EU criminalises claiming that drinking water stops dehydration

[Morgoth]

Ego? Just stating the facts.

[Orogun01]

I guess it's more that people from over the rainbow never learned to read.

and guess that people from Rotten state assume too much

 

So please do clarify, is true or not that water hydrates the body?

[Rosbjerg]

So please do clarify, is true or not that water hydrates the body?

 

Yes.. and then please clarify this; does bottled water hydrate more than other water sources and is it ok for someone to imply that?

[Hurlshort]

The water out of an Austrian toilet is probably cleaner than drinking water in an average US household.

 

That's the impression you give me, guys.

 

Nah, it's just all you convicts have built up a stronger tolerance to bacteria living in the the real world equivalent of Mad Max's world.

[Gorth]

The water out of an Austrian toilet is probably cleaner than drinking water in an average US household.

 

That's the impression you give me, guys.

 

Nah, it's just all you convicts have built up a stronger tolerance to bacteria living in the the real world equivalent of Mad Max's world.

He's *Austrian* Hurlshot... not Australian

[Malcador]

Nah, it's just all you convicts have built up a stronger tolerance to bacteria living in the the real world equivalent of Mad Max's world.

 

Haha, brilliant mistake.

 

I can kind of understand the point of the ruling though.

Edited November 20, 2011 by Malcador

[Humodour]

Bottled water is a fairly wasteful nuisance to human society. At least in developed countries. It does have its uses in places like Africa, where it can provide an effective water sanitation (and storage) method in the form of solar sterilisation (put water in clear bottle, expose to sun, bacteria die).

[Cantousent]

Talk about a regulatory body in search of new and exciting things to regulate. How credulous do you have to be in order to take for granted that bottled water will hydrate you better than fountain or tap water? The number of people who might actually be fooled into such a belief is probably pretty minor, but some bureaucrat manages to stroke himself for a while, patting himself on the back thinking of how he's 'saved' the public from a statement that is not, on its face, fraudulent. The ban itself aims at the implication of the statement, not the literal veracity of it. How stupid can you get? I mean, I'm used to laughing at what a lot of folks around here post, but the number of otherwise reasonable people defending the regulation is real comedy.

 

Don't get me wrong about the claim itself. It

[Hurlshort]

The water out of an Austrian toilet is probably cleaner than drinking water in an average US household.

 

That's the impression you give me, guys.

 

Nah, it's just all you convicts have built up a stronger tolerance to bacteria living in the the real world equivalent of Mad Max's world.

He's *Austrian* Hurlshot... not Australian

 

Ooops! Is that a suburb of Germany?

[Humodour]

The water out of an Austrian toilet is probably cleaner than drinking water in an average US household.

 

That's the impression you give me, guys.

 

Nah, it's just all you convicts have built up a stronger tolerance to bacteria living in the the real world equivalent of Mad Max's world.

He's *Austrian* Hurlshot... not Australian

 

Ooops! Is that a suburb of Germany?

 

Um... seriously dude? Between confusing Austria and Australia and not knowing that Austria is a country (read up on the history of the World Wars, because Austria was the epicentre), you're not doing any favours to the stereotype of the US as ignorant and out of touch with reality.

 

Sorry, I don't mean to be overly harsh, but it seems to me that the Chaser weren't far off with this skit:

Edited November 20, 2011 by Krezack

[Morgoth]

God save America!

[Humodour]

Ooops! Is that a suburb of Germany?

 

It occurs to me that maybe you were poking fun at yourself and I took you seriously. My bad!

[Gorgon]

Bottled water is a fairly wasteful nuisance to human society. At least in developed countries. It does have its uses in places like Africa, where it can provide an effective water sanitation (and storage) method in the form of solar sterilisation (put water in clear bottle, expose to sun, bacteria die).

I wouldn't advise that unless you were in real trouble. The PPC in the plastic starts to disolve into the water in hot weather. That's why you should never leave a water bottle in a hot car.

[Gorth]

Ooops! Is that a suburb of Germany?

 

It occurs to me that maybe you were poking fun at yourself and I took you seriously. My bad!

That's what I suspected too, especially remembering this little golden nugget

(I REALLY WONDER HOW THE PEOPLE IN TOURISM REMAIN SANE??????)

 

Here are some of the classic questions being asked of the Sydney

Olympic Committee via their Web site, and some answers that may be

appropriate.

 

* I hear that all Australian women are beautiful. Is that true and if so, can you send me pictures of the available ones? (Italy)

(Sure, there's only 8 million of them)

 

* I want to go swimming at Bondi Beach on October 20th. Will I turn blue? (Germany)

(More likely brown, considering the effluent...)

