The ex-president of Google China has claimed that Apple's upcoming tablet device will feature a 10.1-inch screen, webcam and an "awesome UI."
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But PS3 players forced to waitBioware has confirmed that it will release the Return to Ostagar DLC on January 5, 2010 for the Xbox 360 and PC platforms.
However, the Dragon Age DLCwhich is expected to cost 400 Bioware or Microsoft pointswill only be available for the PS3 at a $5 price point in late January.
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In a new off-Broadway production, Shakespeare's classic is retold through the fuzzy recollections of people who slept through English class. The play is more about how we remember — or thought we remembered — the greatest love story of all time, and less about who said what on that balcony or whatever.
Ever slap down $10 for a ticket for a film so foul you choked on the popcorn? It's time for payback. Film critic Bob Mondello names the worst offenders of the past 10 years.
Every answer is a familiar phrase in the form ____ to ____, as in "bored to tears" or "year to date." Each clue is a compound word or common two-word phrase in which the first part rhymes with the first word in the answer and the second part rhymes with the last word in the answer.
In our Christmas tradition, writer David Sedaris is back for another holiday storytelling of his life as Crumpet the Elf. The not-so-secret alter-ego of Sedaris was a Santa's little helper in a Macy's department store. Sedaris recounts the tale from his memoirs The SantaLand Diaries.
While Xboxes, PlayStations and Wiis top holiday wish lists, sales of more traditional games are increasing. Industry insiders say board game sales were up by more than 20 percent last year, and they're expected to be even higher this year as people look for cheaper entertainment.
Many video games let you create (your own levels in a first-person shooter, your own creatures in an adventure, for example) and upload these creations so you can share them with other players. It's called participatory culture, where consumers are not couch potatoes but rather active participants and creators themselves. But some argue we're merely being tricked into thinking we're being creative.
Some actors spend hours, days, even months painstakingly perfecting accents for their roles. A great accent can enhance a performance, but an awful one can derail the whole thing. Tell us who nailed it — and who failed it.
In a year that saw record foreclosures, tanking markets and soaring unemployment, it's hard to find a holiday card that quite expresses the vicissitudes of the year. Don't worry. Greeting card emergency solver David Dickerson is back to solve your holiday card dilemmas.
Hollywood is addicted to sequels. It's a big-screen trend that bloomed in the '70s, but exploded in the past 10 years. "We've trained audiences not to expect an ending," NPR film critic Bob Mondello says.
Video gaming is changing, becoming more interactive and realistic. Digital writer David Kushner speaks with host Liane Hansen about these changes and how gaming is starting to remind him of the film Minority Report.
A Louisiana man who bet against the NFL's New Orleans Saints has lost his 60-inch high-definition, flat-screen TV to a backyard firing squad, but he also became an Internet star, posting a video of the shoot-em-up on YouTube.
Paul Mooney has spent decades behind the scenes as a writer for shows such as Saturday Night Live, In Living Color and Chappelle's Show. Now he takes the spotlight in his memoir about his life in comedy, Black Is The New White.
If you've heard of Marmite, you probably also have a pretty strong opinion on whether you like it or not. The British spread is thick, sticky and dark — almost black, like tar. And, some say, it's disgusting.
Pete Docter, a director, writer and animator for Pixar, plays a game called: "Yes, we're building the world's tallest building on sand ... What could possibly go wrong?" Three questions about Dubai.
A tiny robotic hamster, known as the Zhu Zhu, is this season's hot new toy. But neither the manufacturer nor retailers were prepared for the craze. Now, the Zhu Zhu Pets hamster is almost impossible to find on retail shelves — and it's selling for a premium on the Internet.
How do you use your electronic devices without ruining relationships? It's not easy. Some people covertly text while on dates. Others use their BlackBerry in the bathroom to avoid seeming rude. Here, a few lessons in modern mobile manners from people who have firsthand experience.
You've got a lot of decisions to make as you build that leftover turkey sandwich. One decision you'll probably make with ease is whether to cut the sandwich into triangles or rectangles. If you go for the diagonal slice, you're in good company. Chefs, foodies, an architect and even a mathematician all told us: Diagonal rules. But why?
It's not just turkeys that get nervous this time of year. Chances are high that a failing relationship will also meet its end during the holidays. That's because it's not just turkey season — it's turkey drop season.
