Failed GPS Contractor Starts EM Danger-to-Kids Scare

[Pangloss]

This is one of those stories that just makes you shake your head in wonder over the idiocy of people.

 

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/orl-busgps3005nov30,0,267024.story?coll=sfla-news-florida

 

School-district officials discount claims that the GPS technology used by everyone from backwoods hikers to drivers navigating the best route to work could cause leukemia among children traveling to and from school.

 

Thousands of students already ride the 350 buses using the tracking devices in Orange County and another 80 buses in Volusia. Thousands more will be riding GPS-equipped buses in coming months as Orange expands its program to 150 more buses, Volusia adds 300 more units and Seminole schools join in.

 

Representatives of Education Logistics, a Montana company that put in its own bid and also was involved in one submitted by Sprint Nextel, say the radio-transmission system used by the preferred bidder could be dangerous.

 

They complained in an e-mail to Seminole school officials, calling for a public debate on possible dangers to children.

 

"There is some indication there is a link between radiation levels and childhood leukemia," said Tom Mullins, senior vice president of Education Logistics, citing a British agency's review of many research studies.

 

That review by the National Radiological Protection Board in Great Britain dealt mostly with the hazards from electromagnetic fields, such as those created by overhead power lines. The agency's report suggested exposure to radio frequency fields is a lesser concern but that continuing research should be monitored.

 

So, in a nutshell, to their credit, the Education Logistics people aren't complaining about GPS (which is a completely passive system) per se. They're complaining about the system used to report the location of the GPS-equipped bus to the central office. Which is based on radio.

 

So what is it that Education Logistics' system uses to report the location of the bus to the central office? Oh no, it's not that horrible radio -- sounds so much like "radioactive", doesn't it? Heaven forfend! No, their system uses cellular! Oh gosh, that's so much different from radio! No radiation there, right? Our children will surely be safer!

 

Unbelievable.

[Skye]

He needs a good kick in the teeth.

[cosine]

Grr... I hate it when this happens. There was recently a dispute in my old school district where Verizon was going to pay the school district to let them put a cell tower somewhere on school property, and the community shot it down due to fears of radiation. Meanwhile they have no problem spending needless amounts of money on parkinglot projects to actually remove parking spaces in a district that is growing drastically due to the previous corrupt administration of the town. Oh yeah and the new parking lot also makes it less safe to drive. Oh yeah and the new and ridiculous night lights for the football field were neccessary.

[Pangloss]

Isn't it interesting, by the way, that the same people who consider power lines a health hazaard will run to the nearest store to buy magnets to strap to their hips and legs in order to lose weight and gain vitality?

 

(chuckle)

[bascule]

When will people learn that non-ionizing radiation can't cause cancer?

[Douglas]

"There is some indication there is a link between radiation levels and childhood leukemia," said Tom Mullins, senior vice president of Education Logistics, citing a British agency's review of many research studies.

 

The man is crying "wolf" and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

[Douglas]

When will people learn that non-ionizing radiation can't cause cancer?

Are you saying that a 2 megawatt radar creates a plasma?

[bascule]

Are you saying that a 2 megawatt radar creates a plasma?

 

Are you saying it will give you cancer as opposed to just burning you?

[padren]

Maybe they'll X-ray the kids' brains several times a day and track if cancer occurs. If they find any it'll be quite condemning.

 

 

This reminds me of a guy that I had the misfortune of getting as my masseuse (masseur?) once who not only had a special magnet to protect his energy field (without which he begins to feel like he'll collapse), but went on and on how his dad and a neighbor got cancer from another neighbor with a HAM radio. After talking about wanting to burn the guy's house down, he went on to talk about the importance of positive energy in healing work....true story.

 

 

Don't school buses have CB radios anyway?

[swansont]

Move 'em all to Kansas and build a wall.

[john5746]

Meanwhile, the kids go home, sit in front of the TV and eat fast food.

[Pangloss]

Hehe, I knew you guys would like this story.