So the holiday season is upon us. As we finish up finals and return to our respected homelands, we’ll soon be greeted with the obligatory holiday party circuit. We’ll hop from house to house - sometimes begrudgingly - and see friends and family of old.

Instead of telling them, for the millionth time, how your $200,000 degree in (Insert snooty liberal arts major here) actually will pay off in the long run, why don’t you drop this bombshell: George Bush is a liberal. Or this one: Obesity is not an epidemic. Or even this one: Creed is a good band.

I say this not because I necessarily agree with any of these things, but because they are part of an interesting list called “The Encyclopedia of Counterintuitive Thought” compiled by Alex Pareene of New York magazine. Its a list of statements that go against our common sense presumptions about the modern world, complete with the article or book that backs up the claim.

Its a provocative list and will definitely get everyone talking over the holidays when you bring it up. Check it here.