Urban myths and legends have been with us since times beyond remembering and are likely to be with us well into the future. Urban myths are generally stories about something bad happening to some person or animal that is purported to be absolutely true by the writer. They will likely contain all sorts of information to try to trick you into believing that the writer is a real person and that he knows what he is talking about. In all cases, if you bother to check out the person who supposedly wrote the letter you will find out that they either do not exist or they exist but never wrote the story (and would really like people to stop asking them about it.)
Last modified: Friday, 03-Aug-2007 14:52:18 PDT
Variants of this e-mail message have been circulating the Internet. This warning is a hoax. There is no such thing as a "cleanup day" for the Internet. If each web site shutdown their web server there would be NO Internet to clean. The e-mail message is usually forged with an ambiguous signature. CIAC recommends that you trash any message related to this subject. Please, DO NOT circulate.
Subj: Internet Cleanup Day
THIS MESSAGE WILL AGAIN BE REPEATED IN MID FEBRUARY.
*** Attention ***
It's that time again!
As many of you know, each year the Internet must be shut down for 24
hours in order to allow us to clean it. The cleaning process, which
eliminates dead email and inactive ftp, www and gopher sites, allows for a
better working and faster Internet.
This year, the cleaning process will take place from 12:01 a.m.. GMT on
February 27 until 12:01 a.m. GMT on February 28 (the time least likely to
interfere with ongoing work). During that 24-hour period, five powerful
Internet search engines situated around the world will search the
Internet and delete any data that they find.
In order to protect your valuable data from deletion we ask that you do
the following:
1. Disconnect all terminals and local area networks from their
Internet connections.
2. Shut down all Internet servers, or disconnect them from the
Internet.
3. Disconnect all disks and hard drives from any connections to the
Internet.
4. Refrain from connecting any computer to the Internet in any
way.
We understand the inconvenience that this may cause some Internet
users, and we apologize. However, we are certain that any inconveniences
will be more than made up for by the increased speed and efficiency of the
Internet, once it has been cleared of electronic flotsam and jetsam.
We thank you for your cooperation.
February 2000
The warning, shown below, purports to come from the Center for Disease Control warns of necrotizing fasciitis associated with bananas that will eat the flesh off your bones. The report is totally false as indicated by the CDC and the FDA:
CDC and FDA joint statement: False Internet Report About
Necrotizing Fasciitis Associated With Bananas
CDC: False Internet Report about Bananas.
Subject: URGENT warning Dear Friend, Please forward to everyone you love!! This is VALIDATED FROM THE CDC. (center for disease control in atlanta georgia) Warning: Several shipments of bananas from Costa Rica have been infected with necrotizing fasciitis, otherwise known as flesh eating bacteria. Recently this disease has decimated the monkey population in Costa Rica. We are now just learning that the disease has been able to graft itself to the skin of fruits in the region, most notably the Banana which is Costa Rica's largest export. Until this finding scientist were not sure how the infection was being transmitted. It is advised not to purchase Bananas for the next three weeks as this is the period of time for which bananas that have been shipped to the US with the possibility of carrying this disease. If you have eaten a banana in the last 2-3 days and come down with a fever followed by a skin infection seek "Medical Attention"!!! The skin infection from necrotizing fasciitis is very painful and eats two to three centimeters of flesh per hour. Amputation is likely, death is possible.. If you are more than an hour from a medical center burning the flesh ahead of the infected area is advised to help slow the spread of the infection. The FDA has been reluctant to issue a country wide warning because of fear nationwide panic. They have secretly admitted that they feel upwards of 15,000 Americans will be affected by this but that these are acceptable numbers. Please forward this to as many people you care about as possible as we do not feel 15,000 people is an acceptable number. Manheim Research Institute Center for Disease Control Atlanta Georgia
January 2000
Another notice about potentially bad food that is totally fake.
Subject: KFC NOTICE KFC has been a part of our American traditions for many years. Many people, day in and day out, eat at KFC religiously. Do they really know what they are eating? During a recent study of KFC done at the University of New Hampshire, they found some very upsetting facts. First of all, has anybody noticed that just recently, the company has changed their name? Kentucky Fried Chicken has become KFC. Does anybody know why? We thought the real reason was because of the "FRIED" food issue. It's not. The reason why they call it KFC is because they can not use the word chicken anymore. Why? KFC does not use real chickens. They actually use genetically manipulated organisms. These so called "chickens" are kept alive by tubes inserted into their bodies to pump blood and nutrients throughout their structure. They have no beaks, no feathers, and no feet. Their bone structure is dramatically shrunk to get more meat out of them. This is great for KFC because they do not have to pay so much for their production costs.There is no more plucking of the feathers or the removal of the beaks and feet. The government has told them to change all of their menus so they do NOT say chicken anywhere. If you look closely you will notice this. Listen to their commercials, I guarantee you will not see or hear the word chicken. I find this matter to be very disturbing. I hope people will start to realize this and let other people know. Please forward this message to as many people as you can. Together we make KFC start using "Real" chicken again. Note from the Moderator: I had some kentucky "Fried Chicken" a few weeks ago and noticed for quite some time but because when we are (hungry)we tend to ignore good common sense. This is what I discovered: 1. An unusual amount of 'fat' under the skin 2. A high "grease" residue inside the skin that you could drain 3. The breast meat having a 'brown' as opposed to a "white" color 4. A feeling of gastric distress after eating the chicken
January 1999
This is a variant of the historic modem tax hoax of bygone years. This latest version started making its rounds on Nov 06, 1998, based apparently on a CNN story. Early versions pointed the finger at the FCC as the villain in this story. Then it was 'the government', then it was 'the Congress'.
FCC statement:
"... the FCC has no intention of assessing per-minute charges on Internet traffic or
of making any changes in the way consumers obtain and pay for access to the
Internet."
******************************** Date: Wednesday, January 06, 1999 10:03 PM Looks like Congress has found another way to tax us. There is a new bill in US Congress that will be affecting all Internet users. You might want to read this and pass it on. CNN stated that the government would in two weeks time decide to allow or not allow a charge to your (OUR) phone bill each time you access the internet. Please visit the following URL and fill out the necessary form! The address is http://www.house.gov/writerep/ If EACH one of us, forward this message on to others in a hurry, we may be able to prevent this from happening! (Maybe we CAN fight the phone company!) *********************************
This alert is a hoax. The earliest electronic version of it, which does not urge any particular action but merely reports and comments on the story, appeared on Usenet on Nov 06, 1998. Appearing under the thread "INTERNET PER MINUTE FEES COMING?" on the ba.internet news group, it cited a CNN story aired that same day. A later version, urging everyone to contact Congress, appeared on Nov 18, 1998 in a different news group and referenced an FCC release dated Oct 30, 1998 as the source of the CNN story. The actual FCC proceeding which apparently set off this mushrooming flurry of alerts dealt with the 'reciprocal billing' issue, which relates to charges for interconnectivity between various telcos.
In reaction to it, the FCC issued an official statement of December, 1998, which can be found at <http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common_Carrier/Factsheets/nominute.html>. This publication restates that the reciprocal billing issue does not include any proposal to have metered billing of any sort by the telcos for internet usage.
Reputable organizations producing legislative alerts will include some basic information which will assist the reader in determining how and when to respond. Most if not all of this information was missing from this spurious alert.
1) Congress does not vote as a single body. Any alert should name the specific body (House or Senate) scheduled to vote to whom letters/email should be sent. It will also indicate whether this is in front of a committee, and which committee, or that it is set for a floor vote.
2) At a minimum, a specific bill number will be cited such as S.1615 or H.R.3888. The reader can then check the Congressional bill status web site <http://thomas.loc.gov> to determine the precise current status of the bill before writing to your member of Congress about it.
3) A specific alert date, and a deadline date for responses, will be included to help in determining whether the alert is stale.
4) A legitimate alert will say exactly what is wrong with (or right with) the bill, possibly even citing a specific section. Check the language of the bill on Thomas to ensure that amendments to the bill in between the time the alert went out and the time that you're reading it haven't changed it to the point where the alert is no longer relevant.
It should also be noted that this alert began making its rounds after the 105th Congress had adjourned. Although the House of Representatives came back into a lame duck (post election) session to consider the issue of impeachment of the president, no other issues were considered. And the Senate did not reconvene at all. The 106th Congress was officially convened in early January, 1999. At the time the new Congress is seated at the beginning of every odd numbered year, all bills not enacted into law by the end of the previous Congress are swept away. The new Congress starts over with a clean slate, introducing entirely new bills which must make their way through the entire legislative process. A legislative alert from 1998 is null and void in January, 1999, whether it was spurious at the time or not.
Charles Oriez coriez@netone.com National Legislative Chair Association of Information Technology Professionals <http://www.aitp.org>
May 1999
Here's a rewrite of the internet charge hoax.
The U. S. Postal service has published a disclaimer on their website. This one includes a disclaimer by 'The Washingtonian' at http://www.washingtonian.com/about/emailhoax.html. If you search the U. S. House of Representatives Web site http://www.house.gov/house/searchall.htm you get hundreds (thousands?) of links addressing this hoax.
******** Dear Internet Subscriber: Please read the following carefully if you intend to stay online and continue using e-mail: The last few months have revealed an alarming trend in the Government of the United States attempting to quietly push through legislation that will affect your use of the Internet. Under proposed legislation (Bill 602P) the U.S. Postal service will be attempting to bilk email users out of "alternative postage fees". Bill 602P will permit the Federal Govt. to charge 5 cents surcharge on every email delivered, by billing Internet Service Providers at source. The consumer would then be billed inturn by the ISP. Washington D.C. lawyer Richard Stepp is working without pay to prevent this legislation from becoming law. The U.S. Postal Service is claiming that lost revenue due to the proliferation of email is costing nearly $230,000,000 in revenue per year. You may have noticed the recent ad campaign "There is nothing like a letter". Since the average citizen received about 10 pieces of email per day in 1998, the cost to the typical individual would be an additional 50 cents per day, or over $180 per year, above and beyond their regular Internet costs. Note that this would be money paid directly to the U.S. Postal Service for a service they do not even provide. The whole point of the Internet is democracy and non-inerference. If the Federal Govt. is permitted to tamper with our liberties by adding a surcharge to e-mail, who knows where it will end. You are already paying an exorbitant price for snail mail because of bureaucratic inefficiency. It currently takes up to 6 days for a letter to be delivered from New York to Buffalo. If the U.S. Postal Service is allowed to tinker with email, it will mark the end of the 'free' Internet in the United States. One congressman, Tony Schnell (R) has even suggested a "twenty to forty dollar per month surcharge on all Internet service" above and beyond the government's proposed email charges. Note that most of the major newspapers have ignored the story, the only exception being the Washingtonian which called the idea of email surcharge "a useful concept whose time has come" (March 6th 1999 Editorial) Don't sit by and watch your freedoms erode away! Send this email to all Americans on your list and tell your friends and relatives to write their congressman and say "No!" to Bill 602P Kate Turner assistant to Richard Stepp Berger, Stepp and Gorman Attorneys at Law 216 Concorde Street, Vienna, VA. ********
March 1999
Hopefully, no one passed this one on out of fear of a big, wooden horse in the front yard but it has been making the rounds of the net lately.
