so much has been explored on the forum re AE-- thoroughly, expertly, backwards, forwards--there's not much more to plumb. The forum has done a great job bringing the project this far. A slower pace and even silence is ok.
You've got it right Lisa. Although there are always points to ponder and nits to pick, the bulk of the work is done. The Niku Hypothesis is the only Earhart theory that is supported by hard evidence - and the evidence, although admittedly circumstantial, is abundant and diverse. All that is left now is to try (again) to find the one artifact that unequivocally proves the case.
Meanwhile, we find ourselves in the bizarre circumstance of having to expend badly needed time and money defending against the charge that the final proof has already be been found and we either kept it secret or were negligent in not realizing it had been found. We're currently in the discovery phase of the legal proceedings. I have until December 1 to answer a long list of "interrogatories." We also have to dig out, catalog and submit thousands of documents and emails which Mellon's attorneys will be happy to peruse at their hourly rate for evidence of fraud and negligence that isn't there.
But despite the annoyance and expense of defending against Mellon's frivolous abuse of the legal system, TIGHAR is moving forward with planning and preparations for the next expedition. Funding is going to depend on finding major individual and/or corporate sponsorship but that won't happen without a well-thought-out, well-articulated, and widely publicized and plan.
And if that isn't enough to keep us occupied , TIGHAR is about to announce a huge and exciting upgrade to the organization's growth potential.
As you say, a relatively quiet forum is a blessing right now.