Can this qualify as a challenge?

[GzuzKryzt]

Have a safe trip, PeaceCrusader. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

 

[Moochie]

Dear Fellow Forumers,

I will be departing for the Philippines in a few hours time. On Sunday, April 1, 2007, I will be able to talk to the spirit. Sometime early next week when I find an Internet cafe, I will update you of the results of our discussion. I hope for a favorable reply.

Best regards,
Aristeo Canlas Fernando, Peace Crusader and Echo

Auspicious date, that.

M.

 

[Dale]

Time of death

Peace Crusader, If you asked your spirit when you're going to die would it tell you? You don't have to get an answer, just find out if it would. If it would I'd like you to convince it to tell me when my time'll be up. I'm in the senior-citizen-and-then-some category and it would make planning my finances a lot easier. I mean, if it tells me I've got another ten years, then I'll have to continue my present life of moderation. If, on the other hand, it says I'm gonna buy the farm in say, 2009, then I'd pull out all the stops and really live it up. Come on, help and old dude out.

By the way, I think the "what's in the box" route is your best bet for the JREF challange; especially if you promise the spirit the money will be donated to a charity of its choice. What self-respecting spirit could turn down a deal like that? Cheers

 

[Dan O.]

This whole business about a spirit occupying another body in order to communicate reminds me of the moment in Star-Trek V when Kirk asks:

Excuse me... Excuse me... I just wanted to ask a question. What does God need with a starship?

 

[Loss Leader]

Excuse me... Excuse me... I just wanted to ask a question. What does God need with a starship?

If there's a worse moment in Star Trek film history, I would be hard-pressed to name it.

Wait a minute ... Uhura dancing to distract the guards earlier in the movie.

Huh. Turns out I wan't so hard pressed after all.

 

[Ocelot]

If it would I'd like you to convince it to tell me when my time'll be up. I'm in the senior-citizen-and-then-some category and it would make planning my finances a lot easier. I mean, if it tells me I've got another ten years, then I'll have to continue my present life of moderation. If, on the other hand, it says I'm gonna buy the farm in say, 2009, then I'd pull out all the stops and really live it up. Come on, help and old dude out.

I'm guessing then than an answer of the "before 2009" category might be somewhat self fullfilling.

 

[Dan O.]

The correct answer is "Hoarding money is a sin. You should give your money to the church and you will be provided for in heaven."

 

[Moochie]

Earth to PeaceCrusader; come in, PeaceCrusader...
Earth to PeaceCrusader; come in, PeaceCrusader...
Earth to PeaceCrusader; come in, PeaceCrusader...

Dang, out of range.

M.

 

[CynicalSkeptic]

I will be departing for the Philippines in a few hours time. On Sunday, April 1, 2007, I will be able to talk to the spirit. Sometime early next week when I find an Internet cafe, I will update you of the results of our discussion. I hope for a favorable reply.

--enter the sound of chirping crickets

 

[Oualawouzou]

I think it's a bit early to involve the crickets. PC could easily have pretended to send an application before April 1st and not done so, but he did. I am about certain we'll hear back from him.

I'm also about certain the spirit will say "nuh-uh" for rather obvious reasons, but that's another story.

 

[GzuzKryzt]

I think it's a bit early to involve the crickets. PC could easily have pretended to send an application before April 1st and not done so, but he did. I am about certain we'll hear back from him.

I'm also about certain the spirit will say "nuh-uh" for rather obvious reasons, but that's another story.

"Yuh-huh" to that.



It just popped into my head: How might the conversation between the "spirit" and PeaceCrusader go? Is it like a dialogue? Or does the "spirit" read his mind?

What would the "spirit's" voice be like? Orson Welles? Chandler Bing? Fran Drescher? All of the above?



PeaceCrusader, I am not mocking your beliefs, I'm just thinking out loud. If you care, please tell us - if possible, verbatim - what you asked the "spirit" and what he/she/it answered.

 

[Dan O.]

On reflection, maybe it wasn't such a good idea to encourage PC to talk to this spirit. If you upset the spirit by insisting that they perform some meaningless test they might go off and do something rash like cause an earthquake.

 

[Czarcasm]

On reflection, maybe it wasn't such a good idea to encourage PC to talk to this spirit. If you upset the spirit by insisting that they perform some meaningless test they might go off and do something rash like cause an earthquake.

No, usually they promise to do something like cause an earthquake to show their power, then we hurt their widdle feelings and they throw a temper tantrum and refuse.

 

[Dan O.]

No, usually they promise to do something like cause an earthquake to show their power, then we hurt their widdle feelings and they throw a temper tantrum and refuse.

But this time there was an earthquake. And it happened just the morning after PC was going to talk to the spirit.




______________________
Solidum advised that in the event of a tsunami, residents living the coastal areas should seek higher ground when they observe ... a roaring sound of waters.

 

[Jackalgirl]

But this time there was an earthquake. And it happened just the morning after PC was going to talk to the spirit.

