Lame

The ones that burn the popcorn or any other item that cause this type of situation should be written up and suspended for 2 weeks with out pay and the second time offenders fired. They are not paying attention to what they are doing and sooner or later someone will get hurt for those that choose not to think of how thier actions can hurt others and effect others lives. When this gets around I bet a few more will pay attention!

And they should ban walking across the steet because people get killed in crosswalks.

I like this idea! I work in an office and burned popcorn affects my workspace at least once a week. Whomever makes microwave popcorn should have the common courtesy NOT to burn it because when they do, the stench lingers and makes me sick to my stomach. Is it really all that difficult to set the microwave and stand there while it pops? You are probably the same people who leave your dirty dishes soaking in the community kitchen sink.

Uh... how about instead of banning popcorn, the city should pitch in to buy decent microwaves that don't burn popcorn when you hit the "popcorn" button. They do exist, I own one.

This is big government running amuck, what ever happened to personal responsibility?

When I first read about this I thought it was going to be Global Warming related. Still there doesn't need to be laws in this case.

This is hilarious! I don’t live in Seattle, but find this very funny. Are there so many people in Seattle who are too dumb to know how to make microwave popcorn that the local government has to pass a law? What about microwave Pork Rinds, are they safe?

Can't they just ban the morons who burn the popcorn instead?

I mean, how stupid do you have to be to let popcorn burn to the point of setting off smoke alarms and stinking up an entire floor of offices through the ventilation system?

If an employee can't stay fociused for the two minutes it takes to microwave popcorn, perhaps they shouldn't be emploiyeed there.

Incompetent, politically-appointed, gov't employees, yet another infringement on our rights by the gov't. Add it to the ever-growing list of violations:
They violate the 1st Amendment by opening mail, caging demonstrators and banning books like "America Deceived" from Amazon.
They violate the 2nd Amendment by confiscating guns during Katrina.
They violate the 4th Amendment by conducting warrant-less wiretaps.
They violate the 5th and 6th Amendment by suspending habeas corpus.
They violate the 8th Amendment by torturing.
They violate the entire Constitution by starting 2 illegal wars based on lies and on behalf of a foriegn gov't.
Support Dr. Ron Paul and stop this madness.
Last link (unless Stark County District Library caves to the gov't and drops the title):
http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?&isbn=0-595-38523-0

What more can one expect from government employees, overpaid,underintelligent...and unfireable...

How about getting microwaves that have a popcorn option. I've never burned a bag of popcorn using it.

Jeez, can't you stand there for 3min while your corn pops? Did they fall asleep while waiting?

I agree with others, dock the idiots burning the corn.

How about just banning microwave ovens at work - just to prevent anyone from burning anything. It's not always about popcorn. Weekly someone burns their lunch. What's next banning black sole shoes because they leave marks or certain employees because they don't use deodorent? (I like that one.)

I have several thoughts on this subject . The first is that since all bureaucrats have to pass a test just add a cooking popcorn catagory that requires all questions to be correctly answered . My second thought necessitates creating a new bureaucratic dept. of homeland popcorn cooking , perhaps a new cabinet member is called for and third and last , just raise taxes so that a experienced caterer can be called instead of exposing government employees to this highly dangerous endeavor .

They need to BAN Seattle...oh and Monica and Julie as well

Just goes to show you what a bunch of wimps most people are these days. Some one could pass gas and they just might clear out a building too! I agree with the other comment suggesting that any burnt food could cause a commotion. Also.. when some light bulbs go bad they cause a funny smell too. Welcome to your over PARANOID state of existence!

It just goes to show you, that nobody trusts their co-workers either.

Jim: Dangit Bob.. I just burnt my popcorn

Terry: Oh.. so thats what that smell is.

Mike: Hurry call 911 were under Terrorist attack!

Jim: Settle down Mike... Its just the popcorn.. open that window over there...

Mike: Too late Jim.. i just called Homeland Security.

Terry: Here we go again.

I refuse to live in fear.. and you shouldn't either.

It reminds me of that scene in "Something about Mary" where the dood got his willy caught in a zipper.

HUGE Overreaction. lame.

I used to work at the Seattle Municapal Tower, and it is true that this is a HUGE problem. Not a week would go by that the alarm would not go off. Imagine hundreds of people crammed in a lobby waiting for the fire department to show, and than wait some more for them to confirm that it's not a real fire. This is not only frustating but also VERY expensive to the taxpayers when all thos city employees are getting paid to stand around. This happens so often that I wouldn't doubt it if the employees were burning the popcorn on purpose just to get an extended break.

