Comments on: Dingbat dictatorship in Belarus invents magical anti-cancer pockets for school uniforms http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/dingbat-dictatorship.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 23 May 2013 13:54:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Little John http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/dingbat-dictatorship.html#comment-566785 Little John Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-566785 Oh, yeah, Belarus. I just read about that government relatively recently: <a href="http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/front/Belarus_denies_Chernobyl_children_Swiss_visit.html?siteSect=105&sid=10646555&rss=true&ty=st">This article from SwissInfo.ch</a> reports about deciding to keep Belarussian children from visiting Switzerland.<blockquote>Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has threatened to cancel the trip after fearing some children would not want to come back home. ... Goerlich-Koch's charity is among around a dozen that invite the children every year. They do not get specific treatment for radiation illnesses, but they do receive vital vitamin courses and dental care that is denied to them at home.</blockquote><blockquote>And just a few weeks away from the dangerously high levels of radiation they are normally exposed to are enough to help reduce the concentrations in their bodies.</blockquote>Yep, Belarus is all about the children's well-being. Oh, yeah, Belarus. I just read about that government relatively recently:

This article from SwissInfo.ch reports about deciding to keep Belarussian children from visiting Switzerland.

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has threatened to cancel the trip after fearing some children would not want to come back home.
…
Goerlich-Koch’s charity is among around a dozen that invite the children every year. They do not get specific treatment for radiation illnesses, but they do receive vital vitamin courses and dental care that is denied to them at home.

And just a few weeks away from the dangerously high levels of radiation they are normally exposed to are enough to help reduce the concentrations in their bodies.

Yep, Belarus is all about the children’s well-being.

]]> By: Cicada http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/dingbat-dictatorship.html#comment-566040 Cicada Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-566040 I predict it will also prevent tiger attack. I predict it will also prevent tiger attack.

]]> By: eustace http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/dingbat-dictatorship.html#comment-566041 eustace Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-566041 The electromagnetic radiation is not the problem. Anyone who drives busy streets knows that the problem is the Stupid Rays mobiles give off. Tinfoil is useless against this threat - stomping on them repeatedly works, though. The electromagnetic radiation is not the problem. Anyone who drives busy streets knows that the problem is the Stupid Rays mobiles give off. Tinfoil is useless against this threat – stomping on them repeatedly works, though.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/dingbat-dictatorship.html#comment-566043 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-566043 If it's a faraday cage, then it will work, but will also reduce reception of texts/calls while in the pocket. Hey, maybe it will also cut down on interruptions in class. That's its real purpose! If it’s a faraday cage, then it will work, but will also reduce reception of texts/calls while in the pocket. Hey, maybe it will also cut down on interruptions in class. That’s its real purpose!

]]> By: Chrs http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/dingbat-dictatorship.html#comment-566045 Chrs Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-566045 I'm a skeptic with regards to the problems of cell phone EM radiation, but honestly, it's not going to hurt much. I mean, as long as they explain what it's actually doing, with wavelengths that the pocket is intended to block and whatnot, you could make a pretty interesting science lesson of it. I’m a skeptic with regards to the problems of cell phone EM radiation, but honestly, it’s not going to hurt much.

I mean, as long as they explain what it’s actually doing, with wavelengths that the pocket is intended to block and whatnot, you could make a pretty interesting science lesson of it.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/dingbat-dictatorship.html#comment-566046 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-566046 In authoritarian Belarus, tin foils you. In authoritarian Belarus, tin foils you.

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/dingbat-dictatorship.html#comment-566049 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-566049 perhaps an imperfect understanding http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/02/12/cellphone-study.html perhaps an imperfect understanding
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/02/12/cellphone-study.html

]]> By: nil8r http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/dingbat-dictatorship.html#comment-566308 nil8r Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-566308 "I've gotta quote for you, Edith. --'A bird that always flies in the fog is called a dingbat.'" -Archie Bunker http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/mobile-phone-use-raises-childrens-risk-of-brain-cancer-fivefold-937005.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1565477/Mobile-phone-cancer-risk-higher-for-children.html http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/07/business/worldbusiness/07iht-mobile08.4.10816383.html http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/07/31/ep.cell.phones.cancer/index.html http://www.pcworld.com/article/123014/cell_phones_affect_brain_waves_study_says.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone_radiation_and_health “I’ve gotta quote for you, Edith. –’A bird that always flies in the fog is called a dingbat.’”
-Archie Bunker

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/mobile-phone-use-raises-childrens-risk-of-brain-cancer-fivefold-937005.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1565477/Mobile-phone-cancer-risk-higher-for-children.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/07/business/worldbusiness/07iht-mobile08.4.10816383.html

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/07/31/ep.cell.phones.cancer/index.html

http://www.pcworld.com/article/123014/cell_phones_affect_brain_waves_study_says.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone_radiation_and_health

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/dingbat-dictatorship.html#comment-566061 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-566061 Um, no, according to the FP article this is just something some textile company came up with. No word on any official interest. Um, no, according to the FP article this is just something some textile company came up with. No word on any official interest.

