Shadow people and Thunderstorms

[PPI Tim]

Hey Guys,
I was wondering something.
Do people report more sightings of Shadow People during Thunderstorms?

[Gary]

Yes.   

[PPI Tracy]

I don't know about anyone else, but thunderstorms really unnerve me.  It is the loud noise that bothers me.  Always has for some reason.  I think that being frightened gives a person a "hyper sensitivity" if you will. Thus causing them to be more alert and possibly misjudging their surroundings.  If lightning goes along with a thunderstorm, during the day, the light flashes could also lend itself to shadows on walls and different surfaces.  Just my 2.5 cents.

[PPI Debra]

Yes.   

I did not know that. I've only seen them:

a) late October on the street by a street lamp (first time I ever saw one straight on, and  it freaked me out!)
b) in my home when the EMF's were surging off the collapsed conduit, but not after it was fixed.

[Gary]

I actually am not 100%, but I spent some time thinking about it and Thunderstorms do produce a ton of energy.  I think I posted something on this last year.  I'll have to look for it.

[PPI Tracy]

About an hour ago at my office we had major thunder and lightning.  So much so that it knocked out the transformer for about a half mile radius all around us.  Our 5 story building was without power for about 45 mins.  No phones either.  (poor co-worker was stuck in the elevator).  Anyway, the silence was so odd.  You are used to having all this noise and then it's eerily quiet.  What's interesting is that when I looked down our hallways here, I thought I saw a person here or there, just standing up either against a wall or in the middle of the room.  Looked again and no one there.  It also took on this really weird feeling.  Maybe just the fact that the power was out, leant itself to foster that strange feeling. 

Deb - that is interesting that you saw a shadow person straight on and they stayed there instead of disappearing.  Wow.  I think I would be unnerved as well.   

[PPI Brian]

Very interesting topic of dicussion. I'm not aware of more people reporting shadow people during thunderstorms storms, but if the sightings are in any way related to elevated EMF levels, that would make a lot of sense. I wanted to do some baseline EMF readings at my house during thunderstorms to see how it affects the ambient EMF environment, but I was on the road all day and when I finally dragged my road-weary ass home the storms had subsided.

[PPI Karl]

Funny you should bring this up, Tim.  This is something I've wondered for years now.  Whether I'm the one influenced by the ionized, electrically charged air, or whether it is the alleged "spirit energy" that's using it, I dunno, but in my old place in Hillcrest I witnessed a lot of shadow activity during and after thunderstorms, as well as throughout the stormy seasons of the year.

I would love to find a study about the effects of lightning on the brain and if it triggers mild hallucinations.  That doesn't address, of course, the very specific phenomenon of shadow anomalies.

[PPI Tim]

If there is anything on this topic. I figure that most of the reports were during the most active part of the Thunderstorm. When the lightning is really going off. I also think that part of the images seen are images left on your retinas after the flash from the lightning. Brian wrote something about that.

[PPI Tracy]

 :o  Lookie Lookie what I found   :o


http://machineslikeus.com/news/does-lightning-effect-brain

[PPI Brian]

Awesome find, Tracy. Here's something weird that showed up on The Anomalist tonight:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1315655/Could-magnet-head-turn-right-left-handed.html

[PPI Karl]

:o  Lookie Lookie what I found   :o


http://machineslikeus.com/news/does-lightning-effect-brain

I agree.  A great discovery, Tracy.  Thanks!

[PPI Tracy]

You're welcome.  

That IS an interesting article Brian that you posted.

[Gary]

I found this that Karl had posted on my last post about ghost hunting during thunderstorms, thought I'd throw this into the mix.  

Well, for a long while now there's been this assumption that an ion generator optimizes environmental conditions for paranormal activity in the same manner as storms, because it stimulates electromagnetism, the putative medium for "spirits".  It's a common misconception, though, that thunderstorms are responsible for this.  In fact, it's the lightning, not the thunder, that ionizes the air and stimulates electromagnetism.  I don't really know if there have been any longitudinal studies to confirm one way or the other that ionizing the environment actually works.  I suppose it's possible that the EMFs involved are responsible for the illusion of paranormal activity for those who are sensitive to them, but I don't actually know if ionizing works.  I fear it might be as dodgy as White Noise Generators.   Does anyone else know?