When Popcorn is outlawed only outlaws will have Popcorn.

I'm all for a ban on microwaving popcorn at work. Not because of fire danger, but for the smell of it alone pervading an entire office floor. I don't even care if it's burned... it still smells the place up. Unless you work at a movie theatre, eat your stupid popcorn at home. I also think that offices should ban the delivery of Chinese food. First it stinks up the elevator on it's way in and then the whole office floor. Then the delivery guy inevitably tosses some menus throughout the building while in there, leading to more people ordering delivery and stinking up the place and messy hallways full of menus. Also on the list of bans should be leftover seafood dinners, tuna fish that is opened in the office kitchen and not pre-made, eggs that people crack and microwave in the kitchen, probably leaving eggy salmonella all over the counter while they prepare to nuke their stinky breakfast.

Popcorn is an IQ test- anyone that burns it should be fired. They failed.

Does anyone realize how STUPID we AMERICANS look to the rest of the world when we PRINT stories like this!!!!!!!!!!!!
Its as easy as COMMON SENSE!!!!

So.... my three-year-old knows to hit the popcorn button on the microwave, but adults in Seattle don't?

This is sorta up there with when Big Brother in Singapore banned chewing gum. I made several trips there in the early 90s, and my luggage was invariably searched at customs to verify that I was not attempting to import any such offending material. The reason for the ban was that it was theororized that users were carelessly spitting it out, and it was finding its way to and jamming doors of rail cars in the local metro.

Well duhhhhh

Your three year old is already too smart to be a govt employee.

I think people in Seattle need to get their mommy's permission before doing anything.

Could they all be hearing impaired? Just stupid I guess.

First, the memo simply says that the City of Seattle is considering banning microwave popcorn in city government buildings, owned and operated by the City of Seattle. This is something that the governing bodies of the City of Seattle have every right to do. If they find that burned popcorn caused by carelessness is causing a significant enough loss of productivity and thus a loss of money then it is their responsibility to cut their losses. And if this is their way of doing it then so be it. They are not proposing to ban popcorn in your home, your car or your business ... just city buildings.

This is really not such a stupid thing. It is, I would say, a problem that every business with employees will have to face sooner or later. Got popcorn? Sooner or later you're gonna have smoke ... noxious, nasty, permeating, sticky, sooty smoke that leaves a strong odor for days after the event. The bigger the business, the greater the exposure and the larger the impact.

The question is what to do about it. And the answer ranges from doing nothing to an all-out ban.

The City of Seattle appears to be firing a warning shot out over the bows of the careless ones on its workforce. An all-out ban is not, should not be, out of the question.

I used to think Seattle was a smart "cutting-edge" city. Not any more. It's just a dumbed-down version of most every other city. My old home of New York City is trying to play catch-up with dumbed down Seattle. I could cry.

WTF?!
Institute internal bans at the individual companies/ government agencies. Do NOT create more worthless fricking legislation.

Install microwaves that have a popcorn button & show people how to use it. Ditto the comment above - my 3 & 1/2 year old knows to use the popcorn button & hasn't burnt any yet (unlike his Dad :-)

Talk about stupid. Maybe you people should learn to actually read a story before popping off. Seattle isn't banning microwave popcorn. The City of Seattle warned employes that it might ban microwave popcorn in city-owned offices if it continues to cause a problem. Get a life people. And cover something more important, KING.

I realize that it must be frustrating to be evacuated from your building on a frequent basis because the smoke alarms have been accidently set off...but. The City of Seattle has so many more problems that effect thousands of it's residents, the viaduct, the homeless, drugs, and the failure of teh justice system to offer help to those stuck in a seeming never ending cycle. This article is painting a very sad picture for the city.

I realize that it must be frustrating to be evacuated from your building on a frequent basis because the smoke alarms have been accidently set off...but. The City of Seattle has so many more problems that effect thousands of it's residents, the viaduct, the homeless, drugs, and the failure of teh justice system to offer help to those stuck in a seeming never ending cycle. This article is painting a very sad picture for the city.

This isn't about legislation! Y'all need to read more closely! It's about banning microwave popcorn in City-owned buildings only. (As Radioman and others already pointed out!) It's an internal memo to City employees. And while I do think it's silly, I can see why they are considering it.

