What's New Robert L. Park 25 March 2011

WHAT=92S NEW   Robert L. Park   Friday, 25 Mar 2011   Washington, DC
=09
1. IGNORANCE: HOUSE COMMITTEE VOTES TO OVERTURN NATURAL LAW.
The price of gasoline at the pump is at the highest level ever for this=20
time of year.  That=92s not all bad; raising the price is the only effect=
ive=20
way to reduce consumption, thereby improving the environment and delaying=
=20
the dreaded Hubbert peak.  There are, however, two ways to raise the pric=
e=20
to the consumer: increase the profit margin of the oil industry, or levy =
a=20
large consumption tax.  The revenue from a heavy consumption tax would he=
lp=20
to pay the crushing costs of the Bush economy. You will not be surprised,=
=20
however, to learn that the Republican Congress overwhelmingly prefers the=
=20
first method, which will embodied in the Energy Tax Prevention Act of 201=
1,=20
in preparation.  But first they had to amend the Clean Air Act to elimina=
te=20
the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency over greenhouse=20
gases.  According to an editorial in last week's Nature, the Republican=20
disdain for climate science was evident in the "anger and distrust direct=
ed=20
at scientists and scientific societies."  The widespread melting of snow=20
and ice, and rising global average sea level, is unequivocal evidence of=20
global warming, http://bobpark.physics.umd.edu/WN11/wn020411.html. =20

2. CELL PHONES: ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH TRUST MOCKS ALBERT EINSTEIN.
It's not exactly a work of art, but I recently came across an image taken=
=20
from the famous photo of Albert Einstein sticking his tongue out at the=20
cameraman.  A different gesture would be used today. The caption=20
was, "CAN'T CALL IT A SMART PHONE, IF IT KILLS BRAIN CELLS."  I wasn=92t=20
amused.  It was put out by the Environmental Health Trust, a nonprofit=20
educational foundation founded by Devra Davis.  She is the author=20
of "Disconnect," a recklessly irresponsible book that falsely claims that=
=20
radiation from cell phones causes serious health problems, including=20
cancer.  It is particularly offensive that Einstein's image was used for=20
such a purpose.  It was Einstein who pointed out in 1905 that microwave=20
radiation is not ionizing, for which he was awarded the 1921 Nobel Prize =
in=20
Physics. I pointed this out 10 years ago in an editorial I wrote at the=20
request of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, "Cellular=20
Telephones and Cancer: How Should Science Respond?" It is too late to=20
apologize to Dr. Einstein, but I expect a full apology from Dr. Davis. =20

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND.
Opinions are the author's and not necessarily shared by the
University of Maryland, but they should be.
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