This document contains hacked historical events where the facts of a real event have been adjusted to fit someone's political agenda. These hoaxes tend to make someone appear prophetic, evil, or saintly, depending on how the data is adjusted. The changes are generally small enough that someone reading the account and remembering the event would be fooled into thinking the event really happened the way it is described. These belong in the trash with all the other chain letters.
January 2002
Oliver North was involved in hearings concerning covert government support of the Iran Contra. However, someone wants us to think that he was involved with Bin Laden and that he was somehow prophetic in knowing that Bin Laden was a danger way back then. Just about everything in this message is refuted by Oliver North on his own website.
I was at a UNC lecture the other day where they played a video of Oliver North during the Iran-Contra deals during the Reagan administration. I was only 14 back then but was surprised by this particular clip. There was Olie in front of God and Country getting the third degree. But what he said stunned me. He was being drilled by some senator I didn't recognize who asked him; 'Did you not recently spend close to $60,000 for a home security system?' Oliver replied, 'Yes I did sir.' The senator continued, trying to get a laugh out of the audience, 'Isn't this just a little excessive?' 'No sir,' continued Oliver. 'No. And why not?' 'Because the life of my family and I were threatened.' 'Threatened? By who.' 'By a terrorist, sir.' 'Terrorist? What terrorist could possibly scare you that much?' 'His name is Osama bin Laden.' At this point the senator tried to repeat the name, but couldn't pronounce it, which most people back then probably couldn't. A couple of people laughed at the attempt. Then the senator continued. 'Why are you so afraid of this man?' 'Because sir, he is the most evil person alive that I know of.' 'And what do you recommend we do about him?' 'If it were me I would recommend an assassin team be formed to eliminate him and his men from the face of the earth.' The senator disagreed with this approach and that was all they showed of the clip. It's scary when you think 15 years ago the government was aware of Osama bin Laden and his potential threat to the security of the world. I guess like all great tyrants they start small but if left untended spread like the virus they truly are.
December 2001
This message was apparently started by someone with an anti-Hillary Clinton political agenda. If you check the Gold Star Mothers website, you will see that the two mothers who went to visit Hillary, did so without an appointment. The day they showed up, Hillary was not in the office, so of course she did not meet with them. I find it amazing how leaving out such a simple fact changes the warning into a big, fat Duh!
Gold Star Mothers is an organization made up of women whose sons were killed in military combat during service in the United States armed forces. Recently a delegation of New York State Gold Star Mothers made a trip to Washington, DC to discuss various concerns with their elected representatives. According to NewsMax.com there was only one politician in DC who refused to meet with these ladies. Can you guess which politician that might be? Was it New York Senator Charles Schumer? Nope,he met with them. Try again. Do you know anyone serving in the Senate who has never showed anything but contempt for our military? Do you happen to know the name of any politician in Washington who's husband once wrote of his loathing of the military? Now you're getting warm! You got it! None other than the Queen herself, Hillary Clinton. She refused repeated requests to meet with the Gold Star Mothers. Now---please don't tell me you're surprised. This woman wants to be president of the United States and there is a huge percentage of the voters who are eager to help her achieve that. Sincerely, Cdr Hamilton McWhorter USN(ret) Please forward this to as many people as you can. We don't want this woman to even think of running for President.
December 1999
This story apparently got started when Barbara Walters honored Jane Fonda as one of the "Century's 100 most Influental Women". There is no disputing the claim that Jane did go to North Vietnam in 1972, did particilate in an orchestrated press conference where she claimed that POWs were humanely treated, and did defame POWs, calling them liars, when they returned home and described their treatment. However, most of the other facts in this story are made up.
There is an excellent review of this hoax by David Emery on urbanlegends.about.com. He was able to talk to many of the people quoted in the story and they told him that most of the events described in the article did not happen.
