I know this is going to be somewhat off-topic to some, but I want you to consider the implications of this post. This post IS NOT a troll by any means. I have just begun research into this area and am finding alarming data to substantiate great concern. I post this in effort to get your viewpoints as well as data you may have on this subject.

SYSOPS - MY APOLOGIES IF THIS IS INCONSISTENT WITH YOUR POLICIES and if you prefer further posts of this nature not be displayed here, please send me mail notifying me of your wishes and I will be glad to accomodate.

Now the concern, and I will try to link this to Y2K somewhat.

There is a trend in our nation of recent that is quite alarming; that being the school shootings. We have to ask ourselves, "why is this becoming an epidemic and what are the factors behind this trend ?" I haven't studied (yet) in great detail the commonalities of each incident, but I do have enough at my disposal to make me look further into this. The fact that these are young adults and influenced in part by television and video games has made me take a hard look at this particular aspect. What I have found to this point is shocking.

We have known for some time the controversy about violence in the media and have heard the arguments concerning the effect of video games on children. The concern for the effects I am finding, are definitely NOT WITHOUT WARRANT.

As I stated in an earlier post, the Police and Military are using technology based weapons in effort to disseminate riotous and/or violent individuals. I now call to your attention one weapon in particular. This is the laser-based, pulsating light weapon featured on Discovery Sunday on 5th of December. This weapon discharges a high intensity, pulsating beam of light which when directed into the face of a perpetrator, would completely disorient and disable the individual. The pulses were timed to match (somehow), the frequency pattern of the brain and when timed exactly right, disrupts the signal of the brain thus causing debilitating effects.

Now, switching gears. It is known that your television and computer monitors display light, not by continuous beam, but by a "refresh rate". This "refresh rate" occurs at such a fast rate that the eye cannot discern the flashes. The brain on the other hand, DOES note the flashes and at certain frequencies these flashes can have devestating effects on the chemical production and function of the central nervous system. If you want a sample of a visual effect of the refresh rate, look at a film of a computer monitor. Depending on the refresh rate of the monitor, you can see the "rolling" effect or the "flitter" effect on the film footage. The rate is captured on film but not detectable to the naked eye. A television will also show the same results.

Now, to substantiate my theory that these effects CAN be harmful, and note that I say CAN be, I will cut and paste a warning from a game manufacturer in the next paragraph. Note the following:

***This information taken from the manual of the video game A Bugs Life by Disney/Pixar. (Disney Interactive)

(reprinted without permission)

WARNING: READ BEFORE USING YOUR PlayStation  GAME CONSOLE. A very small percentage of individuals may experience epileptic seizures when exposed to certain light patterns or flashing lights. Exposure to certain patterns or backgrounds on a television screen or while playing video games, including games played on the PlayStation game console, may induce an epileptic seizure in these individuals. Certain conditions may induce previously undetected epileptic symptoms even in persons who have no history of prior seizures or epilepsy. If you, or anyone in your family, has an epileptic condition, consult your physician prior to playing. If you experience any of the following symptoms while playing a video game  dizziness, altered vision, eye or muscle twitches, loss of awareness, disorientation, any involuntary movement, or convulsions  IMMEDIATELY discontinue use and consult your physician before resuming play. 

This game is rated E (everyone) by the ESRB.

After reading this, I would hope that you would sit up and take note. As I stated, I am taking this thing on as a full-blown research project.

It is my assumption that these types of stimuli CAN be used to effect certain behaviors from individuals either intentionally or unintentionally. I am suspect that these certain light frequencies CAN be used for example, in games, to enhance the affect of the game thus making it more attractive to the player. And, if these light frequencies CAN affect people, as the warning says it can, cannot this technology be used for other forms of behavior ? You read what you wish into this but I know what I THINK the possibilities are.

How can this be related to Y2K ? I have my thoughts on the matter. Though maybe far-fetched, so was space travel in the 40's. I DO NOT link this to a government conspiracy but I do believe that there is, right under yours and my noses, an influence that should demand the attention of everyone who owns a computer, game platform or television.

This post is not intended in any other fashion other than to make you take a good look at this phenomenon. It concerns me and I will find out all I can. If any others are interested in this, I would like to hear from you. The e-mail address is real. Drop me a line.

-- Rob (maxovrdrv51@hotmail.com), December 07, 1999

Answers

Rob: Look into the book called "Shhh, don't tell" by Carla Emery. Sounds like just what you would be interested in reading.

-- (formerly known as nobody@nowhere.zzz), December 07, 1999.

Thanks... I definitely will check the book.

-- Rob (maxovrdrv51@hotmail.com), December 07, 1999.

Rob, About a year ago, there was a report from Japan that one of the early morning cartoons ran an animation of an explosion, red, yellow, blue orange, strobed. Immediately, hundreds of Japanese children fell into a frothing seizure and were taken by their parents to hospital emergency rooms.

This was big news in Japan, so when the evening news rolled around, they replayed the video clip of the animated explosion. Immediately, hundreds of Japanese children fell into a frothing seizure .... well, you get the picture.

Might be a good place to start.

-- Hillbilly (Hillbilly@possum.creek), December 07, 1999.

