Digest

The episode begins by discussing the trend of celebrities portraying fictionalized versions of themselves on screen. The hosts analyze various examples, ranging from mundane to inspired, and explore what makes this approach work. The conversation then shifts to a letter from A Taste of Britain by Post, defending British cuisine and criticizing the hosts' previous comments about it. The hosts engage in a humorous back-and-forth, discussing British stereotypes and culinary prowess. The hosts then tackle a car repair puzzler involving a distributor cap that keeps breaking. They reveal the solution: a faulty vacuum advance diaphragm that allowed a mixture of gasoline and air to explode the cap. A listener inquires about the tax deductibility of an NPR t-shirt received as a donation incentive. The hosts humorously discuss the potential value of the shirt and the listener's potential capital gains. The hosts present a new puzzler involving a vintage headlight painted half black. They provide hints about its age and location, challenging listeners to deduce the reason for the unusual paint job. Finally, a caller complains about a car's chime that keeps going off, even while driving. The hosts diagnose the problem as a faulty door switch, suggesting a simple rope-based solution to test the door closure.

Outlines

00:00:00

Celebrities, Cuisine, and Car Repairs

This episode explores the phenomenon of celebrities playing fictionalized versions of themselves, delves into British cuisine, and tackles car repair puzzles involving exploding distributor caps, tax deductions for NPR t-shirts, and annoying car chimes.

00:00:22

A Taste of Britain by Post

The hosts receive a letter from A Taste of Britain by Post, defending British cuisine and criticizing the hosts' previous comments about it. The hosts engage in a humorous back-and-forth, discussing British stereotypes and culinary prowess.

00:01:23

Car Repair Puzzles

The hosts tackle car repair puzzles involving a distributor cap that keeps breaking, a listener's inquiry about the tax deductibility of an NPR t-shirt, and a vintage headlight painted half black. They also diagnose a caller's problem with a car chime that keeps going off.

Keywords

Q&A

• What makes a celebrity playing a fictionalized version of themselves on screen work?

  It depends on the execution. Sometimes it's a flat-out unflattering take, sometimes it's specific and weird, but when it works, it's often inspired and adds a unique layer to the character.

• What is the solution to the car repair puzzler involving a distributor cap that keeps breaking?

  The problem is a faulty vacuum advance diaphragm, which allows a mixture of gasoline and air to enter the distributor cap and explode it when the engine is started.

• Why does a listener's husband want to buy an old Land Rover?

  The hosts suggest that the husband is seeking a challenge, as parts for older Land Rovers are difficult to find. They also humorously suggest that the husband enjoys the frustration it will cause his wife.

• What is the reason for the half-painted headlight in the new puzzler?

  The hosts provide hints about the headlight's age and location, suggesting that the answer is related to its use in a specific environment.

• What is the solution to the caller's problem with the car chime that keeps going off?

  The chime is likely triggered by a faulty door switch, indicating that a door isn't closing properly. The hosts suggest using ropes to test the door closure.

Show Notes