Guest guest Posted May 30, 2002 Report Share Posted May 30, 2002 I'm glad I don't even own any plastic dishes. Have never used plastic or paper in the microwave either. How lucky can I be ? Thanks Max for the info. Emmi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 18, 2003 Report Share Posted October 18, 2003 It seems evident to me by the awful and pathetic taste and texture of microwaved food that lots of stuff is destroyed in the microwave that isn't in other forms of cooking. You might want to check the archives. There have been a couple things posted, but they're quite old, so you'd have to go back a bit. There's one very long article that someone, maybe Liz, posted about a year ago. The microwave doesn't just destroy stuff, but creates compounds that don't otherwise exist, unless your food is irradiated. I haven't used a microwave for six or seven years for anything and frankly don't miss it a bit. The only thing that comes out good in it is popcorn. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 18, 2003 Report Share Posted October 18, 2003 Steam'em or stir fry. Its almost as quick. Amy Microwave Apparantly, there's some new research out which states that cooking vegetables in the microwave basically brings the micronutrient content down to zero. I think this was mentioned in NT, but I didn't see any hard evidence so I ignored it at the time. Now this has got me thinking again. Anybody have any more evidence on this most interesting matter? My family uses a microwave for almost everything out of convenience. Without it, my family might not be eating any veggies at all! - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 19, 2003 Report Share Posted October 19, 2003 >Anybody have any more evidence on this most >interesting matter? My family uses a microwave for almost everything >out of convenience. Without it, my family might not be eating any >veggies at all! > >- My " evidence " is gustatory, which of course is probably a placebo effect. However I have on my side most of the great chefs ... you will NOT see a microwave on Iron Chef! Microwave ovens do something subtle to the flavor of food, which might be your mouth signalling " this ain't right " -- your mouth sends all kinds of signals to your brain very quickly about food quality, which, I think, is largely what gourmet cooking is about. (probably what the " energy " of greens is about too -- you can't absorb much in your mouth, but you are signalling your brain like mad, which causes hormonal and body changes, think Pavlov's dogs). I can't say for your family, but mine now is willing to cook vegies in a pan. But the best method, I think, is just to heat a pot of broth (I make it once a week so it's in the fridge, or I can thaw one out) and just toss some stuff in. There is a Korean tradition called a " hot pot " which is basically broth in a pot with whatever is handy. This is my current addiction! (You'll see broths a lot on the Iron Chef too!). We also like salads, and kimchi. Actually if you have salads and kimchi you can forget the other vegies, IMO. Except onions and garlic for flavor, and whatever you need to make the soup yummy :-) -- Heidi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 19, 2003 Report Share Posted October 19, 2003 I have to admit- I am suspicious of my microwave. I have started boiling my broccoli and find that I like it much better. Delicious with lots of butter and a little sea salt. Maybe it would be ideal if I would steam vegies instead. I soak oatmeal in buttermilk overnight and make pancakes that freeze very well. I used to microwave these to reheat them for subsequent meals. I will have to experiment with other means of heating them back up. Kathy -- In , " Amy Lee Waters " < amyleewaters@c...> wrote: > Steam'em or stir fry. Its almost as quick. Amy > Microwave > > > Apparantly, there's some new research out which states that cooking > vegetables in the microwave basically brings the micronutrient content > down to zero. I think this was mentioned in NT, but I didn't see any > hard evidence so I ignored it at the time. Now this has got me > thinking again. Anybody have any more evidence on this most > interesting matter? My family uses a microwave for almost everything > out of convenience. Without it, my family might not be eating any > veggies at all! > > - > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 19, 2003 Report Share Posted October 19, 2003 I really don't see what's so inconvenient about sauteeing veggies, but why don't you just cook the veggies for your fam a couple nights a week? You'd get them hooked on the taste pretty fast, since microwaved veggies taste like crap and veggies sauteed in extra-virgin olive oil with garlic and onion and whatnot are delicious. Chris In a message dated 10/19/03 10:30:27 AM Eastern Daylight Time, paultheo2000@... writes: > I had a look on Mercola.com and some of those articles are definitely > frightening. Then again, Mercola is known to some paranoid; I will > continue to eat fish in spite of his recommendations. But I may have > to think