It’s a sad coincidence for a nuclear accident to happen at all, but even more unfortunate that the Japanese experience comes during modernization of our antique electrical grid.

Folks are confused enough by all the smart-meter panic without adding nuclear “radiation” to the conversation.

But high school physics has hardly the time to teach us what forms of radiation there are, and so most of us who never see engineering college can be sent into despair as they read the news.

The word “radiation” simply describes stuff that radiates away from a point of source — like light from a candle or sound from a singer or a baseball from a bat. Radial motion.

The word “radio” derives from it — radio waves and light waves leave their source and radiate outward. Radio and light waves are “electromagnetic” radiation, like jiggling a magnet in your fingers.

Only at extreme power levels and ultra-high frequencies can radio waves become small enough to start affecting our bodies — for example, microwaves or X-rays in hospitals, or cosmic rays from the sun. Ultraviolet rays are stopped at our skin, causing tan or sunburn.

But long, low-frequency waves like those used in power lines, radio, TV and smart meters are so weak and slow that they pass on by without any effect (unless maybe you hold their source directly against your brain’s neurons).

Nuclear radiation involves atoms and pieces of split atoms that are not only sources of high-energy radiation but also material in themselves — dust that can be blown with the wind or collected in water or your hand.

The high-energy, short-wave radiation from such radioactive particles, especially if they’re ingested, can tear apart the molecules that we love to hug and see as ourselves or our children.

Nuclear radioactivity needs to be treated with the utmost respect, but it can’t be discussed in the same context as radio communications.

Pete Mickelson, P.E.

Buxton

If cameras ‘save lives,’ put them in our bedrooms

Re: the wire service article, “Hidden road cameras ambush speeders in South Carolina town,” on March 28: According to Mayor Gary Hodges of Ridgeland, S.C., hidden cameras on I-95 “reduce accidents and, most importantly save lives.”

Every year here in Portland, more and more cameras are showing up on street corners because they “save lives.” Cameras are in stores, malls and places of employment, all to keep us safe.

Are you aware that people in this country are severely injured or even killed while in and around their homes? How can we allow this to happen?

We need to roll up our sleeves and find a solution to the dangers that exist in our homes.

Therefore, I propose we make a law mandating that all homeowners in Maine install cameras that provide a live video feed to the local police department.

If you are sound asleep in bed and a fire starts in the kitchen, the police could see what is happening from the kitchen camera, then observe that you are sound asleep from the bedroom camera.

With no time to lose, they could have the fire department quickly respond to your house even before you knew something was amiss. A home invader wouldn’t be able to step foot inside your house before the police arrived.

Just imagine how safe and sound you would feel knowing that the police are watching everything going on inside and outside your house.

Most importantly, “It would save lives.”

John Dudley

Waterboro

Time to find a cure for excessive spending

Every now and then I find myself too happy, so to counter my temporary content, I’ll start writing letters to my elected representatives.

In the sake of full disclosure, I am an evil conservative. I believe in personal responsibility, spending less and lowering taxes.

I believe in drilling for oil wherever we can. I think wind power, electric cars and compact fluorescent bulbs are all very cute ideas, but in reality they’re far too inefficient to ever have any leading real role in making us energy independent.

See — a conservative. And although I’ve never actually kicked a puppy or stolen clothes from orphans, I probably have thought about it.

Anyway, I decided to share my evil “cut spending” message with Rep. Chellie Pingree.

Imagine my surprise when she not only disagreed with me, but did her darndest to convince me that there is basically nowhere in the government that spending can be cut without bringing about the end of civilization as we know it.

In her words, slashing funds for “renewable energy programs, public broadcasting, AmeriCorps and high-speed rail in addition to countless other programs and services will only hurt our recovering economy.” (She almost had me until she dropped in the granddaddy of stupid programs, high-speed rail.) Clinically, Ms. Pingree’s condition is known as “Spendtaxpayersmoneyonstupidstuffitis,” a disease that’s running rampant throughout government.

It spreads from ego to ego like wildfire, and once it’s taken hold, it results in major loss of the ability to reason.

The victim usually sees no relation between the money they actually have and the money they can spend.

In the late stages of the disease, the victim actually becomes a parasite, sucking its host organism, the taxpayer, dry.

Let’s all pray for a cure. While we’re waiting, I’ll go kick a puppy.

Kerry Peabody

Scarborough

Jetport may be expanding, but its planes get smaller

As another expansion of the Portland Jetport continues, I must ask, why have the planes gotten so small and uncomfortable?

I am less than 5 feet 4 inches tall and cannot stand up in most of the planes that depart from Portland.

In the late 1970s, Portland had decent-sized aircraft.

But for the last several years, when I fly to and from Portland, I feel as if I am trapped inside a paint can shaker.

Carolyn Vetro

Portland

 

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