KEEP THIS MOVING ACROSS AMERICA This is for all the kids born in the 70's that do not remember this, and didn't have to bear the burden, that our fathers, mothers, and older brothers and sisters had to bear. Jane Fonda is being honored as one of the "100 Women of the Century." Unfortunately, many have forgotten and still countless others have never known how Ms. Fonda betrayed not only the idea of our country but specific men who served and sacrificed during Vietnam. The first part of this is from an F-4E pilot. The pilot's name is Jerry Driscoll, a River Rat. In 1978, the former Commandant of the USAF Survival School was a POW in Ho Lo Prison-the "Hanoi Hilton." Dragged from a stinking cesspit of a cell, cleaned, fed, and dressed in clean PJs, he was ordered to describe for a visiting American "Peace Activist" the "lenient and humane treatment" he'd received. He spat at Ms. Fonda, was clubbed, and dragged away. During the subsequent beating, he fell forward upon the camp Commandant's feet, which sent that officer berserk. In '78, the AF Col. still suffered from double vision (which permanently ended his flying days) from the Vietnamese Col.'s frenzied application of a wooden baton. From 1963-65, Col. Larry Carrigan was in the 47FW/DO (F-4Es). He spent 6 -years in the "Hilton"- the first three of which he was "missing in action". His wife lived on faith that he was still alive. His group, too, got the cleaned/fed/clothed routine in preparation for a "peace delegation" visit. They, however, had time and devised a plan to get word to the world that they still survived. Each man secreted a tiny piece of paper, with his SSN on it, in the palm of his hand. When paraded before Ms. Fonda and a cameraman, she walked the line, shaking each man's hand and asking little encouraging snippets like: "Aren't you sorry you bombed babies?" and "Are you grateful for the humane treatment from your benevolent captors?" Believing this HAD to be an act, they each palmed her their sliver of paper. She took them all without missing a beat. At the end of the line and once the camera stopped rolling, to the shocked disbelief of the POWs, she turned to the officer in charge and handed him the little pile of papers. Three men died from the subsequent beatings. Col. Carrigan was almost number four but he survived, which is the only reason we know about her actions that day. I was a civilian economic development advisor in Vietnam, and was captured by the North Vietnamese communists in South Vietnam in 1968, and held for over 5 years. I spent 27 months in solitary confinement, one year in a cage in Cambodia, and one year in a "black box" in Hanoi. My North Vietnamese captors deliberately poisoned and murdered a female missionary, a nurse in a leprosarium in Ban me Thuot, South Vietnam, whom I buried in the jungle near the Cambodian border. At one time, I was weighing approximately 90 lb.. (My normal weight is 170 lb.) We were Jane Fonda's "war criminals." When Jane Fonda was in Hanoi, I was asked by the camp communist political officer if I would be willing to meet with Jane Fonda. I said yes, for I would like to tell her about the real treatment we POWs received different from the treatment purported by the North Vietnamese, and parroted by Jane Fonda, as "humane and lenient." Because of this, I spent three days on a rocky floor on my knees with outstretched arms with a large amount of steel placed on my hands, and beaten with a bamboo cane till my arms dipped. I had the opportunity to meet with Jane Fonda for a couple of hours after I was released. I asked her if she would be willing to debate me on TV. She did not answer me. This does not exemplify someone who should be honored as part of "100 Years of Great Women." Lest we forget..."100 years of great women" should never include a traitor whose hands are covered with the blood of so many patriots. There are few things I have strong visceral reactions to, but Hanoi Jane's participation in blatant treason, is one of them. Please take the time to forward to as many people as you possibly can. It will eventually end up on her computer and she needs to know that we will never forget.
December 2001
In this message, all the facts are wrong or distorted to make this appear to be a recent attack on our service men and women. In fact, it happened a year ago and by a totally different person. If you are going to argue politics, you need to at least get your facts straight.
We recently received an e-mail from Michael Bragg, the apparent writer of the original message. He indicates that he sent this letter to a few friends and that it appears to have gotten spread widely and changed along the way.
Subject: Military Pay Raise Military Raise Hard to believe - but then I guess wealthy Hollywood thinks like this!! On 12 November, Ms Cindy Williams (from the Laverne and Shirley TV show) wrote a piece for the Washington Times denouncing the pay raise(s) coming service members' way this year - citing that the stated 13% wage gap was bogus. A young airman from Hill AFB responds to her article below. He ought to get a bonus for this! Ms. Williams: I just had the pleasure of reading your column of 12 Nov, "Our GIs earn enough" and I am a bit confused. Frankly, I'm wondering where this vaunted overpayment is going, because as far as I can tell, it disappears every month between DFAS (The Defense Finance and Accounting Service) and my bank account. Checking my latest leave and earnings statement (LES), I see that I make $1,117.80, before taxes. After taxes, I take home $874.20. When I run that through Windows' Calculator, I come up with an annual salary of $13,413.60 before taxes, and $10,490.40 after. I work in the Air Force Network Control Center (AFNCC), where I am part of the team responsible for the administration of a 5,000-host computer network. I am involved with infrastructure segments, specifically with Cisco Systems equipment. A quick check under jobs for Network Technicians in the Washington, D.C. area reveals a position in my career field, requiring three years experience with my job. Amazingly, this job does NOT pay $13,413.60 a year, nor does it pay less than this. No, this job is being offered at $70,000 to $80,000 per annum. I'm sure you can draw the obvious conclusions. Also, you tout increases to Basic Allowance for Housing and Basic Allowance for Subsistence (housing and food allowances, respectively) as being a further boon to an already overcompensated force. Again, I'm curious as to where this money has gone, as BAH and BAS were both slashed 15% in the Hill AFB area effective in January 00. Given the tenor of your column, I would assume that you have NEVER had the pleasure of serving your country in her armed forces. Before you take it upon yourself to once more castigate congressional and DOD leadership for attempting to get the families in the military's lowest pay brackets off AFDC, WIC, and food stamps, I suggest that you join a group of deploying soldiers headed for AFGHANISTAN, I leave the choice of service branch up to you. Whatever choice you make, though, opt for the SIX month rotation: it will guarantee you the longest possible time away from your family and friends, thus giving you full "deployment experience". As your group prepares to board the plane, make sure to note the spouses and children who are saying good-bye to their loved ones. Also take care to note that several families are still unsure of how they'll be able to make ends meet while the primary breadwinner is gone, obviously they've been squandering the vast piles of cash the DOD has been giving them. Try to deploy over a major holiday; Christmas and Thanksgiving are perennial favorites. And when you're actually over there, sitting in a DFP Defensive Fire Position, the modern-day foxhole), shivering against the cold desert night, and the flight sergeant tells you that there aren't enough people on shift to relieve you for chow. Remember this, trade whatever MRE (meal-ready-to-eat) you manage to get for the tuna noodle casserole or cheese tortellini, and add Tabasco to everything, this gives some flavor. Talk to your loved ones as often as you are permitted; it won't nearly be long enough or often enough, but take what you can get and be thankful for it. You may have picked up on the fact that I disagree with most of the points you present in your op-ed piece. But, tomorrow from KABUL, I will defend to the death your right to say it. You see, I am an American fighting man, a guarantor of your First Amendment rights and every other right you cherish. On a daily basis, my brother and sister soldiers worldwide ensure that you and people like you can thumb your collective nose at us, all on a salary that is nothing short of pitiful and under conditions that would make most people cringe. We hemorrhage our best and brightest into the private sector because we can't offer the stability and pay of civilian companies. And you, Ms. Williams, have the gall to say that we make more than we deserve? Rubbish! A1C Michael Bragg, Hill AFB AFNCC IF YOU AGREE, PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AND SHOW OUR SUPPORT OF THE AMERICAN FIGHTING MEN AND WOMEN. THANK YOU. THIS LETTER SHOULD BE APPLAUDED BY ANYONE WHO'S EVER SERVED OR HAD A FAMILY MEMBER SERVE IN THE ARMED FORCES!