]]> By: Halloween Jack http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/dingbat-dictatorship.html#comment-566317 Halloween Jack Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-566317 The former Soviet republics have been kind of boring ever since Turkmenbashi died and the furor over <i>Borat</i> died down. Good news, everyone! The former Soviet republics have been kind of boring ever since Turkmenbashi died and the furor over Borat died down. Good news, everyone!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/dingbat-dictatorship.html#comment-567086 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-567086 "Belarus, the last authoritarian regime in Europe" LOL! “Belarus, the last authoritarian regime in Europe”

LOL!

]]> By: gramiq http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/dingbat-dictatorship.html#comment-566325 gramiq Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-566325 What a great pocket to keep your RFID passport and credit cards in! Want! What a great pocket to keep your RFID passport and credit cards in!

Want!

]]> By: AnneH http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/dingbat-dictatorship.html#comment-566074 AnneH Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-566074 There are pouches made of fabric that claim to block cell phone signals- http://www.spyreview.co.uk/2008/01/02/phone-signal-blocking-bag/ I imagine the shirt pockets will use similar fabric. I suspect that 'protection from radiation' is an excuse. I am a teacher, and student cellphones are a huge distraction. Requiring students to put cell phones in signal shielding pockets sounds fantastic to me. There are pouches made of fabric that claim to block cell phone signals-
http://www.spyreview.co.uk/2008/01/02/phone-signal-blocking-bag/
I imagine the shirt pockets will use similar fabric.

I suspect that ‘protection from radiation’ is an excuse. I am a teacher, and student cellphones are a huge distraction. Requiring students to put cell phones in signal shielding pockets sounds fantastic to me.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/dingbat-dictatorship.html#comment-566356 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-566356 Let's get this right, In <i>authoritarian</I> Belarus, kids actually <i>have</i> mobile phones??? Cuba has only very recently said it will lift restrictions on mobile phones yet they've been available in Belarus all this time. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLO! I'm <i>not</i> surprised none of you mentioned this... Let’s get this right, In authoritarian Belarus, kids actually have mobile phones??? Cuba has only very recently said it will lift restrictions on mobile phones yet they’ve been available in Belarus all this time. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLO! I’m not surprised none of you mentioned this…

]]> By: Lord Xenu http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/dingbat-dictatorship.html#comment-566613 Lord Xenu Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-566613 They waterboarded a puppy? They waterboarded a puppy?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/dingbat-dictatorship.html#comment-566108 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-566108 Yum, I love Hot Pockets. Yum, I love Hot Pockets.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/dingbat-dictatorship.html#comment-566116 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-566116 Isn't a cell phone only transmitting EMF when it's actually in your hands? How the hell can it be an electromagnetic danger when it's sitting in an unlined pocket when all it can do is receive radio waves? WTF? Isn’t a cell phone only transmitting EMF when it’s actually in your hands? How the hell can it be an electromagnetic danger when it’s sitting in an unlined pocket when all it can do is receive radio waves? WTF?

]]> By: eustace http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/dingbat-dictatorship.html#comment-566128 eustace Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-566128 It both receives and transmits, even when it isn't receiving a call. It stays in touch with the towers that are in range. That's why the clock is so accurate; it's constantly being updated. It both receives and transmits, even when it isn’t receiving a call. It stays in touch with the towers that are in range. That’s why the clock is so accurate; it’s constantly being updated.

]]> By: membeth http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/dingbat-dictatorship.html#comment-566135 membeth Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-566135 Antinous, you nearly made me snarf :) Antinous, you nearly made me snarf :)

]]> By: dinosaurvictrola http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/dingbat-dictatorship.html#comment-566168 dinosaurvictrola Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-566168 cantilevered underpants anyone? cantilevered underpants anyone?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/dingbat-dictatorship.html#comment-566175 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-566175 They've got friggin' Chernobyl and they're worried about cell phones. Brilliant. They’ve got friggin’ Chernobyl and they’re worried about cell phones. Brilliant.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/dingbat-dictatorship.html#comment-566438 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-566438 Gotta admit, this post sounds a little ignorant and reactionary. Sure, it's great shine the light on a corrupt government, but why talk about something that is such an unknown? So much is yet to be known about cel phones' effects on the body. Unless you have some definitive evidence from the future, statements like that lower the standards of discourse. Gotta admit, this post sounds a little ignorant and reactionary.
Sure, it’s great shine the light on a corrupt government, but why talk about something that is such an unknown?
So much is yet to be known about cel phones’ effects on the body. Unless you have some definitive evidence from the future, statements like that lower the standards of discourse.

