Matt's American Adventure: The Marathon

A couple of months ago, Kate casually mentioned in a conversation about our upcoming holiday that we would be participating in the Pittsburgh Marathon, and as you can imagine this was quite a surprise and the response I gave was ‘are you out of your mind?!’ or words to that effect....

It was then explained to me that it would actually be the Marathon Relay, and it was going to be a way of paying tribute to Kate’s grandfather who passed away in 2005 and be a good way of raising money for the NCCC. So I agreed and started upping my running routine. However, closer to our departure date I got two shocking bits of info my loving girlfriend failed to mention to me; the first was the fact that the leg I would be expected to run would be around 10kms  (way above what I was used to) and the other was that the Marathon would be on the SECOND day after flying in.  This did not fill my heart with glee. With this new information I then began to try and run the entire perimeter of our 500ha soft-release cheetah enclosure at the NCCC, which was around 10km. By the time of us flying out I could get around it somewhat uncomfortably in around and hour and 10 minutes, far from spectacular!

As my previous blog explained the journey out here had left me feeling half dead and the night before the marathon Kate was also feeling the effects of a long two days of traveling.  We would spend the night at Rob’s house (Kate’s brother) in the city and we both hoped we would awake in the morning feeling much more with it.

The alarm went of at 5.30am, we dragged ourselves out of bed, put on our relay tribute shirts to Kate’s grandfather and some coffee and bagels later Rob drove us and Kate’s sister Allie into Pittsburgh. Kate and I we were feeling pretty good…. Allie who had also been wrangled into doing the run at short notice and not a morning person was understandably not overly happy with proceedings!

It is here I should mention what a beautiful city Pittsburgh is with its bridges and attractive skyscrapers and as we entered the city we found plenty of activity with runners making their way to their starting positions.  It was also a clear sunny day and starting to warm up Africa style.

Our first stop was to drop Allie off at her relay exchange point as she would be running the second leg, Kate’s cousin Erin at this point had just set off at the start of the marathon on leg 1 (Erin would continue and run the half marathon).  I was then put on a shuttle and taken to my exchange point where I would wait for Kate who would be running leg three. I had anticipated to be quite bored waiting for Kate to arrive but the atmosphere was really great with spectators and waiting relay runners cheering and clapping the professional runners as they ran past as well as giving the incoming relay runners lots of support. It was here I started to feel carried away with the spirit of the event and had thoughts of continuing onto the finish line after handing over to Kate’s cousin Kari on the final leg. I was wide wake, I felt good and wanted to rise up to the challenge of my rivals.

The clock read 2h.38min and our team number was called over the speakers and I spotted Kate in the distance….my turn was up. I gave Kate her medal, a quick kiss and I was away! Playing in my ears was inspirational music I had pre-chosen specially and I felt the eye of the tiger within me!

However, I had been running for around five minutes when I started to feel something wrong with my legs, a pain right down both of my shins, aka ‘shin splints’. It suddenly dawned on me that whilst training in Namibia I had been running on dirt roads and now I was running on tarmac.  I was now seriously worried I wouldn’t be able to make the exchange point let alone the end of the race. I slowed my pace down and hoped to run off the pain and thankfully, slowly but surely my legs started to recover. I had aimed not to stop even once but felt I had to be careful and so I stopped to stretch my legs out. After that I was able to pick up my pace and make some progress on some runners who had overtaken me, including a relay woman in a tutu. Pictured below is one of her relay team mates:

It was getting pretty hot at this point but there were plenty of fluid stations along the course with volunteers handing out water, Gatorade and oranges. There were also lots of local residents standing outside their houses cheering us on and spraying their hosepipes onto the course.

My stamina levels felt really good but every now and then my calf muscle felt a little strange  (I did something to this muscle working in the weeks just before flying out) and I knew it would be unwise to try and go to the end. However, I decided to really make an effort and try to finish my leg within an hour, I was also determined to catch the tutu woman!

I had no idea how long I had run for and found myself running along a long street; right at the end I could see shade tents (which I knew were present at the exchange points) and a gathering of lots of people. I thought it must be the exchange point and therefore I was on the final stretch of my leg; so I started gunning it, tutu woman in my sights. I was flying past runners and eventually the pink blur of the tutu whizzed past and behind me, victory! However, upon reaching the scene of activity I discovered that it was not the exchange point and simply a larger fluid station with a street band and happy on lookers............Bollocks!

As I ran around the corner, I was faced with another extremely long street. But there was no way I was going to let anyone who I had passed overtake me again, especially the tutu woman! So I dug deep and kept a steady pace. I heard one onlooker clapping support and shouting ‘2kms to go!’ and I have to admit those two kilometres were hard. But thankfully my legs held up and I made it to the exchange point where I handed over to Kate’s cousin Kari who gave me my medal. I had finished with a time of 59 minutes and 40 seconds, with tutu woman behind me!  

After catching my breath and chugging some water I jumped on a shuttle that took me close to the finishing line. The traffic now was slow and by the time I got dropped off and walked over to the family reunion area Kari had long finished and I was the last to meet up with everyone, which included more of Kate’s family. Kate greeted me like a worried mother who had lost her child in a Mall....no faith! I was introduced to everybody; her cousin Geraghty had run the entire Marathon, and her Aunt Beth, Uncle Jim along with Erin’s mother Barb had run the half marathon.  

Obviously we were all very tired, but back at Rob’s house his wife Bev had prepared a pretty spectacular spread of food to refuel us.  Kate’s parents were there as well as her Grandmother who was extremely grateful for our efforts in memory of her husband, Harry. It was a great feeling to have been a part of it plus we have raised quite a bit of money for the NCCC. A successful day all round I think you would say :)

So Harry’s Harriers total time total time was 4 hours, 28 minutes and 8 seconds, finishing 545^th out of 924. Not bad considering and something to be proud of!

Matt's American Adventure: Living the Dream

That's right, the English Gentleman has made it to America, the land of the brave, free and David Hasselhoff! I am writing this first Chapter of my account of Kate and I's 'vacation' at Kate's parents lovely home in Youngstown Ohio, close to the City of Pittsburgh. I am supposed to be with Kate at her friends Wedding but I have yet to recover from the journey here and have had to stay home drowning myself with vitamin water hoping I can recover in time to run the Pittsburgh marathon relay tomorrow, yep that's right, a Marathon Relay..... but more on that later.

