With the tenth anniversary of 911 coming up....whatever happened to DUer Paul Thompson?

[hlthe2b]

For those who weren't around going back to 2001, through about 2005, Paul published an extensively documented timeline of events prior to and following 911, The Terror TImeline. He was a constant fixture on DU (as well as a guest on several Air America Radio shows) until about 2005 and then seemed to disappear. Anyone know where he went/what happened? Does he ever still post here?

http://www.amazon.com/Terror-Timeline-Comprehensive-Chronicle-11/dp/0060783389

Here's his Wiki entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Terror_Timeline

The Terror Timeline: Year by Year, Day by Day, Minute by Minute: A Comprehensive Chronicle of the Road to 9/11 — and America's Response is described by its publisher as a compilation of over 5,000 reports and articles concerning the September 11, 2001 attacks.<1>

The book was compiled by a Stanford University alumnus and 9/11 researcher who goes by the pseudonym "Paul Thompson", and by other contributors to the History Commons website (formerly operated by the Center for Cooperative Research). The timeline chronicles events leading up to the terrorist attacks and America's response. The timeline was first published in mid-2002 and is still regularly updated by Thompson and other contributors.

[alcibiades_mystery]

1. "They" got to him...

:rofl:

[hlthe2b]

2. LOL

Funny... However, I really don't recall him being a 911 conspiracy buff, but rather chronicled related events (and excruciatingly documented all the Bush* lies)

[hlthe2b]

3. Surely some long-termer DUers remember Paul? Kick

[Hissyspit]

4. I emailed him a few years ago. By then he just wasn't posting here anymore much.

If at all. I think he just "outgrew" the place. The creation of the "dungeon" probably didn't help much.

[hlthe2b]

5. Do you know if he moved overseas?

I have no idea where I got that idea, but it has stuck....

BTW, I think you are probably right about his "outgrowing" DU and his reaction to the "dungeon"... His work was far too scholarly to be reduced to mere conspiracy conjecture.

[Hissyspit]

8. No, I do not.

[Electric Monk]

6. He got tired of repeating himself?

http://www.911timeline.net/

[Mnemosyne]

7. Haven't seen him here in awhile. He published 9/11 book and is involved with History Commons -

http://www.historycommons.org/timelines.jsp

Think he gave up here when everything started being tossed in the dungeon. Smart man, he is missed.

[RainDog]

9. He did great work

I really appreciated the work he put into creating a database and referencing everything with articles and trying to sort out facts from fictions.

I think he moved to Australia.

[Oilwellian]

10. I'm pretty sure he's in New Zealand

Also stays in California. He did fantastic work chronicling the day of 911 and everyone's whereabouts and actions. It was an astonishing puzzle he pieced together. If his work wound up in the dungeon, it's no wonder he left. I saw someone earlier asking that all Fukushima posts be relegated to the dungeon as well. DU's superb level of discourse isn't what it used to be.

[paulthompson]

11. I'm here!

Thanks for asking, I'm still here. I've been here all along, it's just that I'm turned into a "lurker." This is my first post in ages. But I thought I'd come out of lurk mode for a little bit since you were kind enough to ask about me.

I must say, not long after Obama became president, I grew very discouraged about politics. I'd been really hoping things would change with a new president, but it quickly became clear to me with his cabinet choices and early decisions that things weren't going to change and Obama was nearly as bad as Bush. And that blew my mind, because I had high hopes for Obama. So I stopped doing my timeline research for about two years, because it seemed rather futile. With Obama's "don't look back" policy, and the way he was going after whistleblowers and helping Bush officials avoid prosecution and so forth, I didn't see much hope that my research would help much. But a few months ago, I decided to just screw it and keep going anyway. I figure that these are very discouraging times politically, but we have to keep on keeping on or change will never happen. It may be a long road, but the truth usually does come out eventually.

Of course, "real life" stuff takes up most of my time, especially in these tough economic times, but lately I'm still finding a lot of time to add to the timeline research not only about 9/11, but the whole "war on terror," and civil liberties and torture issues as well. You should go to historycommons.org and check out what we've been up to. I also was just interviewed by Sibel Edmonds for two hours. I understand that was split in two and the first hour of that should be posted at her Boiling Frogs website on Thursday. So you might want to check that out. And by the way, we're always looking for new volunteers at historycommons - PM me if you're interested.

