Completely absurd. The Wallonia region of Belgium will, beginning in June, charge a fee of 20 Euros for cooking out in the region. Why? Because grilling releases CO2 into the atmosphere and, apparently, the backyard grill is such a significant source of CO2 that it warrants a tax, so that all of the evil backyard chefs can pay back the damage they’ve caused to society.
And where, one might ask, will that money go? A local recycling program? A save the rainforest fund? Perhaps into greenhouse gas reduction technologies? Nope. It will likely help pay the fuel and upkeep costs of the
helicopters, equipped with thermal-imaging gear, that will be used to enforce this grilling regulation. Yup, helicopters. To make sure people paid their bbq tax.
Tip o’ the Tam o’ Shanter to Reason’s Hit & Run.
Update: I’m an April Fool! Turns out this story was a joke all along. All apologies. Thanks to eagle-eyed reader, my former taskmaster and commenter extraordinaire, Jim Harper, for pointing out my gullibility.
This is the best blog ever.
Harper’s got a point.
Can I just say how much I love your blog?
This blog is SUPER great.
This blog is better than massages in Shanghai! Thanks, Thomas.
I’m a total fan of this blog.
I love your categories. They’re funny!
Wait a second! I just learned that this story was a ruse!
http://en.rian.ru/world/20070404/63077075.html
This blog isn’t very reliable.
I’m not sure I like it so much any more.
This blog is weak.
Lame blog, dude.
I’d just like to reiterate the comments of Jeremy Lott and the 5 Jim Harpers (strange coincidence, don’t you think?) and tell you how much I’m enjoying your blog thus far.
Oh, wait a second. You’re promoting lies and ignorance now? I’d like to reiterate the comments of the three Jim Harpers who said this blog sucks ass.
Fickleness, thy name is Madison.
I demand a retraction and an apology to the great Belgian people.
I’ve seen better blogs on MySpace.