Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Geezer on 22/12/2010 23:58:47
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A couple of years ago, while I was still in my teens, my friend "Joe" and I went on a camping holiday. Joe borrowed his sister's rather antiquated VW bug, which had a very small rear window, for transportation.
One evening, after we had pitched our tent at a campsite, we headed for the small town about 15 miles away in search of refreshments and companionship. The companionship bit turned out to be a bit of a bust. Consequently, I may have overdone the refreshment bit just a tad before we headed back to the campsite.
During the return trip, I became aware of a strange light shining through the rear window of the VW. I looked back in alarm.
"@#$%^&! Joe! There's a policeman standing on the back bumper and he's shining his torch through the window" I said. (I'm really not making this up. Joe would corroborate my story if he was still with us. Actually, he reminded me about it a few years ago.)
However, when we got to the campsite, there was no sign of any policemen. No detached fingers stuck in the air intake grill. Nothing.
What do you think I actually saw?
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My dad swore he saw an alien spaceship landing (Close Encounters lights and everything!) when he was inebriated - and he claims that the people he was with saw it too (although I never had this corroborated).
All I can say is that alcohol can be a surprisingly powerful 'drug' - more than that I don't know what to offer - an optical illusion of some sort?
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In this case (at least), it was not a(n?) hallucination.
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Given the steep slope of the rear windscreen, possibly the reflection of a torch (flashlight) on the back seat ...
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Reflections can be confusing ... [:)]
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Given the steep slope of the rear (flat?) windscreen, possbly the reflection of a torch (flashlight) on the back seat ...
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Bugger! I should have known you'd get it.
It wasn't actually on the back seat. There is a storage compartment behind the back seat, and the torch was wedged in a vertical position and shining straight up on to the rear window, which is inclined at close to 45 degrees.
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... torch was wedged in a vertical position and shining straight up on to the rear window, which is inclined at close to 45 degrees.
An early "head-up display" ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head-up_display
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Have you ever tried to reproduce this phenomena ?, do you recall if you had a torch and was the back shelf stuffed wit luggage ?.
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Have you ever tried to reproduce this phenomena ?, do you recall if you had a torch and was the back shelf stuffed wit luggage ?.
I think you might have missed my reply to RD [:)]
[Bugger! I should have known you'd get it.
It wasn't actually on the back seat. There is a storage compartment behind the back seat, and the torch was wedged in a vertical position and shining straight up on to the rear window, which is inclined at close to 45 degrees.
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A couple of years ago, while I was still in my teens, my friend "Joe" and I went on a camping holiday. Joe borrowed his sister's rather antiquated VW bug, which had a very small rear window, for transportation.
One evening, after we had pitched our tent at a campsite, we headed for the small town about 15 miles away in search of refreshments and companionship. The companionship bit turned out to be a bit of a bust. Consequently, I may have overdone the refreshment bit just a tad before we headed back to the campsite.
During the return trip, I became aware of a strange light shining through the rear window of the VW. I looked back in alarm.
"@#$%^&! Joe! There's a policeman standing on the back bumper and he's shining his torch through the window" I said. (I'm really not making this up. Joe would corroborate my story if he was still with us. Actually, he reminded me about it a few years ago.)
However, when we got to the campsite, there was no sign of any policemen. No detached fingers stuck in the air intake grill. Nothing.
What do you think I actually saw?
"He ran and ran, then his little legs just gave out"
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LOL [;D]
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LOL [;D]
Now Geezer...Can you name the source of the quote? Your hint is it was made by a cop while he "Chased" a "Chevy"
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Eric,
Are you "lampooning" me?
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Correct!!!! Didn't want to be to obvious with the clue, But if you saw the film you'd know it stared Chevy Chase.
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what sort of tent did you pitch?