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TV Shows to Watch Based on Your Zodiac Sign

Do you align with your astrological sign? You know, growing up I never wanted to believe I was a cancer. I always thought I was more of an adventurer, someone who was more out going. I mean clearly I love talking to you everyday on the airwaves! But now that I’m much older and dare I say…wiser, I AM TOTALLY A CANCER. I am such a homebody, super sensitive and protective of those I love, highly intuitive and I love the water! Anyway.

Not totally sure of the methodology but here’s what you should binge watch according to your sign:

1.  Aries (March 21 – April 19) . . . “Vanderpump Rules”, Hulu

2.  Taurus (April 20 – May 20) . . . “New Girl”, Netflix

3.  Gemini (May 21 – June 20) . . . “Search Party”, HBO Max

4.  Cancer (June 21 – July 22) . . . “Bridgerton”, Netflix

5.  Leo (July 23 – August 22) . . . “Shrill”, Hulu

6.  Virgo (August 23 – September 22) . . . “Get Organized with the Home Edit”, Netflix

7.  Libra (September 23 – October 22) . . . “The Big Flower Fight”, Netflix

8.  Scorpio (October 23 – November 21) . . . “Never Have I Ever”, Netflix

9.  Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21) . . . “Insecure”, HBO Max

10.  Capricorn (December 22 – January 19) . . . “The Queen’s Gambit”, Netflix

11.  Aquarius (January 20 – February 18) . . . “I May Destroy You”, HBO Max

12.  Pisces (February 19 – March 20) . . . “Euphoria”, HBO Max.

(The source explains a little further if you’re interested.)

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why There Are 5,280 Feet In A Mile (And Why A Nautical Mile Is Different)

As you probably learned in grade school, there are 5,280 feet in a mile. But, as we usually love to ask…why? Who decided that arbitrary number should be the length of a mile? Not only that, but why are nautical miles different from the miles we use on land?

The basic concept of the mile originated with the Romans, who used a distance unit called the “mille passum”, which translates to “a thousand paces”. Each pace was considered to be five Roman feet, which were actually a tad shorter than our feet nowadays, so the mile originally ended up being 5,000 Roman feet, or around 4,850 feet today.

So, if the mile began as 5,000 Roman feet, how did we get to where we are now, with a 5,280-foot mile? Well, we have the British “furlong” to thank (or blame) for that. Not always an arcane measurement that horse-racing fans talk about, the furlong was actually once significant as being the length of the furrow in a field that a team of oxen could plow in a single day, or 660 feet. It was in 1592 that Britain’s Parliament set out to determine the precise length of a mile. And, they ultimately decided that each mile should be made up of eight furlongs. So, since a furlong was 660 feet, we ended up with the 5,280-foot mile we know today.

Think all miles are the same? Not quite. Because a nautical mile is definitely not the same…it’s actually longer! But, here again we ask…why? Well, you’d need to pull out your high school geometry skills for this one. So, each nautical mile originally referred to one minute of arc along a meridian around the Earth. Each meridian around the Earth is made up of 360 degrees, and each of those degrees is comprised of 60 minutes of arc. So, with each of those minutes of arc being 1/21,600th of the distance around the earth, by that formula a nautical mile comes out to 6,076 feet.

If you’re anything like me, then you’re sufficiently confused enough right now to seriously be considering switching over to the metric system!

Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via social media (@AndyWebbRadioVoice), or shoot me an email at [email protected].

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Airtron Heating & Air Conditioning

WFRE PODCAST #5: Cheesesteaks, Foxes, and Peaks

Gabby knows where to get the perfect steak & cheese in Frederick, Laura will be live on location this weekend, and Patrick is getting old. Get ready for the deepest episode of the WFRE Podcast!

Topics Links:

Laura-ism: “Times ah Clickin’.” March 9th, 2019

Featuring: Gabby (Weekdays 10a-3p), Laura (Weekdays 7p-Midnight), and Patrick Hanes (Midnight-5a).

