Man-Made Objects

Sep 13, 1996

RAY: It was suggested that I use this puzzler, against my judgment, by our esteemed producer Dougie Berman.

TOM: I know which one it is too and I think it's okay.

RAY: Well this was sent to us by Thomas Dobson. I can deduce, I think, from his email address at OHSU - Ohio State University, that is where he is from. I'm just guessing, or it could be Old Honolulu State University. Okay - so here it is without further ado.

TOM: You have all the ado I can muster up.

RAY: Question: what man-made object first broke the sound barrier?

TOM: The real issue is do you give a hint or not. I don't think you should. Was it the plane Chuck Yeager flew?

RAY: No, it was not that, it was prior to that.


TOM: I know the answer.

RAY: What is it?

TOM: The V2 rocket. 1942.

RAY: Long before that--hundreds of years before that - the common whip.

TOM: Sure.

RAY: And the crack you hear is the tip of the whip breaking the sound barrier. I thought it was one of Mom's famous dope slaps. Because sometimes you never know when those are coming, and just like that, faster than the speed of light...

TOM: Yea, 'cos you could never see that hand coming. Then all of a sudden--Boom--to the back of the head.

RAY: Even at her age, 85, she's still able to dish out a dope slap with the best of them.

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