Urban Legends Sitemap - Page 5 2013-05-25
*77 or #77 Emergency Cell Phone Feature - Urban Legends
Female college student pulled over in her car by a cop-impersonating would-be rapist is rescued by a real officer after dialing #77 (or *77) on her cell phone.
Email: Halal Meat Invading U.S. Supermarkets
Internet rumors claim halal meat products are unsafe for human consumption.
Man Fired for Expressing Christian Beliefs?
Brand new on the forwarded-email circuit, this action alert from the American Family Association urges recipients to boycott Allstate Insurance Company for
America's 'Tough Guy' Sheriff
One year in circulation and still going strong, this email flier touting the accomplishments of Joe Arpaio, the tough guy Sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona
Stories to Tell Around the Campfire
Stories to Tell Around the Campfire
Adventures in Epithetymology
Certain types of manure used to be transported (as everything was back then) by ship. In dry form it weighs a lot less, but once water (at sea) hit it, it not
'Hole Punch' Auto Burglaries
'Hole Punch' Auto Burglaries
The 'Apollo Moon Landing Hoax' Hoax
Forty years ago on July 20, 1969, one of two world-changing events in human history occurred: 1. Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first man to
ATM PIN Number Reversal
Here's a scary scenario. You're at an ATM, about to make a transaction, and someone walks up behind you and sticks a gun in your back. He orders you to withdraw
Annals of Adulterated Oreos
Viral images showing unwelcome objects allegedly found in Oreo cookies.
Last Time They Were Seen Alive
A slideshow of bogus images purporting to show various people moments before they met untimely deaths.
FW: Don't Feed Your Cat Table Scraps - Urban Legends
Emailed photo of a really, really big housecat: guinness world record guinness world record holder cat lore quiz image table scraps
The Heavenly Bodyguards - Urban Legends and Folklore - Archive
A murderer spares a young woman because two 'tough guys' appear to be walking at her side
The Hare Dryer - An Urban Legend
The mystery of the blow-dried bunny: jan harold brunvand animal legends ul reference tabloid magazine folklorist
The Hijackers' Misfortune - Urban Legends and Folklore - Archive
Driving in the outskirts of Johannesburg, a woman encounters a body in the road. Thinking it may be a hijacker in disguise, she swerves to avoid it and keeps driving...
Peanut Butter Surprise - An Urban Legend
Scandalous proof that dog is woman's best friend, too
Web Ring Gateway - Urban Legends and Folklore
The Ring of Folklore and Urban Legends - Web Ring information
The Kangaroo Thief - An Urban Legend (adapted version appears in 'Kangaroo Jack')
Having had a bit too much to drink, a group of tourists bumps into a kangaroo with their car. Assuming it's dead, they clothe it in a jacket and begin posing for photos...
Please Don't Intoxicate the Animals - Urban Legends and Folklore - Archive
A drunken romp through a safari park ends in near-disaster
Double Whammy! - Urban Legends and Folklore - Archive
Contrite car thief 'makes amends' by sending his victims tickets to a ball game
The Face in the Window - Urban Legends and Folklore - Archive
A girl was home all alone watching TV on a cold winter night...
Reader Poll: Top Net Hoaxes / Urban Legends of 1999
Vote in our poll for the Silliest, Scariest, and Most Annoying Net Hoaxes and Urban Legends of 1999
Also Not Dead: Adam Sandler
An online report claiming that actor/comedian Adam Sandler died today in a snowboard accident is a hoax the same hoax, in fact, that fooled
FACEBOOK SCAM: 'Charlie Sheen Found Dead at Home'
Links to a nonexistent video entitled
Eminem Dead - Did Eminem Die in a Car Crash? - Urban Legends
Is Eminem dead? 10-year-old Internet hoax claims famed rap artist Eminem died in a car crash.
Winston Churchill, Farmer Fleming and Penicillin - Urban Legends
Did the son of a Scottish farmer who allegedly saved the life of the young Winston Churchill grow up to become the inventor of penicillin, which later supposedly saved the life of the adult Winston Churchill?
Medical Excise Tax in Obamacare?
Retail customers subjected to a 'medical excise tax' thanks to Obamacare?
Was Neil Armstrong the First Muslim on the Moon?
Did astronaut Neil Armstrong convert to Islam?
Obama vs. American Flag, ad Nauseam
Not only does Barack Obama refuse to salute the flag, Internet rumormongers inform us, but he also took the disgraceful measure of replacing it on the tail of
Ghost Cam - Urban Legends
Scary 'Ghost Cam' is actually an animated GIF image purporting to depict a ghost moving through a storage room, location unknown.
Internet Hoax Says Glenn Beck Raped, Murdered Young Girl in 1990
Via Mediaite: A baseless rumor insinuating that Fox News pundit Glenn Beck may be guilty of rape and murder is spreading rapidly online thanks to a loose-knit
Pumping Up the Fear
Pumping Up the Fear
'Our Lives Are at Stake Here'
Viral story about Ann Coulter refusing to board a plane because the pilot was black is satire, not fact.
The Clinton Body Count - Urban Legends
Viral email dating from the mid-1990s lists dozens of 'friends' of Bill and Hillary Clinton who allegedly died under mysterious circumstances.
Free Car from Honda! - Urban Legends
Is Honda giving away free cars to people who forward an Internet chain letter? What do YOU think?
ATM PIN Number Reversal - Use Reverse PIN to Contact Police? - Urban Legends
Email rumor claims ATM users can contact police in the event of attempted robberies by entering their PIN in reverse.
Obama Flag Q&A
Is it true that Obama has ordered this new flag to be flown from all gov't buildings?
The Rambo Granny of Melbourne - Urban Legends
Tabloid tale of 81-year-old 'gun-toting granny' Ava Estelle of Melbourne, Australia, who took revenge on two men who raped her granddaughter by shooting their testicles off.
Salaries of Charity CEOs Compared - Urban Legends
Viral text purports to compare the salaries of top executives of U.S. and Canadian charitable organizations.
The Ghost Under the Bed - Urban Legends
Email chain letter claims that a ghost (depicted in attached image) will 'collect your soul' if you don't forward the message to at least five people.
Ghost of the Sundarbans / Fort Mountain Ghost [p. 2]
Emailed photo purportedly depicts a tourist visiting the Sundarbans in southwest Bangladesh, cont.
'Malay Ghost' Photo - Urban Legends
Emailed photo taken in a cemetery allegedly depicts the ghost of a Malaysian woman raped and murdered by a Japanese soldier during World War II.
The Ghost of the Sundarbans [Analysis]
Emailed photo purportedly depicts a tourist visiting the Sundarbans in southwest Bangladesh two days before he mysteriously died of a heart attack
Ghost of the Sundarbans / Fort Mountain Ghost - Urban Legends
Viral image allegedly depicts a ghostly figure standing beside a tourist in the Sundarbans (southwest Bangladesh) two days before he mysteriously died of a heart attack; in a more recent version, the location is said to be Fort Mountain, Georgia
Bill Cosby Dead? Only on the Internet
Prominent black comedian Bill Cosby was killed this morning in a tragic car accident in South Central Los Angeles, reads the latest phony celebrity obituary
'Finger Finder' Arrested in Wendy's Chili Hoax
The Associated Press reports that Anna Ayala, the Las Vegas woman who says she bit into a human finger while eating chili in a Wendy's restaurant in San Jose
'Jenkem' Drug Scare Is Bogus
I've found no credible evidence that Jenkem use is popular in the United States.
