Amazon’s review system apparently wasn’t working when I tried to submit this there, so I’ll put it here instead (it probably would have put it here anyway).
A few months ago, I unexpectedly received a fat FedEx envelope containing a draft copy of the much anticipated rewrite of NCRP 49: Structural Shielding Design and Evaluation for Medical Use of X-Rays and Gamma Rays of Energies Up to 10 MeV. Turned out it came to me because I’m on the AAPM Diagnostic Imaging Committee, and committee members were asked to review the draft to make sure there weren’t any glaring errors or anything. Sweet, so I dug in. Been hearing about this thing for years, and was eagerly awaiting it’s completion, like many other medical physicists out there.
A few weeks ago, I was rewarded for my efforts as a committee member reviewer by a surprise complimentary copy of the newly published NCRP 147. Even sweeter. And a hardcopy version to boot.
NCRP Report 147: Structural Shielding Design for Medical X-Ray Imaging Facilities
This is an invaluable upgrade to NCRP 49, and probably needs to be added to the collection of every medical imaging physicist that does shielding calculations. The focus is on shielding for imaging rooms, so there is much more relevant content for imaging physicists than there was in NCRP 49 which covered imaging and therapy shielding. New methods and techniques have been introduced which results in somewhat less conservative shielding requirements than what would have been required under the ultraconservative NCRP 49. Chapter 5 provides sample shielding calculations for just about every type of imaging room there is. This is a well written and much needed update to the original NCRP 49.
Even though I’ve already been through the draft, I’m going through it again, because this is the kind of thing medical physicists need to know like the back of their hand. Much of the content and calculations are similar to what was in NCRP 49, but there are enough new things in the rewrite that makes it worth studying thoroughly.
All the Far Side you’ll ever need
I’m having a delightful time reading The Complete Far Side, an absolutely monstrous collection of all the Far Side cartoons. This thing is massive. 2 volumes each weighing in at 4.5 kg each. A lot of the cartoons are in full colour and all of them are hilarious. Comes in a solid hardcover binding with an equally solid slipcase. Even if you’ve got all the Far Side books, this one is well worth adding to the collection. The occasional editor’s notes and reader letters sprinkled in add some additional insight and humour to the collection. It’s so nicely put together you feel like you should be wearing gloves while reading it so you don’t leave any smudges on it from your grubby paws.
Now all I need is The Complete Calvin and Hobbes and life will be good.