On the other hand; "closing the door" or "going private" doesn't stimulate
the PSN list recipients, nor does it offer additional possible future
stimulating beneficial contacts.
Just one opinion.

Meredith



On Mon, Aug 15, 2011 at 7:27 AM, Randall Peters wrote=
:

> Brett,****
>
>       Thanks for the encouragement of your latest submission to the
> list-serve.  I will be glad to exchange ideas with you on the matter of
> internal friction that derives from defect structures in springs.  I coul=
d
> write a book on the subject, but as you note=97most of our readers would
> probably not want that degree of detail.  It=92s like my daughters, who i=
n
> their student days used to say, =93Dad we didn=92t want that much answer =
to the
> question=94.   I would nevertheless like to point out the following to
> everyone.  As a physicist, I was trained (in characteristic fashion) to =
=91hit
> problems head-on=92.  I have several times through the years been at
> gatherings (not involving me directly) in which one might think that a
> =91knock-down drag out=92 fight was about to erupt.  Actually, =91after t=
he dust
> settled=92, those who had =91locked horns=92 were once again engaged in f=
riendly
> fashion, of the type that characterized their relationship before the
> head-banging.  It=92s just the modus operandus in which we in my professi=
on
> have practiced their trade for many generations.  Before some personal
> encounters in which my need for diplomacy was demonstrated to be seriousl=
y
> deficient, I didn=92t appreciate how this practice is alien to most other
> disciplines, such as seismology.  ****
>
>      I also want to point out how much I have personally enjoyed and
> benefitted as the recipient of feedback from you list-serve folks in
> general.  The most important recent example is that which resulted in the
> partnership I enjoy with Larry Cochrane, involving the VolksMeter.  But
> recently Chuck Burch and Randy Pratt gave me practical help with the Hilb=
ert
> transform=97which I should have been exposed to years ago (since my
> undergraduate degree was in engineering)=97but I had never heard about.  =
As
> the result of their recommendations, the Hilbert transform is now part of
> the Mathematica software that I use to generate frequency domain
> information, as part of the grant that I=92m working with two medical
> colleagues (NIH support to do 3-axis seismocardiography).  And finally I
> want to mention the friendship that I enjoy with Chris Chapman, who
> recommended to me the lecture that I gave on the present subject, to the
> physics department at the University of Glasgow, several years ago.  All =
of
> us are so glad, Chris, to see you back (almost now on all =91cylinders=92=
)
> following your terrifying health crisis.  I never would have met Chris, a=
nd
> been hosted in fine manner by him there in England before going to
> Scotland=97were it not for this group of =91rank amateurs=92.  Moreover, =
I would
> never have encountered your true greatness, that is impacting even the
> professional world=97were it not for the recommendation given to me by on=
e of
> my physics department colleagues at Mercer University.  Years ago, becaus=
e
> of the resistance to my work (not just seismology, but also from some par=
ts
> of physics), Matt Marone recommended that I begin to interact with folks
> like yourselves.  ****
>
>       These examples speak to the dramatic positive benefit that I have
> enjoyed, of doing =91honest to goodness=92 interdisciplinary research, as
> opposed to giving the concept =91lip service=92, as is so now widespread =
in
> academic circles.  To do so, one must =91swallow the pride=92 that so oft=
en
> operates around the =91not invented here syndrome=92. ****
>
>        One thing I have come painfully to recognize, =93it=92s not so muc=
h what
> you know, but who you know=94 when it comes to getting your ideas =91out
> there=92.  I would have made little progress with my most important speci=
alty,
> were it not for the internet.  If you type either =91nonlinear damping=92=
 or
> =91linear damping=92 into Google (without the tick marks for a literal se=
arch),
> you will see that my publications on the subject are ranked very =91high=
=92 on
> the basis of web-visibility.  This derives in large measure from the
> influence of Clarence W. deSilva, Professor of Mechanical Engineering
> (faculty of Applied Science) at the University of British Columbia.  That=
 he
> gave me =91carte blanche=92 liberty to write two chapters on the subject =
for two