Are you people stupid? Nobody is outlawing popcorn in Seattle. This is an internal memo telling people to be responsible. The memo didn't ban anything. It simply stated that if these WORKPLACE DISRUPTIONS continue, that a possible course of action will be limiting microwave popcorn in downtown for CITY EMPLOYEES WHILE AT WORK. How does this affect anyone that is not a CITY EMPLOYEE AT WORK?

Seriously, hundreds of people having to stop work for upwords of an hour every few weeks is a major dispruption to the city as an institution.

I think the majority of you didn't even read the story, or the memo, because you aren't even commenting on what actually was reported.

If your employer was losing time and money because you were an idiot burning popcorn repeatedly and causing fire alarms to trip, forcing the regular evacuation of hundreds of people, you'd probably get a similar memo.

Pay attention to the stories and quit acting like children.

Ryan
US Army, Alaska

Just a thought from a Southern hayseed. All this turmoil, for what? Haven't these people heard about them new fangled microwave machines that AUTOMATICALLY sense when things are done and shut off the machine. Do these government bureaucrats get out the axe when there hand itches?

If they outlaw popcorn then only the outlaws will have popcorn.

Seriously, this make the fois grois ban in Chicago look downright sensible.

This makes sense - evacuations are costly to any business. Taxpayers don't want to waste money on this kind of frivilous behavior by city employees. Evacuations are also unsafe - people can become injured as they evacuate. It also distracts emergency resources (fire/police) from real emergencies.

Thanks to Army Ryan for setting things straight! There really is no debate here. If burning popcorn is wasting taxpayer dollars, then it has to be banned. Simple.

Also, why in God's name do people need to be cooking popcorn at work? What's next S'mores?

Thanks to Army Ryan for setting things straight! There really is no debate here. If burning popcorn is wasting taxpayer dollars, then it has to be banned. Simple.

Also, why in God's name do people need to be cooking popcorn at work? What's next S'mores?

If the city imployees can't manage to push the correct button on a microwave, we have a MUCH bigger problem than burnt popcorn!!!

oops, sorry, typo, typing one handed and it makes me do left-right errors... that was employees!

If you outlaw microwave popcorn, only criminals will have microwave popcorn! Burning microwave popcorn and fire alarms are annoying but as usual politicians want to punish the masses for the sins of a few. If employees don't want to watch their popcorn, a little restitution, for any costs, will train all employees.

Coming up next...a ban on any food in the workplace. I mean Americans are so overweight anyway, right? Think of all the weight we will lose and how much more productive we will become with that extra hour of work!

We have had a BAN on microwave popcorn in government offices for about two years. Same reason. I work for a county government in MD

I definitely think the city should ban the cooking of popcorn on city premises, but only for city managers... Having observed city politics for many years, most city leaders are at very high risk of killing or injuring themselves, or others, if faced with the complexity of a microwave and a bag of uncooked food and no instructions tatooed on their foreheads. (written backwards so as to be read in a mirror)

First of all, microwave popcorn is complete dreck. Anyone who would actually consume that mass of chemical garbage, can't tell the difference between dog food and insulation. They can just as well munch on worn-out ink-cartridges instead; they don't need to be cooked.

Second, what is all this silly business about "snacking" at work? It is childish, unnecessary, and just plain vulgar. If you have a blood sugar problem, stock up on "power bars," or Snickers, or carrot sticks; eat them quietly at your desk and keep your problems to yourself.

Third, anyone who needs to be told that microwave is dreck, or that the urge to consume "fun" food in the middle of the day is childish, is far too obtuse to insult. While it is embarrassingly low class to have to ban microwave popcorn, it's better than setting fire to a building, and that would be the next step for these "adults" who can't get through the day without their "baby" food, but are too dim-witted to even know how to cook their “instant gratification” snacks.

Sheesh, and you should see what they are being paid to play around with silly putty food stuffs.

I think the city of Seattle needs to think about banning frivolous laws as they ssem to take great joy in passing. All I can say is that Seattle must be populated by the biggest retards on Earth to keep re-electing these boobs on city counsil!

This sounds like an episode of The Office, when the temp burnt something in the toaster oven.

Where is Al Gore when we need him?
Ban popcorn? They could just insist that goverment employees just stop making popcorn and get back to work doing the people business. Or is that too radical an idea?

THE CITY OF SEATTLE SHOULD JUST FORGET ABOUT THE POPCORN, AND BAN THE CITY OF SEATTLE!

I can only wonder how an idiot who can't microwave a bag of popcorn, landed on the public payroll.

