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- S.N.U.F.F. List
-
- Actually, I prefer calling this the SNUFF List (without periods), but that
- would have prevented its being seen by thousands of readers who have since
- used their kill files to relegate any postings containing the word "snuff" in
- their titles to the bit bucket.
-
- This is a preliminary version of Snopes' Unusual Fact & Fiction (SNUFF) List.
- It is an attempt to provide some kind of reference to printed materials that
- document (or at least discuss) many of the stories and factoids that regularly
- appear in this newsgroup. It is _not_ designed to indicate the truth or
- falsity of anything (Terry Chan is already doing a fine job of that), but
- merely to provide a listing of commonly available published sources where
- background material relating to this newsgroup's discussions can be found.
- Many of the sources listed are of dubious validity (especially the "Uncle
- John's Bathroom Reader" series), and some sources tend to borrow quite heavily
- from the other sources on the list. I still have a lot of work to do on the
- list; I expect it to at least triple in size in the near future. Perhaps
- some loyal AFUer will volunteer to be an FTP repository so that I need not
- post the undoubtedly huge file this will become.
-
- Each topic is followed by a list of one or more sources (and the page numbers)
- where information on the topic can be found. A key to the abbreviations of
- source material titles (and publishing information) can be found at the end of
- the list. I realize that some of the entry names are a bit stilted or
- awkward -- some things just don't lend themselves to being indexed. I welcome
- any suggestions for improvements in format, pointers to source material,
- submissions of newspaper clippings, etc.
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- SNUFF List V0.1 03/25/92
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- airplanes
-
- cans affected by pressure: [SD1 245]
- looping commercial airliners: [SD1 262]
-
- alligators
-
- living in sewers: [RMR 149], [SD2 339
-
- alphabet
-
- ordering of: [IMP 193]
-
- antipodes
-
- explanation of: [MI 176]
-
- aphrodisiacs
-
- green M&Ms as: see "M&Ms"
- rhino horns as: [MI 204]
- saltpeter as: [DOM 221]
- validity of: [MI 15], [SD2 206]
-
- appendix
-
- function of in humans: [DMWM 62]
-
- appetite suppresants
-
- worms in: see "worms"
-
- arthritis
-
- cracking knuckles as cause of: [SD2 304]
-
- asparagus:
-
- causing smell in urine: [SD2 384]
-
- asteroids
-
- passing close to Earth: [UJ3 148]
-
- automobiles
-
- pill increasing gas mileage of: [RMR 123]
-
- Baby Ruth (candy bar)
-
- origin of name: [DOM 219], [MI 21]
-
- backwards masking
-
- see "records, phonograph"
-
- banana peels
-
- smoking: [RMR 59]
-
- barcodes
-
- see "Universal Product Code"
-
- Big John (brand name)
-
- mistranslation into French: [UJ3 19]
-
- blindness
-
- LSD/staring at sun as cause of: [RMR 139]
-
- Bogart, Humphrey
-
- Gerber baby model: see "Gerber baby"
-
- brand names
-
- misleadingness of: [SD1 147]
-
- Buffy (TV character)
-
- see "Jones, Annissa"
-
- buttons
-
- on men's coat sleeves: [SD1 108]
-
- cannibalism
-
- efficacy of: [DMWM 11]
-
- carrots
-
- turning skin orange: [SD1 275]
-
- Carson, Johnny
-
- telephone calling card number given out by: see "telephones"
-
- Catherine the Great
-
- death of: [RMR 81], [UJ4 161], [SD1 109]
-
- catsup
-
- see "ketchup"
-
- century
-
- first day of: [DOM 82], [MI 173], [SD1 130]
-
- Chambers, Marilyn
-
- Ivory Snow model: see "Ivory Snow"
-
- chastity belts
-
- use of: [SD1 72]
-
- checks (bank)
-
- requirements of: [DOM 16], [MI 25], [SD2 352]
-
- Chevrolet
-
- Nova sales in Latin America: [UJ3 19]
