Richard Gage in Boston

JREF forum member Mr Herbert went and shares his (painful) experience:

Gage and company asked for a minimum 10 dollar donation at the door. About 1/2 way through the presentation, he summoned his "ushers" to pass around donation buckets for everyone to put in more money. He pimped his DVD's, Steven Jones DVD's, and was even selling copies of 911 Mysteries. The truthers were unaware that Sophia had doctored the audio and in the middle of getting sued.

To which I would add that they're unaware (or ignoring) that she also markets Holocaust Denial videos at her website.

Also see here for a breakdown of the almost $3,000 cost of the event:

$500 – Venue Fee (First Parish)
$500 – Speaker Fee
$166 – Airfare
$500 – Audio Video
$400 – 14′ Screen + Skirt
$800 – Flyers and Posters in Boston

Rick Siegel Files Suit Against Sofia Shafquat

Well, well, this one's been a long time coming, but it is a welcome development nonetheless that requires some explanation.

Rick Siegel filmed video of the collapses of the Twin Towers on 9-11 from across the Hudson in Hoboken, New Jersey. His footage is compelling and he had on his radio tuned to 1010 WINS (NY news radio station) at the same time to provide a soundtrack. The effect, quite plainly is a historical document of some significance.

Siegel's footage was used in the crackpot film 9-11 Eyewitness, apparently with permission and a rights' fee, although Siegel reportedly was not pleased with the final product. In late 2006, Sofia Shafquat released 9-11 Mysteries: Demolitions, which borrowed chunks of Siegel's footage apparently without permission or a rights' fee. Worse, Siegel discovered that Shaquat had edited his footage, erasing sounds and adding her own background noises (explosions, most egregiously) in places. And of course there was the ridiculous mistake that Sofia made where she shows the "South Tower record" (times of supposed explosions just before the collapse), and then says "Then the building fell," and she shows the North Tower collapse.

There was a flurry of activity in 2007, and Siegel bumped 9-11 Mysteries off Google Video and YouTube for awhile for copyright infringement, while John Albanese managed to push Siegel's website offline for awhile. The dustup even reached the MSM, with the NY Post covering some of the antics on both sides.

Siegel himself is something of an enigma; IIRC he claims not to be a Truther himself but at the same time, he provided websites for the no-planer contingent, at least one of which is still standing (although it's basically a ghost town, with the last post in May of 2008).

I hadn't heard anything about this story in a long time, and given that 9-11 Mysteries and Sofia have pretty much vanished into the mists, I didn't expect any new developments. But apparently Siegel has gone ahead with his lawsuit.

They Did It With Electromagnets

The latest theory from the controlled demolition fruitcakes:

Hour 2: Geophysicist Leuren Moret presents information that she believes constitutes proof of the electromagnetic demolition of the Twin Towers, rather than explosives having been used as the means. Unfortunately, time runs out before a discussion can ensue about the points brought up, either with callers or with the show's host (also creator of the popular film "911 Mysteries," which many consider to be the definitive video on the WTC destruction). Could HAARP conceivably be the singular energy source for the "emulsion of dust" created from the robust steel-framed Twins?

You know how it is; we'll be castigated for highlighting this bit of nuttery. "No true Truther believes, etc." But this theory does have an advantage over conventional controlled demolition theories. CD requires extremely loud explosions; presumably CD with electromagnets would be comparatively quiet. Of course, this just substitutes one problem for another; to wit, how exactly do you bring down a building with electromagnets, and what sort of power source would it require.

I have to sympathize with Sofia a bit in this interview; Leuren Moret blathers on and doesn't let Sofia pin her down, insisting that she must finish. The best bit is when Leuren starts talking about the Minneapolis bridge collapse, which was apparently intended to distract people from the Madison conference of the no-planers and beam-weapon folks which happened at nearly the same time. Sofia finally loses it at this point, saying that she doesn't want to get into the bridge collapse that she wants to stick to the WTC. There's also a very odd bit about how they were "lathering up" the buildings to prepare them for this beam weapon.

Sofia Continues to Branch Out Into Exciting New Areas

Like Holocaust Denial. She is currently marketing on her site the book and movie, The Ernst Zundel story. Reprehensor is appropriately appalled:

What is one of the most popular 9/11 Truth videos on the street right now?

Arguably, Sofia Shafquat's "911 Mysteries".

Sofia Shafquat is currently selling "The Ernst Zundel Story" at her online store.

I repeat; One of the highest profile 9/11 Truth websites is selling an Ernst Zundel documentary. This has been going on for months.

When you consider the attention that the Simon Wiesenthal Center has paid to the 9/11 Truth movement, and AE911Truth.org in particular, you have to seriously consider the intentions of such a move.

Well, you know how it is; Reprehensor thinks Sofia's some kind of agent planted in the 9-11 "Truth" Movement to discredit the serious (heh) researchers out there. After her movie became a big hit with the Troofers she exposes her real agenda and pow, the movement gets another black eye.

Because, you know, who could possibly have had any idea that Sofia had any connection with Holocaust Denial? Other than the fact that Sofia's buddy Brad Waddell cited Eric Hufschmid in the opening monologue as having turned him onto the Troof. But somehow the Hardly Boys didn't catch that raging clue.

Update: Kudos to Jon Gold who doesn't often get them around here, for not showing 9-11 Mysteries at 9-11 Truth Tuesdays, a weekly run of Truther movies in Wayne, PA.