MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Marines Are Called “Jarheads”
The US military has always had its own interesting language. To “hit the silk” is to use a parachute. Something that’s 20 kilometers away is considered 20 “klicks”. A flashlight can be called a “moonbeam.”
Most of the terminology is pretty obvious in what it means, but there’s one term that’s a bit more ambiguous: some military folk refer to Marine Corps members as “jarheads.”
Why is that, and what is “jarhead” in reference to?
Well, there are a few theories. The Marines were founded on November 10, 1775, as a subset of different military branches, before later becoming its own branch. The Marines have long used a uniform with a high-collar, originally made of leather, which once led to the nickname “leathernecks”. That high collar was thought to have given a Marine the appearance of his head sticking out of a jar, thus leading to the “jarhead” moniker (which was adopted around World War II).
Another physical trait may have also led to the nickname: the Marines’ trademark haircuts are short on the sides and square & flat on top, which could’ve looked like a jar lid to some.
It’s also possible the “jarhead” label referred more to the overall Marine attitude, as opposed to physical characteristics. Marines have long been seen at as durable & able to endure tough physical training, which led to a belief among other service members that Marines are hard on the outside while being able to hold inside whatever beliefs or orders are sent down from above. This theory is actually probably more true than others, since, as early as 1918, “jarhead” was a slang term used for a mule. Since mules were considered loyal & hardworking animals who are able to follow orders, it’s possible the “jarhead” nickname was ported over to Marines, who considered it a favorable comparison.
The “jarhead” label may be well-received or not depending on the Marine in question, but many Marines embrace it, since it designates them as unwavering in their sense of duty. Unless you’re also a service member, though, it’s probably best to let them be the ones to use that moniker.
Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via social media (@AndyWebbRadioVoice), or shoot me an email at [email protected].
MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why People Are Seemingly Immune To Their Body Odor
How is that so many otherwise sensitive people expose others to their less-than-stellar body odor? I mean, surely they have to know that they, or their clothes, aren’t up to snuff, right? Right?
Compared to most animals, humans don’t have an acutely developed sense of smell. The human olfactory nerve easily becomes fatigued in areas where there are strong odors. So, in order for your brain to not be overloaded with information, your nervous system decides not to even try being bothered by your own body odor unless it changes dramatically. Whether you regularly smell like a spring bouquet of daisies or last night’s leftover table scraps, you’re unlikely to notice, even if you’re sensitive to other people’s B.O.
This fatigue principle applies to a lot of our other senses. Workers at automobile factories learn to block out all the machinery sounds, which would otherwise drive them insane. Residents of Hershey, PA, stop noticing the smell of chocolate that permeates the entire town. There’s even a phenomenon where students often can’t discriminate the tastes of different dishes served in their school cafeterias. (Of course, that might be explained by the fact that all cafeteria dishes do taste alike, but we might need a government grant to solve why that mystery exists.)
Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via social media (@AndyWebbRadioVoice), or shoot me an email at [email protected].
Tim McGraw & Tyler Hubbard Perform Undivided
What better way to debut a new song than perform it for the Presidential inauguration? Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line wrote this song while he was quarantined alone on his tour bus battling COVID-19. So close to his family yet so far, parked in his drive way. He took advantage of his time alone to create a song that represents unity. Tim McGraw jumped at the chance to be a part of it. Check out their live performance here:
MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why “Objects In Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear”
Anyone who’s ever driven a car has seen the little warning on basically every passenger-side mirror: “Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.” But, why can’t objects be displayed accurately in those mirrors?
It’s actually a careful design choice made with safety in mind.
The way we see things depends on how light reflects off the objects around us. An object’s shape, color, texture, other characteristics, all factor into the direction & intensity of the light which bounces off of them. If the objects are reflected off an intermediate object, like a mirror, then the way we perceive the original object could be distorted.
Our perception is also affected by the shape of the mirror. Here in America, passenger-side mirrors are convex, or curved slightly outward, while driver-side mirrors are flat. A convex mirror placed on the passenger side reduces the driver’s blind spots on that side of the vehicle by presenting a wider field of view. But, it also makes other cars appear farther away due to the slight distortion caused by the shape. The flatter mirror on the driver’s side gives you a more accurate depiction of what’s behind your car using a more narrow field of view, since light is bouncing off in the same direction that it’s hitting the mirror, so that it doesn’t distort the reflection of the object.
