Who Ya Gonna Call?
In 1984, the world of the paranormal was changed forever by a documentary ingeniously disguised as an Ivan Reitman comedy. I am of course talking about Ghost Busters:
This movie spurred on the technological revolution within the ghost hunting community. No longer satisfied with blurry photographs or fading memories, ghost hunters got serious with the tech. I'd like to take a moment, just days away from Halloween, to highlight some of the amazing gadgets being used in the field of ghost hunting.
EMF Detector
No one knows for sure if ghosts have any sort of electro-magnetic field, but they might. Other sources of EMF include the Earth, electronic devices, solar rays, and electrical wiring. It can be difficult to separate false readings from true readings from honest to god spectres. When it doubt, determine how you feel. That's as objective as one can get when it comes to EMF.
Voice Recorder
It's been well established (I think) that electronic recording devices (unshielded of course) are hundreds of times better at detecting the voices and nosies of ghosts. EVP, which stands for Electronic Voice Phenomena, is when you come back and listen to hours and hours and hours and hours of sound recording and pick up a couple seconds that kind-of-sort-of-if-you-squint-real-hard sound like people talking. If you're really lucky, you can make out words.
Audio Enhancement Software
EVP's don't make themselves. You need to process, clean up, and enhance your sound recordings to make them sound as close to voices as possible. The more digital manipulation applied to as little audio data as possible the better. Some people have been known to be so skilled at audio enhancement, ghosts have been heard doing karaoke.
Red LED Flashligh
It's a well established fact that ghosts only come out at night when we have trouble seeing and when our instincts cause us to go into a kind of fight or flight mode where the slightest movement or sound sends our hearts thumping. Red LED flashlights are the best because they keep your night vision intact and don't scare the ghosts away.
Geiger Counter
Never mind that there is no reason to think ghosts give off radiation, geiger counters make clicky sounds when near decaying isotopes. If you see a ghost that is glowing, suffering from radiation sickness, and containing a large amount of mass in our dimension, you might want to point the old geiger counter at it.
Infrared thermometers
In addition to having electromagnetic fields and tons of radiation, ghosts are known to not give off a lot of energy in the infrared range. Hence, you need infrared thermometers to detect these cold spots. Any temperature differential of greater than 0.5 degrees could be proof of a ghostly apparition.
These are just a few items that the modern, technologically advanced ghost hunter is using out in the field. Some of this technology is so cutting edge, you can get it here: http://theghosthunterstore.com/
For some demonstrations on how to use this modern technology, I pass on these instructional and informative videos:
Tweets for 2009-10-22
- RT @easyvegan: Meet this wk's adoptable animal, Chelsea the tabby cat: http://bit.ly/2v9fRI #kansascity #animalrescue #
Tweets for 2009-10-20
- RT @lessthancred: Latest Post!: You're Going Out In That? http://bit.ly/3Cf4W3 #
You’re Going Out In That? You Should Be Ashamed!
Yesterday it was reported that department store chain Target buckled under pressure from the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles to remove a Hallowe'en costume from their racks. The costume in question consists of a mask resembling a space creature, an orange jump suit with the words “Illegal Alien” printed on it, and an oversized green card bearing the words “Green Card.”
Shame on you for enjoying the Alien Nation series
The reasoning behind the complaint is that the costume negatively depicts terrestrial-based immigrants and aliens, and that it only enforces the negative views and stereotypes many have about people from other countries trying to make headway in The United States. Target has even gone so far as to say that the costume was accidentally included in this year's line, and that it was never intended to be made available.
Have we completely lost our spirit of fun? I've looked at the costume for a long time now, and even at first blush I did not get the impression that this was a slight against any particular minority culture. While I groaned more than I chuckled, all I saw was a visual pun – a physical representation of a play on words. I'm probably going to get flack for this, but I anticipate a day when I can no longer buy polish for my boots because I might use the stuff to negatively portray a person or group (I'm not saying I would, I'm just saying that we should remove the possibility all together). If we are going to shed whatever strains of xenophobia we have (no matter how subtle), in order to celebrate and fully enjoy an all-inclusive Hallowe'en, then I think it's time we take a long hard look at the mainstream costumes that are out there, and join hands in forming a coalition that tells these corporations that we refuse to spend money to negatively impact minorities or those disadvantaged in our gentle society.
I've been looking at other costumes available through Target; ones that are popular, widely accepted, and purchased without forethought. I have to say, after my research, I am ashamed of you people for being so insensitive. Here is my (personal) list of offenders:
The Vampire:
We are misunderstood
This is a classic. If you've ever been out and about on October 31st, or wandered through the mall on any other day, you've probably seen people dressed like this. Pale skin, dark clothing, afraid of sunlight, with an insatiable thirst to feed on live humans or animals for the nutrients their blood provides.
