Scientists Fear Impact of Asian Pollutants On US 455
During the Olympics we discussed the international monitoring effort as China shut down factories and curtailed automobile travel in an attempt to reduce pollution. Now reader Anti-Globalism sends in a story that reveals that monitoring effort to be ongoing, with a bigger mandate: assessing the impact of China's pollution on the US. In fact the problem is bigger still because, as one researcher put it, "It's one atmosphere." Scientists are finding that pollution from, for example, Europe can travel right around the globe in three weeks. "By some estimates more than 10 billion pounds of airborne pollutants from Asia — ranging from soot to mercury to carbon dioxide to ozone — reach the US annually. The problem is only expected to worsen: Some Chinese officials have warned that pollution in their country could quadruple in the next 15 years. While some scientists are less certain, others say the Asian pollution could destabilize weather patterns across the North Pacific, mask the effects of global warming, reduce rainfall in the American West and compromise efforts to meet air-pollution standards."
They're not that bad (Score:5, Funny)
Asian pollutants come to the US without a penny in their pocket. Within a year, they usually have a thriving business.
Thankfully.... (Score:2, Funny)
China's pollution comming here? (Score:1, Funny)
Nuke 'em for orbit. It's the only way to be sure!
Re:Fortunately (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Fortunately (Score:4, Funny)
Everything is outsourced (Score:4, Funny)
Idea (Score:2, Funny)
Let's build a giant fan to blow it back.
Re:Fortunately (Score:3, Funny)
Scientists Fear Impact of Asian Prostitutes On US (Score:1, Funny)
San Fransisco, Sept. 2 - For years, Americans in this picturesque city have been able to follow their dreams of selling their bodies to strangers on the street. Prostitution has always thrived here, and has always provided a means for men and women from all walks of life to support their cocaine habits. That is, until the recent wave of Asian prostitutes decimated the local industry.
Asian prostitutes, unlike their American counterparts, don't have an expensive crack habit to feed on top of paying off a pimp; instead, they are essentially indentured servants, with all of their fees going directly to their handlers. This efficiency means the savings are passed on to the customer, resulting in competition that local prostitutes consider unfair.
"Who do these gook bitches think they are? They come here to our country, with their little tits and their slanty eyes, and all the johns go apeshit. I've been doing this for seventeen years, and all of the sudden I don't even have enough in my pockets for a couple of rocks", a local prostitute who wished to remain anonymous griped to researchers.
Especially hard-hit has been the transvestite prostitute community. "I put a lot of work into making myself look fabulous", said Candy, a local tranny prostitute who was born and raised in San Fransisco. "I used to do allright on the street. Now, you have these Oriental Ladyboys with tiny waists, effeminate cheekbones and no body hair. How am I supposed to compete with that?"
Re:Wow! (Score:3, Funny)
Slashdot seems to be very U.S.-centric. Do you have any plans to be more international in your scope?
Slashdot is U.S.-centric. We readily admit this, and really don't see it as a problem. Slashdot is run by Americans, after all, and the vast majority of our readership is in the U.S. We're certainly not opposed to doing more international stories, but we don't have any formal plans for making that happen. All we can really tell you is that if you're outside the U.S. and you have news, submit it, and if it looks interesting, we'll post it.
It is worth noting that there is a Japanese Slashdot run by VA Japan. While we helped them a little in their early days, they essentially run their own content without any real involvement from us... none of us can read Kanji! There are currently no plans to do other language or nation specific Slashdot sites.
Re:Fortunately (Score:2, Funny)