I can only wonder how an idiot who can't microwave a bag of popcorn, landed on the public payroll.

this is the kind of oblivious behavior that Seattlites are famous for.. Driving 50 MPH in a fast lane.. breaking in a freeway lane to try to merge into another lane, and now burning popcorn.. are you really surprised.. For being stereotyped as the "coffee capital" the residents are sure sleepy. Wakeup Seattle.. I've been all over the world, and lived in a few cities.. and Seattlites are certainly the most oblivious. You make LA look great!. Must be something in the water.

Big Nanny government at it's usual.

I, too, have managed to set fire to popcorn -- over a stove; in a microwave; over an open campfire. Hey, S____ happens. It is no big thing.

In my work area, those who "burn the popcorn" have usually left it go so long that the paper container started to smolder. Hence, all the smoke.

Should government (or any other authority, such as the employer) ban microwave popcorn?

No, that would be stupid.

Then again, it's Seattle. I'll wait and see how those California refugees handle it. Laughing, the whole damned time.

Could we just ban all smells?

I guess this is yet another scandal to add to our 'save the environment' agenda. There is an old saying, 'you've made your bed and now you have to lay in it'. Rules and regulations have finally superceded 'common sense'. Even homeusers of smoke detectors are encouraged to place them at logical locations to keep them from going off all the time within instructions. An object, like a smoke detector (which serves mostly good purposes) should never be raised as a type of 'god' that causes workers to lose their jobs or be suspended! How outrageous! Remember...it's mind over matter, not the other way around. What's happened to our nation and using common sense!

Stupid should hurt.

This must be due to the OLD MICROWAVES in city building. NEW ones have a popcorn button.....GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!

Do these facilities not have exhaust fans in their breakrooms and cafeterias? Any food potentially burns,so just to be safe go ahead and outlaw all foods.After all,that smoke surely contributes to global warming! And most assuredly-brainfarts do as well.

I also work in a facility that has been evacuated several times due to burned popcorn. The easiest solution is to use the "Popcorn" setting on the microwave if it has one. Failing that, follow the directions on the package. But since people seem to be stubborn about any direction, we also changed the smoke detectors near the microwaves to heat detectors. Problem solved.

Eating at worki s a luxury, I am not paying taxes so these people can eat. Let them eat at home or in the car on the way to work. I think anyone caught eating at work should be given their walking papers immedatley, may then we can can get some productivity and reduced waste. Besides you know how much energy you would save by removing microwaves, fridges, and snack machines out of public buildings.

seattle needs to be wiped off the map. This type of thinking cannot be tolerated.
Thanks

please exterminate monca also.

thanks

This is not a big over-reaction. This is common sense. And I offer anyone who thinks otherwise a simple, repeatable, scientific experiment where you can personally verify the results.

Simply put, if you disagree with this argument, take whatever your favorite popcorn is, and place it in your microwave... Set it for eight minutes on high and then just sit and watch it, no matter what happens, you can't turn off the microwave until the time expires...just pretend to set it and forget it and go do something out in your garden...

Why eight minutes? only because it is a nice round number, and two minutes isn't long enough to pop a bag of microwave popcorn (most of the time.)

Go ahead and open your windows, if you're at home, but realize that if you are at work, there is a good chance you will not be able to open your windows... And I agree with every single person who previously wrote that the stench lingers in an office...it does...if the area does not have good ventilation, the stench will linger for weeks, not days...

I have absolutely no problem with a ban on microwave popcorn in areas where people are too stupid to follow directions... It is a bigger hazzard than anyone has given credit for it here in this discussion...Go Seattle. The whole point of a "working government" is that they are able to pass laws that protect the public from stupid people...not burden the people with stupid laws...This is not a stupid recommendation...And it only reached this level because stupid people will continue to be stupid people...

Should this effort to ban microwave popcorn succeed, residents of Seattle could legally smoke marijuana (for medical purposes) but could not eat microwave popcorn. Talk about topsy-turvy!

What next, Seattle? Your commie politicans are going to tell you what to eat, what to wear and when to sleep?!! Are the good folks of this city too buzzed by Starbucks lattes to give up their city to Hitler-esque and Stalin-esque figureheads?! Enough!!

maybe microwave seattle for 8 minutes?

maybe microwave seattle for 8 minutes?

maybe microwave seattle for 8 minutes?

