What the heck does "cock and bull" really mean anyway?
The American Definition:
cock-and-bull (story) (käk′ən bool′)
1 - An obviously false story used for boasting, or especially as an excuse.
2 - An absurd or highly exaggerated tale passed off as being true.
Excuses, Excuses...
A prime example of definition number 1 can be seen in the video below:
cock-and-bull (story) (käk′ən bool′)
1 - An obviously false story used for boasting, or especially as an excuse.
2 - An absurd or highly exaggerated tale passed off as being true.
Excuses, Excuses...
A prime example of definition number 1 can be seen in the video below:
The Pentaverate
An example of definition number 2 can be seen in this hilarious video:
An example of definition number 2 can be seen in this hilarious video:
The Name of the Game
Truth be told, the game was literally built around its name. However, some of you may have concerns about the name of this game containing the dreaded 'C' word, or have the notion that 'Bull' is just short for 'B.S'. This page is dedicated to addressing those concerns by clearly defining the meaning of the idiom, "cock and bull," and by showing its usage in western languages.
A four-year-old need not be deprived of the fun to be had playing Cock & Bull, so I will begin with a tale from "The Real Mother Goose" 1916:
A COCK AND BULL STORY
The cock's on the housetop blowing his horn;
The bull's in the barn a-threshing of corn;
The maids in the meadows are making of hay;
The ducks in the river are swimming away.
A four-year-old need not be deprived of the fun to be had playing Cock & Bull, so I will begin with a tale from "The Real Mother Goose" 1916:
A COCK AND BULL STORY
The cock's on the housetop blowing his horn;
The bull's in the barn a-threshing of corn;
The maids in the meadows are making of hay;
The ducks in the river are swimming away.
Ironically, the competing theories of where this now centuries old idiom began could be "cock and bull" stories in and of themselves.
Danish Roots?
One source claims that the phrase is a corruption of "a concocted and bully story," with "bully" being a further corruption of the Danish "bullen", which means exaggerated.
French Variation?
The early 17th century French term "coq-a-l'âne" is included in Randle Cotgrave's A Dictionarie of the French and English Tongues, 1611. Definition: An incoherent story, passing from one subject to another.
Scottish Influence?
The word "cockalayne" is the Scots translation of "du coq à l'âne" meaning "from rooster to donkey". This appears to literally mean a story that began with the rooster and ended up with the donkey.
English Origin?
From John Day's play, Law-trickes or Who Would Have Thought It, 1608:
"What a tale of a cock and a bull he told my father."
From Robert Burton's The Anatomy of Melancholy 1621:
"Some mens whole delight is to talk of a Cock and Bull over a pot."
From W.S. Gilbert's The Yeomen of the Guard 1888:
“Tell a tale of cock and bull, of convincing detail full.”
The Two Coaching Inns
It is widely reported that the idiom originated at Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire, England. Stony Stratford was an important stop for mail and passenger coaches traveling between London and the North of England.
The Cock and The Bull were two of the main coaching inns in the town. The stories that were told between travelers from one inn to the next, are said to have resulted in exaggerated and fanciful tales, which became known as "cock and bull stories." The original intent of the idiom seems to have been more for entertainment instead of deception. In this respect, the quality of the cock and bull story was judged by its deceit, and the more fantastic or outrageous, the better.
The two Inns did exist in the early 17th century, and are still there today. However, except for the names, there's really no evidence to connect the two inns with the idiom.
Danish Roots?
One source claims that the phrase is a corruption of "a concocted and bully story," with "bully" being a further corruption of the Danish "bullen", which means exaggerated.
French Variation?
The early 17th century French term "coq-a-l'âne" is included in Randle Cotgrave's A Dictionarie of the French and English Tongues, 1611. Definition: An incoherent story, passing from one subject to another.
Scottish Influence?
The word "cockalayne" is the Scots translation of "du coq à l'âne" meaning "from rooster to donkey". This appears to literally mean a story that began with the rooster and ended up with the donkey.
English Origin?
From John Day's play, Law-trickes or Who Would Have Thought It, 1608:
"What a tale of a cock and a bull he told my father."
From Robert Burton's The Anatomy of Melancholy 1621:
"Some mens whole delight is to talk of a Cock and Bull over a pot."
From W.S. Gilbert's The Yeomen of the Guard 1888:
“Tell a tale of cock and bull, of convincing detail full.”
The Two Coaching Inns
It is widely reported that the idiom originated at Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire, England. Stony Stratford was an important stop for mail and passenger coaches traveling between London and the North of England.
The Cock and The Bull were two of the main coaching inns in the town. The stories that were told between travelers from one inn to the next, are said to have resulted in exaggerated and fanciful tales, which became known as "cock and bull stories." The original intent of the idiom seems to have been more for entertainment instead of deception. In this respect, the quality of the cock and bull story was judged by its deceit, and the more fantastic or outrageous, the better.
