Free Lance Headline Guilty of ‘Lurid Sensationalism’
Free Lance Headline Guilty of ‘Lurid Sensationalism’
Editor,
The headline of a recent article in your so-called Health section reads “Impact of Radio Frequencies on Health Largely Unclear.” This is not only wrong, it is irresponsible.
High energy radiation, such as X-rays, can tear atoms apart, causing serious damage leading to cancer and other negative health effects. But radio waves cannot cause ionization, even at extremely high power levels. They CAN cause simple heating, as in microwave ovens. So they can cause burns, and damage to sensitive material such as sperm and parts of the eye.
To be exposed to such levels of radio waves, you would have to stand next to a high power transmitting antenna or put parts of your body into a microwave oven. The power levels of cell phones, cell phone towers and the leakage from microwave ovens can only raise body temperatures by hundredths of a degree. They cannot cause harm, as has been shown by hundreds of careful studies. Farmers can believe anything they want about their cows, for example. Scientific studies have shown that they are simply wrong. And the article says as much. The headline is simply an example of lurid sensationalism.
Robert Gilchrist Huenemann, MSEE
Hollister
Thanks to the Free Lance for Writing About Our Roads
Editor,
I would like to thank the Hollister Free Lance for bringing attention to the poor conditions of our local roads. Not only are there large potholes in our roads that damage our cars every day, but we can’t even veer around them because the roads in this community are too narrow.
After reading the recent article about city and county road conditions, I began thinking about the changes needed to our city’s basic services. The blame keeps getting passed around yet nothing is being done to repair and improve our community’s infrastructure. Our roads, our schools and our downtown need attention and need to be taken care of soon. Our local leaders must stop pointing fingers and start getting things done. The question is how are we going to get this done and who’s going to pay for it.
We must pursue the support of trusted partners like Del Webb who can help expedite the process of getting the things our community needs. The solutions are out there and they do not have to come out of San Benito County residents’ wallets. The money needs to come from these outside sources that have the ability to make things happen.
I want our city to continue to thrive because right now we are on a bumpy road that is going nowhere.
Ellen Fisher
Hollister
