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10/16/07

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FearTheReaper

FearTheReaper

NEWSWIRE

I'm lost

OCT 07, 2007 12:41 AM





The Environmental Protection Agency wants to kill our unborn babies and watch us mutate. That is the only reason I can come up with that explains the agency's decision to allow a new pesticide, methyl iodide, to be used on crops. The decision seems to go against why the agency was created in the first place, but hey, we're living in the Bush years. Up is now down.



The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and the environment. Since 1970, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people.



Okay, so explain this:



Methyl iodide is a neurotoxin and carcinogen that has caused thyroid tumors, neurological damage and miscarriages in lab animals.



Yep, we definitely should get that shit out there. I don't know what could possibly go wrong. The EPA can't say there weren't warned. Last month, 54 scientists, including 5 Nobel laureates, sent a letter that included a scary message.



Pregnant women and the fetus, children, the elderly, farm workers and other people living near application sites would be at serious risk.



The pesticide will be used mainly for strawberry fields in California and Florida. Methyl iodide will replace methyl bromide, which can no longer be used because it damages the ozone layer. That leads one to the obvious question: Why do strawberries hate us?



The EPA disagrees with the scientists and has approved the pesticide to be used for one year. The agency will also create "buffer zones" to protect neighbors and farm hands. I'm going to go out a limb here and say that if something needs a "buffer zone," then I don't want it used.



"We are confident that by conducting such a rigorous analysis and developing highly restrictive provisions governing its use, there will be no risks of concern," EPA Assistant Administrator Jim Gulliford.



Methyl iodide will be sold under the name Midas, in what may be the most ironic name of all time. Midas has been approved for use on strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, ornamentals, turf, trees and vines. The pesticide is injected into soil before crops are planted. It kills insects and diseases without leaving a residue on crops, but can evaporate and drift into neighborhoods and groundwater.



Thankfully, Midas would still need to be approved by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, an agency that is a bit harsher with approvals than the EPA. Hopefully, California will make a more educated decision than the EPA, because I don't want my DNA to mutate.



Robert Bergman, the Gerald E. K. Branch Distinguished Professor at UC Berkeley's chemistry department explained why Midas is very, very bad.



It is potentially really toxic, and it's certainly very reactive. From what we know about its chemistry, we know this stuff reacts with DNA. It mutates it. So it's prudent to be as careful as you can with it.



I'd like to take a pass on the mutation thing. I'd also like to kick someone at the EPA in the nuts. The scientists actually went to the EPA for a meeting to explain why Midas was bad news, but the EPA had already made their decision.



I don't know what the motivation is to get this stuff approved so fast. If there is any possibility that it would be dangerous, do you not approve it, or do you approve it and then decide, after something happens, to change your mind? There is serious potential for accidents.



Yeah, but the EPA had a "thorough analyses" that lasted four years. Also, the company that makes Midas used to have a guy named Elin Miller as their chief executive. He now is a top official at the…EPA. Hi, George Bush! I thought your filthy little hands would pop up somewhere! George is big on putting people from the corporate world into positions that are supposed to protect us from the corporate world. The manufacturer spent $11 million over eight years attempting to get Midas approved. Turns out they only had to call their buddy, George.



The results are obvious. Now we will live in this world.





starblood

starblood

Horsham, PA
March 2006

OCT 07, 2007 10:39 AM

Strawberry fields forever.

committedsavage

committedsavage

Seattle, WA
July 2006

OCT 07, 2007 10:45 AM

Corporate feudalism strikes again. skull

Tigerwong

Tigerwong

Baltimore, MD
February 2005

OCT 07, 2007 10:59 AM

Go organic, y'all.

TheFox

TheFox

Carrboro, NC
February 2006

OCT 07, 2007 11:02 AM

...it's got what plants crave...

AshenLight

AshenLight

USA
October 2005

OCT 07, 2007 11:03 AM

Is there anyone who truly believes that any of the fox in the hen house three letter acronym agencies are actually "in business" to look out for the citizenry anymore? I'm almost shocked that there hasn't been an effort to bring back DDT... hell, it's cheap and it works.

Trahern

Trahern

United Kingdom
March 2003

OCT 07, 2007 11:13 AM

You should be eating British strawberries anyway.

JamesCole

JamesCole

I'm lost
July 2007

OCT 07, 2007 11:30 AM

I see you left out the part of the EPA's studies that showed that the levels people would be exposed to were well below what would lead to the effects you mention. Wouldn't want that to get in the way of a balanced presentation of the issue, would we?

BlastProcessing

BlastProcessing

Knoxville, TN
OLD SKOOL

OCT 07, 2007 11:37 AM

JamesCole said:
I see you left out the part of the EPA's studies that showed that the levels people would be exposed to were well below what would lead to the effects you mention. Wouldn't want that to get in the way of a balanced presentation of the issue, would we?



You know that part where people for years have been saying that this isn't CNN?

