<HTML>Litz,
this is an excellent distinction, and one that I think is fair in terms of the way it can be seen to defend certain aspects of the alternativist point of view. speculation does have a place in this whole discussion.
having said that much though, one core problem that i am beginning to recognize with certain aspects of the alternativist presentation is that certain authors are extremely reluctant make this qualification prior to presenting their theories. by not doing this they create the impression that they are abiding by the same standards of inquiry and presentation that orthodox academia requires.
Mark</HTML>
