posted 10-27-2000 01:36 PM              

But when I can't find what I really want, I have to write to people that have experience in the subject who might be able to answer questions.

We all have plenty of questions related to this board's topic, many of us do research, and share it too. But I find that few people that might be the most knowledgeable in the various fields related to our topic seem to make it here. I mean people whose names are known, who we can verify aren't flaky, posers, or fakers.

My proposal is that each week we find at least one piece of the pie that we might have questions about, then invite several "experts" to the board to answer questions.

I know, someone is thinking, well, Jay Reynolds is going to come up with a bunch of gummintdisinfoagentshills.

No.

I propose that nominations be sent in to Thermit from whoever wants to, in private, and that he both select and invite the participant(s) he feels are best qualified and most able.

Additionally, Thermit would also act as moderator for vetting questions the guest would be asked to field.

In my own case, I feel that this might work, provided that someone doesn't run the guest off in case their answers don't conform with an individual's expectations. I promise be nice.

I do recall myself inviting a meteorologist named Joseph Bartlo, from about.com, to answer questions at the Carnicom board. Within a very few days, Mr. Bartlo was insulted and run off as "disinfo", and never returned. I would hope Thermit could be able to handle it somehow.

I hope that this approach could find definite answers to some of the stickiest questions, the ones that require detailed knowledge beyond what is found easily at webpages.

That is my proposal, any comments?

posted 10-27-2000 06:25 PM            

1. Are ice crystals in a contrail..opaque or semi-opaque?

2. Are the refractive properties of a semi-opaque ice crystal different than the refractive properties of a liquid droplet?

3. If these properties of refraction are different, then what visual efects can be expected when light is passed through a cloud of semi-opaque (assumed) ice-crystals as opposed to a mist of liquid droplets.