A Reply to Jim's Modest Proposal

by Steven E. Jones

22 November 2006

From the membership of the Scholars group, via our Forum and emails,
has come a vigorous discussion recently of what to do about the
web-stie which purportedly represents the Scholars. A member (W.E.)
put a straw poll on the Forum, with results of the straw-poll vote
shown:

Republic: 5-person committee of elected members serves as a board (1-year stints) and does the sorting/approval work for st911 web site. 60.0%

Democracy: all st911 members can vote via this Forum regarding articles etc. for the st911 web site. 32.0%

Retain the status quo, with Jim Fetzer in sole control of the web site. 8.0%

NOTE: Options "REPUBLIC" and "DEMOCRACY" would also include ending the co-chair system.

This is a great group of people, many of whom clearly want a greater say in the directions of the web site and the Scholars group. And they have every right to do so - they have stood up for the cooperative pursuit of truth. My experience is that nearly all prefer to see civility in the pursuit of common goals. I will be glad to continue to associate with this group. Jim has suggested another option in which HE would create or appoint a committee to advise him on the content of the web site.

The options, including Jim's latest suggestion, will soon be sent out via email to the entire membership (to the best of the membership secretaries' abilities) for a vote of the members.

That is what I wanted to add. But after reading Jim's latest in reply to me, I need to note the following lest I appear to acquiesce in further nonsense... Jim wrote: "Judy had advised me that the 30 second calculation for a grand piano had been done by a friend and that she had yet to verify it. According to the new calculation, the piano would have hit the ground in 11 seconds. I dare say that confirms my basic point, since the 9/11 Commission and NIST have assigned times of destruction for the towers of 10 seconds and 9 seconds apiece. So even though the calculation was flawed, the key point remains. The Twin Towers were demolished in less time than free fall through air! That is simply astonishing..."

What is astonishing is the proportion of errors that can be made in so few words -- I just want to emphasize that Jim's latest AGAIN shows the need for an independent elected committee to assure that ill-supported arguments are not presented on OUR web site. My detailed reply to the errors in Jim's statement will be posted on our Forum (where such matters should be discussed!), and Jim is welcomed to join in that discussion.

Next: ON GRAND PIANOS AND TERMINAL VELOCITIES
22 November 2006, by James H. Fetzer with
Judy Wood and Anonymous Scholar

Previous: A MODEST PROPOSAL FOR ST911.ORG
20 November 2006, James H. Fetzer