A Puzzle for the -Ages

You’re listening to A Way with Words, the show about language and how we use it.

I’m Martha Barnette.

And I’m Grant Barrett.

And here he is after doing 24 escape rooms in a row.

We’ll see if he can get away from us.

It’s John Janeski, our quiz guy.

Hi, John.

Luckily, hi, Grant.

Hi, Martha.

Luckily, I escaped from the last one because that’s the only one that counts.

So now I’m here.

I’m finally here.

Yeah.

You know, guys, it’s an interesting age we live in.

No one can dispute that.

But there are always people saying, we live in this age or we live in that age until more rational minds come along and set them straight.

For example, I heard someone going on about, we live in an age where everything is untidy.

Everywhere you look, in every home, there are clothes on the floor, dishes in the sink, papers.

Truly, we live in such an age.

And then a more rational person comes along and says, you think we live in a mess age, but you just read the word message.

Oh.

Oh, okay.

Gotcha.

I thought it was going to be a garb edge.

It could have been a garb edge.

All the clothes all over the floor.

Yeah, it’s a garb edge.

There are clothes all over the floor.

It is a garb edge.

Very good.

I’ll describe an age we live in, and since you’re both more rational than I am, you set me straight if you can.

Okay?

All right, here we go.

For eons, we’ve all lived as individuals, but finally a time has come where you and I are living together,

An age of cooperation between you and me.

Age of cooperation, living together, you and me.

Martha always laughs as if she’s got it, and sometimes she does, and sometimes she doesn’t.

Well, I do this time, but let’s talk about it a little bit more.

Well, if you’re talking about an age with you and me, we’re talking about John Usage.

Oh, that’s right. Usage. Oh, I thought you meant an us age.

I thought it was an us age.

Right.

So you can tell me what age I’m mistaking it to be.

Or if the two of us are Spanish speakers, it’s a dosage.

Dosage.

I like it.

Very good.

Dosage.

All right.

Let’s move on.

Truly, this is a golden age of music.

No longer are individuals singing alone or playing instruments alone.

Finally, we’re living in an age where people are gathering in small groups to play music.

Gathering in small groups to play music.

This puzzle I’ll rip it off slowly yes.

John, it’s a bandage.

What? Yes, that’s right, it’s a bandage.

Oh, it’s a, it’s a bandage, not a band age.

Okay, yes, I got it.

Thank you, Martha.

Thank you for setting me straight.

You’re welcome.

Yeah, this one.

It seems made for Martha.

She’s doing so well.

So far, so good.

It’s great.

Look around you.

Everywhere there are construction projects that use the power of the river to create electricity.

Massive public works projects are going up that make reservoirs and provide hydropower.

It’s a damn age.

It is a damn age.

It sure is.

Do you say otherwise?

It’s a damn age.

Oh, I’ll say.

It’s damage. Yes, it’s damage.

Now, you must admit that nowadays we can get anything we need from a tiny capsule.

You know, vitamins, minerals, medicines of all kinds.

We can just swallow them quickly and easily like never before.

And gather them all up and steal away with them.

Because I think we’re talking about pillage, John.

Yes, pillage.

It’s pillage? Not pillage?

It’s a pillage.

Oh, okay.

I guess the Vikings might have something to say about that.

That one cracks me up for some reason.

I like that one.

That’s good.

Anyway, you guys did fantastic.

Great job.

Those are all your ages.

Thanks, John.

We’ll see you next week.

Give our best to the family.

Thank you.

You too, guys.

Bye-bye.

You can hear all of John’s quizzes and all of our past episodes on our website at waywordradio.org.