Why Do Pilots Say ‘Roger’? Not Everyone in WWII Could Speak English…..

Even if you haven’t heard it in real life, I’m guessing you’ve heard a pilot on TV say “Roger.” I bet you’ve even heard pilots say “Roger Wilco.” Have you ever wondered who Roger Wilco is? And why pilots like to say his name?

OK, Hollywood may have complicated it some what, like the example below – we all know what film this came from, don’t we?!

Roger Murdock: Flight 2-0-9’er, you are cleared for take-off.

Captain Oveur: Roger!

Roger Murdock: Huh?

Tower voice: L.A. departure frequency, 123 point 9’er.

Captain Oveur: Roger!

Roger Murdock: Huh?

Victor Basta: Request vector, over.

Captain Oveur: What?

Tower voice: Flight 2-0-9’er cleared for vector 324.

Roger Murdock: We have clearance, Clarence.

Captain Oveur: Roger, Roger. What’s our vector, Victor?

Tower voice: Tower’s radio clearance, over!

Captain Oveur: That’s Clarence Oveur. Over.

Tower voice: Over.

Captain Oveur: Roger.

Roger Murdock: Huh?

Tower voice: Roger, over!

Roger Murdock: What?

Captain Oveur: Huh?

Victor Basta: Who?

According to The Straight Dope, in 1927 “Roger” was the word chosen to represent the letter “R,” which is, of course, the first letter in the word “received.” In other words, a pilot would receive instructions, and to indicate he had received them, he’d say “Roger.” Why didn’t he just say “received”? Well, during WWII, not everyone spoke English, but “R” — or “Roger” — became the internationally accepted way of acknowledging receipt of instructions. (Of course, in 1957 the word “Roger” was replaced with the word “Romeo” but by that time, “Roger” and “received” were synonymous.)

So what about “Wilco”? Its story is even simpler: it’s an abbreviation of “will comply.” So when pilots say “Roger Wilco,” what they mean is “I received your instructions, and I will follow them.”

Roger?

Sources, 1,2,3

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The Day of the Skulls celebration in Bolivia

The Day of the Skulls is part of a vibrant ritual that mingles indigenous and Catholic beliefs. Every November, human skulls are honoured with special masses and paraded in cemeteries. Traditionally, the skull of one or more family members are kept at home to watch over the family and protect them during the year. On November 9, the family crowns the skull with fresh flowers, sometimes also dressing it up in various garments, and makes offerings of cigarettes, coca leaves, alcohol, and various other items in thanks for the year’s protection. The Catholic Church has no choice but to tolerate this ritual, even allowing the skulls to be brought to mass.

Information and image sources: 1 2 3

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12 Delicious Edible Insects

As any good Entomophage (eater of insects) knows, these twelve bugs are more than just pests… they’re what’s for dinner! In many cases people started eating these insects out of necessity, but these days they’ve become a delicacy. Read on to discover twelve insects that can be quite tasty.

Casu Marzu

In Sardinia, Italy, they eat a type of sheep’s milk cheese called Casu Marzu that is known to be crawling with insect larvae. This soft cheese has been fermented so long that it has actually begun to decompose, inviting the development of insect larvae that look like tiny translucent worms on the surface of the cheese. Some people remove the larvae before eating the cheese, but others eat it all, maggots and all.

Oven-Baked Tarantula

A unique Cambodian delicacy, tarantulas were originally consumed only during plagues but have since become standard fare. Tarantulas come pre-baked – simply remove fangs, warm, and serve.

Note: As our reader Harold points out, Tarantulas are actually arthropods, not insects. Still, we wouldn’t want to eat one!

Scorpion Sucker

These harmless California scorpions are encased in a delicious candy coating. According to the listing, scorpions are a major food source in many parts of the world, so sucking on a scorpion lollipop shouldn’t gross you out. No, not at all.

Termites

In Africa and parts of Indonesia, eating Termites is a way of life. Collected at the start of the rainy season when other sources of protein are scarce, termites are best eaten after being slightly roasted.

