Issue 62 - Hoax-Slayer Newsletter

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This month in Hoax-Slayer:

• Ashley Flores Hoax Email
• Cruise Control Hydroplane Warning
• Question From eBay Member Phishing Scam
• Software Review: Registry Mechanic
• Mold in Pancake Mix Warning
• Nicotine in Tim Hortons Coffee Hoax
• Cocoa Mulch Toxic to Dogs Warning Email
• Computer Tip: Create Pre-Addressed Email Shortcuts
• Pascua Lama Mine Email Petition
• Hoax-Slayer Humour: Worst Joke Ever!!
  
  
  
  

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The email forward shown below warns that drivers should not use cruise control in the rain. The message claims that using cruise control can actually cause the vehicle to accelerate through the air if it hits standing water and hydroplanes (aquaplanes). While the core claim (don't use cruise control in wet conditions) is valid, the message seriously mangles the facts and is therefore misleading and overly alarmist.

Certainly, using your vehicle's cruise control in wet or icy conditions can be dangerous - but not for the reasons outlined in this warning message. It almost goes without saying that aquaplaning can occur regardless of whether cruise control is engaged or not. Aquaplaning occurs when a tyre's grooves cannot remove water quickly enough and the tyre therefore loses contact with the road surface and skims across the top of the standing water. Car accidents often happen as a result of aquaplaning, but in many cases this is due to poorly maintained vehicles, driver inattention or poor road conditions and has nothing at all to do with cruise control.

That said, if cruise control is engaged when aquaplaning occurs, the driver's subsequent reaction could make the encounter worse than it may have otherwise been. For example, the driver may hit the brake heavily to disengage cruise control and this could lock up the wheels completely. Furthermore, drivers often move their feet away from the pedals when cruise control is engaged and they may also be a little less attentive than normal. In an aquaplaning situation the small delay caused by these factors could equate to the difference between a safe recovery and a serious accident. Also, an inattentive driver could hit the accelerator instead of the brake to disengage cruise control, and this could of course speed up the vehicle and lead to loss of control.

However, the claim in the message that cruise control itself can actually make the vehicle accelerate and fly through the air in a hydroplaning situation is dubious at best. A CarPoint Australia article that debunks the claims in the email notes:

This is the key that makes a nonsense of the email. Modern cars take their speedo reading from the driveshaft or transmission. This means the cruise control bases its responses on the speed of the driven wheels, not the car itself. This is an important distinction and fail safe position.

If the driven wheels skid because they lose grip, the spinning wheels will cause the speedo to show a higher reading which will force the cruise control to release the throttle faster than most drivers. Regardless of whether the car itself slows down or speeds up, the cruise control will always reduce the throttle no matter what until the driven wheels slow down back to the pre-set speed.

If the wheels continue to slip under this scenario, this will always leave the car travelling more slowly relative to the road, not faster as described in the email.

This finding is confirmed by the RAA's Technical Manager Mark Borlace, who explains:

"Should the car's tyres break traction with the road, such as in an aquaplane situation, the increase in wheel speed would be sensed and the cruise control system would then reduce the amount of throttle and maintain the set speed."

"Additionally, cruise control systems are deactivated as soon as the brake is applied. As braking is usually an automatic reaction in most emergency situations, the scenario of cruise control causing an increase in vehicle speed is highly unlikely."

Thus, there is no inherent factor in the cruise control mechanism itself that could lead to a hydroplaning vehicle speeding up and flying through the air.

Like many email "warnings" there is no way of verifying if the event described in the message actually occurred or was simply added to drive home the core points. The version included here is set in Australia. However, other versions with virtually identical wording have featured US place names. This duplication implies that, at least for later versions of the message, the perpetrator is not relating an actual incident he or she has experienced but has simply altered an existing message to fit local conditions.

The bottom line? Using cruise control in wet conditions certainly can be dangerous but it will NOT cause your vehicle to speed up and fly through the air. Engaging cruise control in any road situation that is less than optimal is ill-advised. Such road situations include not only wet and rainy conditions , but also icy roads, high traffic, poor visibility and rough, narrow, hilly or excessively bendy roads. However, do we really need an unverified and factually dubious email forward to make us aware of such factors? I would hope that not using cruise control in wet or other potentially dangerous conditions would simply be common sense for any responsible driver.




An example of the email:

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Online auction site eBay has consistently been a target for phishing scammers. Scammers have used a number of ruses in order to coerce victims into providing sensitive personal information on fraudulent, look-a-like websites.

One trick scammers are currently using is to send out emails that masquerade as questions from eBay members. The emails are designed to look like official eBay messages complete with eBay logos and formatting.

The messages ask recipients about an item for sale on eBay or rudely accuse them of not sending a purchased item as promised. Thus, unwary recipients may be tricked into clicking the "Respond Now" link in the fake email. The link opens a bogus website that looks very similar to the genuine eBay login page. Login details and other personal information that victims enter into forms on this bogus website can then be harvested by scammers.

