A quiet killer lurks amongst us

[TwistedCopper]

Dihydrogen Monoxide is a deadly chemical that is, it turns out, just about everywhere. It is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. It is extremely corrosive and can carve through solid rock as if it were butter. It can be found in our schools, at the playground, and even in our homes. Excessive exposure to DHMO is extremely dangerous and frequently leads to death; more than 1,500 children and teens die each year in the US from suffocation in DHMO.

Worse yet, it's a veritable environmental disaster. It is a major component of acid rain and virtually every factory and business in America generates at least some DHMO. Unfortunately, DHMO can be found in every lake, stream, river, or pond in the northern hemisphere. It also causes soil erosion and it is widely believed that excessive levels of DHMO caused or contributed significantly to the levee failures, flooding, and general destruction following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Although some people insist we cannot survive without DHMO, there are those who are working to get the government to recognize the dangers and ban this toxic substance. Until then, there are steps you can take to minimize the danger. Learn more about DHMO and the possible sources of contamination. Avoid situations where you are likely to encounter high concentrations of DHMO. Most importantly, spread the word about Dihydrogen Monoxide!

So....should it be banned?

Probably a few of ya knew it was water...but I was reading up on the hoax and ran across this: Last spring (I believe this was in 89, though), Nathan Zohner, an enterprising 14-year-old student at Eagle Rock Junior High School in Idaho Falls, Idaho, conducted his science fair project on just this theme. Nathan distributed a tongue-in-cheek report that had been kicking around the Internet, "Dihydrogen Monoxide: The Unrecognized Killer" (from which the quotes above are drawn), to 50 of his classmates.

These are smart kids who had studied chemistry; many of them, like Nathan, have parents who work at the nearby Idaho Nuclear Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. Nathan simply asked them to read the report (which is completely factual) and decide what, if anything to do about the chemical. They could even ask the teacher what DHMO was, but none did.

In the end, 43 students, or 86 percent of the sample, "voted to ban dihydrogen monoxide because it has caused too many deaths," wrote Nathan in the conclusion to his project, adding that he "was appalled that my peers were so easily misled. . . . I don't feel comfortable with the current level of understanding."

This is a prime example of how easily we can be indoctrinated through the media, advertisements, public service announcements, etc.

[Sparky-Watts]

Dang, that's old hat. I did a mock term paper on it when I was in high school. One of the very first emails I got when I got connected to the 'net in the early '90s was this one......zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

[90Xjay]

good one!

[SenorCole86]

Wow Sparky, longest sig I've ever seen. But that's a fricking awesome picture, I like it.

[Red Neckerson]

adding that he "was appalled that my peers were so easily misled. . . . I don't feel comfortable with the current level of understanding.
*********
I think thats how the name " sheeple" came about.


Hey Sparky,
That is a nice pic. Where was it taken at?

[TwistedCopper]

Originally Posted by Sparky-Watts

Dang, that's old hat. I did a mock term paper on it when I was in high school. One of the very first emails I got when I got connected to the 'net in the early '90s was this one......zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Obviously I am aware that the Dihydrogen Monoxide gag is about as old as they come,note the comment about the date in the first post but I just thought it so very relevant to todays society...


it is.

[Sparky-Watts]

Originally Posted by Red Neckerson

Hey Sparky,
That is a nice pic. Where was it taken at?

Took that at Cheney Lake during the ice storm of January '05.