 

* Does it ever get windy in Australia? I have never seen it rain on TV, so how do the plants grow? (UK)

(Upwards, out of the ground, like the person who asked this question, who themselves will need watering if their IQ drops any lower...)

 

* Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? (USA)

(Depends on how much beer you've consumed...)

 

* I plan to take some day trips during the Olympics. Which direction should I drive - Perth to Darwin or Darwin to Perth - to avoid driving with the sun in my eyes? (Germany)

(Excellent question, considering that the Olympics are being held in Sydney.)

 

* I want to walk from Perth to Sydney for the Olympics - can I follow the railroad tracks? (Sweden)

(Sure, it's only seven thousand miles, so you'll need to have started about a year and a half ago to get there in time for the Games...)

 

* Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Australia? (Sweden)

(And accomplish what?)

 

* It is imperative that I find the names and addresses of places to contact for a stuffed porpoise. (Italy)

(I'm not touching this one...)

 

* My client wants to take a steel pooper-scooper into Australia. Will you let her in? (South Africa)

(Why? We do have toilet paper here...)

 

* Are there any ATMs in Australia? Can you send me a list of them in Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville and Hervey Bay? (UK)

(No, and we use shells for money too)

 

* Where can I learn underwater welding in Australia? (Portugal)

(???)

 

* Do the camels in Australia have one hump or two? (UK)

(Depends if you get an ugly one or not...)

 

* Can I bring cutlery into Australia? (UK)

(Why bother? Use your fingers like the rest of us...)

 

* Do you have perfume in Australia? (France)

(No. Everybody stinks.)

 

* Do tents exist in Australia? (Germany)

(Yes, but only in sporting goods stores, peoples' garages, and most national parks...)

 

* Do you celebrate Christmas in Australia? (France)

(Yes. At Christmas.)

 

* Can I drive to the Great Barrier Reef? (Germany)

(Sure, if your vehicle is amphibious.)

 

* Are there killer bees in Australia? (Germany)

(Not yet, but we'll see what we can do when you get here.)

 

* Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia? (USA)

(What's this guy smoking, and where do I get some?)

 

* Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all year round? (Germany)

(A blonde?)

 

* Please send a list of all doctors in Australia who can dispense rattlesnake serum. (USA)

(Rattlesnakes? There is only serum for the Funnel Web and Red-Back Spiders. You will need to contend with White-Tail Spiders, Brown, Tiger and Red-Belly Black snakes, sharks, Red Kangaroos, Blue-ringed Octopuses and the 3am pub closing time/taxi change-over)

 

* Which direction is North in Australia? (USA)

(Face North and you should be about right)

 

* Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA)

(Americans have long had considerable trouble distinguishing between Austria and Australia.)

 

* I have a question about a famous animal in Australia, but I forget its name. It's a kind of bear and lives in trees. (USA)

(Another blonde?)

 

* I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Can you tell me where I can sell it in Australia? (USA)

(From Liz Taylor, perhaps?)

 

* Are there places in Australia where you can make love outdoors? (Italy)

(Yes. Outdoors.)

 

* I was in Australia in 1969 on R+R, and I want to contact the girl I dated while I was staying in Kings Cross. Can you help? (USA)

 

* Will I be able to speak English most places I go? (USA)

(Yes, except in America.)

 

Stereotypes should only be served accompanied by humour. My favourite of the kind is "Eurotrip" (Unrated version)

[Gorth]

On a completely related note, we should ban the use of Hydroxyl Acid

 

Dihydrogen monoxide:

 

* is called "hydroxyl acid", the substance is the major component of acid rain.

* contributes to the "greenhouse effect".

* may cause severe burns.

* is fatal if inhaled.

* contributes to the erosion of our natural landscape.

* accelerates corrosion and rusting of many metals.

* may cause electrical failures and decreased effectiveness of automobile brakes.

* has been found in excised tumors of terminal cancer patients.

 

Despite the danger, dihydrogen monoxide is often used:

 

* as an industrial solvent and coolant.

* in nuclear power plants.

* in the production of Styrofoam.

* as a fire retardant.

* in many forms of cruel animal research.

* in the distribution of pesticides. Even after washing, produce remains contaminated by this chemical.

* as an additive in certain "junk-foods" and other food products.

 

And even worse, it's sold in plastic containers creating mountains in landfills and using up valuable energy reserves in its manufacture.

[Morgoth]

Ooops! Is that a suburb of Germany?

Funny.

 

You wanna experience a true German suburb in it's truest sense, I recommend visiting Berlin and it's vicinity.

[Gorgon]

I kind of get it. They think 'Austrians' come from 'Australia'. It sounds plausible if you don't know anything to begin with.