AshenLight

AshenLight

USA
October 2005

OCT 07, 2007 11:46 AM

JamesCole said:
I see you left out the part of the EPA's studies that showed that the levels people would be exposed to were well below what would lead to the effects you mention. Wouldn't want that to get in the way of a balanced presentation of the issue, would we?



Looks like it heads right for the liver. I wonder if the effects could be, um, cumulative? No, probably not, the EPA would never make a mistake like that whatever

OhSoOrdinary

OhSoOrdinary

New York, NY
July 2006

OCT 07, 2007 11:51 AM

This article makes me happy. Why? Because there is a strawberry field three block south of a middle school in my home town. I'm excited for the potential of this chemical to be used on that strawberry field, migrate into the canal that runs parallel to it and the middle school and turn all of those pesky chirruns into flipper babies. Fuck yes. Flipper babies.

AshenLight

AshenLight

USA
October 2005

OCT 07, 2007 11:54 AM

OhSoOrdinary said:
This article makes me happy. Why? Because there is a strawberry field three block south of a middle school in my home town. I'm excited for the potential of this chemical to be used on that strawberry field, migrate into the canal that runs parallel to in and the midle school and turn all of those pesky chirrun into flipper babie. Fuck yes. Flipper babies.



Hey, relax. The EPA said it's safe...

wadewalker

wadewalker

Toronto, ON
November 2003

OCT 07, 2007 11:57 AM

But what if the mutations cause cool superpowers? tongue

Johnny_Flapjacks

Johnny_Flapjacks

Williamsport, PA
September 2006

OCT 07, 2007 12:05 PM

AshenLight said:
Is there anyone who truly believes that any of the fox in the hen house three letter acronym agencies are actually "in business" to look out for the citizenry anymore? I'm almost shocked that there hasn't been an effort to bring back DDT... hell, it's cheap and it works.



Be patient, we're getting to that.

FearTheReaper

FearTheReaper

NEWSWIRE

I'm lost

OCT 07, 2007 12:10 PM

JamesCole said:
I see you left out the part of the EPA's studies that showed that the levels people would be exposed to were well below what would lead to the effects you mention. Wouldn't want that to get in the way of a balanced presentation of the issue, would we?



Really great point. Turns out I'm not a five year old and can see bullshit when I read it. I'll go with the 54 scientists and nobel laureates over the guy who used to work for the company.

Why don't you move next to a stawberry field to show your support?

AshenLight

AshenLight

USA
October 2005

OCT 07, 2007 12:14 PM

Johnny_Flapjacks said:

AshenLight said:
Is there anyone who truly believes that any of the fox in the hen house three letter acronym agencies are actually "in business" to look out for the citizenry anymore? I'm almost shocked that there hasn't been an effort to bring back DDT... hell, it's cheap and it works.



Be patient, we're getting to that.



Oh good, I was afraid they'd stick with their original ban. I see the logic though, next to cancer I suppose West Nile is like a runny nose. I say we should bring back xray machines in shoe stores too...

Zarth

Zarth

Seattle, WA
December 2004

OCT 07, 2007 12:17 PM

FearTheReaper said:

JamesCole said:
I see you left out the part of the EPA's studies that showed that the levels people would be exposed to were well below what would lead to the effects you mention. Wouldn't want that to get in the way of a balanced presentation of the issue, would we?


Really great point. Turns out I'm not a five year old and can see bullshit when I read it. I'll go with the 54 scientists and nobel laureates over the guy who used to work for the company.

Why don't you move next to a stawberry field to show your support?


I'm sure he's devastated by your witty repartee.

FearTheReaper

FearTheReaper

NEWSWIRE

I'm lost

OCT 07, 2007 12:24 PM

Zarth said:

FearTheReaper said:

JamesCole said:
I see you left out the part of the EPA's studies that showed that the levels people would be exposed to were well below what would lead to the effects you mention. Wouldn't want that to get in the way of a balanced presentation of the issue, would we?


Really great point. Turns out I'm not a five year old and can see bullshit when I read it. I'll go with the 54 scientists and nobel laureates over the guy who used to work for the company.

Why don't you move next to a stawberry field to show your support?


I'm sure he's devastated by your witty repartee.



Jesus, did that make me laugh.

semiretiredpunk

semiretiredpunk

Evansville, IN
March 2007

OCT 07, 2007 12:40 PM

So, lets get this straight- To Conservatives:
Voluntary Abortions=Bad
Involuntary Abortions=Good
If you don't CHOOSE for your fetus to die, it's ok, especially if there's money to be made that will eventually make it's way into republican coffers. Besides, there's a lot of liberals in California, and who cares if they can't reproduce?

Tyvron

Tyvron

Ann Arbor, MI
September 2007

OCT 07, 2007 12:44 PM

AshenLight said:
Is there anyone who truly believes that any of the fox in the hen house three letter acronym agencies are actually "in business" to look out for the citizenry anymore? I'm almost shocked that there hasn't been an effort to bring back DDT... hell, it's cheap and it works.



No it doesn't. Besides being highly toxic to humans and wildlife, DDT was also taken out of circulation because it began to lose effectiveness against insects, which have much shorter life cycles and can thus adapt much quicker.