You might also be interested in looking into the links between violence... esp. murder-suicides and the prozac family of drugs. How many people will be in sudden withdrawal come the new year?

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), December 07, 1999.

I don't have time to research this but here is something to pursue if you are interested.

I seem to recall that the flash rate that can trigger epileptic seizures is a fairly low - a frequency of possibly 8-12 cycles/sec. (No, I'm not certain, but this is what I recall)

Most computer monitors today have a significantly higher refresh rate ranges from 60 cycles/sec to 100 cycles per second, the most common being 72 cycles/sec. I'm unsure of standard television scan rates but seem to recall it being somewhat lower than a computer monitor.

Is it possible that there are unknown effects from monitor rescan rates? I'm skeptical. Then again, until recently, most of us thought life in the utterly dark and extreme pressures of the deep oceans was impossible. Then along came the incredible hydrothermal vent ecosystems. As a result, life on Jupiter's moon Europa does not seem quite so discountable.

But it would be just about impossible to show a direct connection between changes in brain chemistry due to 'flashiing' and the behavior you mention.

Even if there were proof, it seems to me that we have a lot more clear and present dangers to deal with first.

-- Arnie Rimmer (Arnie_Rimmer@usa.net), December 07, 1999.

Rob- I had a friend who was epileptic. As I recall he spoke of a number of "flashing" light sources which could trigger a seizure. (Driving down a tree-lined road with sunlight "flashing" through the leaves?) Definitely an interesting phenomenon.

Looks like "Formerly known as nobody" mistakenly gave you the wrong title of the Carla Emory book. A search at Amazon brought me to this...

"Secret, Don't Tell : The Encyclopedia of Hypnotism by Carla Emory

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0965993035/o/qid=94460 2581/sr=2-3/102-0628292-1749621

-- CD (not@here.com), December 07, 1999.

The father of the lad in the OK school shooting works for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (the gov).

-- don't mean nothin (Just@tid.bit), December 07, 1999.

Hillbilly,

I saw that also. Very interesting. People tend to forget that we are just biological machines, and as such, have many more 'weaknesses' than we might realize...

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), December 07, 1999.

"He liked video games, touch football and his mom's cookies." - Fox Newswire.

R.

-- Roland (nottelling@nowhere.com), December 07, 1999.

These are some fantastic responses. I appreciate your time to add to this. Please, keep them coming as I could use all the help I can get in researching this fantastic topic. Thanks...

Rob

-- Rob (maxovrdrv51@hotmail.com), December 07, 1999.

Oh, and BTW. I am convinced that I need to do a website featuring this phenomenon and all the data I aquire. I will begin working on it tomorrow. I imagine it will be a dynamic site, changing as I run across new data and facts. I would betcha that when Disney finds out, I'm gonna have to answer to Mickey, whaddya think ? (LOL)

If you have any sites featuring information on these shootings, please let me know. I want solid proof so I can find the common threads amongst these kids (if there are any). Thanks again...

-- Rob (maxovrdrv51@hotmail.com), December 07, 1999.

Rob,

Something to ponder...why are all of the shooters male? Girls play videos and watch TV too. Could it be something in the differences in the brain, chemical reactions/makeup, hormonal triggers?

Just some food for thought. This is a very interesting topic. Please publish you web address when you have it up and running.

R.

-- Roland (nottelling@nowhere.com), December 07, 1999.

Rob,

Have you looked at www.trufax.com? They have alot of articles,links on this sort of stuff, but then again the page is soo crowded that it can be overwhelming.

-- Hokie (nn@va.com), December 07, 1999.

Rob,

I'm a quasi first time visitor, visiting link to link, quickly reading as I go. I haven't seen the Discovery program you saw, but, right away I thought your connection to a gov. weapon to control rioting could very well be out there and available to the military. Sounds like the perfect tool to make the masses quit causing a problem. Don't have to kill or maim if you can control em safely. As usual, I'm sure my imagination runs rampant, I sure hope so.

-- Michael Teever (teotwawki_soon_2000@yahoo.com), December 07, 1999.

Tremendous responses indeed. I see a lot of interest in this subject, which drives me that much more. A mention was made in observance of the "shooters" being male. I have some theory on this, in the direction of hormonal characteristics, that I am looking into.

I have been into bodybuilding and fitness and have done much research into the effects of testosterone on the individual. I have not made a direct link to this phenomenon at this time, but I have just begun. Testosterone IS a factor in male aggression but I need to gather the documentation to support any summations I may make.

Very good info from these responses and I thank ALL of you. I will post the website when I get it going. Apparently the sysops don't mind this OT thread so I will follow up for those interested.

There is something to this. The sad thing is we haven't been made privvy to the consideerable impact it has on us. And what's even sadder is that it has the potential to affect ALL of us, and our children.

More to come folks. More to come...

-- Rob (maxovrdrv51@hotmail.com), December 07, 1999.

Rob, a few things to note. First, the number of school shooting has gone DOWN recently. Yup, down. It's just that the reporting of them has gone up. Second, if you do some research you will find that an unbelievably large number of the people that "go postal" and start shooting up offices, resturants, factories, etc. are usually on prescription mind altering drugs, prozac is frequently it. Get a PDR (Physician's Desk Reference) and look up the side effects of stuff like prozac.

