Lateral with Tom Scott 174: The metal bar
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Feb 6, 2026 John Cantrell, quiz writer known for crafted lateral puzzles. Johnny Robbins, TV games developer with a whimsical, film-tinged style. James Smales, quiz producer and format creator. They tackle stories about a signed Popplio card, penguins flown for Batman Returns and why their hold was refrigerated, a catastrophic Yellow Pages typo, a cobalt-60 metal bar with 'drop and run', and Japanese toilet-knock folklore.
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Pope-Signed Pokémon Became A "Holy Hollow"
- Chi Nguyen took two Popplio cards to meet the Pope and got one signed and one blessed as a reverse-holographic "Holy Hollow."
- The story mixed genuine fandom with an unusual Vatican encounter that created a unique collectible.
Penguins Flown From England For Batman Returns
- Tim Burton flew tame penguins from Birdland, Gloucestershire to film Batman Returns so Danny DeVito's Penguin would be surrounded by real birds.
- Seth was the celebrated cocky penguin with a "celebrity strut," and the plane required a refrigerated hold for the birds.
Use Public Fantasy Transfers As An Early Signal
- Monitor public fantasy-football transfers for insider signals about team selection or injuries.
- Aston Villa players removing Jack Grealish from public fantasy teams revealed his injury before official announcements.