-Caveat Lector- "WEEKLY WORLD NEWS" TERRIFIES READERS ===================================== (CNNS, 05/01/99) -- The "Weekly World News" (WWN), available at finer grocery stores in the U.S., often carries thought-provoking stories. WWN also is notorious for its doom-and-gloom predictions. To put things in perspective, here are some of WWN's past stories: ** October 28, 1997: "Mysterious 'Black Flu' To Strike America!" Warns WWN, "A deadly and incurable strain of flu is going to strike the U.S. in early 1998 -- and it will kill more than 40 million Americans!" ** October 28, 1997, WWN: "Glowing Figure of Jesus Appears in White House." An apparition of Jesus Christ is appearing in the White House, and "the ghostlike, glowing figure is warning the First Couple to prepare America for the end of the world!" ** November 11, 1997: "Bubonic Plague Is Back... And It Will Kill More Than 30 Million Americans!" The Bubonic Plague, says WWN, is "set to make a comeback" and could "ravage the United States, Canada and Mexico as early as March of 1998." ** December 9, 1997: "Secret German Plot To Start WWIII." WWN says a still-classified NSA report raises concern that the "Germans really think that this time they can conquer the world." The German attack plan, says WWN, is scheduled to begin "in the fall of 1998." The details of the alleged German plot are to (1) form an alliance with Iraq, "encouraging it to spark a massive new war in the Persian Gulf that entangles the U.S. military"; (2) with U.S. preoccupied with Iraq, German "shock troops" will conquer Poland and France; (3) then the Germans attack England; (4) Germans launch missiles, based in South America, against U.S.; (5) Germans annex California. ** January 20, 1998: "Panic! World Economic Collapse Will Come In April." Mark your calendars, says WWN, since by April, 1998, according to their source, "everyone in the world will feel the sting of poverty. Soon, people will be shooting one another over crusts of bread." ** June 30, 1998: "Secret Prophecies From The Vatican's Hidden Vaults." Bible prophecies hidden away in Vatican vaults have been made public, says WWN. Look out. Here (as of June 1998) is what's coming: (1) October 1998 sees "the sudden and stunning introduction of 'national identification cards.'" (2) In late 1998, "world drought and famine shake societies and governments to their foundations..." (3) Also in late 1998, a "terrifying new virus sweeps the U.S., killing millions of children under age 12." (4) In February, 1999, one billion people will "ascend into Heaven without dying." (5) Armageddon begins on June 30, 1999 (this last still in the future, but don't hold your breath) and involves China, India and Pakistan. In fairness to Weekly World News (WWN), their published "prophecies" are often printed as reports from others and do not base themselves on WWN predictions. Still, as in the WWN supposed NSA secret report (above), WWN sometimes directly involves itself in what can now be discerned as false prophecies. Of course, such alarming predictions *do* sell newspapers. Sherman Skolnick, of the Citizens' Committee to Clean Up the Courts, routinely files such doom-and-gloom prophecies under the heading "Profits of Doom." That is Skolnick's little joke, that alarming prophecies sell newspapers and result in profits -- hence, "Profits of Doom." But such self-seeking moneymakers as WWN and their coterie of false prophets needlessly alarm credulous readers, and create unease. The answer is not to censor the "Prophets of Doom" -- since they are occasionally correct -- but to bear in mind that these "prophets" are often more interested in a buck than in being helpful. -- CNNS (Conspiracy Nation News Service) is an INDEPENDENT news outlet, not owned by anyone. (But of course, we would say that, wouldn't we?) BEWARE THE CFR! BEWARE THE CIA! BEWARE THE KNIGHTS! http://www.shout.net/~bigred/cn.html http://www.shout.net/~bigred/cnns.html DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. 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