The reason for this problem is that city employees are those people who are too stupid, unskilled, incompetent, and lacking in common sense to be employable in the private sector. Check out a public employees union meeting and you will see that the "short bus" is very well represented. Perhaps Seattle could be a national leader by reducing city staff to just essential services and save the hard working intelligent taxpayers a ton of money. Government jobs are really just a form of welfare for the mildly retarded.

I just burnt my hot pocket. Guess I'm banned from eating those too.

We recently had popcorn removed from our vending machnes and have to pop our popcorn in a closet. We in fun sent this letter out.

FYI… regarding the Popcorn Prohibition (PP)

You can remove the popcorn from the vending machine, but now you just helped create the Popcorn Black Market Operation (PBMO). We, the Office Personnel, will provide many varieties of buttered, fat free and flavored popcorn to those willing to pay the black market fee. We will smuggle popcorn into the office and hide it throughout our cubicle area for our aroma therapy pleasure. The only way one can obtain corn is to know the secret password to give to the correct office personnel. (Passwords may change without notice)

Our shipments will be delivered by popcorn runners to the loading dock during the wee hours of the morning or while Pete is at work. He’s easy to distract, “Dude”. We will have informants, Pro–Popcorn Police, (otherwise known as the PPP), placed throughout the office that will assist in the undercover process to ensure that our operation runs as slick as buttered popcorn.

we are a bit confused about the harm this is creating to those around us… however, how are we going to control the aroma of the corn once it has been popped? Will we be required to eat our popped corn in a designated popcorn eating area, (DPEA), located 25 feet from the building? Will the loading dock area be the DPEA so we don’t have to inhale the second hand smoke, (which is dangerous), from the smokers that are 25 feet from the building?

We are looking at forming a support group “Washington Organization of Popcorn Supporters”, (WOOPS). We will be checking with payroll to see if we can allow payroll deductions for annual dues and contributions.

Signed,

“Jolly Time” Jean,
“Act II” Susie,
“Jiffy Pop” Nance
&
“Redenbacher” Lizzie

Why not ban popcorn. Also, bright clothes are a distraction to drivers...and bright cars/busses/trucks are a distraction to pedestrians. So, lets mandate clothes and vehicle colors be gray to reduce distractions. Also, the speed of vehicles endangers pedestrians and the speed of pedestrians distract vehicle drivers. So, lets mandate slow steady movements for pedestrians and vehicles. Police could issue citations to those who dress too flashy or move too quickly. It's not hard to visualize a safe and sane city where vehicles and people in shades of gray are all moving at the same steady and safe speed. Later, we can talk about a livable wage for all and the volume and tone of our public speech and private thoughts. And yes, ban popcorn.

Why don't they just purchase a new microwave with the "popcorn" botton?

REMEMBER SEATTLE:

It's not POPCORN that causes smokey messes, it's the PEOPLE who don't follow the proper popcorn popping procedures!

I dare you to say that three times!

Signed,

Your friend in Baton Rouge, LA

Interesting use of language: "A memo...says there has been several evaluations...." HAS been evacuations???

Someone needs a refresher in grammar at the TV station.

They want to govern the state but can't figure out how to pop popcorn without a memo on reading the directions? WOW! Are these the same people that cause shampoo manufacturers to put directions on a bottle? No wonder they're "Sleepless..." over there - they can't figure out how to work the bedsheets!

It appears that many of you don't understand the true impact that we're facing.

When your child is dying and the engine company that should have been sent to save their life is busy with a burnt popcorn call you might change your tune.

It's not just about city employees not working, it's about emergency resources being occupied with nonsense calls when they should be available for real emergencies.

Also, the dispatch center has to send a crew out to check what caused the fire alarm. What if it's a real fire? Again, if your family is at risk you'd want the fire department to show up!

Army Ryan is right. It's not about citizens being banned from popcorn it's employees in city facilities who. Reading is a wonderful skill. Why don't many of you try it on for size?

Gotta love Drudge. "Seattle to ban popcorn", he rants. Uhhhh....no.

If people can't figure out how to use the microwave, they SHOULD ban the stuff from City buildings. But at this point, nobody is "banning" anything. This is a non-story.

The real story seems to be that Seattle hires stupid people.

You all sure jump to some wild and nasty accusations.
People have lunch at work. Not just 'snacks'. People choose to eat many things, not just popcorn sets off the alarms.
Have you been in any of these buildings? The microwaves are high powered, older in many cases, and within INCHES of the fire alarm sensors in some areas. The most recent incident was not a case of unmonitered microwave use.

