The KPRC Radio Gardenline Tip By Randy Lemmon For 09-18-03 Printer-Friendly Version
DEBUNKING SOME URBAN MYTHS WITH GARDENLINE TIES
At the end of last week's email tip on Love Bugs, I noted the website SNOPES.COM.
I referred you to the specific link about debunking the rumor of where Love Bugs "supposedly" came from. If you read it, wasn't that some pretty funny stuff?
But I also want to show you how much more fun it can be in debunking various other urban myths that I feel have a GardenLine slant to them. In fact, I have referred no less than 6 people to SNOPES.COM just following the Spider Email Tip from a month ago. The reason: In the recent spider email tip, I noted how there are only two poisonous spiders that we really need to concern ourselves with - The Brown Recluse and the Black Widow. Well, four people sent me a series of pictures (which I have seen several times in the past) "supposedly" showing the gruesome timetable of a Brown Recluse bite. Snopes did some investigating of their own, and while they won't say it's definitely "NOT" related to a Brown Recluse bite, they do examine its dubious nature. Click below for the Snopes' investigation, but also be forewarned that the pictures are rather graphic, and not for the faint at heart - or stomach.
< http://www.snopes.com/photos/brownrecluse.asp >
The other two emails were from people countering that Daddy Long-Leg Spiders were also supposed to be very poisonous. What little entomological schooling I did get at A&M reminded me that this was a bunch of hooey. Nevertheless, I went back to Snopes for a little re-assurance. Sure enough, they have the statement listed in their urban myths as well. Bottom Line - Daddy Long-Legs are not poisonous to humans.
< http://www.snopes.com/critters/wild/longlegs.htm >
As you can tell, I really like the Snopes website. I've helped friends and family members stop those incessant email chains, such as the Oliver North testimony regarding Osama Bin Laden with the help of SNOPES.COM. And, I get at least one chance per year to help put down the perennial email chain regarding "human organ harvesting."
And while I could go on all day about Snopes, I hope you'll search their website for yourself. Meanwhile, check out this one other debunked urban myth that I also think has a GardenLine link. If at any time you're helping someone plan a wedding, and they won't throw rice because they're worried its effect on birds eating it and "exploding," tell them it's just an urban myth. And it too can be read about at this Snopes link.
< http://www.snopes.com/weddings/horrors/birdrice.htm >
Until next issue, here's to
Great Gardening from the GardenLine, heard
exclusively weekend mornings from 8 to noon
on Talkradio 950 KPRC.