Shake 'It' but Not the Picture, Warns Polaroid
Shake it like a Polaroid picture, says grammy-winning OutKast in the group's hit song Hey Ya! ...Which is a good thing to do on the dance floor but a
Author Admits Pickled 'Dragon' Was a Hoax
The baby dragon allegedly found preserved in a jar in an Oxfordshire garage two months ago was a hoax.
Black Fawn Pictures [p. 2]
Images circulating via forwarded email show a 'melanistic' fawn covered head-to-toe in black fur.
Black Fawn Pictures [p. 3]
Images circulating via forwarded email show a 'melanistic' fawn covered head-to-toe in black fur.
Black Fawn Pictures [Analysis]
Images circulating via forwarded email show a 'melanistic' fawn covered head-to-toe in black fur.
Black Fawn Pictures - Urban Legends
Black Fawn / Melanistic Deer - Images circulating via forwarded email show a 'melanistic' fawn covered head-to-toe in black fur.
Black Fawn Pictures [p. 4]
Images circulating via forwarded email show a 'melanistic' fawn covered head-to-toe in black fur.
Kopi Luwak Is Real... Expensive
A department store in London is offering kopi luwak -- the legendary varietal coffee consisting of beans harvested from the dung of the palm civet in Indonesia
The Fish of Fertility
Symbols and gestures, Iβve noticed, can be misunderstood. For example, last Friday as I hurried through the kitchen on my way out of the house on some errand or another I was momentarily brought up short by my wife, who was standing in front of the open refrigerator with a fish in her hand. She turned and shook the fish in my face. That may have been my cue, Iβm still not sure - my lovely wife was in a sheer nightie at the time...
'Free Stuff' Chain Letters
Information on all the latest misinformation on the Net
The Teacher and Little Teddy Stoddard - Urban Legends
Inspirational (though fictional) story of little Teddy Stoddard, a disadvantaged child who blossomed under the influence of his teacher, Mrs. Thompson, and went on to become a successful doctor.
Did Starbucks Refuse to Donate Coffee to U.S. Marines? - Urban Legends
Viral rumor accuses Starbucks of refusing to donate coffee to U.S. Marines on the, uh, grounds that the company has taken a stand against the Iraq war 'and anyone in it.'
Card Trick [p. 4]
Voila! It's gone!: card trick
Card Trick [p. 3]
Got it! I will now make your card disappear...: card trick
Card Trick
I can read your mind!: card trick cards
Card Trick [p. 2]
Are you thinking of the card? Good. I will now read your mind...
New Chinese Aircraft Carrier (Photos) - Urban Legends
Viral images purport to show China's new aircraft carrier under construction, a massive vessel with twin hulls and two flight decks.
New Chinese Aircraft Carrier [p. 2]
Viral images purport to show China's new aircraft carrier under construction, a massive vessel with twin hulls and two flight decks.
New Chinese Aircraft Carrier [p. 3]
Viral images purport to show China's new aircraft carrier under construction, a massive vessel with twin hulls and two flight decks.
New Chinese Aircraft Carrier [p. 4]
Viral images purport to show China's new aircraft carrier under construction, a massive vessel with twin hulls and two flight decks.
New Chinese Aircraft Carrier [p. 5]
Viral images purport to show China's new aircraft carrier under construction, a massive vessel with twin hulls and two flight decks.
412-Pound Deer Killed (Photos) [p. 2]
Emailed photos, cont.: 412 pound deer photos
Bookworm vs. Bookworm - A Pocket Tale
When a bookworm (a lover of books) meets a bookworm (an eater of books), only mayhem can ensue.
Mermaid Pictures - Dead Mermaid Found in the Philippines - Urban Legends
Emailed pictures purportedly show the carcass of a dead mermaid caught by a fisherman in the Philippines.
Mermaid Pictures - Dead Mermaid Found in the Philippines [p. 2]
Emailed pictures purportedly show the carcass of a dead mermaid caught by a fisherman in the Philippines.
Mermaid Pictures - Dead Mermaid Found in the Philippines [p. 3]
Emailed pictures purportedly show the carcass of a dead mermaid caught by a fisherman in the Philippines.
Mermaid Pictures - Dead Mermaid Found in the Philippines [Analysis]
Emailed pictures purportedly show the carcass of a dead mermaid caught by a fisherman in the Philippines.
The Dead Cat in the Package - An Urban Legend
After stealing someone's shopping bag in a department store parking lot, a thief gets the surprise of her life when she opens it up and sees what's inside.
Urban Legends and Folklore - Recent Features
Urban legends, rampant rumors, Internet hoaxes debunked
Dead Frog Found in Can of Kroger Peas [p. 2]
Photos show a tiny frog found inside a can of Kroger peas, cont.
Worker Dead at Desk for 5 Days - Urban Legends
Bosses of a publishing firm are trying to work out why no one noticed that one of their employees had been sitting dead at his desk for FIVE DAYS before anyone asked if he was feeling okay...
Rumor: Georgia Carjacking, Rape Blamed on Katrina Evacuee
Forwarded email claims there are 4,500 registered sex offenders among the Hurricane Katrina evacuees from New Orleans and blames a carjacking and rape committed in Acworth, Georgia on one of them
Quiz: Sex Urban Legends
Quiz: Urban Legends about romance, sex, and scandal
The Premature Burial by Edgar Allan Poe
The Premature Burial. Etext of the famed horror story by Edgar Allan Poe.
The Premature Burial (p. 2)
Etext of the famous horror story by Edgar Allan Poe
The Premature Burial (p. 3)
Etext of the famous horror story by Edgar Allan Poe
The Premature Burial (p. 4)
Etext of the famous horror story by Edgar Allan Poe
The Premature Burial (p. 5)
Etext of the famous horror story by Edgar Allan Poe
The Premature Burial (p. 6)
Etext of the famous horror story by Edgar Allan Poe
The Premature Burial (p. 7)
Etext of the famous horror story by Edgar Allan Poe
NASA Experiments with Sex in Space - Urban Legends
Fictitious document attributed to NASA and circulated on the Internet details purported experiments in which astronauts performed sex acts in outer space
I See Dead People, cont.
Our current tally of who's REALLY dead and who's not, cont.
A Message from David Letterman - Urban Legends
Viral op-ed attributed to late-night talk show host David Letterman labels the majority of Americans
Zora Neale Hurston on Zombies
1943 interview with Zora Neale Hurston, the first person to ever photograph a zombie.
Why Do We Wear Costumes and Trick-or-Treat on Halloween?
Halloween: Origin and history of the custom of wearing costumes and trick-or-treating on Halloween
A Quick Guide to the Origin & History of Halloween
What we know (and don't really know) about the history of Halloween, its origins, and how our modern Halloween customs and traditions evolved.
Coke Adds Death - Urban Legends
Does Coca-Cola contain an ingredient in common with anti-freeze? Is Coke a slow poison comparable to arsenic? Will it dissolve teeth and bones? Carla Homan investigates the claims of a popular forwarded email.
Myths on Bathing During Pregnancy - Old Wives Tales - Urban Legends and Folklore
Understanding myths about bathing during pregnancy, from your About.com Guide
NASA Experiments with Sex in Space [p. 2]
Fictitious document attributed to NASA, cont.: missionary posture nasa experiments nasa document sex in space two partners
I See Dead People
Our current tally of who's REALLY dead and who's not, Internet rumors notwithstanding...
Apocrypha Now! - Ghost Cameo
Movie legends, cont.: animated disney film lifesize cardboard cutout three men and a baby baby ghost nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp
Hurricane Katrina: God's Punishment for a 'Wicked' City?