I'm all for limiting any product at work that causes disruptions. In the case of the Municipal Court remember that is all employees, judges, defendants, those in custody, the marshalls, and the PD that shares the bulding, that must be evacuated and 5th Ave that is shut down for all the fire trucks, for the required timeframe to reset the entire safety alarm system.

It was ridiculous that this even made the news in the first place.

Ok, I am now convinced that 90% of you don't know how to read.

POPCORN IS NOT BANNED. BANNING POPCORN IN SEATTLE IS NOT BEING DISCUSSED. THIS IS A WORKPLACE MEMO TELLING PEOPLE THAT BURNED POPCORN COSTS THE CITY TAX DOLLARS IN LOST TIME AND PRODUCTIVITY.

I have to put it in all caps because MOST OF YOU APPARENTLY CAN'T READ OTHERWISE.

This is not a communist plot. This is not a socialist agenda. This is not an Al Gore global warming conspiracy. This is not Department of Homeland Security uber sensitivity.

This IS about hundreds of city employees suddenly having to stop work and mill around outside for an hour. This IS about the disruption it causes to the function of the city's services.

This IS a memo telling people to please be conscienscious and not cause HUNDREDS OF EVACUATIONS due to their carelessness.

No Seattle does not need to be "wiped off the map" (I loved that one, Kitty Hawk, you idiot).

And please for the love of god people... LEARN TO READ.

Burnt popcorn does not warrant the evacuation of a building.

The terroists have won. We cant even burn popcorn without feeling the effects of terrorism. Evacuating all these schools, and public buildings for nothing.

I'd rather see some body bags in the street than the millions of wasted tax dollars all of these 'emergency evacuations' create.

This whole subject stinks - let's ban it.

I know it's probably been said but it's very simple: the instructions are on the bag so that when you hear a large gap between pops (2 seconds or so) it's time to take the bag out
Although you would think that even if people working for the government can't read they could at least say "does anyone know how to make popcorn?" rather than saying "why does this keep happening?"

It's not always about the people. I'm sure many people have burned popcorn. I'm sure most of us have done it at least once or twice in our own homes. It depends on the wattage of the microwave and where the microwave is placed in the building. The smoke detectors in the newer buildings are really sensitive. Some of the time when the alarm goes off nothing is even burnt.

The thing that makes this all seem reasonable to me and what no one else has mentioned yet is that they are evacuating jails and courtrooms because of this problem. I can only imagine the cost to the city for the security procedures needed for a jail evacuation. And we are footing the bill for a stupid snack? Get the pre-popped bags of popcorn in your vending machines, Seattle.

So is this where tax payer's money is going to, people discussing and passing out laws on extremely trivial things? I mean really, it's popcorn. So are they going make movie theaters stop selling it too? Are they going to take out the popcorn stands at Seattle events like Bite of Seattle or the Puyallup Fair? How about spending their time on more important matters like the traffic problem that Seattle has.

I think there may be a design problem. first one would hope that the microwaves are located in a break/lunch room area. If that is the case the smoke alarm should be adjacent but not located in these areas (same reason you do not put a smoke alarm in your kitchen). I am sure the progressives in the Peoples Democratic Republic of Seattle must have sprinklers in the building but then again socialists are only efficient at people control and wasting the peoples money. Tough for them to come up with a practical solution.

They should hire Rachael Ray to buzz around (she is VERY quick)and supervise all the popcorn popping so these terrible incidents are ended forever.

For the love of god people, READ THE STORY BEFORE YOU MAKE JACKASSES OF YOURSELVES.

This is not legislative action being taken against microwave popcorn in Seattle, WA. The puyallup fair, the Mariners, they are all safe. Your kitchen won't be crawling with federal agents demanding to conduct a microwave popcorn inspection.

IT'S CITY MANAGERS TELLING CITY EMPLOYEES TO BE CONSCIENTIOUS ABOUT THEIR POPCORN POPPING WITHIN AN INTERNAL MEMO. Why its so hard for people to understand that when you have to repeatedly empty a county jail (among other high occupancy buildings) because some idiot burned popcorn and set off the fire alarm, that its a serious situation, I just don't get.

It's not that hard people. Just read, one word, one sentence at a time. If you don't understand something, get a friend or parent to help you.

