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LSD is sometimes distributed on stickers of Disney characters and has gotten into the hands of unsuspecting children.

False. Countless news media, including The Press Democrat, have been inundated periodically by calls from panicked parents wondering why this terrible crime hasn't been reported. The reason is, it's not true.

 

Mrs. James Brown once tried to beat traffic charges by claiming she was entitled to diplomatic immunity for being married to the "ambassador of soul."

True. Adrienne Brown's lawyer made the argument based on a U.S. congressman's reference to James Brown as his state's "Number 1 ambassador."

 

When the bathtub was introduced to the U.S. in the mid-1800s, its popularity was hindered by the belief that taking baths was injurious to a person's health.

False. The story is based on a 1917 article in the New York Mail by famed writer H.L. Mencken, who later revealed the whole thing had been a hoax.

 

Thanks to the Coriolis effect, toilets flush clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counter-clockwise in the southern.

False. The Coriolis effect exists, but influences only large movements, like weather patterns or a cannon shell fired over several miles. The motion of water exiting a sink or toilet is too small to be affected.

 

Coca-Cola's name was translated into Chinese as "bite the wax tadpole."

Sorta true. When Coke was first introduced into China, some retailers chose Chinese word characters that, when spoken, replicated the sounds "Ko-ka-ko-la." Most of these combinations produced nonsensical phrases, and one translated into "bite the wax tadpole."

 

Prospective gang members are sometimes initiated by killing the drivers of cars who flash their headlights at them.

False. A rumor that had regional distribution until it was picked up on the Internet.

 

Some Bud Light print advertising featured same-sex couples holding hands.

True. The ads appeared only in gay publications, however. Other large corporations, including IBM, have run similar ads.

 

Casinos pump extra oxygen onto the gaming floors during the early-morning hours to keep tired patrons from heading off to bed.

False.

 

The town of Tarzana, CA was named after the famous ape man.

False. Actually, Edgar Rice Burroughs lived for a time near the Southern California community of Tarzana and later named his character after the area.

 

Diane Linkletter accidentally jumped to her death while high on LSD.

False. Despite Art Linkletter's repeated public statements, Diane Linkletter committed suicide and was not under the influence of drugs at the time.

 

Los Angeles man soars above the city in a lawn chair tethered to weather balloons.

True. A genius named Larry Walthers created the rig with the intent of climbing to about 30 feet over his house. He finally levelled off at 11,000 feet and was finally saved when a helicopter hovered above him and lowered a rescue line. He was later arrested for violating the airspace of Los Angeles International Airport.

 

Light bulb manufactured in 1901 has been burning continuously ever since.

True. The bulb is located at a fire station in Livermore, CA.

 

A guest died during a taping of The Dick Cavett Show.

True. Longevity guru Jerome Rodale, 72, was a guest on the Dick Cavett Show that was being taped on June 5, 1971. While Cavett was discussing politics with journalist Pete Hamill, Rodale's head dropped to his chest and he was heard to let out what sounded like a snore. "Are we boring you, Mr. Rodale?" asked Cavett. There was no response -- Rodale was dead. The show was never broadcast.

 

Pia Zadora played Anne Frank on stage so badly that the audience yelled "She's in the attic!" when the Nazis arrived.

False. This is actually an old joke, periodically modified to reference the bad actress of the day.

 

A town in Austria has the same name as an English vulgarism for sex.

True. Click here for a photo, but be warned that this is X-rated.