If you're like me you've probably received more emails than you can begin to count. As a rule email falls into three categories: personal correspondence from friends, relatives and associates; SPAM (generally unwanted junk mail); and forwarded messages. The latter is mostly recognized by the subject line, which includes FW, Fwd, or even FW_FW_FW_FW. When folks forward something to you (and often to everyone in their email address book) it's usually because they've received something that was either so funny, so touching or so unbelievable, they had to share it with somebody.

I'm here to address those emails in the "so unbelievable" category.

We've all received them. Microsoft & AOL will pay you to send emails; bizarre gang initiation rituals; forwarding an email will save a dying child; absurd statements attributed to celebrities; legislation passed that will allow charging to send emails; bugs, snakes & other unpleasant things found in the most unexpected places. It goes on and on. And it has been going on and on for years. Over 90% of those "so unbelievable" tales are the product of overworked (and possibly demented) imaginations.

There are a number of websites already in existence whose sole purpose is verifying or debunking those tales, commonly referred to as "Urban Legends". But, of course, who has the time to go searching through a bunch of websites to find out if the latest juicy story is true or not? Well, actually I do. I'm an old retired guy who enjoys web-searching. Over the years I've come to learn a few techniques for scouring the Internet for information. I've occasionally had some success where others have failed. Sometimes it's just luck, but I like to think luck is often a by-product of skill and perseverance.

Is the joy of web-searching the only reason I'm doing this? Naaah. When I get those rumors in email it really ticks me off. Especially when I receive one for the 147th time. My hope is that my friends and acquaintances will check here first before forwarding another of those 'so unbelievable' yarns and let me search for the FACTS.

For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
(2Corinthians 13:8)