The two Inns did exist in the early 17th century, and are still there today. However, except for the names, there's really no evidence to connect the two inns with the idiom.
COCK & BULL WORLD NEWS
~ Where the font of falsehood meets the ink of ignorance ~
~ Where the font of falsehood meets the ink of ignorance ~
Ever get the feeling that the very foundation of everything you held to be true was all based on crap?
LOS ANGELES (TheBlaze/AP) — Teammates and coaching staff at the University of Southern California were shocked when they heard senior Josh Shaw, a co-captain and a valuable leader on the team, admit that he lied about the events surrounding ankle injuries he suffered over the weekend.
His teammates and coaches said they had no reason to doubt the cornerback when he explained his two sprained ankles with an elaborate story about saving his nephew from drowning.
Shaw confessed Wednesday that he lied to school officials about how he injured his ankles last weekend, retracting his story about jumping off a balcony in a rescue bid.
The school swiftly suspended him from all team activities and acknowledged his heroic tale was “a complete fabrication.”
“We are extremely disappointed in Josh,” USC coach Steve Sarkisian said. “He let us all down. As I have said, nothing in his background led us to doubt him when he told us of his injuries, nor did anything after our initial vetting of his story.”
Now his college football career could be finished, and his teammates must figure out how to replace a player who willingly filled any role for the USC defense over the last two years.
“We were pretty shocked,” USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams said Wednesday morning. “Josh Shaw is a pretty loyal guy. I would never expect him to make up a story. I would never expect that out of him as a team leader.”
Shaw was a steadying influence on the USC defense, playing cornerback and safety while starting 14 games during a tumultuous 2013 campaign that included coach Lane Kiffin’s midseason firing. His teammates chose him as a captain for his senior year.
Off the field, Shaw has been equally solid. He earned his coaches’ praise for steady leadership and his teammates’ respect during a humanitarian trip to Haiti. He completed an internship at a commercial real estate company in the offseason.
Shaw issued a short statement through criminal defense attorney Donald Etra on Wednesday after being suspended.
“On Saturday, August 23, 2014, I injured myself in a fall,” Shaw said. “I made up a story about this fall that was untrue. I was wrong not to tell the truth. I apologize to USC for this action on my part. My USC coaches, the USC athletic department and especially Coach Sarkisian have all been supportive of me during my college career and for that, I am very grateful.”
Etra told KCLA-TV that Shaw’s injuries were the result of jumping from a balcony. He said they are conducting their own investigation into the events surrounding why he jumped but noted that his client was not involved in anything criminal.
The Los Angeles Police Department has confirmed that a man named Joshua Shaw was mentioned — but not as a suspect — in a report involving a break-in at a downtown apartment building Saturday night. The department has not made the report public.
Shaw’s story began to unravel soon after the team captain was lauded for his heroics in a story on the team’s website Monday. In the account, Shaw described how he instinctively jumped from a balcony, with no one around, to rescue his struggling 7-year-old nephew, Carter, from a pool.
But callers to the athletic department questioned the story almost immediately, and Sarkisian acknowledged the Trojans’ concerns Tuesday morning. Shaw initially stuck to his story, but met with school officials Wednesday to admit his mistake.
“I appreciate that Josh has now admitted that he lied and has apologized,” Sarkisian said. “Although this type of behavior is out of character for Josh, it is unacceptable. Honesty and integrity must be at the center of our program. I believe Josh will learn from this. I hope that he will not be defined by this incident, and that the Trojan Family will accept his apology and support him.”
Shaw didn’t attend practice Wednesday, missing his second straight day of workouts. Although he is barred from team activities, his injuries also would keep him out of workouts for at least a few weeks.
It’s unclear whether Shaw could face additional discipline from USC for lying to school officials. A USC spokesperson declined to clarify the school’s student conduct policies.
Shaw and the school still haven’t acknowledged any connection to the LAPD report from officers who responded to a woman screaming in a downtown apartment complex Saturday. USC is on the south end of downtown.
Officers interviewed several people at the building, and a woman told the police that someone had pried open a window, entered the third-floor apartment and fled, but nothing was taken. The woman also acknowledged “a relationship” with Shaw, according to LAPD Lt. Andy Nieman.
Sarkisian insisted the situation won’t be a distraction for the Trojans, but still allowed only two of Shaw’s defensive teammates to speak with the media after practice Wednesday.
Linebacker Hayes Pullard and Williams both acknowledged surprise at the situation, but still praised Shaw.
“Josh has been a great guy,” Pullard said. “He has great character. I’ve never known him to lie about anything … so it’s surprising. This is exactly when our leadership roles come in. We talk to guys and let them know what’s expected, and we’ll keep us focused on our team.”
