Find the hidden conspiracy

[snopes]

Comment: Is it true that, in august of 1998, the U.S. goverment ordered 25
million body bags from DOW Chemical? If so, what was the intended use for
this many bags?

[snopes]

Comment: do vending machines really have razor blades in them, that pass
under the coin slot after you insert your money, to cut any threads you
might have tied to the coin?

[snopes]

Comment: I was told by a relative that a soldier friend of his in Iraq
said that about 20,000 absentee ballots were not mailed in the last
election on purpose. He had no further details, but I would have thought
the news media would have easily picked up on that if it were true. Have
you knowledge of any such rumor?

[snopes]

Comment: A friend in Australia asserts that scientists are working to
develop an extremely virulent strain of avian flu in order to
significantly reduce the world's population, thereby reducing global
warming.

[snopes]

Comment: Re: Light Humor

As the saying goes, "Funny you should mention."

The custom of outdoor Christmas lights was virtually unknown until the
50's. At that time, local utility companies started running best exterior
decoration contests. Ironically, this was a marketing ploy to increase
the use of electricity.

[snopes]

Comment: My telephone# is: XXX-XXX-0218

UPS may not have a problem, YET! But Cargo flights are now a better
target than Passenger Flights.

I am a retired Pilot (35 years with United).

There are aspects of The current farce called "Airport Security" that you
may not have considered, and you certainly won't get from the government.
If you are curious, I'll present another orientation which I am sure has
not crossed either your mind or area of expertise.

BTW. Consider Richard Reid and the lack of coverage other than the
acknolwedgement that he tried to blow up an airplane! This incident will
have significance should you care to explore the question.

[TrishDaDish]

Originally Posted by snopes

Comment: Re: Light Humor

As the saying goes, "Funny you should mention."

The custom of outdoor Christmas lights was virtually unknown until the
50's. At that time, local utility companies started running best exterior
decoration contests. Ironically, this was a marketing ploy to increase
the use of electricity.

I'm ashamed to say this, but I saw a movie on Lifetime recently where this was the theme. (Company buys too many Christmas lights, holds contest to sell the surplus. Dear God, why was I watching Lifetime? Wasn't there anything good on Spike that day?)

See, THIS is exactly why we don't have cable in this household!

[TallGeekyGirl]

Originally Posted by snopes

Comment: Is it true that, in august of 1998, the U.S. goverment ordered 25
million body bags from DOW Chemical? If so, what was the intended use for
this many bags?

Duh! They needed 25 million body bags to store 25 million bodies! What else would you use them for?

[Malruhn]

Well, not to be a nay-sayer, but the body bags that we had in inventory had a shelf life of 30 years, and the last time we had any made were back in the early '70s... so they were getting "bad" (as in: dry rot and leaky seams).

So, we order a butt-load to keep on the shelf, bringing out a hundred or so a month, and they'll last forever (or about 30 years).

Originally Posted by snopes

Comment: A friend in Australia asserts that scientists are working to
develop an extremely virulent strain of avian flu in order to
significantly reduce the world's population, thereby reducing global
warming.

Right, because I'm sure that wiping out a significant portion of the earth's population is the best solution to global warming that scientists can come up with.

Originally Posted by snopes

Comment: A friend in Australia asserts that scientists are working to develop an extremely virulent strain of avian flu in order to
significantly reduce the world's population, thereby reducing global warming.

For the scientists working on this evil project, the good news is that yes, a flu pandemic probably will cause a significant number of deaths worldwide (an etimated 62,000,000). The bad news is that it won't do much to reduce globabl warming as 96% of the deaths will occur in developing ocuntries. (Source, if you really care. Free registration required)

[snopes]

Comment: Is the Federal government withholding a cure for cancer because
of the potential impact on the nation's economy?

This was something that was told to me the other day, and I'm trying to
confirm this or reject it.

[Avril]

Originally Posted by snopes

Comment: Is the Federal government withholding a cure for cancer because
of the potential impact on the nation's economy?

This was something that was told to me the other day, and I'm trying to
confirm this or reject it.

What exactly would the impact on the nation's economy be if there was a cure for cancer? Is the writer saying that there would be a decrease in medical costs which would harm the economy? But then, people would be likely to spend the money on something else. Or is it that if people didn't die of cancer, the population would increase, which I suppose has some impact (but what, I'm not sure)?

Care to enlighten me, anyone?

Avril

[James G]

Well a cure for cancer would remove one of the primary causes of death in the Western world, resulting in a rapidly greying population. Unless retirement ages continued to rise, this would result in a more rapid increase in the dependent elederly population on what is, in many western countries at least, a diminishing (or at least less rapidly growing) working population. This will result in the increased tax rate necessary to fund the increase in pensions that will result from a longer life expectency.

On the flip-side, there would probably be a reduction in costs associated with cancer care, although other diseases associated with old age, particularly those which are debilitating, rather than fatal, would increase. (I'm not sure how the US health system funds treatment for the elderly so I don't know which of these costs are borne by the state. But a similar load will be placed on insurance companies.)

