Marcus Tisdale, Street Light Controller

[ChristineR]

Street lights are controlled by a whole bunch of things. There are probably some old ones on timers, and there are probably some new ones controlled through the hackable City services control console. I didn't know about the laser trick, but it sure is neat. Light sensors are usually on top of the light, but some are at the base. Some kids I knew used to go around putting tape on the sensors to turn them off. Lights on private property often have motion sensors. The fact that this only applies to a small number of lights in a gated community is highly suspicious.

The request for three affadavits implies that Kramer is thinking along the lines of vbloke's self deception, but I would lean towards fraud.

 

[Ririon]

Are all streetlamps sodium vapor lamps?

No.

Derail:

Sodium lamps are easy to spot. They give off a strong "pure" yellow light. (IIRC, the sodium spectrum has two strong lines close together in the yellow part of the spectrum and pretty much nothing else in visible light.) I remember being fascinated by them as a child, because when you are standing somewhere only lit by sodium lights, you can't tell what color anything is. Blue, red, whatever, it all looks like shades of grey i yellow light. (The Norwegian winters are long and dark...)

 

[Zendal Darkman]

My first post and its on the subject of the "power" to turn street lights on and off.

While I was at University (Leeds, England) there was a couple of lights on campus that always seem to go out as I cycled towards them ..... and then switch back on when I had cycled away. It used to entertain me that the "effect" was quite the opposite of what one would want to happen (from a eco friendly view point)

Looking back I wish I had carried out a series of experiments involving blindfolded cyclists following the directions given by blindfolded scientists. Perhaps in some way I could have then added to this thread.

As it is my first post I would like to just note my admiration for JR. By standing up for science truth he is one of the greatest champions of science has.

 

[JLam]

http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48455&highlight=slider
We discussed this about a month ago.