Marijuana Overdoses Kill 37 in Colorado On First Day of Legalization
The Daily Currant, Jan 02, 2014
The Daily Currant, Jan 02, 2014
Colorado is reconsidering its decision to legalize recreational pot following the deaths of dozens due to marijuana overdoses.
According to a report in the Rocky Mountain News, 37 people were killed across the state on Jan. 1, the first day the drug became legal for all adults to purchase. Several more are clinging onto life in local emergency rooms and are not expected to survive.
"It's complete chaos here," says Dr. Jack Shepard, chief of surgery at St. Luke's Medical Center in Denver. "I've put five college students in body bags since breakfast and more are arriving every minute.
"We are seeing cardiac arrests, hypospadias, acquired trimethylaminuria and multiple organ failures. By next week the death toll could go as high as 200, maybe 300. Someone needs to step in and stop this madness. My god, why did we legalize marijuana? What were we thinking?"
Rainin' Fire in the Sky
Colorado and Washington state approved the sale of marijuana for recreational use in November though statewide ballot measures. Under the new policies pot is legal for adult use, regulated like alcohol and heavily taxed.
One of the principal arguments of legalization advocates was that cannabis has long been considered safer than alcohol and tobacco and was not thought not to cause overdose. But a brave minority tried to warn Coloradans of the drug's dangers.
"We told everyone this would happen," says Peter Swindon, president and CEO of local brewer MolsonCoors. "Marijuana is a deadly hardcore drug that causes addiction and destroys lives.
"When was the last time you heard of someone overdosing on beer? All these pro-marijuana groups should be ashamed of themselves. The victims' blood is on their hands."
One of the those victims was 29-year-old Jesse Bruce Pinkman, a former methamphetamine dealer from Albuquerque who had recently moved to Boulder to establish a legal marijuana dispensary.
Pinkman was partying with friends when he suffered several seizures and a massive heart attack which ultimately proved to be fatal. Toxicology reports revealed that marijuana was the only drug present in his system.
"This is just a terrible tragedy," says his friend Peter. "Jesse was trying to go legit and now this happens? I guess drugs really are as dangerous as they say."
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, who opposed the ballot initiative that legalized the drug, says he will call a special legislative session to try and overturn the new law.
"We can't sit idly by and allow this slaughter to continue," he said during a press conference Thursday.
According to a report in the Rocky Mountain News, 37 people were killed across the state on Jan. 1, the first day the drug became legal for all adults to purchase. Several more are clinging onto life in local emergency rooms and are not expected to survive.
"It's complete chaos here," says Dr. Jack Shepard, chief of surgery at St. Luke's Medical Center in Denver. "I've put five college students in body bags since breakfast and more are arriving every minute.
"We are seeing cardiac arrests, hypospadias, acquired trimethylaminuria and multiple organ failures. By next week the death toll could go as high as 200, maybe 300. Someone needs to step in and stop this madness. My god, why did we legalize marijuana? What were we thinking?"
Rainin' Fire in the Sky
Colorado and Washington state approved the sale of marijuana for recreational use in November though statewide ballot measures. Under the new policies pot is legal for adult use, regulated like alcohol and heavily taxed.
One of the principal arguments of legalization advocates was that cannabis has long been considered safer than alcohol and tobacco and was not thought not to cause overdose. But a brave minority tried to warn Coloradans of the drug's dangers.
"We told everyone this would happen," says Peter Swindon, president and CEO of local brewer MolsonCoors. "Marijuana is a deadly hardcore drug that causes addiction and destroys lives.
"When was the last time you heard of someone overdosing on beer? All these pro-marijuana groups should be ashamed of themselves. The victims' blood is on their hands."
One of the those victims was 29-year-old Jesse Bruce Pinkman, a former methamphetamine dealer from Albuquerque who had recently moved to Boulder to establish a legal marijuana dispensary.
Pinkman was partying with friends when he suffered several seizures and a massive heart attack which ultimately proved to be fatal. Toxicology reports revealed that marijuana was the only drug present in his system.
"This is just a terrible tragedy," says his friend Peter. "Jesse was trying to go legit and now this happens? I guess drugs really are as dangerous as they say."
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, who opposed the ballot initiative that legalized the drug, says he will call a special legislative session to try and overturn the new law.
"We can't sit idly by and allow this slaughter to continue," he said during a press conference Thursday.
Hoax story claiming 'Marijuana overdoses kill 37 in Colorado' fools some -- not all
01/03/2014
By: Alan Gathright
DENVER, CO - A satirical website fooled some people with its hoax story headlined: "Marijuana Overdoses Kill 37 in Colorado On First Day of Legalization January 2nd, 2014."
"Colorado is reconsidering its decision to legalize recreational pot following the deaths of dozens due to marijuana overdoses," read the spoof story by DailyCurrant.com , which attributed the death toll to the Rocky Mountain News, the Denver daily newspaper that closed in 2009.
