Rants & Raves
Join the Anti-Nuke Network
"Stopping Loose Nukes" (Wired 10.11) was terrific - a proactive plan that could save hundreds of thousands of lives in the event of a terrorist attack. It would be nice if Tom Ridge, head of Homeland Security, had the same creativity as your writer and editors.
Paul Feiner
Greenburgh, New York
The system you describe seems effective at stopping car-delivered nukes. But what happens when a terrorist gets access to a small plane or a helicopter? Even if the system detects gamma rays, law enforcement will have less than 10 minutes to react. While multiple systems need to be developed, the best place to stop loose nukes is 14 miles offshore.
Lou Fasulo
Atlanta, Georgia
Incentives should be made for car companies to install mini radioactivity sensors coupled with Wi-Fi systems. People would want this both for patriotic purposes and to get a car with Net connectivity. This would surely create a wide nuke net once it became standard.
Lyle Lange
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Let's Get Chemical
Current chipmaking processes may require dangerous substances, but those cited in "Cleaning Up Clean Rooms" (Wired 10.11) are hardly carcinogenic franken-chemicals. Hydrogen peroxide is what our mommies had us rinse our mouths with (albeit in diluted form) and pour into our ears (full strength) to help remove wax. Isopropyl alcohol we swab on cuts and abrasions.
Sometimes just the word chemical frightens people, so we need to be cautious. After all, dihydrogen oxide keeps us alive, but a few years ago a survey revealed that people were terrified of it and would want the FDA to ban it from foods.
Geoff Nathan
Detroit, Michigan
"And Is This Your Full-Time Job?"
I liked your page on avoiding telemarketers with a DIY telezapper ("Why Telemarketing Is Evil," Wired 10.11). If you still get telemarketers calling you, use their own tactics to reverse the flow of information - and provide a few laughs. The tool offered at www.xs4all.nl/~egbg/counterscript.html is a script similar to the ones that telemarketers use, so you get to lead the conversation.
Pete Thelwall
Gainesville, Florida
UNDO
Bell Curve: Catherine Bell was born August 14, 1968 (�Power Houses,� Wired 10.11).
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