China Races To Clean Up Olympic Air 362
Hugh Pickens writes "With the Olympics due to start in less than three weeks, Beijing is cranking up antipollution measures by yanking cars off the roads, expanding mass transit and staggering work hours in a bid to meet its pledge of a 'green' Olympics. Beijing has gone on a spending spree, relocating factories, seeding clouds, retiring old vehicles, planting millions of trees and halting building construction amid concerns that athletes and visitors could suffer breathing problems. For the next two months, owners of 3.3 million private cars can drive only on alternate days in China's capital, based on whether the last digit of their license plates is even or odd. Environmental and sports performance experts have cast doubt on the effectiveness of the measures taken so far. 'Arguably these are all short-term measures, just designed to control air quality for the time when the Olympics are on,' says Dr Andy Jones. Dr Angus Hunter warned that athletes are at risk for low performance if the air quality cannot be brought down to acceptable levels. 'Average times could be lower and the chances of records being broken become less. It's a bit like trying to exercise in a room when the gym is full of smokers.'"
Chairman Mao says take the bus! (Score:5, Funny)
American athletes should not wear masks. (Score:2, Funny)
If the whole world sees American athletes dressed up with goofy masks, they will see the USA as a bunch of sissies, especially if the Chinese -don't-.
Re:American athletes should not wear masks. (Score:5, Funny)
Yeah, 'cause real men get pollution-related lung cancer!
Cween Up You Aiw (Score:0, Funny)
Re:Chairman Mao says take the bus! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Black wind (Score:5, Funny)
But how are they going to stop the sand storms coming from Mongolia?
50 million chinese blowing the other way.
A CITY WALL! (Score:5, Funny)
NOW I GOTTA BUILD CITY WALL TO KEEP CITY BUILDINGS CLEAN OR CITY PEOPLE GONNA COMPLAIN! GODDAMN MONGORIANS!!!
(string of text to get around caps filter, asdfbvukavfkavukabuywerbvfyabsvsdbfjkdhafbukaddfbwdfghweynetuakfukyvbuaaaf)
Re:License plates (Score:5, Funny)
rj
gym full of smokers (Score:5, Funny)
well it depends on what their smoking, a bit of crack/crystal meth or pcp may actually give them a boost.
I'm all for setting up this alternative drugie Olympics, if altitude training is ok, or lifting weights then why not a crack pipe.
Space Vacuum (Score:5, Funny)
With people considering a space elevator, why not consider a space vacuum cleaner? A long tube with one end in space and the other split like, say, a flying spaghetti monster, with multiple ends to suck up particulates. And little dogs.
Re:Just now? (Score:4, Funny)
I am not an expert on large power plants (in fact I know next to nothing about them which is why I'm posting here on Slashdot) but I'd be pretty surprised if you could just take an coal fired powerplant and just plug a diesel tanker into it. If your idea were true, you should see huge changes around the plants - construction of the tanks for one thing as diesel just doesn't form nice large piles like coal does.
Take the tin-foil off, you'll feel better.
Re:Just now? (Score:5, Funny)
The residents of Beijing just need to inhale deeply just before the games end and hold it for the rest of their lives.
Problem solved!
I need new glasses, I thought it said... (Score:3, Funny)
I couldn't see how that would help the air quality. I guess the word "temporarily" should have clued me in.
Re:Chairman Mao says take the bus! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Chairman Mao says take the bus! (Score:3, Funny)
With all apologies to Eddie Izzard and Chairman Mao:
Little Red Bus Pass!
Little Red Bus Pass!
Little Red Bus Pass!
Re:Environmental Wackos (Score:5, Funny)
Living the the US is barely tolerable and people die constantly
Gee, that is bad. Over here in the UK, people only die once.
Re:Chairman Mao says take the bus! (Score:4, Funny)
Such propoganda posters are often artistic works, not photographs.
Wait, are you saying Jesus didn't pose for the Buddy Christ [dogma-movie.com]?
Re:Chairman Mao says take the bus! (Score:5, Funny)
woooosh!
Ha! The whoosh is on you! My post was a joke.
For small values of joke.
Re:Environmental Wackos (Score:2, Funny)
I kinda take offence when people try to make general comments racist.
POOL'S CLOSED
Re:American athletes should not wear masks. (Score:3, Funny)
Like the old saying: anyone can quit smoking; it takes a real man to face cancer.
Factories (Score:3, Funny)
Well you should read the article; they tried to move the factories but they couldn't find them because of the smog!!
Re:Just now? (Score:1, Funny)
You inhale deeply in Beijing, and it'll turn out to be your last breath anyways ;)
Re:Chairman Mao says take the bus! (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Just now? (Score:1, Funny)
What!?!?! That's ridiculous!
Everybody knows that the failure of the Kyoto protocol was all part of a vast right wing conspiracy to destroy the environment! They do it because they are teh eval!
How dare you suggest that there might have been rational reasons that were readily apparent to anyone who looked beyond the end of their own nose!
Re:Space Vacuum (Score:3, Funny)
It's been done [ladyofthecake.com]
Re:uh, wtf? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Just now? (Score:3, Funny)
The US: We're not over-polluting, we're under-overpopulated!
That depends if you are counting number of people or pounds of flesh...
Re:American athletes should not wear masks. (Score:1, Funny)