Originally posted by PackRat:
SoCal city falls victim to Internet hoax, considers banning items made with water

Associated Press


ALISO VIEJO, Calif. - City officials were so concerned about the potentially dangerous properties of dihydrogen monoxide that they considered banning foam cups after they learned the chemical was used in their production.

Then they learned that dihydrogen monoxide - H2O for short - is the scientific term for water.

"It's embarrassing," said City Manager David J. Norman. "We had a paralegal who did bad research."

The paralegal apparently fell victim to one of the many official looking Web sites that have been put up by pranksters to describe dihydrogen monoxide as "an odorless, tasteless chemical" that can be deadly if accidentally inhaled.

As a result, the City Council of this Orange County suburb had been scheduled to vote next week on a proposed law that would have banned the use of foam containers at city-sponsored events. Among the reasons given for the ban were that they were made with a substance that could "threaten human health and safety."

The measure has been pulled from the agenda, although Norman said the city may still eventually ban foam cups.

"Our main concern is with the Aliso Creek watershed," Norman said. "If you get Styrofoam into the water and it breaks apart, it's virtually impossible to clean up."





You can go ahead and trash Cali. all you want but I have been to 27 states and there isn't one I would rather live in than California. Especially New Mexico. I've been there and I guess if you choose to have no social life it's alright. Pack you act like New Mexico is the s**t. It isn't. So please get off your high horse. Just cause one paralegal made a mistake you feel it is alright to trash the state. You really need to be checked. California's is the largest economy in the nation and with out it the nation would feel a big hurt. So please STFU.

Disclaimer: I'm a bit drunk, but I have really got sick of this California bashing. Talk all the s**t you want but out of the other 26 states I've been in I would not live any where else so just check your jealouslly at the door, thank you.