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It’s over. Thirty-three games, more than 1,100 correct responses, and $2,464,216 dollars after first taking the Jeopardy! contestant podium, James Holzhauer lost. While his run failed to match Ken Jennings’ for either longevity or earnings—he fell just $56,484 short—Holzhauer has left as indelible a mark on the game. How did he do it? By not treating Jeopardy! like a game at all. Learn more about...

Serena Williams descended upon the clay courts of the French Open in Paris this week, where, the year prior, she had become a lodestar of ridiculous controversy. In one early bout, Williams' decision to wear a black catsuit resulted in a violation; the form of dress has since been banned by the French Tennis Federation. "The combination of Serena this year, for example, it will no longer be accept...

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English professor Matt Barton grew up loving computer role-playing games like Pool of Radiance and Baldur’s Gate, and was discouraged when that style of thoughtful, analytical gameplay almost disappeared. “For a long time the very words ‘turn-based’ were enough to make everybody laugh at you,” Barton says in Episode 363 of the Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy podcast. “It was like, ‘Who wants that? It’s...

Technology changes us as much as we change technology. It trains us to behave in certain ways, to modify how we speak or move to better accommodate its utility. In some cases, technology can transform the very things that define us. Perhaps the most literal example is our handwritten signature, a core talisman of identity. Developed in response to the ancient technology of paper and ink, it’s late...

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The bicycle manufacturer Cannondale is well known for its high-performance bikes—pricey chariots that are ridden by some of the world's top pros in the elite trail- and road-cycling ranks. But things were not always so. The company's first cycling-related product, released way back in the early 1970s, was a bike trailer called the Bugger. You'd mount the accessory two-wheeler to your bicycle's rea...

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It’s a beautiful day. The family’s in attendance, side dishes and beer in tow. Your sister-in-law brought a trunk full of Super Soakers. It’s BBQ time. Time to kick back in the yard and fire up the … stove? Hmm, that doesn’t sound terribly exciting, does it? But that’s basically what you’re doing when you cook out on a gas grill, which is powered by the same largely flavorless fuel as your kitchen...

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Grilling on a holiday, when you've got the day off, is easy. You can take your time; pull out your artisanal hardwood charcoal; light it in your chimney starter; build a perfect two-level fire; and lovingly tend your rib-eye, or your chicken breasts, or your pork ribs. Holiday grilling is hobby grilling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Amos and I were walking out of the gym after basketball practice last weekend when he saw a friend inside the lobby. He bolted to the window, rapped on the glass, and began performing a very particular dance. He put one hand—fingers in the shape of an L—to his forehead; his legs jutted back and forth like a dancing bear on a pendulum. Puzzled, I watched. Then I pulled out my phone. “Siri, show me...

The sandwich was unremarkable—lukewarm and not quite melted, like a college freshman’s late-night microwave snack rather than a true grilled cheese. But I have thought about the sandwich every week since I ordered it, because the food truck that made it won’t stop emailing me. First came the receipt. Then the expressions of gratitude, offers of deals. “Thanks for your visit!” one email screamed. “...

I woke up one day, at age 38, and realized I was the worst kind of bored housewife. My kids were old enough to no longer need me, my amusing(ish) satirical novels were largely being unread, and my life had become a dull hum of paint colors and upholstery. I live on New York’s Upper East Side, where everyone shares the same small, incredibly specific concerns—private schools, vacations, and getting...

Sometime last fall, a man walked into the Nike store in Pasadena, California. He was a runner, it was a running-centric store, and he was there to buy a pair of running shoes just like the ones he had worn in the past. The clerk asked him if he'd be willing to have his feet measured a new way. "I'm a 9," the runner said. "I've always been a 9. Just give me a 9." Still, he relented. The runner walk...

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In an early episode of The Society, Netflix's new YA drama about power and privilege in a socialist adultless future, a group of teens gather to play a game of Fugitive. They split into two teams, each with a specific but precise role: The enforcers are tasked with catching the fugitives, and fugitives must do whatever they can to elude detainment. Many of the town's rich kids promptly elect thems...

Happy Thursday, and welcome to another edition of The Monitor, WIRED's roundup of all the best pop culture news. What's up this week? A lot of news about Avatar movies, surprisingly. Also, a victim of the Red Wedding might be joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Batwoman is officially to the CW. Let's get started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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In case you missed in last night's episode—or haven't been on #GoT Twitter today—someone seems to have left a Starbucks cup sitting on a table in that revelry scene on Sunday's Game of Thrones. People. Are. Freaking. Out. And investigation has been called for. People want oral histories. Fans are already calling it the best thing that happened in Season 8, Episode 4. Learn more about your ad choic...

In December 2009, a mysterious letter appeared at the home of one Mr. Johnson in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Inside was a message printed on cream-colored paper: "All of the items in your refrigerator are swapped with all of the items in Ben Affleck's refrigerator. Try a bit of everything." A similar letter reached the reverend of the local church, and the architect William Hopkins. Learn more about...

Hello, and welcome to another Monday edition of The Monitor, WIRED's entertainment news roundup. Today, much like last week, we're talking about Avengers: Endgame, which is still ruling the box office. What else? Spider-Man: Far From Home has a new trailer and the British Royal Family has a new baby. Let's get going! Avengers: Endgame Might Break Avatar’s Box Office Record In less than two weeks,...

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