twice abuot using a microwave. It's just bloody convenient. > I'll see if my family is willing to make the switch. If anybody finds > any hard evidence on this matter, I might be able to convince my > family better > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 19, 2003 Report Share Posted October 19, 2003 Dear , There is a lot of information on the net about the dangers of microwave cooking as well as irridiation of foods. I know a boy who had a live blood cell analysis done and the doctor interpreting it said that his blood cells were distorted because he ate microwaved foods. Search www.mercola.com for microwaves and you will get some very good information. Also search www.globalhealing center.com. Microwaving depletes nutrients in foods and is far more dangerous to the human body than anyone could imagine. Also exposure to the energy- field itself causes adverse health effects. I hope you can research the subject and discover how dangerous cooking with a microwave is. Bee > Apparantly, there's some new research out which states that cooking > vegetables in the microwave basically brings the micronutrient content > down to zero. I think this was mentioned in NT, but I didn't see any > hard evidence so I ignored it at the time. Now this has got me > thinking again. Anybody have any more evidence on this most > interesting matter? My family uses a microwave for almost everything > out of convenience. Without it, my family might not be eating any > veggies at all! > > - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 19, 2003 Report Share Posted October 19, 2003 Hi bee, I had a look on Mercola.com and some of those articles are definitely frightening. Then again, Mercola is known to some paranoid; I will continue to eat fish in spite of his recommendations. But I may have to think twice abuot using a microwave. It's just bloody convenient. I'll see if my family is willing to make the switch. If anybody finds any hard evidence on this matter, I might be able to convince my family better - > > Apparantly, there's some new research out which states that cooking > > vegetables in the microwave basically brings the micronutrient > content > > down to zero. I think this was mentioned in NT, but I didn't see any > > hard evidence so I ignored it at the time. Now this has got me > > thinking again. Anybody have any more evidence on this most > > interesting matter? My family uses a microwave for almost everything > > out of convenience. Without it, my family might not be eating any > > veggies at all! > > > > - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 19, 2003 Report Share Posted October 19, 2003 >>> Also exposure to the energy- field itself causes adverse health effects. ------>i read a survey of repairmen some years back and they said that about 50% of microwaves *leak*. i think they were referring to ones in use, not new ones. Suze Fisher Lapdog Design, Inc. Web Design & Development http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze3shjg Weston A. Price Foundation Chapter Leader, Mid Coast Maine http://www.westonaprice.org ---------------------------- “The diet-heart idea (the idea that saturated fats and cholesterol cause heart disease) is the greatest scientific deception of our times.” -- Mann, MD, former Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry at Vanderbilt University, Tennessee; heart disease researcher. The International Network of Cholesterol Skeptics <http://www.thincs.org> ---------------------------- Re: Microwave Dear , There is a lot of information on the net about the dangers of microwave cooking as well as irridiation of foods. I know a boy who had a live blood cell analysis done and the doctor interpreting it said that his blood cells were distorted because he ate microwaved foods. Search www.mercola.com for microwaves and you will get some very good information. Also search www.globalhealing center.com. Microwaving depletes nutrients in foods and is far more dangerous to the human body than anyone could imagine. Also exposure to the energy- field itself causes adverse health effects. I hope you can research the subject and discover how dangerous cooking with a microwave is. Bee > Apparantly, there's some new research out which states that cooking > vegetables in the microwave basically brings the micronutrient content > down to zero. I think this was mentioned in NT, but I didn't see any > hard evidence so I ignored it at the time. Now this has got me > thinking again. Anybody have any more evidence on this most > interesting matter? My family uses a microwave for almost everything > out of convenience. Without it, my family might not be eating any > veggies at all! > > - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 19, 2003 Report Share Posted October 19, 2003 I have one of those little black and decker counter steamers....I LOVE that thing. It even has a screen where I put fresh herbs on it to induce some extra flavor in them. For me it is quite handy so I don't have to drag out extra pots or take up space on the stove when I am