A freshman at Eagle Rock Junior High won first prize at the Greater Idaho Falls Science Fair last April. 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" with the following information sheet:

BAN DIHYDROGEN MONOXIDE! THE INVISIBLE KILLER

Dihydrogen monoxide is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and kills uncounted thousands of people every year. Most of these deaths are caused by accidental inhalation of DHMO, but the dangers of dihydrogen monoxide do not end there. Prolonged exposure to its solid form causes severe tissue damage. Symptoms of DHMO ingestion can include excessive sweating and urination, and possibly a bloated feeling, nausea, vomiting and body electrolyte imbalance. For those who have become dependent, DHMO withdrawal means certain death.

Dihydrogen monoxide:

• causes excessive sweating and vomiting
• it is a major component in acid rain
• accelerates corrosion and rusting of many metals.
• it can cause severe burns in its gaseous state
• accidental inhalation can kill you
• it contributes to erosion
• it may cause electrical failures and decreases effectiveness of automobile brakes
• it has been found in tumors of terminal cancer patients
• contributes to the "greenhouse effect."

He asked 50 people to support a ban on dihydrogen monoxide. Forty-three said yes, six were undecided, and only one knew that the chemical "DHMO" is water. The title of his prize winning project was, "How Gullible Are We?" The conclusion is obvious.

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