Showing posts with label hoax. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hoax. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

News flash! - Astrology still arse.

About a week ago I read in the newspaper that astronomers from the Minnesota Planetarium Society had shocked the world, claiming the Zodiac signs were incorrect and that everyone was actually a different sign.
My first instinct was “huh, I never thought anyone actually looked at those things for long enough to notice if they were off”.
Most people who call themselves thinkers/ sceptics were leaping in the air going “Ha ha! I KNEW it was all bollix and you can’t tell your Scorpio from your Libra.”
I was a bit sad.
I looked into astrology in my 'meaning seeking' days and wrote it off. Now I have to waste yet more time reading up on things to figure out whether, with new info this shite makes sense?
Then I thought, hold on a minute.
13 constellations...
That isn’t new – this is Sidereal astrology.
Ancient Babylonians developed the Zodiac signs with originally 13 constellations. But because of their desire for 12, Ophiuchus was eliminated. It is still unknown which twelve there were. Libra didn’t even enter the picture until Caesarian Rome was established.
And the changes are due to the "precession of the equinoxe” and that isn’t news either...

So it isn’t new, and it doesn’t really change the fact that people are making money telling people their supposed futures based on a pattern of stars so far away, that at the time of fortune telling they may not even exist anymore!

The 'new' signs and dates are as follows


Capricorn: Jan. 20 – Feb. 16
Aquarius: Feb. 16 – March 11
Pisces: March 11- April 18
Aries: April 18- May 13
Taurus: May 13- June 21
Gemini: June 21- July 20
Cancer: July 20- Aug. 10
Leo: Aug. 10- Sept. 16
Virgo: Sept. 16- Oct. 30
Libra: Oct. 30- Nov. 23
Scorpio: Nov. 23- Nov. 29
Ophiuchus: Nov. 29- Dec. 17
Sagittarius: Dec. 17- Jan. 20

And this will make you laugh...

Holiday Mathis, who writes The Sun's astrology feature quoted in 2004 on the topic:
“Whether the western astrological zodiac matches up with the stars or not "is a moot point," she said. "The archetypes are only as meaningful as we attribute meaning to them. If they do not resonate inside of a person, then astrology is not for that person."
So basically the same laws as God – if it isnt working for you, it's because your belief isnt strong enough. urgh.

Astrologer John Cainer said “There is no need for people to adjust their star signs or for a 13th star sign to be introduced. It’s just nonsense.”
Sir, I would argue with that, I would say “there is no need for yet another belief system for people to hinge decision making on, without using their own brains. The whole thing is nonsense – full stop.”

And in breaking news – India has deemed Astrology a science.

Excuse me while I go and perform some repetition therapy with my head and the table.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

My response to a hoax email.

I received an email from multiple sources and it only took me one news reference check and a phone call to establish it was a hoax... why do people not check references???

Below is the original email and my reply.


Know what money you are carrying! Or pay using Eftpos you will see why as you read!
Be sure every lady is aware of this. Share it with your wife and daughters. Know what money you are carrying!
Criminals are coming up with craftier, less threatening methods of attack, so we have to be extra cautious. Read on.

At approximately 5:15 a.m. I was on my way to work. I stopped at the Mobil Station Quay st City to get petrol.
I purchased $10 petrol and a Diet Coke. I took into the store two
$5 bills and four $1 coins (just enough to make my purchases ).

As I pulled away from the store, a man approached my car from the back side of the store (an unlit area). He was an approachable-looking' man (clean cut, clean shaven, dressed well, etc.). He walked up to my window and knocked. Since I'm very paranoid and 'always looking for the rapist or killer,' I didn't open the window I just asked what he wanted. He raised a $5 bill to my window and said, 'You dropped this.' Since I knew I had gone into the store with a certain amount of money, I knew
I didn't drop it.When I told him it wasn't mine, he began hitting the window and door, screaming at me to open my door, and insisting that I had dropped the money!

At that point, I just drove away as fast as I could. After talking to the Police at Auckland Central and spoke with Detective Kevin Hooper describing the man I saw, and the way he escalated from calm and polite to angry and volatile....it was determined that I could have possibly encountered the killer
myself.

Up to this point, it had been unclear as to how he had gained access to his victims, since there has been no evidence of forced entry into victim's homes, cars, etc and he is also the main suspect in the Stabbing case which took place in upmarket Remuera involving a 53 yo lady on March 26th , 2010.
And the fact that he has been attacking in the daytime, when women are less likely to have their guard up, means he is pretty BOLD.

So think about it...what gesture is nicer than returning money to someone that dropped it?????

How many times would you have opened your window (or door) to get your money and say thank you.... because if the person is kind enough to return something to you, then he can't really be a threat....can he????
Please be cautious! This might not have been the serial killer... but anyone that gets that angry over someone not accepting money from them, can't have honourable intentions. The most important thing to note is his reaction was! NOT WHAT I EXPECTED! A total surprise! But what might have happened if I had opened my door? I shudder to think!

Forward this to everyone you know...maybe they can be as fortunate as
I was!

P.S . Ladies, really DO forward this to EVERYONE you know Even if this
wasn't a serial killer, he looked nice, he seemed polite, he was
apparently doing an act of kindness, but HE WAS NOT A NICE PERSON!!!
Men send it to all the women in your life. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. Makeit a good one!
Please copy, paste and send this to anyone you think might benefit from this story.


And then my reply...

Thanks for the email regarding a first person account of an attack attempt at Quay Street Mobil.
In the email a man tries to trick a woman into opening her car door by saying she dropped money.
Please forward this email on to the person who originally sent you the email and anyone you may have forwarded it to...

The stabbing which is referenced here is written about on this news website here
The woman who died was stabbed by another woman (probably known to her).
Detective Kevin Hooper denies knowing about the case, and combined with the misinformation about the stabbing case I’m led to think the email is a hoax.
The safety message is no less valid, but statistically speaking NZ women are less safe in their own homes, or on a date than they are walking streets alone.
Some key things to remember.
As a woman in NZ you are more likely to experience sexual assault than a stabbing.

Stats according to rape crisis NZ are that
In 90% of reported rapes the attacker was known to the victim prior to the assault.
Breaking down that 90%...
31% blood relatives
25% friends or social contacts
13% partners or spouses
11% family related by marriage
8% dating partners
7% professionals (like doctors or teachers)
5% work colleagues.

So, teach your family that no matter how rude it is they can reject friendly advances if it feels bad. If hugging Uncle Joe makes you feel ‘yucky’ you don’t have to. Listening to your own feelings of discomfort about someone is a skill we tend to suppress.

Final point.
You can’t always spot the bad guy, or girl.
It is NEVER the victims fault – rape is not a crime of sex, but aggression.
Women and men get assaulted at all ages, all looks, and all types of dress.

PS - Most service stations have security cameras up the Waazoo and lockable doors which make them a great “safe house” to call for help, or a ride if you are ever stranded.