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MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why We Give Chocolate On Valentine’s Day

Try going into any retail store right now & not seeing pink & red boxes of chocolate on display on almost every aisle. You couldn’t do it! Because chocolate’s become one of the standard Valentine’s Day gifts, alongside flowers & jewelry. But chocolate didn’t develop its romantic reputation overnight. It took centuries of Mayans, myths, and marketing to tie chocolate to Valentine’s Day.

The ancient Mayans were the first to bond love & chocolate. Around 500 BCE, centuries before the first Feast of St. Valentine, the Mayans were using cocoa beans to brew an early version of hot chocolate that was an important part of Mayan wedding rituals, where the bride & groom would each sip the warm beverage during the ceremony. That ritual presaged chocolate’s future status as a universal expression of love.

The Aztecs, however, did not see chocolate as a wholesome treat. Legend has it that emperor Montezuma II would binge on loads of cocoa beans to fuel his romantic endeavors. But, while chocolate does contain small amounts of tryptophan & phenylethylamine (two compounds associated with love & desire), scientists say there really aren’t enough of either chemical to actually make chocolate a powerful aphrodisiac.

Tales of chocolate’s amorous side-effects persisted nevertheless, and that may explain why candy-sellers embraced the sweet treats as Valentine’s Day became popular. Cadbury’s first heart-shaped box of chocolates, which debuted in 1861, was an instant success with its embellished packaging featuring cupids & flowers. And, once the box was empty, it could then be used to hold keepsakes like locks of hair & love letters.

Cadbury made the mistake, however, of not patenting their heart-shaped chocolate box. So, all the rest of the candy industry began producing their own versions. And, it wasn’t long after that chocolates became synonymous with this newly-commercialized holiday known as Valentine’s Day.

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: What Happens To The Losing Super Bowl Team’s Merchandise

Following a big win in a major sporting event, such as this year’s Super Bowl, fans will try to score championship merchandise as quickly as possible. So, to meet that demand, manufacturers make & stock two different sets of T-shirts, hats, and other gear ahead of time declaring each team the champion. This was done so that the winner’s apparel (the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in this year’s case) could be able to quickly stock clothing racks & get tossed to players on the field once the game concluded. But, what happens now to the Chiefs’ versions?

They’re destined for greatness in their own way: charity.

A charitable organization called Good360, based in Alexandria, VA, actually handles all the excess merchandise & distributes it to less fortunate people overseas. The losing team’s apparel is held in inventory locations across the U.S. Following the game, Good360 will determine exactly how much surplus product is available & then determine where the goods can go to do the most good.

While no exact count following this year’s big game has been announced yet, past merchandise has been plentiful. For example, based on strong sales following the 2007 NFC Championship win by the Chicago Bears, Sports Authority printed more than 15,000 shirts proclaiming a Bears Super Bowl victory, well-before the game ever started. And then, of course…the Colts beat the Bears, 29-17.

This past year has been unlike any other before, but the coronavirus pandemic actually isn’t expected to affect the donating process this year. Well, except that cloth face masks are now among the items being donated.

So, even though Kansas City may have come up short last night, Chiefs fans can still take heart: at least the spoils of losing won’t go to waste, but actually to a good, worthy cause.

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} Snow Days!

Last year Lily loved the snow as a 1 year old! we only had one light snow day, but she had so much fun and liked being dragged around in her little sled.

This year, she changed her mind about it! She saw my husband, Tim, outside shoveling and begged me to go outside to play with Daddy in the snow. So I said “okay” and we got her all bundled up. She was surprisingly okay with all the snow gear on and walking in the big boots, but when she finally got outside she was not a fan of the snow!

She hated walking in it because it was “too slippery” and her face was too cold. So Tim took her to the playground and she tolerated swinging on the swing in the snow.  I was inside the house watching because I have no winter coats/gear that are big enough to go over my pregnant belly and, it was nice to stay warm!

I saw Tim put her in a sled and take her back to a big hill and I thought that it looked like she was having fun, sledding, but it wasn’t too much longer that they were heading back inside the house.

I asked her what she thought and she said “I don’t like the snow, Mommy, my face is cold and it’s too slippery!”  and Tim said, that she cried a little and reluctantly said she was having fun….maybe next year!!

At least she looked super cute in her little snow outfit!

This is where she likes to be…warm…inside…with food 🙂

<3 Katie Ryan

 

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why QBs Say “Hut” & “Hike”

Have you ever been watching a football game & wondered why the quarterback yells “hut” or “hike” just before starting a play?

“Hut” descends from the military. In the service, “hut” often replaces a syllable in a word to make it sharper & more distinct. Think about a drill sergeant screaming “atten-hut!” at cadets. It seems to focus the hearer, which can be particularly beneficial whether you’re gearing up for a strenuous march or you’re in danger of being squashed by a 300-pound lineman.

Hut originated during World War II, and was adopted in the 1950s by football players. Because a lot of players & coaches were former soldiers, it makes the word’s evolution fairly easy to plot. “Hut” is a clean, concise word that can be barked across distances, which helps quarterbacks who need to be heard.

