakery being banned from selling cookies due to their appearance. PK guessed the cookies had no decoration, but the actual answer was they were mostly made of sawdust. The third question was about Nikola Tesla's role in bakery history. PK guessed he invented the apple fritter, but the actual answer was that a baker's dozen is 13 due to a feud with Thomas Edison over how many things were in a dozen. Despite getting one question wrong, PK was declared the winner based on the principle of "try and try again." The game highlighted the importance of paying attention to details and not making assumptions.
Exploring the connections between animal science and human life through fascinating stories: Animal science offers insights into human life and brings joy through intriguing stories, while Bitcoin billionaires become new romance novel heroes and bridge cheating scandals make headlines
The world of science, specifically animal science, offers a wealth of knowledge and wonder that can bring joy and beauty to our lives, even in the face of global challenges like climate change. From the intriguing world of animal love stories to the fascinating ways animals adapt to a changing world, Shortwave, a podcast from NPR, explores the connections between critter knowledge and human science. Meanwhile, in less serious news, the romance publishing industry has seen a new trend emerge with the rise of Bitcoin billionaires as steamy romance novel heroes. However, in the competitive world of bridge, the issue of cheating has become a major scandal, especially with the shift to online play making it easier for teammates to illegally communicate. Overall, these stories remind us of the complexities and intrigues of the world around us, whether it's the natural world or the human-created worlds of literature and sports.
Class Action Lawsuit Against Kellogg's and Hertz's Tesla Order: A caller won a prize on Wait Wait Don't Tell Me for filling in missing words in limericks, while the show discussed a lawsuit against Kellogg's and Hertz's electric car order.
There were several interesting news stories discussed on the Wait Wait Don't Tell Me radio show, including a class action lawsuit against Kellogg's for misrepresenting the amount of strawberries in their strawberry pop tarts, Hertz's order of 100,000 Teslas for their rental fleet, and a Mexican restaurant in New Hampshire that claims their spicy salsa can induce labor. During the show, listeners were invited to call in and play games, including filling in the missing words in limericks. A caller named Nate from Massachusetts shared that he used his theater degree to make sandwiches for Jersey Mike's due to the lack of theater opportunities caused by COVID-19. Nate successfully filled in the missing words in two limericks and won a prize. The show also featured Bill Kurtis reading news-related limericks and providing information on upcoming live shows and guest appearances.
Amy dominates trivia game with 14 points: Amy answered 7 questions correctly in a trivia game, earning her the title of champion with a total of 14 points.
During a trivia game, each player had 60 seconds to answer as many fill-in-the-blank questions as they could. Correct answers earned 2 points. The leaderboard showed Josh in third place with 2 points, Peter in second place with 3 points, and AME in first place with 3 points. Josh answered 5 questions correctly for a total of 10 points and took the lead. Amy followed with 7 correct answers for 14 points and a larger lead. Peter, needing 7 points to tie and 8 points to win, fell short with only 1 correct answer. Some interesting facts from the game included the FDA's recommendation of Pfizer vaccine for kids aged 5 to 11, the investigation of Florida representative Matt Gaetz, the discovery of a deadly tropical disease caused by a CDC-approved aromatherapy spray, and the New York school district's ban on Netflix's "Squid Game" costumes for Halloween. Amy, with her impressive performance, emerged as the champion of the game.
Unexpected company name changes predicted by panelists: Companies may adapt and evolve by changing their names to meet changing markets and consumer preferences, as humorously predicted in this episode of Wait Wait Don't Tell Me for Huawei, goop, and Myspace.
Key takeaway from this episode of Wait Wait Don't Tell Me is the unexpected predictions made by the panelists about companies potentially changing their names. Chinese electronics giant Huawei was suggested to become Wawa and sell hoagies and overpriced milk. Gwyneth Paltrow's brand goop was predicted to change to poop to concentrate on fecal health. Myspace was speculated to change its name to Facebook for increased brand visibility. These predictions were made in a light-hearted and humorous manner, but they highlight the importance of companies adapting and evolving to meet changing markets and consumer preferences. Additionally, the episode featured acknowledgments and thanks to the production team and sponsors, including State Farm and Fundrise. State Farm's support for small businesses and their need for insurance coverage was emphasized, while Fundrise highlighted the potential opportunities in real estate investments due to high interest rates.
