Re: Dirty bomb article (Nature)

["Karl Ellison" <ellison1@localnet.com>]

This article reminded me of the 1982 film "The Atomic Café" (visit

http://www.sensesofcinema.com/contents/cteq/04/atomic_cafe.html) which contains

newsreel and government films from the '50's clipped together is a way that

illustrated the absurd, contradictory manner in which the bomb's safety was

portrayed. Although extremely entertaining, the juxtaposing clips leave you

with a chill. No way would this form of propaganda fly today, and it's from

this perspective the film's entertainment value comes (e.g.  look how ignorant

we were - "duck and cover"?, please ...).



The Dirty Bomb article particularly brought to mind one segment of the film

where they were interviewing soldiers to ask them what they thought of the bomb

and their safety just before they were part of a live test in the Nevada

desert. The interviewer said something to the effect of "I see you have these

film badges on" to which the solder replied "these tell the doctors how much

radiation we've received - they keep us safe" - the audio of this ludicrous

statement is superimposed with the image of the bomb detonating relatively near

by and when the shock wave reaches their bunker the dust flies into their faces

first back, then forth as they gape at the spectacle before them. A government

training film is then immediately shown showing how alpha and beta particles

are stopped by your skin, are only a hazard when breathed or taken orally. The

segment concludes with a post interview, where several soldiers admit to

getting "a face full".



This is another inexpensive "must have" DVD from amazon.com.



Karl Ellison

Salem, MA



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