WARNING!! BEWARE GREEKS(Geeks) BEARING GIFTS!
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
IF YOU RECEIVE A GIFT IN THE SHAPE OF A LARGE
WOODEN HORSE DO NOT DOWNLOAD IT!!!! It is EXTREMELY
DESTRUCTIVE and will overwrite your ENTIRE CITY!
The "gift" is disguised as a large wooden horse about two
stories tall. It tends to show up outside the city gates
and appears to be abandoned. DO NOT let it through the
gates! It contains hardware that is incompatible with
Trojan programming, including a crowd of heavily armed
Greek warriors that will destroy your army, sack your town,
and kill your women and children. If you have already
received such a gift, DO NOT OPEN IT! Take it back out of
the city unopened and set fire to it by the beach.
FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!
Poseidon
May 2000
The Center for Disease Control has issued a press release about the false e-mail chain letter about the "Klingerman Virus".
False E-mail Report about "Klingerman Virus"
The chain letter reads as follows:
Subject: Very Serious Information!!! This is an alert about a virus in the original sense of the word...one that affects your body, not your hard drive. There have been 23 confirmed cases of people attacked by the Klingerman Virus, a virus that arrives in your real mail box, not your e-mail in-box. Someone has been mailing large blue envelopes, seemingly at random, to people inside the US. On the front of the envelope in bold black letters is printed, "A gift for you from the Klingerman Foundation." When the envelopes are opened, there is a small sponge sealed in plastic. This sponge carries what has come to be known as the Klingerman Virus, as public health officials state this is a strain of virus they have not previously encountered. When asked for comment, Florida police Sergeant Stetson said, "We are working with the CDC and the USPS, but have so far been unable to track down the origins of these letters. The return addresses have all been different, and we are certain a remailing service is being used, making our jobs that much more difficult." Those who have come in contact with the Klingerman Virus have been hospitalized with severe dysentery. So far seven of the twentythree victims have died. There is no legitimate Klingerman Foundation mailing unsolicited gifts.If you receive an oversized blue envelope in the mail marked,"A gift from the Klingerman foundation", DO NOT open it. Place the envelope in a strong plastic bag or container, and call the police immediately. The "gift" inside is one you definitely do not want. PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO EVERYONE YOU CARE ABOUT.
Note that this letter claims that everything is true and documented but does not contain a single verifiable reference.
"It's Not a Joke" Dear Friends, I wish to warn you about a new crime ring that is targeting business travelers. This ring is well organized, well funded,has very skilled personnel, and is currently in most major cities and recently very active in New Orleans. The crime begins when a business traveler goes to a lounge for a drink at the end of the work day.A person in the bar walks up as they sit alone and offers to buy them a drink. The last thing the traveler remembers until they wake up in a hotel room bath tub, their body submerged to their neck in ice, is sipping that drink. There is a note taped to the wall instructing them not to move and to call 911. A phone is on a small table next to the bathtub for them to call.The business traveler calls 911 who have become quite familiar with this crime.The business traveler is instructed by the 911 operator to very slowly and carefully reach behind them and feel if there is a tube protruding from their lower back. The business traveler finds the tube and answers, "Yes." The 911 operator tells them to remain still, having already sent paramedics to help.The operator knows that both of the business traveler's kidneys have been harvested. This is not a scam or out of a science fiction novel, it is real. It is documented and confirmable.If you travel or someone close to you travels, please be careful. Another email report: Yes, this does happen.My sister-in-law works with a lady that this happened to her son's neighbor who lives in Houston.The only "good" thing to this whole story is the fact that the people doing this horrible crime are very in tune to what complications can happen afterwards because of the details precautions they take the time to set up before leaving the room.The word from my sister-in-law is that the hospital in Las Vegas (yes, Vegas) prior to transferring him back to Houston stated that these people know exactly what they are doing.The incision, etc. was exact and clean. They use sterile equipment etc. and the hospital stated that other than the fact that the victim looses a kidney there has not been any reports of other complications due to non-sterile, etc. tactics that were used. Please be careful. Another email report: Sadly, this is very true.My husband is a Houston Firefighter/EMT and they have received alerts regarding this crime ring.It is to be taken very seriously.The daughter of a friend of a fellow firefighter had this happen to her.Skilled doctor's are performing these crimes (which, by the way have been highly noted in the Las Vegas area)! Additionally, the military has received alerts regarding this. If more information on the above subject is received it will be verified and passed on to keep you updated on this material.
Below is a prime example of a chain letter that keeps circulating the Internet. If you receive this chain letter, please delete.
David Brumley, the Network Administer at University of Northern Colorado informed CIAC of the following: "In 1995, a couple of students wrote a letter and sent it out to support funding for PBS and NPR. This letter was not intended to be a hoax, but instead was only a misguided attempt by some students of ours to do some good. After reading through the CIAC section on HOAX's, I decided to go ahead and verify that in fact this one should not be circulated. The students (one of whom has left the university since the posting) have been reprimanded."
Subject: PBS and NPR - petition
Please read this VERY IMPORTANT petition! I hope you will then sign it and
pass it along to everyone you know. We've got to be active in saving these
important institutions! Please sign! Thanks!
This is for anyone who thinks NPR/PBS is a worthwhile expenditure of $1.12/year
of their taxes (as opposed to, say, Newt Gingrich's salary?), a petition follows.
If you sign, please forward on to others (not back to me).
If not, please don't kill it -- send it to the email address listed here:
wein2688@blue.univnorthco.edu
PBS, NPR (National Public Radio), and the arts are facing major cutbacks in funding.
In spite of the efforts of each station to reduce spending costs and streamline
their services, some government officials believe that the funding currently going
to these programs is too large a portion of funding for something which is seen as
"unworthwhile". Currently, taxes from the general public for PBS equal $1.12 per
person per year, and the National Endowment for the Arts equals $.64 a year in
total.
A January 1995 CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll indicated that 76% of Americans wish to
keep funding for PBS, third only to national defense and law enforcement as the
most valuable programs for federal funding.
Each year, the Senate and House Appropriations committees each have 13 sub-
committees with jurisdiction over many programs and agencies. Each subcommittee
passes its own appropriation bill. The goal each year is to have each bill signed
by the beginning of the fiscal year, which is October 1.
The only way that our representatives can be aware of the base of support for PBS
and funding for these types of programs is by making our voices heard.
Please add your name to this list and forward it to friends if you believe in what
we stand for. This list will be forwarded to the President of the United States,
the Vice President of the United States, and Representative Newt Gingrich, who is
the instigator of the action to cut funding to these worthwhile programs.
If you happen to be the 150th, 200th, 250th etc. signer of this petition, please
forward a copy to:
wein2688@blue.univnorthco.edu.
If that address is inoperative, please send it to:
kubi7975@blue.univnorthco.edu.
This way we can keep track of the lists and organize them.
Forward this to everyone you know, and help us to keep these programs alive.
Thank you.
May 1999
Below is a prime example of one of the Hidden Needles legends. All of these are fake. See the information from the Center for Disease Control concerning these messages and the risks of "needle stick" injuries.
"For your information, a couple of weeks ago, in a Dallas movie theater, a person sat on something sharp in one of the seats. When she stood up to see what it was, a needle was found poking through the seat with an attached note saying, "you have been infected with HIV". The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta reports similar events have taken place in several other cities recently. All of the needles tested HAVE been found positive for HIV. The CDC also reports that needles have been found in the coin return areas of pay phones and soda machines. Everyone is asked to use extreme caution when confronted with these types of situations. All public chairs should be thoroughly but safely inspected prior to any use. A thorough visual inspection is conssidered the bare minimum. Further more, they ask that everyone notify their family members and friends of the potential dangers, as well. Thank you. The previous information was sent from the Dallas Police Department to all of the local governments in the Washington area and was interdepartmentally dispersed. We were all asked to pass this to as many people as possible."
December 1999
Below is a another example of one of the Hidden Needles legends. According to the Houston Chronicle, "The 'Kevin Archer' e-mail being circulated these days is a hoax. There is nothing to be found in the archives. No such article appeared in this or any other newspaper on Oct. 10, 1994, or any other date as no such or similar incident ever has occurred here or been reported by any news service or in any medical or legal records. "
Hi, My name is Lauren Archer, my son Kevin and I lived in Sugarland, TX. On October 2cd, 1994 I took my only son to McDonald's for his 3rd birthday. After he finished lunch, I allowed him to play in the ball pit. When he started whining later on, I asked him what was wrong, he pointed to the back of his pull-up and simply said "Mommy, it hurts." But I couldn't find anything wrong with him at that time. I bathed him when we got home, and it was at that point when I found a welt on his left buttock. Upon investigating, it seemed as if there was something like a splinter under the welt. I made an appointment to have it taken out the next day, but soon he started vomiting and shaking, then his eyes rolled back into his head. From there, we went to the emergency room. He died later that night. It turned out that the welt on his buttock was the tip of a hypodermic needle that had broken off inside. The autopsy revealed that Kevin had died from heroine overdose. The next week, the police removed the balls from the ball pit and lo and behold. There was rotten food, several hypodermic needles: some full; some used; knives, half-eaten candy, diapers, feces, and the stench of urine. If a child is not safe in a child's play area then where? You can find the article on Kevin Archer in the October 10, 1994 issue of the Houston Chronicle. Please forward this to all loving mothers!
June 2000
And another example of one of the Hidden Needles legends.
***********DANGEROUS PRANK:***************** > Please read and forward to anyone you know who drives. My name is Captain Abraham Sands of the Jacksonville, Florida Police Department. I have been asked by state and local authorities to write this email in order to get the word out to car drivers of a very dangerous prank that is occurring in numerous states. Some person or persons have been affixing hypodermic needles to the underside of gas pump handles. These needles appear to be infected with HIV positive blood. In the Jacksonville area alone there have been 17 cases of people being stuck by these needles over the past five months. We have verified reports of at least 12 others in various states around the country. It is believed that these may be copycat incidents due to someone reading about the crimes or seeing them reported on the television. At this point no one has been arrested and catching the perpetrator(s) has become our top priority. Shockingly, of the 17 people who where stuck, eight have tested HIV positive and because of the nature of the disease, the others could test positive in a couple years. Evidently the consumers go to fill their car with gas, and when picking up the pump handle get stuck with the infected needle. IT IS IMPERATIVE TO CAREFULLY CHECK THE HANDLE of the gas pump each time you use one. LOOK AT EVERY SURFACE YOUR HAND MAY TOUCH, INCLUDING UNDER THE HANDLE. If you do find a needle affixed to one, immediately contact your local police department so they can collect the evidence. ************PLEASE HELP US BY MAINTAINING A VIGILANCE AND BY FORWARDING THIS EMAIL TO ANYONE YOU KNOW WHO DRIVES. THE MORE PEOPLE WHO KNOW OF THIS THE BETTER PROTECTED WE CAN ALL BE.
May 1999
Instead of needles, this hoax puts LSD and strychnine on a pay phone's keys and coin slot. This warning purports to come from someone in the Pentagon no less.