Pregnant Crickets

In the northeast area of Thailand, crickets laden with eggs are considered a tasty snack. These crickets are caught and flash-frozen in the wild then cleaned, cooked, and lightly salted. You can buy a bag of ready-to-eat pregnant crickets for less than $6.00.

Larvets Worm Snacks

These crunchy worms are baked and come in a variety of flavors including BBQ, Cheddar Cheese, and Mexican Spice. (Buy it here | Photo)

Giant Water Beetles

In Thailand, these beetles are de-shelled and then eaten either fried or roasted. Their taste is described as being similar to scallops.

Tequila Worm Lollipop

Now you can enjoy the taste of Tequila without all that pesky nudity and reckless behavior. Just suck on one of these sugar-free, Tequila-flavored lollipops, complete with an edible worm inside each pop. How many licks does it take to get to the worm? You tell us.

Weaver Ants Eggs

Weaver ants eggs can be collected for only one month per year in Thailand, and collecting the eggs is a time-consuming and often painful task. These eggs are described as being large and squishy, and they need to be cooked thoroughly before eating them on your salad or tortilla chips.

Chocolate-Covered Giant Ants

These Giant Queen Leafcutter ants are bathed in decadent Belgian chocolate. Their taste is described as “nutty” and they are said to boost the immune system and give those who eat them extra energy.

Witchetty Grubs

These large, white, wood-eating moth or beetle larvae are a staple in Aboriginal diets in Australia. Grubs are high in protein and edible either raw or lightly seared over fire coals.

Spicy Giant Bug Paste

Love spicy foods? This is the product for you! This dipping sauce contains crushed Giant Waterbugs (AKA Giant Scorpions) along with assorted Thai spices and chilis. This paste makes the perfect dipping sauce for tortillas, sticky rice, and all of those other edible insects you love to dip.

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6 Foods to Keep You Young

Olive Oil

Four decades ago, researchers from the Seven Countries Study concluded that the monounsaturated fats in olive oil were largely responsible for the low rates of heart disease and cancer on the Greek island of Crete. Now we know that olive oil also contains polyphenols, powerful antioxidants that may help prevent age-related diseases.



Yogurt

In the 1970s, Soviet Georgia was rumored to have more centenarians per capita than any other country. Reports at the time claimed that the secret of their long lives was yogurt, a food ubiquitous in their diets. While the age-defying powers of yogurt never have been proved directly, yogurt is rich in calcium, which helps stave off osteoporosis and contains 'good bacteria' that help maintain gut health and diminish the incidence of age-related intestinal illness.



Fish

Thirty years ago, researchers began to study why the native Inuits of Alaska were remarkably free of heart disease. The reason, scientists now think, is the extraordinary amount of fish they consume. Fish is an abundant source of omega-3 fats, which help prevent cholesterol buildup in arteries and protect against abnormal heart rhythms.



Chocolate

The Kuna people of the San Blas islands, off the coast of Panama, have a rate of heart disease that is nine times less than that of mainland Panamanians. The reason? The Kuna drink plenty of a beverage made with generous proportions of cocoa, which is unusually rich in flavanols that help preserve the healthy function of blood vessels. Maintaining youthful blood vessels lowers risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease and dementia.



Nuts

Studies of Seventh-Day Adventists(a religious denomination that emphasizes healthy living and a vegetarian diet) show that those who eat nuts gain, on average, an extra two and a half years. Nuts are rich sources of unsaturated fats, so they offer benefits similar to those associated with olive oil. They’re also concentrated sources of vitamins, minerals and other photochemical, including antioxidants.



Blueberries

In a landmark study published in 1999, researchers at Tufts University’s Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging fed rats blueberry extract for a period of time that in 'rat lives' is equivalent to 10 human years. These rats outperformed rats fed regular chow on tests of balance and coordination when they reached old age. Compounds in blueberries (and other berries) mitigate inflammation and oxidative damage, which are associated with age-related deficits in memory and motor function.

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