Month: June 2015

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More or Less: Behind the Stats - Biggest Movies

The film Jurassic World broke the record for the biggest opening weekend taking $511m. It?s a record that has been broken once already this year and most of the top ten films with the biggest opening weekends were released in the last five years. So in an age where the competition is fierce for cinemas why are these films doing so well?

Bees and the British Royal Family For reasons best known to the editors, one British newspaper decided to ask the question: ?Who brings more to the British economy ? the British Royal Family or bees. The answer? Bees of course. More or Less takes a look and finds the methodology is as bee-musing as the initial comparison.

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The Gist - Is the “Five-Second Rule” Baloney?

Today on The Gist, you will either be happily relieved or totally devastated by what we’ve learned about the “five-second rule.” Mike asks Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker if she’d eat what we’ve dropped in a series we call “Is That Bulls--t?” For the Spiel, Mike speaks with current high school students in Oceanside, New York. Today’s sponsor: Vegas.com. With Vegas.com, your summer vacation is just a click away. Find great deals on hotels, shows, tours, and VIP treatment at top clubs. Go to Vegas.com, and enter the promo code GIST for 10 percent off everything but air-hotel packages. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus.

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The Gist - Why Humankind Needs Kardashians

Is there a relationship between celebrity worship and a lack of social mobility? Today on The Gist, we explore the allure of celebrity with professor Timothy Caulfield. He’s the author of Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?: How the Famous Sell Us Elixirs of Health, Beauty & Happiness. Plus, Bobby Jindal makes a special announcement and his son knows just what to say. Ever wonder where Mike Pesca gets all his great ideas? In a Slate Plus exclusive, Pesca shares something he calls his “Gist List.” Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Today’s sponsor: Stamps.com, where you can buy and print official U.S. postage right from your desk using your own computer and printer. Use the promo code THEGIST to get a no-risk trial and a $110 bonus offer.

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The Gist - What’s Fair for Fatherhood

Mike took three months off after each of his sons were born. He considers that time to be the most important bonding he’s ever done, but when it comes to family leave, some new dads aren’t so lucky. CNN’s Josh Levs makes a case for paid paternity leave as a gender equality issue in his new book All In. For The Spiel, is the Trans-Pacific Partnership a good pact? Today’s sponsors: Citrix GoToMeeting. When meetings matter, millions choose GoToMeeting. Get a free 30-day trial by visiting GoToMeeting.com and clicking the “try it free” button. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus.

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The Gist - Four Essential Lies

On this weekend’s Meet the Press, Mike Huckabee asked, “Is South Carolina a racist state because of the flag that flies on their Capitol grounds?” On The Gist, Mike Pesca answers, “No, the flag flies over the Capitol because it’s a racist state.” Also on the show, professional storyteller Matthew Dicks is here for another lesson with our winning listener, Frank Kennedy. This class focuses on the four lies you’re encouraged to tell when framing your own story. For the Spiel, some non-obvious points about the shooting in Charleston, South Carolina. Today’s sponsor: Stamps.com, where you can buy and print official U.S. postage right from your desk using your own computer and printer. Use the promo code THEGIST to get a no-risk trial and a $110 bonus offer. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus.

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