snopes.com Update: 4 June 2016

[snopes.com] [snopes.com] Update: 4 June 2016 Hello again from snopes, where we shed light on the wild tales you've heard! This e-mail gives information about new articles recently added to the [snopes.com] web site and provides pointers to older pieces about rumors and hoaxes still wandering into everyone's inboxes. If after this update you are left wondering about something newly arrived in your inbox, our [search engine] stands ready to assist you. Bookmark that URL — it's a keeper! And now to the legends, the mayhem, and the misinformation!  --------------------------------------------------------------- New Articles: [Hillary Clinton Disqualified by U.S. Code Title 18, Section 2071] A chain message claims that Hillary Clinton is disqualified from holding public office under U.S. Code Title 18, Section 2071.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Donald Trump Rejects Offer to Debate Bernie Sanders] The presumptive GOP nominee said of Sanders: “It seems inappropriate that I would debate the second-place finisher.”  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Anonymous Hacks IRS Database – Publishes Trump’s Tax Returns] A fake news article reported that Donald Trump's tax returns were posted online after Anonymous hacked the IRS database.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Kim Kardashian to Replace Cookie on 'Empire'] A fake news article reported that Kim Kardashian was replacing Tarji P. Henson in the role of Cookie on the television drama 'Empire.'  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Obama Apologizes for Dropping Atomic Bomb on Japan?] While President Obama offered his sympathies for the loss of life during a visit to Hiroshima, he did not apologize for dropping the bomb.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Eight Rainbows] A photograph that purports to show eight rainbows has been digitally manipulated.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Trump Haters and Trump Supporters] Photographs that purportedly show the difference between "Trump haters" and "Trump supporters" are misleading.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Hillary Clinton to be Indicted on Federal Racketeering Charges?] A Huffington Post link circulating Facebook suggested Hillary Clinton would imminently face a racketeering (or RICO) indictment, but the item was unvetted.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Man Arrested for Driving Through Memorial Day Display] Anthony Burrus is suspected of destroying a veteran's memorial in Henderson, Kentucky.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Clothing Donations to Planet Aid Might Be Contributing to a Scam] Planet Aid reportedly has ties to a secretive Danish organization founded by a man currently wanted for tax evasion.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Police Going to Pubs and Banning England Football Jerseys] Police in the UK are not going to pubs and clubs and banning England football jerseys because they're offensive to immigrants.  --------------------------------------------------------------- ['Rain Falling in One Place' in Togo] A video purportedly showing "mysterious rain" in Togo doesn't show rain at all.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Racial Slur on Huck Finn's Receipt?] An image of a racist epithet on a receipt from Huck Finn's in New Orleans is real and unaltered, though the employee involved was immediately fired.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Giant Alligator Spotted on Florida Golf Course] A video shows a giant alligator on a Florida golf course.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Sarah Palin on Slavery] Another fake Sarah Palin quote is circulating, claiming she stated slavery wasn't America's fault and that "the negroes liked it."  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Bernie Sanders' Lavish Private Jet Menu?] A menu from a Bernie Sanders charter flight is real, but the selections were standard fare for Delta charters and not an example of hypocritical excess.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Bernie Sanders Naps at Memorial Day Event] A photograph that appears to show the Democratic presidential candidate napping at a Memorial Day event is unclear in context.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Photograph Shows 100,000 Bikers at Rally with Donald Trump] A years-old photograph was used to illustrate claims that thousands of bikers attended a Donald Trump rally in 2016.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [General Mills Recalls Flour Over E. Coli Outbreak] General Mills has issued a recall notice for three brands of flour due to a possible link with an E. coli outbreak.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [North Korea Says Trump Isn't Screwy at All, A Wise Choice for President] A North Korean propaganda outlet has backed presumptive U.S. Republican nominee Donald Trump.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Michelle Fields on Social Security] In a discussion of Social Security, Fox News contributor Michelle Fields opined that "we shouldn't just give money to people simply because they are old."  