Podcast Summary
Commemorating the Capitol insurrection anniversary on Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me: Former President Trump expressed his feelings, Biden's speech was described as ornery, annual tradition joke, guest interviews, and game 'Who's Bill' played
During the latest episode of Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me, the team commemorated the first anniversary of the Capitol insurrection with a segment on the week's news. Former President Trump expressed his hurt feelings while watching President Biden's speech about the event. The team joked about the insurrection becoming an annual tradition, comparing it to "white people gone crazy day." Biden's speech was described as particularly ornery, with rioters defecating in the hallways being mentioned for the first time in a presidential speech since Lincoln's evacuation proclamation. The episode also featured guest interviews with comedians Peter Gross, Roxanne Roberts, and Alonzo Boden. The team welcomed listener contestants and played the game "Who's Bill," with Eric from Arlington, Virginia, being the first 2022 player.
Unexpected circumstances and acts of kindness: Unexpected events can lead to hardships, but empathy and human connection can turn adversity into opportunities for kindness and community
Unexpected circumstances, like a traffic jam caused by a container ship or being diagnosed with cancer, can significantly impact people's lives. In the case of the traffic jam, hundreds of people were stranded for over 24 hours without food, water, or restrooms. Meanwhile, a man at an NHL game received a surprising diagnosis when a fan noticed a mole on his neck that concerned her. Despite the initial shock, both situations ultimately led to acts of kindness and community. In the traffic jam, people shared resources and looked out for one another, while the man at the hockey game expressed gratitude for Nadia's concern and her subsequent support throughout the diagnostic process. These stories remind us of the importance of empathy and the power of human connection in challenging situations.
Kindness and its life-changing consequences: A simple act of kindness can lead to significant outcomes, from saving a life to improving mental health through laughter.
A simple act of kindness can have life-changing consequences. A woman's warning about a cancerous mole led a man to get it checked, resulting in its removal in time. In recognition of her good deed, the Canucks hockey team awarded her a $10,000 scholarship to medical school. However, the man initially dismissed her warning and even joked about it. In an entirely different context, doctors in the UK are considering prescribing online comedy workshops to patients as a form of therapy. While some may find this idea far-fetched, laughter is known to have therapeutic effects. These are just a few of the stories discussed on Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, a popular NPR quiz show. The episode also featured a trivia quiz and a comedic segment called "Bluff the Listener." Overall, the show provided a mix of entertainment and information, reminding us of the importance of kindness and the power of laughter in our lives.
Innovative clubs: Truth booths, dance fundraisers, and renewable energy: Clubs are integrating new technologies and concepts to enhance experiences, from truth booths and dance fundraisers to renewable energy systems
Innovation continues to shape the world of clubs, with new technologies and concepts emerging to enhance the experience. At Portland's Club Neo, a truth booth uses body temperature, eye movement, and proprietary science to detect truth or lies, helping club-goers navigate potential romantic entanglements. Meanwhile, the Keiohau Bird Conservation Center in Hawaii held a dance fundraiser that resulted in a whooping crane mating frenzy, leading to the birth of 17 baby cranes. Lastly, SWG 3 in Glasgow, Scotland, has teamed up with a geothermal energy consultant to create a renewable heating and cooling system powered by the body heat of dancers, showcasing the potential for sustainable energy solutions in the club scene. These examples demonstrate the creative and unexpected ways innovation is transforming the club experience.
Innovative nightlife and space exploration: From energy-generating dance clubs to astronauts with childhood rocket-building hobbies, innovation is shaping nightlife and space exploration
Innovation in nightlife comes in various forms, from Alonzo's truth booth to Roxanne's pop-up nightclub helping endangered whooping cranes, but the most intriguing one is Peter Gross's club that harnesses the energy of dancers to power the venue. Meanwhile, in space news, Woody Hulberg, a new astronaut, shares his background in building giant rockets as a child and the unexpectedly mundane application process to become an astronaut. Despite not yet having flown, Woody's passion and hobby prepared him well for the role. The Artemis mission, set to send people back to the moon in two years, will likely include Woody, marking a new era in space exploration.
NASA's Plan to Send Humans Back to the Moon: NASA is planning to send humans back to the moon, prioritizing scientific experiments over personal items for astronauts.
NASA is planning to send humans back to the moon in the next few years, with the first crewed mission, Artemis 2, happening just a couple years after an uncrewed mission. Astronauts have the opportunity to bring personal items with them to the International Space Station, but they might need to consider the long-term goal of space exploration and prioritize scientific experiments over sentimental items. Woody Hoberg, an astronaut, shared that he is inspired by colleague Don Pettit's focus on science experiments and is unsure about what he would bring. The conversation then shifted to the international reality show "Dancing with the Stars," and Woody revealed that he would guess the Argentinian version allows only tango dances and has a dressing room segment, but the actual answer is that it includes a strip dance segment. Overall, the conversation highlighted the excitement and challenges of space exploration and the need for focus and adaptability in various situations.