Febuary 2002
The writer of this hoax should have checked his facts before spreading malicious rumors. According to Fuji, this map was made by a company in the Republique de Cote d'Ivoire (the Ivory Coast) without their knowledge or consent. They are currently taking "Corrective Action" against the company.
"Fuji Anti-Semitism" Fuji Co. removed Israel from its complimentary world map that they give to their customers with the purchase. Yes, in Fuji stores abroad you receive the world map without Israel!!! According to Fuji, we just don't exist... It is most likely done to entice Arab customers. I am sure, that map without Israel makes Arabs happy, very happy... It is a very dangerous precedent - it looks like an indication that Arab calls for boycott of Israel start bearing fruits. Many Israelis today called for boycott of all Fuji products - film, cameras, batteries etc (see readers' responses in today's Yediot Aharonot). Luckily - there are alternatives: film - Kodak, Agfa, cameras - Nikon, Olympus, Samsung, Canon etc. I personally consider this Fuji's action the worst possible insult for our country and for me personally, and, until they apologize and re-print the map, I'm never buying anything made by Fuji and encourage you to do the same! Also, please spread the word around - I believe that Jewish buying power can do wonders. Even 3-5% reduction in Fuji's sales will cause them to reconsider. Also important to note - Subaru is Fuji. It somewhat narrows down selection of cars, but I still won't be able not to take it into consideration when the time comes.
May 2002
I have been seeing this one in various versions for the last few years. Probably the best analysis I have seen is on the snopes site. Essentially, Hilary Clinton (Former first lady and senator) and Bill Laun Lee (acting head of the Justice Department's civil rights division) are supposed to have defended the panthers and helped the murderers get off. The facts are that Mr. Lee was only an undergraduate at the time and Senator Clinton was a law student who was observing the trial for civil rights violations. Because they were there, this piece tries to make them culpable in the murder. This is a classic example of the logical fallacy, "Guilt by Association".
Paul Harvey's name was added to the hoax a couple of years later to try to make it appear legitimate but he had nothing to do with it.
Wake up, America! By Paul Harvey Conveniently Forgotten Facts Back in 1969 a group of Black Panthers decided that a fellow black panther named...Alex Rackley needed to die. Rackley was suspected of disloyalty. Rackley was first tied to a chair. Once safely immobilized, his friends tortured him for hours by, among other things, pouring boiling water on him. When they got tired of torturing Rackley, Black Panther member, Warren Kimbo took Rackley outside and put a bullet in his head. Rackley's body was later found floating in a river about 25 miles north of New Haven, Conn. Perhaps at this point you're curious as to what happened to these Black Panthers. In 1977, that's only eight years later, only one of the killers was still in jail. The shooter, Warren Kimbro, managed to get a scholarship to Harvard, and became good friends with none other than Al Gore. He later became an assistant dean at an Eastern Connecticut State College. Isn't that something? As a '60s radical you can pump a bullet into someone's head, and a few years later, in the same state, you can become an assistant college dean! Only in America! Erica Huggins was the lady who served the Panthers by boiling the water for Mr. Rackley's torture. Some years later Ms. Huggins was elected to a California School Board. How in the world do you think these killers got off so easy? Maybe it was in some part due to the efforts of two people who came to the defense of the Panthers. These two people actually went so far as to shut down Yale University with demonstrations in defense of the accused Black Panthers during their trial. One of these people was none other than Bill Lan Lee. Mr. Lee, or Mr. Lan Lee, as the case may be, isn't a college dean. He isn't a member of a California School Board. He is now head of the US Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, appointed by none other than our ex- President Bill Clinton. OK, so who was the other Panther defender? Is this other notable Panther defender now a school board member? Is this other Panther apologist now an assistant college dean? No, neither! The other Panther defender was, like Lee, a radical law student at Yale University at the time. She is now known as The "smartest woman in the world." She is none other than the Democratic senator from the State of New York----our former First Lady, the incredible Hillary Rodham Clinton. And now, as Paul Harvey said; You know "the rest of the story".