If you receive any unsolicited emails from eBay or other institutions that ask you to click an included hyperlink and provide sensitive personal information, then you should view the message with the utmost suspicion. Legitimate institutions are unlikely to request information from customers in this way. Be very cautious of clicking on a link in an unsolicited email in order to access the website of a bank or other institution that may be the target of scammers. The safest method is to manually enter the URL of the institution's website into your browser's address bar.


An example of the scam email:

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The Windows Registry is one of the most important components of your computer's operating system. The registry is a vast central database that is used to store a great deal of critical information about installed applications, hardware settings, user preferences and a lot more.

When you make Control Panel changes, alter system policies, adjust file associations, or tweak user settings, information about your changes is likely to be stored in the Windows Registry. Also, when you install or uninstall software or add hardware devices, the registry will usually be modified during the process. The registry's job is to store this very complex and varied array of data in one place so that it can be readily accessed by your computer system as required. Thus, the Windows Registry is vital for the efficient operation of your computer.

Unfortunately, the very complexity of the registry means that it tends to develop errors and inconsistencies and become more and more bloated over time. Remnants can be left in the registry when you uninstall software. Spyware or other malicious programs may insert entries into your registry without your knowledge. Unused drivers may add unnecessary clutter to the registry.

Registry problems can lead to system crashes, sudden freezes, and sluggish performance. A poorly maintained registry can severely degrade the overall performance of your computer. Thus, keeping your registry clean and efficient should be an important aspect of your regular computer maintenance schedule.

Thankfully, there is a terrific program available that can make the job of maintaining your registry very simple. The award-winning Registry Mechanic from PC Tools cleans and optimizes your registry with just a few mouse clicks. Registry Mechanic repairs invalid registry entries, removes orphaned references, scans for invalid program shortcuts and optimizes the registry by compacting wasted space. For added safety, the program makes back-ups of any registry changes just in case problems occur.

An outstanding feature of this program is that it is very easy to use, even for those new to computing. Like other PC Tools software, Registry Mechanic has an elegant and intuitive user interface and clear and comprehensive help files.

I regularly use Registry Mechanic on my system and have found that it is very stable software, and does a superlative job of maintaining my registry in optimal condition. I view Registry Mechanic as a vital addition to my collection of computer maintenance and security tools and I am proud to be an affiliate for this product.

If your goal is to proactively avoid computer problems and keep your Windows system running at peak efficiency, then I highly recommend that you purchase and regularly use Registry Mechanic.

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The "Dear Abby" article included below was first published in various newspapers during April 2006 and is now circulating via email and online.

Although the experience of the 14-year-old child described in the message has not been verified, the core information is factual. Mold that can form in old pancake mix and other foodstuffs can indeed cause a serious allergic reaction. As the message claims, in one documented case, a 19-year-old man died of anaphylaxis after eating pancakes made from an old pancake mix that contained mold.

Thus, the warning is valid. Moreover, it should be noted that mold forms on many different types of food, not just pancake mix. As well as causing allergic reactions, mold can sometimes produce poisonous substances called "mycotoxins," that can cause illness. Also, "root" threads of mould can penetrate deep into the food and may be difficult to see. Dangerous mold related substances might be present throughout the food, even when mold is only visible on the surface.

Pancake mix and similar products that have been stored for some time should be thoroughly examined before use and consumers should take careful note of use-by dates. Since mould spores can be transported via air, water, or insects, this is especially true if the food has been stored in a non-airtight container or a packet that has been previously opened. Mix that seems a little dubious should be discarded, as the risk of allergic reactions or illness is not worth the few cents saved. Also, if food seems to have an unexpected or unusual taste (or if children complain that it "tastes funny"), consumers should thoroughly re-examine the food before eating any more.

The United States Food Safety Inspection Service has published a fact sheet that provides more information about molds and food safety.

References:
An unusual case of anaphylaxis. Mold in pancake mix.
Molds On Food: Are They Dangerous?

An example of the message:

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This foolish piece of scaremongering has now been circulating for several years. During 2006, a new version began hitting email in-boxes.

The message claims that Canadian coffee and doughnut chain, Tim Hortons, adds nicotine to its coffee and that patrons have suffered serious health problems as a result. However, these claims are totally unfounded. Tim Hortons does not add nicotine to its coffee nor has it ever done so.

Tim Hortons denies the rumour in a statement on its website:

Tim Hortons would like to clearly state that there is absolutely NO nicotine or MSG in our coffee. Tim Hortons coffee has NO ADDITIVES whatsoever. It is made only from a blend of the highest quality premium Arabica beans from several different coffee growing countries.