Hello, this is to warn everyone of a new thing happening in communities as a gang initiation and such. If you care about anyone, please forward this to them immediately so they can learn of the possible harm. Even if you don't read this, at least forward it to people. Hello, my name is Tina Strongman and I work at a police station, as a phone operator for 911. Lately, we've received many phonecalls pertaining to a new sort of problem that has arisen in the inner cities, and is now working its way to smaller towns. It seems that a new form of gang initiation is to go find as many pay phones as possible and put a mixture of LSD and Strychnine onto the buttons. This mixture is deadly to the human touch, and apparently, this has killed some people on the east coast. Strychnine is a chemical used in rat poison and is easily separated from the rest of the chemicals. When mixed with LSD, it creates a substance that is easily absorbed into the human flesh, and highly fatal. Please be careful if you are using a pay phone anywhere. You may want to wipe it off, or just not use one at all. If you have any questions, you can contact me at the links listed below. Please be very careful. Let your friends and family know about this potential hazard. Thank you. SSgt Terence D. Murchison (703) 588 7203 DSN 425 7203 1800 759 8888 pin 1826484 4E232 Air Force Pentagon Washington DC http://www.safaq.hq.af.mil
June 1999
Instead of needles, this hoax puts poison on the envelopes found in the autoteller machine.
Very scary! Please read.............. Whenever you go to an automatic teller machine to make deposits, make sure you don't lick the deposit envelopes. (spit on it) A customer died after licking an envelope at a teller machine at Yonge & Eglinton. According to the police, Dr. Elliot at the Women's college hospital found traces of cyanide in the lady's mouth and digestive system and police traced the fatal poison to the glue on the envelope she deposited that day. They then did an inspection of other envelopes from other teller machines in the area and found six more. The glue is described as colourless and odourless. They suspect some sickco is targeting this particular bank and has been putting the envelopes beside machines at different locations. A spokesperson from the bank said their hands are tied unless they take away the deposit function from all machines. So watch out,and please forward this message to the people you care about. Thanks Kimberly Clarkson Crime unit, Department for Public Health (416) 563-9905
April 2000
And yet another warning that is, thankfully, untrue.
Subject: SAD STORY This story is extremely sad. Please pass it on after reading it. Everyone needs to know about this. My sister's co-worker has a sister in Texas who with her husband was planning a weekend trip across the Mexican border for a shopping spree. At the last minute their baby sitter canceled, so they had to bring along their two year old son with them. They had been across the border for about an hour when the baby got free and ran around the corner. The mother went chasing, but the boy had disappeared. The mother found a police officer who told her to go to the gate and wait. Not really understanding the instructions, she did as she was instructed. About 45minutes later, a man approached the border carrying the boy. The mother ran to him, grateful that he had been found. When the man realized it was the boy's mother, he dropped the boy and ran. The police were waiting for him and got him. The boy, was dead. In the 45 minutes (less than) he was missing, he was cut open and , ALL of his insides removed and his body cavity stuffed with COCAINE. The man was going to carry him across the border as if he were asleep. A two year old boy, dead, discarded as if he were a piece of trash for somebody's cocaine. If this story can get out and change one person's mind about what drugs mean to them, we are helping. Please send this E-mail to as many people as you can, if you have a home PC send it out there too. Let's hope and pray it changes a lot of minds. The saddest thing about the whole situation is that those persons who suffer are innocent and people we love....... God Bless you in this united effort to spread the word. You just mightsave a life! ABC News System Specialist 202-222-7697 May God Bless you and keep you in his loving embrace.
February 2000
The following rumor has achieved legend status with people writing in comments about an FCC petition that does not exist. The FCC has commented on this rumor and has indicated that it is all a fake. In fact, "There is no federal law or regulation that gives the FCC the authority to prohibit radio and television stations from presenting religious programs. Actually, the Communications Act (the law that established the FCC and defines its authority) prohibits the FCC from censoring broadcast material and interfering with freedom of speech in broadcasting. " So the FCC could not take action on such a petition even if it did exist.
Please share this with everyone! We don't need
to sit back and be passive on this one.
This is really scary and once you read it
you'll realize that CBS would even be forced to
discontinue "Touched By An Angel"
because they use the word "God" in
every program. Madeline Murray O'Hare, an
atheist, successfully eliminated the use of
Bible reading and prayer from schools fifteen
years ago. Her organization has now been
granted a Federal Hearing on the same subject
by the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) in Washington, DC. Their petition,
No. 2493, would ultimately pave the way to stop
the reading of the Gospel of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ, on the airwaves of America.
They took this petition with 287,000 signatures
to back their stand. If this attempt is
successful, all Sunday Worship services being
broadcast either by radio or television will
stop. This group is also campaigning to remove
all Christmas Programs, Christmas songs and
Christmas carols from public schools. You can help!
We need one million signed letters.
This would defeat their effort and show that
there are many Christians alive, well and
concerned in our country. Please print this
letter then cut off and sign the form below.
PLEASE DO NOT SIGN JOINTLY, such as
"Mr. & Mrs." Each person should sign one
letter separately, and mail it in separate
envelopes. Be sure to put "Petition
2495" ON THE ENVELOPE when you mail
the letter. This has to go out regular mail. It's
important that you do it right away. Please
e-mail this letter to all your friends and
relatives and to anyone else you feel led to.
Or photo copy it and mail it. Christians
must unite on this. Please do not take this
lightly. You don't have to be a "Bible
Thumper" to realize the significance of
the disappearance of another good influence
in our lives, and of particular concern, that
of the next generation's lives. We did once
and lost prayer in schools and in offices
across the nation. We cannot let this attempt
succeed. Below is a sample letter that you can
copy and send, or draft your own personal
message to voice your concern.
Send letter to:
Date: January __, 2000
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, DC 20054
Re: Petition 2493
Dear Sirs;
I am an American and am very thankful for my American Heritage.
Our forefathers founded this country under the premise of a strong belief
and faith in God and His principles. I am also very much aware of the
role that our Christian faith has played in the freedom that we Americans
now enjoy. Therefore, I protest any effort to remove from radio or
television, programs designed to nurture faith in God, or to remove
Christmas programs, Christmas songs and Christmas carols from public
airwaves, schools, office buildings, etc.
Sincerely,
Name:
Address:
City:
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April 1999
This letter claims that anti-perspirant causes breast cancer by plugging up the sweat glands under your arms. This message was debunked by the American Cancer Society.
THIS IS IMPORTANT INFORMATION.................. From: Theoharis, Andrea Sent: Monday, April 26, 1999 12:11 PM To: ATLANTA OFFICE Subject: BREAST CANCER PREVENTION - not just for women Importance: High I just got information from a health seminar that I would like to share. The leading cause of breast cancer is the use of anti-perspirant. What? Yes, ANTI-PERSPIRANT. Most of the products out there are an anti-perspirant/deodorant combination so go home and check your labels. Deodorant is fine, anti-perspirant is not. Here's why: The human body has a few areas that it uses to purge toxins; behind the knees, behind the ears, groin area, and armpits. The toxins are purged in the form of perspiration. Anti-perspirant, as the name clearly indicates, prevents you from perspiring, thereby inhibiting the body from purging toxins from below the armpits. These toxins do not just magically disappear. Instead, the body deposits them in the lymph nodes below the arms since it cannot sweat them out. This causes a high concentration of toxins and leads to cell mutations: a.k.a. CANCER. Nearly all breast cancer tumors occur in the upper outside quadrant of the breast area. This is precisely where the lymph nodes are located. Additionally, men are less likely (but not completely exempt) to develop breast cancer prompted by anti-perspirant usage because most of the anti-perspirant product is caught in their hair and is not directly applied to the skin. Women who apply anti-perspirant right after shaving increase the risk further because shaving causes almost imperceptible nicks in the skin which give the chemicals entrance into the body from the armpit area. PLEASE pass this along to anyone you care about. Breast Cancer is becoming frighteningly common. This awareness may save lives. If you are skeptical about these findings, I urge you to do some research for yourself. You will arrive at the same conclusions, I assure you. Thank you.
May 1999
In the same vein as the message above, this message claims that shampoo causes cancer. This one was also debunked by the American Cancer Society.
Subject: FW: Read this about the shampoo you use Check the ingredients listed on your shampoo bottle, and see if they have substance by the name of Sodium Laureth Sulfate, or simply SLS. This substance is found in most shampoos, and the manufacturers use it because it produces a lot of foam and it is cheap. BUT the fact is that SLS is used to scrub garage floors, and it is very strong. It is also proven that it can cause cancer in the long run, and this is no joke. I went home and checked my shampoo (Vidal Sasoon); it doesn't contain it; however, others such as Vo5, Palmolive, Paul Mitchell, the new Hemp Shampoo .. contain this substance. The first ingredient listed (which means it is the single most prevalent ingredient) in Clairol's Herbal Essences is Sodium Laureth Sulfate. So I called one company, and I told them their product contains a substance that will cause people to have cancer. They said,"Yeah, we knew about it but there is nothing we can do about it because we need that substance to produce foam. By the way Colgate toothpaste also contains the same substance to produce the "bubbles". They said they are going to send me some information. Research has shown that in the 1980s, the chance of getting cancer is 1 out of 8000 and now, in the 1990s, the chances of getting cancer is 1 out of 3, which is very serious. So I hope that you will take this seriously and pass this on to all the people you know, and hopefully, we can stop "giving" ourselves the cancer virus. This is serious, after you have read this, pass it on to as many people as possible, this is not a chain letter, but it concerns our health.
June 1999
The following hoax claims that getting sunscreen in your eyes causes blindness. This claim is debunked by the American Academy of Ophthalmology in http://www.eyenet.org/member/comm/media_relations/99/sunscreen.html.
Subject: Fwd: WARNING: WATERPROFF SUNSCREEN LOTION If you have kids....This is a most read! Sunscreen danger. To my friends with children or soon to have children....this was passed on to me by my best friend who works for Boeing in Seattle, his own true story...FYI I wanted to tell you a story about a very serious thing. We still use sunscreen on our whole family, but we are more cautious now. I tell you this only to make you more aware and use caution. When Zack was 2 years old, I put on the waterproof sun screen like I always had. I don't know how but he got some in his eyes. Most likely from his hands. It happens so easily at that age or any age really. He started screaming!!! So I tried to flush it out with water. But guess what? Didn't matter... Remember *WATERPROOF.* So I just held him and let he cry, thinking the salty tears would flush it all out. But it got worse. I called the poison control center. They told me to RUSH Zack to ER NOW!!! I was surprised. I got him there and they rushed me back without a second to spare. They started flushing his eyes out with special medications. Anyway, I found out for the first time that MANY kids each year lose their sight to waterproof sun screen. It burns the eye and they lose complete sight!!! I was appalled. I could not believe the sun screen we use to help keep our kids safe from skin cancer can make them go blind! Well, I made a big stink about it. I wrote the sun screen company and they admitted to the problem but they said something to the fact that the seriousness of getting skin cancer is much worse then the chance of going blind. I think it's wrong if just one child goes blind! They should change ingredients or should at least have a huge warning on it. But they claim that if you put a huge warning on it then parents won't use it due to fear. I kind-of get that but there needs to be a change. We did this huge article in our big city and went on the news warning parents. Education along with the importance of using it. Well, anyway, Zack did go blind for 2 days, it was horrible. So please be careful!!! Don't stop using sun screen, just be very careful your children don't touch there eyes for at least 15-20 minutes after you put it on! And if your child does get it in his/her eyes, then get to the emergency room at once! ***PASS THIS WARNING ON!!!*** <<WARNING: WATERPROFF SUNSCREEN LOTION>>
March 2001
This message claims that "A woman getting her Ph.D. at University of Colorado at Boulder" researched tampons and found that they contain dangerous levels of asbestos and dioxin. While there are risks with using tampons, those risks are not associated with any possible asbestos or dioxin content in the tampons. The FDA examined tampons and says that "The available scientific evidence does not support these rumors." There is also a very nice, point by point discussion of this message and its errors of fact and logic on the snopes site.