January 2003
This letter, which chastizes the French for their indifference to the plight of the Jews is supposed to have been written by Senator Joe Lieberman. The following statement is from the Senator's website.
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The hoax:
OPEN LETTER TO THE FRENCH PEOPLE FROM SENATOR JOE LIEBERMAN TO THE PEOPLE OF FRANCE - IN REMEMBRANCE Liberty, equality, fraternity! Does the French nation recall that slogan? The current French tolerance of and indifference to the wave of attacks upon French Jews speaks clearly of the decline of the French national character. The French have forgotten! Two hundred and some odd years ago the suffering French populace erupted in revolution against tyranny. They cried for and fought for liberty, fraternity, equality for all in every aspect of French society. The French have forgotten! But I remember! I still have in my mind the heartbreaking image of the Parisian gentleman from whose eyes the tears fell copiously as he watched the Nazi troops marching triumphantly into Paris. The face of that Frenchman still lives in my mind sixty years later. It is the same as the faces of so many French Jews today. The French have forgotten! But I remember! I remember the ecstasy, the flowers, the kisses with which the French people greeted their American and British liberators from Nazi terror. The French have forgotten! They have forgotten the dehumanizing result of terror upon themselves. They have forgotten the shame of Vichy France. Those who watch with indifference the attacks upon their neighbors sink into degeneracy themselves. The French have forgotten brotherhood and love of others than themselves. They have forgotten equal justice. They have forgotten that a nation without strength of morality and character is a nation already in the lower depths of degradation. So, just as the Swiss were part of the Nazi problem sixty years ago, the French are part of the problem of world terrorism today. As the French casually watch their Jewish citizens attacked let them remember how they, the French, acquiesced in cowardice at the rape of Czechoslovakia by the Nazis in 1938 only to suffer under the Nazi heel so soon after. My contempt for present day France is accompanied by great regret. We gave the lives of American boys to save them once. They have forgotten. However, we Americans have not forgotten. All Americans with integrity of character must boycott France. I hope large numbers of you will join me in this. If this e-mail is forwarded by just 1/2 of all recipients it could reach 10,000,000 Americans in a matter of days. Let's make the French remember! Joe Lieberman PLEASE - TAKE A MOMENT TO FORWARD THIS LETTER TO OTHERS
January 2003
This message describes a real, U.S., postage stamp, that was issued in August of 2001. The stamp was part of the postal service's Holiday Celebrations Series and highlighted the Muslim holiday of Eid. In this warning message, the writer is taking the very un-American position of blaming all members of the Muslim faith for the actions of a few extremists.
March 2003
I wasn't too sure where to put this one as it isn't really "hacked history" but totally invented history. If you search on the people mentioned in the message you turn up multiple websites with information about the assassination of Bill Gates in 1999 by a Alek Hidell and a supposed police cover-up. The pages include book reviews of a biography of the supposed killer, a fake Amazon.com page describing the book, a Movie page, copies of the incident report and others.
If you check all these addresses, you find that they are all owned by GMD Studios in Florida. I talked with GMD Studios and found out that the movie is real. It is a Faux Documentary on the supposed assassination of Bill Gates. The documentary was apparently done to look at the reactions of society to such an event, much like what happened during the Kennedy Assassination. The websites are there to promote the movie.
According to the studio, they have not promoted it as a hoax but apparently someone lifted the text from one of the web pages and sent it around, conveniently leaving out any mention that this is a spoof or that it is supposed to have happened in 1999.
From staff and wire reports LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Microsoft Corp. Chairman William H. Gates III was killed today in Los Angeles during an appearance at a charity event held in MacArthur Park. Hit by two bullets believed to have been shot from the adjacent Park Plaza Hotel, Gates was rushed by ambulance to nearby St. Vincent Medical Center, where doctors declared him dead on arrival at 12:46 p.m. PST. Police said a fleeing suspect identified as Alek Hidell was shot in the basement of the hotel by an LAPD officer after allegedly wounding another officer. Hidell died at County-USC Medical Center at 2:55 p.m. PST from those wounds. Police identified the wounded officer, listed in critical condition at St. Vincent Medical Center, as Tom Baker, who was deployed by the LAPD's Rampart division as part of the security precautions for Mr. Gates' unpublicized appearance. The officer who who shot Hidell, Jacob Powell, was a recent recruit with six months experience on the LAPD, police said. Appearing before an audience of roughly 200 invited guests and journalists to present a $100 million donation to local arts organization Arts 4 L.A., Mr. Gates was walking to the center of the band shell in MacArthur Park with an oversized presentation check when two shots struck him in the shoulder and chest. A number of witnesses reported seeing a figure on the roof of the Park Plaza Hotel fire the second shot at Mr. Gates. Other eyewitnesses reported seeing a man flee the hotel and enter a nearby restaurant. "Our investigation is still ongoing," announced LAPD Captain Jesse Day at a press conference this afternoon, "but at present, all evidence points towards Alek Hidell as the sole perpetrator of this crime." Police continue to treat both the park and hotel as active crime scenes. Lone gunman suspected, killed on scene Suspect Alek Hidell was described by LAPD spokespeople as "probably a lone gunman," although they stressed that the crime is currently under investigation. LAPD spokesman David J. Kalish said that Officer Powell was forced to shoot Hidell when the alleged assassin tried to shoot the officer. "[Hidell] attacked one officer [Baker] on the fifth floor of the hotel, then tried to attack Officer Powell in the basement. Officer Powell was forced to fire to defend himself." Per standard procedure, Powell was assigned to non-patrol duty pending the outcome of an internal investigation. Kalish said the suspect made "no statements of any kind" after being shot by Powell, despite apparently being alive in the hotel basement for over 50 minutes before being loaded into an ambulance. Responding to questions raised by police critics about the delay in allowing medical personnel to reach Hidell, Kalish stated, "Until officers on the scene were confident the scene was secure, we couldn't further jeopardize anyone's safety." Kalish also stated that Rampart Capt. Day also "personally" made the "difficult decision" to have Hidell treated at a different--and more distant--hospital than the one where both Gates and Baker were sent. "At the time, we were unsure if there were any additional accomplices involved in this crime," Kalish explained. Police officer clings to life Officer Baker, rushed via helicopter to the same hospital that treated Mr. Gates, was listed in critical but stable condition on life support. Officer Baker's family arrived at St. Vincent at 1:40 p.m. Baker was described as suffering from "several gunshot wounds" by hospital spokesperson Marisa Contel.
