[PatrickHenry]

Agreed. If the light from distant stars were being filtered through anything, then it would travel slower, not faster, so the suggestion that because we don't know what such light passes through would somehow allow for a faster lightspeed is nonsensical. Also, there is considerable knowledge of what such light travels through, and these observed distortions only verify the distance estimates otherwise determined by redshifts alone. Anyone can do a Google search on the expression "Lyman forest" for a decent explanation of this.

[Doctor Stochastic]

As light is filtered through anything (other than vacuous filtering through empty space), different frequencies move at different speeds. Thus one would see chromatic aberration if there were an ice canopy around Canopus.

[longshadow]

"Lyman forest" placemarker

[BiffWondercat]

I still have to grasp the Bose-Einstein Condensate thing, but I can kinda follow you. Right up to the point of Quantum teleportation and what not.

Regardless of "who is right" the universe is a wonderous place which I enjoy on a daily basis!