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Who Knew Wednesday

March 1 brings…crunchy or creamy?

Today is National Peanut Butter Lovers Day!

From daysoftheyear.com, a brief timeline

1884

Marcellus Gilmore Edson patents peanut butter: Peanut “paste” is patented by a Canadian inventor, Marcelllus Gilmore Edson.

1904

Peanut Butter is introduced at the World’s Fair: A St. Louis business man starts selling peanut butter as a snack food, and he introduces it at the St. Louis World’s Fair.

1941

National Peanut Week gets started: Started by the Alabama Peanut Producers Association, National Peanut Week has its first celebration in early March.

1990

First National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day: In celebration of the anniversary of the commercial availability of peanut butter in the US, National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day is founded.

As it turns out, there may just be a great geographical divide in the United States among peanut butter lovers! It seems that those people who live in the West Coast of the US tend to prefer crunchy peanut butter while those living toward the East Coast would typically prefer creamy peanut butter.

  1. I was born on March 1, 1904, in Clarinda, Iowa.
  2. I began my musical career in the 1920s as a trombone player in various bands. I eventually formed my own band in 1937.
  3. I was known for my unique style of arranging and conducting and for my use of clarinets.
  4. During World War II, I served as a captain in the United States Army Air Forces, leading the Army Air Force Band,
  5. On December 15, 1944, I boarded a plane from England to France to perform for troops there. The plane disappeared over the English Channel and was never found. I was declared dead in absentia a year later.
  6. Some of my most famous songs include “Moonlight Serenade,” “In the Mood,” and “Chattanooga Choo Choo.”
  7. I was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003 .

I am…Glenn Miller! Congratulations to David from Fredericktown, who wins the Chris Tomlin CD, “Always.”

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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Ashes, aged bibles, and Cougar hoops!

Today is Ash Wednesday – launching a time of prayer, reflection and repentance, marking the first day of lent. The ash normally comes from the palm branches of the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebration.

Tomorrow is the anniversary of the printing of Gutenberg’s Bible in 1455 – there are only 48 known surviving copies…12 of them are printed on animal skins. Three of them reside at the Morgan Library and Museum in New York City.

MVNU men’s basketball opens the postseason tonight against Huntington in the Crossroads League Quarterfinals. Jonathon and Dylan will be on the call. You can hear student assistant coach Ryan Wolfe at halftime for Cougar Conversations. Pregame tonight at 6:45!

  1. I was born  February 22, 1934, in Bridgewater, South Dakota.
  2. I was a player in the Brooklyn Dodgers organization, but never made it to the Major Leagues.
  3. I began my managerial career in the minor leagues in 1964
  4. I managed the Cincinnati Reds for 9 seasons, leading them to back-to-back World Series victories in 1975 and 1976.
  5. In 1984, I became the manager of the Detroit Tigers, and led them to a World Series victory that first season
  6. I retired in 1995 with 2,194 wins
  7. I was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000
  8. I passed away on November 4, 2010, at the age of 76.

I am George “Sparky” Anderson. Congratulations to Jerry from Fredericktown, who guessed correctly and wins a copy of the Action Bible – Easter Edition!

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Dylan

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Fun facts for this week…

Today’s Who Knews:

  • today in 1908, President Teddy Roosevelt declared the Grand Canyon as a national monument
  • the Grand Canyon National Park covers 1,217,403 acres
  • tomorrow (Thu 1/12) is National Hot Tea Day
  • it takes around 2,000 tiny leaves to make one pound of finished tea
  • this week is also the anniversary of Thomas Paine’s pro-independence pamphlet, ‘Common Sense.’ It was published six months before the Declaration of Independence was signed
  • I was born January 11, 1963 in Winona, Minnesota
  • I started training to swim when I was 9 years old
  • I competed for the first time at nationals in 1976
  • I would have swam in five events in the 1980 Olympics, but the US boycotted the Games
  • I enrolled at the University of Florida and kept training
  • I captained the US Women’s Swim Team in the 1984 Olympics and won 3 gold medals
  • When I retired, I held five world records and 63 American records
  • I married Mark Stockwell, an Australian swimmer who also attended Florida
  • I now hold dual citizenship in the US and Australia

I am…Tracy Caulkins

Congratulations to Dawn from Fredericktown, who wins the CeCe Winans CD, ‘Believe for It.’

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Dylan

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On this Thanksgiving Eve…

We bring you WHO KNEWS about cranberries, cashews and espresso coffee!

Who Knew? November 23rd is…

National ‘Eat a Cranberry’ Day

A tart, but healthy snack, packed with antioxidants and rich nutrients….just in time to be featured on Thanksgiving Day tables everywhere!