This is the first time Kate has been back home in over two years so for the last month she has been acting like an excited child on Christmas eve. For me it is my first time to the US of A, and I have really been looking forward to immersing myself in all things American, especially the food! It is also the first time Kate and I have gone away TOGETHER in the whole time we have been together, that alone has been great.

But before the fun could begin we of course had to get here and the journey was interesting to say the least. The flight from Windhoek to J'burg was fine but getting on the plane to Atlanta proved more troublesome. When we arrived at the gate we were greeted by two enormous ques one for the men and one for the women, the purpose being an extra controlled security check. I joined the men's que and watched as passengers removed their shoes, were scanned and had bags searched. I was stood for only a couple of minutes before I was asked by an official to step aside and follow him for a thorough search. 'Thorough?' I thought to myself, if the searches everyone else is having isn't thorough what the hell is in store for me!? I was in no mood to get a gloved finger poked where the sun doesn't shine!

I ended up in a room with a handful of other selectees and where we were again made to form the two ques. Playing from speakers in the ceiling was music by Enrique Englesias, maybe this was some form of psychological test or a way of flushing out any western culture hating terrorists, who knows? I awaited my turn tapping my toes to the music and watched the procedure which appeared to be much of the same but with an extra thorough frisking and a part where they wiped some sort of pad over the palms of the hands.

I passed the inspection and liking cheesy pop music turned out not to be a reason for detention so I was allowed onto the plane and thankfully met back up with Kate. The flight from J'burg to Atlanta would be almost 16 hours, one of the longest if not THE longest flight you can experience. My big problem on flights is that I find it almost impossible to sleep and so I engaged in a marathon movie watching session. After a sleepless 11 hours I started to not feel well at all; not drinking enough and staring at the little TV screen ensured I got a thumping headache. When we started our descent the change in altitude made me feel nauseous and I had to visit the bathroom just before landing to throw up. I REALLY wanted off the plane.

Getting some fresh air was a welcome relief but as we entered customs another huge que greeted us; fighting the desire to pass out I entered the foreign visitors que and proceeded to be the last person through the process due to being given a right grilling by the customs officer who wanted to know my entire life story and my exact movements for my entire stay - maybe this was the consequence of tapping my toes to Enrique Englesias?  Desperate for a drink and the chance to sit down I was almost through only to be ushered to ANOTHER que as the inquisitive customs officer had assigned me to have further screening due to coming from Africa and having worked on a farm.

But even after this I had one more hurdle to go through as we had arranged to meet up with a good friend of ours and former CCF intern Ashley; which meant having to exit the arrival terminal, requiring another shoe removal, bag check and walking through a device that looked like something out of Star Trek.

This whole process was tortuous and by the time we met up with Ashley at the Atlanta Bread Company all I could do was give her a hug and pass out on the seating area. Kate played nurse and made me chug down some water and take some drugs. As Kate and Ashley caught up I found some strength to go to the bathroom splash water on my face and change my stinking shirt. It was here I had an experience not too dissimilar to a scene in the first Austin Powers movie and I warn those of you with a nervous disposition, this will not be pleasant!

I was sat in a cubicle and despite having the choice of dozens of open stalls a gentleman entered the one right next to me, sat down and proceeded to make enormously loud grunts, groans and noises I will leave to your imagination. With my condition as sensitive as it was this really was not what I needed and I came very close to throwing up again. Those of you who remember the Austin Powers scene will remember the punch line "What the Hell did you eat!?" but I did not hang around to find out!!

I felt really bad saying goodbye to Ashley after being useless company with only a horrendous toilet based anecdote to offer, but she had to get to work and we had a flight to Pittsburgh to catch. Once through security and back into departures I was in serious need of something to pick up my spirits, and being in the USA I of course found it.....the American Dream......a delicious ice cream flavour from Ben and Jerry's. 

By the time our flight landed in Pittsburgh I felt somewhat better and was able to act like a normal human being when being greeted by Kate's parents Jim and Phylis and Kate's sister Allison. Thankfully I had already met Jim and Phyllis during their holiday to Namibia last year (I had also previously met Kate's brother and sister in law) so thankfully I didn't have the pressure of meeting all of the important family members for the first time. Also they all happen to be extremely nice and haven't tried to warn me off Robert Deniro style........yet! :-/

It was here my exploration into American cuisine began as we went straight to one of Kate's favourite restaurants 'Chipotle Mexican Grill'. Having not eaten breakfast and feeling better my appetite was back and I was well up for some good grub. I was not to be disappointed, I have a feeling Chipotle will be one of my favorites; lots of different options, spicy and very very tasty! I give it a Matt's American Adventure score of two thumbs up! :)

We then went to Kate's parents house which as I mentioned earlier is really nice and in a nice area; and despite my mother's concern about me coming to the states, not a single gun shot could be heard :)

We unpacked and relaxed on the back deck; Jim made Frozen Margaritas and Phyllis handed me a present, two boxes of Twinkies! A Twinkie was first on my list of things to try when Kate and I first started planning for this trip. This is because the name Twinkie has always been in my head from watching American TV and Movies, most notably in the recent film 'Zombie Land'. From seeing it on screen it appeared to be a simple sponge cake with cream inside but I discovered it to have an almost mythical reputation with stories about it having no shelf life and being one of the few things able to withstand a nuclear holocaust.

So I wasted no time removing the fabled Twinkie out of its wrapper and took a bite.......and it tasted like a simple sponge cake with a cream inside. An enjoyable snack but not my choice of fuel if I was ever caught up in a zombie attack. So somewhat disappointingly I give the Twinkie a Matt's American Adventure score of "Meh".

It has to be said most of Kate's family have found my fascination with the Twinkie a little bit odd, as none are great fans themselves. But as I told Jim and Phyllis as they laughed at me munching on a Twinkie with one hand and holding a Frozen Margarita in the other, from my point of view I was 'living the dream'! 

The next chapter will feature much more of my impressions of Pittsburgh, especially as I will be running through much of it in the Pittsburgh Marathon, I hope I survive to tell you about it!

PS - Much better photos will coming when Kate and I buy ourselves a camera in the next few days!

Suarez vs Evra: A Modern Day Witch Hunt

I wrote a blog in September last year about the depressing rise in people who believe the utter nonsense that the 9/11 attacks were orchestrated by some sort of government conspiracy. I pointed out that this was partly due to the internet with its Twitter, Blogs and amateur websites where anyone and everyone will have their say and state opinion as fact. Importantly I described the thoroughly depressing truth that many people will believe something just because many others do, with this common ridiculous argument given in defense of absurdity:

“There HAS to be some truth if so many believe it”.

