SF99:
I think rather than the Star Factory or Dark Matter theory, we may need to change to the Black Hole analogy. With black holes, information can go in, but it doesn't come out, at least not easily. When it does come out however, it is usually at wavelengths that no one except Norman Wong and Stephen Hawking can interpret. <grin>
I too am hoping that we get a few tidbits of information coming out at the Dec AGM. Would be nice to see this star shine -- maybe even go supernova.
masila