G'day Marts
I thank you for your kind comments, I enjoyed your thoughtful discussions on both the variable speed of light (VSL) and the aether. I have no problem with VSL however I have no sensible comments to make about an aether that is Lorentz invariant or relies on particles or provides a medium for electromagnetic (EM) fields or waves to propagate in. For the moment I have chosen to accept "action at a distance at light speed." Having said this I believe in an aether that is comprised of EM fields and waves emanating from observable astronomical objects, along with the gravity fields and waves from the same astronomical objects. Such an aether has the reference frame of the fixed stars and we are moving through it, the CMBR which Is black-body radiation from dust in the intergalactic medium and has the same reference frame as the aether, in fact, It is a component of the aether. Zero-point radiation (ZPR) Is also a component of our new observable aether.
This new aether incorporates the Mach principle and Newton bucket of water thought experiment.
The ZPR must be Lorentz invariant also. This Is achieved by putting a cap on the maximum energy that the ZPR can contain, approximately equal to the maximum energy OF cosmic rays that we have ever detected. This aether also contains a lot of metal and carbon dust emitted by supernovae, which can result in changes in the permeability and permittivity of the aether, and therefore bend and focus light, as well as influencing the VSL. This dust can also contribute to non-Doppler red-shift, as well as dimming the standard candles, therefore, influencing dark energy calculations.
This Machian Newtonian aether is not intended to compete or replace any other forms of aether but could complement other aethers.
Good luck
Barry