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USPS Irradiation Damages Electronics

Posted by michael on from the enduring-freedom dept.

meehawl writes: "Bummer. Turns out the USPS's new Electron Beams anthrax zappers can erase and sometimes permanently damage CompactFlash cards. I wonder what other sensitive electronics will get wiped, not to mention seeds, film, some plastics, and so on. I guess it's more reason to use Fedex and UPS, at least unless and until they deploy these beam weapons as well. All this disruption for a campaign that killed five people? Some people think using the beams will lead to more deaths and injuries among operators. Meanwhile, electron beam makers, SureBeam, just got an analyst upgrade." Err, and be careful what you irradiate.

7 of 341 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Am I reading this right? by Mister+Snee · · Score: 2, Funny

    This could kill a lot more than five people, depending on your definition of "mail-order bride". :/

  2. There is more to this story... by mESSDan · · Score: 2, Funny

    It isn't widely publicized, but a person known as Bruce Banner was involved in the development of the electron beam. During testing, he and the photographer that the Daily Bugle sent over to cover the event, Peter Parker, were caught inside the test chamber of the electron. Peter Parker also had the misfortune of having his pet spider with him at the time, which unfortunately did not survive being irradiated.

    This can only lead us to one conclusion; Bruce Banner and Peter Parker are Batman and Robin.

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    -- Dan
  3. I wonder if.... by zerocool^ · · Score: 3, Funny


    I wonder if the irradiation process degrades latex?
    We could be blameing the government for a rash of unwitting pregnancies.

    Course, it won't affect the slashdot crowd. Slashdotters don't have sex, they fsck.

    ~z

    --
    sig?
  4. AOL CDs by paulywog · · Score: 3, Funny
    Maybe that's what happened to my latest free "NEW AOL 7.0" CD?

    There's good and bad in everything, I guess.

  5. Re:Are you mad? by Quixote · · Score: 5, Funny

    "If the existence of the entire universe, including your happiness, necessitated the torture of even one little girl, would you want it?"

    Either way, the girl's a goner... (or am I misreading the question?)

  6. Re:Am I reading this right? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Laws against drunk driving only save some of the lives. Banning alcohol would save even more. Banning automobiles would save even more.

  7. Re:stop whining by sharkey · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Bioweapon: Do not irradiate or expose to antiboitics"

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    --
    "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.