5/15/2003: Fluoride poisoning in India

A terribly sad one. Look at the guy's legs. This is the result of fluoride poisoning, which this one village in India ("Kachhariadih") has somehow become subject to.

They don't know exactly how it happened, but the drinking water from their only well contains far too much fluoride, and it probably has been that way for a long time.

Some think it's the result of damming a local river four years ago, possibly changing underground patterns of water flow. The entire village of 300, including 50 children, are all crippled in this way. Some are much worse off, with bent backs and terrible chronic pain.

In fact, the village is now known for the bamboo sticks the crippled use to hobble themselves around.

And their water problem is not yet resolved.

full story

Yikes! Hope it's absolutely qualitatively different from the stuff in the tapwater here...

Yeah, but I'll bet he's got great teeth ...

(should this post have been placed in the politically incorrect humor thread?)

What happened to the happy Firday image?

its thursday. sorry to break the bad news.

~james

Firday....

I'm guessing that happens tomorrow....

You know, on Friday.

*ducking*

Dagney

[optimism]Today could be <b>Firday</b> if we want it to.[/optimism]

Or Furday even ? In keeping with the cute'n furry animal pics

You guys have to be kidding me with the sympathy.

Here is Lin in all her bow-legged glory... does anyone still go for that!?!?

<img src="http://host.ipowerweb.com/~newzucan/Lin.jpg"</img>

But then there is this:

<img src="http://www.newzucanuze.com/images/Beauty.jpg">

Yeah, I think I'll keep it!