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Yosemite Sam Banned] A Facebook meme falsely claims the Looney Tunes character Yosemite Sam has been banned from television due to his use of guns and violence.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [UCLA Shooting Prompts Campus Lockdown] Two people were shot and killed on university grounds in an apparent murder-suicide.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Doctor Finds Boys Missing Hamster Wedged Into 700 Pound Mom’s Back Fat] No, a doctor didn't discover a long-dead hamster rotting between folds of a morbidly obese mother's fat.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Misaligned Bridge] A photograph showing one of the "worst construction mistakes" ever is actually a digital rendering of a misaligned bridge created by an insurance company.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Hillary Clinton Paid Actor to Impersonate Military Member] Accusations that Hillary Clinton paid an actor to dress up in Navy attire for the 2016 Memorial Day parade do not come from reliable sources.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Penguin Pebble Proposal] That social media factoid about penguin courtship and the "perfect pebble" in no way reflects the creatures' actual mating habits.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Arnold Schwarzenegger Gets Charged by an Elephant] The actor and former governor posted a video of an elephant charging at him during a safari.  --------------------------------------------------------------- ['Black Diamond' Disney VHS Tapes Worth Thousands of Dollars] Several blog posts claim that "Black Diamond Collection" Disney VHS films are worth thousands of dollars, but the tapes are not selling for nearly that much.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Mysterious '4-Metre Long Sea Creature' Washes Ashore] A "shocking" and "mysterious" massive "sea creature" is yet another beast from the island of Photoshop.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Scam Alert: WhatsApp Gold] A message circulating on the WhatsApp service is tricking users into installing malware.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [James Dobson Urges Parents to 'Protect' Children from 'Tyrant Obama' and 'Transgender Bathrooms'] The evangelical Christian author wrote an article encouraging parents to keep their children safe from transgender individuals using the "wrong" bathroom.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Couple Buys Limited Edition Beanie Baby Worth Thousands for £10] A viral story about a couple who got rich quick finding a limited edition collector's item in a "boot sale" didn't stand up to scrutiny.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Obama Forces Americans to 'Celebrate' Gay Sex] President Obama officially proclaimed June 2016 to be "Pride Month," but he didn't "demand" that "all Americans ... celebrate gay sex."  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Swedish Girl Refugee Assault Meme] A popular meme claimed a depicted Swedish girl was raped by three refugees at the age of 14, but no aspect of the claim checked out.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Video of Muslim Men Auctioning off Women in England] A video shows Muslim men auctioning off women on the streets of England.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [The 'Merrylin Cryptid Museum'] A 'Cryptid Museum' supposedly showcasing specimens discovered by a mysterious cryptozoologist named Thomas Merrylin is actually the work of artist Alex CF.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Hillary Clinton Blames Racism for Cincinnati Gorilla’s Death] Hillary Clinton did not proclaim that the gorilla shot in a Cincinnati zoo was a victim of "racism."  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Teddy Roosevelt on Conservatives vs. Liberals] There's no evidence that Theodore Roosevelt actually said that "to anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth."  --------------------------------------------------------------- [ACLU Director Resigns Over Transgender Bathroom Policy] An ACLU executive resigned after claiming her children were upset by transgender women in a bathroom and announced the launch of a new "civil rights" group.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Washington State to Teach Transgenderism to Kindergartners] Reports of revised curriculum standards for Washington have led to rumors claiming that schools there will be teaching "transgenderism" to Kindergarteners.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [All Disney Movies Available on Netflix in September 2016?] Netflix has signed a deal making them the exclusive U.S. pay TV home outlet for new Disney movies, but they won't be offering the entire Disney film archive.  --------------------------------------------------------------- [Arabic on Canadian Police Cars] Some Canadian police cars have Arabic writing on their sides, but it's been there since 2009 and has nothing to do with refugees.  --------------------------------------------------------------- Admin Stuff: - View the [latest edition] of the [snopes.com] newsletter online. - Please note that the e-mail address [update@snopes.com] is an administrative address used only for mailing weekly updates to subscribers. 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