Don't Step in the Poop » Debunking Crap

3 Stupid Conspiracy Theories About the U.S. Military

Carlon — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 02:34:27 +0000

Yesterday was Veteran’s Day and Don’t Step in the Poop honors the troops by looking at a few conspiracy theories that have been spread about the military.

Some is historical crap. Some is current crap. But all are relevant.

1. The US used chemical weapons in the Korean War

It may be called the “forgotten war” but it did happen. And one persistent charge by the North Koreans was that the US used chemical weapons on North Koreans. The Soviet Union and China backed up the claims of their ally and demanded compensation. Was it true?

Well, historians used to say that the charges couldn’t be proven.

But they certainly were proven–proven that the North Koreans made it up.

Why?

Because that’s what the Soviets figured out.

Oh, those pesky KGB files….seems the Russkies found out their North Korean “comrades” were making stuff up. It was great wartime propaganda!

Of course, knowing it was propaganda didn’t stop the Russians from demanding compensation for these “chemical weapons attacks” up until the time the Soviet Union broke up. And North Korea still demands compensation.

2. The army is full of Commies

Now, I know there are some circles of people who are trying to “revise” the image of Joseph McCarthy for his anti-Commie zeal. These people think he is some sort of hero.

But he was an idiot. And what kind of idiot calls our army a bunch of Commies who are un-American?

It’s timely with all the talk of “socialism” and calling people with a different political leaning as “un-American.” You’d think McCarthy;s utter humiliation would have stopped it…but radio entertainers just took his place.

3. The US Military caused the 2004 tsunami

A popular story in the Arab media that claimed the US military and the Indian military caused the tsunamis. Lots of reasons were given:

experimental weapons test
oil and gas interests

Whatever the reason–all bullshit!

On a final note, some hate mailers might want to comment about how one of the above theories is “really true” and that I don’t “have all the facts.” But let it be known–I do have the facts–ALL the facts. And if you want to ignore those pesky facts because they don’t fit with some preconceived idea you have, then the only answer you’ll get from me is–”you’re an idiot”.Similar Posts:

Debunking Crap: The Rocky Story is BS

Carlon — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 11:01:19 +0000

Yo Adrian, the story behind Rocky is more made up than the movie itself

The other day, I listened to a YouTube clip of Tony Robbins telling the “Rocky” story. You know, the “Rocky” story, right? It’s the one where Sylvester Stallone wrote a screenplay for Rocky. When he took it to the studio, the studio wanted to buy it. They thought it would be a great vehicle for some of their actors.

But Stallone said he wouldn’t sell it unless he starred in it.

The studio was against it, because Stallone was a funny-looking unknown actor.

But because of Stallone’s fierce determination and belief in himself, he prevailed.

The studio agreed to pay Stallone a measly $18,000 and the film was made for less than a million dollars.

And the rest is history.

Or is it?

First of all, I tend not to believe anything that Tony Robbins says. If he says the world is round, the first feeling I get is that I need to look it up in a science book.

But hey, everyone knows the Rocky story, right? And Robbins said he heard it from his good pal Sly Stallone himself. So, it must be true, right?

Nope. The whole thing is bullshit.

Here’s how it really went down:

The first part of the story is true: Stallone did write a script for Rocky.

His agent, Larry Kubik, then showed the script to his producer buddies: Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff.

Now, the Winkler-Chartoff team had a pretty cool clause in their deal with the studio UA. If their film costs less than a million dollars, the studio would automatically greenlight the movie.

Wanna guess under which clause Rocky was made?

That’s right. The studio greenlit the movie WITHOUT EVER MEETING STALLONE.

In fact, they could have casted me as a 3-year old for the title role of Rocky and the studio wouldn’t have cared less.

But the studio DID want to see how Stallone would work out. So, they screened one of this earlier films, The Lords of Flatbush. Now, LOF had an ensemble cast. And when the studio guys watched it, they weren’t so sure who Stallone was. They thought Perry King, another actor in the movie, was Stallone and based on seeing King, they said OK.

Whoops…

So, when the studio finally saw the final result of Rocky, they had no idea who the star was. They were looking for the other actor!

