At 10:24 am 11/03/2006 -0700, Ed wrote:
Jed wrote,
>> Here is my take on the situation:
>>
>> Think Zeitgeist. This is the kind of age we live in. This is what
>> science has come to. When people publish experimental results that
>> contradict theory, instead of debating the issues according to logic and
>> textbook knowledge, academic rivals spread false rumors, they threaten
>> lawsuits, they meddle, and they conduct witch hunt investigations to
>> derail the research and destroy careers.
But surely such behaviour is nothing new as Jed must know, since he has
read Koestler's "The Sleepwalkers". Scientists are just as corrupt as
anybody else. The idea that they are some kind of secular religious
order pursuing truth is, and always has been, risible.
[snip]
>I still think something is odd about the approach taken by the press to
>bubble fusion. All fields of science have internal conflict and
>questions about the data. These issues are routinely resolved in the
>pages of scientific journals and in discussion between scientists. The
>press does not get involved and the general public never knows or cares
>about the issues. In recent times, the press has taken notice of
>emotional scientific issues such as stem cell research and global
>warming. General interest in these issues is understandable. However,
>why would bubble fusion get press attention and be of interest to anyone
>except the few people working on the subject?
>Ed
Maybe they have vivid memories of all those bubbles in that film
Chain Reaction (1996), eh! 8-)
I append a review below for Vortexians who may not have seen it.
=========================================================
This film is fast and exciting. The story is about a
scientist working at a University lab. to make renewable
energy out of water. Upon succeeding, the plant explodes
but not before Reeves returns to find one of the top
researchers suffocated. Upon investigation Reeves and
Weiss are set up and the FBI are on their case.
In seeking to find the truth, they uncover an undercover
agency established by the Government that is so secret
that top Officials at the White House are unaware of
its activities, the FBI are unaware and the is no
paperwork of its existence.
This film really gets you hooked and makes you think
about what does really go on in the world. [or not ;-) ]
=========================================================
Frank