Furthermore, a 2004 investigation by CBC News confirmed the Tim Hortons statement. CBC had samples of Tim Hortons coffee independently tested. These tests revealed that Tim Hortons coffee had no measurable amount of nicotine. They also revealed that Tim Hortons coffee generally has less caffeine than that sold by Second Cup or Starbucks.

In any case, Canada's food products regulator, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, certainly does not allow nicotine to be added to foods. The agency has defined a list of substances that are allowed to be added to food, and, not surprisingly, nicotine is not among them.

The message advises recipients that they might soon see this information on the news. However, there is no logic to this claim. If Tim Hortons was really adding a dangerous substance such as nicotine to its coffee, it would already be a major news story. The mainstream media would certainly not sit back and let such a sensational story travel solely by way of a poorly written email forward.

Thus, this bogus warning has absolutely no basis in fact and it should not be forwarded.

References:
Tim Hortons Website
Tim Hortons: Is there nicotine or MSG in Tim Hortons coffee?
CBC News: Disclosure - PROGRAM ARCHIVES - 2004
Nicotine Test Results (pdf)
Caffeine Test Results (pdf)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
CFIA: List of Food Additives (Scroll down page)

An example of the hoax email:

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The email forward shown below warns that Cocoa Mulch can be harmful to dogs and relates the story of a dog named Calypso who died after eating the product.

It is true that Cocoa Mulch can contain substances that can harm dogs if ingested in sufficient quantities. Cocoa Mulch is made from the shell of the cocoa bean and is a by-product of chocolate production. Since the mulch is organic in nature, works well, looks good and can give the garden a pleasant chocolaty smell, it is popular with home gardeners. However, cocoa mulch can contain theobromine and caffeine, which are chemicals called methylxanthines that can be harmful to dogs. Dogs that consume cocoa mulch can develop methylxanthine toxicosis, a condition that can result in symptoms similar to canine chocolate poisoning. According to an American Veterinary Medical Association article:

Vomiting and muscle tremors were the most common signs of toxicosis that occurred following ingestion. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the severity of clinical signs increased when larger amounts were ingested. Other signs were tachycardia, hyperactivity, and diarrhea.

One report, published in a 1984 Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association, notes:

A dog, which ingested a lethal quantity of garden mulch made from cacao bean shells, developed severe convulsions and died 17 hours later. Analysis of the stomach contents and the ingested cacao bean shells revealed the presence of lethal amounts of theobromine.

That said, deaths from cocoa mulch poisoning appear to be quite uncommon. Information in the AVMA article notes that there were no 2006 reports of lethal toxicosis due to cocoa mulch ingestion as of late April and, of the 16 mulch related reports fielded in 2004 and 2005, none were fatal.

While the claim that coca mulch can cause canine illness is factual, the particular incident described in the message is unsubstantiated. It seems that the authors of these types of warning messages often have an unfortunate tendency to embellish the core information with anecdotal stories of questionable veracity, perhaps in a misguided attempt to add a human element to their claims. The message does not provide any method of verifying if Calypso did actually die as a result of consuming cocoa mulch or even if she was a real dog. The previously mentioned AVMA article questions the truth of the claims in the message:

The story being circulated about a young dog named Calypso ingesting cocoa bean shell mulch may be true, Dr. Hansen said, but the cause of the dog's death is "highly suspect." The statement that she vomited a few times is consistent with such poisoning, but not the absence of other clinical signs until the next day, when the dog is said to have had a single seizure during her morning walk and died instantly.

"A big problem from the perspective of a toxicologist and a veterinary clinician is that if you have poisoning from methylxanthines, you get a progression of signs — vomiting, diarrhea, more vomiting, trembling, the heart rate kicks up, then it may progress to seizures if the dose is exceptionally high, with death being uncommon," Dr. Hansen said. "A necropsy would have likely shown that Calypso had an underlying condition that caused her death."

Also, it should be noted that the level of methylxanthines is not the same in all cocoa mulches. The AVMA article notes that current processing technology may result in lower chemical residues. There are a number of companies that distribute the product and at least one, Mirana, claims that its mulch contains no detectable amount of theobromine and is "Pet Safe". Another claims to have sold millions of bags of cocoa mulch and never had a single report about a dog getting seriously ill from eating the product.

Nonetheless, although the truth of Calypso's story may be somewhat questionable, dog owners should take heed of the message's warning. If you have a dog, especially one that is not fussy about what it eats (not an uncommon characteristic among our canine friends), it would be wise to avoid the use of cocoa mulch, or at least keep a close eye on Rover's garden forays.

References:
Danger to dogs from cocoa bean mulch put in perspective
Cacao bean shell poisoning in a dog.
Mirana: Testimonials
Mirana: PET SAFE
Pets and Cocoa Mulch Facts
ASPCA: Animal Poison Control Center: Cocoa Bean Mulch

An example of the email:

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If you often need to send email to the same people, you can create handy email shortcuts that might make the job a little quicker.

