An article by Sonya Maynard in a past issue of Smithsonian Magazine got Murph to "exploring" about some of our most famous "government" mascots.. 

A little trivial tidbit on JEOPARDY got Murph started on this research rabbit trail about the Most Boring day of the last century-April 11,1954...

On New Years Eve Day we lost the beloved Betty White--This edition of Murph's Things I learned on the way to somewhere else takes us to Rose of St. Olafs but has detours to Dotto, Split Second and Superman... 

The many stories and odd facts behind the simple "Candy Cane" took our man Murph on quite a journey this time on Murph's Things I learned on the way to somewhere else: CANDY CANE LANE 

It's one of Murph's Obsessions (besides Penguins, Toys and just about anything with Peanut Butter in it) HALLMARK CHRISTMAS MOVIES --Ever heard of Nilson's Bay, Wisconsin ? Turns out Murph has.. check it out on this special Holiday edition of Murph's podcast-- Murph's Things I learned on the way to somewhere else.. 

Its a color we are VERY FAMILIAR with this time of year in Wisconsin, but WE didn't start the FIRE--Have to look to New England for that ..on this episode of Murph's Things I learned on the way to somewhere else-BLAZE ORANGE 

Dwight Eisenhower, my secret recipe for homemade cranberries and Wisconsin Author Jerry Apps turn up in this special pre-Thanksgiving episode of MURPH'S THINGS I LEARNED ON THE WAY TO SOMEWHERE ELSE: CRANBERRIES.

As BOTH and Eagles and Don Henley Fan, Murph tends to dig a little deep when it comes to his random research--jewelry, drumming, home design and inspiration for songs all figure into this journey on Murph's Things I learned: DON HENLEY's GIRLFRIENDS 

Somehow, this starts with a love for college football and wanders off to a building in New York City, Albeit a famous one. And EAU CLAIRE gets  a shout out in here too.   

A trivial trail that takes us to a Nashville Hotel, a 1940's Radio Show, Hurricane Katrina and a Fictional Coffee Bean Buyer who also spent some time on The Time Tunnel--Murph's Things I learned on the way to somewhere else: COFFEE 

Captain James T. Kirk ( or at least the guy who played him on my 12 inch screen in about 1966) went to space and that got me going on a space-themed journey into research I didn't really need to do.. TO THE MOON on Murph's  Things I learned on the way to somewhere else,,, 

Just look around Western Wisconsin, especially Chippewa and Eau Claire Counties--A Young Man's ( and woman's) fancy turns to ...APPLES..  So what's up with this phrase..Apple of My Eye..where did it come from? Murph goes looking.. 

This winding road of interesting but slightly obscure trivia is information gleaned from wikipedia and a variety of other sources..and on today's episode Murph takes us from a childhood favorite HIGHLIGHTS Magazine for Children to a couple of grown up favorites , all with ties to Honesdale, PA..

A search for TV THEME info,finds Murph learning alot about one of his favorite TV actresses, Angie Dickinson ..and then some..  

Much like RADIO, Its in your ear (or on your ear) The Story of BLUETOOTH and its curious name.

You Might have heard I am a fan  of Mascots..that;s what got me started on this jag..

Arnold Ziffel , Porky and a couple of other famous Pigs make an appearance in this latest episode of : Murph's Things I learned on the way to somewhere else: PIGS WITHOUT PANTS ! 

It's time to take to the High Seas with Murph and a big batch of YACHT ROCK tutelage,courtesy of Wikipedia, Joel Whitburn and half a dozen other interweb resources--this week on Murph's Things I learned on the way to somewhere else...

It starts off with research about one of the BEST things about Wisconsin, journeys through a legendary rock musician and ends up with a 1940's femme fatale--I'd say "Skip it ! " but somebody already does that for me.. 

A little diversion excursion starts at a maple tree and ends at a connection to as battery commercial with detours to Gunsmoke, and a visit to the history of Log Cabin Syrup somewhere along the line on this encore edition of Murph's Things I Learned on the way to somewhere else--LOG CABIN SYRUP. 

Somehow, a 1930's innovation taking kids off the streets leads Murph not just to The Simpsons but to Romper Room on this episode of Murph's Things I learned on the way to somewhere else.. 

So It turns out that CHRISTMAS IN JULY began at a Summer Camp but there's a few twists and turns after that..on this episode of Murph's Things I learned on the way to somewhere else.. 