> of his now well known engineering reference books=97was a source of great
> personal satisfaction, for the following reason.  Clarence holds two PhD=
=92s,
> one in Mechanical Engineering (Dynamic System Control) from MIT, and the
> other in Information Engineering from the University of Cambridge in
> England.  Considering the stature of both these institutions, I think his
> opinions on the subject are worthy of note. ****
>
>         Then there is my invited article, titled =93Friction at the
> mesoscale=94 that was published in Contemporary Physics (by Taylor and
> Francis, Ltd, London).  This paper would never have been possible were it
> not for my chance meeting years ago at Texas Tech University, of one of t=
he
> highly esteemed leaders of the laser physics world (Peter Milonni).  More
> recently, Peter even assisted (me and a mechanical engineering Mercer
> faculty colleague, Loren Somner) in the better writing of a paper titled
> =93Intuitive derivation of Reynolds Number=94  (a now popular to the inte=
rnet
> paper that was deemed by a referee as =91worthless=92).  I mention these =
matters
> because of the peculiar scientific place in which we find ourselves, here=
 in
> the beginnings of the 21st century.  One might think that new ideas are
> readily embraced, when in fact my experiences have been just the opposite=
.
> My earliest encounters with this unexpected trend occurred in the 1990=92=
s
> while at TTU, in trying to be promoted to the rank of Professor.  In my
> letter of denial, the Dean of our college wrote how =93she hoped I would =
be
> eventually able to say I told you so=94=97concerning my research in
> mesodynamics. ****
>
>        I am mystified by the resistance that I continue to meet in some
> circles.  I mention here just two examples, because of their present
> relevance to the poor state of science education in this country.  A
> prominent figure in the =93International Pendulum Project=94, where I was=
 an
> invited speaker with expenses paid (in Sydney in 2002) =96 once told me t=
hat
> it was his opinion of science education in the U.S.  =96 that =93it was b=
eyond
> redemption=94.   I took to heart his comments, since this capable individ=
ual
> has traveled extensively in our country, and interacted with some of our
> best known educators.   Of course my thinking on the matter has been also
> influenced by the recent education fiasco in Atlanta (cheating scandal in
> general, not involving just science education)  ****
>
>      Recently, I worked with two physics majors at Mercer on a problem
> which is readily treated theoretically.   It ought to be well known to th=
e
> science and engineering community that the common expression for the tida=
l
> force is a first order approximation.  In fact, as we have demonstrated i=
n
> our article titled =93asymmetric tidal force=94, there is a 5% difference
> between the zenith and nadir components of the crustal tide due to our
> Moon=92s influence on the earth.  For a closer satellite this difference
> between zenith and nadir components can be dramatic.  I figured this pape=
r
> would be readily published, but in fact it was summarily rejected by
> arxiv=97my first occasion to be treated by them in this manner.  ****
>
>       Then there was my paper that derived also from student interactions
> in the classroom a year ago,  titled =93inductor phasor subtlety=94 .  On=
e would
> think the subtleties of that paper would have been recognized decades ago=
--
> for reason of the great attention given to the Steinmetz phasor by both t=
he
> physics world and the electrical engineering world.  ****
>
>       If you have read this far in my =91ramblings=92, then thanks for yo=
ur
> patience with me.  And as I said at the start, Brett=97I will be glad to =
talk
> with you about some specifics of your questions.  But I think we should d=
o
> so by means of email between the two of us=97unless some others make know=
n
> their great interest for us to do otherwise.  And most of all=97Larry, I =
would
> like to know your thinking about the matter.  I don=92t want your list se=
rve
> to get immersed in =91politics=92 that have nothing to do with your manda=
te for
> existence.  If you prefer to make your wishes known, only by way of my
> Mercer email address, that will be fine.  ****
>
>      Thanks to all,****
>
> ** **
>
>       Randall****
>
On the other hand; "closing the door" or "going private"=
; doesn't stimulate the PSN list recipients, nor does it offer addition=
al possible future stimulating beneficial contacts.