The Daily Current website's "About" section states: "Our stories are purely fictional. However they are meant to address real-world issues through satire and often refer and link to real events happening in the world."
The story quoted a fake "Dr. Jack Shepard," claiming he was "chief of surgery at St. Luke's Medical Center in Denver."
"It's complete chaos here," the fake doctor ranted. "I've put five college students in body bags since breakfast and more are arriving every minute."
"We are seeing cardiac arrests, hypospadias, acquired trimethylaminuria and multiple organ failures," the doctor raved. "By next week the death toll could go as high as 200, maybe 300. Someone needs to step in and stop this madness. My god, why did we legalize marijuana? What were we thinking?"
"Dr. Jack Shepard" was a character on the TV show "Lost." The spoof story forced the real Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center to issue a news release clarifying that "there is no such doctor as 'Jack Shepard' on our medical staff and that there have been no deaths due to marijuana at our hospital. The article is a completely fabricated work of fiction created by 'The Daily Currant.'"
In case you're curious about the medical conditions cited by the fictional doctor: "Hypospadias" is a birth defect affecting the penis; "Trimethylaminuria" is a genetic disease formerly known as "Fish Odor Syndrome," because it causes an offensive body odor that some compare to the "smell of rotting fish," according to MedicineNet.com .
The bogus story also tweaked the goal of Amendment 64, the ballot measure passed by Colorado voters in 2012, that recreational marijuana possession and sales should be legalized "regulated like alcohol and heavily taxed."
"One of the principal arguments of legalization advocates was that cannabis has long been considered safer than alcohol and tobacco and was not thought not to cause overdose. But a brave minority tried to warn Coloradans of the drug's dangers," the story said.
Another fake Daily Current quote: "We told everyone this would happen," says Peter Swindon, President and CEO of local brewer MolsonCoors, "Marijuana is a deadly hardcore drug that causes addiction and destroys lives."
"When was the last time you heard of someone overdosing on beer? All these pro-marijuana groups should be ashamed of themselves. The victims' blood is on their hands," the fictional beer company executive declared.
The real President and Chief Executive Officer of Molson Coors Brewing Company is Peter Swinburn.
Many people clearly got the joke, but some people on social media were fooled.
One stunned man said in a YouTube video commentary: "This story just blows me away. Thirty-seven people died in Colorado on New Year's Day when marijuana was legalized…Doctors say they expect hundreds more imminent deaths. This is more deaths than an average day in Iraq and the Afghanistan wars combined."
The man later posted on his YouTube account: "This story ended up being a hoax! I got sucked in by a 'news article' published in The Daily Currant, a satirical web site that falsely quoted The Rocky Mountain News as its reference source about the (fictitious) 37 deaths from marijuana drug overdoses."
Another man tweeted, "So do we blame pot, or do we blame the users? Do you blame alcohol for alcohol related deaths including DUI, or…" one man tweeted.
"I have to reconsider my statement b4. #marijuana kills around 37 people in the 1st time legalization due to #overdoes," tweeted another guy.
01/03/2014
By: Alan Gathright
DENVER, CO - A satirical website fooled some people with its hoax story headlined: "Marijuana Overdoses Kill 37 in Colorado On First Day of Legalization January 2nd, 2014."
"Colorado is reconsidering its decision to legalize recreational pot following the deaths of dozens due to marijuana overdoses," read the spoof story by DailyCurrant.com , which attributed the death toll to the Rocky Mountain News, the Denver daily newspaper that closed in 2009.
The Daily Current website's "About" section states: "Our stories are purely fictional. However they are meant to address real-world issues through satire and often refer and link to real events happening in the world."
The story quoted a fake "Dr. Jack Shepard," claiming he was "chief of surgery at St. Luke's Medical Center in Denver."
"It's complete chaos here," the fake doctor ranted. "I've put five college students in body bags since breakfast and more are arriving every minute."
"We are seeing cardiac arrests, hypospadias, acquired trimethylaminuria and multiple organ failures," the doctor raved. "By next week the death toll could go as high as 200, maybe 300. Someone needs to step in and stop this madness. My god, why did we legalize marijuana? What were we thinking?"
"Dr. Jack Shepard" was a character on the TV show "Lost." The spoof story forced the real Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center to issue a news release clarifying that "there is no such doctor as 'Jack Shepard' on our medical staff and that there have been no deaths due to marijuana at our hospital. The article is a completely fabricated work of fiction created by 'The Daily Currant.'"
In case you're curious about the medical conditions cited by the fictional doctor: "Hypospadias" is a birth defect affecting the penis; "Trimethylaminuria" is a genetic disease formerly known as "Fish Odor Syndrome," because it causes an offensive body odor that some compare to the "smell of rotting fish," according to MedicineNet.com .
