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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
 Posted - 06/29/2003 : 13:17:02
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Is NASA studying 97 pound weaklings? Or falling for yet another flim-flam?
quote:
Mr Manek is now in the US to show NASA's scientists how he survives without food.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/06/29/1056825280652.html
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"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist! 
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Vegeta
Skeptic Friend
United Kingdom
238 Posts |
 Posted - 06/29/2003 : 19:49:22 [Permalink]
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Wow, I wish I could eat sunnlight through my eyeballs...
Sounds interesting, if this guy is for real, although I don't see how it can be possible. |
What are you looking at? Haven't you ever seen a pink shirt before?
"I was asked if I would do a similar sketch but focusing on the shortcomings of Islam rather than Christianity. I said, 'No, no I wouldn't. I may be an atheist but I'm not stupid.'" - Steward Lee |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2003 : 19:49:24 [Permalink]
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Other people have claimed to live off extremely little food, or even nothing but air. If I remember correctly, those who've been studied under strictly controlled conditions quickly began starving, meaning that the "verification" that was done probably missed the guy sneaking food. It's about as exciting as spoon-bending - you do what needs to be done when nobody's looking.
But, considering the government, and NASA in particular, have fallen for zero-point energy and other such crocks, that they'd spend money on this isn't all that surprising.
Hell, I even doubt the claim that the guy can avoid blinking for an hour. Oh, and the sun is no more dangerous in the morning as it is in the evening - no less dangerous, either. Of course, when the sun is so low, the light passes through about 1000 km of UV-scattering atmosphere, so there's not a lot of UV danger (compared to about 50 km at noon on the equator). But, given that fact, his "food source" must be visible and/or infrared light.
Hey, maybe he's got chlorophyll in his eyes. 
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- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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Vegeta
Skeptic Friend
United Kingdom
238 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2003 : 20:04:12 [Permalink]
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| what's zero point energy? |
What are you looking at? Haven't you ever seen a pink shirt before?
"I was asked if I would do a similar sketch but focusing on the shortcomings of Islam rather than Christianity. I said, 'No, no I wouldn't. I may be an atheist but I'm not stupid.'" - Steward Lee |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2003 : 20:33:03 [Permalink]
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It's basically a perpetual-motion machine hiding behind strange quantum mechanical terms in order to look like something other than a perpetual-motion machine.
See this. There are people out there who've fallen in love with the Casimir force, and think that you can derive useful energy from the zero-point field, but don't realize that, as is written on that page, "A Casimir engine would be one whose cylinders could only fire once, after which the engine become useless." And, since it'd take at least as much energy to set up such an 'engine' as you'd get from its single firing, it can't really do any useful work.
But, these fanatics who think they can get useful energy from the vacuum have set up companies and even have been granted patents for stuff which won't function as advertised, and NASA has spent money on getting at least one of these nutjobs to speak to them.
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- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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Maverick
Skeptic Friend
Sweden
385 Posts |
Posted - 06/30/2003 : 08:13:29 [Permalink]
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| My guess is: Either he's a mutant of X-Men calibre, or he's a fake. I would bet my money on the latter, even though the former would be much more interesting. :-) |
"Life is but a momentary glimpse of the wonder of this astonishing universe, and it is sad to see so many dreaming it away on spiritual fantasy." -- Carl Sagan |
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Jimmy_Reynolds
New Member
USA
47 Posts |
Posted - 06/30/2003 : 15:49:40 [Permalink]
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| Note that there is no source other than the Hindustan Times. The Sydney Morning Herald also does not mention making any attempt to confirm the story through NASA itself, or to seek NASA's comments, both of which would have been very simple. |
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Snake
SFN Addict
USA
2511 Posts |
Posted - 07/01/2003 : 00:10:47 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Dave W.
Other people have claimed to live off extremely little food, or even nothing but air.
Yes, they are called Breathairians.
I don't find that story too weird. I myself went for 7 days without food, save for a small apple on the 4th day (ok I cheated a bit). That was several years ago and I was used to not eating for up to 4 days at a time back then. Didn't feel any different for having done that.
Like the man in the story I don't have an appetite, that is I never feel hungry. I eat....because it's there and sometimes it looks like it tastes good so I want to try it. But if I didn't want the experience of the sights and sounds and flavor of the food I wouldn't want it. In fact most of the time I can't eat for hours after I get up, looking at food makes me sick. That is of course not going for years of not eating but I do think I could live like that and therefore don't find it strange.
