Text 6047, 60 rader
Skriven 2006-09-30 18:29:05 av Barbara McNay (1:382/48)
   Kommentar till text 6038 av MICHAEL LOO (1:123/140)
Ärende: shrimp etc. 331
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 >  BM> ISTR reading that poisoning the water supply of a large metropolis
 >  BM> would be difficult because of the sheer volume of water

 > That's truth, but there are other vulnerabilities:
 > physical ones such as pumping stations, dams, and
 > aqueducts, that are in relatively remote and (one
 > fears) unprotected areas, as well as psychological
 > ones - one could poison or infect a small water
 > supply and then just let the populace know that
 > al Qaeda or the KKK or someone is everywhere and
 > could strike at any time.

As if we need reminding.  There have been a lot of "someones" in the national
news, never mind the international.

 >  BM> A week ago Monday evening, the water pressure dropped in part of this
 >  BM> city because of the failure of an electronic distribution system for
 >  BM> part of a day.  Some residents and eight schools in the affected area
 >  BM> were told Tuesday morning to boil water.  The schools had to shut off
 >  BM> or cover their fountains and have water delivered.

 > Think of the dollar cost of this kind of problem and
 > then of the cost of a deliberate triggering of such
 > an event, or a worse one. There are problems here that
 > would cause troubles for the most vigilant of
 > societies
 > and great headaches for civil libertarians (such as
 > myself), because the obvious solution is cutting down
 > on privacy and freedoms in every way.

I wonder how much we as a nation have changed since I was a child, and why.
There has been a change, because I went all through my schooling without any
horrific threats, and I last went to school in 1981.  Now there is a lot of
distrust everywhere.  There are still decent people around, but they seem to be
rather a bit harder to find.

 >> What I wondered about most in that recipe was the
 >> claim that the "cheese" would last for years.
 >  BM> Oh, I wouldn't question that.  It simply would be more revolting, or
 >  BM> be mistaken for Halloween ornaments.

 > Oh, yes, frighten the kids by smell instead of sight.
 > A good way to save on Hallowe'en candy.

I gave up years ago on Halloween candy.  First, mindful of the threats of
poison or injury (you can get your candy x-rayed here), I started giving out
pennies, nickels, pencils, stuff like that.  After a while, though, I just
stopped.  I leave my light off and go read, and there are not many children
going through this neighborhood.  I don't know any of them or the neighbors.
What really began to turn me against it was a teenage boy and girl couple trick
or treating--were they mature enough to be dating, and, if so, why were they
trick or treating?--and one woman who carried around a clueless six-month-old
baby for treats.  I put a couple of pennies in the bag, and the woman peered at
me closely, looked in the bag, then looked at me again closely.  And I
wondered, if she was so suspicious, why did she even bother?  I hadn't the
slightest idea who she was.  Parties are recommended and held for the children
every year, and I'm all for them.

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 * Origin: T E X A S ! (1:382/48)