The bogus story also tweaked the goal of Amendment 64, the ballot measure passed by Colorado voters in 2012, that recreational marijuana possession and sales should be legalized "regulated like alcohol and heavily taxed."
"One of the principal arguments of legalization advocates was that cannabis has long been considered safer than alcohol and tobacco and was not thought not to cause overdose. But a brave minority tried to warn Coloradans of the drug's dangers," the story said.
Another fake Daily Current quote: "We told everyone this would happen," says Peter Swindon, President and CEO of local brewer MolsonCoors, "Marijuana is a deadly hardcore drug that causes addiction and destroys lives."
"When was the last time you heard of someone overdosing on beer? All these pro-marijuana groups should be ashamed of themselves. The victims' blood is on their hands," the fictional beer company executive declared.
The real President and Chief Executive Officer of Molson Coors Brewing Company is Peter Swinburn.
Many people clearly got the joke, but some people on social media were fooled.
One stunned man said in a YouTube video commentary: "This story just blows me away. Thirty-seven people died in Colorado on New Year's Day when marijuana was legalized…Doctors say they expect hundreds more imminent deaths. This is more deaths than an average day in Iraq and the Afghanistan wars combined."
The man later posted on his YouTube account: "This story ended up being a hoax! I got sucked in by a 'news article' published in The Daily Currant, a satirical web site that falsely quoted The Rocky Mountain News as its reference source about the (fictitious) 37 deaths from marijuana drug overdoses."
Another man tweeted, "So do we blame pot, or do we blame the users? Do you blame alcohol for alcohol related deaths including DUI, or…" one man tweeted.
"I have to reconsider my statement b4. #marijuana kills around 37 people in the 1st time legalization due to #overdoes," tweeted another guy.
Manti Te'o and his girlfriend's tragic death
January 2013
Te'o told many media outlets that both his grandmother and his girlfriend had died on September 11, 2012. Te'o said that his girlfriend, Stanford University student Lennay Kekua, had died after a car accident and subsequently battling leukemia. Te'o did not miss any football games for Notre Dame, saying that he had promised Kekua that he would play even if something had happened to her. Many sports media outlets reported on these tragedies during Te'o's strong 2012 season and emergence as a Heisman Trophy candidate.
After receiving an anonymous email tip in January 2013, reporters Timothy Burke and Jack Dickey of the sports blog Deadspin conducted an investigation into Kekua's identity. On January 16, they published an article alleging that Kekua did not exist and pointed to a man named Ronaiah Tuiasosopo as involved in the hoax of her relationship with Te'o. Tuiasosopo has been described as a family friend or acquaintance of Te'o. Pictures of Kekua that had been published in the media were actually of Diane O'Meara, a former high school classmate of Tuiasosopo.
On the same day the Deadspin article was published, Notre Dame issued a statement that "Manti had been the victim of what appears to be a hoax in which someone using the fictitious name Lennay Kekua apparently ingratiated herself with Manti and then conspired with others to lead him to believe she had tragically died of leukemia." In a press conference, Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick confirmed the university had hired private investigators to uncover the source of the hoax, and he clarified that Te'o's relationship with Kekua was "exclusively an online relationship". This conflicted with previous accounts from Te'o and his family that the couple had first met after a football game and that she visited him in Hawaii. Swarbrick said that Te'o informed Notre Dame of the hoax on December 26 after receiving a phone call on December 6 from the woman he knew as Kekua, claiming she was still alive. Te'o mentioned Kekua's death in at least four separate interviews in the days following the phone call.
In response to the growing suspicions that he was involved in the hoax, Te'o agreed to a January 18 interview with sports journalist Jeremy Schaap in which he maintained his innocence. Te'o explained that he had lied to his father and others about meeting her in person because he thought he would be seen as "crazy" for having a serious relationship with a woman he had never met. Te'o said he was angered and confused by the December 6 phone call and had continued to speak of Kekua because the situation was unclear to him. He explained that Tuiasosopo represented himself as the cousin of Lennay Kekua and that the two men had communicated online over the last several years and met once in person at the 2012 Notre Dame/USC game. Te'o said that Tuiasosopo confessed to him on January 16 that he was behind the hoax.
In a January 24 interview on Katie with Katie Couric, Te'o played three voicemails left by Kekua and said the voice "sounds like a girl", an assessment with which many agreed. In an appearance on Dr. Phil on January 31 and February 1, Tuiasosopo confessed to the hoax; he admitted to falling in love with Te'o and using the Kekua identity as an escape. He also recreated the female voice behind a privacy screen. Relatives of Tuiasosopo, however, told the New York Post that Kekua's voice belonged to Tuiasosopo's female cousin. Despite the revelation that Kekua did not exist, NFL player Reagan Maui'a said that he twice met someone claiming to be Kekua, and that they had been introduced by Tuiasosopo, whom he believed to be Kekua's cousin
January 2013
Te'o told many media outlets that both his grandmother and his girlfriend had died on September 11, 2012. Te'o said that his girlfriend, Stanford University student Lennay Kekua, had died after a car accident and subsequently battling leukemia. Te'o did not miss any football games for Notre Dame, saying that he had promised Kekua that he would play even if something had happened to her. Many sports media outlets reported on these tragedies during Te'o's strong 2012 season and emergence as a Heisman Trophy candidate.
