Exploding Fridges Cause Earth Cancer

TODAY’S Media Scare Story comes, as ever, from the Daily Mail which tells readers that an “‘environmentally friendly’ fridge coolant” is causing fridges to explode. Earth Cancer!

Chris Brooke has more on the new fridge that does so much more than just keep things chilled:

Luckily no-one was hurt when Kathy Cullingworth’s fridge exploded but the damage bill was £10,000. A series of violent fridge explosions is believed to have been caused by leaks of ‘environmentally-friendly’ coolant.

Believed. While we investigate the science, Brooke says that Kathy’s entertaining fridge is one of many:

Safety standards for manufacturers might have to be reviewed following the blasts, which have destroyed several kitchens.

They might. Or else they might not. But how common is the exploding fridge, Chris?

At least four similar explosions have been reported in the last three years in the UK, two of them since May.

Read the rest of this entry »

Anorak

Posted: 1st, September 2009 | In: Reviews | Comments (3)

Swine Flu Victims Buried in Mass Graves

THE summer’s big media scare story continues to be swine flu. And the good thing about swine flu is that should it not kill us all, the media can say that it will when the weather turns colder, or hotter.

Now learn via the Daily Mail:

The government is planning to create a series of mass graves to cope with a second outbreak of swine flu in the autumn.

No, not for the pigs – for you:

A Home Office document warns that a mass burial site may be needed to cope with the potential crisis.

London’s O2 centre could be put to good use, and out of its misery. But can it see off the challenge presented by Swindon, a town that could do with the extra revenue raised by grieving relatives?

The Framework for Planners Preparing to Manage Deaths… discusses using “a grave that is for a number of unrelated persons, excavated mechanically in advance and designed for efficient preparation and use.”

Is the Large Hadron Collider working yet? We could export out dead to Switzerland, place of civic pride and assisted suicide?

The report also warned there may be a need for more “basic and shorter services at the chapel” or for “memorial services” to be held at a person’s home instead.

The mourners head to the place where the swine flu victim lived and died? Why not wait until they’re within and nail the door shut?

And sing German marching songs to keep spirits up..?

Spotters: June and Robert Carter in the forums…

As Newsweek’s Kate Dailey put sit:

You (Probably) Won’t Die From Swine Flu: Putting H1N1 in Perspective

What perspective?

Anorak

Posted: 20th, August 2009 | In: Reviews | Comments (10)