Light a candle tonight at ?

[Sandal16]

I've heard from 2 people that tonight there is going to be a nationwide candlelight vigil. You're supposed to stand outside with a candle and they're going to take a satellite picture from space and post it on the internet tomorrow. Only problem is, I'm not sure what time to do it! I've heard 10:30pm and 11:00pm (Eastern time). Anybody have more info?

[Shainie]

Oops, I must have posted right after you! What I've heard is 9:30 CST - 10:30 Eastern.

We'll have to see what others say.

[mum23]

Looks like this one's a fabrication...

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Claim: The U.S. is requesting Americans to light candles for a satellite photo tonight.
Status: False.

Example: [Collected on the Internet, 2001]


The U.S. has asked that everyone step out on their lawns tonight at 10:30 p.m. eastern time (7:30 p.m. Pacific) and light a candle. They will be taking a satellite picture of the U.S. and posting it on the news tomorrow morning. Please pass this on to as many people as possible.



Origins: A movement to have everyone in the U.S. light a candle on the evening of Friday, September 14, as a memorial to the victims of the September 11 terrorist attack, appears to have been fairly successful. Certainly we saw quite a few candles on display in our neighborhood that evening.

Whether the message quoted above is an embellishment or misunderstanding of that request or simply an out-and-out hoax we don't know, but it isn't genuine. The "U.S." has asked this? What organization is sponsoring this? Where did the request originate? (Surely they're not depending upon forwarded e-mail messages to get the word out.) What day does it apply to? (The only indicator of a date is the use of the word "tonight," but this message has already been circulating for several days now. More recent versions have altered the wording so that the request now supposedly comes from "the government" or "NASA.")

Obviously, the whole idea is downright impractical. Unless every city in the country is going to extinguish all of its artificial lighting at just the right time, a satellite photo simply isn't going to pick up candlelight. Go ahead and light a candle tonight, but don't feel you need to say "cheese" -- you won't be on a candid satellite camera.

Last updated: 18 September 2001

[Shainie]

Yup - I just read that also.

Usually I go check those things out before posting, but this time I was too quick at the draw - haha.

Oh well!

[Mouse7088]

Darn..too bad..I even sent it out to a bunch of ppl..lol..I'm sure they'll understand Hope...lol!

[The Truth]

Please, please, use some common rules of thumb here.

A) The US Government, it legislators, and agencies, DO NOT use e-mail to communicate with the masses.

B)At 10:30 Eastern, it is 7:30 Pacific, with daylight, no candle could make a dimple for a satellite photo.

C) Any e mail you receive that reports a "news item" and asks you to pass it on to as many people as possible IS BOGUS. Real news items are communicated through Newspapr, Television, and radio. The Internet is the last place to cover stories.

I ask, plead, to you when you receive an e-mail that asks you to pass it on to as many people as possible, respond to the sender that the information is most likely erronious.