Status: Prank
Here's a
slight variation on the old
dihydrogen monoxide prank. The director of the Waterfront Park in Louisville, Ky placed signs around the fountains warning people of dangerously high levels of hydrogen in the water:
It seems authorities, tired of swimmers splashing around in the fountains and leery of the possibility of bacteria developing in the water, were hoping the public would be scared away by the foreboding signs — even though there was nothing amiss. David Karem, executive director of the Waterfront Development Corp., said he had the signs made in the hopes that a lack of understanding of the chemical makeup of water and the association of hydrogen to dangerous weapons such as the hydrogen bomb would keep the fountains people-free... Unfortunately for Karem, the hot summer days and a few good students have him fighting what he knows might be a losing battle.
I figure it's only a matter of time before someone sues him for emotional distress caused by the signs.
Comments
1. He issued a press release saying that not ALL scientists were convinced that hydrogen in water was dangerous.
2 He blamed Bill Clinton for the possible problem.
Her's a few suggestions: (with explanations)
Exposure signs
Warning exposure to fountain water...
may cause epidermal saturation. (wet skin)
may cause flare-ups in people suffering RAYNAUD'S SYNDROME. ( http://www.medic8.com/healthguide/articles/raynauds.html )
may cause follicular swelling. (hair absorbs water)
may result in apnea if head is submerged. (holding your breath)
Notices:
People suffering one or more of the following should avoid contact with fountain water:
Epilepsy, Narcolepsy, diarrhea, incontinence, STDs etc. etc...
Although the fountain water is regularly tested and cleaned, we cannot rule out the possibility that it may contain at one time or another trace amounts of:
E coliform bacteria
organic chlorides
insects, either living or decomposing
arsenic
lead
urine
fecal matter
disease causing organisms
litter, garbage or other human waste.
One or more of these should keep people out of the fountains. or maybe just a booth dispensing paper towels and hand sanitizer, prominently labeled "To be used in case of accidental exposure tp fountain contents"
(Anyone fancy a dip now?) })
"You're getting your stereotypes confused, it's Al Gore who always thinks all scientists agree with him."
No, you got the joke wrong. Bush likes to find the few scientists who support his view and act as if that means that there's a "controversy" about the issue. I mean, you COULD find a few people who think that the Earth is flat, but that doesn't really make the shape of the planet "controversial."
http://www.snopes.com/horrors/freakish/hippoeatsdwarf.asp
oxox
Contact with gaseous dihydrogen monoxide has been shown to cause thermal damage to the human dermis.
Excessive exposure to solid dihydrogen monoxide has also been shown to cause thermal damage to the human dermis.
All of these facts show that the UN should move IMMEDIATELY to protect the public from this dangerous chemical.
"And as anybody who has seen footage of the Hindenberg knows, lots of hydrogen can be rather a problem."
Yeah, but that was only because there was a massive amount of hydrogen in gaseous form.