European Tribune - Comments - The Nuclear Skeptic, Part 1: Sketching the Playing Field

The Nuclear Skeptic, Part 1: Sketching the Playing Field | 147 comments (147 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: The Nuclear Skeptic, Part 1: Drawing the Play (none / 0)

f) Radiation is undetectable without specialized equipment and people cannot tell if they are being exposed, having to rely on the word of (untrusted) authorities -- agree, but tell me how this is different from most chemical or biological contamination.

Oddly enough, the specialized equipment could be included in any digital watch at negligible cost, yet so far as I know, none is available. (Technical sketch: a diode near the threshold of spontaneous avalanche breakdown goes ptui! when an ionizing radiation event occurs. A tiny bit of circuitry and memory counts these events and displays appropriate time-average based radiation measurements on request. For extra value, the watch flashes and beeps if the radiation environment becomes unusually hazardous.)

Words and ideas I offer here may be used freely and without attribution.

by technopolitical on Mon May 22nd, 2006 at 11:21:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Nuclear Skeptic, Part 1: Drawing the Play (none / 0)

I own a low-end geiger counter. cost me 199€. fits in a pocket. 1 R6 battery.

Pierre

by Pierre on Tue May 23rd, 2006 at 04:22:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Nuclear Skeptic, Part 1: Drawing the Play (none / 0)

Yep, I was wondering how much a geiger counter costs... Froogle.co.uk gives £225 as the lowest price.

guaranteed to evoke a violent reaction from police is to challenge their right to "define the situation." --- David Graeber citing Marc Cooper

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Tue May 23rd, 2006 at 04:42:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Nuclear Skeptic, Part 1: Drawing the Play (none / 0)

Nuclear watchdog association CRIIRAD sells geiger counters in France. They buy in bulk and resell without a profit. 10% cheaper than commercial lab-equipment resellers for the same counters.

Pierre

by Pierre on Tue May 23rd, 2006 at 05:54:32 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Nuclear Skeptic, Part 1: Drawing the Play (none / 0)

$150 is the cheapest quote on froogle.com... It does seem to confirm that this equipment is too expensive for most people to have one, even if Technopolitical's diode wristwatch would be cheap enough. A smoke alarm [with a radioactive element in it!] will cost a few dollars/euros/pounds and many private homes have them, but people would't dish a couple hundred dollars/euros/pounds for a geiger counter [though I am told after chernobyl Ukrainians would go to the market with a geiger counter to weed out unsafe food, so it could become widespread].

guaranteed to evoke a violent reaction from police is to challenge their right to "define the situation." --- David Graeber citing Marc Cooper

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Tue May 23rd, 2006 at 08:12:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Nuclear Skeptic, Part 1: Drawing the Play (none / 0)

A smoke detector is 45€ at the bazar de l'hotel de ville !

Pierre

by Pierre on Tue May 23rd, 2006 at 08:32:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Nuclear Skeptic, Part 1: Drawing the Play (none / 0)

In the UK you can get them for less than £5. Now, is there a legal requirement to have smoke detectors in France? In the UK it is required at least as part of a rental contract, and I believe insurance companies will also require it. In the US it is also required. It is not required in Spain as far as I know.

guaranteed to evoke a violent reaction from police is to challenge their right to "define the situation." --- David Graeber citing Marc Cooper

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Tue May 23rd, 2006 at 09:22:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Nuclear Skeptic, Part 1: Drawing the Play (none / 0)

not required in France, or may be just in new buildings

Pierre

by Pierre on Tue May 23rd, 2006 at 09:22:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Nuclear Skeptic, Part 1: Drawing the Play (none / 1)

no prob, just wed it to an ipod!

THE accessory to be seen with...serious street cred...

~"When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate." Karl Jung~

by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Tue May 23rd, 2006 at 05:55:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The Nuclear Skeptic, Part 1: Sketching the Playing Field | 147 comments (147 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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