Conspiracy theories for fun and profit

"We have to get to a library, fast!"

Maybe not one of the most thrilling lines I've ever heard in a film, but Tom Hanks' frantic exclamation gives a pretty good idea of what The Da Vinci Code is like.

I took advantage of the Victoria Day long weekend by seeing the Da Vinci Code on its opening weekend. Apparently, I wasn't the only one; the movie version of Dan Brown's bestseller raked in nearly $80 million in 48 hours around the world.

Conspiracy sells. It doesn't even have to be a particularly relevant conspiracy; only a few of my friends are practicing Catholics and most of them lack any significant faith in any organized religion - but they've all either read the novel or seen the movie by now.

Some nutbar conspiracy theories I've recently heard repeated by colleagues, acquaintances and other people I otherwise respect:

1. The Apollo Moon Landing was a hoax. To check this one out, click here.
2. AIDS was invented by evil Western scientists bent on genocide. For the full story, click here.
3. Al Queda? Bah, Al Shmeda. The 9-11 disaster was caused (or allowed to happen) by the US government/the mafia/psychatrists (well, none of my friends said that last one, but ask Tom Cruise what he thinks). Read a good summary here (but note that Wikipedia has noted that its constantly-updated, publicly developed article may be compromised by "weasel words".

When Einstein said that imagination was more important than knowledge, he wasn't kidding.

tags: conspiracy theory, conspiracy theories, Da Vinci Code, Apollo hoax, 9-11