A Second Look At the NYTimes Science Section's "10 Things To Scratch From Your Worry List "

We have heard of climate deniers and chemical industry defenders, but now John Tierney of The New York Times joins the ranks of the Everything Deniers. In his recent piece entitled
"10 things to scratch from your worry list", Tierney tries to debunk some current issues that have consumers concerned. While his piece may have been written with tongue firmly planted in cheek, it is already making the rounds of the web with introductions like "The New York Times give you the lowdown on ten things that you shouldn't bother worrying about on your vacation."

Well be worried, very worried. This may all be a joke to Tierney, but the truth is some of these issues are areas of real concern and because of this piece, his misinformation will be quoted back to us in comments every time we write about any of these subjects for the next two years, as the word from The authoritative New York Times. To help push back against some of his inaccurate comments, we tackle a few:

What is worse: Driving with Windows Down and A/C Off or Windows Up with A/C On?

Tierney writes: "No matter how guilty you feel about your carbon footprint, you don't have to swelter on the highway to the beach. After doing tests at 65 miles per hour, the mileage experts at edmunds.com report that the aerodynamic drag from opening the windows cancels out any fuel savings from turning off the air-conditioner."

The small percentage between windows down or AC on is minuscule compared to the fact that you are in a car driving to the beach; if you feel guilty about your carbon footprint take the bus, this is a triviality. But if you want to consider this issue, it depends on your speed- at low speeds there is less aerodynamic drag. If you are in the usual stop-and-go traffic with everyone else going to the beach, then you use less fuel sweltering with the windows open. See our previous coverage on whether car windows up and AC on versus windows down is more efficient.

Read the full story

-OR-

Read Living Editor Verena von Pfetten's response to Tierney's "10 Things To Scratch From Your Worry List" on the Huffington Post.

Comments

[indypete]

I don't sweat the AC/windows controvers­y... my Honda 600 d*ck compensator doesn't have either and I look cool riding it, so there!

[isis]

I read that article and thought it was pretty much BS. To start with the hot dogs, it is the nitrites/nitrates along with their cancer and blue baby risk in hot dogs that are some of the problem not the fat. I might eat them now and then but don't make them a regular part of my diet. As for the plastic bags, no mention is made that the big problem with them is that they blow into the ocean and sewers and clog pipes and marine animal intestines. Very misleading.

[research]

Does anybody remember that TV interview of a cop dying of an obvious radar beam shaped cone of dying skull tissue? Like someone had hit him with a steel hazard cone. The shape was the shape of the radar beam that the old radars mounted in the center back seat roof area pointing forward. The beam catching the sides of the cops heads on the way out.

It's the only irrefutable evidence I have seen of radio induced cancer.

[KillTheMessenger]

So we are getting our "science" from the NYT now? Is that supposed to be better than no science, at all?

Here is a hint for you: none of this is science, to begin with. It is, at best, consumer advice. I would be worried to get even that from the NYT, for sure, because they depend on advertisers and, hey, what do you know, a lot of advertisers sell stuff to the same people who read the NYT.

So why the tempest in the teapot? Because one more djurnaleezt writes about something that he does not understand in a way that proves he did not even make an attempt to get it right? Happens every day. In my newspaper just as well as in yours.

[OldKnute]

Oh please.

Killthemessenger,, did you read the full article, did you click the links and read the extensive supporting documentation?

Killthemessenger,,, This is not a Vast Conspiracy to discredit you.

The New York Times is not out to get you.

I I have read what you write. Since April you have posted 4,500 postings here at Huffington Post. I have read probably half of them, always attacking others here, always the contraries.

In the kindest way I know how, why always the negative?

Read the article again.

Global Climate change is real,, Deniers are out there fanning the fires of confusion. They are not trying to Bankrupt America, deceive the people or Trash Business.

The GREEN revolution is helping business. Business all over the Globe are profiting,, not just the new ones,, the OLD ONES TOO.

Green Savings that mean MILLIONS added to the bottom line. Millions that were being wasted before.

Killthemessenger,, This CANGE is all around you,, Cars, Homes, Business, Industry, NEW GREEN JOBS and Companies.

Please,, Please,, read the FULL Article.

Let it not be said that I don’t admire you.

4,500 posts in three months, is an awesome accomplishment.

I just wonder, how you go without sleep.

Hats off to you. Good Work.

All the best

Knute Neo-LIB < ------My Bias. For all to see.