An End to the Myths? Don’t You Believe It

In the Sept. 13 editorial, “Too Good to Disbelieve,” you failed to list the two Internet sites devoted to checking out the truth or fiction of such items: www.truthorfiction.com and www.snopes.com will let you know what to believe and what to toss in your wastebasket. When I receive these e-mails I reply suggesting that the senders check out the item (using either of the sites) before forwarding it to their address list as it will save us all a lot of time.

Donald B. Prell

Palm Springs

*

I am shocked that you would continue the rumor that five Commandments were lost off a papyrus boat. The loss of these commandments was revealed in the late 1970s by Father Guido Sarducci, who told the whole (true) story on “Saturday Night Live.” Father Sarducci informed the audience that the third tablet containing the other five Commandments, also known as the “Good Commandments,” was dropped by Moses on his way down the mountain. However, according to Father Sarducci, these Commandments were not lost forever. Instead they became instructions from mothers. Possibly the two best known are “Wait a half hour after you eat to go swimming” and “Don’t run with scissors.”

John W. Toigo

Lakewood, N.J.