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Dihydrogen Monoxide (was Re: Chemicals (was Re: potatoes))

At 02:12 PM 3/12/98 -0400, Richard Callwood III wrote:
>At 07:45 PM 3/11/98 -0600, meistrel@nwark.com (Kathleen Meistrell) wrote:
>>        Organically grown in my book means no chemicals used.
>
>This is straying off the square foot theme a bit, but it is relevant to
>gardening in general.  It would be well to define what you mean by
>"chemical" so we know exactly what you're talking about.  After all, organic
>gardeners and farmers use a chemical called "dihydrogen monoxide" all the
>time.  


Oh NO!!!  Not Dihydrogen Monoxide!!!

A freshman at Eagle Rock Junior High won first prize at the Greater Idaho
Falls Science Fair, April 26[1].  He was attempting to show how conditioned
we have become to the alarmists practicing junk science and spreading fear
of everything in our environment.  In his project he urged people to sign a
petition demanding strict control or total elimination of the chemical
"dihydrogen monoxide."  And for plenty of good reasons, since it can:
    1. cause excessive sweating and vomiting
    2. it is a major component in acid rain
    3. it can cause severe burns in its gaseous state
    4. accidental inhalation can kill you
    5. it contributes to erosion
    6. it decreases effectiveness of automobile brakes
    7. it has been found in tumors of terminal cancer patients
 
He asked 50 people if they supported a ban of the chemical.  Forty-three
said yes, six were undecided, and only one knew that the chemical was
water.  The title of his prize winning project was, "How Gullible Are We?"
He feels the conclusion is obvious.   
 
[1] believed to be 1997, I can't find any web references to this project
prior to mid 1997 and a LOT of reference mid and late 1997.

jc

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