-
- chickens
-
- drowning during rain: [SD1 10]
- hypnosis of: [SD1 12]
-
- chicken, fried
-
- rat found in: [RMR 52]
-
- China
-
- every person in jumping simultaneously: [SD1 155]
-
- Chipmunks (Alvin and the)
-
- voices of: [SD2 19]
-
- Christ
-
- birthday of: [MI 59], [MI 139], [SD1 34]
- first name of: [SD1 35]
- middle name of: [SD1 33]
- proof of existence: [SD2 275]
-
- CIA
-
- Monroe, Marilyn killed by: [RMR 107]
-
- citizen's arrest
-
- legality of: [DMWM 59]
-
- Cleopatra
-
- nationality of: [MI 62]
-
- clocks
-
- Roman numerals on: [SD2 153]
- time set on display models: [DOM 261], [SD2 330]
-
- Coca-Cola
-
- ingredients used in: [RMR 65], [BS 28], [SD2 33]
- mistranslation of slogan in Chinese: [UJ3 19]
- origins of: [BS 28], [DOM 48], [UJ4 207]
- spermicidal qualities of: [UJ3 85], [SD2 218]
- switch to "New Coke": [DMWM 91]
-
- cocaine
-
- Coca-Cola's use of: see "Coca-Cola, ingredients used in"
-
- coins
-
- as legal tender: [MI 64], [SD1 330]
- demise of Susan B. Anthony dollar: [DMWM 181]
-
- "The Conquerer" (movie)
-
- cancer afflicting crew and cast of: [SD 16]
-
- copyrights (and trademarks)
-
- cover versions, permission required for: [SD1 324]
- explanation of: [DOM 54]
- parodies, permission required for: [DMWM 24]
- person's name and: [SD1 144]
- symbols of: [SD 41]
-
- Coriolis force
-
- effect on water draining: see "water"
-
- countries
-
- names for in other languages: [SD2 162]
-
- Crapper, Thomas
-
- inventor of toilet: [DOM 56]
-
- cryonics
-
- efficacy of: [SD2 331]
-
- currency
-
- denominations of: [MI 71]
-
- "dead man's hand"
-
- origin of: [SD1 307]
-
- decapitation
-
- brain function after: [SD1 221]
-
- diet aids:
-
- worms in: see "worms"
-
- Disney, Walt
-
- as animator of Mickey Mouse: [MI 78]
- frozen at death: [RMR 99], BS [219], [SD2 331]
-
- Disneyland
-
- sued over headless characters: [UJ3 113]
- sued over same-sex dancing: [UJ4 41]
-
- Dr. Pepper
-
- ingredients used in: [RMR 67], [BS 47]
- origin of: [UJ4 107]
-
- dogs
-
- age relative to humans: [SD2 10]
- color-blindness of: [SD2 4]
-
- Drew, Dr. Charles
-
- bleeding to death at "Whites Only" hospital: [DMWM 139]
-
- Earth
-
- displacement of poles: [SD2 117]
-
- Eddy, Mary Baker
-
- telephone buried with: [RMR 17]
-
- Edison, Thomas
-
- as inventor of light bulb: see "light bulbs"
- last breath preserved: [SD2 128]
- promoting use of DC vs. Westinghouse: [DMWM 151]
-
- eggs
-
- standing on end during equinox: [SD2 89]
-
- Einstein, Albert
-
- brain stored in box/bottle: [RMR 116], [SD2 127]
-
- elections
-
- Tuesday as day of (in USA): [IMP 52]
-
- elevators
-
- use of "Close Door" button: [SD2 406]
-
- Eliot, Mama Cass
-
- death of: [RMR 80]
-
- embezzlement
-
- rounding-down account balances: [DMWM 183]
-
- Empire Statue Building
-
- effects of coin dropped from: [SD 225]
-
- Eskimos
-
- number of words for "snow": see "snow"
-
- examinations
-
- philosophy exam asking "Why?": [SD2 463]
-
- Everest, Mount
-
- as world's highest mountain: see "mountains"
-
- farting
-
- on vaudeville (Le Petomane): [SD1 394]
-
- flags
-
- disposal of (U.S.): [MI 99]
-
- fruit
-
- definition of: [MI 104]
-
- gasoline
-
- pill turning water into: [SD2 399]
-
- Gerber baby
-
- Bogart, Humphrey as model for: [RMR 71]
-
- gerbils
-
- lodged in rectum: [SD2 216]
-
- Gere, Richard
-
- see "gerbils"
-
- gestures
-
- origins of: [UJ3 117], [SD2 450]
-
- Gilchrist, John ("Mikey")
-
- death caused by Pop Rocks: see "Pop Rocks"
-
- "Goldfinger" (movie)
-
- death of actress during: see "pores, skin"
-
- Goofy (Disney character)
-
- origin of: [UJ3 36]
-
- Grand Tetons
-
- origin of name: [MI 112]
-
- Great Wall of China
-
- purpose of: [DMWM 128]
- visibility from moon: [UJ4 10], [SD2 92]
-
- Greenjeans, Mr.