I don’t think there will be a better example highlighting the power of ill-informed web chat and instant media to warp the minds of a population into acting like a brain-dead mob than the recent racism case of Luis Suarez, because make no mistake what this has turned into is a disgusting witch hunt on a national scale.

On the 15th of October 2011 Liverpool played Manchester Utd at Anfield and after the game Patrice Evra accused Luis Suarez of racial abuse. Soon after John Terry the England captain was accused of the same offense and then good old Sepp Blatter made the crazy statement saying there is no problem with racism in football. Crazy because there have been many instances of black players having bananas thrown at them and having monkey chants directed their way in Russia, Italy and Spain.

BOOM and so it begins. Racism is the big topic of choice and all eyes of the media fall on not the England captain but Luis Suarez.  You know, "the weasel faced, hand balling cheat of the world cup who throws himself to the floor whenever he is touched". Even before this incident Suarez had had to endure constant abuse from fans, a situation not helped by rival team managers such as Alex Ferguson (I refuse to call him Sir) attempting to influence referees by accusing him publicly of ‘diving all over the place’, which is a bit ironic hearing this from the manger of Ronaldo and Nani.

Now whatever your view on Suarez as a footballer that should be irrelevant when the charge is something as serious as racist abuse. Being given the label ‘racist’ can be career ending and have life long consequences. The Suarez case needed to be judged in isolation and the media to be responsible.

However, very early on in this case disturbing signs were emerging about just how our media were going to handle the story when the Sunday Mirror published an article with an interview with Alex Ferguson who despite being told by the FA not to discuss anything about the issue, went ahead and talked about the issue. In the article he proclaims “racism is creeping back into the game”. The picture chosen to accompany this piece? One of Evra and Suarez of course.

This was deeply irresponsible of both Ferguson and the Mirror because quite clearly it was stirring the pot and subliminally points the finger at the villain of choice, Suarez (even though he had not even been charged at this point). When the charge comes Suarez strongly denies it and it begins to emerge that there may be some confusion over the word ‘negro’ which in Suarez’s native tongue is not a racial slur. No internet footage appears of the incident and it appears there were no other witnesses. Clearly, this was not ever going to be a straight forward case.

But despite everyone’s human right of being innocent until proven guilty its quite apparent what the general public and media had decided, for the next two months Suarez is abused at every game he plays by away supporters and the media frenzy over racism escalates. Everyone and their dog now wanted to make it known that racism is VERY VERY bad and must be stopped! More often than not Suarez’s name was mentioned and his face pictured.

Remember this, by the time Suarez got to defend himself in the FA hearing he had had to endure two months of abuse and have his name dragged through the mud by the media. The public mood to exclaim to the world “we hate racism” is at boiling point, all the baying mob needed was a monster to throw their pitch forks at. 

They were not disappointed, the so called ‘independent’ panel of three white english men found Suarez guilty of racial abuse but state that Suarez is NOT a racist. Evra also states he doesn’t think Suarez is a racist. However, despite not thinking Suarez a racist they punish him to the max with a ban of eight games and a fine. Disgustingly the FA do not release the evidence along with the verdict, which when the case was clearly about a complex issue of the nuances of different languages you would have thought immediate clarification would have been preferable. For the baying mob the word Guilty and the maximum punishment was all they needed.

 

This was the headline from the Mirror (again). There really is no better example of how low the English media have gone than this utterly irresponsible and dangerous headline. By doing that the Mirror basically gave people permission to refer to Suarez as exactly that....a racist. Even the Neanderthals at the Mirror should have known what this would mean for Luis Suarez and his family.  Away fans will forever feel entitled to chant ‘you’re a racist’ when he plays and no doubt idiot passers by in the street will not be able to resist hurling abuse towards him. Shameful.

Liverpool FC released a very strongly worded statement clearly expressing that they failed to see how such a verdict could be reached when it is solely down to one person’s version of events against another.

Without the details why the verdict was reached and the pure venom spitting of the front pages the club unite around Suarez. The players release a statement in support and wear Suarez T-Shirts whilst warming up before their next game. Quite clearly to anyone with a brain these actions said to the world ‘We know this man is NOT a racist’, which is what the media WERE labeling him.

But no, the media with its unqualified commentators pore scorn on the club for defending a racist and defending racism. And don’t forget the guy they're defending is that "weasel faced, hand balling cheat of the world cup who throws himself to the floor whenever he is touched".

But of course it gets worse, much worse. The FA’s report was finally made public, at the oh so convenient time of New Years Eve. For the mob the report had everything they wanted to hear ‘inconsistent’, ‘unreliable’, ‘evidence rejected’ and ‘guilty’.

I find it genuinely quite scary that the vast majority of so called journalists from the sewer depths of the Red Tops up to the heights of organisations like the BBC have fundamentally failed to analyse this report in its entirety and see it for the agenda driven embarrassment that is is. Purely aimed to make a statement about racism.

I wont go into much detail to explain why because it is much better presented in these excellent articles by respected Liverpool FC writer Paul Tomkins:

Suarez (Still not a Racist)

All Spanish Speakers are Racist

Now let me make it clear, this is NOT Liverpool FC and its supporters ‘blindly defending' one of their own’ and therefore turning a blind eye to racism. It is about supporting a human being who has been branded a racist for the rest of his life based on nothing more than three men believing one person over another. When you read the report and discover how exactly they came to this conclusion you are left open jawed at how flawed the process was and even more astounded why everyone else can not see it. I suspect the worrying truth is that they can see it but choose to continue their witch hunt. Why let the truth get in the way of a good story eh?

The main two points is that the ‘independent’ panel believed Evra to be more reliable than Suarez and they rejected Suarez’s claim that he used the word ‘negro’ in a non abusive manner. I refer again to Paul Tomkin’s articles as there are SO many examples as to why these conclusions are absurd.  I will say this regarding Evra’s credibility though, he is known for previously making a FALSE accusation of racial abuse and just that simple fact alone should place significant doubt over his testimony. And please look at the following youtube clip of Evra using the ‘N’ word. In the hearing Evra said he would never say the word. CREDIBLE?..........REALLY?

No one is saying there are not inconsistencies in Suarez’s testimony and the way Liverpool handled themselves in the hearing leaves a lot to be desired but when the charge is as serious as racial abuse, you would think there would be the need for extremely strong evidence. Even when using the FA’s 'balance of probabilities' the report is flawed, every inconsistency by Suarez is used as evidence of guilt whilst Evra is inexplicably given the benefit of the doubt. And if the FA really want us to believe that there was no bias then WHY has Evra not been charged for admitting referencing Suarez's race by saying ‘Don’t touch me South American’?

