The reason this story comes to mind, is that a co-worker asked me about this water softening system his mother-in-law wants to buy. It uses a wire wrapped around the pipe and is hooked up to some mysterious [wiggle fingers] electronics.Presenter: I see we have a skeptic!
Me: What is it supposed to do?
Presenter: This device is used to remove the impurities from water via carefully aligned magnets!
Me: Oh! So the magnets pull the impurities to the sides of the pipe. Don't you have to keep replacing that section of pipe?
Presenter: The pipe was just a section I had laying around I used for display. The magnets actually don't let the impurities collect inside the pipes.
Me: Ah! So it keeps the impurities dissolved until they get to the appliances!
Presenter: No, they stop the impurities completely!
Me: So it forces the impurities back into the water system?
Presenter: No, it doesn't do that either.
Me: So, if the impurities don't stick to the pipe, stay dissolved in the water or get forced back into the water system, then where do they go?
Presenter: [After a very long pause.] Well just don't buy the G*d D*mn thing! [And removes the item from display.]
A quick search on the web shows that it doesn't work. Unfortunately, it also shows that the governor has backed the company to build a factory in Indiana with over a million in tax breaks and funds to train workers.