-
- as Frank Zappa's father: [RMR 95], [SD2 18]
-
- gum, chewing
-
- effects of swallowing: [SD2 59]
-
- hair
-
- growth after death: [DOM 104]
- growth rate of: [UJ4 65], [MI 36], [SD1 97]
- insects living in: [RMR 50]
- pubic, purpose of: [SD1 64]
- selling to wigmakers: [SD1 270]
- turning white overnight: [SD2 315]
-
- "Happy Birthday" (song)
-
- copyright to: [SD1 323]
-
- Heinz
-
- "57 Varieties" origin: [DOM 107], [MI 124], [SD1 195]
-
- Hitler, Adolph
-
- lack of testicle: [SD2 128]
-
- hypnotism
-
- of chickens: see "chickens"
- susceptibility to: [IMP 180], [SD2 287]
-
- Illuminati
-
- explanation of: [SD2 297]
-
- Ireland
-
- Spanish Armada survivors in: [SD1 111]
-
- Ivory Snow
-
- porn star as model for: [RMR 77]
-
- Jack the Ripper
-
- identity of: [RMR 111]
-
- Japan
-
- attack on California coast: [UJ3 203]
- USA as city in: [RMR 133]
-
- Jesus
-
- see "Christ"
-
- Jones, Annissa ("Buffy")
-
- death of: [UJ3 182]
-
- Kentucky Fried Chicken
-
- ingredients used in: [BS 13]
- rat found in: see "chicken"
-
- ketchup
-
- origin of: [UJ4 174]
- shape of bottle: [SD1 181]
-
- "Leave It To Beaver" (TV show)
-
- Beaver's death in VietNam: see "Mathers, Jerry"
-
- Lego
-
- origin of: [UJ4 198]
-
- lemmings
-
- suicidal tendencies of: [MI 149]
-
- libraries
-
- sinking due to weight of books: [SD2 463]
-
- Lie detectors
-
- efficacy of: [BS 128]; [DOM 139], [MI 151]
-
- Life Savers
-
- wintergreen sparkling when bitten: [IMP 157], [SD1 129]
-
- light bulbs
-
- Edison as inventor of: [DOM 140], [UJ4 11], [MI 87]
-
- Little Alf
-
- POW sends message under stamp: see "stamps"
-
- "Little Shop of Horrors" (movie)
-
- shot in two days: [UJ4 63]
-
- "Louie Louie" (song)
-
- lyrics to: [SD1 316]
-
- LSD
-
- birth defects caused by: [SD2 229]
- blindness caused by: see "blindness"
-
- marijuana
-
- tobacco companies choosing labels and brand names for: [RMR 125]
-
- M&Ms
-
- colors used in: [SD1 355]
- green ones as aphrodisiac: [RMR 61]
-
- manholes
-
- shape of covers: [SD1 247]
-
- Marx, Groucho
-
- "I love my cigar" quip: [SD2 24]
-
- Mathers, Jerry
-
- death in VietNam: [RMR 74]
-
- McCartney, Paul
-
- death of: [RMR 82]
-
- McDonald, Ronald
-
- origin of: [UJ4 19]
- Scott, Willard as: [UJ4 19]
-
- McDonald's (restaurant)
-
- McDharma's, suit against: [UJ3 113]
- origin of: [UJ3 15]
-
- menstruation
-
- coincidence of cycles in women: [SD2 306]
-
- Mikey
-
- death caused by Pop Rocks: see "Pop Rocks"
-
- Mr. Ed (horse)
-
- method of talking: [SD2 29]
-
- Monroe, Marilyn
-
- CIA killing: [RMR 107]
-
- moon
-
- as cause of strange behavior: [SD2 337]
-
- motorcycles
-
- purchased from US government as surplus: [RMR 42]
-
- mountains
-
- highest: [DOM 78], [MI 262]
-
- mummy
-
- in amusement park fun house: [SD1 203]
-
- Muzak
-
- origin of: [UJ4 50], [SD1 317], [SD2 464]