Clicking on one of your email shortcuts will open your default email program with a new email already addressed to your chosen recipient (or recipients). You can even expand the functionality of your shortcuts by including an email subject, part of the message body and more.

Here's how:

1. Right-click an open area of the Windows desktop and select "New".
   
   
2. In the "New" submenu, click on "Shortcut". The "Create Shortcut" window will appear.
   
   
3. In the field labelled "Type the location of the item", enter "mailto:" immediately followed by the email address you would like to use. The following screen shot displays an example.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Click "Next" and give your new shortcut a suitable name:
   
   
   
   
   
5. Click "Finish".

The shortcut should now appear on your desktop. Clicking the shortcut should open up your email program with a new email already addressed to your chosen recipient. For even faster access, you can drag the shortcut to the Quick Launch bar.

The above instructions describe how to create a basic email shortcut. However, you can also add more to your mailto: line in order to expand the functionality of your email shortcuts:

Multiple recipients:
Separate the email addresses with commas like this -
mailto:example@example.com,example2@example.com,tester@xample.com.au

Add a Subject:
You can set the email subject line for your shortcut like this -
mailto:example@example.com?subject=Daily Joke

Add Text to the body:
You can add text to the body of the email like this:
mailto: example@example.com?subject=Daily Joke &body=Here is today's joke!

If necessary, use "&20" to add spaces between words.
Use "%0A" to add lines between paragraphs in your body.

You can try different combinations of the above to suit your requirements. Only one question mark is required after the email address even if several options are used.

Notes:
The basic mailto: shortcut should work with most common email clients. However, if you use web based email rather than an email program on your computer, the shortcuts may not work. Results for some of the more advanced shortcut options may also vary depending on the email client used and other factors.

If you use Windows XP, you can check out many more computer tips on my XP Tips website.

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The proposed mining operation described in described in the following email petition is real and there are indeed significant environmental concerns about the impact of the project. As the message states, international gold mining company Barrick Gold Corporation is responsible for the project. According to information on the Mining Watch website,

Pascua Lama is a mining project consisting of the open-pit exploitation of a deposit of gold, silver and copper ore and its processing to produce doré (gold and silver) and copper concentrate.

The deposit is located high in the Andes on the Chilean-Argentinean border, about 150 kilometres to the south-east of the city of Vallenar in the Commune of Alto del Carmen, Province of Huasco, III Region of Chile."

A May 2006 Reuters article notes that the project is "on track for final approval by the Chilean government despite environmental and community opposition."

There has been long standing opposition to the Pascua Lama project. As stated in the message, there are serious concerns about the environmental impact of removing the glaciers as well as potential contamination caused by chemicals used in the mining process. A 2005 Mining Watch article notes that:

The lack of relevant technical expertise in removing glaciers implies an irreversible environmental impact. What is certain is that the three affected glaciers would suffer an environmental impact.

While the concerns are real, the message tends to overstate the issues somewhat. While cyanide and other chemicals may potentially pollute water supplies, the message's claim that their use "will permanently contaminate the 2 rivers so they will never again be fit for human or animal consumption" is likely to be an exaggeration of the potential damage. The size and scope of the damage caused by removing the glaciers may also be exaggerated.

According to a 2005 article on decanter.com:

Vincent Borg, vice president of corporate communications at Barrick in Canada, told decanter.com 'glacier experts' had defined the icefields in question as 'ice reservoirs or icefields'.

'Regardless of what the experts call them, Barrick is committed to their preservation and conservation. We will move only 5 acres of ice and it is a straightforward procedure that has been proven in the past to conserve the ice. The ice in question only affects about 3-4% of the ice in the Valley so it is not an amount that some sensationalists would like to make it appear,' he said.

On the issue of use of toxic chemicals such as cyanide he said, 'Cyanide is used worldwide and can be safely used in many industrial applications. Mining comprises only 13% of cyanide use.'

However, in spite of these exaggerations and the somewhat hollow assurances from the company, the environmental concerns about the project are very real. In my opinion, the project should be shelved, at least until the true environmental impact of the mine can be effectively ascertained by independent observers.

That said, an email petition is probably not a particularly effective way to register opposition to the project. There are serious problems with email petitions of this nature that, in my opinion, can render them largely ineffective. Concerned recipients may well be better off fighting against the project by lobbying politicians directly, raising community awareness on the issues and/or joining an environmental group.

References:
Barrick Gold Corporation
Mining Watch: Pascua Lama Background
Barrick says Pascua Lama on track
Barrick Gold Faces Determined Opposition at Pascua Lama and Veladero
Are Email Petitions Useful?

An example of the petition email:

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This joke is so bad that its actually quite funny! Its a good one to annoy relatives and friends with.

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