Letters.It's a round world, after all In "High-flying science, with strings attached" (SN: 9/16/00, p. 186) about the use of kites for science, we are told that Antarctica is "[m]ore than half a world away from Kansas." I know a shorter route. It's a round, round world, after all! Marvin E. Kahn Darnestown, Md. Risk assessments Regarding the article "Risky business" (SN: 9/16/00, p. 190), the challenge is how to increase the anomalous risk perceptions of white males. Their low risk perception may lead to higher use of cigarettes and other addictive drugs, lower use of condoms to prevent sexually transmitted diseases Sexually transmitted diseases Infections that are acquired and transmitted by sexual contact. Although virtually any infection may be transmitted during intimate contact, the term sexually transmitted disease is restricted to conditions that are largely , driving at unsafe speeds and while intoxicated in·tox·i·cate v. in·tox·i·cat·ed, in·tox·i·cat·ing, in·tox·i·cates v.tr. 1. To stupefy or excite by the action of a chemical substance such as alcohol. 2. , poor eating practices, higher use of guns, and so on. These behaviors put others at risk and cost society in insurance premiums, excess medical costs, and more. The risk observations are not trivial. How can white males be socialized so·cial·ize v. so·cial·ized, so·cial·iz·ing, so·cial·iz·es v.tr. 1. To place under government or group ownership or control. 2. To make fit for companionship with others; make sociable. so as to heighten their risk perceptions and make us all a bit safer and a bit wealthier? Sandy Conners Starkville, Miss. "Risky business" shows that one of the preeminent centers for the study of risk has become contaminated contaminated, v 1. made radioactive by the addition of small quantities of radioactive material. 2. made contaminated by adding infective or radiographic materials. 3. an infective surface or object. with the spores of relativism. Every person's perception of reality is accepted as equal, and objective truth is just a tool for oppression by that dominant caste of exploiters, the white males. Paul Slovic Paul Slovic (b. 1938) is a professor of psychology at the University of Oregon and the president of the Decision Research group. He earned his Ph.D. in psychology at the University of Michigan in 1964. is quoted as saying, "Defining risk is thus an exercise in power." Years ago, I looked at Paul Slovic's early work as the first hope for rational policy making in matters of risk. I'm very disappointed. Critz George Albuquerque, N.M. Split ad infinitum ad in·fi·ni·tum adv. & adj. To infinity; having no end. [Latin ad, to + Is it within the realm of feasibility that electrons possess an underlying quarklike structure in the manner of protons and neutrons? The hypothesis that electrons can be subdivided into smaller particles termed "electrinos" ("Electron breakup? Physics shake-up," SN: 9/30/00, p. 216) offers an ideal experimental opportunity to test this concept. Each contingent of such particles could be subjected to repeated expansions into ever smaller bubbles, which would split and form more minuscule electrinos. At some stage, these tiniest electrinos could then undergo particle or laser bombardment, which might rip them apart, yielding insight into a possible scaffolding composed of "electron" or "lepton lepton (lĕp`tŏn') [Gr.,=light (i.e., lightweight)], class of elementary particles that includes the electron and its antiparticle, the muon and its antiparticle, the tau and its antiparticle, and the neutrino and antineutrino associated with " quarks. Franklin Ruehl Glendale, Calif. |
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