My daughter sent me the following by email. I've seen this one before, but it's perfect for us now with our rotgut drinking water. I bought my Brita pitcher to filter the water, but it's still a strange color once it passes through the filter. I'm using bottled water to drink and brush my teeth.
As Ben Franklin said: In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria. In a number of carefully controlled trials, scientists have demonstrated that if we drink 1 liter of water each day, at the end of the year we would have absorbed more than 1 kilo of Escherichia coli, (E. coli) - bacteria found in feces. In other words, we are consuming 1 kilo of poop. (that's over 2 pounds).
However, we do NOT run that risk when drinking wine & beer (or tequila, rum, whiskey or other liquor) because alcohol has to go through a purification process of boiling, filtering and/or fermenting.
Remember: Water = Poop, Wine = Health
Therefore, it's better to drink wine and talk stupid, than to drink water and be full of shit.
There is no need to thank me for this valuable information: I'm doing it as a public service.
I missed your sense of humor when you were off line.
ReplyDeleteI read this after pouring a glass of wine and sitting down here at the computer...
ReplyDeleteWell, and wine glass in hand after supper, I am telling you, "Don't forget the story about the guy who puts the worm in the glass of water and in the glass of wine to show his friend the evils of drink. What came out of that display was the knowledge that if you drink, you'll never have worms!
ReplyDeleteAs a microbiology person, I THANK YOU!!
ReplyDeleteAND what Ruth said.
That's right ladies, drink your wine. And the post even passes muster with a microbiologist! I am humbled.
ReplyDeleteFor most of European history, people didn't drink water very often because, while they didn't know about bacteria and the germ theory of disease, they did realize that the water sources available to them were often the cause of sickness. People usually drank beer, ale and wine for their normal drink, but brewed or fermented to much lower levels of alcohol than our modern versions. The brewing/distilling processes killed the bacteria, as did the boiling for tea, coffee, soups, etc.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's also why people put a high value on springs, because that was the source of cleanest water. But it wasn't until the 19th century, when urban water systems began to be built and doctors began to understand the germ theory of disease, that our modern view of water as the usual drink became the norm.
If you've never read The Ghost Map, check it out. I don't recall the author's name, but it's about a cholera outbreak in Victorian London and one scientist's search for answers that started the process of discovery of how cholera was spread.
Kishnevi, I knew some of that, but not in detail. I love water, so I'm glad it's more or less safe most of the time. Victorian London was a filthy place in many ways.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this, Mimi.
ReplyDeleteBut for those who think our drinking water is "mostly safe" I would refer you to The Blue Death, a book on the history of our water supply (and including the true story of that famous water pump in London). Life is scary.
But then you could cheer up by reading Good Germs, Bad Germs and realize that germs can be your friends.
Best wishes from your local pedant.
Paul(A), shall I thank you for this comment? For years, I have not trusted our drinking water. After all, the mouth of the Mississippi is the sewer for a good part of the country, and I grew up drinking it. I don't even trust that bottled water is safe, but life is full of risk. Your references only increase my concern. Good Germs, Bad Germs hardly cheers me up, my friend.
ReplyDeleteI say "mostly safe" because I'm not dead yet. That's something.
I think Mimi has found the original reason for inventing wine and beer ;=)
ReplyDeleteGöran, I agree.
ReplyDeleteAt first I was marveled to see such a blog.Your blog is sparkling. It has a great appeal. How are U able to cope such a lot.
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Waiting with curiosity. To know your innovation.
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Thanks again and looking forward for more of your posting soon!