-- Ken Seger (kenseger@earthlink.net), December 07, 1999.

Rob, you are just *scratching* at the surface of this subject. I say good for you, but don't discard deeper viewpoints. It will lead you to much more profound conclusions. Good luck to you. It is a difficult subject to stomach.

http://morethanconquerors.simplenet.com/MCF/archv-hm.htm#CNN97

-- OR (orwelliator@biosys.net), December 07, 1999.

This is a very interesting topic - I'm sure that you'll find no shortage of material. It does, however, seem to be a bit of an inauspicious time to be embarking upon it.

-- Michael (mhgentry@prodigy.net), December 08, 1999.

Hillbilly & Rob, The seizure inducing japanese cartoon is the only episode of POKEMON you wont see in the USA! This is On-Topic because mind control is explicitly happening now (3 day storm....3 day storm....3 day storm...3 day storm....3 day storm......) & is happening covertly.

-- INever (inevercheckmy@onebox.com), December 08, 1999.

International Herald Tribune,
Thursday, December 18, 1997

The Cartoon That Caused Convulsions
Hundreds in Japan Fall Ill From Viewing Animated TV Show

Compiled by Our Staff From Dispatches

TOKYO - Colors exploded on television screens across Japan, a cartoon character flashed his sparkling eyes, and hundreds of young viewers were felled by muscle spasms and nausea.

More than 700 viewers of TV Tokyo's hit cartoon ''Pokemon'' suffered epilepsy-like seizures about 20 minutes into Tuesday night's show and were rushed to hospitals, according to the national broadcaster, NHK.

The Home Affairs Ministry said that 208 people ranging in age from three to 58 were still in hospitals on Wednesday. Dr. Yukio Fukuyama, an expert on juvenile epilepsy, said the seizures, albeit unpleasant, were not dangerous and that spontaneous recovery was the norm.

A psychologist, Kenta Kunimoto, said there was clinical evidence that epilepsy-like seizures could be triggered by the kind of flashing lights shown in the cartoon. ''This could be an epilepsy attack resulting from optical stimulus, judging from clinical samples in which flickering lights have triggered spasms or unconsciousness,'' he said.

The broadcaster said it would cancel the segment on 30 other stations that were scheduled to show it.

The bizarre sickness prompted officials to consider new programming guidelines, and many Japanese mothers expressed concern that wildly popular cartoons could be harmful. ''I'm worried,'' said Keiko Murakami, who watched the program with her three children at their suburban Tokyo home, although no one in the family got sick. ''I have to warn my kids that the program could be dangerous.''

TV Tokyo would not say which scene in the show sickened the children. But viewers and news reports said a vividly colored explosion mixed with the strobe-light flashing of a character's eyes seemed to trigger the dramatic reaction. The ''Pokemon'' show, a Japanese rendering of ''pocket monsters,'' is based on characters in a video game produced by Nintendo Co. The company's shares plunged on Wednesday, recovering to close at 12,500 yen, down 200 yen or 1.6 percent. A spokesman for Nintendo said the video game was only in black and white, not in color.

The weekly show has been broadcast on 37 TV stations nationwide since April and has the highest ratings in the Tokyo area in its 6:30 P.M. slot. After a second wave of seizures among children watching videotapes of the program on Wednesday, a nationwide video-rental chain responded by saying it would pull the series from its shelves.

It was not the first time that children have been made ill by Japanese animation. Several years ago, a handful of teenagers suffered seizures while playing video games sold by Nintendo. The company now attaches a warning of epilepsy-like symptoms triggered by the games' optical stimuli.

In Japan, a country where garishly illustrated and often violent animation is popular, some people are urging the government to monitor the images that children watch on TV more closely.

''I hope broadcasters would investigate it thoroughly and take precautions to avoid similar problems in the future,'' said Mrs. Murakami, who complained that TV programs did not provide any warnings about content.

Kyoichi Sato, a spokesman for the Post and Telecommunications Ministry, which oversees television and radio broadcasting, said that officials were investigating and that the case could lead to new programming guidelines.

Tuesday's ''Pokemon'' featured a child and a monster who were inside a computer battling a program designed to kill viruses.

The program's producer, Takemoto Mori, said he had used similar flashing effects in most of the previous ''Pokemon'' shows, with slight variations in color and background combinations.

''During editing, that particular portion didn't call my attention or bother me,'' Mr. Mori said. ''I'm really sorry that the kids got sick watching their favorite cartoon.''

Toshio Yamauchi, an epilepsy expert at Saitama University of Medicine, near Tokyo, said that the viewers' symptoms suggested a one- time attack triggered by optical stimulus, which is different from epilepsy, the Kyodo press agency said.

Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto said the effects of the cartoons ''have not been fully determined.''

[ENDS]

-- John Whitley (jwhitley@inforamp.net), December 09, 1999.

Regular monitors suck, LCD is a lot better. I don't like flourescent lights either, they have the same problem.

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), December 09, 1999.