I do not think it means what you think it means...

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Jason Weisberger is Boing Boing's publisher. He often does what he ought, instead of what he should. On instagram and twitter he is @jlw

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Eurovision 2013: An American in London

The technology that links taxonomy and Star Trek

http://bbc.co.uk/chinese cycle23

.So… I can’t carry it around?
- First Last
  
  You may need to have your eyes tested.
vonbobo

You could drink it, but you better not.
- apenzott
  
  I have seen this in Mexico, especially at the airports.
  
  Translation:
  “If you are a native, you can drink this water safely.
  If you are a tourist, you will survive the ordeal but expect a rough ride.”
  
  OK to use to wash hands and face, but not to drink or even to brush your teeth.
theophrastvs

This “drinkable” water is not for drinking (?: by you! | today | for free | because it’s for bathing | because it’s too hot and our lawyers say so | by anyone who is literate)

(1570s, from Old French potable (14c.), from Late Latin potabilis “drinkable,” from Latin potare “to drink”)
- Paul Renault
  
  Maybe it’s for cooking. Or showering. Or watering the plants.
  
  ‘Potable’ is still in common use in French. And it means suitable for drinking.
  - First Last
    
    ‘Potable’ is still in common use in English! And it means suitable for drinking!
    - http://cobramcgiantballs.tumblr.com/ Xploder
      
      Very true and it used to drive me absolutely nuts when I was in the Army and was repeatedly told that it was only for showering and NOT safe for drinking. Sigh.
  - http://www.facebook.com/victor.jimenezmerino Víctor Jiménez Merino
    
    Also used in Spanish. Also common.
Brainspore

Stingy bastards.
http://paladinoftheweb.myopenid.com/ Joshua Carmody

This water is safe to drink!

But… we are going to make soup with it later. So, don’t drink it.
- Roose_Bolton
  
  That’s exactly what I’m getting out of it.
Roose_Bolton

Pot-able? So….good for bongs.
blueelm

Yes it’s good water. No you can’t have any.
http://twitter.com/Bashtarle Bashtarle

Contradictions, the one thing that without fail still makes me smile <3
howaboutthisdangit

“Just look at it, dammit!”

Perhaps they meant to say “Potty water not for drinking,” although I feel sorry for anyone who needs to be told that.
chgoliz

The potable water is NOT for drinking; instead, we insist you purchase this non-potable option over here….
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=575964804 Todd Maloy

Everybody knows that potable water is water designed to be put in your bong to smoke pot with.
Wreckrob8

The Mail says it cures and causes cancer.
Destin

It does sound kind of ominous, if you don’t know any better.

“Stay away from that water, Jimmy, it might be potable!”
- Antinous / Moderator
  
  Ah, yes. Junior High School. Your epidermis is showing!
  - Donald Petersen
    
    The height of hilarity for a couple of my 8th grade classmates involved accusations of heterosexuality and masticating in the cafeteria.
    
    Sigh.
TheOven

I’m just glad it’s not inflammable.
- Antinous / Moderator
  
  Not sure whether I should sanction this comment. Maybe I should table it instead.
DewiMorgan

Reminds me of a few years back, working in an electronics company. We were designing a controller for a water fountain type gizmo. My boss contacted a valve company to ask about water valves. Everything went fine and normal, until he asked if the valves were okay for potable water.
I forget the exact response, but it went along the lines of:
“Oh, my. Potable water. Well, that’s dangerous stuff. Not sure we sell anything for that. Would be expensive, if we do…”
- Paul Renault
  
  There was an article on another blog where the person had received a credit card with the cardhold name as ‘John Doe 3′. He called the CC company and explained that his name was ‘John Doe The Third’ – and that they should write that ’3′ on the CC using roman numerals.
  
  “We don’t have roman numerals on our keyboards….”, came the reply.
jandrese

My guess is that water is set aside for cooking or washing dishes or something where you technically need the water to be potable, but you don’t want people drinking your supply.
http://twitter.com/beep54orama B E Pratt

From the Department of Redundancy Department: I remember working in a kitchen once that dealt with LOTS of eggs finding a case of eggs that had printed on it (I am not making this up), “Eggs. Fragile. Handle like eggs.”
Henry Pootel

But is it pronounced “pot-able” (front-rhymes with pot) or “pote-able” (front-rhymes with coat)?
- First Last
  
  It’s the latter.
- Antinous / Moderator
  
  http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=potable&submit=Submit
  
  For all your poncey pronunciation needs.
  - marilove
    
    “pot-head” haha
plyx

I think it’s supposed to be read in the voice of Borat; “Potable water for drinking…NOT!”.