Just one opinion.

Meredith =A0



On Mon, Aug 15, 2011 at 7:27 AM, Randall Peters <PETERS_RD@..........> wro=
te:

Brett,
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 Thanks for the encouragement of your latest submiss=
ion to the list-serve.=A0 I will be glad to exchange ideas with you on the =
matter of internal friction that derives from defect structures in springs.=
=A0 I could write a book on the subject, but as you note=97most of our read=
ers would probably not want that degree of detail. =A0It=92s like my daught=
ers, who in their student days used to say, =93Dad we didn=92t want that mu=
ch answer to the question=94.=A0 =A0I would nevertheless like to point out =
the following to everyone.=A0 As a physicist, I was trained (in characteris=
tic fashion) to =91hit problems head-on=92.=A0 I have several times through=
 the years been at gatherings (not involving me directly) in which one migh=
t think that a =91knock-down drag out=92 fight was about to erupt.=A0 Actua=
lly, =91after the dust settled=92, those who had =91locked horns=92 were on=
ce again engaged in friendly fashion, of the type that characterized their =
relationship before the head-banging.=A0 It=92s just the modus operandus in=
 which we in my profession have practiced their trade for many generations.=
 =A0Before some personal encounters in which my need for diplomacy was demo=
nstrated to be seriously deficient, I didn=92t appreciate how this practice=
 is alien to most other disciplines, such as seismology. =A0<=
/p>
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0I also want to point out how much I h=
ave personally enjoyed and benefitted as the recipient of feedback from you=
 list-serve folks in general.=A0 The most important recent example is that =
which resulted in the partnership I enjoy with Larry Cochrane, involving th=
e VolksMeter.=A0 But recently Chuck Burch and Randy Pratt gave me practical=
 help with the Hilbert transform=97which I should have been exposed to year=
s ago (since my undergraduate degree was in engineering)=97but I had never =
heard about.=A0 As the result of their recommendations, the Hilbert transfo=
rm is now part of the Mathematica software that I use to generate frequency=
 domain information, as part of the grant that I=92m working with two medic=
al colleagues (NIH support to do 3-axis seismocardiography).=A0 And finally=
 I want to mention the friendship that I enjoy with Chris Chapman, who reco=
mmended to me the lecture that I gave on the present subject, to the physic=
s department at the University of Glasgow, several years ago.=A0 All of us =
are so glad, Chris, to see you back (almost now on all =91cylinders=92) fol=
lowing your terrifying health crisis.=A0 I never would have met Chris, and =
been hosted in fine manner by him there in England before going to Scotland=
=97were it not for this group of =91rank amateurs=92.=A0 Moreover, I would =
never have encountered your true greatness, that is impacting even the prof=
essional world=97were it not for the recommendation given to me by one of m=
y physics department colleagues at Mercer University.=A0 Years ago, because=
 of the resistance to my work (not just seismology, but also from some part=
s of physics), Matt Marone recommended that I begin to interact with folks =
like yourselves.=A0 
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0These examples speak to the dramat=
ic positive benefit that I have enjoyed, of doing =91honest to goodness=92 =
interdisciplinary research, as opposed to giving the concept =91lip service=
=92, as is so now widespread in academic circles.=A0 To do so, one must =91=
swallow the pride=92 that so often operates around the =91not invented here=
 syndrome=92. 
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0One thing I have come painfully=
 to recognize, =93it=92s not so much what you know, but who you know=94 whe=
n it comes to getting your ideas =91out there=92.=A0 I would have made litt=
le progress with my most important specialty, were it not for the internet.=
=A0 If you type either =91nonlinear damping=92 or =91linear damping=92 into=
 Google (without the tick marks for a literal search), you will see that my=
 publications on the subject are ranked very =91high=92 on the basis of web=
-visibility.=A0 This derives in large measure from the influence of Clarenc=
e W. deSilva, Professor of Mechanical Engineering (faculty of Applied Scien=
ce) at the University of British Columbia.=A0 That he gave me =91carte blan=
che=92 liberty to write two chapters on the subject for two of his now well=
 known engineering reference books=97was a source of great personal satisfa=
ction, for the following reason.=A0 Clarence holds two PhD=92s, one in Mech=
anical Engineering (Dynamic System Control) from MIT, and the other in Info=
rmation Engineering from the University of Cambridge in England.=A0 Conside=
ring the stature of both these institutions, I think his opinions on the su=
bject are worthy of note. 
