Brain Teasers
What's Your Sign?
While usually pretty lucky, Fred had once again run into "Cut-my-own-throat" Dabney. This time he was at a gas station on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Fred was just trying to duck into a restroom to hide when he heard, "Hey, buddy!" and felt an arm descend onto his shoulders.
Fred rolled his eyes. "What?!"
"Hey, no need to get all dramatic, Freddy, my boy," Dabney said, "I just want to talk to you."
"Uh, huh," Fred replied. "And how much is it going to cost me?"
"Ha ha! That's a great one," Dabney answered. "But since you brought it up, I did just inherit a radio station that I'm looking to sell. It's in an up-and-coming suburb of Lincoln, Nebraska, and it would be perfect for you."
"Dabney, I know nothing about the radio business. How could it be perfect for me?"
"With modernization, you don't need to know anything. Just flip a switch and go. And," Dabney continued, "it's perfect for you because it's a mere $50,000."
Fred's eyes got wide. "But... "
"Here," Dabney interrupted him, "look at this picture of the place. It was built in 1998, went on the air in 1999, and just had a major overhaul. It's top of the line."
Despite himself, Fred was curious and took the picture for a closer look at the station. The call letters were clearly visible. "WHAT is the call sign?"
Dabney laughed, "I knew you'd get a kick out of that! Yep, the call letters are W-H-A-T, but you can request a change from the FCC if you want. Here's the title. See? It's all legit."
Fred didn't even bother looking at the document. He knew it was fake. "Get out of here, Dabney," he said. "I don't want your phony radio station."
How did Fred know the station was a fake?
Fred was just trying to duck into a restroom to hide when he heard, "Hey, buddy!" and felt an arm descend onto his shoulders.
Fred rolled his eyes. "What?!"
"Hey, no need to get all dramatic, Freddy, my boy," Dabney said, "I just want to talk to you."
"Uh, huh," Fred replied. "And how much is it going to cost me?"
"Ha ha! That's a great one," Dabney answered. "But since you brought it up, I did just inherit a radio station that I'm looking to sell. It's in an up-and-coming suburb of Lincoln, Nebraska, and it would be perfect for you."
"Dabney, I know nothing about the radio business. How could it be perfect for me?"
"With modernization, you don't need to know anything. Just flip a switch and go. And," Dabney continued, "it's perfect for you because it's a mere $50,000."
Fred's eyes got wide. "But... "
"Here," Dabney interrupted him, "look at this picture of the place. It was built in 1998, went on the air in 1999, and just had a major overhaul. It's top of the line."
Despite himself, Fred was curious and took the picture for a closer look at the station. The call letters were clearly visible. "WHAT is the call sign?"
Dabney laughed, "I knew you'd get a kick out of that! Yep, the call letters are W-H-A-T, but you can request a change from the FCC if you want. Here's the title. See? It's all legit."
Fred didn't even bother looking at the document. He knew it was fake. "Get out of here, Dabney," he said. "I don't want your phony radio station."
How did Fred know the station was a fake?
Answer
Fred knew that since 1923, all new radio and television stations west of the Mississippi river start with the call letter "K". Only stations to the east of the river have call signs that begin with "W". Fred also knew that ship call signs are the reverse ("W" in the west and "K" in the east), but since Lincoln is not known for its Pacific port, he knew that wasn't the case.Hide Answer Show Answer
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Comments
WOO i got it...ok not really but it was really fun
Having worked at radio stations I was aware of this info. Great trivia.
Ueah I did get it, but it was a little long!
I had no clue, I live on the east coast and all the radio stations start with W but I didn't know others started with K. Very cool!
Anyone old enough to remember "WKRP in Cincinnati" ???
That was my clue...."K-O-O-L" on the air...
That was my clue...."K-O-O-L" on the air...
I am the opposite of luckylefty. My radio stations start with K I didn't know there were W's.
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