While these problems are genuine, and indeed are concerns already expressed by demographers (Our longer lifespans and declining birthrates are already contributing to top heavy populations. This is partialy boyed by immigration of workers, but this relief may only be temporary.) the conspiracy is obviously nonsense. For one the supression of a cancer cure would be nigh on impossible. Cancer is THE way to get funding in biology at the moment, and this cash is comming in from a multitude of sources, including charities, drug companies, NGOs and research councils. Plus we have plenty of scientists whose future ultimately depends on their publication record. What this would suggest is that the US govenment would be in coalition with all the scientific journals, providing the financial compensation to cover the damage to their impact factor. Furthermore they'd have to attend conferences to ensure that the cures didn't leak out, why even bother pumping so much money into cancer research if you are going to cover up any findings. (If it weren't for the fact that almost any modern molecular biology could be shoe-horned into 'cancer research' I'd actually be tempted to argue that the area got too much funding. As it is, cancer money props up huge sectors of modern biology.)

But furthermor, the governements are being fairly short sighted if this is the case. Why initiate huge anti-smoking campaigns for instance, and give regular health advice to citizens. Heart disease is a huge age biased killer in the Western world, then why bother with any drive to health eating.

But also, by economic discussion above is in many ways simplistic. The elderly aren't a dead portion of the economy, or indeed of society. And health benifits can raise the wellbeing of the general population. For example, many people are now realising that malaria places severe economic restrictions on African countries, as well as health ones. (http://www.health.go.ug/malaria.htm)

[snopes]

Originally Posted by Avril

What exactly would the impact on the nation's economy be if there was a cure for cancer?

It would put the "cancer industry" out of business.

- snopes

[Elwood]

With a sure-fire cure for cancer, more people would smoke. Phillip Morris stock would go through the roof and thus offset in negative effects on the economy. Smokers would still get the heart conditions and other related problems, fixing any remaining deficit it the health care sector.

Originally Posted by Elwood

With a sure-fire cure for cancer, more people would smoke. Phillip Morris stock would go through the roof and thus offset in negative effects on the economy. Smokers would still get the heart conditions and other related problems, fixing any remaining deficit it the health care sector.

I wonder if that is the case... Assuming there was an easy, cheap, no fuss cure for cancer (say a one-off shot or pill that prevents you developing cancer, just to make it as easy as possible) do you think more people would start smoking? I reckon you would get less people quitting, but not necessarily more starting. Cigarettes would still be addictive, expensive and smelly. Those are the reasons I dont smoke, rather than the health consequences (Though I have to admit, the warnings about impotence on the packs dont encourage me to start either )

[snopes]

Comment: Here we go again with another year and a full 365 days to get
lots of things accomplished.
This is a cute E-mail and thought provoking too.
As you read it please keep these thoughts in mind.
Starting today the banks and stores will devalue all currency that is
torn, wrinkled or damaged in any way. They have a sliding scale the
government has apparently issued, in which they allow pre-set deductions
for the money that you are depositing or spending. Apparently the banks
are not making enough profit and so have had their lobbyists get this bill
passed. It was attached as a rider to one of the military appropriations
which passed easily. Now it is in your best interest to iron all of the
money in your wallet or purse so as to get the full measure of your money.
This is one reason many people are going to be using more coin. I hear
that there may soon be a $5, $10, $20, & $50 coin.
My friend at the bank showed me a list of some of the things and the
amounts they will be able to deduct from your currency.
This is for a one or two dollar bill.
There are separate schedules for currency of larger denominations.
A bent or torn corner .08 - .15.
Wrinkled bills .10
Bills that are torn .05 -.12
Now some bills can have multiple problems will receive multiple discounts.
Your dollar may only be worth .78 when they actually show you your deposit
slip.
The fees assessed are at the discretion of the Teller. You can appeal the
Tellers decision. This however is a lengthy, time consuming process and
must be done in person generally at the banks headquarters. They don't
think many people will file an appeal as it will cost them more then they
will recover.
Think about this for a moment. If everybody gave the bank a dollar or two
for the honor of making a deposit the banks would be making even more
profit then ever. They make enough as it is. Just look at the glorious
buildings they keep building.
Now, should you be frustrated please feel free to send me all of your
bent, folded, stapled or mutilated currency. This way you know it will be
going to a good person who will spend it wisely.
You might think of this service I am now willing to offer as a Rescue for
Damaged Currency. Some of the currency can be rehabilitated. This can be a
lengthy and costly procedure.
The government has many more laws that will go into effect today. So just
be prepared.

[snopes]

Originally Posted by SiKboy

I wonder if that is the case... Assuming there was an easy, cheap, no fuss cure for cancer (say a one-off shot or pill that prevents you developing cancer, just to make it as easy as possible) do you think more people would start smoking? I reckon you would get less people quitting, but not necessarily more starting. Cigarettes would still be addictive, expensive and smelly. Those are the reasons I dont smoke, rather than the health consequences.

But cigarettes have always been addictive and smelly, and that hasn't stopped millions of people from starting the smoking habit. And if an easy cure for cancer were available, it would eliminate the justification for many of the taxes that make cigarettes so expensive these days.

- snopes