PETER SAGAL, HOST:
We want to remind everyone to join us most weeks back at the Chase Bank Auditorium in downtown Chicago. For tickets and more information go to wbez.org, or you can find a link at our website: waitwait.npr.org. Right now, panel, time for you to answer some questions about this week's news.
Alonzo, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg hates going from an air conditioned building to a hot and sticky car. So, to get his official SUV cooled down faster the mayor equipped the SUV with what?
ALONZO BODDEN: A remote starter?
SAGAL: No.
BODDEN: No. A homeless guy.
(LAUGHTER)
SAGAL: To do what?
BODDEN: You know, to start it up, cool it off, get it ready for him.
SAGAL: No, that's not powerful enough for him. I'll give you a hint. He also needed an eight-mile-long extension cord.
BODDEN: A portable air conditioner.
SAGAL: Yes, a window air conditioner for the backseat window.
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(LAUGHTER)
SAGAL: Mayor Bloomberg's aides hung a big boxy window AC unit out the window of his SUV. It seems a little wasteful. Consider what he used to do on really hot days was just park the car in his kitchen in front of an open fridge.
(LAUGHTER)
SAGAL: It works. It works; actually it's just very powerful to blast cold air right into the passenger compartment. But he keeps having to buy a new one every time he drives by a toll booth.
(LAUGHTER)
BODDEN: I guess it's true what they say, the rich truly are different.
SAGAL: Yes, they are.
(LAUGHTER)
SAGAL: He's basically turning his SUV into a freshman dorm. He's got the AC. He's got the little mini-fridge with beer. He's got a Klimnt poster covering the back window. He's all set.
(LAUGHTER)
BODDEN: But in that fridge there is no soda over 16 ounces.
MO ROCCA: Exactly.
KYRIE O'CONNOR: Right.
(LAUGHTER)
(APPLAUSE)
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