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Education
June 3, 2007 ·
Ever noticed how some words can have two diametrically opposed meanings? Take, for instance, "oversight". A careful auditor exercises oversight, but a careless accountant can get you into trouble because of an oversight while doing your taxes.
In the on-air puzzle every answer is a multiword title, in which the initial letters spell a word.
Carolyn Andrews has picked the words for the Scripps National Spelling Bee for nearly a decade.
Sunday Puzzle By Will Shortz
May 27, 2007 ·
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."
Diversions
May 23, 2007 ·
All those people who think it's impossible to praise one's kids too much may need a little dose of reality. But essayist and father Peter Sagal says it won't start with him — or his daughter's tee-ball team. Sagal is the host of NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me! He lives in Chicago.
Sunday Puzzle By Will Shortz
May 20, 2007 ·
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."
May 20, 2007 ·
It's no Westminster Dog Show yet, but the American Gerbil Society's annual New England Gerbil Show has high hopes. Donna Anastasi, one of the competition's judges, provides a recap of a rodent-raiser's delight.
Commentary
May 20, 2007 ·
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."
May 19, 2007 ·
Alexandra Christos and Aaron Taylor went to senior prom in outfits made of duct tape. They're pursuing scholarship money offered by the Duck Tape brand. Christos talks about making a prom memory that is sure to stick with her.
Sunday Puzzle By Will Shortz
May 13, 2007 ·
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."
May 9, 2007 ·
Sewer crews may get little respect, but they do have one shot at glory. At the Sewage Treatment Olympics in New York City, wastewater processors compete to see who can clean a pump, fix a pipe, and get down into a manhole first.
Sunday Puzzle By Will Shortz
May 6, 2007 ·
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.
Interviews
April 27, 2007 ·
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.
Digital Culture
April 27, 2007 ·
The "father of the PlayStation" is leaving Sony Computer Entertainment. Ken Kutaragi departs as Sony's PlayStation 3 is struggling with rivals Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii. Gamers weigh in on what's hot and what's not.
Visual Arts
April 8, 2007 ·
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.