Why this is offensive:
There is a rare condition known as porphyria, which makes individuals very sensitive to direct sunlight, and also leaves those affected with low blood-sodium levels, and (in some cases) blood-iron deficiency, which causes a craving for those things which contain what they are lacking.
Who to contact to complain about insensitivity: Porphyria Foundation
Positive portrayals: Paula Frías Allende and King George III
The Werewolf/Wolfman:
Centuries of negative PR
These are also classics, having been portrayed in The Howling series of movies, as well as numerous Lon Cheney films. A seemingly normal person is transfigured by the full moon into a beast that terrorizes and reminds us why we have to keep our basest of desires in check.
Why this is offensive:
Hypertrichosis or Hirsutism. These are conditions by which people have excessive, and in some cases, what is known as “terminal hair.” This is a condition that knows no gender, race, or any other qualifiers. In extreme cases, the sufferers are covered from head to toe in a thick layer of hair.
Who to contact to complain about insensitivity: Hairscientists.org
Positive portrayals: Larry Ramos Gomez (He may be getting a reality show soon, which, like “Little People, Big World” will not have a single hint of exploitation.)
Characters From the "Twilight" series
I haven't seen the movie or read the books, so I hope I got the right costume here.
Why this is offensive:
Not all Mormons shop at Hot Topic
Who to contact to complain about insensitivity: The Church of Latter Day Saints and every teenager you know
Positive portrayals: Still researching this one
The Pirate
This is how EVERYONE sharing games and music on-line really looks!
Why this is offensive:
This costume promotes fun and anarchy, which is only feeding into and encouraging people to support Somalian privateers, offenses against the music and software industries, and bringing about the demise of the lime industry.
Who to contact to file a complaint about insensitivity: BSA and Ecoterra
Positive portrayals: Captain Morgan
Now that I've bothered to make you aware of the unwitting and subliminal insensitivity that many people have been portraying during the Hallowe'en season (the list can go on and on, if one looks hard enough), I hope everyone will think carefully before going out dressed up as their favorite "monsters" and promote inequality, misogyny, violence, and overall undermining of a progressive society bent on change. I think it's high time for a shovel-ready movement to abandon these antiquated notions of what is scary or fun, in the name of scoring a few pieces of candy. I want a world where I can go into a store and not see monster costumes, or exploiting outfits - because we've become so enlightened that we can see these archetypes not as laughable or freakish, but for the sensitive and struggling groups and individuals that they are.
Do you know of an insensitive costume? Are your neighbors dressing the kids as Kim Jong-Il this year? Henry Ford? The Dutch oppressors of Indonesia? Daffy Duck? Elizabeth Bathory? Please send us your opinions on what's really offensive (including this article), and any pictures of costumes that you find truly insensitive (or hilarious).
Tweets for 2009-10-15
- http://bit.ly/1A06uv Latest Post! How Far We've Come, Some of Us Anyway #
Tweets for 2009-10-15
- http://bit.ly/1A06uv Latest Post! How Far We've Come, Some of Us Anyway #
How Far We’ve Come, Some of Us Anyway
The following video has been going around the skeptic blogosphere the last few days:
It's amazing to me that someone who could be so rational about religion and the (non-)existence of God, could be such a twit about the rock solid science of vaccines. Vaccines are the single greatest achievement of human medicine. Nothing has changed and improved the lives of so many. I'm not a gifted enough writer to explain with words of how amazing vaccines have been, so here is a little handy chart, based data from the US.
| Disease | Deaths Before Vax | Deaths in 2007 | Lives saved by Alternative Medicine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smallpox | 48,164 | 0 | 0 |
| Measles | 503,282 | 43 | 0 |
| Mumps | 152,209 | 800 | 0 |
| Pertussis | 147,271 | 10,454 | 0 |
Note the column "Lives saved by Alternative Medicine", each row tallying up a big fat zero. Of course, I did a small little trick here. There is no such thing as "Alternative Medicine." If something works better than a placebo in double blind tests over and over again, it's just medicine. Otherwise, it's just untested, unproven folk tales. This is what Bill Maher's view on vaccinations did to kids one hundred years ago:
Horrible thing to happen to a child, and it will happen a lot more children if vaccination rates plummet. This next picture might be shocking to some. It's a picture of a child, who has been stricken with a disease that effects the mind, and so far is incurable. Symptoms include narcissism, asininity, and ignorance.
I don't want to add too much more to this post. I think the numbers speak for themselves. Vaccinate your kids, vaccinate yourself, and if you're in a risk group, get the flu vaccines. Don't waste money on homeopathy, acupuncture, chiropractics, or anything claiming to be "natural" or "eastern" medicine. And remember the face of the child in this post. That's how far we've come.
It’s A Goat, See?
I am slowly finding myself drawn to bild.de as the source for all of my international news. This site is to the (now defunct) Weekly World News what The Weekly World News was to The New York Times.
