Jed,
You didn't include the last paragraph from Barandes. It was juicy, and of
course nasty. I'm going to keep it for historical purposes. The extreme
point of view and the viciousness, I think, will be something fascinating
to look back on.
I'm finding, more and more, that it's helpful to talk with those who will
listen and show some interest, and leave the rest alone.
The Crimson made an editorial decision. I have to assume they are
intelligent people and understand what a disgusting ad hominem and
unsubstantiated attack this was. I also have to assume that the Crimson was
"testing the waters" with your pro-cold fusion letter - and they
subsequently decided that there was a strong contrarian viewpoint that they
had better represent, lest they appear too "progressive."
Honestly, I think they may not even have published your letter a few years ago.
We all know that CF has followed the scientific method. Many of us accept
that it is a demonstrable and a true effect of nature. My thought is that
It's just a matter of time before the rest of the world knows it too. How
much time? I don't know.
Remember what Stan Pons said in 1989:
"It appears that the people who would benefit most by this work being
discredited have taken the initiative to cause us great difficulty. .. They
might cause us difficulty, but they will not stop the science.''
I do see a progression occurring. It's slow, and it may only be evident
over the next few years, but it is clearly visible.
ITER's pathetic situation and deservedly bad press, in my view, has given a
tremendous boost to the view of CF in some circles, or at least those
outside of Harvard yard.
At the March APS meeting, Scott Chubb and I spoke with the editor of a very
prestigious physics journal who is a prof at another Ivy League school. The
idea of a CF lecture on campus came up. I have not heard of any
follow-through with it yet, but it seems possible in the future.
And then, in less than one month from now, I will present to the orthodox
scientists at the International Conference on Emerging Nuclear Systems,
"How can cold fusion be real, considering it was disproved by several
well-respected laboratories in
1989?"
http://newenergytimes.com/Conf/ICENES-2005/KrivitS-ICENES2005-Abstract.pdf .
I'm not expecting an overly-friendly reception by this fission and hot
fusion nuke physics crowd, but I'm still going to tell it the way I see it.
We'll see who is receptive. For reasons unknown to me, somebody, or some
people on the organizing committee on ICENES made the (enlightened, IMO)
decision that it was time they, and their attendees learn more about
cf. Let's see where this goes....
s
