Preface:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Some may ask why I am taking the time to write this blog series.\u00a0 The simple answer to that question is that this will (in part) pave the way to correcting a number of crimes that were committed against me while I studied at this University.\u00a0 Let me make it clear to the reader that all of the information contained in this blog series is factual and I will stand by it in any court of law.\u00a0 In this series it is up to the reader to make conclusions based on the evidence presented and as to the integrity (or lack thereof) of the individuals involved as well as the institution that has employed them over these years.<\/p>\n
My Beginnings in the \u201cKennedy\u201d Lab<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In late 1998 (ca. November, 1998) I began working for Dr. \u201cJoseph P. Kennedy\u201d (reader, I put this individual\u2019s \u201cname\u201d in quotations as it is an alias that he picked up apparently sometime in Europe.\u00a0 I have yet to meet a single person who knows this person\u2019s true name or his true background!).\u00a0 From the very beginning I realized that this was a unique experience.\u00a0 Prior to being accepted into the research group he gave me what was in effect an interview which also required submission of a resume and grade transcripts.\u00a0 When it was decided that I was worthy of inclusion (please see research group photo below) Dr. “Kennedy” delivered a grandiose speech.\u00a0 During this speech he informed me that he would \u201cprotect my soft underbelly, and my research project would be unique.\u201d\u00a0 Towards the conclusion of his diatribe, I was asked as to whether I knew of the story of Damocles\u2019 sword.\u00a0 I admitted to my ignorance of this story and Dr. “Kennedy” filled me in on its details.\u00a0 According to him, Damocles was made the guest of honor at a dinner given by his enemies and they suspended a sword above his head with a human hair.\u00a0 “Kennedy” told me \u201cthis represents the inherent danger that I face when I undertake new students.\u201d\u00a0 Little did I understand the hidden messages in the statements he was making at the time.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I have to take an aside here and mention that at the time I was so innocent that I didn\u2019t once think that it was strange for a Hungarian to have the name of an American senator.\u00a0 Even when some of the postdoctoral students in the laboratory told me that not only was this not his true name but asked me if I understood what side of WWII Hungary was on the message still really didn’t register.\u00a0 Not only was this man’s name stolen, but “Kennedy\u2019s” Damocles speech was also in fact stolen (almost verbatim) from a speech delivered to congress by President John F. Kennedy!\u00a0 I found this out while watching a documentary on the History Channel.\u00a0 Now, back from my digression.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The first order of business that had to be taken care of was to determine the research project.\u00a0 During this period I was advised by Dr. “Kennedy” to seek the help of other faculty in the polymer science department.\u00a0 This included Professors Harwood and Reneker, as well as a visiting scientist Professor Teyssie (please see PDF files below).\u00a0 At this time I did not have much in the way of inventive skills and many of the ideas that I devised were more or less step change improvements to chemistry described in “Kennedy\u2019s” books or described by others such as Professor Wilkes.\u00a0 After presenting my ideas and asking them for help, each of these professors submitted additional ideas to me (Harwood making the offhand comment, \u201cwhy should I give all my ideas to Joe?\u201d).\u00a0 Another unusual thing happened during this time but again I was too blind or too na\u00efve to see.\u00a0 Dr. “Kennedy” requested photocopies of all documents that we were to discuss during our group meetings.\u00a0 Below you can find PDF files for the original copies as well as the photocopies of the originals (which he normally retained), the latter which have Dr. “Kennedy\u2019s” hand writing.\u00a0 This is one of few instances where I was able to retain the photocopied documents as I soon learned “Kennedy\u2019s” standard modus operandi was to collect these photocopies into cabinetry located directly behind his computer desk that faced the door.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 During the review of these ideas Dr. “Kennedy” shot most of them down.\u00a0 One humorous comment that “Kennedy” made to me concerning polyisobutene (PIB) based ionomers was \u201cStorey steals my best ideas.\u201d\u00a0 Although I have never met this individual my guess is that this is far from the truth (i.e. Professor Storey devises his own ideas).\u00a0 In the end, Dr. “Kennedy” decided that the best project would involve the preparation of PIBs bearing reactive silyl end groups, followed by subsequent hydrolysis\/condensation to yield PIB stars with a silsesquioxane core.\u00a0\u00a0 Much of this chemistry was derived from work described by a Professor Wilkes whose papers “Kennedy” originally referred me to.\u00a0 Again, my ignorance got the better of me.\u00a0 Some years later, while reviewing the chemical literature and remembering that at least one Japanese visiting scientist had been working on somewhat similar chemistry did I realize that this idea was no doubt closely related to work that had been done by this Japanese chemist who had most likely left photocopies of his ideas with Dr. “Kennedy”.\u00a0 Evidence supporting this will be shown in a subsequent blog posting in this series.<\/p>\n
Kennedy 1999 to 2000 Group photo<\/a><\/p>\n Example of Meeting Notes with Prof Teyssie<\/a><\/p>\n Original Notes of Dr Lewis Prepared for Prof Kennedy<\/a><\/p>\n Dr Lewis notes JPK Photocopy with notes from latter<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Preface: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Some may ask why I am taking the time to write this blog series.\u00a0 The simple answer to that question is that this will (in part) pave the way to correcting a number of crimes that were committed … Continue reading