Christopher Merle, a fine fellow whom I met in Arizona recently, sent along this link to a very interesting perspective on media coverage of the Las Conchas fire near Los Alamos. It’s a well-researched and thoughtful take on the situation, and much in line with my own thoughts. (But more eloquent and thought through far better than I would have been able to achieve.)
That’s it for now while I’m busy trying (and failing) to carve my initials into the moon.
Your friend makes good points about coverage. He limited himself to the LANL portion, which is understandable given the nature of the blog. But now that the fire has bypassed the lab and town, news coverage has dropped off even though it still threatens another place, Santa Clara Pueblo. The tribe is losing some sacred sites to the blaze, but because the threat of a plutonium apocalypse isn’t imminent, few people care. Except those still in its path.
Thanks for the article link Ian–it was nicely written and informative. The link to the drought map was quite interesting. It is amazing how many in the media will immediately latch on speculation about radiation and just about ignore the larger issues.
From your link I see that you are back in the “cool laser place.” Remember, whatever you do, Don’t cross the streams!
Nope, it isn’t. In fact I was just talking to folks (including Emily and Melinda) about how the effects of the fire ravaging Santa Clara have received such minuscule coverage compared to the overblown media hype about an environmental apocalypse at LANL.
It’s very discouraging. The fire has been devastating to Santa Clara and many other communities.
Not only are we crossing the streams, if anybody asks me if I’m a god, I’m going to say, “No.”
If anybody asks me if I’m a god, I’m going to say, “No.”
You’re not a god?
You mean I’ve been putting all those offerings on your doorstep to no good purpose? It took me hours to pick all those flowers!