RE: CSI Miami I-131 Episode

[Sharyn Mathews <editor50@EARTHLINK.NET>]

Tim,


The point is, we didn't know ahead of time that the (flimsy) premise was

included in the show.  All we knew up-front was that they wanted a

way to show that they had detected I-131.  In fact, we wrote a

software "shortcut" so that the "detection" was

automatic. (Of course--what TV production studio wants REAL isotopes on

the set?) The shortcut was a "bridge" to get the ACTUAL

software to jump directly to the I-131 screen and give them the results

they were looking for. That's all.


I think enough has been said on the subject of reality vs. television

(THANK YOU Sandy Perle!).


Sharyn



At 11:26 AM 2/11/2003 -0500, you wrote:

Sharyn,
 
While I can accept your desire to get some free advertising I was very disturbed by the gross errors that show propagated.  I would have been ashamed to have any product I was promoting used in a program with such ridiculous scenes as therapeutic I-131 dose burning the flesh off a hand. 
 

Tim Hart
Radiation Protection Manager
NAVSEADET RASO
NWS P.O. Drawer 260
Yorktown, VA 23691-0260

Commercial: (757) 887-4692
DSN:  953-4692
Fax:  (757) 887-3235

"Speech is conveniently located midway between thought and action, where it often substitutes for both." - John Andrew Holmes

-----Original Message-----

From: Sharyn Mathews [mailto:publish@radpro.com]

Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2003 10:05 AM

To: Hart, Tim P GS (RASO)

Cc: radsafe

Subject: RE: CSI Miami I-131 Episode

Well, Tim,  I AM still here, and I am watching the comments coming along regarding the show.  We did NOT have any say in the story line or the information that they used to write the show--we merely provided the equipment, and we tried to use the exposure locally to promote our company--basically what any vendor in our position would do.  We know that the show was not great. As Barbara Hamrick pointed out, the writers were not interested in facts--probably not sensational enough for them.

But we attempted to use the show's popularity and their self-stated interest in the latest, greatest gadgetry to let people know that the URSA exists.  Yes, I DID have a problem with email yesterday, and that was unfortunate.  I ALSO apologized to the list when the problem was pointed out to me.  And I was sincerely grateful to the folks who pointed out the problem. It was never my intention to spam anyone, or to get into flame wars on the list.

Locally, our CBS TV affiliate gave us LOTS of coverage, and we have been using the air (and print) time to discuss what we REALLY do, and to promote the positive aspects of our profession.  And they have graciously allowed us that privilege.  In these days of the "sound bite" and disjointed coverage of just about every aspect of our lives, we make the best of what's available. This time, we chose to take the exposure and try to use it toward our own best interests. That's all.

I would hope that the members of radsafe would know and understand our situation.

Sharyn Mathews

Still here, still watching

At 09:00 AM 2/11/2003 -0500, you wrote:

I can't say I am surprised that we haven't heard anymore from Sharyn Mathews today.  I got my fill of the show 20 minutes into it and went to bed.  I guess I don't have any stamina.

 

Tim Hart

Radiation Protection Manager

NAVSEADET RASO

NWS P.O. Drawer 260

Yorktown, VA 23691-0260

Commercial: (757) 887-4692

DSN:  953-4692

Fax:  (757) 887-3235

"Speech is conveniently located midway between thought and action, where it often substitutes for both." - John Andrew Holmes