Driving Notes

Today and every September 12th is dubbed Video Games Day, to honor the sensation that started in 1950 at the Canadian National Exhibit with a computer named Bertie that could play Tic-Tac-Toe.

Eddie asked this trivia question: what are two of the top three selling video games of all time? This article by Forbes magazine answers the question. Congratulations to Spencer from Utica who guessed all three – Tetris (above), Minecraft and Wii Sports. He wins the $5 certificate to Troyer’s of Apple Valley.

Our Word of the Day is nerfing, a verb which is making a change to a video game that makes something less effective or desirable.

Thanks for listening!

-Joe

Today’s item in the Mystery Box was very unique and was a special gift to MVNU faculty and staff to start the year from our First Lady, Sharon Spaulding. It was a light bulb container with SHINE FORTH on the side.

Congratulations to Trina of Mount Vernon who correctly guessed what it was – and to Eddie for giving great clues!

Our Word of the Day is spinebash, an Australian slang verb for resting or loafing.

Thanks for listening!

-Joe

Gene Wilder died today.  He was 83.  I will always have find memories of him and his career because of two basic things: Willy Wonka (above) and his uncanny ability to make me crack up laughing.

I distinctly remember watching Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory with my cousins, then listening to the soundtrack on 8-track in the car cracking up during the ‘Fizzy Lifting Drink’ scene, which had tons of burping. I also must confess, I laughed a lot the first time I saw Gene’s movie Silver Streak, especially the train station disguise scene. If you know the movie, you know what I mean.

Our trivia question was a two-parter about Gene today: what was his REAL first and last name?…and from what Big Ten school did he graduate? The answers? His real name was Jerome Silberman and he was a graduate of the University of Iowa.  He chose Gene because it was his mom’s name (Jeanne) and he loved the play Our Town by Thornton Wilder.

Our Word of the Day is rarefied (RAIR-uh-fied), which means very high or relating to a select group.

Thanks for listening!

-Joe

Eddie looks a little uneasy about trying today’s Mystery Box item…but it was a green apple Jolly Rancher. Congratulations to Sherrisa of Howard who guessed correctly.  She wins the $5 gift certificate to Troyer’s of Apple Valley.

We had a wet weekend at the 2016 Dan Emmett Music & Arts Festival, but had a great time visiting and giving away prizes.  Dan Monnin stayed in a good mood, despite the rain!

Today’s Word of the Day is me-tooism, a noun which means the adopting of policies, methods, products, etc., similar or identical to those of a peer, rival, or competitor. So basically, Instagram’s new story feature is a me-tooism of Snapchat??

Thanks for listening!

-Joe

The Olympic Rings on the London Bridge (Photo courtesy of Presidential Aviation)

Today’s Olympic-themed Mystery Monday question:

There is one city that has hosted the Olympic Summer Games three times. What city is it and what years did it host?

The answer? London, England in 1908, 1948 and 2012. Congratulations to Matt, an online listener from Canton, who guessed correctly and wins the $5 gift certificate to Troyer’s of Apple Valley.

Our Word of the Day was spindrift, a noun that means a spray swept by strong winds along the surface of the sea.

Thanks for listening!

-Joe