is the title of a book recently published by Energi-lnform, Copenhagen; but those whose Danish is not flawless might wish to make do with the American original, The Health Hazards of Not Going Nuclear, $5.95 from Golem Press, Box 1342, Boulder, CO 80306; 10% off for AtE subscribers (hardbound $10.95 with 20% off). The translation has been adapted to Danish conditions and updated, e.g., in a remark on Praesident Carters nye energiprogram, , to the effect that indtil videre ser fremtiden ikke alt for lys ud. Truth to tell, we don't know what that means, either; we just hope it's not very complimentary .
As for the original in English, the British New Scientist (apart from a fair review in Nov. 1976) published a piece by a British humorist in Jan. 1977 who poked fun at the book while freely admitting that he had never seen a copy. The ever anti-nuclear Smithsonian (March 1977) lacked this comedian's integrity. Not only did it steal one of his jokes, but it falsely passed it off as a serious statement by the author (of the book) and cheerfully concealed the fact that the Smithsonian had never laid eyes on a copy, either. That is taxpayr-subsidized journalism at its yellowest.
Who else would sink so low as to write a review of a book without ever having seen it? We would: We know of one book that does not need to be read. It's called Pedal Power and a full-page ad in Publishers Weekly promises that it shows "how to produce energy by simply sitting on a stationary bicycle and pedaling. And how that energy can be used in an infinite number of ways from operating kitchen appliances ... to ploughing a field."
The reason for our short shrift is simple. A toaster, for example, often has a power rating of 750 W. which is quite close to 1 HP, or the power expended in lifting 550 lbs through 1 ft in 1 second. The horsepower was first defined by James Watt two centuries ago, after he had experimentally established that thiscorresponded to 50% more than the average horse could manage. Actually, no horse can keep going at 1 HP for long, and some cannot make it at all. But anyone who thinks he can do better than a horse (plus losses!) for long enough to toast a slice of bread can buy this book, which we have not seen, for $4.95 from Rodale Press, Emmaus, PA 18049.
Thereafter, he can proceed to ploughing a field.
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Vol. 5, No. 2
Newsletter: Access to Energy Newsletter Archive Volume: Volume 5 Issue/No.: Vol. 5, No. 2 Date: October 01, 1977 02:04 PM Title: The demise of the ballot box
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