A reader writes: Is it true that Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans on a day that was to observe 'Southern Decadence Day' with 100,000 homosexuals
FACEBOOK HOAX: 'Girl Who Killed Herself' Virus Warning
This Facebook 'virus' is actually a survey scam.
Myths of Super Bowl Sunday - Urban Legends
Urban legends and myths about the Super Bowl and the American ritual of Super Bowl Sunday.
Urban Legends of Super Bowl Sunday [p. 2]
Urban legends and myths of the Super Bowl
New Dollar Coin Omits 'In God We Trust' - Urban Legends
Refuse new dollar coins! Online rumor claims the motto 'In God We Trust' was (or will be) intentionally omitted from new one-dollar U.S. coins.
'Jenkem' Drug Warning - Urban Legends
Viral alert warns that a homemade intoxicant called Jenkem, consisting of the gases emitted by fermenting human feces, is now 'a popular drug in American schools.'
Halloween Candy Tampering Revisited
Several people wrote to me after reading my article saying that Halloween candy tampering is
Is Big Brother Watching Your E-Z Pass?
Notwithstanding email rumors to the contrary, the state of New York hasn't begun issuing speeding citations based on the timing of E-Z Pass transponder readings
Darrell Scott's Columbine Testimony - Urban Legends
Mr. Darrell Scott, the father of a victim of the Columbine shootings, did in fact deliver the stirring Congressional testimony that has been widely quoted in forwarded emails.
HOAX: Morgan Freeman on Connecticut School Shootings - Urban Legends
Comments blaming the 'sensationalist media' for the Dec. 14, 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut are falsely attributed to actor Morgan Freeman.
Cow Tips Man
We've gone around and around over the years on the question of whether the practice of cow tipping described on Wikipedia as the purported activity of
Feb. 9 Proclaimed 'Alligators in the Sewers Day'
By proclamation of Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, today, February 9, is officially Alligators in the Sewers Day. On this date 75 years ago, a
The Top 10 ULs of 2011
It's time once again to unveil our annual roster of the most popular urban legends, rumors, and hoaxes of the past year.
Still on Pins and Needles
News wires are reporting that more copycat incidents involving hypodermic needles secreted in public places have been uncovered in the Virginias.
An Urban Legend Come to Life?
In apparent 'copycat' incidents mimicking a well-known rumor, two people in Pulaski, Virginia were reportedly injured by hypodermic needles when they put their fingers into the coin return slots of public phones.
Vending Machines of Death! - HIV Needle-Stick Rumors in Canada
Those sinister pin-pricking miscreants are back, now infecting innocent folks across all of western Canada with AIDS.
Vending Machines of Death! [p. 2]
History of 'deadly pinprick' legends since the 1920s
More AIDS / HIV Sneak Attacks - Urban Legends
False tales of 'sneak attacks' with HIV-contaminated needles continue to circulate in the U.S. and elsewhere.
I Got Your Dimensional Warp Generator Right Here!
The mysterious time travel spammer is at it again. Since November 2001, this strange character (who some think is certifiably crazy) has been mass-emailing
Chinese Man Eating Baby [#1] - Netlore Archive
Emailed photos purport to show a Chinese man eating a dead baby or fetus
412-Pound Deer Killed [Analysis]
Emailed photos, cont.: clarion county pennsylvania nebraska game and parks minneapolis star tribune nebraska game and parks commission whitetail deer
Child Murder in Australia Linked to Jamie Bulger Killer - Netlore Archive
Email rumors claim the murder of an 8-year-old girl in a Perth, Australia shopping center was perpetrated by one of the boys convicted of killing 2-year-old Jamie Bulger in Liverpool, England in 1993
Antiperspirants Cause Breast Cancer (Text of Email) - Urban Legends
Full text of email rumor alleging that antiperspirants or deodorants are the 'leading cause' of breast cancer
Procter
Field notes from your About Guide: urban legends reference pages killer sponges pot scrubbers yellow sponges pot scrubber
The Remus Reid Story - Urban Legends
Viral message summarizes the life and times of Remus Reid, allegedly the great-great uncle of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid... and a train-robbing horse thief to boot!
Michelle Obama: 'All This for a Damn Flag?' - Urban Legends
Online rumor claims news video shows First Lady Michelle Obama whispering 'All this for a damn flag' in the President's ear during a flag folding ceremony on the anniversary of 9/11.
Was Martha Raye a Nurse in Vietnam? - Urban Legends
Viral story about entertainer Martha Raye helping to save wounded soldiers in the field during a 1967 USO tour in Vietnam.
Did a Kenyan Member of Parliament Say Obama was Born in Kenya?
A public statement by Kenyan MP and Minister of Lands James Orengo has re-energized the Birther movement, whose central tenet appears to be the conviction
The Turklebaum Syndrome
From Colfax, California comes a report of another real-life incident echoing the fictional story of George Turklebaum, a New York proofreader (supposedly) who
Bogus Nike Ad Makes the Email Rounds
The graphics are slick and the image attention-grabbing: a bloody sneaker bearing Nike's trademark Swoosh lies intact on the pavement in the aftermath of an
No Hoax: 'Mydoom' Worm Is Fastest-Spreading Ever
Known variously as Mydoom, Mimail.R, Novarg or Shimg, a new virus is infecting computers worldwide at a phenomenal rate. The worm is circulating as an
Did Palin Misquote Lincoln?
Much has been made, and rightly so, of the widespread misrepresentation of Sarah Palin's remark about U.S. troops being in Iraq on a task that is from God. It
Woman 'Pregnant' with Squid After Eating Undercooked Calamari
Woman 'Pregnant' with Squid After Eating Undercooked Calamari
The Black Lion
Viral image of an all-black lion is fake.
Jane Fonda Decries 'Grotesque' Internet Lies About Her Anti-War Activities
Jane Fonda responds to email rumors accusing her of betraying American POWs in Vietnam.
FACEBOOK SCAM: Free Dunkin' Donuts Gift Card
CLAIM: Dunkin' Donuts is currently giving away $100 gift cards to all facebook users!! STATUS: False.
Boycott Obama's 'Muslim Stamp' - Urban Legends
Viral text urges boycott of a Muslim holiday stamp, an actual USPS 'forever' postage stamp first released in 2001 to commemorate the Islamic holidays Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
'Work' Virus Warning - Urban Legends
Beware, there's a new virus going around called 'work.' If you receive any sort of 'work' at all, whether via email, Internet or simply handed to you by a colleague... DO NOT OPEN IT!
Workers Guzzle Barrel of Rum, Find Corpse Inside
Via Museum of Hoaxes: A Hungarian police Web site reports that workers in the town of Szeged made a grisly discovery after sampling rum from a 300-liter barrel
Michael Jackson and the Number 7
If you're still in a numerological frame of mind, you'll probably enjoy and perhaps even find deep meaning in TMZ's list of coincidences involving
'Gullibility Virus' Warning - Urban Legends
The Institute for the Investigation of Irregular Internet Phenomena announced today that many Internet users are becoming infected by a new virus that causes them to believe without question every groundless story, legend, and dire warning that shows up in their inbox.
A Credo for Armchair Activists
An excellent article from the Cox News Service surveys the phenomenon of grassroots boycotting in the Internet age and offers tips for telling the occasional
Protest Sign: 'We Will Shoot More Police in Arizona'
Help authenticate this image! A sign held by one of the protesters in this viral image of a May Day immigration reform rally reads: Give Us Free
No, George Clooney Isn't Dead
Did George Clooney die after falling off a cliff in New Zealand? No, the story is a hoax.