How exactly do three white men have the right to decide that they find it ‘inconceivable‘ Suarez could not have used the word  ‘negro’ in a non abusive way? There is obviously a real inability for people in this country to get their head around the fact that this word in other parts of the world has NO derogatory connotations, and their opinion of it being ‘inconceivable’ is exactly that, their opinion, NOT fact. Whilst they're busy telling foreigners how they are allowed to speak maybe they should charge the entire country of Argentina for racist abuse:

The fact of the matter is that the media and the online frenzy seen on Twitter and other chat rooms has rocketed up the issue of racism to boiling point. Now everyone is clambering to make it known they are not racist, and the best way they see to do this is to morally condemn Liverpool FC and Suarez. Liverpool’s decision not to appeal was ‘not good enough’ and an apology by Suarez was ‘not good enough’. Just like a swarm of Piranha in a feeding frenzy the attackers are unstoppable, the web is festered with amateurs and so called professionals constantly pouring fuel back onto the fire with an anti-Liverpool rage that seems out of control.

I am writing this the morning after Liverpool beat Oldham in the FA cup and Oldham's Tom Adeyemi has claimed he was racially abused by a supporter in the crowd. Well, what better news for the frenzied mob?!!!! Before the facts are known and claims investigated the mob on Twitter know what this is all about:

"So a liverpool fan racially abused an oldham player,I’m not surprised cuz when u have kenny dalglish backing suarez wot the hell do u expect" 

Oliver Holt's reply:

"I think you’re right. I also think that thankfully, what we’re seeing here is black players not prepared to ignore any more" 

Now Oliver Holt is a professional journalist...... and that's probably one of the funniest jokes you’ll hear all year.  But to publicly agree with such a flagrantly absurd statement is deplorable, utterly irresponsible and most of all phenomenally hypocritical? Why I hear you ask, well because Oliver Holt has written biographies about a certain John Terry, John who? John Terry, you know the England captain accused of the same charge who has been defended by his club and a certain Mr Holt. But i forgive you for forgetting because  apparently video evidence of him saying ‘Black C**t’ is very different and not worthy of a national hate campaign, plus when you play well reporters will actually praise you for doing so with such a terrible accusation over your head.

This is total lunacy and right now I am fully ashamed to be English, if the government here weren’t so strict on the issue I would seriously consider changing my nationality to Namibian!

Liverpool FC has been accused of bringing the game into disrepute and discrediting the anti-racism message. On the contrary, in such a rush to be seen to take racism seriously the FA have found a player guilty with no conclusive evidence whatsoever and instigated a media circus dripping with xenophobia that I truly believe will be remembered as one of the most shocking examples of a baseless character assassination by media in modern times.

If a supporter at Anfield DID shout racist abuse then he needs to be banned for life. But clubs whose fans chant ‘You’re just a town of racists’ as they did last night also need to be heavily punished. Because if Luis Suarez is hounded from this country it will be to the eternal shame of the FA and all those leading the mob online, as we would have proved ourselves not to be a nation of tolerance but instead a nation of easily lead mindless bullies who will happily see someones life ruined just because they look a certain way and speak a different language.

When Suarez has served his ban will the public and media allow him to get on with us life - "The weasel faced, hand balling cheat of the world cup who throws himself to the floor whenever he is touched"?

Sadly I’m not optimistic......

EDIT - Good news there is more intelligent life out there:

Media on Racism: Part 1-Churnalism

Nestle: Born and Died a Free Cat

We received the sad news from Erindi Game Reserve two days ago that Nestle, one of the chocolate sisters we helped release into Erindi was found dead. As of yet the cause of death is unknown, although as a wild cheetah there are numerous possibilities. She could have been killed by lions, snake bite, illness or sustained a fatal injury whilst hunting.

This was of course tough news to hear especially as we were responsible for looking after her during our two and half years at CCF and were part of the team that watched her and her sisters take their first steps back to the wild.

Nestle and her siblings Toblerone, Hershey, Lindt and Cadbury were brought to CCF in February 2003 when they were only eight months old after they, but not their mother was trapped on a farm near Otavi. Therefore the mother was suspected to have been shot. Lindt and Cadbury were released into the NamibRand Reserve in 2008 along with three other males. The chocolate sisters spent most of their time at CCF in the Bellebenno cheetah camp and they along with their adopted sister Chanel were chosen to be released back to the wild as part of a rehabilitation project last year.

Nestle could probably have been described as the grumpiest chocolate sister and when approached by people she would usually hunch her shoulders and scowl. Before being fitted with a collar with red tape on the antenna this distinctive posture was a good way of distinguishing her from her sisters! Around a kill she was also the most defensive and would normally be the first one to charge towards whoever approached.

During observation of the coalition in Bellebenno it appeared that Nestle was the ‘lowest ranking’ member and would sometimes be found away from the other three and it remains a possibility that her death may have happened after she had separated from the others.

I’m sure her sisters and Chanel are wondering where she has gone. However, they will adjust and continue on as a trio, and as much as the loss of Nestle saddens Kate and I, we have no regrets. Chanel and the Chocs were released into CCF’s Bellebenno game camp on the 1st of September 2010 and Nestle therefore had just over a year of freedom. Over that time Erindi staff members have taken many people on tracking safari’s to see the four girls and they have been filmed by numerous TV film crews. Therefore, Nestle has helped educate and inspire people and also enjoyed a bit of fame!

The Bellebenno release will always be a highlight of our time in Namibia and we’ll always have a special connection with Chanel and the chocs. RIP Nestle, a life well lived.

Bye Bye Boris!

 The 30th of October marked a very important moment for the NCC as it was the day that saw our first cheetah released back to the wild. It was made even more special as it was also the 40th cheetah N/a’an ku se has released.

 

The cat in question was Boris, the four year old male who was trapped and taken to N/a’an ku se’s wildlife sanctuary in May 2011 after he had been hunting game repeatedly on a small game farm in the Windhoek area. For a complete account of what happened check out the NCC blog.

It was a really great feeling watching him go free and we tracked him yesterday and even got a visual, he looks in really good condition and we suspect he has already made a kill due to his bulging belly. So for Boris, so far so good :)

Here is a great video of the release made by my colleagues at N/a'an ku se, unfortunately I'm in it. In the video you may notice a film crew filming proceedings. They were filming for an Animal Planet documentary series about N/a'an ku se which starts next year in March. The show will be called 'Wild Animal Orphans' so keep an eye out. Kate and I will be featured in the episodes about the NCC, thankfully, for me anyway, in a non-speaking role!