cooking. Microwave > > > Apparantly, there's some new research out which states that cooking > vegetables in the microwave basically brings the micronutrient content > down to zero. I think this was mentioned in NT, but I didn't see any > hard evidence so I ignored it at the time. Now this has got me > thinking again. Anybody have any more evidence on this most > interesting matter? My family uses a microwave for almost everything > out of convenience. Without it, my family might not be eating any > veggies at all! > > - > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 19, 2003 Report Share Posted October 19, 2003 You said in your previous post that without the microwave your family might not eat vegetables at all. When I used to cook vegetables in the microwave, I put them in a bowl with a small amount of water. Now I cook them in a saucepan on the stovetop with a little water. It takes maybe a few minutes longer. In either case there is one bowl or one pan to wash. How is the microwave that much more convenient for vegetables? Or is it that you are using those frozen packages of vegetables which are cut up and seasoned and you cook them in right in the box? Jill > Hi bee, > > I had a look on Mercola.com and some of those articles are definitely > frightening. Then again, Mercola is known to some paranoid; I will > continue to eat fish in spite of his recommendations. But I may have > to think twice abuot using a microwave. It's just bloody convenient. > I'll see if my family is willing to make the switch. If anybody finds > any hard evidence on this matter, I might be able to convince my > family better > > - > > > > > Apparantly, there's some new research out which states that cooking > > > vegetables in the microwave basically brings the micronutrient > > content > > > down to zero. I think this was mentioned in NT, but I didn't see any > > > hard evidence so I ignored it at the time. Now this has got me > > > thinking again. Anybody have any more evidence on this most > > > interesting matter? My family uses a microwave for almost everything > > > out of convenience. Without it, my family might not be eating any > > > veggies at all! > > > > > > - > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 2, 2003 Report Share Posted November 2, 2003 On Sat, 18 Oct 2003 20:14:33 -0000 " paultheo2000 " <paultheo2000@...> wrote: >Apparantly, there's some new research out which states that cooking >vegetables in the microwave basically brings the micronutrient content >down to zero. I think this was mentioned in NT, but I didn't see any >hard evidence so I ignored it at the time. Now this has got me >thinking again. Anybody have any more evidence on this most >interesting matter? My family uses a microwave for almost everything >out of convenience. Without it, my family might not be eating any >veggies at all! > >- > This article that originally appeared in Acres USA might be a good place to start: http://chetday.com/microwave.html The Secret of Health Stay away from the doctor, says Hein, MD. http://tinyurl.com/td64 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 19, 2003 Report Share Posted November 19, 2003 Check out the following if you want to know the downsides of microwaves and the effects on food (or water). http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Gallery/6412/microwave.htm http://www.relfe.com/microwave.html http://www.mercola.com/article/microwave/hazards2.htm Be kind to your self: Get a tea kettle Tomas > Out of laziness I make my tea in the microwave every morning. It is > so convenient but now I am feeling uneasy. Not that I didnt know this > already, but...I suppose I shouldn't, and shoud get a teakettle again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 29, 2005 Report Share Posted January 29, 2005 This debate makes me realize how deeply prejudiced I am. I don't have the time or inclination to do the research to scientifically back up my opinion that microwaves are evil. Irene and others can give every reasonable argument that microwaves are safe and it doesn't sway me one bit. I'm just terrifed and prejudiced against those kinds of technologies applied to food. I'm convinced that even if there is no evidence now that microwaves are harmful, that in the future some study will show that they really are. You can laugh at me, call me superstitious, Luddite, whatever. I feel a little foolish writing this. But somehow I think most of us are like this deep down, and that all these logical arguments are merely defenses for our prejudices and preferences. Or perhaps I'm just projecting my own viewpoint onto everybody else. Anyway, I think we all agree that microwave is not necessary for health. No need to run out an buy one if you don't have one. - T __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 29, 2005 Report Share Posted January 29, 2005 In a message dated 1/29/2005 11:10:59 AM Eastern Standard Time, tamaratornado@... writes: I'm just terrifed and prejudiced against those kinds of technologies applied to food. I'm not laughing and I understand your fears. What