There were a lot of earthquakes on the day after PC went to talk to the spirit:

02-APR-2007 23:31:15 -6.93 155.37 5.4 10.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
02-APR-2007 23:20:22 -8.49 157.35 6.2 10.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
02-APR-2007 22:49:53 -9.70 154.64 5.5 10.0 DENTRECASTEAUX ISLANDS REGION
02-APR-2007 22:49:22 -9.68 154.53 4.7 10.0 DENTRECASTEAUX ISLANDS REGION
02-APR-2007 22:41:23 -9.03 155.71 5.0 10.0 DENTRECASTEAUX ISLANDS REGION
02-APR-2007 22:10:09 -7.72 155.66 5.1 10.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
02-APR-2007 19:42:55 1.37 125.79 5.9 50.6 NORTHERN MOLUCCA SEA
02-APR-2007 18:17:44 -7.65 156.43 5.0 10.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
02-APR-2007 16:08:20 -8.62 157.78 5.2 10.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
02-APR-2007 15:40:04 -7.40 155.56 5.0 10.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
02-APR-2007 14:20:48 -8.66 157.69 5.1 10.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
02-APR-2007 13:53:07 -8.66 157.63 5.7 10.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
02-APR-2007 13:49:54 -7.81 156.52 5.4 10.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
02-APR-2007 12:35:25 -8.74 157.68 5.5 10.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
02-APR-2007 12:19:21 44.20 149.21 4.9 46.1 KURIL ISLANDS
02-APR-2007 12:02:23 -8.54 157.55 6.2 10.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
02-APR-2007 10:49:14 -7.20 156.19 6.0 10.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
02-APR-2007 07:16:32 -7.46 156.14 5.3 10.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
02-APR-2007 06:58:52 44.38 149.03 5.0 52.3 KURIL ISLANDS
02-APR-2007 06:52:03 44.43 149.17 5.0 10.0 KURIL ISLANDS
02-APR-2007 05:33:35 -7.31 155.32 5.6 10.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
02-APR-2007 05:30:45 -7.18 155.66 5.1 10.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
02-APR-2007 04:11:39 -7.18 156.07 5.6 10.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
02-APR-2007 04:03:20 -6.87 155.16 4.8 10.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
02-APR-2007 02:49:42 -45.22 -72.82 5.5 35.0 SOUTHERN CHILE
02-APR-2007 01:36:15 -7.20 155.47 5.3 10.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
02-APR-2007 01:31:03 -8.20 157.11 5.3 10.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
02-APR-2007 00:49:48 -6.86 155.46 4.9 10.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
02-APR-2007 00:10:55 -7.08 155.89 5.0 10.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
01-APR-2007 23:25:28 -7.35 156.14 5.3 10.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS

That's date, lat, long, intensity, depth (in km), and location. Note a conspicuous lack of earthquakes in the only specific area mentioned by the spirit so far, the Spratly Islands. Then again, the spirit pointed out that location as the beginning of WWIII, not as a locus for earthquakes.

(Speaking of which, as an aside, I found the following interesting quote on Wikipedia regarding the Spratlys:

Although the disputes have calmed to some degree, they still remain one of the most plausible scenarios for a major East Asia war involving the PRC or a smaller war between other claimants, a scenario depicted by Tom Clancy in his novel SSN.

The spirit reads Clancy?)

There were a lot on the 3rd (including two over 6.0 on the Richter scale) and so far, on the 4th, there have been six (including one over 6.0). There are lots of earthquakes in lots of places every day.

 

[Moochie]

"Yuh-huh" to that.



It just popped into my head: How might the conversation between the "spirit" and PeaceCrusader go? Is it like a dialogue? Or does the "spirit" read his mind?

What would the "spirit's" voice be like? Orson Welles? Chandler Bing? Fran Drescher? All of the above?

M.

 

[CynicalSkeptic]

I think it's a bit early to involve the crickets.

Well, I only invoked the crickets because of his promise to "Sometime early next week when I find an Internet cafe, I will update you of the results of our discussion."

I guess early in the week could be any time before noon on Wednesday? To be fair, I could give him the benefit of the doubt, and assume that he had a difficult time finding internet access.

 

[Dan O.]

Maybe he forgot to remove the wireless card from his laptop and it was confiscated at customs^*. If he stored the URL and password for the forums on the laptop, he won't be able to log in until he returns from the trip.

(*) I tried looking for wireless hotspots in the Philippines and discovered that wireless was only recently allow and those have to be licensed and registered.

 

[GzuzKryzt]

Well, I only invoked the crickets because of his promise to "Sometime early next week when I find an Internet cafe, I will update you of the results of our discussion."

I guess early in the week could be any time before noon on Wednesday? To be fair, I could give him the benefit of the doubt, and assume that he had a difficult time finding internet access.

Good points.



PeaceCrusader, if you flat out say "The "spirit" refused to agree to the test.", that would most likely be fine with us. Except perhaps Moochie.

You would probably receive a couple of jabs, but I think the vast majority of posters and lurkers would go: "At least he tried."

We would have to conclude that there is no evidence for your claim, but we also would commend your effort; despite all valid critique. I would.

 

[CynicalSkeptic]

PeaceCrusader, if you flat out say "The "spirit" refused to agree to the test.", that would most likely be fine with us. Except perhaps Moochie.

You would probably receive a couple of jabs, but I think the vast majority of posters and lurkers would go: "At least he tried."

We would have to conclude that there is no evidence for your claim, but we also would commend your effort; despite all valid critique. I would.

Well, I for one, would contend that you were duped by Ms. Alvaran, but I would let you off in that you were scammed, and not the scammer. Probably not very comforting, but it's something.