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MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Which “Orange” Came First…The Color, Or The Fruit?

Y’know the old “Which Came First: The Chicken Or The Egg” quandary? You could ask a very similar question about “Orange”: is the fruit named for its color, or is the color named for the fruit?

Well, if you’ve ever pondered this question, you can rest assured that there is a definitive answer (unlike the “Chicken Or The Egg” predicament): it was the fruit that was named first. The earliest recorded English usage of the word “orange”, used as the name for the fruit, is from the 1300s. “Orange” actually came from the Old French “orange”, which, itself, was adapted from the Arabic word “nāranj”. Nāranj was derived from the Persian “nārang”, which descended from the Sanskrit word “nāranga”, or “orange tree”. Now, where the Sanskrit word came from is unclear at this point, but it might’ve been from a Dravidian word that meant “fragrant.”

The word “orange” as a color descriptor wouldn’t appear for some 200 years after the fruit originated, taking hold in the early 1500s. But, think about it: English speakers probably didn’t have a specific name for the color until the fruit was widely available in their markets & inspired one. Before that happened, it’s believed that people just generally referred to orange as “yellow-red,” or “ġeolurēad” in Old English, if you wanna get specific.

But, while we know that the fruit came before the color in name origin, which one you like better is a question that can only be answered by you.

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

{Katie’s Baby Blog} What to Pack?!

I can officially say “baby girl will be here next month!”

So…I should probably start thinking about packing my hospital bag and getting organized, right? Because…I haven’t done anything like that yet!

There are so many checklist that you can find online and some of them will tell you to literally pack EVERYTHING… just in case. I found that a lot of the stuff that people put on the longer list is totally unnecessary. The hospital gives you SO MUCH of the things that you might think you need to bring yourself…especially when it comes to the baby.

Now, this time around, my delivery is a planned c-section… so we know when we are going in and my list will be a little shorter because I don’t have to go through labor this time.

But you definitely need to think about three different people while packing- Mom, baby and Dad.

Things that I definitely want to pack for myself:

-3 Cozy PJ sets

-slippers/socks

-Going home outfit

-toiletries (toothbrush, hairbrush, make up, deodorant, etc.)

-cozy blanket

-phone charger

-purse with insurance cards, etc.

….Ill have to think about what else i’m missing.

Baby:

-carseat

-Swaddle

-hat

-a couple outfits

-scratch mittens

-boppy pillow

Dad:

-clothes

-pillow

-cash for vending machines

-toiletries

-phone charger

-snacks!

 

Any recommendations?! Let me know!

<3 Katie Ryan

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Is Fish Allowed During Lent?

Each spring, Catholics observe Lent by skipping steak in favor of fish sticks & swapping a Big Macs for a Filet-O-Fish. But, why is that?

One legend says a medieval pope with connections to Europe’s fishing business banned red meat on Fridays centuries ago, to boost his pals’ industry. While that story’s not true, Sunday school teachers have a more Biblical answer: Jesus fasted for 40 days & died on a Friday. So, Catholics honor both occasions by making the small sacrifice of avoiding animal meat one day each week, over the course of 6 Fridays. So, why are only red meat & poultry banned, but seafood is fine?

Saint Thomas Aquinas thought fellow Catholics should abstain from eating land-locked animals because they were too darn tasty & would cause impure thoughts & actions. Lent’s a time for modesty, he suggested, and in the 1200s meat was a luxury. So, eating something as extravagant as beef was no way to celebrate a holiday centered on simplicity.

But, why fish isn’t considered meat during Lent is a bit unclear. Saint Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians in the Bible has been used to justify fasting rules, as he separated different kinds of meat (men, beasts, fish, and birds). That distinction possibly came from Judaism’s own dietary restrictions, which separates fleishig (land-locked mammals & fowl) from pareve (fish). But, neither the Torah, Talmud, or New Testament clearly explain the rationale behind the divide.

It’s arbitrary, anyway. In the 17th century, the Bishop of Quebec ruled that beavers were fish. In Latin America, it’s OK to eat capybara, since their largest living rodent there is also apparently considered a fish on Lenten Fridays. Churchgoers around Detroit, MI, can guiltlessly munch on muskrat every Friday. And, in 2010, the Archbishop of New Orleans gave alligator the thumbs up.

It’s thanks to King Henry VIII that Protestants don’t have to worry about their diet. And, it was Martin Luther who declared fasting to be up to the individual, not the Church. So, whether you fast or not, or eat meat or fish or not…that’s entirely up to you. It’s what’s in your heart & mind that count.

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: Betsy, Brunch, and Bikes

The gang takes a deep dive into the art and food of Downtown Frederick. Laura outlines her policy for the perfect brunch, Patrick wants to bike, and Gabby talks about her childhood hero. Does your group have a designated pickle eater?

Topics Links:

Questions:

  • Do they grind up Swedish Fish at Rita’s?
  • Where are you going to eat this week?
  • How hard do you brunch? Bloody Mary or Mimosas?
  • Have you been to the National Clustered Spires High Wheel Race?
  • Do you have a Betsy Ross Poster?
  • Were you ever a historical figure for Halloween?

