Senate candidate Katherine Harris used tax $$ to study "celestial drops"

[Bluebear]

Florida's citrus crop contributes billions of dollars to the state's economy, so when that industry is threatened, anything that might help is considered. Back in 2001, when citrus canker was blighting the crop and threatening to reduce that vital source of revenue, an interesting — if not quite scientific — alternative was considered.

Katherine Harris, then Florida's secretary of state — and now a member of the U.S. House of Representatives — ordered a study in which, according to an article by Jim Stratton in the Orlando Sentinel, "researchers worked with a rabbi and a cardiologist to test ‘Celestial Drops,' promoted as a canker inhibitor because of its ‘improved fractal design,' ‘infinite levels of order,' and ‘high energy and low entropy.'"

The study determined that the product tested was, basically, water that had apparently been blessed according to the principles of Kabbalic mysticism, "chang its molecular structure and imbu it with supernatural healing powers."...

The Florida state government is frequently bombarded with new supposed cures and preventatives. Most of them are not tested by the state with government funds. But in this one case, at least, it appears that an exception was made: Six months were spent establishing testing protocols and, finally, testing Celestial Drops. In a letter to the state government, Wayne Dixon, the head of Florida's Bureau of Entomology, Nematology and Plant Pathology, reported that the "product is a hoax and not based on any credible known science." He added, "I wish to maintain our standing in the scientific community and not allow to use our hard-earned credibility" to promote their product.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10054116/

[soothsayer]

1. Well, did they work?

[Bluebear]

2. Well, Harris reports 'perky' results but all in all it was a bust. n/t

[Village Idiot]

3. What a retard. It's WATER, fuckhead.

It's not even particularly GOOD water - it comes from a source in Ontario, Canada.

[Bluebear]

4. But, but, she consulted a rabbi. A holy man!

:crazy:

[Dr.Phool]

5. Is Colmes drooling on himself?

Celestial drops are starting to form.

[Bluebear]

8. :)

[lazarus]

6. and people wonder

why skeptics are so frustrated with "magical thinking" in today's world.

[WhollyHeretic]

7. But they used scientific buzzwords, doesn't that make it science?

:crazy:

and that is one frightening looking duo

[Bluebear]

9. for the night shift

[mitchum]

10. Isn't much of her family fortune in the citrus industry?

Apparently, Miss Cheek Implants and New Breasts believes in both soothsayers and corruption