snopes.com Update: 3 September 2016

[snopes] snopes.com Update:03 September 2016 [facabook button] [twitter-button] 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: [Teen Dies from Hickey in Mexico?] Spanish-language site reports that a hickey on the young man's neck caused a blood clot to travel intravenously to his brain, resulting in a stroke. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Colin Kaepernick Reportedly Found Dead in San Francisco Home] A predictable death hoax claimed embattled NFL star Colin Kaepernick died during a national controversy over patriotism in August 2016. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Pokémon GO Developer Niantic to Develop 'Harry Potter Go'?] A rumor that the company that created Pokémon GO was launching a Harry Potter-themed version of the game was a hoax. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Members of New York State Senate Sit During Pledge of Allegiance] A photograph purportedly showing legislators sitting during the Pledge of Allegiance is real. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Kentucky SNAP Recipient Is Abusing the System With High Balance?] Viral web sites are claiming a food stamp recipient has more than $5,000 in unused food stamp benefits, and is thus abusing the system. --------------------------------------------------------------- [John Kerry Suggests Media Cover Terrorism Less] Two sentences of John Kerry's remarks in Dhaka on terrorism were highlighted in American media coverage of his comments, but didn't tell a whole story. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Bill Maher and Michael Moore Snatched Donald Trump's Tax Returns?] Joking tweets sent by comedian Bill Maher and filmmaker Michael Moore about a heist involving Donald Trump's tax returns confused some social media users. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Hillary Clinton Used Green Screen to Make a Fake Crowd in Nevada] A conspiracy theory video falsely reported that Hillary Clinton used a green screen to fake a crowd during her speech in Nevada in August 2016. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Colin Kaepernick Wears Fidel Castro T-Shirt at Press Conference] Controversial NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick made a "radical chic" fashion choice for a recent TV appearance. --------------------------------------------------------------- [U.S. Special Forces Killed a Giant in Kandahar] Several conspiracy theory-oriented web sites are claiming a Biblical giant with flaming red hair was killed by U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Guccifer 2.0 Leaks Purported DNC Memo Regarding Black Lives Matter] Hacker Guccifer 2.0 released a purported DNC memo pertaining to Democratic candidates' interactions with the Black Lives Matter advocacy group. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Disney Tokyo's Magical 'Color Changing' Dress] A video purportedly shows a Disney princess dancing in a dress that changes from blue to pink as she twirls. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Asteroid Flew Past Earth Just Hours After Its Discovery] The asteroid — dubbed 2016 QA2 — flew between the Earth and the moon. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Hawk Drops Snake on Family Barbecue] A viral video purportedly showing a hawk dropping a snake on a family barbecue was created as a promotion by the Hawthorn Hawks Australian football club. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Sylvester Stallone Death Hoax] A scam message originating in August 2016 falsely reported that actor Sylvester Stallone had passed away. --------------------------------------------------------------- [ATF Reclassifies Wetted Nitrocellulose as High Explosive] Pending industry input, the government reclassification of ammo component wetted nitrocellulose from "nonexplosive" to "high explosive" has been rescinded. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Free Krispy Kreme Doughnuts for Pirates on September 19] The Krispy Kreme chain is celebrating International Talk Like a Pirate Day with free doughnuts for customers who talk or dress like swashbucklers. --------------------------------------------------------------- [SpaceX Rocket Explodes on Florida Launchpad] The rocket was carrying a communications satellite that was supposed to bring Internet service to remote parts of Africa. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Chinese 'Synthetic' Cabbages] A video of a man making wax display vegetables has been used out of context to suggest China is dumping "synthetic cabbages" on unwitting consumers. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Mexico-Guatemala Border Wall] This photograph does not show a border wall between Mexico and Guatemala. It's actually a portion of the Israeli West Bank barrier. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Court Upholds Ban on Gun Sales to Medical Marijuana Card Holders] The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that a federal ban on selling guns to medical marijuana card holders doesn't violate the Second Amendment. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Allen West Pens Open Letter to Colin Kaepernick] Conservative commentator and retired Army officer Allen West blasted the 49ers quarterback for protesting during the national anthem. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Donald Trump Called President Obama a 'Lying N****r'?] Reports that Republican nominee Donald Trump called President Barack Obama a racial slur on television came from a hoax news web site. --------------------------------------------------------------- [What If Only Taxpayers Voted?] A map doesn't show the results of the 2012 election if only people who pay taxes had voted, but instead was stolen from an article about what voting would have looked like without universal suffrage. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Two Editions of 'Wall Street Journal' Bear Opposite Headlines About Trump] An image showing two editions of The Wall Street Journal with opposing headlines on the front page is real, but the wording wasn't part of an effort to sway voters. --------------------------------------------------------------- [A Toaster Dial is for Minutes, Not 'Level of Toasty-ness'] A long-circulating meme claims that toaster owners are misinformed about the purpose of a dial that sets minutes, not darkness. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Australian Military Veteran Beat Up Eight Muslims for Attacking His Wife?] The circumstances around a reported January 2016 scuffle on an Australian beach remain unclear. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Wendell Callahan Pardoned by Obama, Kills Three Victims?] President Obama did not pardon a convicted drug dealer named Wendell Callahan, who was charged with murdering three people after his early release from prison. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Zika Spraying Killed Millions of Bees in South Carolina] A government effort to control the spread of the Zika virus via aerial insecticide spray killed of millions of bees in Dorchester County, South Carolina. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Former Police Officer Chris Amos Pens Open Letter to Colin Kaepernick] Chris Amos says he believes Kaepernick is painting with a "broad brush" when he criticizes police officers. --------------------------------------------------------------- [AutoZone Flag Removal] An AutoZone employee in Michigan claimed he was ordered to remove a U.S. flag for "diversity" reasons, but the chain says the flag was displayed improperly. --------------------------------------------------------------- [George Soros: Trump Will Win Popular Vote by a Landslide but Clinton Victory a 'Done Deal'] An altered video twists the words of billionaire George Soros to create the impression he made a conspiratorial prediction about the 2016 election. --------------------------------------------------------------- Admin Stuff: - 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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