h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Thanks for the info about Sufi -- I never heard of that. But then, learning is what h2g2 is all about So, do you study/follow the Koran (sp?) ? Is Mekka an important place for you too?


Oh those mobile phone masts!!
Yepp, big matter of concern among the Green party and whatnot. A while ago, I've started work on an entry about the hazards of e/m radiation (A595046) but found out that it's hard to explain anything without going into geekspeek and leaving the reader with the impression of and wizardry. The fears all boil down to the fact that humans don't have a sensor for that part of the spectrum (like they have eyes for the visible part of the spectrum, called light, or the skin for the thermal part).

Apart from that, electromagnetic waves are just the same kind of thing. Exposure leads to the development of heat and depending on the power level, this heat can destruct molecules (like what happens when cooking veggies or boiling an egg).

The dosis is what makes the difference between a poison and a medicine:
- diathermy uses ordinary VHF waves (the same frequency range that is used by TV and radio) with some tens of Watts and is used against rheuma etc.

- Standing in the way of a military radar of some 10000W average power can lead to blindness. However, they won't let you get so close to one, nor does such a radar illuminate the same spot for long, and besides, it'll be looking up into the air anyway.

- Mobile phones transmit up to 2W which is far below the other applications -- but people usually hold them right next to their heads

- mobile phone base stations use some 10 to 50W which get spread out into either a pancake or a slice-of-a-cake shape. Thus, you can't possibly 'collect' all the power of such a station by standing a couple of feet from one of them. But, humans *have* sensors that can detect the antennas!

However, a full discussion is far more complex because the frequency of an e/m wave also plays a role, and things like modulation (like on/off switching) and effects other than thermal heating must be considered too...

Hi *Sir* Bossel!

I see you've been knighted.

No I don't study the Koran (spelling is correct, but it can also be spelled Q'ran). Sufis have 'attunements', so you can attune to the energy of the Buddha, or Mohammed, or Jesus, etc. did I say that in the previous post? There's a lot of emphasis on sound, eg the Bible says 'In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God. And the Word was God.' (I've never seen it in German, but I imagine it's similar.) And Sufis believe that to be the primordial vibration.

I'm going to read and think about your explanation of microwaves. I know that there was concern of pockets of illness (cancers?) near to microwave masts and illness among workers.

Send me the link to your entry and I'll have a look.

Hows RL with you?

Oops! I didn't read your posting properly. You *have* given me the link!

Just read your entry on e/m radiation again - the fourth time, I think. I gave up the first three times , but persevered this time.

I see what you mean. As soon as I got to the table things, I started struggling. Possibly because I'm still under the weather with amongst other things a rotten headache, sore throat and cough. What a way to spend Easter.

The thing about the newly erected mast having an effect on the local population reminded me of the Chinese and feng shui. It's good luck to have a taller building than those around you, but bad luck to have a taller building looking down on you!

Just read your entry on e/m radiation again - the fourth time, I think. I gave up the first three times , but persevered this time.

I see what you mean. As soon as I got to the table things, I started struggling. Possibly because I'm still under the weather with amongst other things a rotten headache, sore throat and cough. What a way to spend Easter.

The thing about the newly erected mast having an effect on the local population reminded me of the Chinese and feng shui. It's good luck to have a taller building than those around you, but bad luck to have a taller building looking down on you!

Oh yeah, I know that there's much more work to be done before this one is ready for normal mortals (as opposed to techno-geeks).

It's soo much easier to write and talk about death rays, sharp pulses derived from missile guidance radars that cut through your skin like stilettos and all that. I've heard exactly this type of 'information' on an evening with (self-declared) experts from and around the Green party, who were on a mission to give 'unbiased information' to the masses. We had a good laugh when in the middle of a presentation, a mobile phone was ringing loud and clear from someone's pocket. Interestingly, they also sold copper rings and magnetised badges to shield you from earth rays.

However, they didn't go so far as to promise that these things were also cures agains warts

I imagine as you say that the effects depend on field strength and the exposure (greater effects with multiple exposure).

What do you think about the devices that are sold to 'protect' you from the microwaves? Or do you think it would be more effective to have those ones you speak to a microphone on a wire?

