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Panel Round One

PETER SAGAL, HOST:

Right now, panel, time for you to answer some questions about this week's news. Alonzo, as we continue to look into the NSA scandal here in the U.S., the British Defense Department is dealing with a scandal of its own. It's just been revealed its staff spent more than $60,000 on phone calls to whom?

ALONZO BODDEN: The new baby George?

(LAUGHTER)

SAGAL: Oh, look at the little baby. Apparently, no one at the defense department is Britain has a watch.

BODDEN: Oh, yeah, somebody out there knows.

(LAUGHTER)

NEKO CASE: So they were calling Zappos or something.

SAGAL: Why would you call Zappos if you don't have a watch?

CASE: Because you can get any accessories on Zappos.

(LAUGHTER)

(APPLAUSE)

BODDEN: They were calling to find out what time it is.

SAGAL: Exactly right.

(SOUNDBITE OF BELL)

(APPLAUSE)

SAGAL: They were calling a number called the Speaking Clock that tells you what time it is.

ADAM FELBER: Like, oh, (unintelligible)?

SAGAL: Exactly, and staffers called it so many times that they ran up bills of tens of thousands of dollars. The Defense Ministry tried to ban the calls. They even distributed a list of websites that you could go to that will tell you the time.

(LAUGHTER)

FELBER: Or a list of phones that set their clocks automatically. I believe that list is all of them now.

SAGAL: Yeah. Yes.

BODDEN: Shouldn't - I mean when you dial that number, and you pick up the phone, shouldn't it be like, listen, you idiot...

(LAUGHTER)

BODDEN: This is the only thing that's not showing you what time it is right now.

(LAUGHTER)

BODDEN: Your phone, your watch, your computer. Your - look out the window at the digital clock temperature thing at the bank. Just don't ever call me again.

(LAUGHTER)

BODDEN: That's literally what it's been saying.

(LAUGHTER)

(APPLAUSE) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.