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The Electronically Quiet House

73.222.105.47

Posted on July 13, 2016 at 23:23:28
Posts: 26350
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: February 17, 2004
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February 6, 2012
Our local Pacifica radio station, KPFA in Berkeley, features a number of health shows hosted by old hippies (with topics such as aroma therapy, essential oils, how astrology fits into your health regimen, etc.), but there's one show that seems to exhibit a bit more credibility than the others do. It's called "Your Own Health and Fitness" run by Lena Berman, who identifies herself as a "health integrationist". She sometimes has some legitimate guests on the show and I find the program generally entertaining and even, on some occasions, useful.

One of Elena's frequently recurring topics is "the dangers of EMF radiation in the home", and this week, she had a show to discuss the subject line of this post. What's interesting about this is that although she freaks out about such things as smart meters, LED bulbs (which she claims are as bad as florescents), etc., she had a guest on the show, Michael Neuert, who apparently designs environments for minimal EMF exposures. I was thinking that some of the discussion might actually apply to audio too - and in fact, both Lena and her guest identify digital anything (not just audio in particular) as much more dangerous to your health than good ol' analogue.

Here's a link to it - I think this show will stay up on the site until next Monday. It's an hour long, and I'm about half way through it so far. As mentioned, I find it entertaining, although I don't necessarily agree with any of it! ;-)

So if you've got an extra hour to spare, here's the link:

 

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RE: The Electronically Quiet House, posted on July 14, 2016 at 08:56:27
6bq5
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Posts: 4363
Location: SF Bay
Joined: August 16, 2001
Yes, another episode of the view from the republic of bezerkley....
Couple of interesting notes on KPFA- Best sound quality of all the bay area radio stations- Amazing music late nights and Saturday.

As to the EMF issue - Devra Davis wrote a wonderful book [Disconnect] on the problems with Cell Phone radiations- and though Lena has not had Devra on the show- the book is a great read as a new industry learns from the past how to manipulate the regulations

The perspective that KPFA provides is always a pleasure to hear -
Happy Listening

 

Try to listen to an AM radio in your house..., posted on July 14, 2016 at 15:08:23
mhardy6647
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and you'll likely "see" (hear) for yourself how bad it is.
AC-driven (transformer-powered) LED lights are horrible sources of RFI as are computers, digital TVs, etc. (to say nothing of Bluetooth and WiFi).

Now, whether these have health/well-being considerations is anyone's guess -- it's pretty safe to say that we didn't evolve with such RF background as "selective pressure"... but it is also safe to say that we did evolve in the presence of much more energetic forms of radiation (I'm thinking, e.g., of cosmic radiation... but the sun itself is blasting us with huge amounts of broadband energy).

Bottom line - I wouldn't sweat it too over-much; it's the price we pay for what we want.
all the best,
mrh

 

You're In Berkeley?, posted on July 14, 2016 at 16:19:57
Where is her data? Nowhere. It doesn't surprise me that there's a wacko show like that there. As much as I like Berkeley's ambiance, it seems to have a higher than normal percentage of nutjobs. I was walking along Shattuck one day, and there were multiple locations with, um, not particularly clean people, sitting on a blanket on the sidewalk with their mangey dogs. Nearby, I think on University, there was a group of "hippies" hanging out on a lawn along the street. I think it was just west of Telegraph. I'm tellin' ya what, it's almost like stepping back in time to 1969. Oh, and, there's this little shop called "OM" on Shattuck, and there was a woman (customer) who, I kid you not, was walking around on a piece of newspaper that she kept sliding along the floor. The owner, and I, were both a little freaked out by that one.

Still, my thinking is to come out there again in the Fall, 'cause it's so damn cool, dude.

:)

 

Yes - They refer to such AM radio tests on the program, posted on July 14, 2016 at 16:53:41
Posts: 26350
Location: SF Bay Area
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I tend to agree with the bottom line in your post however. At least I HOPE what you say is true: my whole house has LED lighting, I've got one of those B&O "Ice" amplifiers (Seymour 1,000 watt monoblock - for the sub-woofer), a computer in every room, cell phones with a wireless charger, god only knows what else! ;-)

 

Berkeley -) over the hills to Orinda -) beyond Orinda to Lafayette (highway 24) [nt], posted on July 14, 2016 at 16:56:18
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Thanks for the recommendation - I'll try to obtain the book [nt], posted on July 14, 2016 at 17:00:14
Posts: 26350
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: February 17, 2004
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RE: Berkeley -) over the hills to Orinda -) beyond Orinda to Lafayette (highway 24) [nt], posted on July 14, 2016 at 17:46:18
Ha! All this time, I thought Lafayette, Louisiana! Never looked at your location.

:)

 

And All This Time......., posted on July 14, 2016 at 18:35:27
Todd Krieger
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Posts: 37308
Location: SW United States
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I thought you once worked for Lafayette Radio........ ;-p

 

Welcome to the end of the line, youre in Concord, all passengers please disembark, posted on July 15, 2016 at 07:48:49
Awe-d-o-file
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Location: 50 miles west of DC
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Just sayin......
ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

RE: The Electronically Quiet House, posted on July 15, 2016 at 09:54:14
mkuller
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Posts: 38130
Location: SF Bay Area
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>She sometimes has some legitimate guests on the show...>

LOL!

 

RE: You're In Berkeley?, posted on July 15, 2016 at 09:55:07
mkuller
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Posts: 38130
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: April 22, 2003
...I hope you contact me this time when you come out so we can get together.

I like meeting people from the 1950s.

 

Everyone Stays Onboard, posted on July 15, 2016 at 21:17:48
Luminator
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Posts: 7287
Location: Bay Area
Joined: December 11, 2000
BART has extended to Pittsburg/Bay Point for years. And from there, people have to go to Antioch, Brentwood, and beyond.

 

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