Jed,
I thought so too, when Gene first published the other side of the story. But if your read Feynman's account carefully, and you should - then you will see that Papp himself unplugged engine and handed the plug to Feynman. Feynman did not unplug the machine - he merely failed to give back the plug to Papp. BUT FEYNMAN WAS UNDER NO LEGAL OBLIGATION TO CONTINUE PAPP'S SCAM. Thus the liability is with Papp. If this had gone to trial there is no doubt Feynman would have prevailed. However, to settle out of court was probably the best thing for all concerned since there was a fatality and Cal Tech has deep pockets. However that death is on Papp. No doubt in my mind that he was legally responsible. From: Jed Rothwell Jones Beene <jone...@pacbell.net> wrote: Here is your "back to reality" information on Papp from Feynman himself. http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/comments/papparticle2.html If we assume the thing was real, then Feynman was responsible for the accident. He killed someone. It was criminal. Real or not, you should NEVER, EVER monkey with equipment or unplug a control unit without asking permission. If we assume it was not real, and power in equalled power out, it was still high powered device under the control of the electronics. Even a fake machine is dangerous if you suddenly disconnect the controls. It is like reaching over from the passenger seat and turning off the ignition in a car driving on a highway. Feynman was sometimes an arrogant, dismissive, unobservant jerk. He sure was in this case. - Jed