Please pass on to as many women as possible . . .If you are a woman and use pads, but especially if you use tampons, read this and pass on to your friends. (For the men receiving this e-mail, please forward it to your friends, significant others, sisters, mothers, daughters, etc.) Thanks! Check the labels of the sanitary pads or tampons that you are going to buy the next time, and see whether you spot any of the familiar signs stated in this email. No wonder so many women in the world suffer from cervical cancer and womb tumors. Have you heard that tampon makers include asbestos in tampons? Why would they do this? Because asbestos makes you bleed more, if you bleed more, you're going to need to use more. Why isn't this against the law, since asbestos is so dangerous? Because the powers that be, in all their wisdom (not), did not consider tampons as being ingested, and therefore wasn't illegal or considered dangerous. This month's Essence magazine has a small article about this and they mention two manufacturers of a cotton tampon alternative. The companies are Organic Essentials @(800)765-6491 and Terra Femme @(800)755-0212. A woman getting her Ph.D. at University of Colorado at Boulder sent the following: "I am writing this because women are not being informed about the dangers of something most of us use - tampons. I am taking a class this month and I have been learning a lot about biology and women, including much about feminine hygiene. Recently we have learned that tampons are actually dangerous (for other reasons than TSS). I'll tell you this, after learning about this in our class, most of the females wound up feeling angry and upset with the tampon industry, and I for one, am going to do something about it. To start, I want to inform everyone I can, and e-mail is the fastest way that I know how. HERE IS THE SCOOP: Tampons contain two things that are potentially harmful: Rayon (for absorbency), and dioxin (a chemical used in bleaching the products). The tampon industry is convinced that we, as women, need bleached white products in order to view the product as pure and clean. The problem here is that the dioxin produced in this bleaching process can lead to very harmful problems for a woman. Dioxin is potentially carcinogenic (cancer-associated) and is toxic to the immune and reproductive systems. It has also been linked to endometriosis and lower sperm counts for men-for both, it breaks down the immune system. Last September the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that there really is no set "acceptable" level of exposure to dioxin given that it is cumulative and slow to disintegrate. The real danger comes from repeated contact (Karen Houppert "Pulling the Plug on the Tampon Industry"). I'd say using about 4-5 tampons a day, five days a month, for 38 menstruating years "repeated contact", wouldn't you? Rayon contributes to the danger of tampons and dioxin because it is a highly absorbent substance. Therefore, when fibers from the tampons are left behind in the vagina (as it usually occurs), it creates a breeding ground for the dioxin. It also stays in a lot longer than it would with just cotton tampons. This is also the reason why TSS (toxic shock syndrome) occurs. WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES? Using feminine hygiene products that aren't bleached and that are all cotton. Other feminine hygiene products pads/napkins) contain dioxin as well, but they are not nearly as dangerous since they are not in direct contact with the vagina. The pads/napkins need to stop being bleached, but obviously tampons are the most dangerous. So, what can you do if you can't give up using tampons? Use tampons, that are made from 100% cotton, and that are UNBLEACHED. Unfortunately, there are very, few companies that make these safe tampons. They are usually only found in health food stores. Countries all over the world (Sweden, Germany, Canada, etc.) have demanded a switch to this safer tampon, while the U.S. has decided to keep us in the dark about it. In 1989, activists in England mounted a campaign against chlorine bleaching. Six weeks and 50,000 letters later, the makers of sanitary products switched to oxygen bleaching (one of the green methods available). (MS magazine, May/June 1995). WHAT TO DO NOW: Tell people. EVERYONE. Inform them. We are being manipulated by this industry and the government, let's do something about it! Please write to the companies: Tampax (Tambrands), Playtex, O.B., Kotex. Call the 800 numbers listed on the boxes. Let them know that we demand a safe product - ALL COTTON UNBLEACHED TAMPONS.
June 1999
Paget's Disease of the nipple is a real, but extremely rare (less than 1% of all breast cancers according to the American Cancer Society) disease that is associated with breast cancer. While we sympathize with the writer this disease does not rank really high with diseases that we think everyone should be told about right now. If you are really interested in this disease, you are more likely to get accurate information by connecting to one of the more credible oncology sites on the net such as the University of Pennsylvania or the American Cancer Society.
Paget's Disease This is a rare form of breast cancer, and is on the outside of the breast, on the nipple and aureola. It appeared as a rash, which later became a lesion with a crusty outer edge. I would not have ever suspected it to be breast cancer but it was. My nipple never seemed any different to me, but the rash bothered me, so I went to the doctor for that. Sometimes, it itched and was sore, but other than that it didn't bother me. It was just ugly and a nuisance, and could not be cleared up with all the creams prescribed by my doctor and dermatologist for the dermatitis on my eyes just prior to this outbreak. They seemed a little concerned but did not warn me it could be cancerous. Now I suspect there are not many women out there who know a lesion or rash on the nipple or aureola can be breast cancer. Mine started out as a single red pimple on the aureola. One of the biggest problems with Paget's disease of the nipple is that the symptoms appear to be harmless. It is frequently thought to be a skin inflammation or infection, leading to unfortunate delays in detection and care. What are the symptoms? The symptoms include: 1. A persistent redness, oozing, and crusting of your nipple causing it to itch and burn. (As I stated, mine did not itch or burn much, and had no oozing I was aware of, but it did have a crust along the outer edge on one side). 2. A sore on your nipple that will not heal. (Mine was on the aureola area with a whitish thick looking area in center of nipple). 3. Usually only one nipple is affected. How is it diagnosed? Your doctor will do a physical exam and should suggest having a mammogram of both breasts, done immediately. Even though the redness, oozing and crusting closely resemble dermatitis (inflammation of the skin), your doctor should suspect cancer if the sore is only on one breast. Your doctor should order a biopsy of your sore to confirm what is going on. They will take a sample of your breast tissue in that area to test for cancer. If the cancer is only in the nipple and not in the breast, your doctor may recommend just removing the nipple and surrounding tissue or suggest radiation treatments. Had my doctor caught mine right away, instead of flaking it off as dermatitis, perhaps they could have saved my breast, and it wouldn't have gone to my lymph nodes. This message should be taken seriously and passed on to as many of your friends as possible; it could save someone's life. My breast cancer has spread and metastasized to my bones after receiving mega doses of chemotherapy, 28 treatments of radiation and taking tamaxofin. If this had been diagnosed as breast cancer in the beginning, perhaps it would not have spread... TO ALL READERS- This is sad as women are not aware of Paget's disease. If, by passing this around on the e-mail, we can make others aware of it, and its potential danger, we are helping women everywhere. Please, if you can, take a moment to forward this message to as many people as possible, especially to your family and friends. It only takes a moment, yet the results could save a life!
May 1998
The following two warnings are related, in that they both claim that you can be killed by rat or mouse urine or droppings. According to the Center for Disease Control, this is very unlikely and the symptoms of the possible infections are different from those in the warnings. Of course, washing off the top of a can of soda before drinking does not sound like such a bad idea anyway.
Alert 1
A stock clerk was sent to clean up a storeroom at their Maui,Hawaii location. When he got back, he was complaining that the storeroom was really filthy, and that he had noticed dried mouse or rat droppings in some areas. Couple of days later, he started feeling like he was coming down with stomach flu, achy joints, headache, and he started throwing up. He went to bed and never really got up. Within two days he was so ill and weak. His blood sugar count was down to 66 and his face and eyeballs were yellow. He was rushed to the emergency at Pali Momi, where they said he was suffering from massive organ failure! He died shortly before midnight. None of us would have ever made the connection between his job and his death, but the doctors specifically asked if he had been in a warehouse or exposed to dried rat or mouse droppings at any time. They said there is a virus (much like Hanta virus) that lives in dried rat and mouse droppings. Once dried, these droppings are like dust, and can easily be ingested if a person is not careful to wash their hands and face thoroughly,or wear protective gear. An autopsy was conducted to verify the doctors' suspicions. This is why it is extremely important to ALWAYS carefully rinse off the tops of any canned sodas or foods,and wipe off pasta packaging, cereal boxes, etc. Almost everything you buy in a supermarket was stored in a warehouse at one time or another, and stores themselves often have rodents. Most of us remember to wash vegetables and fruit but never think of boxes and cans. The ugly truth is........ even the most modern, upper-class, superstore has rats and mice. And their Warehouse most assuredly does. Whenever you buy any canned soft drink, please make sure that you wash the top with running water and soap, or if not available, drink with a straw. A family friend's friend died after drinking a can of soda! A brief investigation by the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta discovered the cause. The top was encrusted with dried rat's urine which is toxic and obviously lethal!!!! Canned drinks and other food stuffs are stored in warehouses and containers that are usually infested with rodents and then get transported to the retail outlets without being properly cleaned. Please forward this message to the people you care about.
Alert 2
HEALTH ALERT.... Whenever you buy a can of coke or any other canned soft drink, please make sure that you wash the top with running water and soap or, if not available, drink with a straw. A family friend's friend died after drinking a can of soda! Apparently, she didn't clean the top before drinking from the can. The top was encrusted with dried rat's urine which is toxic and obviously lethal!!!!! Canned drinks and other foodstuffs are stored in warehouses and containers that are usually infested outlets without being properly cleaned. Please forward this message to the people you care about...Thanks.
June 1999
The following that Instant Messenger is going away is also a hoax.
Dear America Online and Instant Message users, Our America Online staff is planning to take away our Instant messages by July 14,1999. If you want to keep your Instant Messages free of charge,send this mail to everyone you know. It will be used as a petition. Each person you send this to, counts as one "signature." If this petition gets 100,000 "signatures," our Instant Messages will still be avaliable at no extra charge. If America Online does not recieve 100,000 "signatures," Instant Messages will still be avaliable, but only to those who pay an extra 15.00 dollars a month. If you do not care about not getting any future Instant Messages, please send this for the sake of those who want to keep thier Instant Messages free of charge. Thank you for your time and consideration. Robert McDoggan America Online Assistance Director
November 2002
And, here is a Yahoo version of the Instant Messanger Hoax.