The introduction of the Nintendo Wii and its sports and fitness games has greatly expanded the appeal of video games — especially among senior citizens. From California to New York, dozens of teams and more than 1,000 bowlers are in the throes of a virtual Wii bowling competition.
This is a game called Blobs that Will Shortz found in an old book of party games. Will talks about his recent trip to Turkey, and the account has a number of intentional errors. Every time there's an error of fact, logic or word usage, the player says "blob."
America's Finest News Source has released a book celebrating its 21 years of satire (with a wink). Onion editors Joe Randazzo and Joe Garden talk with Renee Montagne about the serious business of being funny. Also: See the fun The Onion has had at NPR's expense.
Before his death in June 2008, comedian George Carlin spent 10 years working on a memoir, Last Words, with his longtime friend Tony Hendra. Hendra, a writer and comedian, talks with Rebecca Roberts about Carlin's life and legacy.
Losing your car keys, forgetting an anniversary, leaving water running in the bathtub; there are countless ways our memories can fail us. But when you put your mind to it, your brain can do amazing things. Take, for example, Ben Pridmore. He just won the World Memory Championships, held Saturday in London. Host Liane Hansen speaks with Pridmore, who had to memorize hundreds of numbers, dates and even decks of cards in order to prove his mental prowess.
Singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright comes from a musical family, so we're asking him to play a game called: "They had style, they had rhythm, they had perfect teeth." Three questions about the Osmonds.
The beloved television show has been educating children for 40 years — but not without plenty of grown-up controversy. From Cookie Monster's unbalanced diet, to Elmo's bad grammar, to Grover's civil disobedience, The Week magazine explains why some days aren't sunny days on Sesame Street.
Did you know that the word "Frisbee" is derived from Mary Frisbie, a woman who made pies in Connecticut? Or that "silhouette" originated with Etienne de Silhouette, an 18th century French finance minister? John Marciano shines light on these and many other etymological mysteries in Anonyponymous: The Forgotten People Behind Everyday Words.
A 21-year-old Michigan poker professional who chose cards over college won the World Series of Poker main event in Las Vegas early Tuesday, winning $8.55 million and becoming the youngest player to win the tournament in its 40-year history.
Tony Hawk is without question the coolest guy ever to wear a dorky helmet and knee pads. The pro skateboarder has spent his career horrifying the concerned mothers of America, so we've asked him to play a game we're calling "Hey! You could put an eye out!" Three questions about safety measures.
One reviewer uses it for e-mail; another for sushi. It's being called a timesaver — even "the greatest thing ever invented." It's the Laptop Steering Wheel Desk. Drivers certainly don't need another distraction — but people surfing around on Amazon certainly do.
Each clue is a sentence with two blanks. Fill in the blanks with two words that complete the phrase. But here's the twist: The words that complete the sentence are homophones of the words in the answer phrase.
An investigation in under way following allegations of fraud against the man who finished third at the Philadelphia Inquirer National Sudoku Championships. A man by the same name, Eugene Varshavsky, was also suspected of cheating in a chess tournament in Philadelphia three years ago. Tournament director and NPR puzzle master Will Shortz says he is unaware of previous incidents of cheating at tournaments he has run.
People need comedy during tough economic times, but during the great stock market crash of 1929 there was a problem. Large numbers of entertainers lost their shirts, too, and there didn't seem like much to laugh at. This week is the 80th anniversary of the big market crash.
If you've ever dreamed of spinning records in front of a screaming crowd, here's your virtual chance. The new music video game DJ Hero lets gamers scratch and mix on a fake turntable while a funky DJ avatar struts and cuts onscreen.
Host Liane Hansen talks to Daily Show Executive Producer Josh Lieb about his new book, I Am A Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want To Be Your Class President.
Williams joins Wait Wait at New York City's Carnegie Hall to play a game called "You are the very worst act ever to play this stage": three questions about music legend(?) Florence Foster Jenkins.
Some board games improve your general knowledge, others are just fun. A Senegalese entrepreneur is hoping his new game promoting African unity will be both. Part Monopoly, part Trivial Pursuit, Jekaben — or Let's Unite and Work Together — aims to create a Pan-African entity.
Billed as "a fetus' guide to the first three trimesters," What to Expect When You're Expected, by Daily Show writer David Javerbaum, is a tongue-in-cheek take on life in utero.
