More Irresponsible Reporting - Update(added at bottom)
I’m a day late on this but what the heck …
I want to say one more thing about our MSM (call me butter ’cause I’m on a roll) hype and “the sky is falling” lies from the Old Media (that’s MSM or Main Stream Media). I like the new name “Old Media” because it connotes something passing away. Yes, it does. You know, all plastic is evil and you are all going to die. That’s pretty much what the Old Media would have you believe.
Too bad I have a degree in chemistry, over a decade in plastics research, and dozens of patents on the subject. That’s too bad because it means I get to call the Old Media out for the pack of sycophantic lazy liars that they are. There is plenty of truth to be had on the subject, but do they take the time to look it up? Even one simple Google search? Heck no! I have to wonder, what do they do all day as they are obviously NOT doing any journalistic research. It looks like they simply receive a sound bite from some alarmist pal of theirs, report it as truth, and then go hang out in the local park trying to pick up other girly men.
The following excerpt is linked to a simple refutation and history of the “plastic” problem:
Facts About Plastics
Unfortunately it seems there is more misinformation than facts about the safety of plastics in the general media today. Just last week, NBC aired two segments on its Today Show that had several inaccuracies. So far, NBC has not granted a request by the American Chemistry Council (the chemical company trade association of which Eastman is a member) for equal air time to counter the allegations aired last week. ACC has set up a website to address confusion and fear generated by the recent media coverage and to make facts easily available. FACTS ON PLASTIC
The author is, of course, more diplomatic than me. No surprise there, eh? I call folks like those of the Today Show and their NBC masters a pack of liars. Their “misinformation” is a nice word for “lie”. Get educated folks:
1. The Today Show said that the resin identification codes (also known as recycling codes) on the bottom of plastic bottles are a safety designation. That’s a stupid lie. In reality, the numbers 1 to 7 only aid the sorting of materials for recycle. Aren’t we all supposed to love recycling? Here’s a complete list of those codes: LINK
2. The Today Show “urged caution” when using plastics marked with recycling symbols 3, 6, and 7 because of an alleged concern with BPA (bisphenol-A). They pretty much said, “Don’t use them. You’ll die. Your children will die.” But the American Chemistry Council and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have publicly stated that BPA is NOT a risk to human health at the extremely low levels of which consumers MIGHT be exposed. Moreover, a large number of those plastics marked 3, 6, and 7 DO NOT contain BPA at all. More importantly, those plastics not typically recycled will have NO CODE stamped on them. Don’t worry. Most of those don’t contain BPA either. Lastly, if you’re over 22 yrs old even high levels of BPA will not be very risky for you. Unless of course you choke eating spoonfuls of the stuff.
3. The Today Show and other media reports continue to propound that plastics are unsafe to use in the microwave. This myth will simply not die. Why is that? The plastics industry has extensively publicized the best method for using plastics in microwaving on its plasticsinfo.org website. Naturally, if you are one of those that practically melt your plastic in the microwave then wonder why it smells funny, tastes funny, and doesn’t last as long as your other cookware you might have a problem. You might also huff magic markers.
If you are really nervous about BPA where your kids are concerned then do not buy baby bottles made from Acrylic. Many of the bottles will now say BPA Free. Those bottles probably never contained it in the first place but the marketing folk know a bonanza when they see one, and so do the media types!
Is it any wonder that newspapers are dying? Is it any wonder that the Old Media continues to lose its relevance? The latest frenzy on plastics is more proof of the Old Media’s irresponsible reporting habits. They simply lie. So why do we bother to listen?
The sky is falling? No, the Old Media is falling. Now that’s entertainment. Mr.Hooah, out.
-Update Added-
I just found this little tid bit on the American Chemistry Council website under the title “Today Show reverses 40 years of industry science strikes needless fear in millions” :
NBC: Dr. Nancy Snyderman, NBC Chief Medical Editor, recommended a website as “one of the best” for consumer information.
Fact: The website is neither objective nor non-biased regarding plastics. To the contrary, it is operated by an organization that employs a staff member who testifies regularly in efforts to ban BPA in products. This site terms PVC the “toxic plastic” and expresses views on health risks from plastics which in general are one-sided. Much of the scientific peer-reviewed and published information about plastics is not acknowledged, and sometimes disparaged, on this site. It is an international trade policy advocacy site — not an impartial or complete science site, let alone a source for the science and chemistry of plastics’ safety.
Oh, the bias is just too obvious. In fact it is blatant and in our face. But do they care? No. So, the other morning shows picked up on the hype. NPR picked up on the hype. I’m even seeing this garbage mindlessly picked up and touted by my local TV station.
I just have to wonder … other than the obvious attack on plastic (which is considered one of the great evils by lefties) what else prompted this preemptive lie at this particular time? More pointedly, who stands to make money through these lies?? Is it really all about the ratings? What is it?