So put an exhaust fan in the lunch room so it won't set off the smoke alarm

It clearly says on the bag, "2 to 2 and a half minutes." Therefore, I always compromise and do 2 minutes and 15 seconds and my popcorn is always perfect! Hardly any kernels left, and I don't have to be anywhere near the microwave. I say, change the instructions on the bag. No more listening to pops, just do it for 2:15. There. Problem solved.

This is great!! I have been a big fan of banning the popcorn in the office since the earily 90's. I was working in a very prominent insurance agency where the president was expecting a very important client, when the client walked in he said to the boss, "wow, it smells like a circus in here". At that point how credible could you come across when your office smells like a circus. I had the pleasure of sending out the memo. Years later I am now working in a busy doctors office, patients have to come into the office for tests after fasting, the last thing they need to smell is popcorn. That is just cruel and unusual punishment. I'm working on a ban as a result of that. And just so you know this is popcorn that is NOT burnt. You don't want to know what happens when I smell the burnt stuff.

ZOMG! I wonder if Paris Hilton burns her microwave popcorn. This MUST be a top priority for the media to uncover! Forget the C4 stolen by terrorists from under the nose of the FBI! Forget the fanatic forms of Islam being taught! Forget the terror training camps on US soil! We need to understand the fundamentals of popcorn popping and do a celebrity poll at once!

PS- A new terror alert color has been issued by Homeland Insecurity. This new color is Burnt Orange. If you see this color in the alert process please exhibit a hightened state of awareness and know that someone has burnt their popcorn.

Call Dark Angel back to Seattle to keep the citizens safe from the popcorn menace. ;-P

i take my popcorn to work w/ me...i think that it is rude if others don't like the smell and the smell while cooking tends to trigger others brains and takes them away from work to my space to eat my popcorn..so i say pop your own at home..put it in a glad bag and that should cure the problem...

I work in a hospital and it is banned here

I work in a hospital and it is banned here

apparently no one in Seattle is really working in the office, if something this trivial is going to stop productivity. sounds like a lame excuse to go home, to me... like a kid pulling the fire alarm in school...

get over yourselves and stop asking the government to be involved in every little thing. apparently these people have never read Orwell's 1984, either.

My comments don't actually apply to the "possible" ban of microwave popcorn in Seattle city municipal buildings, but to the report itself. I don't know if this was "planned" or just happened by "accident" or a "setup". But when Bobby interviews Pedro Vasquez, I did notice in the backround, hmm what was it again... oh yes, it was what is commonly known as fire. Fire? Is it so cold during the summertime in Seattle that they require fire to heat their buildings? And by the way, I'm not trashing Seattle, I am a former resident and native of Washington State. Having said that, I'm wondering if I should move back or not. I'll think on that for a while... maybe a year or two.

You moron! Of course the fire was a setup! haha

Thanks Allison, Love you too...

There ought to be a plan to discuss the cost of sending out memo's by any format other than email. As for the cost of popcorn, now that's a silly question I won't invest time into just now. The commercial is almost over...

Oh, I live in Kitsap County and so far as I know we're safe popcorn poppers over here.

Is this a hoax or true? Is there really so little going on in Seattle that there is an entire posting board for banning popcorn for city workers? God help this city if this is what our tax dollars are actually going towards.

If the choices of people continual to be taken away from them ,there will be no wiping your nose, no rubbing your eyes & NO POPCORN. Sounds like Socialism to me.

Clearly !!!! Stop the POP. I'm a tax payers and it's counter-productive to have the whole building evacuated. The State is already too ineffecient.

Clearly !!!! Stop the POP. I'm a tax payers and it's counter-productive to have the whole building evacuated. The State is already too ineffecient.

Stories like this both sicken, and sadden me. That grown adults haven't the ability to nuke a bag of popcorn without screwing it up... On further reflection, I'd wager that these are the same people that don't know how to use a turn signal, that have a cell phone cemented to their ear, thus obliterating their view of the car they just cut off with their no-look lane change... They are also the people that clog up I-5, from the Seneca Street exit, on back to Corson, because they are too stupid to read the sign saying the express lane is open for southbound traffic. The most horrifying thought in all this, is that these people also procreate.

No! No! No! Popcorn shouldn't be banned in the workplace.
I personally don't pop popcorn in the workplace or at home much. However it is a great inexpensive snack.

Most of the time popcorn is popped properly here in Seattle Municipal Tower.
People are being more responsible when it comes to not burning it.
Azziem’s Word for today. “Watch When You Pop”

Not a big deal to fix. Buy a 2nd microwave and only allow the type that has the dial for time. Put a rod where one can only use it for 3 minutes. Put a sign on the glass of the 2nd one - saying "Use next microwave for popcorn".