NASA Predicts Total Blackout in Dec. 2012? - Urban Legends
False rumor claims NASA is predicting 3 days of darkness - a 'total blackout' between Dec. 23 and 25, 2012 - due to an 'alignment of the universe' during which the earth will shift from the third dimension to 'zero dimension.'
The Choking Doberman
My cousin and his wife lived in Sydney with this huge doberman in a little apartment off Maroubra Road. One night they went out for dinner and a spot of
The Top 10 of 2012
The Top 10 of 2012
Michelle Obama and that 'Damn Flag'
Michelle Obama and that 'Damn Flag'
Pet Food Recall
Folks are writing in to ask if it's true that dozens of brands of dog and cat food manufactured by a company called Menu Foods have been recalled due to reports
Did Mel Gibson Nail Jesus to the Cross?
Dear Guide: In the movie
Demi Moore and the Amorous Dolphin
Dear Urban Legends: I am attempting to verify something that was presentedas fact several weeks ago on a local radio station. You may be my only hope!
Celebrity Stomach Pump - An Urban Legend
Have you heard the one about Rod Stewart passing out on stage? Seems he was rushed to the emergency room, where a pint (or quart, or gallon, depending on version) of semen was pumped out of his stomach!
Folklore and Mythology FAQ: What is a fable?
Folklore and Mythology FAQ: What is a fable?
Folklore and Mythology FAQ: What is mythology?
Folklore and Mythology FAQ: What is mythology?
Myth and Folklore FAQ: What is a myth?
Myth and Folklore FAQ: What is a myth? A definition of the word 'myth' as used by folklorists and mythographers.
Folklore and Mythology FAQ: What is superstition?
Folklore and Mythology FAQ: What is superstition?
HMS Romney - Urban Legends
On the claim that the 50-gun warship HMS Romney was sent to Boston Harbor by England in 1768 to enforce British rule and right to tax American colonists.
Ann Romney on Equal Pay for Women? - Urban Legends
A viral quote attributed to Ann Romney, wife of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, says equal pay for equal work is 'detrimental to the future of women.'
'Of Course I'll Win, I'm the White Guy' - Urban Legends
Online postings claim presidential candidate Mitt Romney said, 'Of course I'll win, I'm the white guy.'
Romney: 'Too Important' to Go to Vietnam? - Urban Legends
Did Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney actually say he was 'too important to go to Vietnam' because he had 'a greater purpose in life'?
'Mars Spectacular' on August 27?
According to forwarded emails circulating for the past few months, the planet Mars is due for an unprecedented close encounter with Earth on August 27, when a
ALERT: Facebook Hoax Misleads 'Straight Ticket' Voters
Hoax message tells voters to select their presidential choice separately from a 'straight ticket' option.
Peter Kohler - Bio
About Peter Kohler, bookseller, bibliophile and frequent contributor to this site
Bookworms
A Pocket Tale by Peter Kohler
FALSE: Facebook Shutting Down on March 15
Rumors that Facebook will end on March 15, 2012 are false. Just like last year.
Did ABC News Ban Flag Lapel Pins?
Is it true that ABC News forbids its anchor persons to wear American flag lapel pins?
Walmart Gift Card Scam
Walmart Gift Card Scam
Did Denzel Washington Fund a Fisher House for Military Families? [Analysis]
Email rumor, cont.: denzel washington military families fisher images
'Twas the Spoof Before Christmas
If there is a more parodied poem in the English language than Clement Clarke Moore's
'Postcard from Hallmark' Virus Hoax - Urban Legends
Hoax alert warns of 'the worst virus ever' circulating in the form of an attachment labeled 'POSTCARD' or 'POSTCARD FROM HALLMARK.'
The Reindeer Conundrum
Donner, Donder or Dunder? What's the CORRECT name of Santa's seventh reindeer?
Fizzled Doomsdays
The failure of Wednesday's start-up of the biggest-ever atom smasher in Switzerland to destroy the world per some people's predictions reminds us that doomsday
No, Morgan Freeman Didn't Blame the Media for Connecticut School Shootings
Statement blaming the media for the Connecticut school shootings is falsely attributed to Morgan Freeman.
Don't Answer Cell Phone While It's Charging! - Urban Legends
Forwarded email alert claims a young man was killed (electrocuted) when he answered a cell phone that was plugged in to charge the battery.
Starbucks Statement on Donating Coffee to U.S. Marines
Statement from Starbucks corporate headquarters: netlore archive marine sergeant public charities irs code freedom and democracy
World's Tallest Woman [Analysis]
Viral images purport to show the world's tallest woman at 7 feet, 4 inches tall and 320 pounds. Is she really the tallest woman in the world?
12/12/12 for the Lazy Blogger
The New York Times said it all 100 years ago today!
A One-Cent Cure for Bee Stings
Straight from my inbox, here's the hottest new home remedy for the pain and swelling of a bee sting: tape a penny over the site for 15 minutes. The pain will go
Noah Biorkman Christmas Card Request - Urban Legends
Email chain letter requests Christmas cards for Noah Biorkman, a terminally ill 5-year-old in South Lyon, Michigan suffering from neuroblastoma cancer.
Facebook Rumor: Bobby Roberts Hacker Warning
Facebook Rumor: Bobby Roberts Hacker Warning
Are All of Santa's Reindeer Girls?
Reindeer experts say that while both male and female reindeer grow antlers every summer, the males drop theirs by early December which means, given that
A Word from General Vo Nguyen Giap
Attributed to North Vietnamese General Vo Nguyen Giap, architect of the infamous Tet Offensive of 1968: What we still don't understand is why you Americans
Police Shoot Cougar in Chicago
True. According to the Chicago Tribune, police shot and killed a 150-pound cougar in an alley in the Chicago neighborhood of Roscoe Village Monday night. The
Petition: No Social Security for Illegal Immigrants
An email petition circulating since the passage of the controversial Senate immigration reform bill last May urges that citizenship be required before
Fractured Fairy Tale
While walking along an old Roman road one day in Derbyshire -- an area long shrouded in mystery and legend -- a man and his dog happened upon a shallow cave
Free Laptops from Ericsson?
Several readers have notified me over the past few weeks that Sony Ericsson executive Anna Swelung graciously sent them an email promising a free laptop
ATTENTION INTERNET: This is NOT Hurricane Sandy!
ATTENTION INTERNET: This is NOT Hurricane Sandy!
Fall Back: The Truth About Daylight Saving Time
Geographer Matt Rosenberg explains the true origins of Daylight Saving (not 'Savings') Time.
Thanksgiving, De-Mythologized
They dressed in earth-tones, not black and white. They didn't wear buckles on their shoes. The first Thanksgiving in 1621 actually a three-day harvest
Internet Doomsday on July 9, 2012?
Is it true that hundreds of thousands may lose Internet in July 2012?
Romney Family 'RMONEY' Photo Op - Urban Legends
Viral image purports to show presidential candidate Mitt Romney and family wearing T-shirts that spell out 'MONEY' or 'RMONEY.'
FACEBOOK SCAM: Free Costco Gift Card
Facebook link offering free $100 or $1,000 Costco gift card is a scam.
Is It True that George Bush Accidentally Voted for Obama Last Tuesday?
Short answer: no. Any claims to the contrary are fictitious (and liable to be misspelled).
False Rumor: Dolly Parton Dead
Contrary to recurring rumors, 62-year-old country singer Dolly Parton has not died of congestive heart failure. According to her representatives she is alive
More Fake Storm Photos from Hurricane Sandy
Check out our slideshow of the worst, wildest, wackiest viral images of Hurricane Sandy.