From the creation of the Pink Flamingo to a secret we'd better not share with Alex Edwards :)  All part of Murph's Things I learned on the way to somewhere else !

Sometimes this research stays on track, most of the way and then next thing you know we're talking weapons and golf clubs-- that's what happens as we tackle the stories behind BIG BERTHA on Murph's Things I learned on the way to somewhere else :) 

A cereal fan's mind can wander..and there's more to learn than JUST what is on the back of a cereal box as we find out in this episode of Murph's Things I learned on the way to somewhere else: Snap, Crackle and Pop ! 

We celebrate FLAGS this week (Monday after all was FLAG DAY ) -- Somehow this rabbit trail of research leads us to FRIED GREEN TOMATOES, Polyester and what the stars on the Australian flag are all about.. 

Phil Tripper's turn of a phrase got Murph started on this journey down research road  ( Warning: DEVO and Gordon Ramsay references may lie ahead) .. 

The Official Name of our theme weekend THIS weekend is RUNNERS UP weekend but since it features songs that were all # 2's, you might see how we could get a bit distracted, this week on Murph's Things I learned on the way to somewhere else THE NUMBER TWO  

Yes, this episode is SOME about the history of PAPER AIRPLANES but somehow Leonardo Da Vinci, Alex Edwards and one way to get the attention of a girl become part of this episode of Murph's Things I Learned on the Way to Somewhere Else: Paper Airplanes ! 

Sometimes things meant to protect our shoes from Mother Nature (and what not) could lead us to learn how a King and a Flower Show figure into all of this..learn more about SPATS (the kind for your feet, Not the kind Archie and Edith used to have on ALL IN THE FAMILY ) 

From Drummer to DEADHEAD, with a detour to the gridiron with plenty of Minnesota references..all THAT and then some on Murph's Things I learned on the way to somewhere else: DEADHEADS ! 

Architecture, Burton Cummings and a Men's Club in Duluth all figure into this episode of Murph's Things I learned on the way to somewhere else-Libraries !  

From a song in 1981 from ELO to Coffee during a Pandemic, with some Ink Spots along the way--Its all HERE with Murph's Things I learned on the way to somewhere else !  

The name UNDERWOOD is more common than you think--Not just CARRIE and not just the typewriters..listen as Murph takes us on a journey that somehow ties into income taxes ..

This weekend we salute and celebrate  the Class of 81 with our Greatest Hits 98.1 Class Reunion Weekends presented by WESTCONSIN CREDIT UNION--On this episode of Murph's Things.. a trivial trail leads us to a number of movies connected to class reunions... 

Music and foreign countries some how meet up in this connect the dots between QUEEN and IRAN episode of Murph's Things I learned on the way to somewhere else podcast: QUEEN AND IRAN 

Listening to your favorite songs on the car radio is an American Tradition(and thank you for listening to Greatest Hits 98.1 ! ) But what is the history behind the car radio--Murph shares some of it on Murph's things I learned on the way to somewhere else: CAR RADIOS 

It started with Murph watching Chippewa Falls McDonnell play Hustisford and THAT led to a winding journey of Wisconsin History..something called the Toilet Bowl and a television hero are all part of this episode of Murph's things I learned on the way to somewhere else: HUSTISFORD 

It started with 68 teams, and that's a whole lot of animals and a whole lot of people--ride along with Murph on this research tour all about the thing with basketball we love so much in March. 

You Bet this was well worth the research--You Betcha !   You might even hear yourself in this trip down the road less traveled of why we say what we say...on Murph's Things I learned on the way to somewhere else: YOU BETCHA 

This was so much fun, a history trip with stop offs featuring Miss Eau Claire, Parakeets and the cost of music at Musicland, back in the day on Murph's Things I learned on the way to somewhere else LONDON SQUARE MALL 

Oh, the dangers of sharpened pencils, but what does that to do with a fort in New York, or something called a BLACKWING? Find out more with Murph's Things I learned on the way to somewhere else. 

Yes, Its a popular game but it also has a history that goes back to World War One, and there is a connection to Bridal Showers. Check it out on Murph's Things I learned on the way to somewhere else. 

Really, something as simple as a paper clip leads us to Bert and Ernie, and later to Sweden and World War Two on this episode of Murph's Things I learned on the way to somewhere else.