Silly Internet Chain Letters

I received one of those annoying internet chain letters today, forwarded to my by an acquaintance who often sends out standard issue internet garbage. Since I know this person fairly well, I let my delete key handle her emails instead of my spam checker.

Usually she sends stuff like a poem written so when you scroll down it looks like an angel. She especially likes to send out the internet hoax of the week. Unfortunately, she believes these hoaxes and forwards them without ever checking out the truth. These hoaxes, of course, come from another source (who we will call Person A) who received this information from Person B, who knows Person C (usually either an employee of the FBI, the State Police, the Sheriff's Department, etc.). Person C has warned Person B about AIDS-infected needles left at gas pumps, or pay phones (remember them?)... and this junk is passed around ad nauseum by folks who don't check out readily available sources to figure out it is a hoax.

Today she forwarded a plea that just made me shake my head. We all know that George W. Bush is responsible for every problem in this country, and perhaps every problem on this planet. At least, that is what the liberals say.

Well, he is also responsible for the high price of gasoline - according to this email I received. This email explained that President Bush used to work in the oil industry, and made sure gas prices were high so his buddies would profit.

I thought readers may enjoy a snippet from that email. As a prelude, here is some free advice to chain letter email writers - please use correct spelling.

As you know, Goerge W. Bush got his start in the oil business. He made several friends with people in this business and with Halliburtton. Now his friends are using their conection to make gas prices high.

We demand that George W. Bush lower our gas prices, right now. We demand a congressional investigation into why George W. Bush has raised the price of gasoline nationally.

Please add your name to this list and forward it on to a friend. Have that friend add their name on the list and pass it on. When 1,000 people have done this, forward it to the White House and demand that they print it off for the president to read.

I had to write back and tell my acquaintance, "I am reasonably confident this won't make it to President Bush." Then, rather than mention the 13.8 million obvious problems with this chain letter, I simply asked "You love Starbucks. How much does a cup of Starbucks coffee cost - the smallest size?" She wrote back "depends what you get, but about $3 for a tall." I hate coffee, so I didn't know how big a "tall" Starbucks coffee is. After checking it on the Starbucks website, I learned it is 12 ounces. I also learned there are "Grande" and "Venti" sizes. Interesting, but I digress...

If I was to fill up my gas tank, at today's gas prices in Detroit ($2.249 per gallon), it would cost me about $45.00.

A 12 ounce cup of coffee costs $3. My gas tank is 20 gallons. There are 128 fluid ounces in a gallon. That means that Starbucks coffee, in this generic example, costs $32 a gallon... or $640 for 20 gallons. As opposed to the $45.00 it costs me to fill up with gas. That is a $595 difference.

What is more ridiculous - $45.80 for gas, or $640 for coffee? Or is either one ridiculous, if the market determines the price?

Maybe I should make a new internet chain letter "demanding" that President Bush lower coffee prices at Starbucks? I will demand that Congress investigate "price gouging" by Starbucks.

Nah, I think I'll just shake my head and shudder that people are deceived by this kind of poppycock.

Tags: Internet Hoaxes , Gas Prices , Starbucks