Did Anne Kilkenny Really Say Those Things About Sarah Palin?
The viral email of the hour is a lengthy screed lambasting Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin's record as a small-town mayor and Governor of
Keith Richards: 'I Did Too Snort My Father's Ashes!'
Remember the uproar that ensued a few months back when Rolling Stones guitar player Keith Richards admitted in an interview that he had once snorted cocaine
A Halloween Primer
Brief review of what we know (and don't really know) about the origin and history of Halloween and its customs
Is Ann Romney Against Equal Pay for Women?
Did Ann Romney really say women shouldn't get equal pay for equal work?
Bigfoot on Mars
Really? Bigfoot on Mars? It's time for some straight talk on the subject of pareidolia...
Barbara Bush on Hurricane Katrina Refugees
It is, without doubt, the quote of the hour a remark attributed to ex-first lady and mother-of-the-president Barbara Bush during a visit to the Hurricane
Dispatch from 'Ground Zero,' New Orleans
This first-person account of conditions in New Orleans immediately following the onslaught of Hurricane Katrina was written by Dr. Greg Henderson, a pathologist
Photos of Hurricane Katrina... NOT
Seeing these, reads the email text accompanying this set of nine images, it's no wonder there was such catastrophic damage done in Louisiana and
Hand of Hope [Analysis]
AUTHENTIC: Emailed photo, cont.: dr joseph bruner vanderbilt university medical center samuel alexander armas vanderbilt university medical week old fetus
'Redskins Rule' Predicts Romney Win
The Redskins Rule: In any presidential election year during which the Redskins lose their last home game before the election, the incumbent party will be voted out of office.
Things Your Cell Phone Can't Really Do
Despite its title -- Things You Never Knew Your Cell Phone Could Do -- this widely forwarded email is mostly comprised of misinformation, including the
Bible Stops Bullet, Saves Soldier's Life - Urban Legends
Bible stops bullet? Variations on an urban legend, old and new.
Charity Hoaxes Tug Cynically at Heart Strings [p. 2]
A new 'dying child' chain letter, cont.: chain letter evolution negative reinforcement snail mail emotional manipulation positive reinforcement
Human Statue of Liberty
Circulating under the header, An Awesome Patriotic Picture, this amazing group photograph of 18,000 U.S. servicemen posing in formation to represent the
Blackout 2003 Satellite Photo - Urban Legends
HOAX: Viral image purports to show satellite view of the 2003 east coast blackout (power outage) in North America.
Is Halloween Candy Tampering a Myth?
We've become so accustomed to monitoring our children's Halloween candy for needles, razor blades, poison, and other adulterants that we rarely stop to wonder how real the danger is. In point of fact, research shows that actual instances of 'Halloween sadism' are rare.
Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary
Make no mistake, when a gaggle of adolescents stand in front of a mirror chanting Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, or I believe in Mary Worth, I
HOAX: 'Police Warning' on Supposed New Carjacking Method
Bogus warning: Carjackers placing flyers on rear windows of parked cars to trick drivers into exiting vehicles with the engine running.
Why Do We Carve Pumpkins (Jack-O'-Lanterns) on Halloween?
A brief history of the jack-o'-lantern and how carving faces on pumpkins became a modern Halloween custom.
Why Do We Bob for Apples on Halloween?
Origin and history of the custom of bobbing for apples on Halloween.
Creepy Gnome Video - Urban Legends
Homeowners, if you're missing a garden gnome of late, you might try looking for it in northwestern Argentina in a town called General Guemes, where, according
Dire Election Prediction
Election day joke: I predict that no matter who wins, within one week the banks will be closed and soldiers marching in the streets!
Obama's Left-Handed Flag Salute
I think we know who's truly clueless in this scenario.
Mega Millions Winner Splitting Proceeds with Facebook Sharers? April Fools!
Facebook prank claims Mega Millions lottery winner will split proceeds with everyone who shares his update.
Another Roaming Gnome Comes Home
A 10-inch-tall garden gnome missing and believed stolen since last September turned up on the doorstep of its owners in Gloucestershire, England last week,
Bogus George Soros Quote: 'Destroying America Will Be the Culmination of My Life's Work'
Attributed to George Soros: 'Destroying America will be the culmination of my lifes work.'
The Difference Between Obama and Romney - Urban Legends
Juxtaposed news photos purport to contrast the attitudes of President Barack Obama, fist-bumping 'man of the people,' and Mitt Romney, a 'man of wealth and privilege' having his shoes shined on an airport tarmac.
HOAX: Medicare Part B Premiums to Increase to $247
Text attributed to Blue Cross claims Medicare Part B premium is set to increase to $247.
The Truth About 'Obama's 923 Executive Orders'
Did Obama really sign 923 executive orders during his first 40 months in office?
Why Is the Ocean Salty?
Quoth Snooki on Thursday night's episode of Jersey Shore: I hate the ocean. It's all whale sperm. Everybody Google it. That's why the water is salty. From
Apocrypha Now! Archive
Urban Legends and Folklore - sightings, notes and updates
Old Hoax, New Version: Facebook to Start Charging for Membership
Facebook charging? No. Viral wall postings claiming Facebook will soon start charging due to profile upgrades are false.
Obama's U.N. Photo Op Faux Pas
Obama's U.N. Photo Op Faux Pas
Facebook Charging? No. 'It's Free and Always Will Be,' Says Company
Facebook statement: 'We have no plans to charge for Facebook. It's free and always will be.'
Another Fake Hurricane Isaac Pic
This is not a photo of Hurricane Isaac
It's a Croc: Photo of 'Alligator' Swimming by Stranded Motorist Isn't Real
Hoax photo purports to show an alligator swimming near a stranded motorist during flooding caused by Hurricane Isaac.
Blue Moon
Blue Moon
Do Spammers Use Chain Letters to Harvest Email Addresses?
The answer is yes, according to Bill Orvis, who runs the Department of Energy's Hoaxbusters Website. 'Chain letters are the ideal place to collect addresses,'
Salmon ΰ la Kenmore
Have you ever cooked salmon in your dishwasher? The first time he heard of it, Associated Press reporter J.M. Hirsch assumed dishwasher cookery was an urban
Mermaid Found After Tsunami - Urban Legends
Emailed pictures allegedly show the carcass of a dead mermaid found washed up on a beach near Chennai, India during the devastating tsunami of December 26, 2004.
Mermaid Pictures - Dead Mermaid Found After Tsunami [p. 2]
Emailed pictures allegedly show the carcass of a dead mermaid washed up on a beach near Chennai, India during the devastating tsunami of December 26, 2004.
Mermaid Pictures - Dead Mermaid Found After Tsunami [p. 3]
Emailed pictures allegedly show the carcass of a dead mermaid washed up on a beach near Chennai, India during the devastating tsunami of December 26, 2004.
Mermaid Pictures - Dead Mermaid Found After Tsunami [Analysis]
Emailed pictures allegedly show the carcass of a dead mermaid washed up on a beach near Chennai, India during the devastating tsunami of December 26, 2004.
How the Internet Killed Satire
How the Internet Killed Satire
Health Warning: Don't Eat Chicken Wings!
According to this email alert circulating since 2004, a woman developed a cyst after eating chicken wings that contained a steroid residue resulting from the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Colorful myths surround the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington Cemetery and its 24-hour-a-day Honor Guard.
Obama vs. Romney
Obama vs. Romney
Richard Gere and the . . . Hamster?