After receiving an anonymous email tip in January 2013, reporters Timothy Burke and Jack Dickey of the sports blog Deadspin conducted an investigation into Kekua's identity. On January 16, they published an article alleging that Kekua did not exist and pointed to a man named Ronaiah Tuiasosopo as involved in the hoax of her relationship with Te'o. Tuiasosopo has been described as a family friend or acquaintance of Te'o. Pictures of Kekua that had been published in the media were actually of Diane O'Meara, a former high school classmate of Tuiasosopo.
On the same day the Deadspin article was published, Notre Dame issued a statement that "Manti had been the victim of what appears to be a hoax in which someone using the fictitious name Lennay Kekua apparently ingratiated herself with Manti and then conspired with others to lead him to believe she had tragically died of leukemia." In a press conference, Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick confirmed the university had hired private investigators to uncover the source of the hoax, and he clarified that Te'o's relationship with Kekua was "exclusively an online relationship". This conflicted with previous accounts from Te'o and his family that the couple had first met after a football game and that she visited him in Hawaii. Swarbrick said that Te'o informed Notre Dame of the hoax on December 26 after receiving a phone call on December 6 from the woman he knew as Kekua, claiming she was still alive. Te'o mentioned Kekua's death in at least four separate interviews in the days following the phone call.
In response to the growing suspicions that he was involved in the hoax, Te'o agreed to a January 18 interview with sports journalist Jeremy Schaap in which he maintained his innocence. Te'o explained that he had lied to his father and others about meeting her in person because he thought he would be seen as "crazy" for having a serious relationship with a woman he had never met. Te'o said he was angered and confused by the December 6 phone call and had continued to speak of Kekua because the situation was unclear to him. He explained that Tuiasosopo represented himself as the cousin of Lennay Kekua and that the two men had communicated online over the last several years and met once in person at the 2012 Notre Dame/USC game. Te'o said that Tuiasosopo confessed to him on January 16 that he was behind the hoax.
In a January 24 interview on Katie with Katie Couric, Te'o played three voicemails left by Kekua and said the voice "sounds like a girl", an assessment with which many agreed. In an appearance on Dr. Phil on January 31 and February 1, Tuiasosopo confessed to the hoax; he admitted to falling in love with Te'o and using the Kekua identity as an escape. He also recreated the female voice behind a privacy screen. Relatives of Tuiasosopo, however, told the New York Post that Kekua's voice belonged to Tuiasosopo's female cousin. Despite the revelation that Kekua did not exist, NFL player Reagan Maui'a said that he twice met someone claiming to be Kekua, and that they had been introduced by Tuiasosopo, whom he believed to be Kekua's cousin
New research reveals that alcohol makes you smarter
April 11, 2012
If you’re feeling a bit sluggish in the mental department maybe you should sit back, relax and have a pint of your favourite beer. Why? Well researchers have discovered that alcohol has a hidden talent – it can actually make you smarter.
The Irish Independent reports that men who drink two pints of beer before they tackle a brain teaser will actually perform better and achieve a higher success rate than sober men who have attempted the same puzzles.
Ever wonder why pub quizzes are often won by the drunkest table in the place? Well that’s because after two drinks, your intellectual skills are sharpened. The researchers also found that drinkers tended to get more questions right and were quicker when it came to shouting out the right answers.
Now, wait a second, we know what you’re thinking – isn’t alcohol supposed to hinder your mental capabilities? Isn’t it supposed to dumb all your logical reasoning abilities? Well yes and no. The trick is knowing when you’ve had enough.
A small bit of alcohol (say 2 pints) is enough to up your brain power and also keep you aware of what’s going on in your life. A lot of alcohol is likely to see you devolve from smart, sophisticated male to Neanderthal in the space of ten minutes. And no one wants that.
Anyway, psychologists at the University of Illinois rounded up 40 young fellas and gave them a series of brain teasers to work on. The teasers involved coming up with a common word that would link three other words listed out. For example: silver is the common word that links coin, quick and spoon. Yes, it was deeply intelligent stuff that was going on during these tests…
The lucky half of the group got to drink two pints of beer before sitting down to do the puzzles, while the other half remained sober.
Needless to say, researchers were pretty shocked when the group that had been given alcohol managed to solve nearly 40 percent more of the problems than their sober counterparts. The men who had drank some alcohol also only spent an average of 12 seconds on each brain teaser – in comparison to the 15.5 seconds that the sober subjects needed to work out the solution to every puzzle.
