Urban Legends This Week

Once again – a goldmine of rumours from the good folks over at snopes. If you receive an email that begs to be passed on, first use the Urban Legend Search engine at FatherDan.com to do a search on a few key words in the email. In the meantime, here’s whats floating around cyberspace:

The drought affecting Canada’s western provinces has spawned a new legend: Farmer who cannot sell his cattle at auction due to their emaciated state slaughters them, then turns the gun on himself.

Do the US armed forces issue stress cards to new recruits, cards that when waved at rampaging Drill Instructors will stop them dead in their tracks?

A New York mother of three named Sharon Shechter disappeared in December 2001 and is still missing.

Did pitcher Gaylord Perry’s manager once say “They’ll put a man on the moon before he hits a home run,” and years later Perry hit his first home run minutes after Apollo 11 landed on the lunar surface?

Bear facts: The Avon cosmetics company no longer donates 10¢ to breast cancer research every time you receive a “hug” from an animated bear.

Despite rumors to the contrary, Subway pitchman Jared Fogle (“the weight-loss guy”) is alive and well.

Starbucks having PR trouble yet again: An Internet-distributed coupon cannot be redeemed at any participating Starbucks outlet for a free Crème Frappuccino drink.

A five-year-old girl named Sabrina Fair Allen is missing from her Austin, Texas, home.

Another rant from Dennis Miller , this one chiding Michael Newdow for bringing the Pledge of Allegiance suit?

Sesame Street is adding to its cast a muppet who is HIV-positive .Are They?

Outback Steakhouse brought steak dinners to American troops serving in Afghanistan.

How a joke becomes a “this really happened” tale: General Motors head issues caustic press release in response to Bill Gates’ comparison of advances in computing to the automotive industry.

Are traces of cocaine on the money in your wallet?

Were M-16 rifles used by American soldiers in Vietnam manufactured by the Mattel toy company?

Got any others or feedback? [Comment on this Post]