really upsets me is all of this junk science that scares everyone. My God, there's probably been a study that said anything you breathe, eat, or drink causes cancer. Look at the research out there that has been debunked. From high cholesterol in eggs and ingestion of fat causes high cholesterol to coffee causing cancer. They don't tell you that many soy products are full of poisons or that your TV tube can blind you with beta radiation. I don't mean to be obstinate and I certainly don't have a closed mind but if I didn't research things I never would have gotten on this diet. Most people think this diet is a pipedream but we know different. My mind gets changed all of the time from coherent correctly conducted research not sensationalized conclusions published with an agenda in mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 29, 2005 Report Share Posted January 29, 2005 In a message dated 1/29/2005 11:10:59 AM Eastern Standard Time, tamaratornado@... writes: But somehow I think most of us are like this deep down, and that all these logical arguments are merely defenses for our prejudices and preferences. I'm just curious and want to learn so I can improve my health. What I learn I share with the list. Just because I don't accept something at face value doesn't mean that I don't go off and study it. My assumptions change all of the time because new research comes out every day. I just have to believe that if all this stuff about microwaves were true that some lawyer would have mounted a class action suit by now instead of picking on Mcs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 29, 2005 Report Share Posted January 29, 2005 So well said! Maddviking@... wrote: > What really upsets me is all > of this junk science that scares everyone. My God, there's probably been a > study that said anything you breathe, eat, or drink causes cancer. Look at the > research out there that has been debunked. From high cholesterol in eggs and > ingestion of fat causes high cholesterol to coffee causing cancer. They > don't tell you that many soy products are full of poisons or that your TV tube can > blind you with beta radiation. I don't mean to be obstinate and I certainly > don't have a closed mind but if I didn't research things I never would have > gotten on this diet. Most people think this diet is a pipedream but we know > different. My mind gets changed all of the time from coherent correctly > conducted research not sensationalized conclusions published with an agenda in mind. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 9, 2007 Report Share Posted October 9, 2007 In einer eMail vom 09.10.2007 21:02:02 Westeuropäische Normalzeit schreibt aznugget20@...: Does anyone know if a microwave will kill the flu virus? Like for instance on your mail, or some other non-metallic surface. I didn't read it would. Unless the letter is humid and becomes hot. We had suggested to offer microwaves with UV-lamp (patent pending...;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 9, 2007 Report Share Posted October 9, 2007 UV light does indeed have virus-destroying properties which are quite impressive. Even leaving something in the sun (lots of UV rays) could work; but I don't know for how long you'd have to expose a potentially infected thing to the sun's rays.sterten@... wrote: In einer eMail vom 09.10.2007 21:02:02 Westeuropäische Normalzeit schreibt aznugget20 : Does anyone know if a microwave will kill the flu virus? Like for instance on your mail, or some other non-metallic surface. I didn't read it would. Unless the letter is humid and becomes hot. We had suggested to offer microwaves with UV-lamp (patent pending...;-) . Do one thing every day that scares you. Eleanor Roosevelt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 9, 2007 Report Share Posted October 9, 2007 Who Will Kill The Evil Germs? Microwave your sponge, kill bacteria dead. Note: Does not yet work on people. Or life By Mark Morford, SF Gate Columnist Is it over yet? Is there some sort of end in sight? Can we all emerge from the dark cloud of sheer ongoing terror in this country regarding germs and bacteria and sundry microscopic things that seep into your toenails and eat away at your eyeballs and steal your basic cable? No, no, we cannot. Here is a new study, from the University of Florida. It proves that you can indeed kill almost every hint of bacteria on your average rancid germ-filled household sponge by simply nuking it for two full minutes -- which will, if you try it, turn your sponge into a smoking smoldering extraterrestrial WMD device you cannot touch for about an hour lest you scald your fingertips and wonder what the hell a basic household sponge is made of that it doesn't actually catch fire or liquefy after two minutes in a microwave. But hey, at least everything's dead. This is, of course, good news indeed, given how sponges are apparently astonishing factories for bacteria and the kitchen sinks they often hang around in are reportedly the absolute best (read: warm and wet, and not in the good way) places for germs to