Rare is the occasion when Richard Gere acknowledges the existence of the infamous gerbil-in-the-butt legend that has tailed him since the early nineties, but he
Army Cites "Domino's Theory" in Military Blog Clampdown
Via Danger Room: Among the reasons cited for revised Operations Security regulations governing what, when, and how military personnel can post in public forums,
'Burundanga' Scare Hits New Delhi
'Burundanga' Scare Hits New Delhi
The Pregnant Man
Is it true that an Oregon man named Thomas Beatie is the world's first pregnant man? The answer may boil down to semantics.Mr. Beatie -- formerly Ms. Lagondino
The Wildest Rumors of 9/11
The Wildest Rumors of 9/11
Martha Raye, Combat Nurse?
Was Martha Raye a combat nurse as well as an entertainer?
How to Stand a Broom on End on the Equinox (or Any Other Day of the Year, for That Matter)
Are there special circumstances making it possible to balance a broom upright on the equinox, or during a planetary alignment?
Carmen Winstead Goes International
The Carmen Winstead story isn't new, but there's a fresh twist, namely that folks are now spreading the fear in French and Spanish translation.
'Tipsy Tow' Blurbs Are Misleading
AAA's Tipsy Tow service is only available in some parts of the U.S.
Eddie Murphy Isn't Dead
Ignore those rumors on Facebook and Twitter. Eddie Murphy isn't dead.
Confirmed: 'Woolly Mammoth' Video a Hoax
Videographer proves 'woolly mammoth' video shot in Siberia is a hoax.
The Truth About Tom Hanks' Dad
Tom Hanks' father was NOT in the fifties vocal group The Diamonds.
'Vengeful Dentist' Tale Exposed as Hoax
News story about Polish dentist pulling all of her ex-boyfriend's teeth because he jilted her is a hoax.
Once in a Blue Moon?
'Blue moon' myths and facts
Martian Sunset?
Hoax image purports to show a 'double sunset' on Mars.
End of the World, Oct. 21 Edition
I awoke to the best birthday news one could possibly hope for, namely the world hadn't come to an end today...
FACEBOOK SCAM: 'Chuck Norris Dies at Age 71!'
Don't click on links promising a video about Chuck Norris dying. He's very much alive, and the video doesn't exist.
The (Supposed) Congressional Reform Act of 2011
Now hear this: Warren Buffett had nothing to do with a chain letter touting a 'Congressional Reform Act of 2011.'
FACEBOOK SCAM: 'Girl Killed Herself on Halloween' Video
Don't click on Facebook postings titled 'Girl Killed Herself on Halloween After Dad Posted This on Her Wall.' It's a scam.
Things Andy Rooney DIDN'T Say
Unfortunately, Andy Rooney will also be remembered for things he didn't say, though folks on the Internet claim he did.
Will Sharing this Photo 100 Times Get this Child a Free Heart Transplant?
The image is circulating on Facebook under false pretenses and won't result in free medical treatment for anybody.
FACEBOOK HOAX: 14-Year-Old Boy Allegedly 'Beaten Half Dead' by Stepfather
Image supposedly shows a 14-year-old boy 'beaten half dead' by his stepfather.
Return of the Flesh-Eating Bananas!
Online rumors claim bananas shipped from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa are contaminated with necrotizing fasciities, the 'flesh-eating disease.'
The Long, Long Snake
Photo of a giant snake taken in Delray, Florida? I don't think so.
Life Imitates Fairy Tale?
Reader Margo Mead writes: The 'similarities' between images of Cinderella, Prince Charming, and the wicked stepsisters in Disney's animated movie Cinderella
Apocalypse Not
It's May 21. I'm still here. You're still here. Harold Camping and his misled followers are still here. Somebody has some explaining to do.
Yet Another Facebook Privacy Alert
New privacy issue with Facebook! As of tomorrow, Facebook will creep into your bathroom when you're in the shower, smack your ass, and then steal your clothes and towel.
Did David Beckham Die in a Car Crash?
Rumors of soccer player David Beckham's death are premature.
Just How Tired Is Bill Cosby?
Viral email titled 'I'm 76 and I'm Tired' is falsely attributed to Bill Cosby.
'Killer Phone Number' Rumor Spreads in Nigeria (Again)
According to rumors spreading via SMS, answering phone calls from the number '09141' will result in 'instant death.'
History of the Jack-O'-Lantern
Fact: The earliest jack-o'-lanterns consisted of hollowed-out turnips and had the advantage of being portable!
Dog Park Cheese Alert
Is it true that people leaving pieces of cheese studded with nails is a new 'trend' at dog parks?
Facebook 'Stalker' Apps Are Scams
Beware the following messages and/or wall postings from Facebook friends: Example #1: I've just seen who checks me out the most here on Facebook! You can
The Fish of Fertility
A New Year's dispatch from our roving mythographer, Peter Kohler: Symbols and gestures, I've noticed, can be misunderstood. For example, last Friday as I
NOT Dead: Nelson Mandela, Justin Bieber
Today's undead celebrities: Contrary to rumors circulating earlier this morning on Twitter and Facebook, former South African President Nelson Mandela has
Here We Go Again: Dumb Burglars Snort Stolen Cremains!
The New York Daily News and other venues are reporting that three teenage thieves stole what they thought was a stash of cocaine from someone's home in Marion
In Search of the Elusive 8mm/VHS Adapter
Listen up, home video enthusiasts! About.com's Home Theater Guide Robert Silva explains in full technical detail why you'll never find that elusive
FALSE RUMOR: 'Everyone's Phone Numbers Are Now on Facebook'
Today's dose of Facebook hysteria is currently replicating in the form of a viral wall posting: EVERYONES PHONE NUMBER IS NOW ON FACEBOOK!! NO JOKE... Go
Is This Ginger Rogers Salsa Dancing at 92?
Sadly, no. Fred Astaire's most famous dance partner died at the age of 83 in 1995. To find out who the real salsa dancer is in this viral video circulating
Flour as a Burn Remedy?
For those who like getting their medical advice from forwarded emails, here's the latest home remedy rocketing from inbox to inbox: Once I was cooking
Despite Obama Birth Certificate, 'Birtherism' Lives On
The White House today released a copy of President Obama's
The Cosby Platform
Did you hear that Bill Cosby plans on running for President as a write-in candidate in 2012? If not, don't fret. It's a hoax. A forwarded email purporting to
Bedbugs
Xenophobia alert! A new forwarded message attributes America's bedbug resurgence to garments and bedding manufactured in foreign countries which, to quote the
A Halloween Treat from Food Network Challenge: 'Extreme Urban Legend Cakes'
Extreme Urban Legend Cakes will be the theme of the Halloween edition of the Food Network Challenge, scheduled to air on Sunday, October 31 at 8 p.m. There
The History of Halloween
Where did Jack-o'-Lanterns come from? Why do we go trick-or-treating on Halloween night? Who invented bobbing for apples, and why? While the modern
Christmas Tree App 'Virus' Hoax
Is a Christmas tree 'virus' spreading on Facebook?
