Banter Bites

Forget The Bar Of Soap. Don’t Slip On The Orange.

Shower essentials – soap, shampoo, and … an orange?!

BANTER BITE BACKSTORY: For Red, fad or no fad, eating an orange in a shower seemed silly; while for Black, she could argue both the pros and cons but needed more research.


Red assumed eating an orange in a shower was another one of those unusual challenges started on TikTok that went viral, so was surprised when Black explained it started on Reddit back in 2015. But it seemed harmless enough, although she wondered about slipping on the peels in the shower.

Black saw it as the power of social media to make something as basic as eating an orange into a viral sensation that went mainstream as even “The Guardian” wrote about it, complete with discussions about its pros and cons.

So, with a little eye-rolling, Red admitted she didn’t get it, but that may be because she’s never been a huge fan of oranges, but then looked at it from the perspective of a mom,

I love that eating oranges in the shower avoids sticky fingers and countertops and whatever else you touch, but … isn’t it a bit counterproductive as you still have to clean up all the orange peel and pits once you’re done with the shower?

Black, on the other hand, is a huge fan of sumo oranges, although she thought blood oranges might be a more amusing choice for the shower. Regardless, she had read where people claimed that eating an orange in the shower made them feel happy, and wondered if it was the aromatherapy aspects of the hot water mixing with the orange peels,

I typically use eucalyptus oil in the shower, but in the interest of “research”, decided to test drive the “shower orange”. And, in terms of whether I found a noticeable sensory benefit, all I will say is, try it for yourself. If you derive a feeling of happiness, or it just makes you smile, then … orange you glad you tried it?

This is one of Red’s favorite Banter Bites in large part because of Black’s “corny” puns, but also because fresh corn is a summer staple – whether cooked on the grill or in the microwave, whether eaten on its own or as a primary ingredient in refreshing summer salads


This may be one of the corniest things you’ll ever read.

BANTER BITE BACKSTORY: It’s just a vegetable, so how can it possibly elicit such a strong reaction from Red, while, for Black, it’s more a source of amusement and even, it turns out, admiration?

Keep Reading ...Show less

Think you can avoid artificial intelligence? Think again …

BANTER BITE BACKSTORY: Red already fights technology at every turn, preferring to keep her ostrich head in the sand, plus, she finds Artificial Intelligence (AI) scary; whereas Black knows ignoring reality merely postpones the inevitable, so she’s started playing with AI to understand it better …

Keep Reading ...Show less

A man better known for his death than his life, although Red, the straight-A student and history lover, immediately thinks of the costly and controversial movie of his life. (Well, technically, it was the life of Cleopatra.) Black, of course, focuses on business – leadership lessons, including the power of words, although she surprises Red with some food trivia. But the fact July’s named after him is the perfect excuse to rerun one of Red’s favorite Banter Bites …

Quick! If someone says "Julius Caesar," what comes to mind?

BANTER BITE BACKSTORY: Almost everyone has heard of Julius Caesar, but how many of us really know much about him, or at least that's what Red starts to wonder when she receives the usual flippant, but still accurate, reply from her sister, after feeling very proud that she knew that July was named after the famous Roman.

Keep Reading ...Show less