The name for Cranberry was originally craneberry, derived from the German “kraanbere”. Why would a berry be named after a bird? The craneberry got its name due to the English believing that the flowers and stem resembled the neck of that same bird, the Crane!

National Cashew Day

Cashew trees can get really big. The world’s largest cashew tree can be found in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, and covers well over 81,000 sq ft. To put that into perspective, that’s a tree that covers 1.8 acres, or nearly 70 times that of a normal cashew tree.

After harvesting cashew nuts, you may want to store them up until you have a decent number, because processing them is a bit of an ordeal. The edible meat of the cashew is surrounded by a shell and a very dangerous, caustic liquid related to poison ivy. USE CAUTION WHEN PROCESSING YOUR CASHEWS. Wear long sleeved clothing, gloves, and goggles to keep the liquid from getting on your skin or in your eyes.

National Espresso Day

A shot of espresso is a refinement of coffee, distilled down to its most potent elements and delivered in special cups that should have a warning label that reads “High Vibration and Caffeine Jitters Ahead”!

In Turin, Italy, in 1884, thanks to the innovative methods of Angelo Moriondo, coffee had seen a new age of enlightenment, as his new machine found a way to separately control the passing of steam and water through the coffee. This innovation made it possible to extract the fullest possible potential from the humble coffee bean.

Who Am I?

  • I was born November 23, 1859 in New York City but some theorize I was born on September 17th
  • My real name was Henry McCarty, but my pseudonym was William Bonney
  • My father’s death led our family to move to Indiana, then Kansas, then New Mexico
  • I was orphaned at 15 when my mother died
  • I became a thief and a fugitive before settling as a rancher in Arizona
  • My life was a series of conflicts, crimes and gunfights before I died in 1881 at 21 years of age
  • There is only one authenticated picture of me

I am… Billy The Kid. Congratulations to Kari from Mount Vernon, who guessed correctly and wins a copy of We The Kingdom’s self-titled CD!

Thanks for listening, Happy Thanksgiving and we’ll talk to you Monday!
– Joe and Dylan

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Lots of Who Knews? on November 16!

Who Knew?

  • the sequel to the 1982 classic “A Christmas Story” debuts tomorrow on the streaming service, HBO Max. The story, “A Christmas Story Christmas,” picks up 30 years after the original, with Peter Billingsley reprising his role as Ralphie!
  • This is National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child – click this link for local collection information
  • this year’s National Toy Hall of Fame inductees are the top, Lite Brite and Masters of the Universe. The Strong Museum of Play’s website can be found by clicking here
  • November 16, 1855 – David Livingstone discovers the Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River in the country now known as Zambia
  • I was born November 16, 1907 in Cleveland, OH
  • I joined a theatre company in New York City in 1929
  • I made my Broadway debut as Peter in the production Romeo & Juliet
  • I was an Air Force Information Officer in World War II
  • I was also a theatre director and earned a Tony Award nomination for the Broadway production of Ulysses in Nighttown
  • I played the Penguin in the 1960’s Batman TV series
  • I played Rocky Balboa’s trainer in the first three Rocky films
  • I died on September 9, 1997 at the age of 89

I am…Burgess Meredith, actor and Air Force veteran. Congratulations to Rendell of Mount Vernon who guessed correctly and wins the CAIN CD, ‘Rise Up.’

Congratulations to today’s registered listeners: Cynthia from Walhonding and Maude from Mount Vernon!

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Dylan

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November’s unique anniversaries

Today we shared some fun facts about the first week of November:

  • November 1 is the anniversary of the first NBA game, where the New York Knickerbockers played the Toronto Huskies. The ticket cost? From 75 cents to $2.50.
  • November 2 (today) is the 22nd anniversary of the Americans and Russians became the first crew to reside on board the International Space Station – they were there for four months
  • it’s also National Deviled Egg Day!
  • November 3 is National Sandwich Day, celebrating John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, whose chef likely created the concept of meat between two pieces of bread
  • November 4 is the anniversary of the excavation of King Tut’s tomb, led by Howard Carter in 1922
  • I was born November 2, 1865 in Blooming Grove, Ohio
  • My father was a newspaper man and I eventually purchased the Marion Star after graduation
  • I also was a teacher and insurance man for a brief time before committing to journalism
  • My involvement in politics led me to the Ohio Senate, the Lt. Governor’s office, and the U.S. Senate
  • I won the 1920 presidential election over Ohio Governor James Cox
  • I died in office on August 2, 1923 in San Francisco
  • My memorial sits in Marion, Ohio

I am Warren G. Harding – congratulations to Dawn of Mount Vernon, who guessed correctly and wins the Ryan Ellis CD!

