Just letting you know that the difficulties you have raised are exactly what is covered in this material.
re the adhom, i'm sure the 'guy' you knew is a nice bloke, i'm just saying he is probably not this guy, who is currently building laser equipment and satellites at Goddard space flight center.... ie someone whos job it is to ensure scientific accuracy of empirical measurements of light itself...
The point here is irrelevant adhom attacks can be a tool used by conservatives to distract from the science...
anyways.. the content is there.. i found the content interesting and relevant to this forum... just want to highlight where adhoms can have an insulating effect on science, especially when constructed in the irrelevant way you have done.
http://www.extinctionshift.com/lensing_animate.gif
(in a nutshell for ya...)