Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Musings: Desperate Situation

Though much is said about the “blue code of silence” that prevents police officers from speaking out against the misdeeds of their colleagues, virtually nothing is said about a similar code among journalists.

Which is why Christopher Pala, whose inaccurate and biased anti-GMO article in The Guardian was thoroughly excoriated on this blog Sunday night, began whining and sniveling about the criticism his piece received from journalists Jan TenBruggencate, Allan Parachini and me:

Note that I have never met or communicated with any of the three. Nor have I ever had colleagues, known to me or not, complain to my editors or to me about my stories. It’s simply not something real journalists do.

In Chris' world, “real journalists” keep their mouths shut when they see their fellow reporters completely misrepresent an issue, stack sources to unfairly weight a story, disregard information that contradicts the position they've taken and regurgitate the propaganda that is spoon-fed to them by activists and other partisans.
How is that reporters are supposed to expose the bad behavior of everyone in the public eye — except their own media colleagues? Why does Chris — who acknowledged on his Facebook page (right above the post where he sympathizes with the anti-GMO marchers in Waikiki)  that it's his first piece on pesticides — believe he should receive a free pass from those of who know the issue far better than he?

Chris was unhappy because Peter Adler, who is running the Joint Fact-Finding Group on pesticides, sent an email to The Guardian editors correcting errors that Chris made about the JFFG. Peter's email was sent in cooperation with Dr. Lee Evslin, who felt Chris had unfairly and inaccurately portrayed him as going rogue to conduct his own investigations independent of the JFFG, when in fact Dr. Evslin is working closely with the group.

Peter copied Jan, Allan, The Garden Island's Tom Hasslinger, Chris and me on his email, because he knows we've all been covering this issue.  l also had reached out to Dr. Evslin to get his take on Chris' story.  But to Chris, Peter's simple action of including us in a correction became “an organized attack on his good name.”

Chris' ego is so massive — on Facebook, he was gloating over how many shares and comments his Guardian piece had gotten — that he apparently couldn't possibly believe he'd been wrong, even when his errors were documented. No, we're all out to get him — even though he squandered his own good name on that POS story.

Chris went on to write, in an email to Peter, Dr. Evslin and the above-mentioned recipients:

But the fact that you copied all three to your own letter to the editor of the Guardian raises serious questions about your impartiality as a fact-gatherer on the GMO industry’s potential harm in Hawaii. All three individuals are widely believed here to be paid advocates for the industry, and I find plenty of evidence online to believe that myself.

Ah, yes. Ye tired olde shill accusation. In the small circle of anti-GMO activists that Chris interviewed, anyone who isn't fully on board with the anti-GMO movement, anyone who questions, criticizes or thinks for oneself, must be in the pocket of “the industry.” 
But the real kicker was how Chris copied Gary Hooser in on the email he sent to Peter and the rest of us. As I replied to Chris:

If we are to accept your reasoning — that one's impartiality is determined by whom one copies on emails — what does it tell us about your objectivity now that you've inexplicably copied Gary Hooser, leader of the anti-GMO movement, in on this email? To borrow your words, Chris, "It's simply not something real journalists do."

As a “real journalist” friend of mine noted:

It's a pathetic dodge of the real issue, to wit: Is there any hard epidemiological evidence proving that the pesticide practices of seed companies on Kauai have caused birth defects in children? And the answer, to date, is that there is no such evidence. That is not to say that some future findings might point to a causative relationship between pesticide exposure and human health issues on Kauai. But, at present, no such evidence exists. We have only speculation. And that's the flaw in his reporting. Period.

In retweeting my post rebutting Chris' article, Dr. Calestous Juma, Professor of the Practice of International Development and Director of the Science, Technology, and Globalization Project at Harvard's Belfer Center, posted this graphic and wrote:
The situation is getting desperate.

Indeed. Bullshit, all across the ideological spectrum, is enjoying a heyday.

Which offers a perfect segue to Terry Lilley, the Kauai “scientist” who is trying to set policy while engaging in massive fear-mongering on this island. Much like the anti-GMO movement has done. As Terry posted on Instagram (you can click on images to enlarge):
If you ever had any doubts about Terry's credibility, that post alone should confirm them.

38 comments:

Anonymous said...

where did lilley come from? so many crackpots on Kauai, wonder if it is the water/or stolen water that makes everyone nuts?

Anonymous said...

Lilley came from California where he advertised himself as a herpetologist and got in trouble for selling misidentified animals that did not belong to him. He is supported by conspiracists and those with their own disruptive motives.

Anonymous said...

You all got under Pala's skin! Sweet!

Anonymous said...

see lots of planes and "stuff" flowing after it, spreading out like clouds--think they may be shielding pmrf, niihau facilities ----- also saw lots of it in Oregon skies. There are believers and non believers--we will eventually find out what this "stuff" truly is! Just think of how often big business, government and the military have hidden truths from the public, just can't help being skeptical and curious!

Anonymous said...

