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RE: CSI Miami I-131 Episode
Rick, Sandy was faster then I this time because I use to be the one to
critic the overreaction of the RADSAFE community on ANYTHING on TV or movie
talking about radioactive material and radiation. Sandy expressed my thought
exactly as I have already mentioned it during the last lengthy trend on the
same topic, but for Nuclear Train... What Sandy forgot to write is the fact
that TV is a "short-lived" medium, people now have already forgotten the CSI
episode as next week preview was probably on at the end of this episode and
because there is some other favorite program tonight... Even if the show was
scientifically correct, still you could have some people not understanding
the message, reporters trying to find another side of the story and...this
list getting excited again...
Stephane Jean-Francois, Eng., CHP,
Specialiste en radioprotection-Radiation Safety Specialist
Gestion des risques-Risk Management
Merck Frosst Canada et Cie,
514.428.8695
Fax:514.428.8670
stephane_jeanfrancois@merck.com
http://www.merckfrosstlab.ca
-----Original Message-----
From: Strickert, Rick [mailto:rstrickert@signaturescience.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2003 2:30 PM
To: William V Lipton; Sandy Perle
Cc: radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu
Subject: RE: CSI Miami I-131 Episode
Sandy Perle wrote:
> My point ... TV and movies are fiction unless specifically stated to
> be accurate in all areas.
Oh, there's a little more to it than that.
The stars from these crime investigation shows appear on late night talk
shows claiming they have much more respect for the actual crime
investigators and scientists they play on TV. The stars base this on all
the techniques they claim they've learned from visits to crime labs,
coroners, etc. while preparing for the part and the "experts" who help with
the show. And, of course, the sycophantic hosts never ask any hardball
questions like "What's the difference between a beaker and a flask?"
And then during sweeps week (or any other time) the network "news" shows
will feature some sensationalized story (oh...say like 'careless corporate
handling of radioactive materials') in which a clip from a crime
investigation show (especially if it's on the same network) will be slipped
in as an infotainment example of what such a disaster could *really* be
like.
And if the local news stations are hurting for stories other than (same ol',
same ol') city hall corruption to report on their late night news show, they
will do a "follow-up news report" complete with the same clip, a quick local
citizen "survey poll" (mostly from the nearest tavern) and
pulled-out-of-context excerpts from a local expert. Of course, the station
will hype the upcoming news special hours if not days ahead with panting
one-liners (invariably phrased as a question), such as "Radiation - if it
got on your hand, is there any hope of survival?! Details at 11."
And at your local public schools, teachers assign students to write reports
on something that's happening in the news. Guess what? ;-)
Rick Strickert
Austin, TX
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