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[Previous entry: "Photoshopped symmetry."] [Main Index] [Next entry: "Time flies for old star wars actors."] 05/12/2005 Entry: "Michael Shermer on why people think a water-stain and a grilled cheese sandwich is a miracle." Michael Shermer on why people think a water-stain and a grilled cheese sandwich are miracles. Its all about pattern recognition, selective thinking, and wish fulfillment. Not much of a surprise, but tell that to the line of people outside an underpass off Fullerton. Consider a few cases of false pattern recognition (Google key words for visuals): the face of the Virgin Mary on a grilled cheese sandwich; the face of Jesus on an oyster shell (resembles Charles Manson, I think); the hit NBC television series Medium, in which Patricia Arquette plays psychic Allison Dubois, whose occasional thoughts and dreams seem connected to real-world crimes; the film White Noise, in which Michael Keaton's character believes he is receiving messages from his dead wife through tape recorders and other electronic devices in what is called EVP, or Electronic Voice Phenomenon. EVP is another version of what I call TMODMP, the Turn Me On, Dead Man Phenomenon--if you scan enough noise, you will eventually find a signal, whether it is there or not.See also: This simulacra gallery. Don't miss the kitty's ear.
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