The Namib Conservation Centre Blog

Exciting news everybody, the Namib Conservation Centre has its very own blog site! Please check it out and if you could become one of our Followers I would greatly appreciate it :)

My Experiment With 9/11 Conspiracy Believers

We have just marked the 10-year anniversary of 9/11, an event that we will all vividly remember for the rest of our lives. I have overwhelming sympathy for the families who lost people that day and wished the marking of this anniversary would solely be focused on supporting these families and remembering those who died. But a week before the anniversary more and more coverage in the media was given to the conspiracy theories that depressingly have spread like a virus infecting the minds of millions around the world. I find it disgusting that the families of the victims have had to hear these incessant examples of utter stupidity.

So when I saw this status on a social networking site three days before the anniversary I despaired:

Test Subject 1:

‘With 9/11 creeping up on us I urge you....look into the collapse of building 7. A building that was not even hit, falling to earth at free fall speed. Don't give me upset bullshit...LOOK INTO IT. If you don't have questions after....then you are truly blind.’

I felt compelled to talk some sense into him and simply posted him a link to a well sourced website that clearly explains why WTC7 collapsed the way it did.  I did not expect the response I got and I ended up in a three-day exchange with grade A conspiracy believers. I took this as a chance to try and see if I could make these people see sense and so began my experiment into the mindset of conspiracy nuts and try to work out how in the face of overwhelming evidence they believe what they do.

Before you read on be warned, what follows is a journey into a world of total lunacy and shocking stupidity that may cause you to loose all hope in humanity! I must add that although I have greatly condensed what was said this still could be the longest blog I will ever write.

 Me:

“Sorry mate but talk of a 9/11 conspiracy is bullsh@t. For answers about WT7 follow this link. And think of this.....the US government couldn't keep it covered up that the president got a blowjob, do you REALLY think they could have planned 9/11 and keep EVERYONE involved quiet!?”

My inner monologue: ‘Ok, that link I’ve sent them clearly explains why WTC7 collapsed the way it did. Maybe I’ll be thanked for clearing up the issue?'

Test Subject 1:

‘I've seen all this Matt...and yes, I DO think they could have planned it and allowed Clinton to be found out. They didn't WANT to hide his sordid affair, it's silly to think that it could not have been covered up if they had so chosen.’

 Oh dear….

Have you read about the Gulf of Tonken incident? The incident that kicked off the Vietnam war?'

Gulf of Tonken incident? Vietnam? ….What has that got to do with WTC7? And who does he mean by THEY?

At this point the thread had been joined by many conspiracy supporters stating comments like: ‘100% agree’ ‘Interesting stuff, the world is corrupt’ and ‘yeah, too many questions unanswered’.

 
Rational Person 1:

‘Are you high man?! i've never read so much horse sh@t in my life as this status and the ensuing total moronic madness that are the comments that followed.’

Nice

Rational Person 2:

‘ANYONE can come up with a theory, find a few convenient links, fact remains, not even the American government is that desperate to re-ignite an old rivalry and go on the hunt for oil at the expense of thousands of innocent lives and billions upon billions of pounds in insurance claims, rebuilding projects and the payouts to families.'

Anyway, i'm crashing dude, let me know if you find out where Elvis is hiding.’

Very nice, glad to see I have some allies here.

Test Subject 2:

 ‘I wonder if Rational Person 1 and Matt just believe EVERYTHING they are told? Don't talk to me about 'moronic' fellas.

Purely from a STATISTICAL viewpoint, SOME conspiracy theories must have some truth.’

He didn’t just say that did he? Let me read it again………..oh he really did.

I bet a pound to a penny you think that jfk was killed by a stalker, even though ALL the evidence suggests otherwise. To say 'there is no way they could get away with something like that' is BEYOND stupid. Look at Vietnam for Christs sake!’

JFK? Vietnam again? ……… I’m beyond stupid?! Oh boy….

Me:

'Wow…. I don’t even know where to begin. I simply posted you guys a link with a counter argument about the falling of WTC7 and instead of getting back some kind of evidence to the contrary all I get is abuse hurled back at me. Quite clearly no matter what evidence is presented to you you will believe whatever you want.

When something truly shocking happens people just can not accept that there is a simple explanation i.e. Princess Di died in a car crash cos her driver was drunk and speeding, Kennedy got shot by a disturbed individual (please don’t mention the magic bullet) or that hijackers fueled with religious hatred and armed only with box cutters, nail clippers and some flying lessons could crash a plane into building. I’m guessing you also think the moon landing was faked?

Do I think governments can mislead the people, yes, Bush completely used 9/11 as an excuse to start a war with Iraq and manipulated evidence about the WMDs. But to jump from that and whatever happened in Vietnam to say that hundreds of people in a secret organisation got together to commit the worst mass slaughter in US history is going too far.

As well as the huge amount of evidence to support the debunking of conspiracy claims just ask one common sense question - why increase the risk of being discovered by faking the hijack of four planes, to achieve the aims you claim the government wanted then surely just one or maybe even two being smashed into the world centre would have sufficed? Why even make the towers fall?

I can argue with you quite sensibly about the claims made about 9/11 – remote controlled planes, the mysterious white jet, puffs of smoke that look like explosive charges……. but you could just start again with the insults.

And as for a ‘stupid’ statement: ‘purely from a STATISTICAL viewpoint, SOME conspiracy theories must have some truth.’

You have to be joking right?'

Ok, I think I adequately put my case across in a calm way. Maybe we can now have a sensible debate?

 
Test Subject 2:

‘Kennedy got shot by a disturbed individual" i'm open mouthed. truly. Are you saying you believe it was Oswald? Seriously? Not even most Americans believe that any more.’

Oh dear, here we go again….

After three lengthy posts about the JFK conspiracy…….

Why, in your opinion did jack ruby murder Oswald before the trial. What possible reason was there for that? Justifying your opinion is a two way street. Also "the worst mass slaughter in US history" - are you serious? it doesn't even make the top 20.

Ok is this a joke, what is going on here? Not in the top 20? Why are we talking about JFK????? Did I not justify my opinion by posting a link to some evidence on a website and stating some common sense questions?  Can these people read? Sigh, ok I’ll indulge this misguided individual….