Dear YAHOO User, Because of the sudden rush of people signing up to YAHOO, it has come to our attention that we are vastly running out of resources. So, within a month's time,anyone who does not receive this email with the exact subject heading,will be deleted off our server. Please forward this email so that we know you are still using this account. WARNING WARNING We want to find out which users are actually using their YAHOO accounts. So if you are using your account, please pass this e-mail to every YAHOO user that you can and IF YOU DO NOT PASS this letter to anyone we will delete your account. From Mr. ALLEN SMITH YAHOO Admin. Dept. Our YAHOO system is getting to crowded!! We need you to forward this to at least 20 people. I know this seems like a large number, but we need to find out who is really using their account. If you do not send this to at least 10 YAHOO members, we will delete your account. Sorry for this inconvenience. Sincerely, Director of YAHOO Services BOB LOPEZ Please do this! Some of my friends have already gotten deleted and you aren't allowed to send it back to the person who sent this email to you!!
July 1999
The following message is totally false. The president of Procter and Gamble never appeared on Sally Jesse Raphael and never said any of the things in the message. See the faq on the Sally Jesse Raphael web site that debunks this hoax: http://www.sallyjr.com/sally4/frm_sallyfaq2.html
The President of Procter & gamble appeared on the Sally Jesse Raphael Show on March 1, 1998. He announced that "due to the openness of our society", he was coming out of the closet about his association with the church of Satan. He stated that a large portion of his profits from Procter & Gamble Products goes to support this satanic church. When asked by Sally Jesse if stating this on t.v. would hurt his business, he replied, "THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH CHRISTIANS IN THE UNITED STATES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE." Product list includes: Cleaning supplies: Bold, Cascade, Cheers, Joy, Comet, Dash, Spic & Span, Tide, Top Job, Oxidol, Ivory Dreft, Gain, Mr. Clean, Lest Oil, Bounty Towels Food: Duncan Hines, Fisher Nuts, Fisher Mints, Dehydrated Fruits Coffee: Folgers, High Point, Shortening Oils: Crisco, Puritan, Fluffo Deodorants: Secret, Sure Diapers: Luvs, Pampers Hair Care: Lilt, Head & Shoulders, Prell, Pert, Vidal Sassoon, Ivory Acne Product: Clearasil Mouthwash/Toothpaste: Scope, Crest, Gleem Peanut Butter: JIF Personal Hygiene: Always, Attend Undergarments Lotions: Oil of Olay, Wondra Soap: Camay, Coast, Ivory, Lava, Safeguard, Zest, Oil of Olay Fabric Softener: Downy, Bounce Citrus Punch: Sunny Delight Medication: Aleve, Pepto-Bismol If you are not sure about the product, look for a Procter & Gamble written on the products, or the symbol of a ram's horn, which will appear on each product beginning on January 1, 2000. The ram's horn will form the 666, which is known as Satan's number. Christians should remember that if they purchase any of these products, they will be contributing to the church of Satan. Inform other Christians about this and STOP buying Procter & Gamble Products. Let's show Procter & Gamble that there are enough Christians to make a difference. On a previous Jenny Jones Show, the owner of Procter &Gamble said that if Satan would prosper he would give his heart and soul to him. Then he gave Satan credit for his riches. Anyone interested seeing this tape, should send $3.00 to: SALLY TRANSCRIPTS 515 WEST 57TH STREET NEW YORK NY 10019 WE URGE YOU TO MAKE COPIES OF THIS AND PASS IT ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. THIS NEEDS TO STOP. LIZ CLAIRBORNE ALSO PROFESSES TO WORSHIP SATAN AND RECENTLY OPENLY ADMITTED ON THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW THAT HALF OF HER PROFITS GO TOWARDS THE CHURCH OF SATAN. >>
March 2001
If you search the web for "aspartame" (also called NutraSweet) you will find dozens of websites devoted to the perceived horrors of this sugar substitute (Actually, you have to search for the misspelling, "asparatame" to find most of them). All of this seems to go back to a study done in 1996 where the increase in brain tumors was found to correlate with the increase in aspartame use. That study did not show any causal link, only that both brain tumors and aspartame use seemed to both be increasing at the same time. That correlation has since been broken as brain tumor rates have leveled off and aspartame use has continued to increase.
Around December of 1999, a letter started making the rounds of the Internet that claims that almost every ailment known to man is caused by aspartame. It was supposedly written by a Betty Martini who was supposedly lecturing at the World Environmental Conference. A second version of the letter is identical to the first but the author has been changed to a Nancy Markle. In this letter, aspartame is blamed for hundreds of aliment including multiple sclerosis. The title of the article claims that the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation and others are suing the makers of aspartame. However, the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation has disavowed any knowledge of a problem with aspartame and any relationship with the author. The letter also claims that it causes "memory loss, confusion, and severe vision loss" among diabetics but that has been debunked by the American Diabetes Association.
The FDA has attested to the safety of the chemical and if you check the scholarly studies listed at the following site http://www.aspartame.org/ you will not find any showing significant problems with its use. The worst that has been found are occasional headaches. The "research" on the Aspartame Horror sites is, for the most part, anecdotal. The UrbanLegends.com website does a really good job debunking this warning and the supposed facts it contains. It is also debunked at the Junk Science website.
Following is the Betty Martini version of the warning. The Nancy Markle version is identical but with Nancy Markle inserted as the author and the contact information is missing from the end. It is LONG but well worth the reading!
WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE and the MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS FOUNDATION
& FDA IS SUING FOR COLLUSION WITH MONSANTO.
Article written by Betty Martini
I have spent several days lecturing at the WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL
CONFERENCE on ASPARTAME: Marketed as 'NutraSweet,' 'Equal,' and
'Spoonful.' In the keynote address by the EPA, they announced that
there was an epidemic of multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus, and
they did not understand what toxin was causing this to be rampant
across the United States.
I explained I was there to lecture on exactly that subject. When the
temperature of Aspartame exceeds 86 degrees F, the wood alcohol in
ASPARTAME coverts to formaldehyde and then to formic acid, which in
turn causes metabolic acidosis. (Formic acid is the poison found in
the sting of fire ants.) The methanol toxicity mimics multiple
sclerosis; thus, people were being diagnosed with having multiple
sclerosis in error. The multiple sclerosis is not a death sentence,
where methanol toxicity is. In the case of systemic lupus, we are
finding it has become almost as rampant as multiple sclerosis,
especially Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi drinkers. Also, with methanol
toxicity, the victims usually drink three to four 12 oz. Cans of them
per day, some even more. In the cases of systemic lupus, which is
triggered by ASPARTAME, the victim usually does not know that the
aspartame is the culprit. The victim continues its use aggravating the
lupus to such a degree, that sometimes it becomes life threatening.
When we get people off the aspartame, those with systemic lupus
usually become asymptotic. Unfortunately, we cannot reverse this
disease. On the other hand, in the case of those diagnosed with
Multiple Sclerosis, (when in reality, the disease is methanol
toxicity), most of the symptoms disappear. We have seen cases
where their vision has returned and even their hearing has returned.
This also applies to cases of tinnitus.
During a lecture I said "If you are using ASPARTAME [NutraSweet,
Equal, Spoonful, etc.] and you suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms,
spasms, shooting pains, numbness in your legs, cramps, vertigo,
dizziness, headaches, tinnitus, joint pain, depression, anxiety
attacks, slurred speech, blurred vision, or memory loss, you probably
have ASPARTAME DISEASE!"
People were jumping up during the lecture saying, "I've got this. Is
it reversible?" It is rampant. Some of the speakers at my lecture were
even suffering from these symptoms. In one lecture attended by the
Ambassador of Uganda, he told us that their sugar industry is adding
aspartame! He continued by saying that one of the industry leader's
son could no longer walk due in part to product usage! We have a very
serious problem. Even a stranger came up to Dr. Espisto, (one of my
speakers) and myself and said, "Could you tell me why so many people
seem to be coming down with MS?" During a visit to a hospice, a nurse
said that six of her friends, who were heavy Diet Coke drinkers, had
all been diagnosed with MS. This is beyond coincidence. Here is the
problem. There were Congressional Hearings when Aspartame was originally
included as a sweetener in 100 different products. Since this initial
hearing, there have been two subsequent hearings, but to no avail.
Nothing has been done. The drug and chemical lobbies have very deep
pockets. Now there are over 5,000 products containing this chemical,
and the PATENT HAS EXPIRED!!!!
At the time of this first hearing, people were going blind. The
methanol in the Aspartame converts to formaldehyde in the retina of
the eye. Formaldehyde is grouped in the same class of drugs as
cyanide and arsenic - DEADLY POISONS!!! Unfortunately, it just takes
longer to quietly kill, but it is killing people and causing all
kinds of neurological problems. Aspartame changes the brain's chemistry.
It is the reason for severe seizures. This drug changes the dopamine
level in the brain. Imagine what this drug does to patients suffering
from Parkinson's Disease. This drug also causes birth defects.
There is absolutely no reason to take this product. It is NOT A DIET
PRODUCT! The Congressional record said, "It makes you crave
Carbohydrates and will make you FAT." Dr. Roberts stated that when
he got patients off aspartame, their average weight loss was 19 pounds
per person.
The formaldehyde stores in the fat cells, particularly in the hips and
thighs. Aspartame is especially deadly for diabetics. All physicians
know what wood alcohol will do to a diabetic. We find that physicians
believe that they have patients with retinopathy, when in fact, it
is caused by the aspartame. The aspartame keeps the blood sugar
level out of control, causing many patients to go into a coma.
Unfortunately, many have died. People were telling us at the
conference of the American College of Physicians, that they had
relatives that switched from saccharin to an aspartame product and
how that relative had eventually gone into a coma. Their physicians
could not get the blood sugar levels under control. Thus, the patients
suffered acute memory loss and eventually coma and death. Memory loss
is due the fact that aspartic acid and phenylalanine are neurotoxic
without the other amino acids found protein. Thus it goes past the
blood brain barrier and deteriorates the neurons of the brain.
Dr. Russell Blaylock, neurosurgeon, said, "The ingredients
stimulates the neurons of the brain to death, causing brain damage of
varying degrees. Dr. Blaylock has written a book entitled
"EXCITOTOXINS: THE TASTE THAT KILLS" Health Press 1-800-643-2665).
Dr. H. J. Roberts, diabetic specialist and world expert on aspartame
poisoning, has also written a book entitled "DEFENSE AGAINST
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE" (1-800-814-9800). Dr. Roberts tells how
aspartame poisoning is escalating Alzheimer's Disease, and indeed
it is. As the hospice nurse told me, women are being admitted
at 30 years of age with Alzheimer's Disease. Dr. Blaylock and
Dr. Roberts will be writing a position paper with some case histories
and will post it on the Internet.
According to the Conference of the American College of Physicians,
"We are talking about a plague of neurological diseases caused by this
deadly poison." Dr. Roberts realized what was happening when
aspartame was first marketed. He said, "His diabetic patients presented
memory loss, confusion, and severe vision loss." At the Conference of the
American College of Physicians, doctors admitted that they did not
know. They had wondered why seizures were rampant (the phenylalanine
in aspartame breaks down the seizure threshold and depletes
serotonin, which causes manic depression, panic attacks, rage and
violence).
