snopes.com Update: 29 October 2016

[snopes] snopes.com Update:29 October 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: [Former Secretary of State Colin Powell Says He's Voting for Hillary Clinton] The retired four-star general has weighed in on the nation’s presidential race and expressed support for the Democratic nominee. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Michael Moore Endorsed Donald Trump?] Audio purportedly capturing director Michael Moore endorsing Donald Trump was taken out of context from Moore's latest film. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Hillary Clinton Describes Her Major Accomplishments as Secretary of State] A statement reproducing Hillary Clinton's response when asked to identify her major accomplishments as Secretary of State is fabricated, --------------------------------------------------------------- [Plastic Rice from China] Reports hold that plastic rice made in China has flooded Western markets, but you'd probably notice if your dinner tasted like the bag in which you carried it home. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Daily Caller Caught Lying Again] The conservative web site falsely reported, then scrubbed, claims that former Miss Universe Alicia Machado was a "porn star." --------------------------------------------------------------- [Hillary Laughs As 'Under God' Removed from Pledge?] A video shows Hillary Clinton laughing as Susan Shin Angulo flubbed the words to the Pledge of Allegiance. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Video Shows Democrats Committing Voter Fraud in 2016 Primary] A video passed off as "voter fraud" committed by Democrats during the 2016 primary was filmed in Russia and misrepresented. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Hillary Clinton Gave 20 Percent of United States' Uranium to Russia in Exchange for Clinton Foundation Donations?] Allegations of a deal giving Russia ownership of 20% of U.S. uranium deposits in exchange for donations to the Clinton Foundation are unsubstantiated. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Great White Sharks Spotted in Mississippi River] A photograph purporting to show two great white sharks swimming in the Mississippi River showed bull sharks, not great whites, and was taken in Costa Rica. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Arby's Adds Venison to Menu] The Arby's roast beef sandwich restaurant chain is temporarily adding venison to their menu at select locations. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Department of Justice Says Efforts to Stop Voter Fraud Are Illegal?] The DOJ issued a statement saying voter intimidation is against federal law, not accusations of voter fraud. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Donald Trump's Walk of Fame Star Severely Vandalized] Donald Trump's Hollywood Walk of Fame star sustained significant damage due to an act of vandalism. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Texas Glitch Temporarily Switches Voters to Paper Ballots] Amid rumors of vote swapping in Texas, officials in Chambers County temporarily gave out paper ballots after an unrelated malfunction. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Mike Pence Supported 'Gay Conversion' Therapy?] While running for Congress, Indiana governor Mike Pence called for state funding for "institutions" working to enable people to "change their sexual behavior." --------------------------------------------------------------- [Scientists May Have Found Two New ‘Moonlets’ Lurking In Uranus’ Rings] Though we can’t yet see them directly, decades-old data may suggest the presence of two previously undiscovered mini-moons in the rings of Uranus. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Four-Armed UFO Spotted by International Space Station?] The blurry image of a purported unidentified flying object has no details about the date or time it was spotted. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Twitter Announces the Closure of Video Sharing App 'Vine'] The popular service, characterized by its brief, looping videos, launched in 2013. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Risqué Anderson Cooper Photograph] An image purporting to show Anderson Cooper posing on a bench in a pair of briefs was digitally manipulated. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Grandparents to 'Get All Their Grandchildren Every Weekend'] Reports that President Obama had passed a law requiring grandparents to "pick up" their grandchildren every weekend came from a site that generates user-created hoax news. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Chelsea Clinton Married George Soros' Nephew?] Actor Scott Baio promulgated an untrue rumor about Chelsea Clinton's husband, Marc Mezvinsky. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Creepy Clown Arrested After Haunted House Massacre, 18 People Dead] More fake news about creepy clown murders, this time involving a non-existent haunted house attraction massacre. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Doctors Warn Never Clean Your Child with Baby Wipes No Matter What] A viral blog post warning about the dangers of baby wipes contained several inaccurate — and potentially dangerous — pieces of misinformation. