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Navy wants to post trucks with electromagnetic radiation equipment on West End

2 points by o0-0o 12y ago

lutusp 12y ago
This is an unbelievably incoherent newspaper story. It doesn't say what the "electromagnetic radiation" is, what frequencies, power levels, beam patterns, or purpose. It reads like a press release by someone who hasn't visited Earth yet. Quote: "Extended close exposure to electromagnetic radiation could be a health hazard." Yes, and (1) sitting outside too long can get you sunburned (sunlight is electromagnetic radiation), and (2) defeating the safety interlocks on a microwave oven is a very bad idea. Which degree of threat is the reporter telling us about?
- sp332 12y ago
  It's not the reporter's fault. I don't think any of the official documents discuss what kind of radiation is involved. http://data.ecosystem-management.org/nepaweb/nepa_project_exp.php?project=42759 http://data.ecosystem-management.org/nepaweb/nepa_project_ex... The only information I could find is "(3) the beam pattern emitted is directional, which minimizes the area exposed to radiation". http://a123.g.akamai.net/7/123/11558/abc123/forestservic.download.akamai.com/11558/www/nepa/97011_FSPLT3_2242043.pdf http://a123.g.akamai.net/7/123/11558/abc123/forestservic.dow...
  - lutusp 12y ago
    > It's not the reporter's fault. Of course it is. Reporters aren't supposed to simply reprint the content of press releases as in this case, they're supposed to dig up some facts, something not covered by self-serving public relations documents. > The only information I could find is "(3) the beam pattern emitted is directional, which minimizes the area exposed to radiation". Yes, and that's true for sunlight also. It's just not at all informative. If anyone cared to, they could visit the Navy public relations office and ask a few pointed questions. Most likely, the Navy would say it's a relatively high-powered microwave transmitter, with a beam directed upwards to the intended target (fighter jets overhead), with about the power of a microwave oven with the door open. I'm not saying they would give that exact reply, but it would be likely to resemble it. But for that to happen, a real journalist would have to be on the job.

2 points by o0-0o 12y ago

This is an unbelievably incoherent newspaper story. It doesn't say what the "electromagnetic radiation" is, what frequencies, power levels, beam patterns, or purpose. It reads like a press release by someone who hasn't visited Earth yet. Quote: "Extended close exposure to electromagnetic radiation could be a health hazard." Yes, and (1) sitting outside too long can get you sunburned (sunlight is electromagnetic radiation), and (2) defeating the safety interlocks on a microwave oven is a very bad idea. Which degree of threat is the reporter telling us about?

sp332 12y ago
It's not the reporter's fault. I don't think any of the official documents discuss what kind of radiation is involved. http://data.ecosystem-management.org/nepaweb/nepa_project_exp.php?project=42759 http://data.ecosystem-management.org/nepaweb/nepa_project_ex... The only information I could find is "(3) the beam pattern emitted is directional, which minimizes the area exposed to radiation". http://a123.g.akamai.net/7/123/11558/abc123/forestservic.download.akamai.com/11558/www/nepa/97011_FSPLT3_2242043.pdf http://a123.g.akamai.net/7/123/11558/abc123/forestservic.dow...
- lutusp 12y ago
  > It's not the reporter's fault. Of course it is. Reporters aren't supposed to simply reprint the content of press releases as in this case, they're supposed to dig up some facts, something not covered by self-serving public relations documents. > The only information I could find is "(3) the beam pattern emitted is directional, which minimizes the area exposed to radiation". Yes, and that's true for sunlight also. It's just not at all informative. If anyone cared to, they could visit the Navy public relations office and ask a few pointed questions. Most likely, the Navy would say it's a relatively high-powered microwave transmitter, with a beam directed upwards to the intended target (fighter jets overhead), with about the power of a microwave oven with the door open. I'm not saying they would give that exact reply, but it would be likely to resemble it. But for that to happen, a real journalist would have to be on the job.