The American Spectator

Reader Mail

Don't Forget to Duct

2.18.03 @ 12:01AM

SCOTCH THAT TAPE
Re: Reid Collins's Gaffer's Tape:

Reid Collins wrongly suggests that duct tape and gaffer's tape are the same thing. They are not.

The primary difference between the two is the adhesive used; gaffer's uses a less strongly adhering glue. That is because gaffer's tape is usually used to secure cables to floors and rugs for short periods of time, after which it must be removed, without damaging the underlying rug. In contrast, duct tape is intended to longer-term use, sealing ducts (as in air conditioning ducts), where once installed, it will generally stay installed. A stronger, more long lasting adhesive, is therefore required.

Gaffer's tape is also usually black or brown (the better to match the color of rugs) whereas duct tape is usually gray or silver (the better to match the color of ducts).

If you use duct tape to secure cables to a hotel's rug, you can reasonably expect the hotel's ire for the damage you do to their property. If you use gaffer's tape to secure plastic in your safe room, you can reasonably expect the system to fail prematurely.

Use the right tape for the right task.
-- Richard White

A "dirty bomb" is an undefined term, but is essentially an explosive device combined with some readily available radioactive material (probably industrial waste or industrial X-ray source). There is no history of this having ever been done, but it is in the terrorist literature. The result would be damage from the explosive plus some contamination from the dispersed radioactive material, plus as much hysteria as the media can generate.

There would be more radiation hazard to whoever handled the concentrated material (the terrorist) than to whoever had to clean up the same, but widely spread material following an explosion.

The threat to the thyroid is radioactive iodine, which is a fission fragment of a nuclear reaction. Any iodine ingested ends up in the thyroid, and a radioactive isotope will be hazardous. The suggestion of a "dirty bomb" means no nuclear explosion, no nuclear reaction, hence no fission fragments, and no iodine, radioactive or not. The author is starting the media hysteria sequence, but maybe just out of ignorance.

I will personally volunteer to assist in the cleanup/decontamination following any use of a terrorist "dirty bomb," anyplace in the country, and I will do it in street clothes as long as an industrial respirator mask is available.

I was chief engineer of one of the early Polaris nuclear submarines in the 1960s, and I worked in the nuclear industry until I retired.
-- Richard Soderholm

Great stuff, but that tape in a prior lifetime was also known as, in the AAF, as 100 knot tape, and in the Navy as ordnance tape, presumably to secure arming wires to bombs on their bombracks.

There you go. Keep it up. I love your stuff.
-- Gene Hauber
Meshoppen, PA

RUSSERT'S LATEST POTATO
Re: The Washington Prowler's Clinton's Generalissimo

I saw the Meet the Press appearance of Wesley Clark and one thing that struck me was his concern with the need to cultivate the good will of our allies in the decision process. He was set up for this by Tim Russert, who wondered if the anti-Americanism expressed by some European countries might not be pay back of some kind. Clark said it was just that and was due to the heavy-handed attitude of the present administration over the last two years. Talk about leading the witness.

Letter to the Editor

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