]]> By: presterjohn http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/dingbat-dictatorship.html#comment-566186 presterjohn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-566186 I employ a simpler solution to this supposedly tin foil hat minded concept: I don't let my kids have cellphones, and I won't until they are almost adults. Even if it turns out that exposure to cellphone EMF has no harmful effects, I'm gambling the net outcome is still positive. I employ a simpler solution to this supposedly tin foil hat minded concept:

I don’t let my kids have cellphones, and I won’t until they are almost adults.

Even if it turns out that exposure to cellphone EMF has no harmful effects, I’m gambling the net outcome is still positive.

]]> By: ETurrettini http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/dingbat-dictatorship.html#comment-566193 ETurrettini Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-566193 There was no place as hard hit by Chernobyl as Belarus. The exposure to it's radiation caused a widespread rise in cancer, congenital malformations and illnesses. Authorities are only thinking of protecting their children. There have been other protective clothing concepts against cell phone radiation since as early as 2002: male underwear, "mummy wraps" for pregnant women, dress shirts, caps, smart pants and even a Dockers'models with anti-radiation-lined pockets http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/2009/08/024237.htm There was no place as hard hit by Chernobyl as Belarus. The exposure to it’s radiation caused a widespread rise in cancer, congenital malformations and illnesses. Authorities are only thinking of protecting their children.

There have been other protective clothing concepts against cell phone radiation since as early as 2002: male underwear, “mummy wraps” for pregnant women, dress shirts, caps, smart pants and even a Dockers’models with anti-radiation-lined pockets

http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/2009/08/024237.htm

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/dingbat-dictatorship.html#comment-566473 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-566473 I'm told by the Belarussian guy in the next cubicle that this is a completely predictable action by the Belarussian government. Apparently, the Belarus population was so devastatingly ravaged by the Chernobyl disaster that their fear of anything relating to any sort of radiation is perfectly justified. When I was a kid, we adopted a puppy from the pound that lived his entire life in fear of water. How funny is a puppy that's afraid of water? It's as funny as a puppy that's been tortured and almost drowned before he was rescued. The Belarussian fear of any and all radiation isn't funny. It's a tragedy. I’m told by the Belarussian guy in the next cubicle that this is a completely predictable action by the Belarussian government.

Apparently, the Belarus population was so devastatingly ravaged by the Chernobyl disaster that their fear of anything relating to any sort of radiation is perfectly justified.

When I was a kid, we adopted a puppy from the pound that lived his entire life in fear of water. How funny is a puppy that’s afraid of water? It’s as funny as a puppy that’s been tortured and almost drowned before he was rescued.

The Belarussian fear of any and all radiation isn’t funny. It’s a tragedy.

]]> By: Rindan http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/dingbat-dictatorship.html#comment-566244 Rindan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-566244 As much as I loath Belarus, if you are going to try and put on the benevolent authoritarian dictator do-it-our-way-or-we-shoot-you-and-make-slaves-of-your-family ;) hat, this is the way to do it. If they are really making the kids stick their cell phone into a Faraday cage, it will keep class rooms free from cell phone distractions. Of course, I would probably be okay with annoying cell phone distractions if I got something useful in return, you know, like a liberal democracy and freedom from being terrorized by secret police. But hey, I am an old fashion liberal, so shoot me... preferably figuratively. As much as I loath Belarus, if you are going to try and put on the benevolent authoritarian dictator do-it-our-way-or-we-shoot-you-and-make-slaves-of-your-family ;) hat, this is the way to do it. If they are really making the kids stick their cell phone into a Faraday cage, it will keep class rooms free from cell phone distractions. Of course, I would probably be okay with annoying cell phone distractions if I got something useful in return, you know, like a liberal democracy and freedom from being terrorized by secret police. But hey, I am an old fashion liberal, so shoot me… preferably figuratively.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/dingbat-dictatorship.html#comment-566259 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-566259 <blockquote>Belarus, the last authoritarian regime in Europe</blockquote> For the benefit of readers who might confuse the EU with the European continent: <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/belarus/index_en.htm">Belarus is not part of the EU</a>.

Belarus, the last authoritarian regime in Europe

For the benefit of readers who might confuse the EU with the European continent: Belarus is not part of the EU.

]]> By: mstoddard http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/dingbat-dictatorship.html#comment-566269 mstoddard Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-566269 So, no tin foil in the microwave. How about a microwave in tin foil? So, no tin foil in the microwave. How about a microwave in tin foil?

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