Tuesday, February 15, 2011

I put a spell on you

because you are on my email list

Just a short while ago (so if you are reading this today I may save you some email reading) I received an email from my sister.






Subject: Re: JULY very interesting

The email’s content was not at all interesting unless you find the phenomenon of these forwarded emails interesting. Typically, I find them annoying but this one had a strange mix of fact and bullshit so I decided to researched it.

It pointed out that July 2011 will have 5 Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays this year. Ok, that’s easy to check to be true. Then it goes on to state that this occurs once every 823 years. It finishes with a SPELL - pass it along = great wealth and fortune - don’t pass it and reader beware.

I have no clue how someone came up with once every 823 years. I'm not sure what event happens once every 823 years. But I know this calendar thing doesn't take that long. Do you happen to have a 2005 calendar? Check it out, July 2005 has the same line up as July 2011. In fact the whole year matches. Maybe the author of this dumb idea wasn't born yet in 2005.

The question that prompted me to post about this is, why do people send this stuff around the internet?

Years ago (maybe still ?) hackers would send toxic virus emails. That would spread the virus and probably collect email addresses. I’m not sure that’s the best approach for doing that today with the increased spam filters.

I assume someone comes up with a crazy sounding idea or story which is not so strange since people have been making up stories since the first audience showed up. The part I don't understand is why after making up some strange idea/story they would send it out to an email list. Do they want to see how it will spread? Typically you never know who started it.

This gave me a dumb idea.  Alright, now I will slip on my wizard hat and will put a spell on you.


(cute wizard huh?)


Pass a link to this post along and I will wish you the best.
Fail to pass or mention this post and I will tell your mother and you’ll be in big trouble.


15 comments:

secret agent woman said...

Oh, I hate people sending me those forwards, particularly if they are of the pass-it-along chain letter type. I usually delete them.

lisleman said...

yes I do also but sometimes it states some outrageous stuff that gets me interested enough to disprove it. This one was like that and another that comes to mind was the unlocking of car via cellphone. Stupid wrong information is bad enough but it doesn't need to spread.

BearmanCartoons said...

My sister always sent terrifying messages that you were going to have your identity stolen at a public restroom or some other BS. I finally had to link her to Scopes so she could check out this craziness before sending stuff to me.

lisleman said...

So you have a sister trying to protect you too? I've tried the Snopes (I think you meant that) idea too but often the people forwarding these "gems" of information don't know about bookmarks or have the time to check anything. They typically don't even bother to check their own common sense.
thanks

californiagirl500 said...

You may be "a few clowns short" but you're funny as hell.

lisleman said...

thank you - we all are a few clowns short sometimes but being funny is considered a talent by some - no one does in my family yet anyway. Oh did you follow directions so I can wish you the best? Or do you need to give me your mom's phone number.

A Daft Scots Lass said...

Those eyes hypnotized me. He's so cute!

Sparkle Farkle said...

Yowza! Now I've got a "I've Put a Spell on You"/"Chain, Chain, Chain (Chain of Fools)" mash-up playing in my hade!

lisleman said...

Most of the American TV audience will recognize him as the "etrade baby". He has had a series of popular ads. thanks

life with Kaishon said...

So funny! I love, love, LOVE your cute little wizard. What sweetie!

lisleman said...

thanks - I'll assume you followed the directions so thanks for passing this along and I wish you the best.

Kimberly said...

I hate those forwards. I get 90% of the ones I receive from ONE person whom I have asked repeatedly NOT to send them to me. I even refer her to Snopes to prove that the alarming hype she forwards is a hoax. Ugh.

Maybe I should write her an email that says, "If you forward me anything else ever again, a curse will descend upon your house that brings triple amounts of junk mail, weeds that won't leave the garden, and dust bunnies the size of moose."

lisleman said...

Oh I like your idea. "Dust bunnies the size of moose" - that image clogs the vacuum of my mind. Speaking of vacuums, maybe your friend has one between her ears. thanks

Mrs4444 said...

yes, cute. I don't know why people forward them when snopes.com is always available to at least check their validity first. so annoying...

kevin robert said...

Well I must say i enjoyed reading it. This information provided by you is extremely practical things but in this blog you have try to terror. Thanks for taking the time to share your view with us.You seem to be more practicable! keep up the good work!
http://www.essaysale.com

Featured Post

Feedback can be amazing