Ok, so as a Physicist, I find the idea that the smoke monster could be fine steel powder levitated by magnetic fields to be an insult to my intelligence.
1: There would need to be some kind of moving source, either a big ass rare earth magnet or some kind of fancy electromagnet. Either way, this sort of thing would need to move around with the monster and would thus detract from its whispy smoke-like nature (as it would be a giant solid thing inside the monster). Also, what's levitating/moving the magnetic source?
2: No this can't be from fluctuating magnetic fields inside the island. Magnetic field lines (the lines the iron particles would align along) don't stop and start on source charges like electric field lines, they are continuous, so the monster would have to be a continuous ring, or part of a ring stopping and starting on the ground.
3: An oscillating field of that magnitude would do more than fuck with Locke's compass. Anything metal would be moving around, and also heating up from the resistive heating of the eddy currents produced in any conductor (not just magnetic materials).
All right, I'm done dorking out for now, but also:
4: Pretty sure that fence has something to do with sound, not magnetism.
I too am taking exams, although unlike the rest of you, no one cares what my grades are anymore. So I am currently 0 down, 1 exam and 1 presentation to go, but as I said, it doesn't really matter how I do, I just have to finish them. On the other hand, I will have an exam at the end of August that I very much do need to do well on. Yaaaay qualifiers!!
In response to Nicholas' question, they do sell beer in cans here believe it or not, although it is significantly more expensive than in good ol' STL. We have to go to a liquor store, but trust me, there will be plenty of canned and bottled beer for us to enjoy.
On a related note: My new apartment move in date is August 1 (which is a Saturday). I can keep my current place until August 15, but one of my roommates has to move August 1 as his lease will be up. So if you all are going to be here on August 1, I have a couple of options for you.
1. You can all help Brent and me move our stuff all in one day. Hopefully this wouldn't take too long but you know how moving goes. Advantages: You all will be rewarded with beer and some sort of sustenance. Also, you will all get to stay in my awesome new place with a back yard and cool roommates as opposed to my current shitty place with no yard and a roommate who glares at me and doesn't talk to me or do dishes. Disadvantages: You have to move shit.
2. You all can do something on your own while I help Brent move. Advantages: No moving shit. Disadvantages: lack of advantages discussed in option 1. and less time hanging out with the wonderful Robin Chisnell.
3. I can tell Brent to suck it and move his shit on his own. Advantages: we get to hang out more. Disadvantages: My new roommate hates me from day one.
Anyway let me know your thoughts on this. I'm ok with 1. or 2. or various variations on those. 3. is probably a bad choice so we'll leave that unless all other options fall through.