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0Then there is my invited art=
icle, titled =93Friction at the mesoscale=94 that was published in Contempo=
rary Physics (by Taylor and Francis, Ltd, London).=A0 This paper would neve=
r have been possible were it not for my chance meeting years ago at Texas T=
ech University, of one of the highly esteemed leaders of the laser physics =
world (Peter Milonni).=A0 More recently, Peter even assisted (me and a mech=
anical engineering Mercer faculty colleague, Loren Somner) in the better wr=
iting of a paper titled =93Intuitive derivation of Reynolds Number=94=A0 (a=
 now popular to the internet paper that was deemed by a referee as =91worth=
less=92).=A0 I mention these matters because of the peculiar scientific pla=
ce in which we find ourselves, here in the beginnings of the 21st century.=A0 One might think that new ideas are readily embraced, when in =
fact my experiences have been just the opposite.=A0 My earliest encounters =
with this unexpected trend occurred in the 1990=92s while at TTU, in trying=
 to be promoted to the rank of Professor.=A0 In my letter of denial, the De=
an of our college wrote how =93she hoped I would be eventually able to say =
I told you so=94=97concerning my research in mesodynamics. 
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0I am mystified by the resistanc=
e that I continue to meet in some circles.=A0 I mention here just two examp=
les, because of their present relevance to the poor state of science educat=
ion in this country.=A0 A prominent figure in the =93International Pendulum=
 Project=94, where I was an invited speaker with expenses paid (in Sydney i=
n 2002) =96 once told me that it was his opinion of science education in th=
e U.S.=A0 =96 that =93it was beyond redemption=94.=A0=A0 I took to heart hi=
s comments, since this capable individual has traveled extensively in our c=
ountry, and interacted with some of our best known educators. =A0=A0Of cour=
se my thinking on the matter has been also influenced by the recent educati=
on fiasco in Atlanta (cheating scandal in general, not involving just scien=
ce education) =A0
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0Recently, I worked with two physics m=
ajors at Mercer on a problem which is readily treated theoretically.=A0 =A0=
It ought to be well known to the science and engineering community that the=
 common expression for the tidal force is a first order approximation.=A0 I=
n fact, as we have demonstrated in our article titled =93asymmetric tidal f=
orce=94, there is a 5% difference between the zenith and nadir components o=
f the crustal tide due to our Moon=92s influence on the earth.=A0 For a clo=
ser satellite this difference between zenith and nadir components can be dr=
amatic.=A0 I figured this paper would be readily published, but in fact it =
was summarily rejected by arxiv=97my first occasion to be treated by them i=
n this manner.=A0 
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0Then there was my paper that deriv=
ed also from student interactions in the classroom a year ago, =A0titled =
=93inductor phasor subtlety=94 .=A0 One would think the subtleties of that =
paper would have been recognized decades ago-- for reason of the great atte=
ntion given to the Steinmetz phasor by both the physics world and the elect=
rical engineering world.=A0 
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0If you have read this far in my =
=91ramblings=92, then thanks for your patience with me.=A0 And as I said at=
 the start, Brett=97I will be glad to talk with you about some specifics of=
 your questions.=A0 But I think we should do so by means of email between t=
he two of us=97unless some others make known their great interest for us to=
 do otherwise.=A0 And most of all=97Larry, I would like to know your thinki=
ng about the matter.=A0 I don=92t want your list serve to get immersed in =
=91politics=92 that have nothing to do with your mandate for existence.=A0 =
If you prefer to make your wishes known, only by way of my Mercer email add=
ress, that will be fine.=A0 
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0Thanks to all,
=A0
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 Randall