I think the e-meter is not so much like the Ouija Board as it is like pareidolia- the very human tendency to look at random input/shapes – “noise” as opposed to an intentionally-constructed signal – and report seeing a coherent image. The Ouija Board provides not noise, but a signal. What Ouija Board practitioners mistake is not signal for noise, but the source of the signal – thinking it comes from a disembodied source instead of from their own muscle movements.

The key is that the needle movement is *noise* – what is “read” from the needle movement is closer to readings from ink blots or tea leaves, than it is like a message spelled out on a Ouija Board. I think the reason they hold the cans in their hands is exactly because this will create more noise -more ink blots, more blobs of tea leaves – to point to as “evidence” that the auditor has extracted information from the person holding the cans.

The Oujia Board, on the other hand (pardon the pun) operates on ideomotor movement – the (usually 2) people with their fingers on the planchette don’t realize they’re pushing the planchette around and believes the result is coming from someone other than the people with their fingers on the planchette. Unlike tea leaves and ink blots, Ouija Boards do provide messages in the form of words and yes/no answers.

I dunno about that!! But yeah, Prince definitely is emulating Bowie—whether he admits or not!! 🙂

Wow – You’re fun when you’re mad!

You know something, Miss Tia? I’m going to learn a lot more from you about these two than you will learn from me! But yes, there’s def an homage in there.

I bet Iggy still does that!!! Since your Prince lover too, isn’t Bowie’s influence obvious with Prince’s Dirty Mind performances? Compare/contrast with Bowie’s Hammersmith ’73 show for instance. Of course Prince RARELY acknowledges influences and I’ve never known him to mention Bowie, but show wise the influence is obvious in the Dirty Mind/Controversy period.

It was a truly unforgettable evening. So glad to have a new friend in you David!

Don’t mind if I do!

🙂 🙂 🙂

🙂 🙂 🙂

Thanks Miss Tia!