Voters in the state elected to legalize medical marijuana almost a decade ago. But this year, there has been a boom in the number of dispensaries. Now, the Denver alternative-weekly newspaper, Westword, is seeking a freelance pot critic. Host Liane Hansen speaks to Westword editor Patricia Calhoun about the alternative weekly's search for a medical marijuana critic.
Essman — who is best known for swearing at Larry David on Curb Your Enthusiasm — plays a game called "You're sanctified, beatified, and a really nice guy." Three questions about saints of the Catholic Church.
The college football season is in full swing with its pageantry and rivalries. Essayist Diane Robert may be a feminist, but she just loves college football, even though it's violent, hypermasculine, warlike and imperialistic.
Judd has starred in films opposite Robert DeNiro, Tommy Lee Jones and Morgan Freeman. Now, she's doing what all beloved starlets do once they've conquered Hollywood; She's getting a master's in public policy from Harvard.
Each clue consists of two words starting with the letter "C." The answer is a third word starting with "C" that can follow the first word and precede the second one to complete a compound word or familiar two-word phrase.
WTF was the name of one of Wisconsin's main tourism organizations. What the ef? The Wisconsin Tourism Federation was tired of sharing its acronym with the R-rated exclamation that's moved from online shorthand to everyday speech. So now you can refer to the federation as TFW — for the Tourism Federation of Wisconsin. The name change made us wonder what other unfortunate company names are out there. Guest host Jacki Lyden speaks to Eli Altman, who works for the naming company A Hundred Monkeys.
For seven years, David Dickerson wrote birthday rhymes and sympathy wishes at Hallmark. His true passion, however, is for unusual cards. He talks about his book, House of Cards, and solves listeners' greeting card emergencies.
The people of Michigan's Upper Peninsula are nicknamed Yoopers. Weekend Edition Host Liane Hansen explores what defines the Yooper identity.
On the cusp of flu season, musician Bill Harley has taken the act of scrubbing up and, through song, flipped it into a fun, catchy activity for children.
For each clue, the answer is a four-letter word. The word is an anagram of one of the words in the clue. For example, if the clue is "main line through Egypt," the answer would be "Nile," because Nile is a rearrangement of the letters in "line."
Boxer, police officer Comic? Stand-up comedian Joey Medina hasn't had a predictable career, but he's found stardom on stage, telling jokes. Medina talks about pushing the boundaries of ethnic humor as on of "The Original Latin Kings of Comedy."
"So a priest, a minister and a rabbi wanna see who's best at his job …" That's the way the funniest joke in America starts — according to a panel of comedy legends assembled by Reader's Digest. Host Guy Raz gets the scoop from two of those funny guys — John Rappaport, who produced TV's M*A*S*H, and Matty Simmons, director of the movie Animal House.
Democrat Henry Waxman, who represents California's 30th congressional district, tries his hand at the NPR news quiz. He answers three questions about wax museums.
The new video game "The Beatles: Rock Band" goes on sale Wednesday. It tells the story of the band's rise to fame and eventual break up in 1970. While the Beatles are the first musicians to have an entire high profile video game dedicated to them, they are not the first to realize that being on a video game is a way to attract younger fans.
She borrows your clothes. She knows your secrets. She drives you crazy. You can't live without her. Linguist Deborah Tannen interviewed 100 women (including her own big sisters) for her new book, You Were Always Mom's Favorite.
Weekend Edition literary detective Paul Collins looked into the origins of Yes & Know children's books. They're filled with games and trivia partially printed in invisible ink. Along the way, he found a link to behaviorist B.F. Skinner, as well a new way the technology is being used.
Comic Judy Carter took it upon herself to find the most serious person she could and teach him to be funny. Her target: Capt. John Heinzel, who trains naval officers and cadets on the history of the Civil Engineer Corps.
With comics like Letterman and Leno on their way up, Los Angeles in the 1970s was a very funny place to be. William Knoedelseder chronicles the scene in his new book, I'm Dying Up Here.
Will Wright, the mastermind behind the wildly successful computer game The Sims, ponders life, games and evolution with double Pulitzer-winning ant expert E. O. Wilson.
Each answer starts with a clue for a six-letter word. If you drop the first letter and read the remaining letters backward, you'll get a five-letter word that answers a second clue.
