Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! HTDE: Forks and Ice Masters
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Feb 11, 2026 Anna Brown, a Pew Research Center survey methodologist, explains a quirky translation bug that turned 'yes' into 'forks'. Don Moffitt, an Olympic ice master, describes building and maintaining competition-grade hockey ice and challenges like temporary rinks and protecting surfaces during events. Short, surprising stories about survey glitches and obsessive ice care make for a playful, curious conversation.
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Ice Quality Is Performance Critical
- Don Moffitt treats ice quality as central to athlete performance and obsessively monitors sound, temperature, and surface during events.
- Temporary rinks in non-purpose-built venues can feel and sound very different from standard arenas, affecting player perception.
Making A Rink In A Concert Hall
- Don describes installing insulation and refrigeration piping over a concert-hall floor to protect it and create a temporary rink.
- Players reported the ice sounded hollow at first but adapted during practice.
Inspect Ice During Breaks
- During commercials Don Moffitt checks ice with an infrared gun and clears snow to maintain conditions.
- Do schedule routine, quick inspections and adjustments during breaks to preserve surface quality.