URBAN LEGENDS—

Periodically you will receive, usually in email form, something that sounds like it makes quite a bit of sense, yet, a discerning nose often will detect an associated aroma.

Recent ones I have seen have involved not buying gasoline from Citgo Oil because it is controlled by Hugo Chavez, the demonstrably US-unfriendly president of Venezuela, and, a petition for the US Senate to reconsider a vote on Social Security for illegal immigrants.

Cousin Bill Nolan, a bit of a scientific guru—sometimes with his tongue in his cheek—recently offered a spoof on outlawing Dihydrogen Monoxide as a serious threat to the planet. In this case that horrible-sounding compound is also known as, er, water; which was readily apparent in his well constructed, flim-flam.

If you are ever in doubt when you receive such silliness, here’s a great place to begin evaluating its validity: http://www.snopes.com/snopes.asp; also referenced in Cousin Bill’s shenanigan via a link.

There, simply click on “Hottest 25 Legends” and you will likely find your culprit. If not, scan their list of general themes, or, use their search function.

A favorite general topic on the current top 25 list involves missing children reports. So, before you rush to the aid of some “distraught parent” who is searching for a missing child, check Snopes. Might save you some embarrassment.

Here is another dandy reference on this subject (also shared by Cousin Bill): http://www.breakthechain.org/index.html Be sure to read their opening remarks. We all will be better off for following that advice.