AshenLight said:
Looks like it heads right for the liver. I wonder if the effects could be, um, cumulative? No, probably not, the EPA would never make a mistake like that whatever



Do you know how many cumulative things there are in nature that are toxic to humans? You should probably stop eating fish and seafood (especialy predatory ones) now since they accumulate mercury in their bodies. The Sun bombards you with stellar radiation daily, not to mention all the other cosmic rays passing through the galaxies. There's probably plenty of particulate matter, NOx or sulfur compounds building up in your lungs too if you live in an urban area. You wash your clothes and dishes with detergent? Do you use soap? Yep, those carry an incremental cancer risk as well.

Your DNA is mutating every day regardless of what they pump unto a field of crops. While I'm not advocating pesticides per se, used responisibly it isn't going to turn us into a race of Morlocks.

AshenLight

AshenLight

USA
October 2005

OCT 07, 2007 12:53 PM

Tyvron said:

AshenLight said:
Is there anyone who truly believes that any of the fox in the hen house three letter acronym agencies are actually "in business" to look out for the citizenry anymore? I'm almost shocked that there hasn't been an effort to bring back DDT... hell, it's cheap and it works.



No it doesn't. Besides being highly toxic to humans and wildlife, DDT was also taken out of circulation because it began to lose effectiveness against insects, which have much shorter life cycles and can thus adapt much quicker.

AshenLight said:
Looks like it heads right for the liver. I wonder if the effects could be, um, cumulative? No, probably not, the EPA would never make a mistake like that whatever



Do you know how many cumulative things there are in nature that are toxic to humans? You should probably stop eating fish and seafood (especialy predatory ones) now since they accumulate mercury in their bodies. The Sun bombards you with stellar radiation daily, not to mention all the other cosmic rays passing through the galaxies. There's probably plenty of particulate matter, NOx or sulfur compounds building up in your lungs too if you live in an urban area. You wash your clothes and dishes with detergent? Do you use soap? Yep, those carry an incremental cancer risk as well.

Your DNA is mutating every day regardless of what they pump unto a field of crops. While I'm not advocating pesticides per se, used responisibly it isn't going to turn us into a race of Morlocks.




Okay, that does it. I'm staying in the house, not bathing and wearing an aluminum foil suit. Will I be safe then?

Skywisdom

Skywisdom

Portland, OR
December 2005

OCT 07, 2007 12:58 PM

So...what would happen if a spider was there when they put down the chemicals, and was MUTATED, and then I was there on a field trip and got bit by it?

That's it. I'm going to make sure that this ban doesn't happen, and then hang around in strawberry fields putting spiders on myself GODAMMIT!

BlastProcessing

BlastProcessing

Knoxville, TN
OLD SKOOL

OCT 07, 2007 01:07 PM

AshenLight said:

Tyvron said:

AshenLight said:
Is there anyone who truly believes that any of the fox in the hen house three letter acronym agencies are actually "in business" to look out for the citizenry anymore? I'm almost shocked that there hasn't been an effort to bring back DDT... hell, it's cheap and it works.



No it doesn't. Besides being highly toxic to humans and wildlife, DDT was also taken out of circulation because it began to lose effectiveness against insects, which have much shorter life cycles and can thus adapt much quicker.

AshenLight said:
Looks like it heads right for the liver. I wonder if the effects could be, um, cumulative? No, probably not, the EPA would never make a mistake like that whatever



Do you know how many cumulative things there are in nature that are toxic to humans? You should probably stop eating fish and seafood (especialy predatory ones) now since they accumulate mercury in their bodies. The Sun bombards you with stellar radiation daily, not to mention all the other cosmic rays passing through the galaxies. There's probably plenty of particulate matter, NOx or sulfur compounds building up in your lungs too if you live in an urban area. You wash your clothes and dishes with detergent? Do you use soap? Yep, those carry an incremental cancer risk as well.

Your DNA is mutating every day regardless of what they pump unto a field of crops. While I'm not advocating pesticides per se, used responisibly it isn't going to turn us into a race of Morlocks.




Okay, that does it. I'm staying in the house, not bathing and wearing an aluminum foil suit. Will I be safe then?



Aluminum has been linked to Alzheimer's.

Valeyard

Valeyard

Shreveport, LA
January 2005

OCT 07, 2007 01:21 PM

I for one welcome our new mutant super-powered overlords...

Tyvron

Tyvron

Ann Arbor, MI
September 2007

OCT 07, 2007 01:39 PM

AshenLight said:
Okay, that does it. I'm staying in the house, not bathing and wearing an aluminum foil suit. Will I be safe then?



I don't know. Depends on if you have asbestos or do regular radon screening. And who KNOWS what's lingering in your tap water. It might also help if you stand a few feet away from the microwave and don't sit too close to your computer and TV.

VenimenB7 said:
I for one welcome our new mutant super-powered overlords...



As long as they don't build Vats to dip us all in to ensure their "Unity," I'll have no problem with them.

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