“We tested what happens when people are slightly merry, not when people drink to extremes,” said Jennifer Wiley, the author of the report.
“The bottom line is that we think being too focused can blind you to novel possibilities, and a broader, more flexible state of attention is needed for creative solutions to emerge,” she added.
The research has been published in the well-respected journal Consciousness and Cognition, so the next time your other half accuses you of drinking one too many, simply shove a copy of said research at them and consider that your point has been made.
April 11, 2012
If you’re feeling a bit sluggish in the mental department maybe you should sit back, relax and have a pint of your favourite beer. Why? Well researchers have discovered that alcohol has a hidden talent – it can actually make you smarter.
The Irish Independent reports that men who drink two pints of beer before they tackle a brain teaser will actually perform better and achieve a higher success rate than sober men who have attempted the same puzzles.
Ever wonder why pub quizzes are often won by the drunkest table in the place? Well that’s because after two drinks, your intellectual skills are sharpened. The researchers also found that drinkers tended to get more questions right and were quicker when it came to shouting out the right answers.
Now, wait a second, we know what you’re thinking – isn’t alcohol supposed to hinder your mental capabilities? Isn’t it supposed to dumb all your logical reasoning abilities? Well yes and no. The trick is knowing when you’ve had enough.
A small bit of alcohol (say 2 pints) is enough to up your brain power and also keep you aware of what’s going on in your life. A lot of alcohol is likely to see you devolve from smart, sophisticated male to Neanderthal in the space of ten minutes. And no one wants that.
Anyway, psychologists at the University of Illinois rounded up 40 young fellas and gave them a series of brain teasers to work on. The teasers involved coming up with a common word that would link three other words listed out. For example: silver is the common word that links coin, quick and spoon. Yes, it was deeply intelligent stuff that was going on during these tests…
The lucky half of the group got to drink two pints of beer before sitting down to do the puzzles, while the other half remained sober.
Needless to say, researchers were pretty shocked when the group that had been given alcohol managed to solve nearly 40 percent more of the problems than their sober counterparts. The men who had drank some alcohol also only spent an average of 12 seconds on each brain teaser – in comparison to the 15.5 seconds that the sober subjects needed to work out the solution to every puzzle.
“We tested what happens when people are slightly merry, not when people drink to extremes,” said Jennifer Wiley, the author of the report.
“The bottom line is that we think being too focused can blind you to novel possibilities, and a broader, more flexible state of attention is needed for creative solutions to emerge,” she added.
The research has been published in the well-respected journal Consciousness and Cognition, so the next time your other half accuses you of drinking one too many, simply shove a copy of said research at them and consider that your point has been made.
Top Cock & Bull Story of 2011
The end of the world is about to happen, so be prepared people! NASA and many astronomers have received increasingly worried letters and emails from the public about the possibility that the world will end December 21, 2012, according to the prophetic last date on the Mayan calendar. Scenarios include a collision with a fictional planet called Nibiru, deadly activity on the surface of the sun that hits the earth, an alignment with the center of our galaxy causing a magnetic polar shift on earth, a nearby supernova, a miniature black hole produced on earth by scientists using the Large Hadron Collider, and various other cosmophobic ideas.
The distributors of the movie “2012”, purposely fed the flames of the internet panic with a viral marketing campaign by creating fake science websites and encouraging people to search for “2012” on the Web.
Seriously, there is no evidence to support that the ancient Mayans thought anything was going to happen on this date other than a big party. It is also important to remember that the "giant-stone-calendar maker" died along with the ancient Mayan civilization, thus it would be their last calendar.
So when the media reports that flocks of birds have mysteriously fallen from the sky, or that schools of dead fish have washed up on the beach, remember to say a prayer and kiss your butt goodbye!
Oh and don't forget to buy your survival kit, books, DVDs, T-Shirts, etc.
Believe it: www.december212012.com/
Or not: www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012.html
The distributors of the movie “2012”, purposely fed the flames of the internet panic with a viral marketing campaign by creating fake science websites and encouraging people to search for “2012” on the Web.
Seriously, there is no evidence to support that the ancient Mayans thought anything was going to happen on this date other than a big party. It is also important to remember that the "giant-stone-calendar maker" died along with the ancient Mayan civilization, thus it would be their last calendar.
So when the media reports that flocks of birds have mysteriously fallen from the sky, or that schools of dead fish have washed up on the beach, remember to say a prayer and kiss your butt goodbye!
Oh and don't forget to buy your survival kit, books, DVDs, T-Shirts, etc.