Just before the Conference, I received a fax from Norway, asking for a
possible antidote for this poison because they are experiencing so
many problems in their country. This "poison" is now available in 90
PLUS countries worldwide. Fortunately, we had speakers and
ambassadors at the Conference from different nations who have pledged
their help. We ask that you help too. Print this article out and warn
everyone you know. Take anything that contains aspartame back to the
store. Take the "NO ASPARTAME "TEST" and send us your case history. I
assure you that MONSANTO, the creator of Aspartame, knows how deadly
it is. They fund the American Association, American Dietetic
Association Congress, and the Conference of the American College of
Physicians. The New York Times, November 15, 1996, ran an article on
how the American Dietetic Association takes money from the food
industry to endorse their products. Therefore, they cannot criticize
any additives or tell about their link to MONSANTO.
How bad is this? We told a mother who had a child on NutraSweet to
get off the product. The child was having grand mal seizures every day.
The mother called her physician, who called the ADA, who told the
doctor not to take the child off the NutraSweet. We are still trying
to convince the mother that the Aspartame is causing the seizures.
Every time we get someone off of aspartame, the seizures stop. If the
baby dies, you know whose fault it is, and what we are up against.
There are 92 documented symptoms of aspartame, from coma to death.
the majority of them are all-neurological, because the aspartame destroys
the nervous system.
Aspartame Disease is partially the cause to what is behind some of
the mystery of the Desert Storm health problems. The burning tongue and
other problems discussed in over 60 cases can be directly related to
the consumption of Aspartame product. Several thousand pallets of
diet drinks were shipped to the Desert Storm troops. (Remember heat
can liberate the methanol from the aspartame at 86 degrees F.) Diet
drinks sat in the 120 degree F Arabian sun for weeks at a time on
pallets. The servicemen and women drank them all day long. All of
their symptoms are identical to aspartame poisoning. Dr. Roberts says
consuming Aspartame at the time of conception can cause birth
defects."
According to Dr. Louis Elsas, Pediatrician and Professor of Genetics,
at Emory University, In his testimony before Congress. The
phenylalanine concentrates in the placenta, causing mental
retardation. In the original lab tests, animals developed brain
tumors, phenylalanine breaks down into DXP, a brain tumor agent.)
when Dr. Espisto was lecturing on aspartame, one physician in the
audience, a neurosurgeon, said, "When they remove brain tumors, they
have found high levels of aspartame in them." Stevia, a sweet food,
NOT AN ADDITIVE, which helps in the metabolism of sugar, which would be
ideal for diabetics, has now been approved as a dietary supplement by the
FDA for years, the FDA has outlawed this sweet food because of their
loyalty to MONSANTO.
If it says "SUGAR FREE" on the label - DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT.
Senator Howard Hetzenbaum wrote a bill that would have warned all
infants, pregnant mothers and children of the dangers of aspartame.
The bill would have also instituted independent studies on the
problems existing in the population (seizures, changes in brain
chemistry, changes in neurological and behavioral symptoms). It was
killed by the powerful drug and chemical lobbies, letting loose the
hounds of disease and death on an unsuspecting public. Since the
Conference of the American College of Physicians, we hope to have the
help of several world leaders.
Again, please help us, too. There are a lot of people out there who
must be warned, please let them know this information. The author, Betty Martini,
can be reached at 770-242-2599.
September 1999
The following message is totally false. According to the Entomology department at the University of California, Riverside, there is no such animal as a South American Blush Spider. There is also no Journal of the United Medical Association (JUMA), no Big Chappies restaurant at Blare Airport, no fact there is no Blare airport, and no Civilian Aeronautics Board (the Civil Aeronautics Board was disbanded in 1984). Beverly Clark is a line of wedding apparel and a Blush Spider is a cosmetological term referring to patches of tiny varicose veins on the surface of the skin. As mentioned at Urban Legends.com, "If you're attacked by one of these, I'd recommend calling a plastic surgeon rather than the exterminator..."
************************************************************* WARNING: From Texas A&M International University ************************************************************* An article by Dr. Beverly Clark, in the Journal of the United Medical Association (JUMA), the mystery behind a recent spate of deaths has been solved. If you haven't already heard about it in the news, here is what happened. Three women in Chicago, turned up at hospitals over a 5-day period, all with the same symptoms. Fever, chills, and vomiting, followed by muscular collapse, paralysis, and finally, death. There were no outward signs of trauma. Autopsy results showed toxicity in the blood. These women did not know each other, and seemed to have nothing in common. It was discovered, however, that they had all visited the same restaurant (Big Chappies, at Blare Airport), within days of their deaths. The health department descended on the restaurant, shutting it down. The food, water, and air conditioning were all inspected and tested, to no avail. The big break came when a waitress at the restaurant was rushed to the hospital with similar symptoms. She told doctors that she had been on vacation, and had only went to the restaurant to pick up her check. She did not eat or drink while she was there, but had used the restroom. That is when one toxicologist, remembering an article he had read, drove out to the restaurant, went into the restroom, and lifted the toilet seat. Under the seat, out of normal view, was a small spider. The spider was captured and brought back to the lab, where it was determined to be the South American Blush Spider (arachnius gluteus), so named because of its reddened flesh color. This spider's venom is extremely toxic, but can take several days to take effect. They live in cold, dark, damp, climates, and toilet rims provide just the right atmosphere. Several days later a lawyer from Los Angeles showed up at a hospital emergency room. Before his death, he told the doctor, that he had been away on business, had taken a flight from New York, changing planes in Chicago, before returning home. He did not visit Big Chappies while there. He did, as did all of the other victims, have what was determined to be a puncture wound, on his right buttock. Investigators discovered that the flight he was on had originated in South America. The Civilian Aeronautics Board (CAB) ordered an immediate inspection of the toilets of all flights from South America, and discovered the Blush spider's nests on 4 different planes! It is now believed that these spiders can be anywhere in the country. So please, before you use a public toilet, lift the seat to check for spiders. It can save your life! And please pass this on to everyone you care about Officer Sylvia Steele Texas A&M International University 5201 University Blvd. Laredo, Tx 78041-1999 956-326-2100
June 2005
Here is another spider in the toilet hoax that is almost identical to the original but that has switched spiders. It also includes a picture of the little bugger. The picture is a real female Telamonia dimidiata spider taken from "A Guide to Common Singapore Spiders" by Joseph K. H. Koh.
Not germ, chemical, or nuclear warfare, but spider-warfare. And you thought the brown recluse was bad!!! Three women in North Florida, turned up at hospitals over a 5-day period, all with the same symptoms. Fever, chills, and vomiting, followed by muscular collapse, paralysis, and finally, death. There were no outward signs of trauma. Autopsy results showed toxicity in the blood. These women did not know each other, and seemed to have nothing in common. It was discovered, however, that they had all visited the same Restaurant (Olive Garden) within days of their deaths. The health department descended on the restaurant, shutting it down. The food, water, and air conditioning were all inspected and tested, to no avail. The big break came when a waitress at the restaurant was rushed to the hospital with similar symptoms. She told doctors that she had been on vacation, and had only went to the restaurant to pick up her check. She did not eat or drink while she was there, but had used the restroom. That is when one toxicologist, remembering an article he had read, drove out to the restaurant, went into the restroom, and lifted the toilet seat. Under the seat, out of normal view, was a small spider. The spider was captured and brought back to the lab, where it was determined to be the Two-Striped Telamonia (Telamonia dimidiata), so named because of its reddened flesh color. This spider's venom is extremely toxic, but can take several days to take effect. They live in cold, dark, damp climates, and toilet rims provide just the right atmosphere. Several days later a lawyer from Jacksonville showed up at a hospital emergency room. Before his death, he told the doctor, that he had been away on business, had taken a flight from Indonesia, changing planes in Singapore, before returning home. He did not visit (Olive Garden), while there. He did, as did all of the other victims, have what was determined to be a puncture wound, on his right buttock. Investigators discovered that the flight he was on had originated in India. The Civilian Aeronautics Board (CAB) ordered an immediate inspection of the toilets of all flights from India, and discovered the Two-Striped Telamonia (Telamonia dimidiata) spider's nests on 4 different planes! It is now believed that these spiders can be anywhere in the country. So please, before you use a public toilet, lift the seat to check for spiders. And please pass this on to everyone you care about.
October 1999
And another one for the exterminator.
Don't eat while you read this. TRUE STORY: HEY! HOW ABOUT TACO BELL? This girl was really in a hurry one day so she just stopped off at a Taco Bell and got a Chicken soft taco and ate it on the way home. That night she noticed her jaw was kind of tight and swollen. The next day it was a little worse so she went to her doctor. He said she just had an allergic reaction to something and gave her some cream to rub on her jaw to help. After a couple of days the swelling had just gotten worse and she could hardly move her jaw. She went back to her doctor to see what was wrong. Her doctor had no idea so he started to run some tests. They scrubbed out the inside of her mouth to get tissue samples and they also took some saliva samples. Well, they found out what was wrong. Apparently her chicken soft taco had a pregnant roach in it, then she ate it-the eggs then some how got into her saliva glands and well, she was incubating them. They had to remove a couple a layers of her inner mouth to get all the eggs out. If they hadn't figured out what was going on, the eggs would have hatched inside the lining of her mouth!!!!!!!!!! She's suing Taco Bell! Of course. If you need to find out more about this, it's in the Nov. 19th NY Times. If you still want Taco Bell after this one, you're really brave. PASS THE WORD AND BE VERY CAREFUL!
March 2001
Roach eggs in the envelope glue??? Oh come on. No one will believe that. Will they???
This is just another rewrite of the Roaches in the Tacos hoax above. Think about how many people lick envelopes every day. OK, got that in mind? Now, if this were really a problem don't you think it would be on the news every night? We would have the nightly "Roach Report" to list how many people were in the hospital with the dreaded Roach Tongue. Do you think you would be able to buy envelopes with lickable glue (all the companies would be sued out of business)?
A woman was working in a post office in California. One day she licked the envelopes and postage stamps instead of using a sponge. That very day the lady cut her tongue on the envelope. A week later, she noticed an abnormal swelling of her tongue. She went to the doctor, and they found nothing wrong. Her tongue was not sore or anything. A couple of days later, her tongue started to swell more, and it began to get really sore, so sore, that she could not eat. She went back to the hospital, and demanded something be done. The doctor took an x-ray of her tongue,and noticed a lump. He prepared her for minor surgery. When the doctor cut her tongue open, a live roach crawled out. There were roach eggs on the seal of the envelope. The egg was able to hatch inside of her tongue, because of her saliva. It was warm and moist... This is a true story reported on CNN. Andy Hume wrote: Hey, I used to work in an envelope factory. You wouldn't believe the.....things that float around in those gum applicator trays. I haven't licked an envelope for years. To All: I used to work for a print shop (32 years ago) and we were told NEVER to lick the envelopes. I never understood why until I had to go into storage and pull out 2500 envelops that were already printed for a customer who was doing a mailing and saw several squads of roaches roaming around inside a couple of boxes with eggs everywhere. They eat the glue on the envelopes. I think print shops have a harder time controlling roaches than a restaurant. I always buy the self sealing type. Or if need be I use a glue stick to seal one that has the type of glue that needs to be wet to stick. PLEASE PASS THIS ON !!!!
