Another WW-I Chemical Site In Washington, DC 249
WrongSizeGlass writes "The AP is reporting that the US Army Corps of Engineers has uncovered what appears to be the fourth major disposal area for World War I-era munitions and chemical weapons in the nation's capital. Digging was suspended at a construction site after 'workers pulled smoking glassware from the pit — preliminary tests show the glassware was contaminated with the toxic chemical arsenic trichloride. ... Workers also discovered a jar about three-quarters full of a dark liquid that turned out to be the chemical agent mustard.' Someone needs to remind our government of the meaning of NIMBY."
asinine (Score:5, Informative)
NIMBY? (Score:5, Informative)
The area was the Government's back-yard at the time, and the actual home where the munitions were found is Federal property today, so I think the NIMBY tag is misapplied.
There was a chemical weapons lab at American University during the first world war, and they apparently also were testing the weapons delivery systems, and fired all kinds of nasty stuff into what was then vacant land.
Which is not to say that it's OK, of course, only that it's a documentation and clean-up FAIL, and not really a NIMBY FAIL.
Also, I was surprised to see the article actually did refer to "smoking glassware", I had assumed that was an alarmist mis-interpretation of "smoked glass", but apparently they did find "smoking and fuming glassware".
The meaning of NIMBY (Score:5, Informative)
I thought the meaning of NIMBY was, "Yes, I agree that our town needs a new trash dump/electrical plant/sewage plant/prison, but Not In My Back Yard.
Put it on the Black/Poor side of town.
That is, historically, the meaning of NIMBY.
Re:leave healthcare in the hands of corporations (Score:3, Informative)
Re:mustard is a chemical agent? (Score:3, Informative)
Everybody was preparing for the war back then. Everybody.
Re:asinine (Score:4, Informative)
Re:mustard is a chemical agent? (Score:5, Informative)
Blackadder: George, the British Empire at present covers a quarter of the globe, while the German Empire consists of a small sausage factory in Tanganyika. I hardly think we can be entirely absolved from blame on the imperialistic front.
Blackadder: You see, Baldrick, in order to prevent a war in Europe, two super blocs developed: us, the French and the Russians on one side; and the Germans and Austro-Hungary on the other. The idea was to have two vast, opposing armies, each acting as the other's deterrent. That way, there could never be a war.
Baldrick: Except, well, this is sort of a war, isn't it?
Blackadder: That's right. There was one tiny flaw in the plan.
George: Oh, what was that?
Blackadder: It was bollocks.
Re:Saddam's WMDs Found! (Score:4, Informative)
http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/iraq/tuwaitha.htm [globalsecurity.org]
http://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/168/37640.html [globalpolicy.org]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2856647.stm [bbc.co.uk]
http://www.mediamonitors.net/gowans36.html [mediamonitors.net]
That should get you started. Learn to use a search engine AC.
Re:I've got a genius idea (Score:5, Informative)
The problem is that we didn't just have a vote for the government to take over health care. If we did, there might be some hope.
You're right. Instead, we had an election where we (overwhelmingly) voted for a party that touted HCR as a huge portion of its platform. Shame on them for following through on their promises!
Re:mustard is a chemical agent? (Score:5, Informative)
At least credit Wilfred Owen for his work, "Dulce et Decorum Est".
The First World War poets turned out some amazing work. I prefer Siegfried Sassoon, who is well worth reading,