This is so funny! Banning an item of food because of irresponsible individuals. What's next? Banning coffee because certain people can't wash out their coffee cups at the end of the day? There's a simple way to deal with this situation, but rather than take the time to speak to the individuals causing the problems... they punish everyone. It's hilarious!!!!

Pleeeeeease kill me now! Try putting the darned microwave in a well ventilated area. DUH...and do not leave it alone. Duh...

I have heard stupid things in my life, but this one really takes the cake...it's kind of like that time they tried to ban Bread makers because they polluted the air. OYE!

Make the popcorn before you leave for work. It's a simple idea. You make your popcorn in your microwave at home. When it's done popping take it out, transport it to work and when you want some while you are working open it up. You'll save on time at work actually working and the building from being evacuated. Imagine that.

This may be more important than simply burning popcorn in a microwave:

Results of a study by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published in October reveal that compounds known to break down into the suspected carcinogen PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) may be served up to millions of unwitting consumers in bags of microwave popcorn. The family treat could account for >20% of the average PFOA levels now measured in the blood of U.S. residents.

Most Americans carry 4–5 ppb of PFOA in their blood, according to the U.S. EPA’s draft PFOA risk assessment, but its source has been unknown. Products used in the home are thought to play a role, including nonstick cookware such as Teflon pans, which are produced by a process that uses PFOA. But several studies, including this one, suggest that nonstick cookware is not a major source...

-Rebecca Renner, "It's in the microwave popcorn, not the Teflon pan." American Chemical Society, Environmental News. January 1, 2006. p. 1

Clearly the issue here is reading and following directions and attention to detail... First grade stuff...c'mon folks. step one - read the label, if you can't read, put down the popcorn and walk away!!!

Stop the abuse....Most city employees are hard working and care about their jobs. Bashing a person because they work for the government makes no sense. Yes, we have all had a bad experiance with a government empoyee, but haven't we also had bad times at the grocery store, banks, and deli's. Point is let it go, get on with YOUR life. Watch your popcorn and dammit have a sense of humor. And for the record... no I don't work for any government foreign or domestic.

If I didn't know better, after reading these responses I would think the only people that burn microwave popcorn are the City of Seattle employees. I agree with popcorn being banned in the workplace because no matter where you go, there's always at least one moron who won't stand by the microwave and listen to make sure the bag doesn't scorch. The fact that it's setting off fire alarms proves it's gotten way out of control and the ban is absolutely necessary.

Only Seattle idiots could burn so much popcorn. Just shoot any employee in this building that burns another bag of popcorn. Morons! Morons! All of you!!! and that includes the person who wrote the memo.

I work at a College, and one department in particular burns popcorn on a regular basis -- causing phone calls to Public Safety, which must dispatch someone to investigate. If someone is not competent enough to microwave popcorn, perhaps they shouldn't have access to one -- but this is a decision which should be handled by first-line SUPERVISORS!

I HATE the smell of microwave popcorn. There are two guys and my boss that eat that stuff, usually burnt every single work day. The exhaust from our kitchen area goes directly in my office. They are SO aware that it makes me sick to my stomach when they burn it. Sometimes I get nausiated even when it's not burnt. I HATE IT!

I'm a smoker and must go in the warehouse/outside to smoke. It doesn't linger ALL DAY like that burnt crap.

I also bartend on the weekend. Oh yeah, I live in Houston where they just banned smoking in bars. The bar I work at had smoke eaters everywhere...expensive"kept up" ones. My bar boss bought a POPCORN maker! It gages me for about an hour after somebody pops it. To heck with cigs, how about banning popcorn?

George W. is sitting there in his office reading this and cracking up.

Yes...government telling people what to do at an extreme level...sounds like communism...NOT. Sounds like soviet "communism" to me...or chinese "communism."

Get over your anti-communalism. Forget about soviet communists, you are so dumb to think that is actually communism. Communalism is all about family as the basic political unit of society. Maybe the government is stupid. Ever stop to think about that? Ever?

Silly Americans. Government has pulled a fat shade over your eyes and your squabbling like chickens.

I Think they should buy a commercial size corn popper. and Hire one of Their offspring to work the machine. It would be no time before whoever was hired to run it, was making the best unburnt popcorn ever. And never to set off another alarm.All is well. HoHum-HoHum!woe is me.