Myth Busters
This never strikes twice.
What is lightning?
The Washington Monument was struck by lightning in August 2021, and it’s not an unusual occurrence. The monument sometimes gets struck multiple times in a year
In 1957, the Soviets launched this animal into space.
What is dog?
Laika, a mostly Siberian husky, rode aboard a Sputnik (Muttnik) spacecraft
This over-the-counter medication is billed as “plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is.”
What is Alka-Seltzer? Alka-Seltzer has some hilarious vintage commercials.
TGIF
What is Friday?
TGIF stands for Thank goodness it’s Friday
What newspaper’s motto is “All the News That’s Fit to Print”?
The New York Times.
The slogan was created in 1896 by and was first used on the editorial page. The motto gained front-page status in February 1897 and is still used today
We were told as children that if we took part in this summertime activity after eating, we would get muscle cramps.
What is swimming?
It’s true that the stomach requires extra blood to help with digestion but not enough to cause muscle cramps.
This 1950s invention makes it easier to steer your car when driving.
What is power steering?
It was introduced in 1951. By the mid-1950s, more than two million cars were equipped with it.
This fast-food burger restaurant was famous for its “Where’s the beef?” campaign.
What is Wendy’s?
This classic commercial showed a senior woman opening the hamburger bun of a competitor to find only a tiny burger in it.
Hump Day
What is Wednesday?
It’s named for the middle of the week. Once we reach Wednesday, it’s downhill to the weekend. The term was coined in the 1950s.
How long does it take for Earth to revolve around the sun?
One year.
At present this is equal to 365.2425 days. But Earth’s rotation is not constant, so in 100 years, a 24-hour day will increase by two milliseconds.
Some say adding this to water makes it boil faster.
What is salt?
Salt water has a higher temperature than non-salted water, but it has a higher boiling point. The decrease in time it takes for the water to boil is negligible—so negligible that you won’t notice it.
In 1955, these two labor organizations merged to form the huge umbrella organization under which most labor unions fall.
What are AFL and CIO?
The resulting organization is the AFL-CIO. One notable exception is the Teamsters, which split from the organization in 2005
“A little dab’ll do ya.”
What is Brylcreem?
You can still buy it, and the tagline is the same.
Federal election day in the United States
What is Tuesday?
Federal elections in Canada are held on Mondays unless Monday is a federal holiday; then they are held on Tuesday. The most common election day around the world is Sunday.
What is the main ingredient in guacamole?
Avocado.
Guacamole has been a dish since 500 BC in Central and South America.
We have been told this French military leader and emperor is short. In fact, we have named a “short man’s complex” after him.
Who is Napoleon?
The average height of a man in France during the early 1800s was roughly 5' 3". Napoleon was 5' 5" tall and therefore, of above average height among his peers.
In 1959, the airlines were launched into this age.
What is jet?
American Airlines was the first airline to fly a passenger jet. It flew a 707 from Los Angeles to New York City, and the flight took around four hours.
Owners believe this Bavarian auto’s slogan should be “bring money or walk” instead of “Ultimate Driving Machine.”
What is BMW?
They say “bring money or walk” because BMW repairs are expensive.
Presidents’ Day and Martin Luther King’s birthday
What is Monday?
Some U.S. federal holidays have been moved to Monday due to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, enacted in 1968.
What famous rag doll with red yarn for hair made her debut in a children’s book first published in 1918?
Raggedy Ann.
Writer and illustrator Johnny Gruelle received a patent for the doll in 1915, which was distributed with the first book of the series, Raggedy Ann Stories.
TV shows have taught us that we must wait at least this long before reporting a missing person.
What is 24 hours?
There is no time restriction, and the first 48 hours is critical to finding the missing person.
The four-minute mile was first achieved by this person in 1954.
Who is Roger Bannister?
He was a full-time medical student at the time.
This car rental company proudly admitted they weren’t No. 1 when they ran with the tagline “We try harder.”
What is Avis?
They dropped the campaign when they realized they might start coming in at No. 3.
Throwback day
What is Thursday?
On social media, Throwback Thursday is the day to share memories from the past. It’s also the day companies update archived data.
What traditionally occurs in a Jewish wedding to conclude the ceremony?
Breaking of the glass.
Once this happens, everyone yells, “Mazel tov!,” which means “Congratulations!” The glass is often a wine glass, but some contemporary weddings use a lightbulb, which is easier to break and makes more of a popping noise.