But…

They sure did like that movie. And test audiences liked it too. The only problem was they thought it wouldn’t appeal to enough people. Heck, it was a boxing flick..eveyone knows women won’t go.

So, what did they do?

The studio guys summoned Stallone and the conversation went something like this:

Stallone: Yo, what’s going on?

Studio Big Wig: We got this idea, Sly. We’ve made up this cockamamie underdog story that we think is going to work AWESOMELY for your Rocky movie. Here’s what we need you to do: We need you to go to all the newspaper guys and tell them that the BIG BAD studio didn’t want to buy your script if you starred in it. You tell them that you refused to do it unless you starred in it. You’re an unknown guy so everyone will believe it.

Stallone: Yo, but I don’t get it. Like I never met yous guys before we made the movie.

Studio Big Wig: Yeah, yeah, yeah..we know. But our marketing gimmick for this movie is all about the underdog. So, we’re going to make YOU the underdog. Just tell them we’d give you..oh, I don’t know…say, $18,000 for the movie.

Stallone: You think theys gonna buy it?

Studio Big Wig: Hell, yes. Those stupid newspaper guys will fall all over themselves for this one. They love underdog stories. So, go on out there and spin this story. Your fake underdog story’s going to sell this movie, BIG TIME.

Stallone: OK. I’ll try.

Yoda: Don’t try. Do or do not. There is no try.

Did it work? Well, you still believe the story, don’t you?

So, next time someone tells you that horsesh*t Rocky story, you’ll have the truth.

The story was nothing but a well-done marketing campaign. A campaign so successful that everyone still believes it’s true. Heck, by now, Stallone probably believes it. Then again, he probably thought the Blair Witch Project was real.

For more info on how it went down, go here.Similar Posts:

Debunking Crap: Einstein Never Failed Math

Carlon — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 11:32:41 +0000

Today, I pleased to be starting a new section of “Don’t Step in the Poop called : debunking crap. I’ll go through those “inspirational” stories and show which ones are true and which ones are BS. And if you think there is no harm in a little inspiration, let me tell you” these stories are told for many reasons. But fake stories also give you a false sense of reality. Fiction is great. But I don’t live my life according to a Stephen King novel. And neither should you.

So, I’ll start with the old story of how Einstein failed math.

How many times does some sunshine pusher tell the story of how Einstein failed math.

And you think. Heck, I failed math. But if Einstein could become…well Einstein…then so can I.

But in the end, he’s a genius and you’re not.

Here’s why:

Einstein NEVER FAILED MATH!

Yep, that’s right. He didn’t fail math. Not only did he NOT fail math, he was a math prodigy.

By 12, he already learned algebra and geometry on his own. In fact, he was so advanced that his parents had to buy him more advanced textbooks because school was holding him back.

Well, you may be saying…maybe this is a story that came about after Einstein died. Nope! Seems the famous Robert Ripley (the believe it or not guy) was the one who started this story. Note to all of you out there: when Ripley asks you to believe it or not, don’t believe it. It’s probably not true.

But I digress.

But someone actually asked Einstein about it, to which he replied

“I never failed in mathematics. Before I was fifteen I had mastered differential and integral calculus.”

In other words, he kicked some major math A*$. He even came up with his own way to prove the Pythagorean theorem.

Again, it looks like another inspirational story is wrong. The truth is guys like Einstein are born that way and no amount of effort can turn you into Einstein. That’s probably not what you want to hear, but that’s the way it goes.

By trying to “motivate” you, these motivational speakers are setting you up to fail. You are probably not a math genius! There are very few math geniuses out there. And if you fail math, it doesn’t make you a prodigy; it only makes you bad at math.

I failed math in high school. I aced it in college. I did it by studying for hours on things Einstein could do when he was 10.

That’s life.

But if you need to be inspired by Einstein, here’s a better story.

Einstein couldn’t get a job as a professor (geniuses like him should get a job, right?) So, what did he do?

He kept working his butt off 6 days a week at a patent office and kept writing papers. He wrote four of them in his spare time and these four just so happened to totally destroy what everyone thought of physics.

In other words, he didn’t feel sorry for himself and revel in his genius. He worked. And THAT’s something everyone can do.

Read this for the truth on Einstein and math.Similar Posts: