Finally thanks to the sheriff we have some actual scientific information on this whole story. The sheriff with the actual balloon on hand and in consultation with a professor took measurements. The balloon could not have held the boy due to an 18 lb discrepancy in it's measured weight and the weight reported by Richard Heene. The balloon was made of duct tape, tarps, plywood, and tinfoil. The sheriffs department put it back together and it supported the weight of the boy. He cited a Colorado state rule which keeps him from stating if polygraphs were administered or the results, or if confessions were obtained.
So there you have it, one person interested in science, and seeking publicity was debunked by another taking a simple measurement. *see comment
That's all I have wanted to hear of this. Instead of innuendo, and speculation, and boy language (quack) experts etc. A simple measurement of weight alone, with evidence that Heene knowingly lied about the weight, is enough to prove he filed a false police report.
The sheriff says they have suggested charges ranging from filing a false police report "a class 3 misdemeanor" to contributing to the delinquency of a minor a class 4 felony. (Note in the news conference there seems to be minor confusion over which charge is what. The most serious sentence is a class 4 felony with 2-6 years in prison. Sheriff Alderden when asked if they should go to jail said "He would not want them in his jail as crowded as it is.") My personal opinion is that as long as the felony charge does not result in both parents going to prison for something like 7 years and totally destroying this family over a act of stupidity.
Oh and by the by I stand by what I have said before on this case. This guy was desperate for coverage of his idea's and for a reality tv show. That said the media's basis for reporting that apparent fact was, until this morning, dubious.
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Hontas Farmer | 10/18/09 | 12:24 PM
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Johnny Turner (not verified) | 10/18/09 | 15:30 PM
One more thing let us not forget the story of Richard Jewel who the media demonized for three weeks as being a terrorist and definitely guilty. When he was cleared none of the media outlets apologized, but Jane Reno did.
Hontas Farmer | 10/19/09 | 14:17 PM
The law does prevent the sheriff from confirming or denying whether a polygraph was used -- but I'll be stunned if the certified polygraph operator on the sheriff's department weren't involved.
Rod Rose | 10/19/09 | 16:45 PM
I wish the rather snobbish supposed PhD who wrote in here would hear that. This man is not necessarily a crackpot. Though I really do want to read that paper.
Hontas Farmer | 10/19/09 | 20:19 PM
Abstract
Initial findings taken from ongoing field research, seeking to better understand the relationships between electrical charge, magnetic fields, and the evolution of vortices, are presented. Despite inherent difficulties in collecting real-time data associated with vortices, measurements of magnetic fields close to and within dust devils, mesocyclones, and a hurricane were successively recorded using magnetometers.
Speculations about possible mechanisms accounting for the variability in the electromagnetic fields observed are offered, although without quantitative proof. Of particular interest for additional research are: i) measurements showing an increase in the
I have read postings here, about papers published in physics that were far more ridiculous than this... which is basically a report about data collection. Science does not get more pure and simple.
Hontas Farmer | 10/19/09 | 20:37 PM