As usual, great article ms. Joan! On another note, seems like waterfalls are falling, rivers and streams are flowing because of the rain!

Anonymous said...

Terry: Think the "chemtrails" helped prevent flash flooding and divert Kilo? lol!

Anonymous said...

Joan, How can you question the credibility what Terry said he saw without providing accurate information about the identity, location, times of the planes flying over Kapaʻa and exactly what they were doing, It seems like these planes were seen by quite a few people. I do think Terry would have been better off saying "brownish liquid instead of "brownish chemicals" without knowing what the substance actually was. If it is proven to have contained chemicals, then that would probably fit the definition of chemtrail. Best to hold judgment until investigating further, I think. Go for it, Joan. Investigate and let the public know exactly what it was that Terry and others saw. Just the facts, maʻam. Many people would like to know. Mahalo for sharing Terryʻs photo.

Anonymous said...

Joan, Could you identify that plane for us? What is it doing? Where is it? Why is it there?

Anonymous said...

@9:27, I saw a plane in Kapaa too but it's called contrails: clouds that form when water vapor condenses and freezes around small particles (aerosols) that exist in aircraft exhaust.

Anonymous said...

Brown Liquid: The plane was discharging its effluent on Terry's car.

Manuahi said...

There's a simple basic response to yesterday's claims of chem-trail sightings. It's "consider the source".

Brad said...

That is a Navy P-3 Orion, and the "tube" is a Magnetic Anomaly Device. Sounds scary, I know, but its used for finding large metal objects (i.e. submarines) under the water.

Anonymous said...

9:31am

You post here a lot is that not true? Are you a robot? Do you have any research capability and the critical reasoning to work through what you find? Could you comment on just how in the world you get through life?

If you'r so interested blow up the image, call pmrf, whatever....just get your own life please and quit doing the vampiric time thing.

As mentioned before by others - this is in largest part and intelligent and sometimes passionate comment thread. You incessant questions and hounding of Joan sound like my children when they were in third grade. They've since grown up.

Anonymous said...

I second 9:57 am's post

Patrick Kelley Photography said...

It seems like you struck a nerve with Christopher, Joan, looking at how strongly he reacted. Apparently he really doesn't like being fact checked. I applaud your bravery to have a strong voice amidst misinformation regarding GMOs and other hot button topics on this island where the majority seems to fervently accept without skepticism. As well as Jan and Allan. Being the voice of reason is no small task when unreasonable is the status quo.

"Follow the path of the unsafe, independent thinker. Expose your ideas to the danger of controversy. Speak your mind and fear less the label of "crackpot" than the stigma of conformity." -Thomas J. Watson

Anonymous said...

A plane is not an organic organism that flaps its wings to fly. It is a mechanical piece of equipment, run by fuel with a pressurized cabin, and all sorts of other non-organic, mechanical thingamabobs that allow it fly high in the air without killing everyone on board. Sorry, not an aircraft engineer so I don't really know all of its components, but common sense tells me that this machine must emit/release some kind of chemicals or exhaust. Like a car, or a boat, or an air-conditioning unit. Do these chemtrail fanatics not travel by plane EVER? If they do, they needs to stop blathering on about it, OR they need to create a magical flying machine that runs on unicorn farts and pixie dust and leaves behind trails of rainbows and glitter.
Sorry to sound so negative, but if you complain about chemtrails, you should feel horrible for ever getting in a plane. If you complain about large, multi-billion dollar corporations, stop posting about it on Facebook/Instagram with your Apple smartphone that's serviced by AT&T or Verizon. If you have an issue with not knowing where your food is coming from, grow/raise your own. Nobody is forcing you to do any of these things.

Anonymous said...

Brad, Mahalo for the info. Helps us all get closer to the truth of the matter.

Anonymous said...

I unsecond 9:57 amʻs post

Andrew Cooper said...

The brown material left behind the aircraft is water, carbon dioxide and various partially combusted hydrocarbons giving the color... AKA engine exhaust. No expertise on my part, just a tour in the military working on Air Force flightlines. Looks the same as it always has behind the aircraft.

Always liked the P-3's, they have been flying for decades, workhorse long range surveillance and patrol aircraft. A lot of people owe their lives to the efforts of the P-3 crews when working search and rescue operations. They also do illegal fishing patrols and other beneficial operations.

Joan Conrow said...

Thank you, Patrick. I really appreciate that! Great quote, too.

And thanks, Brad and Andrew, for your information on the plane and its exhaust. Though I doubt it will allay Terry's fears, it gives the rest of us a better understanding.

Anonymous said...

You're all being fooled sheeple. That plane was clearly part of the attack on 9-11. You can tell from the profile. The "Chem Trail" conspiracy is really a false flag, meant to distract us from what REALLY happened.

^Sarcasm^

Anonymous said...

Mahalo Andrew. It is wonderful to read facts before making assumptions. Now if anyone knows more about the actual planes and what they were doing?

Anonymous said...