                             Me:

Note from American Girlfriend – 'Wow, you guys must really be bored to put so much energy into the conspiracy theories floating around the US. By the way, this American does think JFK was shot by Oswald, and that Osama bin Laden did order the attack on the world trade centre, And to say otherwise is disrespectful to the multiple lives lost on that day.'

Me:

'Ok, so I see you ignored my points about 9/11 .....which is why i started piping in on this in the first place and like Kate I do find it disrespectful to those who died, especially those on the planes who are often accused of 'being in on it' and have gone into hiding, the families of these people do not deserve to hear that. I’ll answer one point about Jack Ruby. Ruby is known to have been a total flag waving patriot who was devastated JFK had been shot, he is known to have told his friends that he was going to do something about it.....next thing you know Oswald is dead. A LOT of people probably wanted to kill him, but it was no conspiracy he was just a drunk pissed off American. Please think about it.....if Ruby was hired to silence Oswald....then by that logic someone would have to silence Ruby and so on and so on....it doesn't make any sense.

You guys should really youtube the Penn and Teller show: 'Bullshit', they ask people on both sides of this issue (as well as many others).....there is NO evidence for a conspiracy. The people who write the books and make the movies have a very clear agenda in making people believe this stuff............money. Just look at how much money has been made by the people selling books and videos about Elvis being alive! Believing this mumbo jumbo is all much more exciting, interesting and easier to handle than the simple truth that a few determined extremists could so easily cause such devastation...'

Ok, that was hard but I stayed calm and I think I made some clear points . Hopefully Subject 2 will stop going on about JFK.

 
Test Subject 2:

'DUDE!!! did you even read what the HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE's findings into JFK were!?!?!?!? THE OFFICIAL FINDINGS of a body that was SPECIFICALLY TASKED with finding out what happened. But no, apparently Matt and his girlfriend know better!!

Oh come on!

Absolutely, ball-achingly unbelievable. The polar-opposite of a conspiracy nut!! You’re an anti conspiracy nut - the player on the other side, and every bit as loony!!!!

Please tell me this is a joke?

I want you to answer this, a simple answer, no hyperbole, just answer... Why are you so convinced Oswald was the only shooter?

I’m confused, when did I talk about Oswald being the only shooter? I thought he asked me about Ruby?

and don't say evidence, because as I’ve clearly demonstrated, the evidence suggests otherwise - DOCUMENTED evidence. Evidence that has been accepted by the US government and yet in the face of this, you remain convinced. even though the evidence is contrary to your opinion, you have just decided to believe your own take on things.

Very, very confused now………. I thought he criticised me for believing Oswald had anything to do with it? Now hes saying I’m a loony because I think he was the only shooter? What the hell does this guy believe? Does HE even know?!!!

…based on what? a gut feeling? a phobia of conspiracy theories?
this kind of blind devotion to (in spite of contrary evidence), what we call in psychology, a 'perceptual set' is actually quite troubling.

Wow, I’m being psychoanalysed, maybe this guy is a top psychologist, let me check his profile…….oh there is no current employer information and his profile pic is him in his underwear showing off his muscles….maybe not then. Ah well, surely he can’t be anymore insanely patronising.

I'm beginning to form an opinion of my own here... are you and/or your girlfriend religious perchance?'

Oh, apparently he can.

Test Subject 3:

'How does my girlfriend is American put to bed the subject? Does she speak for every single American.

How does a passenger jet fit into a 27ft hole and not break windows either side of that hole, does not leave any marks outside the building and leaves lamposts fully intact in the line the plane was supposed to have travelled, and then we are told the only camera to pick anything up you cannot see anything? So are we to believe the Pentagon has less cctv than my local ASDA ? lol

Oh oh, he’s used 'lol'………..i’ve been well and truly put in my place.

Look at the invasion in Iraq because they have WMD's, still haven’t found them have we.'

I think I said I agreed with the WMD evidence manipulation, didn't I? Reading and retaining information must be hard for these people.  Maybe they deserve some sympathy?

Test Subject 4:

‘Surely pursuing the possibility that 9/11 was a government-instigated event is doing the opposite of disrespecting those who lost their lives. it doesn’t add up, so by investigating and uncovering the truth enables us to try to prevent such things happening in the future. The few cannot control the many unless your in ur little bubble that they’ve put u in so that u believe all that they feed you rather than you having your own mind and questioning what really occurred. They get away with it because they can when every one is eating out of their palm. Wake up and smell that horsesh@t.’

On second thoughts…..
 

                               Test Subject 5:

‘Hate to bust in on this thread, but it's such interesting reading. All participants should look out for a great web site which is provoking to say the least! JFK Murder Solved - has a confession from a grassy knoll shooter for starters. Why is the site interesting - because so many Americans subscribe to it and its owner is not American. The 9/11 info is found within the site's forum. Enjoy.’

mmmm? Many Chinese people believe tiger and rhino bone has magical qualities that give them erections, so it must be true!! Ok guys ignore science and call off the anti-poaching programs!!!

Me:

'Wow, (no I’m not religious, although what the hell that has to do with anything is beyond me), you’re obsessed with JFK aren’t you?

When did I get my knickers in a twist about Oswald being a lone shooter? When I brought up JFK it was to make a point about people believing Oswald had nothing to with it. As far as I know the House Select Committee that you keep banging on about looked into this in the late 70’s and yes they claimed the audio analysed from the cop motorcycle led to a high probability of there being a fourth shot. But since then there have been significant doubts over the analysis of that recording, so its not irrefutable evidence at all. There may have been a second shooter, there may not have been…. But that in itself does not mean every other claim about the shootings is true.

And who the hell do you think YOU are:

‘This kind of blind devotion to (in spite of contrary evidence), what we call in psychology, a 'perceptual set' is actually quite troubling’.

It’s astounding you can’t see the hypocrisy in that statement. At no point throughout this insanely angry thread has anyone actually calmly responded to any of my points……I’ve responded about Ruby and now I’ve responded about the lone shooter (not that that has anything to do with 9/11). But no, I’m the close-minded ‘loony’.

And no, I don’t believe everything I’m told but you know what?

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

I’ve tried to politely argue with you guys but go back through this thread and look at how you’ve responded. Nothing but insults, snide comments and unbelievably patronising character assumptions.

I’ll try one more time and actually respond to an example of your ‘Evidence’ – the good old missile shaped hole in the pentagon….countless witnesses have testified to seeing the plane fly overhead and as far as I know not many CCTV cameras point to the sky. Do you really think there was going to be a perfect plane shaped hole in the side of a building with reinforced walls? There are also plenty of pictures after the hit where you can see parts of the window sections of the plane. Where did they come from? Toed by the missile? Sneakily placed there by invisible men after it hit? Every conspiracy claim about 9/11 has a logical counter argument…….like I said, extraordinary evidence, where is it?