fester and breed and given how lots of people get sick every year from (apparently) licking the sink and given how we have very much become, after all, a quivering, twitching, germ-obsessed nation. Have you not felt the fear? Have you not seen the TV specials and witnessed the commercials and seen the astounding, silly array of terror-inducing products on the store shelves, all sorts of antibacterial soaps and sprays and mouthwashes and wipes, body cleansers and child-dousers and pet-suckers and foot-screamers? Of course you have. This is the message: The world is a shockingly toxic place, you are not the slightest bit safe, you could get sick and die at any second from merely touching the wrong surface and then sucking your fingertips and this goes doubly true if that surface happens to be Lohan or Bill O'Reilly or American foreign policy. And therefore if you don't carry an emergency sanitation kit with you at all times and wipe everything down and wear flip-flops in the shower and wash your hands and your tongue and your genitals and your cat at least 15 times a day, you are: 1) utterly insane, 2) a poor excuse for an American, 3) a poor excuse for a parent, 4) probably drunk. Is that an exaggeration? Not by much. Indeed, the fear is palpable, and real, and also terrifically stupid, given how it is at least partly created and fueled by giddy chemical corporations only too happy to supply you with all sorts of toxic substances with which to kill the evil germs of your life, most of which have existed since the dawn of time and which also includes all the good necessary bacteria that actually serve a positive function in the ecology of existence. But hey, balanced perspective has never exactly topped the list of American virtues, you know? Here's another ad, just one of dozens. Clorox Disinfecting Wipes. Bleach-filled chemical things that you should use regularly on every surface of your home lest little Timmy grab an innocent American cookie from the exact same spot on the countertop where you happened to unload some raw drippy blood-drenched hamburger meat just minutes before. Oh my God. You're not using these wipes? Are you trying to kill your child? Oh, there are plenty of studies to fan the fear. After all, it's absolutely true that there are more carcinogens and synthetic by-products and incomprehensible spores jumping up from, say, your average American shag carpet and into your lungs than from the entire R & D department of the Dow Chemical Co. Did you know? This is why you see dumpy perky blouse-clad housewives spraying gallons of that Febreze crap all over their drapes and carpets and husbands in some sort of orgasmic olfactory delight in those TV commercials -- to cover up the toxic swill of modern existence with synthetic lavender, that's why. Hotel rooms? Oh my delirious germ-causing God, don't get me started. Did you not see that " Primetime " special last year, where they went into various nice, mid-range hotels across America wielding only a black light and an evil grin and found all sorts of residues of blood and urine and sperm and feces and Dick Cheney and other sundry bodily discharges spread around the carpet and bedspread and walls and even on the sad little unread Bible in the bedside drawer? I bet you did. Wait, there's more. What's the most germ-clogged, festering item on your body right now (besides, of course, your body itself)? That would be your cell phone, silly. After all, it just sits there all day, simmering in the happy juices of your toasty pants pocket, churning out microbes of horror like Paris Hilton churns out intimations of death. And you put that thing up to your face without first disinfecting it with some ethyl alcohol and a flamethrower? What are you, high? The end result is all so revealing of the icky-sticky underbelly of human existence that most terrified Americans will take one look and vow never ever to stay in a hotel room or talk on a cell phone again -- except, of course, that they will. (By the way, does it matter that the very same black light will find the exact same residues throughout your own home and car and Bible drawer? Or that life is pretty much made up of equal parts flowers and piss, honey and blood, sunshine and semen? Verily, it appears not.) It is an odd and telling conundrum, this germ thing, perhaps the perfect microcosm of the modern, Muslim-fearin', WMD-jumpin,' Bush-whacked American mind-set. On the one hand, it is very true that the world is indeed a far more toxic place than at any time in history, what with terrifying cancer rates, disease, depression, all manner of virus and sickness and Adam Sandler movies resulting directly or indirectly from the truly dazzling array of newborn chemicals and gases and germs and plastic residues surrounding our consumer-mad lifestyles. One tip: Breathe deep the frisky air of any modern American city and try not to imagine the astounding soup of industrial toxins you're actually inhaling, OK? Then again, the human animal is, after all, one giant bacteria farm. It's what we do. It's who we are, ever since the first caveman scraped the greenish-brown gunk from a prehistoric pond and decided it would make a fabulous sauce for his wooly mammoth steak. To attempt to somehow remove ourselves from the germy/bacterial/viral miasma of existence is like trying to remove the white from death, the sigh from the orgasm, the sky from the color blue. Ain't gonna happen. What's more, it just makes God roll her eyes, and laugh. How you balance this perspective is, as always, up to you. After all, as the saying goes, if all you have is a bleach wipe, everything looks like a germ. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/gate/archive/2007/01/26/notes012607\ ..DTL & nl=fix Microwave Kills Kitchen Germs http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/61513.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 9, 2007 Report Share Posted October 9, 2007 In einer eMail vom 10.10.2007 07:01:02 Westeuropäische Normalzeit schreibt rboylern@...: Brilliant! I love Mark Morford. can I have a short summary in normal English, please ? Does the microwave work for viruses or not ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 9, 2007 Report Share Posted October 9, 2007 In einer eMail vom 10.10.2007 07:19:18 Westeuropäische Normalzeit schreibt rboylern@...: What he's saying here is that Americans are hysterical about germs when, if fact, there is no getting away from them. Germs of every kind abound in the world around us so it doesn't make much sense to be so obsessed by this fact. Not sure whether microwaves will kill viruses or not. thanks. But just recently we had papers about the effectiveness of chlorine for water treatment wrt. influenza, UVC at 254nm is reported to work well, heat works well and I read about H-OH ionization which is also reported successul. I think, we should try and not resignate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 9, 2007 Report Share Posted October 9, 2007 Brilliant! I love Mark Morford.Lee <jackalope_lepus@...> wrote: Who Will Kill The Evil Germs?Microwave your sponge, kill bacteria dead. Note: Does not yet work onpeople. Or lifeBy Mark Morford, SF Gate ColumnistIs it over yet? Is there some sort of end in sight? Can we all emergefrom the dark cloud of sheer ongoing terror in this country regardinggerms and bacteria and sundry microscopic things that seep into yourtoenails and eat away at your eyeballs and steal your basic cable?No, no, we cannot.Here is a new study, from the University of Florida. It proves thatyou can indeed kill almost every hint of bacteria on your averagerancid germ-filled household sponge by simply nuking it for two fullminutes -- which will, if you try it, turn your sponge into a smokingsmoldering extraterrestrial WMD device you cannot touch for about anhour lest you scald your fingertips and wonder what the hell a basichousehold sponge is made of that it doesn't actually catch fire orliquefy after two minutes in a microwave. But hey, at leasteverything's dead.This is, of course, good news indeed, given how sponges are apparentlyastonishing factories for bacteria and the kitchen sinks they oftenhang around in are reportedly the absolute best (read: warm and wet,and not in the good way) places for germs to fester and breed andgiven how lots of people get sick every year from (apparently) lickingthe sink and given how we have very much become, after all, aquivering, twitching, germ-obsessed nation.Have you not felt the fear? Have you not seen the TV specials andwitnessed the commercials and seen the astounding, silly array ofterror-inducing products on the store shelves, all sorts ofantibacterial soaps and sprays and mouthwashes and wipes, bodycleansers and child-dousers and pet-suckers and foot-screamers? Ofcourse you have.This is the message: The world is a shockingly toxic place, you arenot the slightest bit safe, you could get sick and die at any secondfrom merely touching the wrong surface and then sucking yourfingertips and this goes doubly true if that surface happens to be Lohan or Bill O'Reilly or American foreign policy.And therefore if you don't carry an emergency sanitation kit with youat all times and wipe everything down and wear flip-flops in theshower and wash your hands and your tongue and your genitals and yourcat at least 15 times a day, you are: 1) utterly insane, 2) a poorexcuse for an American, 3) a poor excuse for a parent, 4) probably drunk.Is that an exaggeration? Not by much. Indeed, the fear is palpable,and real, and also terrifically stupid, given how it is at leastpartly created and fueled by giddy chemical corporations only toohappy to supply you with all sorts of toxic substances with which tokill the evil germs of your life, most of which have existed since thedawn of time and which also includes all the good necessary bacteriathat actually serve a positive function in the ecology of existence.But hey, balanced perspective has never exactly topped the list ofAmerican virtues, you know?Here's another ad, just one of dozens. Clorox Disinfecting Wipes.Bleach-filled chemical things that you should use regularly