April 2009

Monthly

Newsletter

TRIANGLE AREA GAY SCIENTISTS 

PO Box 1137, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 

This is your brain.

This is your brain
on cell phones.

Any questions?
 

Do you need directions to the April TAGS potluck?

Drop us a note at

 tags@zuberfowler.com

 to introduce yourself!
*********************** 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

...but...just to be on the safe side...
 

"The available scientific evidence does not show that any health problems are associated with using wireless phones. There is no proof, however, that wireless phones are absolutely safe. Wireless phones emit low levels of radio frequency energy (RF) in the microwave range while being used. They also emit very low levels of RF when in the stand by mode. Whereas high levels of RF can produce health effects (by heating tissue), exposure to low-level RF that does not produce heating effects causes no known adverse health effects. Many studies of low level RF exposures have not found any biological effects. Some studies have suggested that some biological effects may occur, but such findings have not been confirmed by additional research. In some cases, other researchers have had difficulty in reproducing those studies, or in determining the reasons for inconsistent results."

- FCC and FDA Report about cell phones causing brain cancer

As exposed naked apes, we should have come up with better ways to detect and protect ourselves against dangerous radiation, but humans are slow learners on certain subjects. Somehow, sunburn still happens. Likewise, we use millions of cell phones, but science still won't declare conclusively whether they cause brain cancer. The addictive gadget (which wiped out personal solitude and meaningful face-to-face relationships in one decade) holds onto its probationary safety green light, except in vehicles operated by texting 16 year-olds. Yet, in 2008, Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, warned his staff to limit cell phone use, especially by children, just to be safe. Hmmm...TAGS still refuses to stoke hysteria about this. Our panic is always peer-reviewed, and we clamor only by clear consensus. While it may be just good atomic sense to ALWAYS wear a lead apron when cooking casseroles in your Amana Radar Range, don't leap to the conclusion that cell phones fry synapses or melt brains into jell-o worse than anything you've seen in a potluck buffet. Our skin-thin naked ape shields are holding. For now.

On March 7th, Martin and Clyde opened their upstairs and downstairs at Pinah for hosting TAGS and the Mary Renault Society. TAGSters commingled in the living room, clustered in the kitchen, and stacked up desserts on the red Formica bar in our hosts' lovely basement /fallout shelter / rumpus room. Your Editor thanks all for the birthday cake!

We welcome MRS members to join TAGSters again for our potluck at the home of Danny and Dean on Saturday, April 11, 2009 in Raleigh. Basset pups Eli and Zeb, along with Sam on his perch welcome you! The map on the back of this newsletter will guide you, and our hosts' phone number is included. We gather at 7:00 p.m. and dine around 7:30 p.m. We'll see you at Dean and Danny's low frequency but high hospitality potluck on Saturday, April 11th! (Just to be safe, skip the jell-o. Think of the children...) - Martin