September 2001
This hoax was started by someone who has confused some federal laws. A very nice explanation of the confusion and the laws is available on the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse web site. First, companies have always been able to sell or give away information about you. A new law required companies to inform their customers as to what their privacy policies were by July 1, 2000. What they do with the information they collect from you must be disclosed in that policy. If you don't want them selling your personal information you must check each privacy policy for information on how to opt out or just not do business with them.
The phone number given in the hoax is used by the major credit reporting bureaus to allow you to opt out from receiving pre-approved credit offers. That is, credit card companies buy credit reports on you and use them to send you credit card offers. Opting out stops these offers.
A recent variant changed the date to July 1, 2001 and another changes it to July 1, 2002, and another changed it again to July 1, 2003. Looks like every year someone is going to change the date and send it again. How about sending it to the trash instead.
There is also a warning on the Equifax site about this hoax.
Sent: Friday, August 24, 2001 12:58 PM Subject: (no subject) THIS LAW TOOK EFFECT ON JULY 1 AND YOU HAVE 60 DAYS TO "OPT OUT" I CALLED AND THE MESSAGE EXPLAINS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. IMPORTANT Just wanted to let everyone know who hasn't already heard, the four major credit bureaus in the US. will be allowed, starting July 1, to release your credit info, mailing addresses, phone numbers..... to anyone who requests it. If you would like to 'opt out' of this release of info, you can call 1-888-567-8688. It only takes a couple of minutes to do, and you can take care of anyone else in the household while making only one call, you'll just need to know their social security number. Be sure to listen closely, the first opt out is only for two years, make sure you wait until they prompt you to press '3' on your keypad to opt out for good. Happy dialing! Pass this info on to every one you know.
September 2001
Here is another one by someone who really has it in for the Outback Steakhouse. Eating food that has been urinated on will not make you suddenly fall down sick as if you had been poisoned, at least as long as you don't know you are eating food contaminated with urine. You might get a disease later on if one of the people supplying the urine was sick but urine itself is not a poison.
This particular rumor, in various incarnations, has been around for years.
Forward this to everyone you know!!! BEWARE!! FOR ALL OF YOU OUTBACK LOVERS.... : Outback in Spartanburg THIS IS CERTAINLY NO JOKE! A friend of mine went to the Outback Steak House in Spartanburg Friday night to eat. She had to send her steak back 3 times before they finally had it cooked done as was requested to start with. A few hours later she became ill, so ill in fact they took her to the hospital. The doctor after an extensive evaluation determined it was some sort of food poisoning. It just so happened she didn't eat all of her steak and had taken some home so her husband went and got it, brought it to the doctor who in turn sent it for testing to see what kind of poisoning it was to treat her effectively. By now they have had to put her into intensive care. The results came back to the doctor Saturday afternoon and showed that there was URINE from at least 3 different individuals in the meat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Needless to say they are taking action against the restaurant!!!!! She was in a room this morning and expected to be released later today. If you order at a restaurant and the order isn't right, just get your money back and leave, DO NOT SEND YOUR FOOD BACK!!!!!!!
September 12, 2001
It is hard to believe that after the horrific events of yesterday that someone would start a chainletter with fake prophecies in it in an attempt to make it appear that Nostradamus predicted these events. If you search the prophecies of Nostradamus, you won't find any of the text from this hoax nor anything close to it.
"In the City of God there will be a great thunder, two brothers torn apart by chaos, while the fortress endures, the great leader will succumb. The third big war will begin when the big city is burning on the 11th day of the 9 month that...two metalbirds would crash into two tall statues in the new city and the world will end soon after" - Nostradamus 1654- The flights that were Highjacked were from United and AA, they were numbered as follows: 11, 93, 175, and 77 11 = Today's Date 9+3 = 12 = Tomorrow 1+7+5 = 13 = Thursday 7+7 = 14 = Friday Hopefully this is a coincidence and the terrorists can't add. but if this is correct there will either be acts of terrorism every day for the next few days or a grand event the last day. pass it around . .
September 2001
This photo started making the rounds after the disaster at the World Trade Center. It is supposed to be of someone that was killed in the disaster but his camera survived. The photo is pretty obviously a fake. Look at the shadows on the person's face and compare them to the shadows on the airplane (look at the sides and in the engine cowls.) The person is illuminated from a point that is low and to the side of the photo while the plane is illuminated from a point that is high and in front of it. It is a little hard for the sun to be in two places at the same time. Other hoax sites that have looked at the photo point out a lot of other problems with it, such as the fact that the observation decks don't open until 9:30am, 30 minutes after this photo was supposed to have been taken. Also, the photo is looking north from the observation deck on the south tower but the south tower was hit by a plane coming from the south not from the north.
We recently received a note from Jonathan Derden (We were initially contacted by his father - thanks Dad.) who recognized the airplane in the photo as one of his copyrighted photos. Jonathan's photo is reproduced here, with permission, following the faked photo. You can also view the original photo on Jonathan's website (http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=131660). If you compare the airplane in the two photos, you can see that they appear to be identical, including the small black object to the left of the tail (probably an open access door). Using a photo editor, someone removed the landing gear and all of the background around the airplane and then inserted it into a vacation photo taken from one of the observation decks of the World Trade Center. Jonathan also mentioned that one more way to know the photo is a fake is that the airplane is a 757 while the airplanes that hit the World Trade Center were 767s.
This was just sent to me.....
Take a look at this one!
This is just an astonishing picture.
...this was from a camera found in the wreckage of the WTC, developed
by the FBI for evidence and released on the net today....the guy still has
no name and is missing ...
Photo from www.airliners.net with permission. Copyright Jonathan Derden
(with permission).
September 2001
This one started making the rounds just after the tragedy of September 11. It is totally false. A reporter was in the indicated Dunkin Donuts store and saw none of the indicated actions.
See also Dunkin Donuts reply to the message.
Attention all Americans: Boycott Dunkin Donuts!! In Cedar Grove, NJ, a customer saw the owner of a Dunkin Donuts store burn the U.S. flag. In another Dunkin Donuts store in Little Falls, a customer saw a U.S. flag on the floor with Arabic writing all over it. We are starting a nationwide boycott of all Dunkin Donuts. Please make sure this gets passed on to all fellow Americans during this time of tragedy. We Americans need to stick together and make these horrible people understand what country they are living in and how good they used to have it when we supported them. Numerous fastfood companies are at Ground Zero, giving away free food to volunteers. Where is Dunkin Donuts in all of this? Boycott Dunkin Donuts!!!!!! Pass it on.............................
October 2001
I just love it when someone writes a good spoof of a hoax, not only because it is fun to read but that it is the most effective mechanism I have seen for really killing a hoax message. Thanks to whomever wrote this.
Subject: Caution I know a lot of rumors have been going around about planned or possibly planned terrorist attacks. Most of these e-mails I read and pretty much go on about my day. This however sounds SERIOUS! Don't go to the bathroom on October 28th. CIA intelligence reports that a major plot is planned for that day. Anyone who takes a poop on the 28th will be bitten on the butt by an alligator. Reports indicate that organized groups of alligators are planning to rise up into unsuspecting American's toilet bowls and bite them when they are doing their dirty business. I usually don't send emails like this, but I got this information from a reliable source. It came from a friend of a friend whose cousin is dating this girl whose brother knows this guy whose wife knows this lady whose husband buys hotdogs from this guy who knows a shoeshine guy who shines the shoes of a mailroom worker who has a friend who's drug dealer sells drugs to another mailroom worker who works in the CIA building. He apparently overheard two guys talking in the bathroom about alligators and came to the conclusion that we are going to be attacked. So it must be true.
November 2001
Here is another message related to September 11. According to Anheuser-Bush, they checked this out and can find no evidence that it ever happened.
How Budweiser handles those who laughed at those who died on 11 Sept 2001 Thought you'd like to know what happened in a town north of Bakersfield California. After you finish reading this, please forward this story on to others so that our nation and around the world will know about those who laughed when they found out about the tragic events in New York, PA and the Pentagon. September 11th, a Budweiser employee was making a delivery to a convenience store in a town called McFarland. He knew of the tragedy that had occurred in New York. He entered the business to find two Arabs whooping and hollering and really cheering it up. It was obvious they were elated with what had happened earlier. The Budweiser employee went to his truck called his boss and told him of the very upsetting event. He didn't feel he could be in that store with those horrible people. His boss told him, "Do you think you could go in there long enough to pull every Budweiser product and item our beverage company sells there? We'll never deliver to them again." The employee walked in, proceeded to pull every single product his beverage company provided and left with an incredible grin on his face. He told them never to bother and call for a delivery again. Budweiser happens to be the beer of choice for that community. Just letting you all know how Kern County handles this situation! Pass this along. America needs to know that we're all working together. Well, I need to add to this. My father in Nevada sent this to me. Fact is, I live not too far from McFarland here in Central California, and I heard about this at work the day after it happened. Seems a lot of people from work frequented the store in question. But it didn't end there. As Paul Harvey might say, here's the rest of the story... Seems the Budweiser driver had friends...in particular, the Pepsi route driver. The Bud driver called his Pepsi friend from his cell phone while he was still at the store and told him what happened. Seems the Pepsi driver called his boss, and received the identical orders the Bud driver did. So Pepsi went in and took out everything in the store under their corporate brand. And if you know Pepsico (Pepsi, Frito Lay, etc.), that's damn near EVERYTHING. Last I heard, that store has no product, no customers (word spreads fast in these small towns, y'know) and no hope. And I say good riddance to bad rubbish. I hope they enjoyed their cheers...it's the last they'll be doing in THIS country.
September 2000
With the arrival of the Harry Potter movie, this old hoax has started making the rounds again. It was originally spotted a year ago (Sept. 2000) and quickly died out as people learned that it was simply a copy of an article from The Onion, a popular satire site. The article pokes fun at the popular books (that's why the call it satire). A variant of this hoax claims the American Family Association sent out a warning, which, according to the AFA website, is also false.