A couple of weeks ago, there was a small article circulating around the web about a still-born cryptid. I'm not talking about an alien hybrid or some sort of sasquatch. What the article reported was something of mythic proportions! It was a Pan, a satyr, or whatever you would like to call a creature that appears to be half-man and half-goat. The village of Maboleni in Zimbabwe was shaken when one of their goats gave birth to this:
Can you believe I found this image at abovetopsecret.com?
As I have discussed in previous posts, humans are very rational beings when faced with the unknown. Some study what they do not understand. Some appeal to a higher authority when confronted with notions or tangible things that challenge existing scientific axioms and social beliefs. Others give in to more primal reactions.
Instead of destroying this creature on sight, the villagers called in government officials to study the dead animal and get some sort of official ruling as to what it was. After what I am certain was a thorough autopsy, the official declaration by Governor Jason Machaya was that (to quote the article), “The head belonged to a human but the body belonged to a goat!”
The miscarriage (of both goat and science) has since been cremated, leaving those who witnessed the creature with theories and speculations ranging from witchcraft to secret government experiments. I am, admittedly, not a scientist. I do not practice sorcery. I don't even have clearance of any sort to confirm or deny what biological programs any government agency has in play. However, I am intrigued by abnormalities and the prospect of hybrids and cryptids. I did a little (VERY little) research, and looked back on things I witnessed growing up on a farm, and was able to find a couple of images. When you look at the following pictures, I want you to ask yourselves the following series of questions:
-
Is this a goat or a person?
-
Is this not a goat? Explain.
-
Is this not a person? Explain.
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Is there a rational explanation for its existence?
Example 1
Do you have your answers? Then let's move on.
Example 2
This is fairly easy when approached with an analytical mind, isn't it?
And finally:
Example 3
Close your books and pass your responses to the front of the class.
Now that you have finished, feel free to post your answers or share your own experiences with animal oddities, cryptids, or anything else you fancy.
Tweets for 2009-10-08
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Rust on the Tin Ear
The health care debate "raging" in Washington is one reason I stopped doing a political podcast. I don't want to rehash the arguments, because it just rots my soul. I try as hard as I can, often failing, to not talk about it with anyone. However, no matter what side of the debate you're on, any time you hear ads for homeopathic treatments, you should get a little angry. Here we are, as a nation, deciding how much real money we went to dedicate to public health insurance, and we have to contend with nonsense like homeopathy. Americans spend around $34B a year on homeopathic remedies which have no therapeutic effect. Considering that the health care bills are estimated to cost anywhere from $75B to $110B a year for the next ten years, the homeopathic spending isn't insignificant.
So what got me annoyed today? Not more than ten minutes after listening to a caller to the Dave Ramsey Show announce that he had $118K in student loan debt for going to college to learn chiropractics, I hear a commercial for "Quietus", a "natural" cure for tinnitus. When it comes to medicine commercials with the word "natural" in them, my BS detector immediately goes off. The commercial was as lame as you would expect. A bunch of "testimonials" were interspersed with claims of how "natural" the medication was. I was driving in my car at the time, so I had to wait a little bit to check out their website, and oh was it worth the wait.
First off, let's define tinnitus. Most people would instantly associate it with "ringing in the ears." That is exactly correct, but the causes are varied. Infections, side effects from medication, wax build up and loud music can all cause tinnitus. Most importantly, almost all cases of tinnitus are measured subjectively. In fact, most cases are called "subjective tinnitus". "Objective tinnitus" is pretty rare. One very important point to make, is that people who have tinnitus do hear a ringing or buzz, and are unable to focus on anything else.
I won't say that tinnitus isn't uncomfortable and a real quality of life issue. It definitely is. It's just that we can't leave out how people with tinnitus focus their attention on the noise. Imagine sitting in a room watching a TV show, focusing intently on the action on the screen (I suggest The Mentalist btw). You may not notice a beeping sound from a smoke detector with a weak battery, or in my case, my wife asking me a question. Once our attention focuses on the new sound, though, we may not be able to stop hearing it (in my case, I should). There is a distinct subjective almost psychosomatic quality to tinnitus that can't be ignored.
Now back to "Quietus". Googling "quietus" brings up a bunch of pages that have nothing to do with the homeopathic medicine. They obviously didn't do their homework on that one. "Quietus" apparently is the name of the suicide kit in the movie "Children of Men". The website is extremely hard to find from the name of the product. I did eventually find it, but I won't link to it from here.
The website is lacking any real information. No ingredients, no testimonials with names attached, nothing. You can't order from the website; the only way to order is to call as far as I can tell. Not sure if it could come off more like a scam, short of saying that a Nigerian Prince has decided to bequeath his family secret for curing tinnitus if only you would send them your bank account number. It's just ridiculous.
Conclusion? We have a subjective symptom (literally named "subjective tinnitus") that is difficult to measure. We have a "medication" made up of homeopathic ingredients (water). My strongly educated guess is that Quietus is a scam and depends on the placebo effect and subjective self reporting to have any effect. Save your dollars.