Small Talk: Auto lashes, do-gooders and pet insurance
TEXT OF STORY
Bill Radke: It’s Friday and I think we’ve earned a treat. Let’s step away from the stuff you need to know and get to the stuff that is just fun to know. Courtesy of Brendan Newman, Rico Gagliano and the rest of the Marketplace staff.
Rico Gagliano: George Judson, managing editor. What story are you going to be talking about this weekend?
George Judson: Eyelashes for cars.
At last! What are you talking about?
Judson: A company is selling fake eyelashes that you put on top of your headlight. It’s just like putting flames on your car.
Gagliano: Except totally uncool.
Judson: But why not?
Gagliano: I guess so…
Judson: Why not have car tattoos?
Gagliano: That’s true?
Judson: Car body piercing?
Gagliano: I have those. A bad parallel parker gave me those for free.
Brendan Newnam: Stacey Vanek Smith, senior reporter for Marketplace. What story are you going to be talking about this weekend?
Stacey Vanek Smith: Apparently, people hate unselfish co-workers.
Newnam: This explains my popularity here at Marketplace.
Vanek Smith laughs
Vanek Smith: Yes. Apparently a study from Washington State University found co-workers who always volunteer for things and always volunteering to do extra work — people hate them.
Newnam: So do-gooders actually undermine the performance of a company.
Vanek Smith: Exactly, so you should leave early and do as little as possible.
Newnam: See, I told you I was an exemplary employee here.
Vanek Smith: You should get a raise.
Gagliano: Paddy Hirsch, senior editor. What story are you going to be talking about this weekend?
Hirsch: The pet insurance awards.
Gagliano: Do explain.
Hirsch: Well, there’s a pet insurance company that gives awards out for the most outrageous claims that people make for their animals.
Gagliano: Alright. And the winner is?
Hirsch: Well, let me tell you what didn’t win: The border collie that dived through a plate glass window to get at a mail man.
Gagliano laughs
Hirsch: And then the winner was a labrador that ate this beehive that was chock full of pesticides and thousands of dead bees.
Gagliano: Oh my. They recovered, right?
Hirsch: Yes, of course. Insurance kicked in and helped them out.
Gagliano: And what did our winner receive?
Hirsch: The bronze trophy in the shape of a ham.
Gagliano: Good dog.
Radke: I hope that doggie’s OK. Let Rico and Brendan help you ease into the weekend with their podcast called “Dinner Party Download.”
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