When the reflections of the two mirrors are combined into the driver’s point of view, you have the ability to see wider areas of the passenger side of the vehicle while also being able to keep your eyes mostly on the road. That flat-convex combo has been the U.S. standard for years. However, the Department of Transportation’s looking into the safety benefits of two convex mirrors, which are what most European cars usually have.
For now, though, you should always remember to check your mirrors frequently, and always look over your shoulder before you change lanes. Oh, and please, please, please…don’t forget to use your turn signal!
Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via social media (@AndyWebbRadioVoice), or shoot me an email at [email protected].
Life Hacks Worth Using!
You can find a million Life Hacks all over the internet. However, some of them are a little extra and call for even more effort. Here are a few that I’ve found I think are worth using!
Cutting Cherry Tomatoes:
Neatly Folding Hoodies:
Out of Chip Clips?:
@rafaelariotReupload with captions ##lifehack ##foryou ##fyp♬ Ultimate life hacks – Kelly – The Life Bath
Pasta Straining:
@athomewithshannonHow was I doing this wrong my whole life? This was one of those LIFE HACKS that I use EVERY DAY! ##hack ##lifehacks ##learnontiktok ##hacks ##lifehack♬ Ultimate life hacks – Kelly – The Life Bath
Job Hunt January 18, 2021
New jobs listed
{Katie’s Baby Blog} Wild Pregnancy Emotions!
We talked about this this morning with the Wake Up Crew; Dianah and I discussed how wild pregnancy emotions can be before and after you have the baby.
This time around, my pregnancy itself feels about the same as last time, but emotionally…a little different! The first time you are pregnant is scary and exciting all in one! A very overwhelming feeling and not knowing what is ahead with the big changes that are not only happening to your body, but life in general. So, understandably, I feel like while I was pregnant with Lily, I was more emotional in a way where I was nervous or would just cry over random things!
This time, I am soooo tired all of the time. Drained from chasing around a two year old and I just feel like my body is more exhausted than the first time. Naps are key to get me through the day or else I am grouchy by 4/5:00 in the evenings. Waking up early and not sleeping a full 8 hours each night also doesn’t help during the week; so I try to get extra sleep on the weekends where I can. Making dinner during the week is few and far between…coming up with something to cook, cooking it and then the clean up after…yeah, not interested! Which is strange for me…I normally love to cook!
I’m also gearing up for the crazy hormones that come AFTER baby is born…that is when it really gets emotional. Totally normal though, hormones trying to get back in the swing of things, learning about your new baby, getting a new schedule together, it’s a lot!!
<3 Katie Ryan
House of the Week: 01/15/21
MUNDANE MYSTERIES: What Are Those Big Red Balls At Target For?
Target’s got some of the strongest brand recognition going in the retail world. Their name is reinforced by their red & white logo (literally a target), which also happens to be painted around the eye of their mascot, a Bull Terrier named (appropriately enough) “Bullseye”. So, it would seem like those giant red concrete spheres out in front of Target’s brick-&-mortar stores are just another form of Target making itself easily recognizable (since they look like the dot at the center of their logo). But, they’re actually there for your safety (as well as for branding).
Those red balls are called “bollards”. The word bollards mainly refers to the metal or wooden posts along the edge of a wharf on a harbor for sailors to have something around which they could tie their mooring lines. These days, though, bollards can also describe similar posts in front of buildings, which help with keeping distracted drivers from rolling right into the doors. Most places install more traditionally shaped bollards, but Target isn’t most business. They went with giant red balls. They’re not the only business, however, that got creative with their bollards; some baseball stadiums also feature spherical bollards, painted to look like baseballs.
While Target’s bollards are meant to keep shoppers safe from parking lot car accidents, thosee bright red spheres can actually be dangerous on their own, albeit in a different way. Back in May of 2016, a mom in New Jersey sued Target for $1.6 million after her 5-year-old son fell off of one of the bollards there, which shattered his elbow & required surgery in the hopes of stemming long-term damage to his range of motion. The following year, another woman filed a lawsuit after one of the 2-ton bollards broke loose and hit her car.
For the most part, though, when used correctly they’re both safe & safety-encouraging. But, things can go wrong sometimes. The road to you-know-where is paved with good intentions…and rogue bollards, apparently.
Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via social media (@AndyWebbRadioVoice), or shoot me an email at [email protected].