[PPI Karl]

I forgot about that.  Thank you, Gary.

I found this that Karl had posted on my last post about ghost hunting during thunderstorms, thought I'd throw this into the mix.  

Well, for a long while now there's been this assumption that an ion generator optimizes environmental conditions for paranormal activity in the same manner as storms, because it stimulates electromagnetism, the putative medium for "spirits".  It's a common misconception, though, that thunderstorms are responsible for this.  In fact, it's the lightning, not the thunder, that ionizes the air and stimulates electromagnetism.  I don't really know if there have been any longitudinal studies to confirm one way or the other that ionizing the environment actually works.  I suppose it's possible that the EMFs involved are responsible for the illusion of paranormal activity for those who are sensitive to them, but I don't actually know if ionizing works.  I fear it might be as dodgy as White Noise Generators.   Does anyone else know?

[PPI Brian]

Excellent! I also forgot about this. Once upon a time PPI had a picture of an ion generator on our equipment list, and a description of how "PPI believed that ion generators produced the 'thunderstorm effect', which PPI believed increased paranormal activity in a home or business" or words to that effect. I don't recall it ever being used during an investigation, do you? 

Most off-the-shelf ion generators are very weak, and the negative ions they generate drop out of the air almost immediately. The Ionic Breeze may be an exception. I have been thinking about buying an ion detector to use in our baseline studies, but they are very expensive and their response time is very slow. I saw this one at Less EMF but I don't know if it :

Budget Air Ion Tester  $99.95

This has got to be the simplest and lowest cost way to measure Air Ions. Very easy to use and so small it's barely bigger than a finger. Especially good for testing ion generators and air purifiers which claim to produce ions. If you need higher sensitivity, use the Air Ion Counter, below.



Tech Specs:
Tiny shape with LCD panel
Maximum reading of 1,999 counts
Range: 1 x 104 to 1,999 x 107 (ions/cm2)
Reads net + or - ions
Easy to hang as a necklace or keep in hand
Powered by LR44 button size battery
Dimensions (L x W x H): 78 x 27 x 9mm

Here is the ion counter referenced in the ion stick description:

Air Ion Counter  $499.95

Paranormal phenomena causing the air to ionize? This hand-held ion counter possesses the same sensitivity (down to 10 ions/cm2) as meters costing far more. Fully electrostatically shielded, with a fan throughput of 200 cm2/sec, it can make accurate readings even in adverse conditions. Measures positive and negative ions separately. Made in USA with a 1 year warranty. 9-volt battery included.

Get the AC to 9V DC Adapter to power this meter for prolonged use.



Tech Specs:
Setting Time: 10 sec
Noise level: 10 ions/cm?
Accuracy: ?25% for fast ions
Ion selectivity (crosstalk): 20x
Range: 10 - 1,999,000 ions/cm?

I am intrigued by the possible connection between paranormal activity and air ionization, especially if ion generation can be linked to paranormal activity.

[Gary]

It would be interesting to get our hands on one of those without having to fork out that much money.  I think it would definitely be a cool thing to check out.

[Brigham]

Blimey, how much are those on the website? I saw them on ebay in the $400 -500 range!

[PPI Karl]

It's an intriguing little device but, personally, I'd count aeons before I could justify the cost of an ion counter--unless you already have a long list of uses lined up for it.  (Maybe we could actively search for a journeyman as a new member of our group; then, he or she would come with this already in the kit bag.

Seriously, is there a way of using other devices to count ions, or is this the only way?

The ion generator we included on the PPI Equipment List early on just because we liked the sound of it--very Ghostbusters.  I don't think it was ever used on investigation.  I could be wrong, though.  I vaguely, vaguely recall someone, perhaps Tony, complaining that it made using the EMF detector impractical while they were conducting vigils.   

[PPI Brian]

I'm not sure, but I am very intrigued by the practical application of this device in the field, and I would be curious to see if any patterns emerge from a long term baseline study. Ionization is one of the paranormal "theories" that groups banter about like a badminton bird, as if it's a documented scientific fact rather than speculation. When I get my tax return I will be seriously considering the $99.00 model.  