Urban Legend: Poinsettias Are Poisonous
Poinsettias aren't especially poisonous, says the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
The Snake in the Wreath
Via forwarded email: I opened my front door today to receive a FedEx package and as I shut the door I thought the wreath stuck me in the head. After I shut
Viral on Facebook: Honoring Derek Wyatt, Fallen Marine
This is mostly true: TO ALL FACEBOOK FRIENDS. Will you all be willing to donate your status for just a few minutes to HONOR a fallen Marine who's just
Morgan Freeman Dead? Only on Twitter
An inside joke between friends snowballed into an avalanche of tweets earlier today claiming that actor Morgan Freeman is dead. He is not. It all began
Not Dead: Aretha Franklin
Helpful hint to Twitter users: Check it before you retweet it! Thousands of you made rumormongers of yourselves on Monday by passing along the news that
Attributed to Andy Rooney:
I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December. I don't agree with Darwin, but I didn't go out and
Penny vs. Breathalyzer Test
Claim: If you've had too much to drink and are pulled over by police, sucking on a copper penny will cause a chemical reaction that will fool the breathalyzer.
It's Good to Be a Shaman
Many of the shamans of old as of now were masters of sham, writes Peter Kohler. Their trickery included such skills as sleight-of-hand
Imps and Devils
And now for something completely different a dispatch from our roving mythographer, Peter Kohler: Some survive by their wits and some don't; there's
13-Year-Old Hit by Lightning at 13:13 on Friday the 13th
It's the kind of oddball story the media can't resist, however vapid and ridiculous. At precisely 13:13, reported the Daily Telegraph last weekend, a boy
Ed Mezvinsky
Is it true that Chelsea Clinton's new husband, Marc Mezvinsky, is the son of a former Iowa Congressman who served five years in a federal penitentiary for
Grand(ma) Larceny
A friend of mine knows a family who were on vacation, driving through some remote part of the country in their station wagon. They had brought Grandma along
'Red Number' Killer Phone Call Rumor Sparks Panic in Kenya
Via Newstime Africa: Kenyan officials have moved to quell growing hysteria sparked by rumour[s] that a ghostly red number was appearing on mobile phones and
Celebrity Stomach Pump
What do Rod Stewart, Elton John, David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Jon Bon Jovi, Alanis Morissette, Britney Spears, and Lil' Kim all have in common? A particularly
Captain Kangaroo, War Hero
In a story supposedly told by actor Lee Marvin on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, kids' TV show host and Marine Corps reservist Bob Captain Kangaroo
Casey Affleck: Joaquin Phoenix Documentary Strictly a 'Performance'
The word hoax doesn't quite apply and wasn't what was intended, director Casey Affleck says of Joaquin Phoenix's fictitious self-portrayal in the
Here's One Reason People Believe Stuff That Isn't True:
They don't read carefully enough. (Sometimes I think they don't read at all.) I received the following from a reader after he read my article addressing
OMG! Obama Quotes Declaration Without Mentioning 'Creator'
Q: Is it true that President Obama omitted the words by their Creator when he spoke in a recent public appearance of all men being endowed with inalienable
The Warrior Who Was Afraid of Death
Imagine if, though you were a warrior, you lived with an unbearable fear of death, writes Peter Kohler. So much so that every time you looked upon the dead
Sign in a Houston Mall
A viral image still raising hackles though it's over six months old shows a sign on the front door of a Houston perfume shop said to be
Thrill Ride Named 'Thirteen' to Be Closed on Friday the 13th Due to Superstition
It's not just ironic; it's also a brilliant publicity stunt. The management of British theme park Alton Towers Resort has announced that its
A Case of Necrophilia-Related STD in Malta
Our story begins with a segment aired last week on Malta's Favourite Channel News. Here's the summary: Favourite Channel News is informed that a former
Taliban Monkey Soldiers
Taliban Trains 'Monkey Terrorists' to Attack U.S. Troops blared a June 28 headline on China's People's Daily Online website. Among the bizarre allegations
Otto Titzling, Inventor of the Brassiere
We sing the praises of Otto Titzling, whose revolutionary chest halter of a century ago paved the way for the mighty Wonder Bra of today. History tells us
13 Tales Best Told After Dark
Gather 'round the digital campfire to enjoy an unlucky 13 of the scariest urban legends we know. Start here...
St. Patrick's Day
The pride of the world and his enemies scorning I will drink to St. Patrick, today in the Morning! Read more...
Does This Picture Show President Obama Praying at a Mosque?
This is OUR President at a MOSQUE prayer session LAST WEEK AT THE WHITE HOUSE, reads an email currently circulating with the above image attached. It's
Another Smelly Motel Room, Another Dead Body Under the Bed
Police searched a motel room near the Memphis airport last Monday after workers reported a foul odor coming from inside. What they find? A dead body under the
Rumor: Obama Fires 50,000 Cattle Guards in Colorado
You know what cattle guards are, right? They're those horizontal steel grates they put across roads in rural areas to keep cattle from crossing. It seems
Urban Legends: Is Spokeo.com Invading Your Privacy?
Online rumor claims the people search site Spokeo.com invades users' privacy.
HOAX: Very Quietly Obama's Citizenship Case Reaches Supreme Court
Go Birthers! This fake news story has been circulating since mid-2009 and is currently rising again in the charts: FW: VERY QUIETLY OBAMA'S CITIZENSHIP
Bobby Brown Died? Nope.
Contrary to an online rumor circulating throughout the day on Tuesday, Bobby Brown is not I repeat, NOT dead. According to TVGuide.com's Kate
Misspelled Prayer Request: 'Audrin' King
FYI, a prayer request replicating on Facebook and Twitter describing the plight of a two-year-old cancer victim named Audrin King is erroneous. Though the
HOAX: Facebook Donates $1 per Status Update to Haiti Relief
A reader writes: I keep seeing this note in status updates. Is it true? The note says: This status is being tracked, the owners of facebook have
Is 'Giant George' the World's Tallest Dog?
Unofficially, yes. London's Daily Mail reports Giant George, a 4-year-old Great Dane owned by David and Christine Nasser of Tucson, Arizona, stands 42.625
Watermelon 'Vaporized' by One Drop of Binary Explosive?
I'm no ordnance expert, but I have my doubts about this one. A viral video circulating since 2006 purports to demonstrate the destructive power of one
Johnny Depp Dead? Sure, Just Like Eminem, Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears, Taylor Lautner, etc., etc.
Notwithstanding a weekend Twitter campaign consisting of messages such as Johnny Depp dead in car crash and RIP Johnny Depp, the actor has not been
Are Facebook Status Updates the New Chain Emails?
Yes, says Sarah Perez of ReadWriteWeb.com. The hoodwinks, urban legends, fairy tales, humorous tall tales, and out-and-out scams that once arrived via our
Feb. 2, 2010: Groundhog Sees Shadow, Predicts More Winter
GOBBLER'S KNOB, Punxsutawney, PA -- The bucktoothed rodent known in these parts as Punxsutawney Phil saw his own shadow this morning, which means, if you
Email Joke Lands School Principal in Time-Out
Imagine you're a parent and you get this email from your kids' elementary school principal: Dear Parents, Turn off the TV for once and pay attention.
Mikey Likes It
Dear Urban Legends: Do you remember the story from the late '70s / early '80s about the Life cereal kid named Mikey? How he would eat anything? Well, I
Sign of the Times
If you thought Obama's fake Kenyan birth certificate was a hoot, you will also appreciate the latest example of manufactured evidence from the wacky folks who
The Evil Eye
A tidbit that caught my (evil) eye in the summary of a Pew Research poll on the religious beliefs of Americans: Fully 16% of Americans believe in the evil
'Birther' Wackiness Continues w/Release of Obama's 'Kenyan Birth Certificate'
Obama's Kenyan Birth Certificate. One of the myriad alternative-reality scenarios promulgated by Birthers.
'Queen' Michelle Obama's 22 Attendants
Don't be surprised if folks accustomed to getting their facts from forwarded emails start complaining to you that First Lady Michelle Obama has hired an
9-9-09 - Lucky, Unlucky, or What?