-
- neckties
-
- origin of: [SD2 156]
-
- Nova
-
- automobile: see "Chevrolet"
-
- outhouses:
-
- use of half-moons on: [SD2 382]
-
- ovens, microwave
-
- baby cooked in by babysitter: [SD1 213]
- poodle cooked in: [SD2 463]
-
- peace sign
-
- origin of: [UJ4 195], [SD2 149], [DMWM 75]
-
- Pepsi
-
- mistranslation of slogan into Chinese: [UJ3 19]
-
- Philadelphia Experiment
-
- explanation of: [SD2 293]
-
- phrases, origin of
-
- "hoist by his own petard": [SD1 295]
- "whole nine yards": [SD2 252]
-
- Pop Rocks
-
- death caused by: [RMR 68]
-
- population (of Earth)
-
- "doubling ancestors" conundrum: [SD2 83]
- number of people since beginning of time: [SD2 85]
-
- pores (skin)
-
- breathing through: [DOM 193], [UJ4 82], [SD1 221]
-
- pornography
-
- Vatican collection of: see "Vatican"
-
- Postal Service
-
- mailing letters without stamps: [BS 106]
- returning junk mail attached to bricks: [SD2 356]
-
- POWs
-
- message concealed underneath stamp: see "stamps"
-
- prepositions
-
- at end of sentences: [MI 195]
-
- President (U.S.)
-
- death before swearing-in: [SD1 133]
-
- prices
-
- ending in '9': [DMWM 77]
-
- Procter & Gamble
-
- owned by Church of Satan members: [SD2 283]
-
- rabies
-
- transmission and treatment of: [DMWM 193]
-
- radio
-
- government use of frequencies: [BS 185]
-
- rats
-
- in fried chicken: see "chicken, fried"
- in toilets: [SD1 29]
-
- records, phonograph
-
- backwards masking in: [BS 200]
- speeds of turntables: [IMP 58], [SD1 258]
-
- Red Cars (in Los Angeles)
-
- destroyed by GM: [SD2 336]
-
- Ritz crackers
-
- 'SEX' embossed on: [RMR 141], [BS 22]
-
- Rolling Rock Beer
-
- use of '33' on label: [SD2 44]
-
- Roman numerals
-
- movie copyright dates written in: [IMP 214]
- used on clock faces: see "clocks"
-
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
-
- origin of: [UJ4 20]
-
- Scott, Willard
-
- as Ronald McDonald: see "McDonald, Ronald"
-
- sewers
-
- alligators living in: see "alligators"
-
- sex, oral
-
- causing embolism in women: [SD2 210]
-
- shampoo
-
- blood plasma used in: [SD2 333]
-
- Shroud of Turin
-
- authenticity of: [SD2 275]
-
- sneezing
-
- photic sneeze reflex: [SD2 303]
-
- snow
-
- Eskimo words for: [SD1 297]
-
- Social Security Numbers
-
- used for identification purposes: [SD1 154]
-
- spiders
-
- hairdo as home for: see "hair"
-
- spontaneous combustion
-
- possibility of: [SD1 205], [SD2 297]
-
- stamps
-
- mailing letters without: see "Postal Service"
- soaked off to reveal POW message: [RMR 17]
-
- Standard Oil
-
- breakup of: [SD1 340]
-
- Star-Spangled Banner, The (song)
-
- origins of: [MI 171], [DMWM 50]
-
- stars
-
- viewed in daylight from bottom of well: [DOM 243]
-
- subliminal advertising/messages
-
- efficacy of: [BS 214], [SD1 187], [SD2 324], [SD2 344]
