Project logic
“Censored—or bogus” should have been the headline over your recent cover story instead of “The people only need this much news” [November 1]. Claiming there are stories that are “too controversial, or too much of a challenge to the rich and powerful…” to be carried in the mainstream media is itself a claim that greatly insults all journalists and the public. The stories Project Censored reports have a-priori conclusions that support a particular worldview. For example, in the “Journalists face unprecedented dangers” story, the implication is that the U.S. military deliberately targeted journalists based on an attack on the Palestine Hotel in Baghdad. Actually, it could and should be interpreted as several untrained journalists put many other journalists in great danger by not following understandable rules.
When a combat unit is under artillery fire that is accurate, the assumption is that an observer is directing the fire. Destroy-ing or disrupting the observer quickly is critical. Some journalists in the top floors of the Palestine Hotel were observing the battles with binoculars and thus were naturally assumed to be enemy artillery observers by ground commanders. This caused several tank rounds to be shot at those positions. The journalists should NOT have been doing that and many know that. It is a tragedy they were killed, but to smear U.S. troops with the assertion that they target journalists because of the incident is a deliberate libel.
It seems their criteria for a story is that it has a plausible line in it and supports an extreme, paranoid view of the U.S. government and any industry. They then delete any factual information in the story not supporting the assumed conclusions. At least they don’t claim to be “fair and balanced,” which would be an immediate tip-off that they were not.
Mark Riggle
Charlottesville
Driver’s ed
This is written to correct and clarify the article “Breaking up with Tommy” [The Week, November 1] about a local team’s driver-less vehicle entry into the DARPA Grand Challenge. Team Jefferson spent nearly a year on development of our autonomous off-road dune buggy, “Tommy,” and spent one month’s time traveling across country in an RV with trailer and Tommy in tow, performing at the qualifying events held at the California Speedway, testing in the Mojave desert and returning back to Charlottesville. Ours is an extraordinary story about an historic event involving a unique team under unimaginable circumstances. C-VILLE staff interviewed us for more than two hours during a personal interview and follow-up phone calls. While the published result was a news briefing, we felt some abbreviation and editing led to an incorrect characterization of events being published. We owe a clarification for the benefit of our sponsors, race officials, colleagues and supporters.
One aspect of our story was a dramatic crash that occurred at the California Speedway during one of our final qualifying runs. The news briefing focused on the potential for sabotage done to our vehicle as one of many possible causes for that crash that is being considered. We communicated that we felt there was a higher likelihood of there being an electrical or mechanical failure that caused Tommy’s accident. The possibility of sabotage was only mentioned, since there are a number of facts that made it a consideration. No possibility should be ruled out. However, the abbreviated story failed to acknowledge the large number of other more likely scenarios that we considered and that are the primary focus of our post-crash investigation. The whole team has also not had a chance to weigh in and participate in the post-crash investigation, the most significant reason for which is that after rebuilding the vehicle to its pre-crash state, we’ve spent much more time enhancing Tommy further, driving it around the Mojave desert and moving on to productive business developments.
With more than 40 hours of footage gathered by a top-notch local film crew, we aim to feature our unique story in a documentary and will still maintain our team’s website (www.teamjefferson.com) for those interested.
Paul J. Perrone
Team Lead for Team Jefferson
Charlottesville
Ten commandments
In John Borgmeyer’s article regarding Region Ten’s plans to create high-density client housing on Little High Street [“High tension on Little High Street,” November 8], the developer attempts to deflect criticism and avoid responsibility by blaming others for failed communication. While City Councilor Blake Caravati may feel badly he did not pick up on the eventual import of peripheral information given to him in passing, he is in no way to blame for the developer’s calculated decision not to communicate with The Little High Area Neighborhood Association (LHANA). That decision is just another symptom of a deeply flawed project.
LHANA wants Region Ten to accept responsibility for the development process and see that proper project planning takes place. Region Ten can advocate for its clients and at the same time meet its responsibilities to the greater community. Our goal is to convince Region Ten to do both—avoid the failed planning models of the past and create successful affordable housing in our neighborhood.
Kate O’Brien
LHANA Steering Committee
Charlottesville
CLARIFICATION
In last week’s She-ville column, Cool Honey stated that she drank “four gallons of water per day” when doing hot yoga at Bikram Yoga Charlottesville. Bikram’s Michaela Curran recommends drinking between two and four liters of water on the days when you’re engaging in the practice.
CORRECTIONS
In last week’s news story about the $55,000 reward for the serial rapist, Charlottesville Police Captain Chip Harding was mistakenly referred to as a sergeant.
In last week’s Get Out Now section we incorrectly identified a picture of the group Junior Moment as the Red Hot Chili Pickers.