This is the most evil thing I have laid my eyes on in 10 years ... and no one seems to understand its threat. The Harry Potter books are THE NUMBER ONE selling children's books in the nation today. Just look at any Barns & Noble or Waldenbooks storefront. Go to Amazon.com and read the reviews. Hear the touting by educators and even Christian teachers about how "It's great to see the youth so eagerly embracing the reading experience!" Harry Potter is the creation of a former UK English teacher who promotes witchcraft and Satanism. Harry is a 13 year old 'wizard.' Her creation openly blasphemes Jesus and God and promotes sorcery, seeking revenge upon anyone who upsets them by giving you examples (even the sources with authors and titles) of spells, rituals, and demonic powers. I think the problem is that parents have not reviewed the material. The name seems harmless enough... Harry Potter. But that is where it all ends. Let me give you a few quotes from some of the influenced readers themselves: "The Harry Potter books are cool, 'cause they teach you all about magic and how you can use it to control people and get revenge on your enemies," said Hartland, WI, 10-year-old Craig Nowell, a recent convert to the New Satanic Order Of The Black Circle. "I want to learn the Cruciatus Curse, to make my muggle science teacher suffer for giving me a D." [A 'muggle' is an unbeliever of magic.] Or how about the REALLY young and innocent impressionable mind of a 6 year old when asked about her favorite character: "Hermione is my favorite, because she's smart and has a kitty," said 6-year-old Jessica Lehman of Easley, SC. "Jesus died because He was weak and stupid." And here is dear Ashley, a 9 year old, the typical average age reader of Harry Potter: "I used to believe in what they taught us at Sunday School," said Ashley, conjuring up an ancient spell to summon Cerebus, the three-headed hound of hell. "But the Harry Potter books showed me that magic is real, something I can learn and use right now, and that the Bible is nothing but Boring lies." DOES THIS GET YOUR ATTENTION!! If not, how about a quote from a High Priest of Satanism: "Harry is an absolute godsend to our cause," said High Priest Egan of the First Church Of Satan in Salem, MA. "An organization like ours thrives on new blood - no pun intended - and we've had more applicants than we can handle lately. And, of course, practically all of them are virgins, which is gravy." [Since 1995, open applicants to Satan worship has increased from around 100,000 to now... 14 MILLION children and young adults!] It makes me physically ill, people! But, I think I can offer you an explanation of why this is happening. Children have been bombarded with action, adventure, thrills and scares to the point Hollywood can produce nothing new to give them the next 'high.' Parents have neglected to see what their children are reading and doing, and simply seem satisfied that' Little Johnny is interested in reading.' AND... educators and the NEA are PUSHING this with NO WARNING as to the effects or the contents. Still not convinced? I will leave you with something to let you make up your own mind. And finally, a quote from the author herself, J. K.Rowling, describing the objections of Christian reviewers to her writings: "I think it's absolute rubbish to protest children's books on the grounds that they are luring children to Satan," Rowling told a London Times reporter in a July 17 interview. "People should be praising them for that! These books guide children to an understanding that the weak, idiotic Son Of God is a living hoax who will be humiliated when the rain of fire comes, ... while we, his faithful servants, laugh and cavort in victory." My hope is that you will see fit to become involved in getting the word out about this garbage. Please FWD to every pastor, teacher, and parent you know. This author has now published FOUR BOOKS in less than 2 years of this 'encyclopedia of Satanism' and is surely going to write more. I also ask all Christians to please pray for this lost woman's soul. Pray also for the Holy Spirit to work in the young minds of those who are reading this garbage that they may be delivered from its harm.
Febuary 2002
The snopes site checked with Walmart on this one and found that Walmart does budget flags for each of their stores. There could be a lot of reasons a store didn't have a flag. For example, the store might have used up its budget on more important things, such as lighting in the parking lot. Making choices like this are a normal part of corporate life. The manager of the store might then have asked the employees if they would be willing to chip in to get a flag now, as opposed to waiting until next year. Whatever the reason, this rant shows a lack of understanding of corporate politics and budget management, and it is also wrong.
In terms of policies, the writer should have asked Walmart Corporate what their policies are, not some clerk who isn't even involved in the budgeting and policy decisions. I am constantly amazed at how many people claim "That's corporate policy" or "That's a board policy" when trying to either deflect the blame for something they have done or when trying to force you to do it their way. In all, this is another one for the trash can.
Quite honestly, I had not noticed that Wal-mart does not fly our flag. What a surprise. I have run across a situation that I think should be changed; it upset me and so I decided to put it out on the Internet. If you decide to forward this note to your friends, that's fine-if not, that's okay, too. Maybe I'm wrong in feeling this way, but this is what I found on Friday, October 12, 2001. I ran to our local Wal-Mart store before I went to work. I needed a couple of items before we left at noon for a short vacation. While I was being checked out at the counter, I realized that I had not noticed an American Flag flying outside and asked the clerk why there wasn't one. I was told that the policy is that Wal-Mart does not provide flags to their stores- rather, each store must provide their own-at this store, the employees would have to take up a collection among themselves to make the purchase of the flag, pole & flood light. I was sure there was a misunderstanding in that policy somewhere, but needed to hurry off to work, so I didn't pursue the problem. As I drove to work I became more and more upset to think that the Company "seems" to encourage patriotism and "Buy American" won't even, in these days of horror and heroism and war on terrorism, provide their stores with flags to show their support!! When I got to work I told my co-employees what I had found that morning and they agreed that I must be mistaken-Wal-Mart would not have a policy that made individual stores/employees purchase their own flag, "for heavens sake"!! My co-employees suggested I just call Wal-Marts corporate offices and there I would discover the truth to this misunderstanding. So, I did. I called the Corporate office and spoke to their representative. By the way, their number is 1-800-Wal-Mart. Do you know what I was told? I wasn't misunderstanding their policy! Each store must provide their own flag-if the store can't fit the expense into their budget, then the employees have to take up a collection. Now, I find this a disgrace. I have always noticed the large flags flying at every Perkins Pancake House-they always fly the flag, even when there isn't a National Emergency. But here's Wal-Mart, the company who has become wealthy beyond measure in this great Country of ours; who claims to be "one big happy family", who recommends we "Buy American", but who cannot/will not provide a flag pole/flag and light to each of their stores wherever they are. Would this be expensive? Oh, somewhat, I agree, but I hear that Wal-Mart is planning to build many new stores in the near future and that, possibly, they will make every existing store into a "super-store". Now, I realize that expanding like that will bring in more money and make them wealthier still- where providing flags to all their stores would only COST money and not add money to their fortune. Maybe, just maybe, not providing flags to their stores and not flying the flag in support of our Country will start costing them more money-maybe I will start looking more closely for the flag before I shop and begin supporting the smaller stores who don't worry so much about the "bottom line", but rather are happy to spend some money to show they really love America. Do you think I am really way off base on this, or do you feel the same. Thanks for taking the time to think about this with me-if you feel the same, forward this on to your address list - if not, that's what your "Delete" is for.
March 2002
This warning sounds really serious until you realize that Progesterex does not exist. The University of Florida College of Pharmacy investigated it and could not find any drug with that name available anywhere.
See also: Columbia University's Health Question & Answer Internet Service
WAY TOO CLOSE TO HOME! this was sent by a friend. Important notice A woman at Gastown nightclub on Saturday night was taken by 5 men, who according to hospital and police reports, gang raped her before dumping her naked at Neutral Bay. Unable to remember the events of the evening, tests later confirmed the repeat rapes along with traces of rohypnol in her blood. Boyfriends, take heed. Good guys out there, please forward this message to your lady friends. Progesterex, that is essentially a small sterilisiation pill. The drug is now being used by rapists at parties to rape AND sterilize their victims. Progesterex is available to vets to sterilize large animals. Rumour has it that the Progesterex is being used together with Rohypnol, the date rape drug. As with Rohypnol, all they have to do is drop it into the girl's drink. The girl can't remember a thing the next morning, of all that had taken place the night before. Progesterex, which dissolves in drinks just as easily, is such that the victim doesn't conceive from the rape and the rapist needn't worry about having a paternity test identifying him months later. The drug's effects AREN'T TEMPORARY. Progesterex was designed to sterilize horses. Any female that takes it WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO CONCEIVE. The crooks can get this drug from anyone who is in the vet school of any university. It's that easy, and Progesterex is about to break out big on campuses everywhere. Believe it or not, there is even a site on the internet telling people how to use it. Please forward this to everyone you know, especially girls.
Here is another variant of the same hoax.
For guys please take care of your Girlfriend.... Ladies, be more alert and cautious when getting a drink offer from a guy. Good guys out there, please forward this message to your ladyfriends. Boyfriends and husbands, take heed. There is a new drug that has been out for less than a year - Progesterex, a sterilization pill, that is now being used by rapists at parties to rape AND sterilize their victims. Progesterex is available to vets to sterilize large animals. Rumor has it that the Progesterex is being used together with Rohypnol, the date rape drug. As with Rohypnol, all they have to do is drop it into the girl's drink. The next morning, the girl will not remember a thing that had taken place the night before. Progesterex, which dissolves in drinks just as easily, makes the victim unable to conceive from the rape, so the rapist needn't worry about having a paternity test identifying him months later. The drug's effects AREN'T TEMPORARY. Progesterex is used to sterilize horses. Any female that takes it WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO CONCEIVE. Anyone can get this drug from anyone who is in vet school. It's that easy,and Progesterex is about to break out big on campuses everywhere. Believe it or not, there is even a site on the internet telling people how to use it.
Please! Forward this to everyone you know, especially the females, right now!
March 2002
Hotmail have been receiving this message for about a year, warning them that their account will be removed if they don't pass this on to 15 other people. Someone went to a lot of trouble to draw up this image to look like a MSN announcement. None of this is true, of course.
And now a third warning in June 2002 to send this mail in the next 30 seconds or lose your account.
You have been caught by MSN. You have 30 minutes to send this to as many people as u can including the person that sent it to you. You have to do this or else have your account shut down for GOOD we are warning you to do this. It's for your own good. If somebody does not get this within the 30 days, there account will be shut down. MSN needs to find out who is using there account. Robert Nelson MSN Director
April 2002
Anyone who has read this site knows how much I like a good spoof. The spoofs actually seem to do a better job at convincing people that what they are reading is not real then any bulletin I can send out. If you like spoofs, this one contains just about every urban legend and myth that you have ever seen, plus a few that you have not seen. Compose yourself, relax, take a deep breath and read the following Important Hoax Information!
Subject: Fw: Important Hoax Information! The following was forwarded to me and it is absolutely true. Everyone knows that I don't send out erroneous emails. This completely clears up all the misunderstandings concerning internet hoaxes, conspiracy theories, pranks, schemes etc. Of course, the following information has been confirmed by CNN and/or the United States government. So next time you are unsure if an email that you have received is true or not, please check with the following to confirm its accuracy. If you feel that any particular hoax or theory has been left out, please email it to me with the details and I will include it in future mailings. Once again, the following is 100% true and well worth the read. P&G Flash Report The KKK is endorsed by Procter and Gamble, who also supports the satanists, and who sold Mrs. Field's cookie recipe to Neiman Marcus for $2,000 after the kiddie tatoos laced with LSD that were supposed to be used for satanic ritual abuse at that day care center in Beaufort were mistakenly eaten by the choking doberman who was bitten by the snake that came out of the fur coat that was worn by the escaped homicidal maniac whose hook prosthesis was found hanging from the door of the car of the teenagers who high-tailed it out of a lover's lane when they heard that he had escaped and then went to the pot party where the kids who were supposed to be babysitting got high on marijuana and were so stoned they accidentally put the baby in the oven instead of the turkey that makes you sleepy because it contains tryptophan because the microwave was ruined by the exploding poodle that the girl with the beehive hairdo that turned out to contain roaches who had gotten an automatic "A" at college because her roommate had committed suicide had put in to dry after it had gotten wet chasing the vanishing hitchhiker who had tried to warn the girl that her insides were cooked because she had stayed too long under the sun lamp
