Welcome to your Thursday open thread. I’m traveling this week, I’m in West Virginia. So you’ll have to play nice by yourselves. I’m sorry I’ll be missing tomorrow’s Carney-Urquhart debate (7:30 PM at University of Delaware).
This application of the precautionary principle is the wrong mistake to make. Cell phones cannot cause cancer, because they do not emit enough energy to break the molecular bonds inside cells. Some forms of electromagnetic radiation, such as x-rays, gamma rays and ultraviolet (UV) radiation, are energetic enough to break the bonds in key molecules such as DNA and thereby generate mutations that lead to cancer. Electromagnetic radiation in the form of infrared light, microwaves, television and radio signals, and AC power is too weak to break those bonds, so we don’t worry about radios, televisions, microwave ovens and power outlets causing cancer.
Where do cell phones fall on this spectrum? According to phys i cist Bernard Leikind in a technical article in Skeptic magazine (Vol. 15, No. 4), known carcinogens such as x-rays, gamma rays and UV rays have energies greater than 480 kilojoules per mole (kJ/mole), which is enough to break chemical bonds. Green-light photons hold 240 kJ/mole of energy, which is enough to bend (but not break) the rhodopsin molecules in our retinas that trigger our photosensitive rod cells to fire. A cell phone generates radiation of less than 0.001 kJ/mole. That is 480,000 times weaker than UV rays and 240,000 times weaker than green light!
Even making the cell phone ra di a tion more intense just means that there are more photons of that energy, not stronger photons. Cell phone photons cannot add up to become UV photons or have their effect any more than microwave or radio-wave photons can. In fact, if the bonds holding the key mole cules of life together could be broken at the energy levels of cell phones, there would be no life at all because the various natural sources of energy from the environment would prevent such bonds from ever forming in the first place.
I love how the article explained how the principles of physics say that a link is not possible. Not that this will stop people from continuing to say they’re linked.
Think Progress put together a video of Republicans trying and failing to find spending to cut.
In interview after interview, journalists have pushed, and even begged, GOP leaders for specifics, always to no avail. When pressed, they hem and haw, often appearing uncomfortable — and in the case of Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH), visibly angry — but can offer nothing more than cop-out answers like repealing unsent stimulus money or an “across the board” cut on all spending. ThinkProgress has compiled some of the more embarrassing of these moments:
One question was “what painful choice are Republicans prepared to make?” They can’t name one – that’s because they’re not serious.
anybody working on this yet?
http://www.delawaregrapevine.com/10-10bennettdui.asp
West Virginia? That means you’ll miss Rachel Maddow @ Deer Park Tavern this evening!
I know Ross! I’m so sad! I’m also going to miss Al Franken on Thursday. 🙁
For those that haven’t heard yet, Rachel Maddow is in town. She’s already interviewed Chris Coons and will be broadcasting from Deer Park Tavern tonight. Come early to get seats!
Also just saw some new poll numbers from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
John Carney leads Glen Urquhart by 15%
Flowers and Bonini are tied at 38% each. That will be an interesting race.
Have we seen this previously? The anti-establishment GOP candidates hire establishment GOP lawyer. So now you know where the campaign funds are going — to pay lawyers for all of the past illegality…..
John Adkins ruined drunk driving for state reps.
Jason – and DAG’s as well
ROTFLMAO
Chris Coons is over at dKos again wondering why his opponent is still talking about witchcraft while Delawareans want to talk about jobs and the economy.
Chris Coons may say he’s wondering, but he really knows the answer: The more Chrissy O’D talks about witchcraft, the less she’ll have to talk about jobs and the economy. It’s been clearly established that she knows more about witchcraft than the issues facing Delaware and the nation.
If she isn’t a witch, how do you explain the primary win? Case closed.
She might not know much about witchcraft, but she knows how to make some a spicy meatballs – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErgdUhZteqw
Rachel Maddow kicked out of O’Donnell’s campaign headquarters by angry guy.
Wonder if the guy is anyone we know?
I guess the Baggers dont know that a free press is a part of their beloved constitution
The baggers don’t know squat about the constitution.
Chris Satullo actually had a great article over on WHYY.org yesterday about the Constitution, the Tea Party, and the blinders that they seem to have on with regards to some Founding Fathers.
http://whyy.org/cms/news/center-square/2010/10/03/tea-party-meet-john-marshall/47223
Chris Coons volunteers have been invited to meet US Senator Al Franken at 2pm on Thursday at the IBEW Hall. They should RSVP to campaign HQ 302-650-3225. Very cool!
Speaking of drunk legislators–I applaud Brad Bennett’s immediate, responsible, civil, contrite admission of having erred. No excuses, special treatment, or blaming. I hope he puts this behind him soon.
BREAKING NEWS!!
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/rachel-maddow-booted-from-christine-odonnells-delaware-hq.php
WHOOPS WAS BREAking to me – lolol!! EVAN Q you baaad boy??
Joanne – do you have a link to the statement?
I’m sorry MJ–Unfortunately, I do—-if I can link correctly……… http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage
Thanks, Joanne. At least he stood up and took responsibility, unlike some other politicians (Vitter, Sanford, Gingrich, etc).
Edwards, Kennedy,…I know what you mean…..I think it says alot, and don’t want to negate the character he showed in facing things head on, and not behind a spokesperson or an excuse. That’s the lesson I want my children to see and hear.