Sightings, Notes & Updates
Procter & Gamble's Killer Sponges
02/22/99 - A new email alert claims:
On the issue of consumer protection and hazardous warnings, here's a new one, I think. Those yellow sponges with the green plastic fibers on the back for scrubbing pots -- "Pot Scrubbers" -- should be kept far away from our birds, fish, reptiles, cats and dogs, hamsters and whatevers.Proctor & Gamble, in its continuing search to make America / World look clean and smell great, has a new "improved" version of the sponge on the market that kills odor-causing fungi that get in the sponge after a few uses....
This is followed by an anecdote about a friend using one of these sponges to clean the glass of his aquarium. All of his fish died.
The message continues:
It seems the fungicide is a derivative of the systemic pesticide-herbicide, 2-4-D, more popularly known as Agent Orange, the chemical we sprayed all over Southeast Asian during the Vietnam War that many veterans and war refugees say did them permanent damage to their lungs and nervous systems.
The author of the message then vows never to buy P&G products again and urges recipients to follow suit.
Problem is, Procter & Gamble doesn't manufacture a "pot scrubber" at all, let alone one with an "Agent Orange derivative" in it.
The author failed to mention the alert was an exercise in creative writing.
More on this baldfaced hoax at the Urban Legends Reference Pages.
FDIC 'Know Your Customer' Regulations
UPDATE - 03/08/99 - Rumors have been flying for the past few months about proposed "Know Your Customer" banking regulations under consideration by the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
The numerous email alerts in circulation since January have sometimes been marked by inaccuracy and hype, but the essential facts are true. The proposal is real.
After March 8, the FDIC is no longer accepting public input on the matter. A formal decision has not yet been made (contrary to the premature announcement published in last Thursday's Washington Times), but due to overwhelming public disapproval the proposal is already considered dead in the water.
According to a Wired News story, the Senate has approved an amendment to block bank regulators from proceeding.
Links to reliable information:
-
Banking with Big Brother
In-depth coverage from Wired News -
No to Bank Snoops
Seattle Times editorial -
Bank Plan Foes Line Up
March 4 update from Wired News