Trust me, once you don't eat for a while you don't miss it. IME. |
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Maverick
Skeptic Friend
Sweden
385 Posts |
Posted - 07/01/2003 : 04:54:21 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Snake
quote:
Trust me, once you don't eat for a while you don't miss it. IME.
I can of course only speak for myself, but it's when I haven't eaten for a while, that I really start missing it. But, that's just me, getting hungry when I need more food and stuff. Sure, I could go a day without eating, but I wouldn't function as well, being tired, never feel like doing anything, getting weak and dizzy. Perhaps I'm just addicted. :-) |
"Life is but a momentary glimpse of the wonder of this astonishing universe, and it is sad to see so many dreaming it away on spiritual fantasy." -- Carl Sagan |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
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Snake
SFN Addict
USA
2511 Posts |
Posted - 07/01/2003 : 17:58:33 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Dave W.
There is, of course, a big difference between your week, and this guy's four months, Snake.
Yes, I did make a reference to that Dave. I know that.
If it wasn't clear, what I meant was that after not eating for a few days, one (well me anyway) looses his taste for food and can take it or leave it. It's not a nessesity.....to have as much as I see the average person eat. Nor as often. That's all. I was just saying because of what I observed I think it is possible to do that that guy is doing. If one is so inclined.
There might be more to the story than him just drinking tea, and what ever else it said. Maybe there are enough nutriants in what he's doing to keep him going.
BTW, now I eat a lot of junk food and gained probably over 100 pounds from my normal adult weight that I was for years. I do it because....it's there and it feels good! Perhaps I'll go back to not eating, when I get around to it. Or when I run out of the microwave popcorn in the cupboard. |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
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Snake
SFN Addict
USA
2511 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2003 : 00:14:17 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Maverick
Originally posted by Snake
quote:
Trust me, once you don't eat for a while you don't miss it. IME.
I can of course only speak for myself, but it's when I haven't eaten for a while, that I really start missing it. But, that's just me, getting hungry when I need more food and stuff. Sure, I could go a day without eating, but I wouldn't function as well, being tired, never feel like doing anything, getting weak and dizzy. Perhaps I'm just addicted. :-)
I know, Maverick. Everyone is different. My room mate is like you, I think most people are to various degrees. If he doesn't eat in the morning and during the day he gets grouchy. Not that you do, but I mean he needs to eat.
I litteraly feel like throwing up just looking at food when I get up in the morning. When I used to work full time and even when I went to school all day I could never eat until I got home. I think of it as an interuption to the days work when you're trying to get something done. Eating is a nuisance as a daily activity. Food is only fun if it's an experience. |
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Snake
SFN Addict
USA
2511 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2003 : 00:19:53 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Dave W.
You're very right, Snake, I did miss that. Terribly sorry.
Not a problem Dave. No need to be sorry.
Although I'm always right, many people think I'm more wrong most of the time than right.
So thanks. |
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Maverick
Skeptic Friend
Sweden
385 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2003 : 02:28:47 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Snake
quote:
I know, Maverick. Everyone is different. My room mate is like you, I think most people are to various degrees. If he doesn't eat in the morning and during the day he gets grouchy. Not that you do, but I mean he needs to eat.
I litteraly feel like throwing up just looking at food when I get up in the morning. When I used to work full time and even when I went to school all day I could never eat until I got home. I think of it as an interuption to the days work when you're trying to get something done. Eating is a nuisance as a daily activity. Food is only fun if it's an experience.
Of course we all have different eating habits, but I just found it extraordinary that one could go weeks, even years without eating. It would mean a lot of money to save :-) The thing I like least about food is the cooking part, I guess. |
"Life is but a momentary glimpse of the wonder of this astonishing universe, and it is sad to see so many dreaming it away on spiritual fantasy." -- Carl Sagan |
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Snake
SFN Addict
USA
2511 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2003 : 13:37:27 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Maverick
Of course we all have different eating habits, but I just found it extraordinary that one could go weeks, even years without eating. It would mean a lot of money to save :-) The thing I like least about food is the cooking part, I guess.
Perhaps it's the 'eating' part that is in question. I hate it went some people get into symantics during a debate, so sorry but I have to say, that guy must be getting nutrition even though he's not 'eating'.
I do agree with you, cooking is a bother. There's nothing like going out to your yard picking an orange or whatever and eating it right from the tree. Mmmmmm! And no worry about bug spray, just maybe having to rinse it because of bird shit but natural from the land, no cooking...that's the way to go.  |
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