April 1999
For some reason this story keeps coming back. The exchange originally happened in April of 1999. This story is essentially true, however, it leaves out several important facts. For example, the person who replied from ABC was not an ABC spokesperson but a tech hired to manage the website. When ABC found out what had happened they apologised to Mr. Neugent and fired the tech.
A more complete copy of the exchange is available on the webminister.com website.
Jim writes: My name is Jim Neugent. I wrote to ABC on-line) concerning a program called "THE PRACTICE". One of the lawyer's mothers decided she is gay and wanted her son to go court to help her get amarriage license to marry her 'partner'. I sent the following letter to ABC yesterday and really did not expect a reply, but I did get one. My original message was: ABC is obsessed or should I say abscessed) with the subject of homosexuality. I will no longer watch any of your attempts to convince the world that homosexuality is OK. THE PRACTICE can be a fairly good show but last night's program was so typical of your agenda. You picked the 'dufus' of the office to be the one who was against the idea of his mother being gay and made him look like a whiner because he had convictions. This type of mentality calls people like me a "gay basher." Read the first chapter of Romans (that's in the Bible) and see what the apostle Paul had to say about it....He, God and Jesus were all 'gay bashers'. What if she'd fallen in love with her cocker spaniel? Is that an alternative lifestyle? (By the way, the Bible speaks against that, too.) --Jim Neugent Here is ABC's reply from the ABC on-line webmaster: How about getting your nose out of the Bible (which is ONLY a book of stories compiled by MANY different writers hundreds of years ago) and read the: declaration of Independence (what our nation is built on) where it: says "All Men are Created equal" - and try treating them that way for a change!? Or better yet,try thinking for yourself and stop using an archaic book of stories as your lame crutch for your existence. You are in the minority in this country and your boycott will not affect us or our freedom of statement. Jim Neugent's second response to ABC: Thanks for your reply. Evidently, I hit a nerve from your harsh reply. I will share it with all with whom I come in contact. Hopefully, the Arkansas Democrat Newspaper will include it in one of their columns. And I will be praying for you. -Jim Neugent Note: Wouldn't Satan just love it if people stopped using the Bible for a crutch? Please resend this to everyone in your mailbox. Thanks, Jim I wonder if the person from ABC considered how many people would read this e-mail!! This is one we should definitely pass on.
October 2003
This rumor started with a real investigation but the key card information got spread around out of context. The following letter from the Adjutant to the Chief of Police of the Pasadena Police Department puts it back into context. The result; Don't worry about it.