- 'SEX' on Ritz Crackers: see "Ritz crackers"
-
- subsonic sounds
-
- causing anxiety: [SD1 280]
-
- swastika
-
- origins of: [DOM 251], [UJ4 195], [MI 234], [SD2 156]
-
- telephones
-
- buried with dead body: see "Eddy, Mary Baker"
- calling card number given out on TV: [RMR 90]
- lack of 'Q' and 'Z' on dial: [SD1 378]
-
- TV
-
- children's host fired for comment during commercial break: [RMR 92]
- drop in water pressure after popular show: [SD2 371]
- lack of channel 1 on: [SD1 372]
- use of "555-" phone numbers on: [SD1 374]
-
- time
-
- AM/PM boundaries: [SD1 130]
-
- tobacco companies
-
- marijuana sold by: see "marijuana"
-
- Tootsie Roll Pops
-
- wrapper with Indian redeemable for free candy: [RMR 63]
-
- trademarks
-
- see "copyrights"
-
- Trilateral Commission
-
- explanation of: [SD2 295]
-
- Truman, Harry
-
- middle name of: [DOM 267], [UJ4 190], [MI 246]
-
- typewriters
-
- configuration of keys on: [IMP 127], [SD1 249]
-
- UFOs
-
- government recovery of: [RMR 117]
-
- Universal Product Code (UPC)
-
- coding scheme: [BS 79]
-
- urine
-
- asparagus causing odor in: see "asparagus"
- Dalmatian's containing urea: [DMWM 133]
-
- vampirism
-
- causes of: [SD2 135]
-
- Vatican
-
- pornography collection: [SD1 74]
-
- vegetable
-
- definition of: [MI 104]
-
- video games
-
- high scorers recorded by government: [RMR 110]
-
- vowels
-
- 'w' as: [SD2 246]
-
- water
-
- direction of draining in hemispheres: [DOM 281], [SD1 161]
- hot freezing faster than cold: [DOM 112], [SD2 98]
-
- weddings
-
- performed by ship's captain: [MI 49], [SD2 329]
-
- words, origins of
-
- 86: [SD1 291]
- fuck: [SD2 268]
- IOU: [UJ4 10], [MI 136]
- kangaroo: [SD2 237]
- OK: [DOM 167], [SD2 250]
- posh: [DOM 193]
- sideburns: [DOM 229]
- sirloin: [DOM 231]
- SOS: [DOM 238], [UJ4 10], [MI 224]
- tip: [DOM 261]
-
- worms
-
- in diet aids: [RMR 65]
-
- Zappa, Frank
-
- Mr. Greenjeans as father of: see "Greenjeans, Mr."
-
-
-
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Sources:
-
-
- BS <Big Secrets Poundstone, William; 1983. ISBN 0-688-04830-7>
- DMWM <Did Mohawks Wear Mohawks? ISBN 0-688-09859-2>
- Tindall, Bruce & Watson, Mark; 1991.
- DOM <The Dictionary of Misinformation
- Burnam, Tom; 1975. ISBN 0-06-091315-0>
- IMP <IMPONDERABLES Feldman, David; 1986. ISBN 0-688-05914-7>
- MI <Myth Information Varasdi, J. Allen; 1989 ISBN 0-345-35985-2>
- RMR <Rumor! Morgan, Hal & Tucker, Kerry; 1984 ISBN 0-14-007036-2>
- SD1 <The Straight Dope Adams, Cecil; 1984 ISBN 0-345-33315-2>
- SD2 <More of the Straight Dope
- Adams, Cecil; 1988 ISBN 0-345-35145-2>
- UJ3 <Uncle John's Third Bathroom Reader
- Javna, John; 1990. ISBN 0-312-04586-7>
- UJ4 <Uncle John's Fourth Bathroom Reader
- Javna, John; 1991. ISBN 0-312-06484-5>
-
-
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-
-
-