I can see why you all had a at the mobile phone going off.

Protection devices against microwave... IMHO it's all hogwash.

Think of a device to protect you from the light from, say, a candle. You *can* put up a shield between you and the source. Provided you *know* where the source is. Furthermore, like light is reflected from shiny surfaces, so is microwave reflected from matter that is 'shiny' in the microwave band, eg: any piece of flat metal like car doors (the paint doesn't count here as it is transparent to microwaves) and water surfaces.

*If* there was such a protection device then it would have to be
- made from 'Stealth' material (ie: absorbing, most probably with a secret recipe, and certainly expensive)
- wrapped all around you like scuba garments (including the goggle)
- and therefore, flexible. AFAIK, none of the known materials is made to withstand being bent and torn for long.

The same effect can be obtained by keeping distance where distance matters, and that's the distance between the mobile piece and your body. Ergo, a hands-free-set (or whatever you call it) is what you should be looking for
There also is a study around which raised the point of dangers arising from carrying a mobile phone around, clutched to your belt and close to the reproductive organs. I could go search for that again, if you like.

Then again, mobile phone equipment transmits up to 2W resp. some 20+W, in contrast to TV and radio broadcast stations with dozens or hundreds of kiloWatts. No-one talks about these, and they have been around for much longer.

Actually, I knew a couple who go to great lengths to shield themselves from the 'harmful effects of electricity wires,' and have no TV. I can't remember how they're supposed to do it and I've lost touch with them, so I can't ask.

Have you found anything exciting while you were 'testing'. I found just the one think to do with PR, but nothing else.

TC told me you were seriously thinking of leaving h2g2 over this issue. Are you?

I think it's a misjudgment, although I can see where they are coming from. I think there are solutions which they should consider, though.

I'd be sad if you left.

No, I won't leave over that. But I haven't yet made up my mind about downgrading to 'Researcher Bossel'. I'd like to see what Mark has to say, plus perhaps get a few more details on July 20.

See you in London!

You're coming then?

See you in London.

Yes, it's all booked and confirmed

>>"I'd like to see what Mark has to say" oh yeah, I should perhaps sort my senses

The grammar sounds OK to me!

maybe, but the physics are lacking

Just in case you haven't seen there, there's a whole load of party photos on Gnomon's home space including a decent one of you - you said you'd never seen one!

It was really good to see you again at the party. I had a thoroughly good time - no difficulties in getting home this time, in fact I could have stayed longer comfortably. So close to winning the quiz this time!

How was your visit to the BBC?

Thanks very much for the hint! Indeed, great photos.

It is my experience that h2g2 meets are worth any effort, and this one just about topped it. The only drawback is that English pubs are closing that early, just when it would be *starting* according to hour customs. As to the prize... I'm sure we would have got it if only Jimster hadn't asked for the music to be turned on so the draw question was hard to understand.

Hmm, ... the visit to the BBC was another highlight (see the 'towered' in my name ) It's a super team over there. They are somewhat crammed into a corner of a large office but I guess that's only making it more cozy for them. I must have been quite a nuisance, keeping the Italics from doing their work with my nosy questions and all

So ... what do you think of the photo of you?

I've just had a poke about your place and *couldn't* see the bit about 'Towered'. Would you give me a hint? I've also been invited, so I'd really like to hear your impressions.

I also saw you've been to a Kodo concert. Brilliant, aren't they. No wonder the men have rippling chest muscles drumming in that semi-supine position.

I've added a Journal entry now to explain the 'towered' bit

The invitation is something you shouldn't miss. I had some impression about what the Italics' work looks like, but it's really *work* besides all the fun they are obviously having with it. Quite impressive what their tools can do, and I'm still wondering how they manage to maintain an overview of what's going on.

However, they wouldn't make me an Italic for the time I was there

Kodo As I said in the Journal entry, it's an *experience*. Nothing like what all the pop groups are doing with drums. I can only compare it with the performance given by the 'speaking drum' folk at the Expo 2000 in Hannover. It was the 'national day' of Burkina Faso when I was there, and I spent some 2 hours just listening to them. Wow!!!