The following information is in response to numerous inquiries about an e-mail that was distributed regarding hotel card keys and personal information. Please take note and feel free to share with any constituents who may also have concerns. On October 6, 2003, Detective Sergeant Kathryn Jorge of the Pasadena Police Department received information from a group of Southern California fraud detectives who had formed a fraud investigations network through a local internet carrier. One of the members of this group from another San Gabriel Valley agency reported that in an investigation that he was personally involved in, he came across a plastic hotel card key from a major hotel that had personal information that could potentially lead to identify theft and fraud. This information included names, addresses, length of stay, and credit card numbers. This detective took the precautionary measure of notifying the detectives in the network prior to seeing if this practice was standard in the industry. As the investigation into this potential fraud risk continued, this information was shared with other members of the Pasadena Police Department and personnel chose to share this information with others before we could correctly evaluate the risk. This has caused a chain reaction of probably thousands of people being given this information before the risk was evaluated thoroughly. As of today, detectives have contacted several large hotels and computer companies using plastic card key technology and they assure us that personal information, especially credit card information, is not included on their key cards. The one incident referred to appears to be several years old, and with today's newer technology, it would appear that no hotels engage in the practice of storing personal information on key cards. Please share this information with anyone who has a concern over the initial information send out to others as a precautionary measure. There was never the intent of the Pasadena Police Department to forward this information to others before the risk was evaluated. The information was forwarded by individuals as a possible precautionary note of interest only. Janet A. Pope Adjutant to the Chief of Police/Public Information Official Pasadena Police Department 626.744.4537
ALL Check the below out...food for thought! USMS POC: Operations Support Division (202-xxx-xxxx) Courtesy of the Pasadena PD and the U.S. Mint: "Southern California law enforcement professionals assigned to detect new threats to personal security issues, recently discovered what type of information is embedded in the credit card type hotel room keys used through-out the industry. Although room keys differ from hotel to hotel, a key obtained from the "Double Tree" chain that was being used for a regional Identity Theft Presentation was found to contain the following the information: a.. Customer's (your) name b.. Customer's partial home address c.. Hotel room number d.. Check in date and check out date e.. Customer's (your) credit card number and expiration date! When you turn them in to the front desk your personal information is there for any employee to access by simply scanning the card in the hotel scanner. An employee can take a hand full of cards home and using a scanning device, access the information onto a laptop computer and go shopping at your expense. Simply put, hotels do not erase these cards until an employee issues the card to the next hotel guest. It is usually kept in a drawer at the front desk with YOUR INFORMATION ON IT!!!! The bottom line is, keep the cards or destroy them! NEVER leave them behind and NEVER turn them in to the front desk when you check out of a room. They will not charge you for the card. Information courtesy of: Sergeant K. Jorge, Detective Sergeant, Pasadena Police Department
October 2003
This is a very nice story, but nowhere in any of the biographies of Fleming have I found any reference to Churchill. In fact, Alexander Fleming went to medical school using funds he inherited from his Uncle. See the biographies of Fleming on the PBS and nobel websites for more information.
His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog. There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death. The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved. "I want to repay you," said the nobleman. "You saved my son's life." "No, I can't accept payment for what I did," the Scottish farmer replied waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel. "Is that your son?" the nobleman asked. "Yes," the farmer replied proudly. "I'll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education my own son will enjoy. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll no doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud of." And that he did. Farmer Fleming's son attended the very best schools and in time, graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin. Years afterward, the same nobleman's son who was saved from the bog was stricken with pneumonia. What saved his life this time? Penicillin. The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son's name? Sir Winston Churchill. Someone once said: What goes around comes around.
October 2003
There are a lot of good biographies of Mel Gibson available on the net and none of them have anything like the story below. Gibson moved to Australia when he was 12 years old and studied at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. He performed in numerous plays and eventually was cast in the film "Mad Max," which got his career moving. Whomever wrote this (not Paul Harvey) has spent too much time watching movies and not enough time experiencing reality.
An interesting Paul Harvey true story Here is a true story by Paul Harvey. Pass it to anyone who you think would find it interesting and inspiring. You will be surprised who this young man turned out to be. (Do not look at the bottom if this letter until you have read it fully.) Years ago a hardworking man took his family from New York State to Australia to take advantage of a work opportunity there. Part of this man's family was handsome young son who had aspirations of joining the circus as a trapeze artist or an actor. This young fellow, biding his time until a circus job or even one as a stagehand came along, worked at the local shipyards which bordered on the worse section of town. Walking home from work one evening this young man was attacked by five thugs who wanted to rob him. Instead of just giving up his money the young fellow resisted. However they bested him easily and proceeded to beat him to a pulp. They mashed his face with their boots, and kicked and beat his body brutally with clubs, leaving him for dead. When the police happened to find him lying in the road they assumed he was dead and called for the Morgue Wagon. On the way to the morgue a policeman heard him gasp for air, and they immediately took him to the emergency unit at the hospital. When he was placed on a gurney a nurse remarked to her horror, that his young man no longer had a face. Each eye socket was smashed, his skull, legs, and arms fractured, his nose literally hanging from his face, all is teeth were gone, and his jaw was almost completely torn from his skull. Although his life was spared he spent over a year in the hospital. When he finally left his body may have healed but his face was disgusting to look at. He was no longer the handsome youth that everyone admired. When the young man started to look for work again he was turned down by everyone just on account of the way he looked. One potential employer s uggested to him that he join the freak show at the circus as The Man Who Had No Face. And he did this for a while. He was still rejected by everyone and no one wanted to be seen in his company. He had thoughts of suicide. This went on for five years. One day he passed a church and sought some solace there. Entering the church he encountered a priest who had saw him sobbing while kneeling in a pew. The priest took pity on him and took him to the rectory where they talked at length. The priest was impressed with him to such a degree that he said that he would do everything possible for him that could be done to restore his dignity and life, if the young man would promise to be the best Catholic he could be, and trust in God's mercy to free him from his torturous life. The young man went to Mass and communion everyday, and after thanking God for saving his life, asked God to only give him peace of mind and the grace to be the best man he could ever be in His eyes. The priest, through his personal contacts was able to secure the services of the best plastic surgeon in Australia. They would be no cost to the young man, as the doctor was the priest's best friend. The doctor too was so impressed by the young man, whose outlook now on life, even though he had experienced the worse was filled with good humor and love. The surgery was a miraculous success. All the best dental work was also done for him. The young man became everything he promised God he would be. He was also blessed with a wonderful, beautiful wife, and many children, and success in an industry which would have been the furthest thing from his mind as a career if not for the goodness of God and the love of the people who cared for him. This he acknowledges publicly. The young man was and is Mel Gibson. His life was the inspiration for his production of the movie "The Man Without A Face." He is to be admired by all of us as a God fearing man, a political conservative, and an example to all as a true man of courage.