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Dylan

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Chicken Fried Steak?

Another one of those crazy food holidays? Yep. But this one’s APPROVED by the Texas lawmakers!

(from Days of the Year.com)

Chicken Fried Steak has been around in southern cooking for many decades. Several places seem to claim its origin, including the states of Texas and Oklahoma. Some think it came from German immigrants who settled in Texas and began cooking steak in a similar way that they had cooked pork or chicken – like a wiener schnitzel. Others believe the dish got its start further north, in some commercial kitchens of Kansas and Colorado.

National Chicken Fried Steak Day was founded not many years ago. Campaigned for by a restauranteur, Jeffrey Yarbrough and his friend, singer Jimmy Baldwin, National Chicken Fried Steak Day was established in Texas to give this southern dish just a bit more respect. The two wholeheartedly believed that people would argue a little less often if they just had a plate of chicken fried steak to enjoy! 

In 2011, the 82nd Texas State Legislature officially approved Chicken Fried Steak Day through a proclamation of House Resolution 1419. Of course, even though it might not be an official day in other states, Chicken Fried Steak Day can certainly be celebrated in places all around the world!

  • I was born October 26, 1946 in Chicago
  • I attended Farragut High School and Columbia College Chicago
  • I served as a Specialist 5th class in the US Army and was a disc jockey on American Forces Radio
  • I worked in radio and TV in Chicago, Kentucky, Nashville and Los Angeles
  • In 1983 I started as the daytime and night host of Wheel of Fortune
  • I am the longest-running host of any game show, surpassing Bob Barker
  • I’ve also appeared on Days of Our Lives, Rugrats and The King of Queens

I am…Pat Sajak!

Congratulations to Jennifer from Mount Vernon, who guessed correctly and wins the Natalie Grant CD, No Stranger.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Dylan

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October 5th is packed!

Today is National Do Something Nice Day…On this day (and any day!) it’s a great idea to keep an eye out and notice when people do something that deserves a compliment! Whether it is noticing a family member’s new haircut, thanking the taxi driver or doorman for their patient service, or telling the neighbor how lovely their roses look, National Do Something Nice Day is a great time to remember to say the things that might go unsaid on typical days.

Today is also World Teachers Day…

UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) proclaimed that the first World Teachers’ Day would be celebrated on October 5, 1994. Various ceremonies and honors are given for teachers of the world who have surpassed expectations for the profession. Many countries hold competitions where special educators can be nominated to win the important title of teacher of the year.

World Teachers’ Day is now celebrated in more than 100 countries.

Today is the Jewish Holiday of Yom Kippur – the day of atonement

It’s also Clergy Appreciation Month – find out how you can nominate a member of your pastoral staff for some great WNZR and partner prizes by clicking here!

I was born on October 5, 1829, in Fairfield, Vermont
I practiced law in New York City
I served as the quartermaster general of the New York Militia during the American Civil War
I was Vice President under James Garfield
I took over Presidential duties when Garfield was shot and later died.
I died November 18, 1886, at the age 57

I am Chester Arthur, 21st President of the United States – congratulations to Dawn of Fredericktown who guessed correctly and wins the hardcover version of The Action Bible!

Thanks for listening,
– Joe and Dylan

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Give silence a chance!

Today is a day to celebrate quiet!

We know that peace and quiet are good for the both the body and the mind, but it’s increasingly difficult in today’s world to experience real quiet, and that’s why a National Quiet Day is so important.

Everything that’s created comes out of silence. Remember, Genesis reminds us that first there was nothing, then there was everything!

Every day we are surrounded by the chatter of TV, the radio, even our friends and family. Few are the opportunities we have to engage in a little quiet contemplation, giving our vocal chords a rest to simply listen to the world around us and simply experience it. 

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/quiet-day/

National Quiet Day was established to remind us to slow down and give silence a chance. Solitude was also a habit that Jesus modeled. He needed peace and quiet as he contemplated His ministry and spoke with our heavenly father.

– I was born September 14, 1936 in Chicago
– My parents were Russian Jewish immigrants
– I majored in psychology, but was encouraged to pursue acting
– I met Gene Roddenberry in 1963 and starred in a TV show called The Lieutenant
– I joined Star Trek in its second season as Pavel Chekov
– I was in all of the Star Trek movies featuring the original cast
– I also have written for several movies and TV shows
 
I am…Walter Koenig. Congratulations to Jeff from Mount Vernon – he wins the $5 gift card to Round Hill Dairy Ice Cream.

Sonfest trivia today – our winner was Anna from Mount Vernon.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Dylan

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