Iread an article last week that mentioned a myth I had never heard of: that, if there is no shaving cream available, it is possible to shave with peanut butter.
You can probably tell where this is heading.
Despite having an ample supply of shaving cream, I decided to channel my inner Adam Savage and bust this myth. Long story short, you can indeed shave your face with peanut butter — but be prepared for some sticky ramifications. I was afraid to get too close to anyone with a nut allergy for several days, lest I trigger a reaction with my peanut-infused pores.
Needless to say, the thrill of myth-busting has inspired me to do some research. That said, here are three of the more common “myths” I’ve heard people say in the last few days. If you adamantly disagree with my insight into these topics, please know that The Bison is not responsible for the opinions of their columnists, and all legal repercussions should be appropriately directed elsewhere.
“Pluto is not a planet.”
Actually, Galileo, Pluto is still considered a planet; however, it is classified as a “dwarf planet.” Pluto is a relatively recent discovery, having only been seen for the first time in 1930 by U.S. astronomer Clyde Tombaugh, and was temporarily given the name “Planet X.” About a year later, after a new name was suggested via snail mail from 11-year-old Venetia Burney, the planet was named after the Roman god of the underworld.
Then, in 2005, another object was discovered orbiting the sun beyond Pluto — this object was named Eris, and was hailed worldwide as the unofficial tenth planet for a little over a year. But alas, in 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) reworded the definition of a planet, which ultimately re-classified both Pluto and Eris as “dwarf planets.”
“You say ‘tomato,’ I say …”
Long hailed as the ultimate mediatory statement when two people aren’t seeing eye-to-eye, this is one of my pet peeves in life. Tomato (toe-MAY-toe) is the correct American pronunciation. Tomato (toe-MAH-toe) is the correct British pronunciation. So unless you’re UK born and raised, we are in America; I’m not going to let you dissolve our debate with such a fruity excuse (yes, tomatoes are fruits; let’s debunk two myths while we’re at it here).
And no, potato, po-TAH-to doesn’t work either. Nice try.
“Gif or jif?”
This should not even be a debate anymore. Maybe just enough time has passed that people have forgotten what happened three years ago, when Steve Wilhite — creator of the muted video clips we have all come to know and love — pronounced it live at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York. Well, he didn’t actually pronounce it. But as he accepted a lifetime achievement award at the 17th annual Webby Awards on May 21, 2013, a gif appeared on the screen above his head, dramatically spelling out five words: “It’s pronounced ‘Jif,’ not ‘Gif.'”
You know, like the peanut butter.