[Walsingham]

Sweet Jesus. Talk about playing up to the stereotype that the rest of the world are arrogant ****ers. As if Hurlshot didn't actually know?!!

 

ON TOPIC, agree with Cant. If they want to regulate for waste fine. But this is an unrelated claim. Of course, having no democratic accountability why SHOUDLN'T they regulate everything? Like soft-drinks, which likewise produce waste and take up scarce water, or beer which uses grain and is insensitive to teetotallers.

 

I'm quite startled to note that no-one seems bothered by the fact that this is a non-democratic body reaching down from Mount Brussels* to penalise subordinate member state citizens and companies, over-riding elected assemblies.

 

 

*Feel free to ridicule my geography, since you enjoy it so much.

Edited November 20, 2011 by Walsingham

[Gorgon]

Now who's playing into the stereotype that EU is tyrannical and undemocratic. It's more democratic than it has ever been.

[Hurlshort]

Misreading Australia for Austria is a pretty simple mistake to make, and I fess up to that. But Krezack thinking I don't know the difference between the two countries is a bit disheartening

[Morgoth]

Obama did just an Anschluss of Australia?

 

I wonder how many people misread that one...

[Cantousent]

Do they celebrate Christmas in Australia?

 

 

Yes, at Christmas. I laughed out loud.

 

Some of those questions weren't really all that silly. I mean, you could take the question about cutlery in the context of customs and security. ie Can I bring knives in my checked luggage or should I ship it? Of course, how special does your cutlery have to be that you have to bring it with you on vacation? Makes me think of Locke on LOST.

 

Oh, damn, on topic, the regulation is completely retarded, wrongminded, tyrannical, and even destructive inasmuch as it is indicative of over-regulation in an area that needs to spur growth at the moment.

Edited November 20, 2011 by Cantousent

[Humodour]

Misreading Australia for Austria is a pretty simple mistake to make, and I fess up to that. But Krezack thinking I don't know the difference between the two countries is a bit disheartening

 

I apologised shortly after when I realised you were joking!

 

Bottled water is a fairly wasteful nuisance to human society. At least in developed countries. It does have its uses in places like Africa, where it can provide an effective water sanitation (and storage) method in the form of solar sterilisation (put water in clear bottle, expose to sun, bacteria die).

I wouldn't advise that unless you were in real trouble. The PPC in the plastic starts to disolve into the water in hot weather. That's why you should never leave a water bottle in a hot car.

 

I completely agree that most plastics shouldn't be exposed to heat or UV or corrosive chemicals because plasticisers and monomer units often leach out, and they're often carcinogenic and more. Even avoiding these things, the polymer will simply break down into its often carcinogenic monomers over time, so re-using water bottles for example isn't as smart an idea as one might think.

 

Then again, we're talking about use by people who often won't live long enough to experience cancer in the first place, so I'm not sure that concern about them using plastic water bottles is the highest priority.

 

Not sure what PPC is, though. Haven't heard of it. Did you mean phthalates (often used as plasticisers)?

 

Frankly I find it kind of appalling that society has so strongly embraced plastics in food and health products. We simply don't have life-time studies to show they're safe, and we have quite a bit of evidence to suggest the opposite - that plastic monomers and additives leach out into their product and environment and then bioaccumulate in the human body over the years, eventually reaching levels that cause birth defects, cancer, endocrine problems, neural problems, etc.

 

This keyboard that I type on constantly - plastic. My toothbrush - plastic. My toothpaste container - plastic. Juice bottles - plastic. Eating utensils - often plastic. Water bottles - plastic. Bed sheets - often plastic. Clothes - often plastic. Gets a bit scary when you consider how much plastic is actually in our lives. I'm finding it hard to avoid.

[Walsingham]

If I may make a gentle suggestion, stress is a known factor in lots of medical badness. Stressing yourself out over plastic may be killing you even if the plastic harmless.

[Humodour]

If I may make a gentle suggestion, stress is a known factor in lots of medical badness. Stressing yourself out over plastic may be killing you even if the plastic harmless.

 

I don't stress, Wals. Rather than trying to diagnose me over the Internet it might be worth considering the point I just made. Society has a very long history of acting first and thinking later - global warming, acid rain, soil erosion, invasive species, cigarettes, leaded petrol, thalidomide, hole in the ozone layer.

 

There are some simple ways to cut down on exposure to plastic in your life, such as buying juices and tomato sauce in glass rather than plastic bottles, avoiding plastic blenders, tupperware plates, etc. Artificial polymers are simple to avoid in many cases (and where they're not not, you get over it), so I would suggest not caring about it is the more foolish course of action.