Unexpected twists in international 'Dancing with the Stars': Argentinian version offers excitement, Pamela Anderson holds unique record, Von Miller dealt with unexpected flatulence fine
The Argentinian version of a popular reality TV show may offer a more exciting alternative to its American counterpart. Another interesting fact is that Pamela Anderson holds a unique record in the show's history, having lost on three different countries' editions, including the US, Argentina, and France. Lastly, during his participation in the show in 2016, Denver Broncos star Von Miller had to deal with an unexpected challenge – controlling his flatulence, which resulted in a fine from his dance partner. Overall, these anecdotes show that even in the context of a seemingly mundane quiz show, there can be unexpected twists and turns.
Tastable and Lickable TV Screens and Unconventional Surgeon Practices: Innovations like tastable and lickable TV screens challenge societal norms, while a British surgeon lost his license for signing his initials on transplanted livers, and Venice will replace a glass pedestrian bridge with stone due to safety concerns.
Technology is constantly evolving, and we may soon have a new way to experience television with a prototype for a tastable, lickable screen. However, this innovation raises questions about appropriate behavior and the potential for distractions. In other news, a British surgeon lost his license not for poor performance, but for signing his initials on livers he transplanted. This unconventional practice was discovered when a transplanted liver needed to be removed and the surgeon identified it by the initials. Lastly, authorities in Venice will be renovating a pedestrian bridge due to numerous falls on its glass walkway, replacing it with stone. Despite the aesthetic appeal of the glass surface, the safety concerns outweigh the benefits.
Slippery Bridge in Venice Provides Unintended Entertainment: New pedestrian bridge in Venice causes numerous falls due to slippery surface, adding unexpected embarrassment for pedestrians
The new pedestrian bridge in Venice, built by renowned architect Calatrava, has become an unintended source of entertainment due to its slippery surface. The bridge, which connects the train station outside Venice with the islands themselves, has caused numerous falls among pedestrians, especially those carrying luggage. The comedic moments have been amplified by the bridge's proximity to gondolas, adding an unexpected element of embarrassment for those who slip and fall. Despite the amusement, the bridge was not designed with the intention of causing slips, and it was not built during Berlusconi's tenure as prime minister. In other news, researchers suggest that skateboarding can help alleviate depression in middle-aged people, and the classic children's book Winnie the Pooh has entered the public domain, allowing for more creative adaptations. In Sacramento, California, a student and bus driver named Zach shares his experiences of driving a shuttle bus during the pandemic, where he has fewer passengers but still maintains his duties. In a game of limericks, listeners are invited to fill in the missing words, with the correct answers being "skateboard" and "Winnie the Pooh."
The rise and fall of popular devices and brands: Blackberry's decline and Disney's dominance highlight the importance of adapting to changing consumer preferences and staying informed about current events and pop culture.
Technology and trends can render once popular devices and brands obsolete. Blackberry, a symbol of status in the early 2000s, has seen its devices become outdated due to changing consumer preferences. Meanwhile, companies like Disney hold significant intellectual property rights, controlling the images and content we consume. In the quiz, Roxanne took the lead with 10 points after answering questions correctly about current events and pop culture. The CDC recommended Pfizer's booster vaccine for children between 12 and 15, while the pope criticized pet owners for choosing pets over children. A Tennessee state representative made headlines for attacking a referee during a high school basketball game. These events serve as reminders of the ever-evolving technological landscape and the importance of staying informed.
The Unexpected Can Bring Challenges and Surprises: From unexpected situations, we can face challenges, but also discover intriguing outcomes, such as Mayo Clinic's mass employee termination, the Grammys delay, an Irish man's bathroom search leading to arrest, political threats, Fed's interest rate argument, a donated cat, Novak Djokovic's entry denial, and a family's drug discovery.
Unexpected situations can lead to unusual outcomes. Mayo Clinic let go of over 700 unvaccinated employees, while the Grammys were delayed due to the omicron variant. An Irish man broke into the parliamentary palace in Bucharest in search of a bathroom, and ended up getting arrested. In politics, Democrats threatened to change the filibuster if the GOP blocked a voting rights bill, while the disgraced governor Cuomo would not face charges. The Fed argued for increased interest rates to combat inflation, and a majority of Americans believed democracy was in peril. A family donated their cat to a thrift store instead of a child, and Australia refused entry to unvaccinated tennis star Novak Djokovic. A family in the UK found a bag of crystal meth in their cereal box. In the game, Peter Gross won with 14 points. On I-95, the panel predicted various items that could be found after a big traffic jam, including Trump's indictment paperwork, a child in a snowdrift, and 500 discarded Dominion voting machines. The unexpected can bring challenges, but also intrigue and surprises.