So, where did the military get “hut” from? Animal herders. Words like “hip”, “hup”, and “hep” date back centuries; “hup” was in use in the early 18th century, and “hut” in the 19th century. The military adopted their own variations early in the 20th century before they ultimately settled on “hut”.

That other football staple, “hike”, comes from football legend John Heisman, who started shouting it to avoid being tricked during the 1890-1891 season when he played for the University of Pennsylvania. As the center responsible for snapping the ball to the quarterback, he usually got scratched on his leg as a signal to start the play. But, when an opposing player nefariously touched his leg & made him flip the ball, it made him mess up. So, saying “hike” (which means to pull or raise with a sudden motion) eliminated any leg-rubbing deception.

Other terms, like “blue 42”, are alternate signals meant to change up an offensive play or confuse the opposing team in the hope of scoring. And, while there still may be a lot of confusing things about football, at least why they say “hike” & “hut” isn’t anymore.

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

TJ Osborne of Brothers Osborne: Choosing Happiness and Breaking History

Maryland’s own TJ Osborne becomes the first openly gay country music artist signed to a major label. “I want to get to the height of my career being completely who I am,” says TJ.

TJ sat down for an exclusive interview with Time Magazine and decided it was time to value his own happiness over anything else. He’s known about his sexuality since he was a teenager and is very comfortable being gay. TJ claims, “I find myself being guarded for not wanting to talk about something that I personally don’t have a problem with. That feels so strange.”

Believe it or not, the pandemic and long periods of self-reflection is what inspired TJ to tell his story. He realized that the perfect moment to tell the world would never come, so he decided to create that moment on his own.

Osborne admits, people may ask, “‘Why does this even need to be talked about?’ and personally, I agree with that.  But for me to show up at an awards show with a man would be jaw-dropping to people.”

Many family members and close friends have known for years and have continued to support TJ unconditionally. Including the other half of Brothers Osborne, John. “If I had to have all my money and success erased for my brother to be truly fulfilled in life, I wouldn’t even think about it.  Not for a second.”

The support of many other country music artists continues to pour out on social media. Including but not limited to…Dan + Shay, Little Big Town, Kacey Musgraves, Davisson Brothers Band, Chris Young, Ty Herndon and so many more.

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: 4-Wheel Drive Vs. All-Wheel Drive

With the weather we’ve had lately, you may be thinking more about your car’s ability to get up & down snowy, icy, or muddy roads. And, while you might know that 2-wheel drive isn’t the best option for driving in harsh weather, some other terms may be more confusing. Such as, all-wheel drive versus 4-wheel drive. Don’t all cars have 4 wheels? What’s the difference between all-wheel drive & 4-wheel drive?

It’s actually more than just semantics, and which one you need relies heavily on the kind of driving you regularly do. 2-, 4-, or all-wheel drive refers to the tires powered by the engine. With 2-wheel drive, the engine powers either the front or the back axle of the car, moving only the front or back tires. Meanwhile, when 4-wheel drive’s engaged, the engine rotates all 4 wheels, which gives you extra traction on slippery surfaces, so that, even if one set of wheels can’t get traction on a slippery surface, the other wheels might be able to.

The key word here is “engaged.” Usually, 4-wheel drive means your car can drive with all 4 wheels, but you have to manually choose that option. The rest of the time, you’re in 2-wheel drive mode. Meanwhile, with all-wheel drive, the car itself figures out what kind of traction you need, all by itself. Sensors determine how much power should go to each wheel to get the best traction.

There are some downsides to all that extra traction, though. Your engine has to work harder to power all 4 wheels. And, since those engines are heavier, it takes more power to move. So, as a result, 4-wheel or all-wheel drive vehicles usually need a lot more fuel than a 2-wheel drive model.

You don’t necessarily have to spring for all-wheel drive just because you live somewhere with snowy winters. If driving in inclement weather is a frequent occurrence for you, winter tires may actually be much more important than which wheels the engine powers. But, at least now you know what all of that means, so you can make the best decision for 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

Closings and Cancellations: 2/3/21

Berkeley County Schools – closed, curb side meals will be delivered tomorrow (Feb 4th)

New Life Christian School – Frederick – Two hour delay

Jefferson County Public Schools – 2 hour delay, high school will operate on a regular remote schedule.

Clarke County Public Schools- two house delay.

Greencastle-Antrim School District – Closed
Waynesboro Area School District – 2 Hour Delay
Martinsburg Christian Academy – 2 Hour Delay

Frederick County Government- offices and facilities on a delayed opening, will open at 10AM,

Storm Center 2/3 5:40AM

Berkeley County Schools – closed, curbside meals will be delivered tomorrow (Feb 4th)

New Life Christian School – Frederick – Two hour delay

Jefferson County Public Schools – 2 hour delay, high school will operate on a regular remote schedule. 

Clarke County Public Schools – two hour delay.

Greencastle-Antrim School District – Closed

Waynesboro Area School District – 2 Hour Delay

Martinsburg Christian Academy – 2 Hour Delay

Frederick County Government offices and facilities  on a delayed opening, will open at 10AM

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