January 2004
This is a nice story that may bring a tear to your eye but is totally fabricated. The Stoddard of the Stoddard Cancer Wing at Iowa Methodist is Dr. John Stoddard not Teddy Stoddard.
Heart Test
As she stood in front of her 5th grade class
on the very first day of school, she told the
children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looked
at her students and said that she loved them all
the same. However, that was impossible, because
there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a
little boy named Teddy Stoddard.
Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year
before and noticed that he Did not play well with
the other children, that his clothes were messy and
that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy
could be unpleasant.
It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would
actually take delight in marking his papers with a
broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a
big "F" at the top of his papers.
At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she
was required to review each child's past records and
she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she
reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.
Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a
bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work
neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be
around.."
His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an
excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but
he is troubled because his mother has a terminal
illness and life at home must be a struggle."
His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's
death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best,
but his father doesn't show much interest and his
home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't
taken."
Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is
withdrawn and doesn't Show much interest in school.
He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes
sleeps in class."
By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and
she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when
her students brought her Christmas presents,
wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper,
except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped
in the heavy, brown paper That he got from a grocery
bag Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the
middle of the other presents. Some of the children
started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet
with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was
one-quarter full of perfume.. But she stifled the
children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty
the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of
the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed
after school that day just long enough to say,
"Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom
used to." After the children left, she cried for at
least an hour.
On that very day, she quit teaching reading,
writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach
children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to
Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to
come alive.
The more she encouraged him, the faster he
responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become
one of the smartest children in the class and,
despite her lie that she would love all the
children the same, Teddy became one of her
"teacher's pets.."
A year later, she found a note under her door,
from Teddy, telling* her that she was still the best
teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Six years went by before she got another note
from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high
school, third in his class, and she was still the
best teacher he ever had in life.
Four years after that, she got another letter,
saying that while things had been tough at times,
he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would
soon graduate from college with the highest of
honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still
the best and favorite teacher he had ever had in his
whole life.
Then four more years passed and yet another
letter came. This time he explained that after he
got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little
further. The letter explained that she was still the
best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his
name was a little longer.... The letter was signed,
Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.
The story does not end there. You see, there
was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he
had met this girl and was going to be married.
He explained that his father had died a couple
of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson
might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that
was usually reserved for the mother of the groom.
Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what?
She wore that bracelet, the one with several
rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was
wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother
wearing on their last Christmas together.
They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard
whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you Mrs.
Thompson for* believing in me. Thank you so much
for making me feel important and showing me that I
could make a difference."
Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes,
whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all
wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could
make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until
I met you."
(For you that don't know, Teddy Stoddard is
the Dr. at Iowa Methodist in Des Moines that has the
Stoddard Cancer Wing.)
Warm someone's heart today. . . pass this
along. I love this story so very much, I cry every
time I read it. Just try to make a difference in
someone's life today? tomorrow? just "do it".
Random acts of kindness, I think they call it?
"Believe in Angels, then return the favor"
January 2005
In this message, the writer complains that the World War II memorial foundation has edited Roosevelt's words when they placed them on the monument. In fact, they just used a different sentence from the one being complained about by the writer.
The actual inscription is the following,
PEARL HARBOR DECEMBER 7, 1941, A DATE WHICH WILL LIVE IN INFAMY…NO MATTER HOW LONG IT MAY TAKE US TO OVERCOME THIS PREMEDITATED INVASION, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, IN THEIR RIGHTEOUS MIGHT, WILL WIN THROUGH TO ABSOLUTE VICTORY.
Information abut the memorial is available on the National WW II Memorial website. Roosevelt's complete speech can be viewed at the University of Oklahoma Law Center.
To: Operations (ABMC) Subject: ATTN: American Battle Monuments Commission On the World War II Memorial in Washington DC, I PROTEST the editing of President Roosevelt's words used to announce the attack on Pearl Harbor! He said specifically: "Yesterday, December 7, 1941 -- a date which will live in infamy -- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked. With confidence in our Armed Forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph, SO HELP US GOD." This protest is lodged on behalf of those who lived, served, and fought for the United States of America (one nation under God) ... and specifically for my father and his SIX brothers who are veterans of that war. Respectfully submitted,
March 2005
This story about Neil Armstrong saying, "Good Luck Mr. Gorsky," just before he stepped onto the surface of the moon has been around for many years. It is a cute story but if you check the transcripts of what was actually said, you will see that it never happened.