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why There Are Black Lines On A Basketball

With March Madness upon us, lets examine something few people ever really consider while watching our favorite team make their way through the big dance.

Pretty much all basketballs usually look a certain way, mostly all the same. Your regular basketball has a pebbled exterior, separated into eight panels by thin black lines. But, what do those thin black lines do? Is there a reason they’re there? Well, in reality, those black lines do more than just give a basketball its unique look. Those lines actually make the game of basketball easier to play.

Much like those pebbled dots covering the outside of a basketball, those black lines are actually grooves that make the ball easier to handle. And, with a game requiring players to move around a full court while bouncing (or, “dribbling”) a ball, control is key. The basketball’s lines allow a player to grip the ball better & steer it in a different direction from the moment it touches their hand. If the ball were totally smooth, controlling it would be much more difficult. Just ask anyone who’s ever played around with an old basketball with lines that were worn away; they’ll tell you just how much of a difference those thin strips of rubber make.

Nowadays, we tend to take the functional design of a basketball as a given, but it wasn’t always part of the game. Early on in basketball’s history, the game was played with smooth soccer balls on an oil-polished hardwood court. And, back then, getting a grip on the ball was almost as hard as getting it in the basket. Dribbling wasn’t introduced until later, so players had to throw the ball from where they caught it. Basically, more like dodgeball than basketball. But, the introduction of those lines on the ball definitely made things easier & brought us to the sport we know & love today.

Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via social media (@AndyWebbRadioVoice), or shoot me an email at [email protected].

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Airtron Heating & Air Conditioning

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Who’s The “Mason” Of Mason Jar Fame?

Have you ever preserved food? “Canning”, as some people call it? If you have, then you already know how great Mason jars are. Y’know, those thick glass jars that make for a tight seal thanks to their unique screw top lid. They come in a variety of sizes & are great for storing various types of food (as well as for sipping cold drinks). Mason jars had to have been named after a person named Mason, right? But, who was he? And why was so interested in jars?

John Landis Mason, of New Jersey, was born on January 1, 1832. A tinsmith by trade, his namesake invention came about in 1858, when he developed a glass jar that could be sealed to protect pressure-canned perishable food items that had been heated so as to destroy bacteria, then secured with a lid to make for an airtight container.

Prior to Mason’s success, attempts at heat-sealing food were…inconsistent, at best. Bottles, up until then, were usually sealed with either cork, wax, or both. Not only that, but the containers of the day were made of dark-colored glass, which didn’t allow for visibility. “What is this? Could be pickles…could be tomatoes. Fingers-crossed!” Also, earlier jars didn’t have an airtight top. So, Mason came up with his design for a threaded neck & metal cap design, with a rubber seal so that the contents could be kept from spoiling. John Mason’s jar was also clear, so you could finally see what you were about to consume. Huzzah!

Mason jars caught on quickly with food preservers, as well as folks who wanted to harvest their crop from one season & keep it for the next. The Mason jar boom slowed down in the 20th century, when commercial freezers & better transport systems made food storage easier & more convenient. Unfortunately for John Mason, he eventually saw his patent expire in 1879, so he never really made any money from his innovation before he passed in 1902.

But, the jars have remained popular with folks looking for alternatives to store-bought food & disposable packaging. Today, Mason jars are still mass-produced by the Ball Brothers Manufacturing Company, but originals are collectible; their value is usually based on what translucent color the jar may be. Cobalt blue Mason jars can go for thousands of dollars. So, go check your grandma’s cupboards…there may be money preserved up there. Or, maybe it’s just tomatoes…or pickles.

Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via social media (@AndyWebbRadioVoice), or shoot me an email at [email protected].

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Airtron Heating & Air Conditioning

Frederick’s Favorite: Chaps Pit Beef Interview

Learn all about the Secret Menu items at Chaps Pit Beef! Get our exclusive WFRE deal of the day and hear about how much Chaps has contributed to our community. Thanks so much for joining us Josh! PS I love my new shirt from Treaty General Store!

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