on everysurface of your home lest little Timmy grab an innocent Americancookie from the exact same spot on the countertop where you happenedto unload some raw drippy blood-drenched hamburger meat just minutesbefore. Oh my God. You're not using these wipes? Are you trying tokill your child?Oh, there are plenty of studies to fan the fear. After all, it'sabsolutely true that there are more carcinogens and syntheticby-products and incomprehensible spores jumping up from, say, youraverage American shag carpet and into your lungs than from the entireR & D department of the Dow Chemical Co. Did you know? This is why yousee dumpy perky blouse-clad housewives spraying gallons of thatFebreze crap all over their drapes and carpets and husbands in somesort of orgasmic olfactory delight in those TV commercials -- to coverup the toxic swill of modern existence with synthetic lavender, that'swhy.Hotel rooms? Oh my delirious germ-causing God, don't get me started.Did you not see that "Primetime" special last year, where they wentinto various nice, mid-range hotels across America wielding only ablack light and an evil grin and found all sorts of residues of bloodand urine and sperm and feces and Dick Cheney and other sundry bodilydischarges spread around the carpet and bedspread and walls and evenon the sad little unread Bible in the bedside drawer? I bet you did.Wait, there's more. What's the most germ-clogged, festering item onyour body right now (besides, of course, your body itself)? That wouldbe your cell phone, silly. After all, it just sits there all day,simmering in the happy juices of your toasty pants pocket, churningout microbes of horror like Paris Hilton churns out intimations ofdeath. And you put that thing up to your face without firstdisinfecting it with some ethyl alcohol and a flamethrower? What areyou, high?The end result is all so revealing of the icky-sticky underbelly ofhuman existence that most terrified Americans will take one look andvow never ever to stay in a hotel room or talk on a cell phone again-- except, of course, that they will. (By the way, does it matter thatthe very same black light will find the exact same residues throughoutyour own home and car and Bible drawer? Or that life is pretty muchmade up of equal parts flowers and piss, honey and blood, sunshine andsemen? Verily, it appears not.)It is an odd and telling conundrum, this germ thing, perhaps theperfect microcosm of the modern, Muslim-fearin', WMD-jumpin,'Bush-whacked American mind-set. On the one hand, it is very true thatthe world is indeed a far more toxic place than at any time inhistory, what with terrifying cancer rates, disease, depression, allmanner of virus and sickness and Adam Sandler movies resultingdirectly or indirectly from the truly dazzling array of newbornchemicals and gases and germs and plastic residues surrounding ourconsumer-mad lifestyles. One tip: Breathe deep the frisky air of anymodern American city and try not to imagine the astounding soup ofindustrial toxins you're actually inhaling, OK?Then again, the human animal is, after all, one giant bacteria farm.It's what we do. It's who we are, ever since the first caveman scrapedthe greenish-brown gunk from a prehistoric pond and decided it wouldmake a fabulous sauce for his wooly mammoth steak. To attempt tosomehow remove ourselves from the germy/bacterial/viral miasma ofexistence is like trying to remove the white from death, the sigh fromthe orgasm, the sky from the color blue. Ain't gonna happen. What'smore, it just makes God roll her eyes, and laugh.How you balance this perspective is, as always, up to you. After all,as the saying goes, if all you have is a bleach wipe, everything lookslike a germ. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/gate/archive/2007/01/26/notes012607.DTL & nl=fixMicrowave Kills Kitchen Germshttp://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/61513.php . Do one thing every day that scares you. Eleanor Roosevelt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 9, 2007 Report Share Posted October 9, 2007 What he's saying here is that Americans are hysterical about germs when, if fact, there is no getting away from them. Germs of every kind abound in the world around us so it doesn't make much sense to be so obsessed by this fact. Not sure whether microwaves will kill viruses or not. sterten@... wrote: In einer eMail vom 10.10.2007 07:01:02 Westeuropäische Normalzeit schreibt rboylern : Brilliant! I love Mark Morford. can I have a short summary in normal English, please ? Does the microwave work for viruses or not ? . Do one thing every day that scares you. Eleanor Roosevelt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 10, 2007 Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 LOL. Thank you, . Always glad to have my hunting applauded. Who Will Kill The Evil Germs? > Microwave your sponge, kill bacteria dead. Note: Does not yet work on > people. Or life > By Mark Morford, SF Gate Columnist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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