Hoax

This website that I found discusses a hoax involving "Kidney Harvesting." It warns of a newer crime trend in which the suspects usually target business travelers. This apparently occurs in most major cities nowadays. The targeted business man or women usually goes to a bar right after work or in the evening for a drink, when a complete stranger sits down next to them and offers to buy them a drink. That drink is usually the last thing these victims remember before waking up in a hotel room bathtub, submerged in ice. There is often a note next to them when they regain consciousness, instructing them to dial 911 on a cell phone that is left on a small table next to the tub. The victim obviously calls 911, when the operator (apparently many operators are familiar with this crime trend) instructs the person to feel their back to see if there are tubes protruding. The victims then affirms that there are two tubes, which means that both of there kidneys have been harvested by a sort of "organ theif." This is most likeley a hoax, as it is defined on the website. However, I witnessed a rise in popularity of this hoax in mainstream television. In the FX show, "Nip/Tuck", almost every episode in the most recent season involves a crime ring of kidney harvesters. So who knows? It would be sick to know that this is a true claim, let's hope it is an actual hoax.

http://www.bighoaxes.com/hoaxe_4_20.html

Mass Hysteria

This article discussed a case of mass hysteria that occurred in Southern Lebanon. In January of 2007, an Israeli newspaper used dozens of green balloons as a form of advertisement. Unusually strong winds carried these balloons across the border into South Lebanon. Many of the Lebanese in the villages which saw the balloons feared that it was a form of biological warfare unleashed by an Israely warplane. This resulted in a small case of mass hysteria. Eight people were hospitalized for allegedly inhaling toxic gases which originated from the Israeli ballons. The victims were apparently suffering from systems like fatigue and nausea. The Lebanese government agency conducting the investigation reported that the Israeli forces had dropped ten large balloons containing toxic gas over the south Lebanon villages, and advised citizens to stay away from the balloons. The arguement that the article presents against the toxic balloon theory is as follows: why would Israeli forces, with greater land and air power drop just 10 balloons over South Lebanon in an act of biological warfare. It's rediculous that people can convince themselves of things like this when they are basing their diagnosis on a false report such as that.

http://adiamondinsunlight.wordpress.com/2007/09/05/mass-hysteria-israeli-balloons/

9/11 Conspiracy Theory

This article, by Kevin Barrett, discusses one of the many conspiracy theories involving the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. Barrett discusses and elaborates on a lecture given by a "prominent intellectual", Dr. David Ray Griffin. Both Barrett and Griffin discuss how it is a proven fact that the World Trade Center buildings were demolished by explosives planted by the United States government, as opposed to the Boeing 747's, which countless cameras recorded flying into the structures. Throughout the article Barrett makes absolutely rediculous claims along with quoting equally as rediculous claims made by Griffin. Both men have the same opinions that all possible evidence from the scene of the World Trade Centers leads to the fact that explosives took the buildings down. They attempt to back up these ignorant ideas with claims like those that follow. They claim that the core columns of the buildings were severed in identical thirty foot sections, which is suspicious because the trucks that were usued to haul them away from the scene were thrity feet long also. They also say that all of the fine dust that resulted from the concrete being pulverized, could only be explained by the power of explosives. They go on to make several other assumptions that they claim are "proven facts" throughout the article. Since September 11, I have heard many of these conspiracy theories involving the attacks, and every time I become completely astonished at the ignorance of people who believe in such things. It blows my mind to witness these individuals claim things, like this World Trade Center explosive theory, when what really happened is completely clear, and capable of being supported with countless bits of evidence. It is my personal opinion that such individuals as these should get a life, and stop blaming the largest attack ever on US soil on our own government.

http://www.conspiracyplanet.com/channel.cfm?channelid=89&contentid=2890&page=2