Whoever came up with the idea to attach an eraser to a pencil was a genius, when you think about it. Before that, they were two separate objects, but you usually didn’t want to have one without the other. Sometimes combinations like this work out perfectly, like when makeup companies began adding sunscreen to foundations. But other times, combinations might not work out as well, like the year my mom sent me to summer camp with a new product that combined sunscreen and bug spray, which caused an allergic reaction and really wasn’t good at protecting me from bugs or the sun. Today’s episode focuses on one of these hybrids that sometimes works great for foods like mashed potatoes, chili, and casseroles, but sometimes doesn’t work as well for foods like broth or spaghetti. I’m your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind Sporks.

The role of Bill Clinton was played by Wes from The Via VHS Podcast.

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Media:

Music for Makers

Sources:

http://www.salon.com/2012/10/06/consider_the_spork/

http://mentalfloss.com/article/65500/man-who-invented-spork

https://www.vox.com/2015/6/23/8826591/spork-inventor

https://www.wired.com/2015/08/tritensil-spork/

http://io9.gizmodo.com/this-hybrid-knork-utensil-was-also-an-important-medic-1700498082

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=51104

http://careysuevega.com/manner-monday-sporks-saltcellars-and-knife-rests-oh-my/

“Consider the Fork: A History of How We Cook and Eat” by Bee Wilson