Senator joins the ‘nerds’

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) is speaking the language of computer-crazed kids of the 1980s.

 While pushing for digital surveillance reform at a Tech Fair with the Center for Democracy and Technology at the Capitol on Tuesday, Wyden recalled the love that 30-somethings express for the classic computer game “The Oregon Trail.”

 For the uninitiated, the game involves hitching a wagon and trying to make it to the end of the historic trail without succumbing to a variety of diseases or other unfortunate deaths. 

 “People come up to me and say, ‘God, I was kind of a nerd. I stayed inside and I loved playing “Oregon Trail.” And I just hoped I didn’t get dysentery and die,’ ” Wyden said.

 The senator also seems to be a fan himself, revealing that he’s hooked on a downloaded version of “Oregon Trail” on his iPhone.

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