June 2010

  • The Physics of Cold Spots: Part 2 of 2

    By erika on 6/30/10 1:28pm
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    Last time we discussed some of the broader issues around the phenomena of cold spots.  This time I wanted to dig down into a more narrow discussion of the physics involved.  Temperature - heat - is energy, and there are several ways to "harvest" heat in order to use it for energy.  But could ghosts be harvesting heat literally out of thin air in order to power their appearances?


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  • Ghost Hunting: Levels 6-10

    By erika on 6/29/10 5:00pm
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    I was pretty psyched to start the Ghost Hunting profession.  But like all the other career paths, I had kind of lost interest by the time I got to Level 8 or so.  The great thing about the new professions is that you get to play your Sim as they work.  The sucky thing about the new professions is that you have to play your Sim as they work!  It's a dilemma.


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  • The Physics of Cold Spots: Part 1 of 2

    By erika on 6/29/10 2:07pm
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    Cold spots are one of the hallmarks of a haunting.  Any ghost hunter worth the title will carry some sort of thermometer for testing the temperature of the air.  Many people report that the ambient temperature drops when ghosts are present (or about to be present).  The standard explanation is that the spirits are drawing the energy from the air in order to manifest.  But what does that mean, and is it plausible?  


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  • Kennedy's FBI Files

    By dfunzy on 6/15/10 11:05am
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    The FBI under the Freedom of Information Act released some of its files on the late Edward Kennedy, the long serving member of the Senate, considered the most effective senator ever. He is a historic figure. He was a leading voice for American liberalism, and as such was never popular with the right-wing. One right-wing newsletter this morning, after scanning over the files, focused on what they could find that gave a voyeur's glimpse of Mr. Kennedy's private life, and the morning right-wing electronic acid sheet concluded that the great man was a man-whore, a man who slept around, who drank too much and who enjoyed the company of two many women.

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  • Beached Shoes With Feet Inside

    By erika on 6/11/10 2:07pm
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    Imagine you're taking a lovely stroll along the beach one day, when you encounter a running shoe lying on the sand.  Inside: a decomposed human foot.  Hard to believe, but seven such feet have been found on the beaches of the Pacific Northwest to date.  


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  • Celebrity Paranormal Project, "Mad Ray"

    By erika on 6/1/10 3:15pm
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    Once again, the show (I assume) invents a character.  Because ghosts aren't exciting or scary enough; we need an actual bad guy that we can focus on.  The show's intro says that "Mad Ray Golina prowled underground tunnels and stalked staff members.  When he committed suicide to avoid a lobotomy, they thought the violence would end.  It didn't."  Awesome!


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