You have 1 minute to dig up a candle...

September 18, 2001 7:30 PM

You have 1 minute to dig up a candle... if your BS detector isn't set on high like mine. While this is a nice idea... candles from space, c'mon. Anyone think this is for real. Just got another invite to do this in email form as well. Any other WTC related hoaxes out there?
posted by jasonshellen (22 comments total)

Hmph! Looks like I'm about 5 or 6 minutes late. I'm thinking my candle would have been lost in the intense lighting outside the plant here anyway!
posted by RevGreg at 7:37 PM on September 18, 2001

Snopes.com has a page full of WTC-related rumors. It includes a page on the candle hoax, too.
posted by zempf at 7:38 PM on September 18, 2001

I hope this doesn't evolve into something that might work. Like concetrated high wattage lights shooting at the sky. There's enough pollution already and we can be seen from space regardless.

"Hey look Chicago is *slightly* brighter tonight!"
posted by skallas at 7:39 PM on September 18, 2001

"Any other WTC related hoaxes out there?"

heard someone say it's all the homo's faults.

that's about the fakest i've heard so far.
posted by jcterminal at 7:42 PM on September 18, 2001

my folks and I took a few candles out on the lawn. we were the only ones on the block :) was it a hoax? probably, but no harm done, and we missed the one last week, which was not a hoax.. I got the email for this one 3 times today, so I know that at least 3 other people did it too.
posted by fizgig at 7:42 PM on September 18, 2001

Wow, it worked!!!!!!!! Actually, if you read about this hoax and think it's real, maybe you shouldn't stop at one candle. May I suggest self-immollation? I thank you, and the gene pool thanks you.

Yeah, folks, let's show our respect for the dead by turning the country into a 1970's Coca Cola commercial.
posted by Optamystic at 7:45 PM on September 18, 2001

that's rather tasteless. i'm never amused by "darwin awards" jokes.
posted by palegirl at 7:52 PM on September 18, 2001

I got this spam too!

In general, satellites have orbits that track sunlight on the earth. I.e. generally local noon is directly below the satellite. This is called a "sun synchronous" orbit. The IKONOS satellite which produced this image of the WTC uses a sun-sync orbit. It doesn't really make any sense for satellites to image the dark side of the earth. Thus the candle thing is unlikely to work.

Since the mail doesn't mention which satellite the "U.S." is using, I suppose it is impossible to rule out.
posted by phatboy at 7:55 PM on September 18, 2001

funny, i'm ALWAYS amused by 'darwin awards' jokes.

i love when the stupid prevent themselves from scumming up the gene pool.

especially in a violent manner that doesn't take any of the smart one's down with them.
posted by jcterminal at 7:56 PM on September 18, 2001

Who said I was joking?
posted by Optamystic at 8:05 PM on September 18, 2001

Yeah, folks, let's show our respect for the dead by turning the country into a 1970's Coca Cola commercial.

Um...I think the world is already mad at us for trying to "teach it how to sing."
posted by rushmc at 8:05 PM on September 18, 2001

lite a candle? what about the air raid warden?
posted by newnameintown at 8:20 PM on September 18, 2001

You have to be careful with e-mails like this. I got it earlier today and found myself getting attacked after making disparaging comments about it at work.
posted by mrbula at 8:29 PM on September 18, 2001

"Candle"?? I've spent the last hour trying to get candie to stay lit.
posted by UncleFes at 9:07 PM on September 18, 2001

there's also the banning-of-certain-songs-on-radio hoax.. it was hilarious how it lists one or two songs for a whole bunch of groups and artists, and then says every rage against the machine song.
posted by lotsofno at 9:31 PM on September 18, 2001

my folks and I took a few candles out on the lawn. we were the only ones on the block :) was it a hoax? probably, but no harm done, and we missed the one last week, which was not a hoax.. I got the email for this one 3 times today, so I know that at least 3 other people did it too.

Actually, I posted my snarky little jokes above without reading fizgig's comment. Now I feel bad. Sorry about that, fizgig.
posted by Optamystic at 9:43 PM on September 18, 2001

there's also the banning-of-certain-songs-on-radio hoax..

wait, i heard that was real...http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/19/arts/music/19POPL.html
posted by babydoll at 10:52 PM on September 18, 2001

Hm...I didn't get the memo.
posted by mirla at 11:51 PM on September 18, 2001

I can't believe no one mentioned that it says "the U.S. has asked..."

Oh! The U.S. has asked...well then, count me in!
posted by bradlauster at 1:04 AM on September 19, 2001

So... how 'bout them pictures in today's news media?
posted by mikewas at 7:10 AM on September 19, 2001

What pictures? Link please...
posted by bradlauster at 11:50 AM on September 19, 2001

that's rather tasteless. i'm never amused by "darwin awards" jokes.

Good call Palegirl.
posted by lucien at 2:59 PM on September 19, 2001