From: rfw@silvan.hw.stratus.com (Bob Wambach)
Newsgroups: alt.tv.northern-exp
Subject: Re: MORE 1/18 TIDBITS
Date: 22 Jan 1993 02:25:21 GMT
Organization: Stratus Computer, Inc.
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: silvan.hw.stratus.com

In article <3yoqXB1w165w@student.business.uwo.ca>, m4safran@student.business.uwo.ca (Melissa Safran) writes:
> Gordon_Wong@mindlink.bc.ca (Gordon Wong) writes:
> 
> > [7] When Maggie wondered why he killed men, she said that maybe she disturbed
> >     their negative ions. Negative ions? Why negative?
> > 
> I don't know the entire deal with this, but, I vaguely remember that 
> positive ions in the air are supposed to be bad and negative ions are 
> good.  When there are too many positive ions in the air, believers of 
> this stuff think that bad things will happen.  Therefore, if Maggie 
> disturbs their negative ions, they will only have positive ones left and 
> bad things (like death) will happen to them.
> 
> Only a theory, and certainly not one to which I adhere.
> 
> Ciao!
> 
> m4safran@student.business.uwo.ca (Melissa Safran)
> Western Business School  --  London, Ontario

Here's the positive/negative ion deal as I understand it:
There is an atmospheric phenomena where pollution tends to hang in positive ion
environments, such as those that appear before storms.  When a storm occurs in a
positive ion environment, lightning neutralizes the positive ions and leaves a
negative ion environment.  Pollution is positively charged, so it will be
neutralized and precipitated out of the air by negative ions.  This is why it is
widely acknowledged that the air seems cleaner after a big storm.

Ions also affect human electrochemical processes.  When the air breathed in is
either positively charged or negatively charged, it produces a very small current
and corresponding voltage gradient in cells of the bronchi and bronchioli.  This
modifies the metabolic rate, which can minutely change the biochemical balance of
the body. The body tries to compensate via the autonomic nervous system,
sometimes successfully to the extent that no noticeable outward signs exist.
Studies have demonstrated that energy levels, pain sensitivity, and irritability
are affected by positive ions in a "not good" manner.  This impact is linked to
serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter released in response to significant
positive ions.

I would speculate the NX people ran into the negative ion line through their
research into pollution for the ongoing Maggie/Mike storyline.  I've read up on
ions both through "save the environment" type stuff and also because I'm an
allergy sufferer.  In fact, two weeks ago I was on the receiving end of a syringe
full of epinephrine - the very stuff Mike shot up.  My shot was administered in the fleshy part of my arm.  Of course, my other arm was treated to a syringe of
Benadryl. Maybe Mike will find some in an upcoming episode...

Other stuff:

1. Maggie had a reasonable amount of make up on when she was in Mike's bubble
house.  Mike sure handled the chemicals well!

2.  There's no such thing as a perfect hand made persian rug, if one is referring
to knots and row eveness.  It isn't necessary to leave a knot undone, and I
hadn't heard of this practice.  Even rugs worth tens of thousands of 
dollars - and brilliantly constructed - are obviously hand made.  Many of the
well known rugmakers used to signature their work, but the untied knot is news 
to me. ( BTW, I'm a huge fan of great hand made persians, wish I could afford 'em)

Bob

disclaimer 1:  my views, not my company's
special disclaimer:  I'm not a doctor, but I play one on the net