And good journalists don't post web sites as places of verification which say "We're really sorry, but the page you requested cannot be found." Your data site reference doesn't exist and that was yesterday you posted it as a source so it isn't like it had a lot of time to be moved. Uhh...

Joan Conrow said...

But sometimes good journalists do make typos. E kala mai. That link is fixed, so go check it out.

Anonymous said...

Joan can you post links to the articles that Jan T and Allan P submitted regarding the accuracy of the Guardian post? Thanks for helping to maintain a little integrity in the business of journalism.

T said...

In case anyone is wondering. The reason they put the MAD in the tail is to prevent the metal structure of the aircraft from influencing it's very sensitive readings. It detects changes in the magnetic field caused by large metallic objects whose own magnetic field interferes with the natural field of the Earth. It has no feature to which it would be releasing any sort of chemicals or radio emissions. It's purpose is to simply 'feel' the magnetic field of the earth and computers inside will determine if there's something amiss
-I'm an Electrical Engineer with focus on Electric and Magnetic Fields

Anonymous said...

So this brief discussion about an airplane once again takes us to this unsatisfying place where all of the current debates about GMOs, etc. take us. On the one hand, we have commenters (engineer, Navy person) who appear to know what they're talking about offering a logical and specific explanation for the plane and da kine sticking out of the tail. On the other, there are people who are convinced based on rumor, urban lore, paranoia, KKCR blather and apparent predisposition to distrust government that this plane is really :dropping stuff on us. I'd say one is a fact and one is an opinion. Among sane,sober people, "Chemtrails" on this island is code for, "nuts." Unfortunately, if enough people pushed it, we'd have the county council holding a hearing, maybe even passing a resolution. Stand by for barrage of dopey letters to TGI and more simpleton reporting.

Anonymous said...

BTW you idiots since you do not live on Kauai you didn't see the plane flying overhead cuz you do not live here. Obviously. The odd plane was seen by a lot of people. So, lets go over things shall we? So far? Pic and video of pump diverting water? Check. Eyewitness accounts of bulldozers and machinery atop the fall area? check. Microwave towers and weapons testing on Kauai? Check. Planes flying over head military surveillance? Check. so, Joan what exactly are people saying that is not true? You really have no idea do you? Because you can't speculate, because you have no imagination, not a creative bone in your head do you? Because you cannot think out of the box. you believe what the establishment, a company, or a person of authority tell you.If they said the sky was green you would believe it. because you lack critical thinking skills.

Anonymous said...

Lilley is a huckster who sells crisis. Complete fraud, with no real credentials. Easy enough on this island to convince people of anything though since so many have little to no quality (thanks DOE!) education or critical thinking skills - all by design, makes it much easier to rule over the plebes.

Anonymous said...

Dearest Joan, Your writing is fabulous, btw fu to 11:16. Let's see, the military presence is well known/shucks i bet even Joan knows that, testing, well known, the guy with the tractor/ a rancher/ using not diverting water, wtf, water is for using and there ain't no shortage on Kauai.It is the omg, planes are flying, omg 11:16, you my dear lack critical thinking skills. Write on Joan, we love you/ truth to idiots/well omgwtf/ if you are not repeating the approved facts, you must need reprogramming.

Anonymous said...

On that list of tips for scientific misreporting or fraud, number 10 is no peer reviewed. There is a new and ongoing scandal with regards to this. Starting with Chinese biochemical research, a small sampling showed that the peer review process was fudged. More extensive research is showing not just fudging, but cabals of reviewers exchanging positive reviews. While still concentrated in esoteric research unlikely to be duplicated such as biochemistry of little practical application, prognosticatory pieces in climate and geochemical journals are also being examined at this time. The peer review process is no insurance that the science is sound.

Anonymous said...

Weapons testing on Kauai? I am shocked. Oh wait. I'm not. Because a lot of Kauai people work out there. Smart kids from all the high schools and colleges. And they are very proud of their work. Oh. And there is a open air display at PMRF of the weapons they help develop.

Anonymous said...

I laugh at how people like Katie Horgan are so afraid of the seed fields but she works at PMRF. hello!

Anonymous said...

@ 11:16pm - is that you Klayton Kubo? nah, no can be....he writes in pidgin and in all CAPS.

Anonymous said...

Dear 11:16
"Critical Thinking". You keep using those words. I don't think they mean what you think they mean...

Anonymous said...

11:16 said :"you have no imagination, not a creative bone in your head". 11:16, you need to consult a craniologist. They'd love to find a specimen like you with a skull full of bone.

Andrew Cooper said...

The planes in question are based on Oahu and use all of the islands for practice exercises. We see the same P-3 aircraft doing practice passes over Kona all the time. I have probably seen the exact aircraft in the photo more than once passing by my place in Waikoloa or parked on the hardstands at KOA.

Anonymous said...

Having worked at PMRF and flown in Navy helicopters for many years I know that flying military aircraft over the island is discouraged. If P3 aircraft were flying low over Hanalei town they were sight seeing and should be reported. Spraying chemicals? Give me a break. Lilley is a nut.