Microwave Experiments Cause Sponge Disasters 517
gollum123 writes "Reports about a study that found microwave ovens can be used to sterilize kitchen sponges sent people hurrying to test the idea this week — with sometimes disastrous results. A team at the University of Florida found that two minutes in the microwave at full power could kill a range of bacteria, viruses and parasites on kitchen sponges. They described how they soaked the sponges in wastewater and then zapped them. But several experimenters evidently left out the crucial step of wetting the sponge. "Just wanted you to know that your article on microwaving sponges and scrubbers aroused my interest. However, when I put my sponge/scrubber into the microwave, it caught fire, smoked up the house, ruined my microwave, and pissed me off," one correspondent wrote in an e-mail to Reuters."
Incoming lawsuits in: (Score:5, Funny)
2
1
As they say (Score:5, Funny)
cat (Score:1, Funny)
lets be clear about this (Score:5, Funny)
He wasn't using one of those Sony battery-operated microwaves, was he?
What is he whining about? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:cat (Score:5, Funny)
Sounds like.... (Score:5, Funny)
Class Action Suit (Score:5, Funny)
Out of the $100 million that will be awarded, $80 million will go the lawyers, $10 million towards court fees, etc., and the class action plaintiffs awarded a $15 coupon each that can be redeemed for a Microwave at Wal-mart.
Re:stupidity (Score:5, Funny)
Re:cat (Score:1, Funny)
Ah, so that's why they throw witches in the lake before microwaving them.
Re:No matter what you do... (Score:4, Funny)
That bloody squarepants thing should be locked up too.
Re:You're being naive/optimistic (Score:4, Funny)
People don't understand microwaves. Expecting them to use their understanding of microwaves would be like asking President Bush to use his understanding of diplomacy.
Re:Incoming lawsuits in: (Score:5, Funny)
Actually it should be the opposite. Anyone who convinces the stupid to sterilize themselves or remove themselves from the gene pool through other means certainly deserves our hearty congratulations. In fact, they should be allowed to sue the stupid bastards they convinced to kill themselves.
I can see it now, billboards with signs saying: "a microwave is a great way to get a tan," "a blowtorch is a great way to thaw frozen pipes," and of course "it is cool to operate power tools--in the nude! Buy Budweiser!"
Truly, we need the stupid to start killing themselves again. With the advent of birth control, human evolution is starting to go backwards. In 100 years they will talk about the benevolent reign of George Bush the Wise.
Conversion error. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:You're being naive/optimistic (Score:5, Funny)
Applications accepted... (Score:1, Funny)
Sponges...............$1
Microwave.............$60
Reading the article...Free
Burning down your house because you didn't read the whole article.....NOT Priceless
Re:This just in... (Score:5, Funny)
If all else fails, read the instructions. (Score:5, Funny)
Perhaps if you can't follow all the instructions there are some things you really shouldn't be doing.
Not just the sponges.. (Score:1, Funny)
I don't think it's just the sponges that need sterilization...
Re:You're being naive/optimistic (Score:3, Funny)
TriPod11: bush ain't THAT bad...he kinda knows what he's doin
idaredbeet08: Please, Monica Lewenski had more President in her than George Bush ever will.
http://bash.org/?706281 [bash.org]
ROSPA has it right (Score:5, Funny)
I found it very reassuring that ROSPA ( Royal Society For The Prevention Of Accidents ) does its research so thoroughly before making announcements.
ironic for slashdot (Score:5, Funny)
Re:stupid posters (Score:2, Funny)
Dumbass.
Re:Ignorance != Stupidity (Score:5, Funny)
Evolution still at work (Score:2, Funny)
darwin awards? (Score:2, Funny)
Sounds like a college prank (Score:5, Funny)
When I was in college, someone took one of my coffee mugs, filled it up with Hershey's chocolate syrup, and put it in the microwave for 90 minutes. Then they left. As best as we can tell, the syrup first boiled over and filled up the bottom of the microwave. Eventually it hardened into a black crust and caught fire. That's when the fire alarm woke us up, you know -- it was three o'clock in the morning.
The microwave was ruined, and there was some damage to the cabinet. And I lost my favorite coffee mug too. But it's probably the best use for Hershey's chocolate syrup that I could think of (since it's pretty awful stuff).
Re:ironic for slashdot (Score:3, Funny)
Here's the reason why... (Score:2, Funny)
*ducks*
Re:Incoming lawsuits in: (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Incoming lawsuits in: (Score:4, Funny)
Perhaps, if they're clever, they could sterilize themselves with their microwave.
Re:People are just too damn stupid for their own g (Score:5, Funny)
-Al
Re:People are just too damn stupid for their own g (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Incoming lawsuits in: (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Incoming lawsuits in: (Score:3, Funny)
Eileen does not have to hoard the sponges! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:A bit silly? (Score:2, Funny)
Incoming humour in: (Score:1, Funny)
A small amount of humour is a dangerous thing. [creativehomeowner.com]
Why funny things are modded Informative (Score:5, Funny)
"Note that being moderated Funny doesn't help your karma."
Thus the reason that people will mod a Funny post Informative.
Re:Incoming lawsuits in: (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Class Action Suit (Score:5, Funny)
Re:How to really sterilise a sponge (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Incoming lawsuits in: (Score:3, Funny)
you want to call them doofuses (Score:2, Funny)
So he stuck it in there and pop! the paper explodes in flame. I yelled "what are you doing!?" and he said "you said it would be fine!"
I guess in a way this was my first experience in tech support: you can never be too clear.
Re:Incoming lawsuits in: (Score:2, Funny)
Which isn't saying your too stupid or poor to get into the college mind you.
and the principle didn't know what to do with him;
I don't mean to be a spelling/grammar Nazi, but this was just too hilarious!
Reverse psychology (Score:2, Funny)
People who try to apply reverse-psychology on moderators should be treated with -1, Provocation.