Outstanding October
This spooky flying mammal is associated with Halloween.
What is the bat? More than half of bat species in the United States are in severe decline or listed as endangered. That’s not a good thing because bats can eat up to 1,200 mosquitoes in an hour and are essential pollinators.
Bad reception produces this crackling sound.
What is static? Unless there is something wrong with the radio, external factors such as electromagnetic interference and atmospheric conditions are the most likely culprits.
He said, “I have a dream.”
Who is Martin Luther King Jr.? He delivered the line in his “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington, D.C., at the March on Washington.
This fruit wears its seeds on the outside
What is strawberry? It’s one of only a few fruits with seeds on the outside. But it’s tricky because technically, what appears to be seeds, called achenes (uh-KEENZ), are the actual fruit. The achenes have seeds inside them. We love them and gobble them by the dozen anyway.
Kids rode these for hours without helmets.
What are bicycles? The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute says that 22 states, including the District of Columbia, now have bicycle laws requiring children to wear helmets.
This European explorer reached the Americas in October 1492.
Who is Christopher Columbus? Columbus reached islands in the Caribbean in 1492. Leif Erikson is widely credited with reaching Newfoundland centuries earlier.
This type of portable radio grew popular during the 1960s.
What is a transistor? Before transistor radios were introduced, radios were large, bulky home furnishings that housed breakable vacuum tubes. The first commercial transistor radio was introduced in 1954, and the reduced size made radios portable
“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”
Who is President John F. Kennedy? It was the most memorable line of his inaugural address on January 20, 1961.
When you want to be refined, use this polite word for the body fluid that helps keep the body cool when it’s 90 degrees in the shade.
What is perspiration? When you perspire, your body excretes a clear, salty fluid with no odor. When bacteria begin to grow, that’s when you notice an odor.
Kids drank water outside from this all summer without a second thought.
What is garden hose? Drinking water from a garden hose today isn’t recommended because many hoses can leech chemicals like lead or BPA into the water.
Three warm spices found in most pantries in autumn are cinnamon, nutmeg, and this one
What are cloves? Most recipes call for ground cloves at 50 percent of the quantity of cinnamon and nutmeg.
This free message is offered in the service of the public interest.
What is a public service announcement (PSA)? PSAs originated during World War II, and one of radio’s best-remembered PSAs was the “Loose Lips Sink Ships” campaign.
This president said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
Who is President Franklin D. Roosevelt? The quote is extracted from his inaugural address. The full quote is, “So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”
The CPAP machine addresses this condition.
What is sleep apnea? The breathing condition causes people to wake up repeatedly during the night, often leaving them tired the next morning. It also causes loud snoring.
This restful piece of household furniture wasn’t so relaxing anymore when kids used it as a trampoline.
What is bed? Experts debate the risks and rewards of jumping on the bed. It can be good for the child’s mental and physical health, yet we all know a list of reasons mothers of an earlier era would never have allowed such antics.
This October U.S. holiday plays double duty: Columbus Day and this day.
What is Indigenous Peoples’ Day? Indigenous Peoples’ Day honors the culture, history, and resilience of the continent’s first inhabitants.
This comedic duo of stage, radio, and TV is famous for their “Who’s on First” routine.
Who are Abbott and Costello? Abbott came from a circus family, and Costello was a stuntman in Hollywood before they met.
The movie Casablanca ends when this character says, “Here’s looking at you, kid.”
Who is Rick? The movie quote is his goodbye to Ilsa as she and Victor are about to board their flight to Lisbon.
Played in odd years, this golf competition is between the United States and Europe, and the winner brings home the trophy of the same name.
What is the Ryder Cup? The championship began in 1927 at Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts.
In the 1960s, many parents shoved their kids out the door to play and told them to come home by the time these came on.
What are streetlights? Others marked the end of play with dinner bells that rang up and down the neighborhood. In those days, kids were free-range
This famous ship’s hull was completed in the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast in October 1910.
What is the Titanic? When the Titanic was set afloat, it was the largest ship ever to have sailed, but it was not the fastest.
This system is used in the United States for radio ratings.
What are Nielsen ratings? Nielsen began with radio ratings, added TV ratings, and now rates streaming platforms. If you’ve wondered whether streaming platforms are picking up steam, Nielsen proves they’ve already hit critical mass. The company measures live and on-demand reach for streaming platforms
Now hold it right there, Pilgrim—this actor is an icon of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
Who is John Wayne? Pilgrim was his signature word in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. He uses the word 25 times to refer to or address one or more people.
He holds the highest-ever electoral vote count at 525 in any one election.
Who is President Ronald Reagan? The year was 1984, and his opponent, Walter Mondale, received 13 electoral votes, the second-fewest electoral votes in history. It takes 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.
This once-routine playground ballgame required one or two inflatable balls, agility, and a strong will to survive.
What is dodgeball? Today’s gym class dodgeball games are of a gentler variety that prioritize safety over pummeling. Gym class as a whole has changed quite a bit over the years. According to voiceofedu.com, “Today, the focus is not just on physical activity but also on promoting lifelong healthy habits, fostering positive social-emotional development, and ensuring the safety and inclusivity of all students.”