On the fluffier side of the news, today's date features a trio of nines 9-9-09 which of course has to mean something, so numerologists have been
9/11: The Face of Evil
As if the images of conflagration and death that hijacked our TV screens and dominated our newspapers in the aftermath of September 11, 2001 weren't monstrous
8% of NJ Voters Believe Barack Obama Is the Antichrist
Interesting poll results from New Jersey: 21% of likely voters believe Barack Obama wasn't born in the United States (16% undecided). 8% believe he's the
'Gang Initiation Week' Is an Urban Legend
As if you didn't have enough to be afraid of already, folks are texting, Twittering, and emailing about a so-called gang initiation week beginning today,
Kanye West Isn't Dead
Screenshot of vandalized Wikipedia page Roc-A-Fella artist Kanye West died last night from injuries sustained in a car accident, said a news release posted
Sarah Palin Divorce Rumor Is False, Aide Says
A few online sources are reporting that Sarah Palin and husband Todd are getting a divorce. A National Enquirer story exposing previous affairs on both
NOT a Hoax: support@microsoft.com Worm
I've received a slew of inquiries concerning the validity of warnings about a computer virus called 'Palyh' (aka 'Mankx'), which allegedly circulates as an
Was Ben Franklin's Kite a Hoax?
Historian Tom Tucker first became suspicious after building an exact replica of Ben Franklin's kite the one the early American statesman and inventor
Beware the 'Bugbear' Virus - It's No Hoax
The so-called Bugbear Virus (a.k.a. Tanat or Tanatos worm) is a real security threat, not a hoax, say antivirus experts. 'The Bugbear worm arrives via email and
This Day in History, 1963: JFK Was a Jelly Donut
June 26, 2003 marks the 40th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's famed 'Ich bin ein Berliner' speech in the shadow of the Berlin Wall, acclaiming solidarity
Mass. Senator Skewered for Forwarding Pig Guts Email
Massachusetts State Senator Guy W. Glodis isn't the only one who has forwarded the offensive 'Black Jack' Pershing email since it first appeared in September
Bogus Email Triggers HIV Ketchup Scare in Bermuda
A bogus email declaring that an HIV-positive man was recently caught pouring blood into a ketchup dispenser at a fast food restaurant has sparked off
Car Park Prank at Bristol Zoo
Is it true that a man who pretended to be a car park attendant at Britain's Bristol Zoo for 25 years made off with millions of pounds worth of ill-gotten
Baloney Detection Kit
Via Boing Boing: With a sea of information coming at us from all directions, how do we sift out the misinformation and bogus claims, and get to the truth?
Insights into the Celebrity Death Rumor Craze
Alex Boese has put together a terrific analysis of last weekend's spate of celebrity death rumors, including these pithy observations: Status seeking is an
Megan Fox Is a . . . Man???
Like similar rumors circulating about actress Jamie Lee Curtis and hip-hop diva Ciara, the claim that popular Transformers star Megan Fox is a transvestite,
12:34:56 07/08/09
Like me, you probably slept through both of this morning's once-in-a-lifetime events, namely: the clock striking 12:34:56 on 07/08/09; the clock
Photo of Obama 'Checking Out Girl' at G8 Summit Isn't What It Seems
A photo of Barack Obama apparently showing him staring at a young woman's derriere during the recent G8 summit has set jaws a-flapping and inspired a new name
'Mythbusters' Take on Apollo 11 Hoax Claims
Your must-see-TV recommendation for today is the Mythbusters NASA Moon Landing show, which first aired in August 2008 and is being rerun on the Discovery
Cybercriminals Exploit World Cup Fervor
Over the past 24 hours my spam filter has quarantined at least a half-dozen emails from spoofed addresses with the header, FIFA World Cup South Africa - bad
UMass Urban Legends
It's not true that University of Massachusetts kitchen personnel routinely add laxatives to meals prepared on campus to make sure they pass through diners'
Get RELIABLE Info on Swine Flu
How do you make a potential pandemic worse? By spreading misinformation and panic. Don't do it. Don't assume that everything you read in emails, on
Another Bogus Hacker Alert
And I quote: Do not accept a friend request from a CHRISTOPHER BUTTERFIELD he is a hacker. Tell everyone on your list because if somebody on your list adds him
Michael Jackson's Nose
According to Buck Wolf there's a new wrinkle in the old saga of Michael Jackson's nose, namely an anonymously-sourced tabloid story claiming that Jacko has skin
NRA: Rumor of Gun Tax Legislation an 'Old Distraction'
It's the year 2000 all over again for gun rights advocates, who've been passing around an old email rumor warning of a bill in Congress (SB-2099) that would
A Giant Coconut Crab
Even if this isn't the first time you've seen pictures of the world's largest land-dwelling arthropod, the coconut crab, you'll do a double-take when you gaze
What Does 'Grass-Mud Horse' Mean?
An article in today's New York Times discusses the Grass-Mud Horse phenomenon in China, an Internet craze fueled by censor-tweaking postings of songs and
Poll: Who's Afraid of Friday the 13th?
Some folks refuse to go to work on Friday the 13th; some won't eat in restaurants; many wouldn't think of setting a wedding on the date. Are you
Blood Lust: A History
The New Yorker's Joan Acocella reviews the evolution of vampire lore from its origins in ancient superstition to Bram Stoker's fictive romanticization of the
Gorsky Tale Referenced in 'Watchmen'
Hugh writes: Has anyone else noted that the Good Luck, Mr. Gorsky urban legend is referenced in the movie Watchmen? I think it's due for a whole new
Wal-Mart Gang Initiation Update
It's Day 3, and the Wal-Mart gang initiation rumor rages on. There are too many reports from too many sources to attempt a formal tally, but judging by the
'Mythbusters' Bust More than Myths in Small Town Visit
The crew of the Discovery Channel's Mythbusters show detonated 500 pounds of ammonium nitrate in a quarry just outside Esparto, California last week, sending a
Rumor: Text Messages Can Kill
The Egyptian Gazette reported on Wednesday that a Mallawi man died vomiting blood after receiving a mysterious text message from unknown foreign quarters.
Conficker Worm / April 1 Virus
Yes, there is an Internet worm called Conficker (sometimes misspelled Conflicker). Yes, more than 10 million computers are believed to be infected with it.
The Premature Burial
In honor of Edgar Allan Poe's 200th birthday, we resurrect one of the master horror writer's best-known tales, The Premature Burial. Though fictional, the
Inauguration Price Check
A new email making the rounds bemoans the fact that although G.W. Bush's second inauguration in 2005 racked up a paltry $42 million in expenditures as compared
Weave Stops Bullet
Bibles do it, iPods do it, and now, apparently, even hair weaves do it stop bullets from killing people, I mean; at least that's what we're hearing from
Beer Pong Herpes Hoax
That the popular drinking game beer pong is a font of contagion I do not doubt, but it's my job to separate rumor from fact, so let the hairsplitting begin.
FTC Says Beware of Stimulus Scams
Via Denver Business Journal: Websites may advertise that they can help you get money from the stimulus fund, says Eileen Harrington, acting director of the
The Jackalope Hunter
On his way across the American continent in search of answers to global warming, the BBC's Ethical Man Justin Rowlatt takes time out to go jackalope hunting
Ohio Fights Bridge Collapse Rumors
Cleveland's I-90 Innerbelt Bridge across the Cuyahoga River is not in danger of collapsing, Ohio Department of Transportation officials insisted on Monday,