Believe it: www.december212012.com/
Or not: www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012.html
Top Cock & Bull Story of 2010
On August 30, 2010, Bethany Storro, of Washington, told Vancouver Police that an African-American woman passed her on the street and said, 'Hey pretty girl,' and then threw a cup of acid in her face the evening of August 30. She was released from an Oregon hospital on September 5 after undergoing surgery for her injuries from the alleged attack. Storro had credited a pair of sunglasses that she bought shortly before the attack with saving her eyesight. The nation was shocked when she was interviewed on national television. In her facial bandages she forgave her alleged attacker, but pleaded with the public to help find her.
Storro later admitted that she'd disfigured herself with drain cleaner. According to a police affidavit, the self-mutilation was apparently part of a suicide attempt. She was sentenced to mental health treatment after pleading guilty to making a false statement to a public official.
Storro was sentenced only for lying to authorities in a plea deal. Three theft charges were dropped when Storro returned $28,000 in charity donations from the public. Storro also had to repay roughly $4,000 for police overtime.
Storro made a statement of apology in Clark County Superior Court, reportedly saying that she was genuinely sorry. The 28 year-old, who painted her imaginary attacker as a black woman, also apologized to the African-American community.
Storro later admitted that she'd disfigured herself with drain cleaner. According to a police affidavit, the self-mutilation was apparently part of a suicide attempt. She was sentenced to mental health treatment after pleading guilty to making a false statement to a public official.
Storro was sentenced only for lying to authorities in a plea deal. Three theft charges were dropped when Storro returned $28,000 in charity donations from the public. Storro also had to repay roughly $4,000 for police overtime.
Storro made a statement of apology in Clark County Superior Court, reportedly saying that she was genuinely sorry. The 28 year-old, who painted her imaginary attacker as a black woman, also apologized to the African-American community.
Top Cock & Bull Story of 2009
On October 15, 2009, Richard and Mayumi Heene, in Fort Collins, Colorado, released a Home-Made, flying-saucer-shaped balloon filled with helium into the atmosphere, and then claimed that their six-year-old son, Falcon, may have unknowingly been inside it. The event attracted worldwide attention. Falcon was nicknamed "Balloon Boy" by some in the media. For approximately one hour, the entire nation was glued to televised images of the balloon via a pursuing helicopter. Everyone held their breath and prayed that Falcon would not fall out, or be killed on impact.
It later turned out that Falcon was hiding in a cardboard box in the rafters of the Heene's garage. The "Ah-Ha!" moment came in an interview on CNN with Wolf Blitzer, filling in for Larry King. The Heenes asked their son why he had not come out from hiding when they called his name. The boy responded, "You guys said we did this for the show."
On December 23, 2009, a judge sentenced Richard Heene, whom associates have called "a shameless self-promoter who would do almost anything to advance his latest endeavor," to 90 days in jail and 100 hours of community service. He was also ordered to write a formal apology to the agencies that searched for Falcon.
Mayumi Heene, who later admitted that she "knew all along that Falcon was hiding in the residence," was sentenced to 20 days in jail, to be served through jail-supervised community service for two days a week. Mayumi was also allowed to begin her sentence after her husband's ended in order to ensure her children would be cared for.
The Heenes, who had twice appeared on the reality TV show, "Wife Swap," were also banned from receiving any profits from the hoax for several years. Richard Heene was also ordered to pay $36,000 in restitution.
It later turned out that Falcon was hiding in a cardboard box in the rafters of the Heene's garage. The "Ah-Ha!" moment came in an interview on CNN with Wolf Blitzer, filling in for Larry King. The Heenes asked their son why he had not come out from hiding when they called his name. The boy responded, "You guys said we did this for the show."
On December 23, 2009, a judge sentenced Richard Heene, whom associates have called "a shameless self-promoter who would do almost anything to advance his latest endeavor," to 90 days in jail and 100 hours of community service. He was also ordered to write a formal apology to the agencies that searched for Falcon.
Mayumi Heene, who later admitted that she "knew all along that Falcon was hiding in the residence," was sentenced to 20 days in jail, to be served through jail-supervised community service for two days a week. Mayumi was also allowed to begin her sentence after her husband's ended in order to ensure her children would be cared for.
The Heenes, who had twice appeared on the reality TV show, "Wife Swap," were also banned from receiving any profits from the hoax for several years. Richard Heene was also ordered to pay $36,000 in restitution.
In Case of Emergency, Please Remove Your Bra!
Caught in a disaster? You'd better hope you're wearing the Emergency Bra. Simply unsnap the bright red bra, separate the cups, and slip it over your head, one cup for you, and one for your friend. Yep, just when you thought it was a cock and bull story, it turns out to be true:
http://ebbra.com/
http://ebbra.com/
Please send questions or comments to: cockandbullgame@gmail.com
Created By F. M. Smith | Copyright MMXVI | All Rights Reserved
Please send questions or comments to: cockandbullgame@gmail.com
Created By F. M. Smith | Copyright MMXVI | All Rights Reserved