Eight Is Enough

My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nine Pickles

My Very Excellent Mother Just Showed Us Nine Planets

I'm sure you've heard by now, but Mother will need to do something new to compensate for the loss of Pluto as our Ninth planet. It all began on August 14th, when the International Astronomical Union met for 12 days to determine what Pluto should be considered, when a celestial body was discovered larger than Pluto, nicknamed "Xena." (Now disappointingly dubbed "2003 UB313," until they ponder a better name. You can't beat "Xena," in my opinion.) They voted on Pluto's status and what defines a planet , and decided that our beloved Pluto doesn't qualify.

The implications of this change in textbooks, astrological charts, and teaching materials will be the size of a planet (or dwarf planet). The amount of Styrofoam saved alone from not making that ninth planet in the science fair diorama could be astronomical.

It's a bit saddening to see something we've all grown up with become nothing, a once-scientific fact our children will never learn. Although it is also a bit relieving for me personally to see the biggest piece of news this past week not stem from Hollywood or the Middle East.