MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Where does the word “phony” come from?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Where does the word “phony” come from?

The word “phony” when you’re referring to someone or something as being fake comes from a shortened version of the word “telephone”.  Older phones had such bad audio quality that it would make people’s voices sound fake. I feel like this sounds like a “phony” explanation (haha)… but it’s true! Photo credit: Getty Images

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why do ghosts say “boo”?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why do ghosts say “boo”?

Halloween is 20 days away and between now and the 31st you will hear and see a lot of ghosts saying “BOO”. But why? And where did that come from? The Oxford English Dictionary says that the term “boo” came from the Latin term boare and the Greek word boaein which mean “to cry aloud,…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Is Cap’n Crunch from the cereal box based on a real person?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Is Cap’n Crunch from the cereal box based on a real person?

I’ve often wondered this while walking the cereal aisle in the grocery store. Cap’n Crunch looks like he would be the most likely cereal mascot that was actually based on a real person. Turns out it’s true, he is! Cap’n Crunch’s full name is Horatio Magellan Crunch. Which is amazing. He was named after the…

I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT! Americans throw away 49 million of these each day

I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT! Americans throw away 49 million of these each day

This week you are playing to win tickets to All Time Low at College Street Music Hall in New Haven October 19th. Play every day at 4pm to win. Here’s today’s question and answer if you missed it… Q: Americans throw away 49 million of these each day. We’ve all used one at some point…