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72 California Warns About Cellphones

Electronic Voice

Phenomenon (EVP)

Continued from Page 71

Sound engineer David Federlein thinks:
It is safe to say that unless the EVP
believer is highly bankrolled, I use much higher
standard recording equipment, built to much
higher tolerances. That being said, I've never
heard from the dead, and I have been listening
to tape and hard disk recordings for years. It
may be the low quality of their equipment that is
cause for mistaken ghosts, but it sure isn't lack
of willed ignorance!
For example one website says to set the
"sensitivity level" of the microphone to the
highest possible setting as ghosts are apparently
afflicted with laryngitis. Doing this raises
what's called the "noise floor" - the electrical
noise created by all electrical devices - creating
white noise. If I were to filter white noise (the
audible equivalent of watching the snow on a
detuned TV) I could make it say just about
• Remove headsets when you're not on a call
anything. This is really no different than using a • Avoid products that claim to block radio
wah pedal on a guitar. It's a very focused sweep California Warns About
frequency energy. These products may
filter moving about the spectrum creating open Cellphone Exposure And
vowel sounds. Was Peter Frampton channeling? actually increase your exposure.
I hardly think so, however his use of the Health Risks “Although the science is still evolving,
"talkbox" effect on his guitar sounds exactly like there are concerns among some public health
professionals and members of the public
some of these recordings. When you factor in
other aspects of physics, such as cross by Alice G Walton regarding long-term, high use exposure to the
energy emitted by cell phones," said CDPH
modulation of radio stations or faulty ground
loops in equipment, you have a lot of people The concern emerges from studies that have Director and State Public Health Officer Karen
Smith in a statement. "We know that simple
thinking they are listening to ghosts when in fact hinted at a slightly increased risk for brain steps, such as not keeping your phone in your
it is nothing more than a controlled misuse of cancer and tumors of the acoustic nerve and
electronics. (Personal correspondence). salivary gland. Others have suggested lower pocket and moving it away from your bed at
Federlein finds the website sperm count and sperm quality in men, and night, can help reduce exposure for both
GhostStudy.com particularly amusing with its various effects on learning and memory, children and adults."
list of 17 helpful tips for the ghost hunter headaches, and sleep for both sexes. But, as the Children and teens seem to be at a
including using brand name tapes and report says, more work needs to be done to tease particular risk, she added, since their brains are
maintaining a positive attitude. But nothing is it all apart, and not all experts believe there's still developing and more vulnerable to the
said about using high quality electronic reason for concern. radiation emitted by cell phones. "Children's
brains develop through the teenage years and
equipment. The public release of the guidelines may be more affected by cell phone use," said
I can't stop laughing at the suggestions came about in part because University of
given on one site that you should act like you California researcher Joel Moskowitz had sued Smith. "Parents should consider reducing the
know there's a ghost there at all times. Is that California for not making them public time their children use cell phones and
how to get them to be more responsive? Are we originally. Earlier this year, a judge ruled in his encourage them to turn the devices off at night."
to really believe that ghosts won't actually talk favor and the state was compelled to release a The new recommendations may not
to us because we aren't acting cool enough? draft. This week, they released an updated and come as a total surprise. The World Health
Perhaps we should set out a plate of cookies. official version of the guidelines. Organization has classified radiation from cell
And maybe we should remind our ghost “The cellphone manufacturers want you phones a “possible carcinogen” since 2011,
hunting friends that there are billions of to keep a minimum distance away from your acknowledging that more research needs to be
done. And long-term studies are underway.
electronic gadgets filling the air waves at all body and you should find out what that distance
times. The odds are that they're picking up some is,” Moskowitz told local news station KCRA Whether other states will follow California in
earthly signal rather than some voice from after the draft release earlier this year. “If you making guidelines will be interesting to see.
beyond the grave. My VCR used to receive CB keep the device by your body you will exceed Given the potential physical health risks, and
signals from my neighbor, until he died. Since the safety limits provided by the FCC.” the well-illustrated psychological risks
then, the uninvited voices have vanished. Of Some of California’s recommendations associated with smartphones, it may be time to
course, maybe the voices were the sounds of are to: cut back on them where we can. []
angels calling my neighbor home. [] • Keep the phone away from the body
whenever possible. Carry it in a purse or CONFUCIUS
briefcase instead of a pocket or bra SAY:
• Reduce cell phone use when the signal is
weak (i.e., the phone shows only one or two SMART
bars), or if you’re in a fast-moving car or PHONES
bus, since phones put off more radio MAKE STUPID
frequency energy at those times PEOPLE.
• Reduce the use of cell phones to stream
audio or video, or to download or upload
SMART CARS
large files
MAKE STUPID
• Keep the phone away from your bed at night,
especially away from your head DRIVERS.