I don't understand how a company could charge such an extremely high price for a device that can't possibly cost very much to produce. I've been looking for ion counter kits, but I have been unable to find one. There are plenty of instructions and schematics available. Perhaps we can build our own?

Here's a link: http://www.juliantrubin.com/fairprojects/electronics/electromagnetic_detector.html

and another link for an ion generator (schematics only): http://www.electronickits.com/kit/plans/science/science.htm

[PPI Tracy]

I don't understand how a company could charge such an extremely high price for a device that can't possibly cost very much to produce. I've been looking for ion counter kits, but I have been unable to find one. There are plenty of instructions and schematics available. Perhaps we can build our own?

Brian - Between you and Karl, you two are like the Paranormal McGyver's.  Give ya a stick of gum and a rubber band and BAM....!

[Brigham]

Brian, I'd be down for a group project. I need to upgrade my soldering iron to something with a higher wattage and a finer tip, though.

[PPI Tracy]

Okay, add "McBrigham" to the mix.......

[PPI Brian]

LOL! Thanks, Tracy. It's comforting to know I'm in good company with this group. Why pay full retail when we can build it ourselves?

Obviously we at PPI adhere to the old saying: "We have done so much with so little for so long, that now we can do anything with NOTHING."

I need to upgrade my soldering iron too, Brigham. I had a time wiring the geophone, let me tell ya!

[PPI Karl]

Brian, I'd be down for a group project. I need to upgrade my soldering iron to something with a higher wattage and a finer tip, though.

Hey, Brigham, I actually have a small, hobby soldering iron with a fine tip, but I don't know what wattage you're looking for.  Le' me know.  If it's what you want, it's yours to use.  Otherwise, if anyone else already owns what Brigham needs, can we talk? 

[Brigham]

Mine is variable 15 - 30 watts. It just doesn't get hot enough for some projects. The tip is kinda fat, though, so it's probably good that it doesn't get too hot. Don't want a bunch of collateral damage when you are poking around at sensitive electronics.

Somewhere in the 40 - 60 watt range would be superb. Needs to be able to break 700 degrees without breaking stride.

[PPI Brian]

Get out your EMF meters boys and girls. We have thunderstorms predicted for the next 24 hours.   

[PPI Debra]

Get out your EMF meters boys and girls. We have thunderstorms predicted for the next 24 hours.   

Allrighty. 

[PPI Tracy]

Okay, so maybe there IS something to this whole notion of thunderstorms bringing out paranormal activty.  On Tuesday morning, I was awakened at 4:30 by the loudest thunder I have ever heard.  It shook the house and caused several city blocks right near me to lose power.  I got up and started getting ready for work.  I felt -the only way to describe it- completely uncomfortable.  I felt like there was someone I couldn't see, right in my personal space.  In the shower, closet area, sink area and even downstairs when I was making my daughter's lunch.  It was horrible.  I almost felt like saying out loud, "Get OFF of me".  I have never felt that feeling so intense and during all this, we had a ton of thunder and lightening.  Hmmm.....you never know.  I thought it was interesting, none the less.

[PPI Debra]

Okay, so maybe there IS something to this whole notion of thunderstorms bringing out paranormal activty.  On Tuesday morning, I was awakened at 4:30 by the loudest thunder I have ever heard.  It shook the house and caused several city blocks right near me to lose power.  I got up and started getting ready for work.  I felt -the only way to describe it- completely uncomfortable.  I felt like there was someone I couldn't see, right in my personal space.  In the shower, closet area, sink area and even downstairs when I was making my daughter's lunch.  It was horrible.  I almost felt like saying out loud, "Get OFF of me".  I have never felt that feeling so intense and during all this, we had a ton of thunder and lightening.  Hmmm.....you never know.  I thought it was interesting, none the less.

Did, you manage to check EMF's at all during this time? I know it's hard to even think of these things in the middle of experiencing strangeness...
I can always feel the electricity "in the air" prior to, and during a thunderstorm.