And if the next person brings up JFK or Vietnam then I’ll leave you guys to it.'

                                  Test Subject 3:

 ‘The plane was supposed to have hit the building, that does not require the cctv to be skyward does it? why no marks on the lawn? do you know what sort of a pilot you would need to be to hit the side of a building with a passenger jet going at around 400 miles an hour. You talk about politely argue yet make comments like "As far as I know CCTV camera's don’t point to the sky" and you don’t think that’s not snide as you put it.’

Test Subject 4:

‘Its important to remember that when debating an issue like this that there is actually no need to take personal offence to comments. Clearly there are a lot of strong viewpoints being expressed in this thread but it does not involve character assassination. That sort of comment makes it personal. chill out.’

Me chill out? I was snide? What….. how…….wait…..what?! oh god my brain is hurting.

Ok, deep breaths…..where the hell did sane persons 1 and 2 go?? Its very suspicious they went missing when they started supporting me, aha! They were taken out by a covert ninja assassin to stop telling the truth!….. oh oh…. being in contact with these people is getting to me…..must get out soon…..but must try and save these people before their brains shut down from lack of stimulation…

Me:

'I’ll try one more time to get through to you people:

ASCE team member Mete Sozen, a professor of structural engineering at Purdue University: ‘In this case, one wing hit the ground; the other was sheared off by the force of the impact with the Pentagon's load-bearing columns, What was left of the plane flowed into the structure in a state closer to a liquid than a solid mass’ 

This is where we fundamentally differ, I choose to believe this guys version of what happened over that of some random unqualified whoever who runs a website or has made an agenda driven documentary. But of course he’s been paid off and is part of the conspiracy right? Along with all the witnesses who saw the plane flying in? Do you not realise that the way the buildings behaved, both the pentagon and the WTC has been investigated by probably hundreds of scientists, building experts, University professors etc etc, in both official and non-official capacity. If there was something unexplainable in the way they collapsed and how the holes in the Pentagon were formed there would be worldwide outrage from the ACAMDEMIC community…..but there isn’t! The only ‘scientists’ who will raise suspicions either has a book to sell or wants attention.

There IS CCTV footage of the hit, and it clearly shows the explosion happening just before the wall of the pentagon, why do you find it inconceivable the hijacker could be so accurate?  One of the hardest parts of flying is landing safely….and that wasn’t a concern of the hijacker now was it? Granted its poor footage that doesn’t show the plane, and if footage is being withheld my initial reaction would be that that’s because they don’t want to hurt the families more or provide extremists with more footage to rally their cause around. But you guys take a giant leap in logic and assume its because they don’t want us to see the missile! and where are the witnesses to this missile? Where is the plane and the people on board? If they go to all the trouble to have remote controlled planes in New York why not in Washington??!!  Can you people not see that by asking such simple common sense questions the notion they would send a missile is utterly ridiculous?!

EXTRAORDNARY evidence…..there is none!

Throughout this thread I’ve been accused of being ‘blindly devoted’ to being anti-conspiracy yet I have quite clearly explained my position and explained why. But all I got in return was topic dodging and hysterical ranting. And really, my CCTV comment was snide??? Seriously go back and read the comments I’ve received:

‘i wonder if alex and matt just believe EVERYTHING they are told?’

‘but to say 'there is no way they could get away with something like that' is BEYOND stupid’

‘Absolutely, ball-achingly unbelievable. The polar-opposite of a conspiracy nut!! you're an anti conspiracy nut - the player on the other side, and every bit as loony!!!!’

‘i'm beginning to form an opinion of my own here... are you and/or your girlfriend religious perchance?’

‘wake up and smell that horsesh@t.’

‘this kind of blind devotion to (in spite of contrary evidence), what we call in psychology, a 'perceptual set' is actually quite troubling’

And you tell me not to take personal offence and tell ME to chill out after the CCTV comment…seriously WOW!

I’ve stuck around with this thread as long as I have as I find people’s obsession with conspiracies and their hostility to any other viewpoint fascinating.  I too used to believe that Oswald was set up but then I engaged my brain a little and came to a different opinion – contrary to what I’ve been accused of I was open to other evidence and then I made up my own mind. 

I feel very sorry for all those families who lost people that day who on this 10-year anniversary will have to endure endless talk of these conspiracies which often accuses their loved one of being in on the conspiracy and faking their phone calls from the planes……….that disgusts me.

Well, I’m leaving this now. I await the replies of more venom, dodging of points I’ve made and accusations of running away because I’ve lost the argument.

But there is no getting through to you people; you cannot argue calmly with any kind of logic, you’ve contradicted yourselves and even accused me of having opinions I didn’t have.  I’ve also stated I believe the WMD evidence was manipulated and that there may have been a second shooter at JFK – but no I’m a close-minded loony, living in a bubble and a politicians dream.

You obviously find the possibility of a conspiracy all too exciting and claim a sense of superiority because you know the ‘Truth’.  Again, read back through this thread and see how you’ve behaved, grow up.'

......and .......relax....

I then enjoyed a rather merry evening with colleagues where quite a few drinks were consumed and late at night I had to visit the thread to see if the subjects had behaved as predicted….

Test Subject 3:

‘You have your opinion, I have mine, neither of us will ever know if there was more to this than just a terrorist attack, but I remain open minded to the notion that I feel there are many more unanswered questions. That in itself doesn’t make me deluded or a nut, and if your happy by all the reports you have read, then that's ok isn’t it.’

Test Subject 4:

‘Your intuition and ability to not look beyond the beliefs that you have been fed astounds me it really does. enjoy blindness.’

Sigh, how depressingly predictable……

It is here that Test Subject 1 returns with a stunningly long retort that I will summarise:

‘…….No one here is claiming that we know for certain how 9/11 was carried out. All that's being said is that based on historical evidence, and there is plenty, of our governments causing events to gain public backing for wars……………………………I think, as showed by the volume of posts here that more and more people are coming to terms with this and it raises questions.

No, it really doesn’t……but go on

‘I think you have taken things too personal, the insults were born from a frustration, as you posted your first piece of "evidence", the video.

You’re right, I apologise for providing evidence to back up my claim……

I could copy and paste all those examples like you did "insults" but I won't, as anyone reading the whole conversation could find for themselves.

