I propose a new Internet Law aimed specifically at the claims of paranormal believers.

Lou’s Law: One cannot invoke Quantum Mechanics in an argument or explanation unless one can show at least a basic, layman’s understanding of Quantum Mechanics. For example, one might explain what Planck’s Constant describes or the idea behind the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle or even list the “flavors” of Quarks.

This comes from hearing Quantum Mechanics mentioned in The Secret, bizarre explanations of how Astrology works, and a host of other paranormal crap. Specifically, I came across it again in reading this interesting article on the paranormal radio/phone called Frank’s Box.

The full article is here: http://www.csicop.org/specialarticl….._broken_radio/

To save you from TL;DR, I’ll sum up: Frank’s Box is a radio set to constantly scan up and down the FM or AM dial. This produces a stream of white noise and garbled music/spoken word sounds. Believers in this device think that the garbled noise contains messages from dead people, aliens, angels, and/or demons.

Here is the quote that got me from the skeptic who met with one of the people who makes these devices:

Sumption contends that his devices provide “proof of an afterlife.” However, he insists that the phenomenon is “not paranormal,” which to him refers to magic and witchcraft. To Sumption, Frank’s Box is technology. “It functions on the quantum level,” he explained.

“What do you mean by ‘quantum’?” I asked.

He shrugged his shoulders and admitted, “I don’t know.”

Then you don’t get to use that as an explanation you ass clown.