NewsTalk 1290 News & Talk of Texoma » What’s the Real Story?

What's the Real Story Behind the History of the Microwave Oven? [VIDEO]

Carl Pettit — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 14:30:47 +0000

The microwave oven is a wonderful time saver. When you want to defrost a chicken, warm up a bowl of soup, pop some popcorn or cook an instant burrito, you can’t beat microwave technology.

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What's the Real Story Behind the Phrase 'Frog in Your Throat?'

Carl Pettit — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 17:47:08 +0000

When someone tells you that you have a frog in your throat, that person is letting you know that you sound terrible. Your voice is raspy and dry, and you’re probably having a hard time speaking.

So, is there some magical tale about how this expression came about?

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What's The Real Story Behind the Term 'Kangaroo Court?'

Carl Pettit — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 17:42:30 +0000

Hopefully you’ll never be tried by a kangaroo court. And no, that doesn’t mean the jury will be made up of boxing marsupials.

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What's the Real Story About Why We Flip Someone the Middle Finger?

Carl Pettit — Mon, 28 May 2012 13:30:02 +0000

We’re not talking about giving someone a parakeet for his or her birthday. We’re talking about flipping someone the bird, or the middle finger — a time-honored insult that has been around for thousands of years.

Here’s a little more information about how this very telling gesture got started, in all its variations.

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What's the Real Story Behind the History of Mother's Day?

Carl Pettit — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:30:40 +0000

There seems to be a holiday for every member of the family these days, but none is probably more important than Mother’s Day.

What daughter or son would dare forget the woman who gave birth to them? With that in mind, here are a few historical tidbits about the origins of Mother’s Day.

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What's the Real Story Behind the Phrase 'Cutting Through the Red Tape'?

Carl Pettit — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:06:56 +0000

When you have to ‘cut through the red tape,’ it means your have to slog through lots of bureaucratic mud in order to achieve the goals you set out to achieve.

How did tape — colored tape at that — come to represent the headaches that mounds of paperwork, unpleasant clerks and by-the-book functionaries cause us when we’re trying to get something done?

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The Real Story Behind Throwing Rice at Weddings

Carl Pettit — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:12:05 +0000

When a newly married couple exits a church, a synagogue, a courthouse or wherever they’ve just tied the knot, people often shower them with rice (not the sticky kind, of course). Most of us have seen this in the movies or in real life.

If you’re wondering how this grain-throwing tradition came about, don’t fret. We’re going to tell you.

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The Real Story Behind the Merry-Go-Round

Carl Pettit — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:24:02 +0000

One of the first rides parents usually let kids enjoy by themselves is the gentle horse carousel, or merry-go-round. Carousels, which seem very safe and wholesome, have drawn families in for years. For many of us, they bring back fond childhood memories.

But how did they first come into our lives?

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The Real Story Behind Zombies – Ant Zombies, That Is [VIDEO]

Carl Pettit — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 13:48:06 +0000

For fans of the AMC show ‘The Walking Dead,’ and everything having to do with zombies, take heart. Zombies really do exist in the natural world, and they’re a terrible menace — to our little friends, the ants.

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The Real Story Behind the Phrase 'Break a Leg'

Carl Pettit — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:47:19 +0000

When you tell someone to “break a leg,” you’re not referring to the literal sense, unless you secretly get the utmost satisfaction over watching that person fail. Breaking a leg hurts a lot, which makes it all the more curious as to why this particular phrase became associated with wishing someone good luck.

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The Real Story Behind the Term 'Red Herring'

Carl Pettit — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 13:10:34 +0000

If you’ve ever read a detective or spy novel, you‘re probably familiar with the term ‘red herring.’ A red herring is a clue or some piece of evidence that intentionally leads the investigator, or the reader, further away from the truth.

So, how exactly did this term come into existence?

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What's the Real Story Behind April Fool's Day?

Carl Pettit — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 13:45:59 +0000

It’s that time of year again, when you have to watch out for tricksters. April Fool’s Day is the perfect excuse for any prankster in your immediate area to practice his or her craft.

So, what’s the real story behind the origins of this, um, ‘holiday?’ Well, it’s no joke — there are many possible explanations.

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