Digest

The episode begins with a caller, Candace, seeking advice on a driving technique dispute between her boyfriend and his father. Candace's father teaches downshifting, while her boyfriend's father advocates for shifting into neutral. The hosts, Tom and Ray Magliozzi, humorously dissect both sides of the argument, ultimately concluding that both are wrong and offering their own method for proper downshifting. The second caller, Keller, is facing a dilemma with a hole in the passenger floorboard of his Beetle. He seeks advice on how to repair it using a street sign and a friend's welding equipment. The hosts offer guidance on the repair process, emphasizing the importance of safety and caution when welding near gas lines. The episode concludes with a humorous exchange of letters between a prospective student and MIT's admissions director. The student, John Mongan, cleverly parodies the director's pompous letter, highlighting the absurdity of the university's self-importance. The episode ends with a new puzzler, challenging listeners to solve a mystery involving Paul Drake, the detective from Perry Mason.

Outlines

00:00:00

Downshifting Debate

This Chapter discusses a driving technique dispute between a caller, Candace, and her boyfriend's father. Candace's father teaches downshifting, while her boyfriend's father advocates for shifting into neutral. The hosts humorously dissect both sides of the argument, ultimately concluding that both are wrong and offering their own method for proper downshifting.

00:16:42

Beetle Floorboard Repair

This Chapter features a caller, Keller, who is facing a dilemma with a hole in the passenger floorboard of his Beetle. He seeks advice on how to repair it using a street sign and a friend's welding equipment. The hosts offer guidance on the repair process, emphasizing the importance of safety and caution when welding near gas lines.

00:25:37

MIT Admissions Parody

This Chapter features a humorous exchange of letters between a prospective student and MIT's admissions director. The student, John Mongan, cleverly parodies the director's pompous letter, highlighting the absurdity of the university's self-importance.

00:30:31

New Puzzler

This Chapter introduces a new puzzler, challenging listeners to solve a mystery involving Paul Drake, the detective from Perry Mason.

Keywords

Q&A

• What is the proper way to downshift when approaching a stop sign, according to Tom and Ray?

  According to Tom and Ray, the proper way to downshift is to stay in the higher gear as long as possible, applying pressure to the brake pedal to slow down. When the car starts to buck, step on the clutch and downshift into the next lower gear, but don't let your foot off the clutch. This allows you to coast to a stop with your foot on the clutch, then shift into neutral and wait for the light to turn green.

• What is the best way to repair a hole in a car's floorboard?

  Tom and Ray advise against welding near gas lines, emphasizing the importance of safety and caution. They suggest finding a qualified welder who has experience working on cars and can safely repair the hole without setting the car on fire.

• What is the main point of the humorous exchange of letters between John Mongan and MIT's admissions director?

  The exchange highlights the absurdity of MIT's self-importance and the student's clever way of parodying the director's pompous letter. It satirizes the university's reputation for being highly selective and its emphasis on prestige over substance.

• What is the mystery presented in the new puzzler?

  The puzzler involves Paul Drake, the detective from Perry Mason, who hires a new assistant. The mystery lies in why one of the candidates, who was on crutches, was chosen for the job over the other two who rushed out to solve a crime.

Show Notes