NASA Trasncripts of the First Step On the Moon
Subject: Neil Armstrong GUARANTEED TO MAKE YOU SMILE..... ESPECIALLY SINCE IT'S A TRUE STORY. ON JULY 20, 1969, AS COMMANDER OF THE APOLLO 11 LUNAR MODULE, NEIL ARMSTRONG WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO SET FOOT ON THE MOON. HIS FIRST WORDS AFTER STEPPING ON THE MOON, "THAT'S ONE SMALL STEP FOR MAN, ONE GIANT LEAP FOR MANKIND," WERE TELEVISED TO EARTH AND HEARD BY MILLIONS. BUT JUST BEFORE HE REENTERED THE LANDER, HE MADE THE ENIGMATIC REMARK "GOOD LUCK, MR. GORSKY." MANY PEOPLE AT NASA THOUGH IT WAS A CASUAL REMARK CONCERNING SOME RIVAL SOVIET COSMONAUT. HOWEVER, UPON CHECKING, THERE WAS NO GORSKY IN EITHER THE RUSSIAN OR AMERICAN SPACE PROGRAMS. OVER THE YEARS MANY PEOPLE QUESTIONED ARMSTRONG AS TO WHAT THE "GOOD LUCK, MR. GORSKY... STATEMENT MEANT, BUT ARMSTRONG ALWAYS JUST SMILED. ON JULY 5, 1995, IN TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA, WHILE ANSWERING QUESTIONS FOLLOWING A SPEECH, A REPORTER BROUGHT UP THE 26-YEAR-OLD QUESTION TO ARMSTRONG. THIS TIME HE FINALLY RESPONDED. MR. GORSKY HAD DIED, SO NEIL ARMSTRONG FELT HE COULD ANSWER THE QUESTION. IN 1938 WHEN HE WAS A KID IN A SMALL MIDWEST TOWN, HE WAS PLAYING BASEBALL WITH A FRIEND IN THE BACKYARD. HIS FRIEND HIT THE BALL, WHICH LANDED IN HIS NEIGHBOR'S YARD BY THE BEDROOM WINDOWS. HIS NEIGHBORS WERE MR. AND MRS. GORSKY. AS HE LEANED DOWN TO PICK UP THE BALL, YOUNG ARMSTRONG HEARD MRS. GORSKY SHOUTING AT MR. GORSKY. "SEX! YOU WANT SEX?! YOU'LL GET SEX WHEN THE KID NEXT DOOR WALKS ON THE MOON!" TRUE STORY
June 2005
This story about the origin of taps pops up every so often and while the seitiment of the writer is right on, it is just that, a nice story. The known history of TAPS is well laid out by Jari A. Villanueva, the former curator of the Taps Bugle Exhibit http://www.arlingtoncemetery.com/tapsproj.htm at Arlington National Cemetery. Taps was apparently a modification of an earlier melody borrowed from the French. It was modified by General Butterfield of the Union army after the Seven Days Battles of the Peninsular Campaign of 1862.
See: http://www.tapsbugler.com
TAPS If any of you have ever been to a military funeral in which taps were played; this brings out a new meaning of it. Here is something Every American should know Until I read this, I didn't know, but I checked it out and it's true: We in the United Stateshave all heard the haunting song, "Taps". It's the song that gives us that lump in our throats and usually tears in our eyes. But, do you know the story behind the song? If not, I think you will be interested to find out about its humble beginnings. Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison's Landing in Virginia. The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land. During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moans of a soldier who lay severely wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment. When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead. The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army. The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial, despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted. The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral. The request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate. But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician. The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform. This wish was granted. The haunting melody, we now know as "Taps" .... used at military funerals was born. The words are : Day is done. Gone the sun. From the lakes. From the hills. From the sky. All is well. Safely rest. God is nigh. Fading light. Dims the sight. And a star. Gems the sky. Gleaming bright. From afar. Drawing nigh. Falls the night. Thanks and praise. For ourdays. Neath the sun. Neath the stars. Neath the sky. As we go. This we know. God is nigh I, too, have felt the chills while listening to "Taps" but I have never seen all the words to the song until now. I didn't even know there was more than one verse. I also never knew the story behind the song and I didn't know if you had either so I thought I'd pass it along. I now have an even deeper respect for the song than I did before. Remember Those Lost and Harmed While Serving Their Country.
June 2005
Most of the information in this one is true, but it was in 2003 not 2005. Someone apparently found an old e-mail about the closest approach of Mars in 2003 and sent it around again, not realizing that the event was over with two years ago.
Mars Spectacular! The Red Planet is about to be spectacular! This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287. Due to the was Jupiter's gravity tugs on Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars has not come this close to Earth in the Last 5,000 years, but it may be as long as 60,000 years before it happens again. The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles of Earth and will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9 and will appear 25.11 arc seconds wide. At a modest 75 power magnification Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. Mars will be easy to spot. At the beginning of August it will rise in the east at 10p.m. and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m. By the end of August when the two planets are closest, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30a.m. That's pretty convenient to see something that no human being has seen in recorded history. So, mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Mars grow progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month. Share this with your children and grandchildren, your friends. NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN
June 2006
The pictured statues were created by the Iraqi artist Kalat Alussy but not because he was grateful that the Americans had liberated his country, but because he was paid to do so. The statues were commissioned by the 4th infantry division at Fort Hood. Also contrary to the message, this was covered in the news as I remember reading about it.
An excellent writeup is available on snopes, including interviews with Kalat.
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