Laura-ism: Droggy

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

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: What Is 20/20 Vision?

 

Standard Eye Chart

 

Many people will say with pride, “Yeah, I’ve got 20/20 vision”. But, what even is that? What do those numbers mean?

The overall figure is your “Visual Acuity Grade”. And the first number is always 20, because the 20 refers to the distance from which you’re supposed to be sitting or standing from the eye chart. And that distance isn’t random: rays of light are just about parallel when twenty feet from the eye chart, so that the muscle controlling the shape of the lens in a normal eye can be in a state of relative rest when viewing the chart.

The second number represents the distance at which a normal eye should be able to see the letters on that particular line. The third from the bottom line on most eye charts is the 20/20 line, so if you can see the letters on that line, you have 20/20, or “normal”, vision. A higher second number indicates that your vision is subnormal. For instance, if you have 20/50 vision, you’re able to discern letters that “normal” observers could see from fifty feet away. If you were able to achieve the highest possible score on the visual acuity test, which is 20/10, that means you can spot letters that a normal person could only detect if he or she were 50% closer to the chart, or at 10 feet away.

But, what if you miss a letter on one of the lines? Would you still get credit for the whole line? The answer is “yes’. You just have to be able to identify a majority of the letters on a line to get full credit for reading that line. Ah…if only our high school teachers graded as easily as our eye doctors…

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

5 Things That Always Go On Sale In March

TVs, jewelry, winter sports gear, mattresses, and grills!

If you have these items on your wish list, now is the time to purchase and here’s why:

TVs – Manufacturers are about to release new models. So the month of March is the second-best month of the year to buy a TV.  November is first.

Jewelry – There’s always so much left over after Valentine’s Day. So jewelry stores drop their prices.

Winter sports gear – As we get closer to spring…things like skis, snowboards, and winter coats get discounted.

Mattresses – Similar to TVs new models are on their way into stores so they need to make room for new inventory.

Grills –  Now is your last chance to get a good deal before prices go up closer to summer time. Prices usually don’t drop back down until July or August.

Free Ride: The Stuff I Talked About Mar 1st

Surprise extra show with Patrick Hanes!!! Here is what I talk about today. Enjoy the links, videos, some numbers that were in the news.

[Numbers in the News!]

Are you a double screener? Do you watch TV while also looking at your phone/tablet/laptop? You are definitely not alone. 90% of people in a recent survey said they watch TV while also concentrating on another screen. 25% of those say they text people about what they’re watching. (SWNS)

Do you like to work out alone or with other people? Seems the pandemic has led a lot of people to appreciate working out alone. A new survey found that 42% of respondents say they prefer exercising alone. The main reason: You can work out on your own time schedule – where you want and when you want. 33% said working out alone allowed them to focus more on what they were doing, and 37% said they liked to be alone with their thoughts when they worked out. And 20% said they liked working out alone because they don’t feel judged. (SWNS)

We’re addicted to likes … There’s a reason some people are addicted to social media. A new study found that social media users are driven by “likes” — the same way lab rats are driven by food rewards. It’s basically “reward learning.” Getting a like gives you that reward high — so you crave more.

Speaking of watching TV … ACT II microwave popcorn is releasing a new flavor … mac & cheese popcorn. While some Instagram users have posted pics of the popcorn, there’s still no word on when it will be released. (Delish)

[What’s Trending]

World Compliment Day 

Jordan Davis took off a significant amount of his signature beard before shooting the video for “Almost Maybes,” and he’s liking the new look.

Maren Morris and Chris Stapleton are the frontrunners for this year’s ACM Awards. They’re up for six nominations each. Maren is thrilled to be nominated in a year when so many artists used their downtime to create great music. Chris is grateful for nominations, but says making the best music is his priority.

[JAY DAY INTERVIEW]

[Niko Moon: The “NO SAD SONGS” lyric video]

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Frederick Sister Cities?

I have always wanted to figure out why we have two German sister cities. Imagine my surprise when I found out that we have three sister cities!!!

2006 Aquiraz, Ceará Brazil
1959 Mörzheim, Landau Germany
1982 Schifferstadt, Rhineland-Palatinate Germany

 

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Airtron Heating & Air Conditioning

Sources:

https://fredericksistercitiesassociation.weebly.com/about-us.html# 

Sister City International Site

https://www.facebook.com/FrederickSisterCitiesAssociation/?ref=page_internal

https://www.fredericknewspost.com/archives/frederick-gains-new-adopted-sister-city/article_1ed2403a-b0b5-5203-a822-97f5e1bcff61.html

https://www.fredericknewspost.com/archives/entrepreneur-wants-frederick-to-get-sister-city-in-brazil/article_fcbaec51-2768-5a43-8580-a09b742af811.html

Sister City Newsletter from 2020 –
https://fredericksistercitiesassociation.weebly.com/uploads/4/2/7/8/42780939/fsca-nl-03_may2020_.pdf

Sister Act

 

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