Slowly loosing will to live now………..no, please don’t answer MY questions on the subject, just carry on attacking me….

‘Knowing someone, or being with someone who is American is no proof of anything, we could find Americans who believe massively contrasting theories about how bread is made...

Yep, will to live has left the building….....

ASCE team member Mete Sozen, a professor of structural engineering....I have no doubt what he says about the method is true, and I have no doubt the people who potentially carried it out would also know that. There is no greater crime than one with no evidence.

Did I read that right? Oh god I did………..I thought the holes in the pentagon were proof it was faked………...but now that the holes have been proven to you that they are what you would expect of a plane crashing into it, THAT is evidence of a conspiracy?! …………………….wow

Until the monetary system crashes, and it will...we will not be free. When we are freed, we won't even want to find out who was right, because things will either be a million times worse, or a million times better. And some insults here may have been open, but ostracism is the biggest insult of them all in my book. "you people".'

Blood boiling now, alcohol…….….. in system making me…….. put fingers to keypad……….

Me:

'ok, I said I wouldn't comment again but just to clarify a few things before I truly walk away from this. My girlfriend wanted to comment because there was one comment which stated that 'most Americans believe there's a conspiracy' as if that actually gave validity to the claims. When did I or she for that matter claim she spoke for every American or that it 'put the matter to bed'? Fact is i didn't, you just jumped on that like a pack of hungry wolves to  ........................... attack.

And is me saying 'you people' really a worse insult than what I’ve been called? I had one guy make a judgement on my psychological state, which he claimed was troubling! And by all means present a list of my personal insults that you claim I have said. I'm dieing to know what you actually deem as 'insulting'.

and sorry but comments like 'we will never know if there was more to this than a terrorist attack' really pisses me off because YES, actually we do know that this was a terrorist attack because there is no irrefutable evidence to suggest otherwise!! and just because governments have acted immorally in the past does NOT therefore mean they can pull of 9/11!!!!! Its in a completely different ball park.

And by the way, I checked out the JFKmurdersolved.com that 'someone' (i don't want to say you people again now do i) put forward as some interesting reading.....you have to be flipping kidding me? The front page has an advert for a flipping DVD! Not to mention it looks like its been put together by a 5 year old.

That’s it, I’m done, I've had a drink and I know I will regret responding again in the morning. I’ve wasted far too much of my time on this nonsense.……..and it IS utter, utter nonsense. I leave you in peace and please enjoy meeting up on the JFK website forums where you can back slap each other and discuss your thoughts on the DVD you've just paid a guy 10 quid for.

and for flipsake if you ever want to be taken seriously NEVER introduce this little nugget of wisdom:

'purely from a STATISTICAL viewpoint, SOME conspiracy theories must have some truth.'

Goodbye.'

 


At this point Test subject 2 writes two messages that are so absurd and so obviously contradictory to what he has already said that one of his buddies must have told him and minutes later they are deleted. Test subject 2 then goes very quiet.

 Test Subject 3:

‘Just because you feel there is no irrefutable evidence to believe this was nothing more than just a terrorist attack, doesn’t mean what you believe happened is all that happened does it? Example: I buy a pint in a pub and put it down to talk to someone, I turn back and its empty, someone tells me it evaporated and i have no irrefutable evidence that it was picked up and drunk by someone else, does that mean I believe it evaporated, or do I start to question where it went ? you believe it evaporated because you were told it did, I ask questions because I am not that gullible.’

No…….I would say there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that a pint of beer can evaporate under those conditions………THAT HAS BEEN MY POINT ALL ALONG!!! By logical deduction your pint has been spilled, drunk or replaced! For the love of god…

Test Subject 1:

I personally have never paid anyone anything for any DVD, and if you look into it, to be able to do full research you need time...and some money. These guys go around the world look for the truth, that's gonna cost some dollar. Videos like this have a tendency to look like they have been put together by amateurs, mmmmmmmiiiiimmm because they are.

Someone make it stop.........

Do you actually believe the government is looking out for our best interests? Their most important interest is revenue. That's obvious to anyone. They will do whatever they can to increase revenue.’

Please, please stop…….

‘Dude, if it is so irrefutably true....then why are so many people across the world questioning it? Not just us, MILLIONS of people, are we all crazy?’

Enough, now where is that friend delete button……

If you are still with me reader then well done! Remember, I CONDENSED this conversation significantly; there was a LOT more insanity being thrown around by these people. I wanted to see to just what extent they would go to defend their theories and as you saw the results are thoroughly depressing. You could argue believing in conspiracy theories is harmless… such as Area 51 and JFK but the 9/11 conspiracy takes things to a very disturbing new level. The evidence for the hijacking of four planes by religious extremists ordered by Osama Bin Ladin is OVERWHELMING, to believe otherwise goes against basic rational thinking. Not to mention deeply offensive to those who died and the families and friends they left behind.

What is also troubling is the sheer hostility expressed by these people, their anger blinds them from realising when they contradict themselves and makes them unable to recognise their total hypocrisy. When one theory is proven wrong they immediately jump onto another. Despite THEIR claims of non-believers being closed-minded sheep you simply cannot win an argument with one, anyone against them is part of the conspiracy, any evidence disproving them has been faked and most unbelievably of all - no evidence is also evidence. It is very sad, after all it is exactly that kind of unwavering ideology that motivated the hijackers on that day.

The Internet is both a blessing and a curse, everyone has the opportunity to have a platform to speak their mind (like this blog) and find out information at the click of a button. But it also means it is far too easy for these theories to spread and millions of people can all to easily be brainwashed into believing almost anything, especially as they all seem to think that just because millions believe, it just has to be true.

I think these words of the Amazing James Randi that I used in my experiment should always be remembered: 'Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence'. Otherwise we are open to propaganda and manipulation by those with negative and immoral agendas. 

History is filled with examples where peoples’ senseless disregard to rational thinking to follow the ‘no smoke without fire' crowd has had very real consequences on peoples lives e.g. the Fatty Arbuckle scandal of the 1920s, the case of Lindy Chamberlain who was incorrectly found guilty of killing her baby in Australia in 1982 thanks to public hysteria and more recently the MMR jab controversy where mothers are still deciding not to give their child the vaccination despite the fact the claims (made by a single doctor) have been proven to be entirely false - This has lead to a steep rise of outbreaks of measles and has even resulted in deaths. When will we learn?

Feel free to pass this around to anyone you know who thinks 9/11 was a conspiracy and hopefully on the 20^th anniversary this madness will be a distant memory.