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These are discrete parts, or segments, of whole episodes.

Sherbert Day

Why do we eat a frozen dessert to celebrate being born? Because it’s sherbert-day! Don’t hate us. This is part of a complete episode.

International Pie Charts

Pie charts were invented by the Scottish engineer William Playfair, but the name for these visual representations of data came later. In other countries, this type of graph goes by names for other round foods. In France, a pie chart is sometimes...

Ralphing

Few actions have as many slang euphemisms as vomiting. The sound itself is so distinct that it’s inspired such onomatopoetic terms as ralphing, talking to Ralph on the big white phone or calling Earl. This is part of a complete episode.

Coalface

To be at the coalface means to be on the front lines–working at a practical level, rather than a theoretical one. The phrase is primarily British, and derives from the image of coal miners having direct contact with exposed ore. This is part...

Up in the Papers

Young women used to be warned that a lady’s name should appear in the newspaper only three times: at her birth, upon her marriage, and at her death. In much the same way, the admonition “Don’t get your name all up in the...

Movie Portmanteau Quiz

What 6-letter combination of initials would make a perfect title for a movie about elderly college athletes? NCAARP! Quiz Guy John Chaneski’s puzzle this week features other portmanteau movie titles. This is part of a complete episode.