Posted on 07/27/2011 8:11:45 PM PDT by Liberty1970
Much is made about the lack of proof when trying to place Andrea Rossi’s eCat on the reality spectrum. In a scientific sense, that is oh-so-true for those without the privilege of being on the inside of things. No scientist should take anecdotal evidence as word and, since we tend to look to them for guidance, it’s no surprise that their objections are sounded loud and clear. In their business, nothing else matters but absolute, bomb-proof facts (doubly so for something labelled as ‘junk science’).
In a recent post I suggested that a scientist’s conclusion should be that there is insufficient data for a conclusion but somehow the proclamations from some sound like accusations of fraud. Lost in this argument we can forget that, in the real world, scientists are used as one tool in the mix of evidence in our justice system. People are in prisons despite scientists swearing on their behalf, certain in their belief that one thing is true instead of another. In the real world, in the absence of data good enough to result in scientific consensus, we weigh the evidence and think for ourselves. Which begs the question: For the person in the street, what is that evidence?
Against:
-It’s too-good-too-be-true
-Does not conform to ‘known’ fusion rules
-Public demos have been demos – never proof
-Most outsiders with access have restrictions imposed
-Andrea Rossi has a past open to attack
-The money involved is big-big-big
-Two people given passive access were not impressed
-Most mainstream scientists do not believe that LENR is real
-Some supporters of LENR are wary of believing
-Contradicting statements among main players
-Mainstream media is curiously silent
For:
-LENR is almost certainly real
-Prof Focardi published promising Ni-H results long before working with Andrea Rossi
-Prof Piantelli (Focardi’s former Ni-H collaborator) has similar claims
-No-one with deep access argues against the eCat
-A number of respected scientists with privileged access publicly support Rossi
-A number of non-aligned prominent scientists give qualified support
-Rossi has numerous financial backers
-Defkalion, with 200 million Euros on the table, state that their engineers have unrestricted daily access and get gains no less than 19 in tests. This means that they are not victims
-Specific and short timescale to launch
-Large output and gain is simple to measure to an accuracy that matters commercially
-Andrea Rossi will lose everything if the eCat does not do as he promises
-Professor Stremmenos, Defkalion Board member and conduit to Greek PM, is beyond reproach and in it up to his neck
-AR’s former colleagues bought the rights for the Americas (Ampenergo) – a demonstration of credibility from those who know
-Scientists at the University of Bologna (and the institution itself) are happy to be associated with eCat
-Often a stick to beat him with, Andrea Rossi’s background is also indicative of a serial entrepreneur pushing at the front edge of what is possible
-Mainstream media is not covering a 200 million Euro fraud with links to Greek government and prominent scientists
In an effort to keep eCatNews.com objective, I will not believe until proof is provided. I suggest that readers thinking about investing time and/or money do the same. However, honesty goes both ways and I have to admit that the weight of circumstantial evidence ‘against’ is weak. Most points are easy to explain away, should you wish to do so. When balancing this against the circumstantial evidence ‘for’ it appears to me that we would be foolish to bet against it being real (even as caution holds us back from investing our life savings ‘for’).
Thankfully, most of us do not have to make that call as October is near. For those wanting to take a risk, look at the evidence using the above list as a guide and decide how the scales would tilt in a court of law.
I don’t mind being on your list, but do think you are out to lunch calling me a “kneejerk denier”
Nothing kneejerk about it, I looked at this seriously and thought it was a laughable con job.
There is plenty here to feed any skeptic.
Fair enough. You are off the KD classification :)
You argue your viewpoint which is more than some do and you may yet be proven right, then I will be on your list. The good thing is we shouldn’t have to wait long to see what is what.
The e-cat's leading theoretical physicist lectures on the validity of homeopathic medicines.
So (assuming we are both right that his ideas on homeopathy and so forth are wrong) all you've demonstrated is that one LENR supporter is a fallible human. Can you imagine your reaction if a liberal used this same kind of 'logic' on you?
I didn't bring him up. He was brought up by the e-cat supporters on FR. E-cat supporters brought up his name MANY times more than the detractors have.
He is not just a supporter, he is a participant.
Are you working INTRADE like Kevmo?
No. I’ve never used Intrade. Nor do I have any other financial stake/interest in ECAT, aside from the fact that I own some utility stock (Southern Co.), that I might want to sell if the ECAT turns out to be real and all it is promised.
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