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From: phaedrus@eneevax.UUCP (The Sophist)
Newsgroups: net.misc,net.physics,net.sci
Subject: Perpetual Motion Machine (Honest!)
Message-ID: <261@eneevax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 13-Mar-85 11:12:45 EST
Article-I.D.: eneevax.261
Posted: Wed Mar 13 11:12:45 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 16-Mar-85 03:37:24 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: EE Dept, Maryversity of Uniland
Lines: 34
Xref: watmath net.misc:7539 net.physics:2243 net.sci:286

This is weird stuff.  I hope you have had your morning coffee.  Maybe
you should go get another cup before you read this.

This morning (Wed.  3/13/85) I heard on National Public Radio's
"Morning Edition" about some inventor in Louisiana who applied for a
patent for a machine that puts out more energy than it takes in (don't
start laughing yet).  He claims that it is *not* a perpetual motion
machine; he says that it gets its `energy' from the `magnetic field'
(quotes are mine).  Well, understandably the patent office said very
loudly, "No bloody way!"  So, this guy takes them to court with a whole
bunch of "expert witnesses", including some scientist from
Sperry-Univac in Minnesota (I think).  This scientist and a former
patent official support this inventor's claim (i.e., they say, "it is
true!").  So, the judge told the patent office to write up a patent.
But they still refused...and that is all I remember.


Since, I heard this at five o'clock in the morning, my recollection of
the story is kind of sketchy.  What I would like to know is:

	First, has anyone else heard the story?
	Second, does anyone believe this?  If (so/not) (why/why not)?
	Third, is the Sperry-Univac guy on the net?  If so, you
	want to explain yourself?
	Third, was NPR making a joke, and I was just too sleepy to
	catch it or, should everybody start selling their Public
	Utility Shares?
-- 
			Pravin Kumar

Don't bother me! I'm on an emergency third rail power trip.

ARPA:   phaedrus!eneevax@maryland
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