I'll probably go back to lurk mode here, for the most part, but thanks again for asking what I've been up to. Oh, and by the way, I was in New Zealand for a while, but some family stuff caused me to go back to San Diego, where I am now. I hope everyone is well. :)

[gateley]

12. Hi! I don't know you but just kicking so your friends can

see and know you're alive and well. How nice of you to check in - I know they'll appreciate it! :hi:

[hlthe2b]

13. Wow... How nice to wake up and see your posting!

I'm very happy to see you are still around and still doing "your thing!"

My expectations for Obama, were undoubtedly unrealistically high, but it has been most crushing to see him turn his back on accountability for the crimes committed in our name. And that his adamant refusal to hold the Bush* administration accountable and his continuation of so many horrible policies--then progressed to seeming disdain for those of us on the left calling for change. Disappointment, indeed. Yes, I think most here can fully understand how you might feel, having invested yourself so fully in documenting those times.

As we prepare for a retelling of the events of 911 (that surely will include a large share of Bushie* reinvention of history), there will be many here who will recognize the lies for what they are. Your well documented timeline will surely help those of us who will push back against the attempt to create a new narrative. I hold out some hope that Rachel Maddow's two part special with Richard Engel that examines 10 years of war and policies as the aftereffect of 911, might be one of the few worthwhile pieces. How sad that Sibel Edmond's complete story has never been allowed to be told. Maybe with time.....

Thank you, Paul for checking in. You are one of those original DUers that made this forum a refuge for honest discussion following 911 and through that horrible Bush-Cheney aftermath. I am so happy to hear you are doing well and still engaged in your own way. Best wishes!

[paulthompson]

15. Thanks

Thanks you, I'm glad to be doing "my thing" again too. :) And yeah, I guess one reason I became a lurker is that I don't want to add to the discouragement about Obama. There's no need to beat a dead horse - people either see what he's doing or they don't. Besides, I'd probably get banned before long if I complain too much. But DU is still a great source of daily news.

[kentuck]

19. Hello Paul!

Long time, no see. Good to see that you're still kicking! :-)

[AverageJoe90]

20. Hi Paul!

Glad to see a veteran DUer on here(I'm still a bit of a newbie) . Hope all is well for you. :)

[FourScore]

22. Paul Thompson -- a great DU'er!

Thanks so much for letting us know what you've been up to!

:yourock: :headbang: :fistbump: :cry: :grouphug: :hug: :tinfoilhat: :loveya: :kick: :hi: :thumbsup: :beer: :bounce: :toast: :party: :hippie: B-) :patriot: :applause: :woohoo:

[Octafish]

23. Always great to read you!

:thumbsup:

[scarletwoman]

24. Wow! The man himself! I just saw this thread now, and was going to post a reply to the OP...

I was going to say, "Yeah, I sure DO remember Paul Thompson! He did amazing work!"

And then I read further down the thread and here's a post from you! It's very thoughtful of you to speak up, I'm so glad to get an update about what you've been up to.

I'm one of the remaining DU 2001 oldtimers, though I wouldn't expect you to remember me, since I've never been a very prolific poster. But I remember and have always appreciated you. I used to spend hours at your 9/11 timeline site. And in the pre-dungeon days, 9/11 was one of the discussion topics in which I most often participated.

I'm very happy to "see" you again! And delighted to know that you're still doing your important work.

Seeing you post here again just made my day!

:hi:
sw

[hlthe2b]

14. Bump for Paul Thompson fans: see post #11

;)

[Major Hogwash]

16. This is pretty cool -- I love reunions!

My girlfriend from high school dumped me when we were seniors, right at the first of the year.
It really hurt for about 4 months back then, I didn't date anyone until after Christmas, but eventually I got over it.
Still, I always wondered "what if" for all those years.
Then at the 20th reunion, she showed up, and she was as fat as a rhinocerous.

I thought "dear gawd, she ate some small person whole."
And thanked my lucky stars that we didn't wind up making up, but went our separate ways.

[zappaman]

18. so since she was overweight, she became a bad person?

did you go out with her just for her looks?

[paulthompson]

17. Interview posted today

As I mentioned earlier in this thread, I did an interview with Sibel Edmonds and Peter Collins the other day. It's a long one! The first hour of that has been posted today:

http://www.boilingfrogspost.com/2011/09/01/podcast-show-53/

[hlthe2b]

25. Thanks for coming back to post the link!

I will definitely sit down and listen (and wait with expectation for more!)

So appropriate that it is Sibel Edmonds interviewing you. What an elegant and courageous woman! ;)

[Hell Hath No Fury]

21. Decloak more often --

We could use some more of the old school DUers here. :hi: