Stories tagged Mavis

Electric Lady: Look! She just had an idea!
Courtesy YanivGI initially began this post with a super-hero themed pun. Key phrases: great power, great Price.

Why, JGordon, did you change it?

I'll tell you why: because I respect you. You’re readers, computer literates, science-enthusiasts: you deserve better than punning.

So let’s get down to brass tax: Mavis Price, 60-year-old denizen of Shropshire, like Electro, can shoot electricity out of her body. Sure, it happens randomly, and it kills more electric kettles than it does super-heroes (way, way more electric kettles, actually), but it's still pretty cool.

According to Mavis and her family, a touch from the grandmother will often fatally short out electric appliances, from irons to computers, and that just standing next to her can result in an unpleasant shock (not unusual from grandmothers, in my experience.)

"I went on an IT course, but it was a nightmare because every time I touched the computer it would either freeze or shut down,” claimed Mavis in a British accent. "The technician had to constantly come over to my machine to see what was wrong and he was completely baffled."

Mighty Mavis even has an origin story of sorts: she first recollects her power manifesting more than 50 years ago, as she was plugging in a television set. The TV exploded, and little Mavis was sent “flying across the room.” It could be that she is simply unable to recollect anything at all before being caught in a TV explosion, but we’ll give her the benefit of the doubt.

Unlike scientists. That’s right, scientists, the uber-killjoys, insist that there must be a rational explanation for the Mavis phenomenon. They even suggest that it’s not actually a super power, but a—get this—coincidence! What? Just because it can’t be tested or replicated? Is that what science is supposed to be? Oh. Well, whatever.

Some experts propose that Mavis, or the Shropshire Zapster (as she will no doubt come to be known) is inadvertently perpetuating her condition by building up large amounts of static electricity by walking with a shuffling gate, or by wearing too much nylon like fabric. The friction between nylon clad legs, or old lady feet and carpet, causes a each element to take on a positive or a negative charge, resulting in the kind of zap we’re all familiar with.

But I ask you this: even if this is the answer, what should she do? 1)She’s an old lady—you’d take shuffling away from her? 2) Nylon? Please. What is she supposed to wear? What do you think Electro wears?

Other, less sciencey types, suggest that Mavis’ condition may be similar to the SLI anomaly. SLI, or Street Light Interference, is a similarly less-sciencey phenomenon, which causes street lights to go off as afflicted people (known as SLIders—seriously) walk beneath them. Skeptics point out that this is very probably the result of paranoia combined with a lot of old street lights (dying sodium lights require more voltage, and will shut off sporadically, in such a way that is not to be taken personally). SLIders counter that street light interference occurs with all types of street lights, not just sodium lights. Unfortunately, the SLIders also have no control over their power, and so can’t do it on cue, for, say, a scientific test. Nurts.

But, you know, some people, like Mavis and the SLIders, insist on the reality of their conditions. Anyone here some kind of SLIder, or electro-kid? Check out the Association for the Scientific Study of Paranormal Phenomena website. They might be able to help you out. Somehow.

Tags : electricity, static electricity, Mavis, SLIders

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