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Biden Blames 'Lazy American Women' for the Economy?] An article that quotes Vice President Joe Biden saying "lazy American women are to blame for the economy" is a work of satire. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Amish in America Commit Vote to Donald Trump, Mathematically Guaranteeing Him a Presidential Victory] Hoax news articles reported that "millions" of Amish people threw their support behind Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Sweden Bans Christmas Lights to Avoid Angering Muslim Refugees] Unreliable web sites spun a news story about Sweden nixing Christmas lights on street poles into a fictional tale about kowtowing to Muslim immigrants. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Health Insurance Under the Affordable Care Act Costs Hundreds or Thousands Per Month?] ACA costs are going up in 2017, but premium payments depend largely on the individual's income level. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Malheur Occupiers in 'Oregon Standoff' Found Not Guilty] The defendants had been charged with conspiracy and gun possession in a federal facility after a takeover of a building in Oregon's Malheur Wildlife Refuge. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Fake Anti-Marijuana Picture Rips Off 'Walking Dead' Producer] A picture circulating online uses a picture of actor Steven Yeun while advising, "Say no to drugs, people." --------------------------------------------------------------- [Hillary Clinton in 2013: 'I Would Like to See People Like Donald Trump Run for Office'] Reports that Hillary Clinton suggested during a 2013 speech that Donald Trump run for President are fake news. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Bill Murray or Tom Hanks?] A photograph of actor Bill Murray and a crying child has sparked an internet debate over whether or not it actually shows actor Tom Hanks. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Obama Golf Outing with Tiger Woods Cost Nearly $4 Million?] President Obama didn't spend $3.6 million in taxpayer funds just to play golf with Tiger Woods. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Hillary Clinton Went Topless in the 1960s?] A photograph purportedly showing Hillary Clinton and her college roommate is actually of two unidentified women in San Francisco. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Dad Posted Picture of Baby Holding Gun on Facebook Just Before She Shot Herself?] An image floating around the Internet purportedly depicting the moments before a baby shoots herself is a hoax. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Hillary Clinton and #DraftOurDaughters] Fabricated tweets suggested Hillary Clinton praised wars and used the hashtag #DraftOurDaughters. --------------------------------------------------------------- [FBI Reportedly 'Reopening' Clinton E-Mail Investigation] According to Congressman Jason Chaffetz, the FBI is reopening an investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private e-mail server for state business. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Standing Rock Protesters Report Wild Buffalo Sighting] After tensions escalated at the site of Dakota Access Pipeline protests at Standing Rock, demonstrators were heartened by the sudden appearance of a buffalo herd. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Are Dogs Really 99.9% Wolf?] Domestic dogs split from their wild counterpart, the grey wolf, quite recently by evolutionary timescales and are remarkably similar from a genetic standpoint. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Germany 'Folds' to Sharia Law and Allows Child Marriages] There is no proof an image showing a white-clad little girl is a "child bride," or that Germany is allowing children to marry in accordance with supposed Sharia law. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Youth Football Team Ends Season After Anthem Protest Spurs Death Threats] The Beaumont Bulls attracted attention by kneeling during the anthem like protesting NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Anti-Trump Super PAC Claims Complaint Filed Against James Comey Over E-Mail Investigation] Just hours after FBI Director James Comey announced a development in the Clinton e-mail server investigation, an anti-Trump Super PAC announced a complaint against Comey. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Fox News Said the Benghazi Probe Was a Hoax] A slanted "news" site used a brief Fox News report to make a leap regarding the Benghazi investigation. --------------------------------------------------------------- [The Amish Don’t Get Autism?] Anti-vaccine advocates have long used the Amish as evidence that vaccines cause autism, a conclusion based on two demonstrably false claims. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Texas Woman Helps Homeless Man and His Dog] Wilma Price said that after she shared a story about helping a man get his dog back, another publication posted it with erroneous information. --------------------------------------------------------------- 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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