Did Runaway Prius Driver Fake Unintended Acceleration?

[f1reverb]

http://jalopnik.com/5491101/did-bankrupt-runaway-prius-driver-fake-unintended-acceleration

[dubois]

I just lost 4000 brain cells reading that article! I am really disgusted how the media has lowered themselves to reporting gossips, rumors, etc, much like the National Enquire. What is sad, is that they do it, because people read it! To top it off, it is badly written, second grade level - at best!

Give me something that can intellectually stimulate me, or at least teach me something, even if it is only a new word to my limited vocabulary.

PS: Jay, I am not attacking the messenger, just making my personal observation on this particular article.

[KFunk]

So he's bankrupt, getting foreclosed on, can't make his car payments, and makes money thru pornsites? So is everybody else right now. It's not really that out of the ordinary these days. That's all their evidence for making a lame story?

[scestes]

Pretty sure that I read that Steve Wozniak has said he's been complaining that his Prius has had braking and sticky accelerator (I think it was while cruise control was engaged) issues during it's life, and that Toyota and the NHTSA have more or less dismissed his claims with little investigation on their part.

The fact that Toyota has their data recording system rigged so that they are the only ones who can read it doesn't sit well with me. Toyota and Honda are the only manufacturers who have such a system installed that can't be ready by entities outside their respective companies. The data they are capable of recording has also come under scrutiny. They've often contradicted what they record and are capable of giving when subpoenaed for data by the courts.

[SteveJ]

... it is badly written, second grade level - at best!

That is so it will reach the largest audience.

Me? I'm all for this crusade against the electronic throttle. This is the first step. Maybe next will be electric windows. Let's get cars back to real machines and not appliances.

[Jim_75Sahara]

Michael: that piece was not written by a real journalist. It wasn't exactly the NYT who put out the story either! Mary & her coworkers at the Dayton Daily News are professional writers and not tabloid rumor-mongers. I am proud to know them all. (espec. Mary!) It depends on who puts out a story. Are they genuine? Are they putting out a well reported, well documented story? Are they credible in the first place? The internet carries any juicy rumor w/out any concern over the truth or the ablility to verify the "facts". The Toyota story has become a runaway, chaotic story itself.

[f1reverb]

Don't forget though that the New York Times has printed their fair share of fake and inaccurate stories too over the years (along with many other major media outlets), and that the so-called slime media can do accurate investigative reporting as the John Edwards story that it took the National Enquirer to bring to light shows. Remember the Enquirer is nominated for a Pulitzer for their reporting of the Edwards story despite the objections from the "real media" that they aren't worthy or eligible as their reporters aren't "real journalists."

This could be pure bunk, but there could be some truth here too. Only time will reveal what is what.

[Jim_75Sahara]

I will defend my wife's profession regardless of people blaming the media for everything that has ever gone wrong in the world. It's like when I go to a party and meet someone & they find out I am an RN. What do I get? Nurses from HELL stories, just what I want to hear about. When Mary goes somewhere, she gets similar treatment from people who don't know the first thing about journalism. She is supposed to explain or atone for a story gone wrong somewhere in the world. BTW: the DDN won a Pulitzer Prize a few years ago. Mary's boss was instrumental in that PP story, too. Defend your profession to a drunken idiot at a party and see how much fun that is for you!!

[f1reverb]

and have had an active involvement in it for my whole life along with my BA in journalism. The National Enquirer is the only publication I've ever been published in that contacted me to verify facts, and it wasn't just an editor, but their attorney. Regardless of how it appears, the Enquirer is very careful about what they publish and I have nothing but respect for them. Well, one thing -- you might not get a byline for everything that is published by them, but they pay so well that it's worth the sacrifice.

Judge my comments from the company I've kept

[scestes]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100306/tc_afp/usitinternetautosoftwaretoyotawozniak

[Jim_75Sahara]

I'd Much sooner trust Mary's paper (which does its fact-checking) than the Natl. Enquirer. I don't know why anyone would want to defend them or associate with them.

[f1reverb]

I'd Much sooner trust Mary's paper (which does its fact-checking) than the Natl. Enquirer. I don't know why anyone would want to defend them or associate with them.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/emily-miller/national-enquirer-officia_b_467932.html

"The decision by the Pulitzer Board gives The Enquirer legitimacy, which is long overdue for its work uncovering political scandals — including Gary Hart's affair and Jesse Jackson's love child — the old-fashioned way, by investing the time and manpower into a long-term investigation. The media establishment is also showing that it recognizes that the landscape has changed, so small or non-traditional outlets are breaking important stories.

The Pulitzer Prize Board should be proud to buck the traditional media bias and accept The National Enquirer into the competition. In doing so, the Pulitzer has shown itself to be an institution based on an honest judge and jury of journalism, from even the most unlikely of newspapers. I believe, too, that the massive grassroots campaign by the public to push the Pulitzer Board to recognize the national importance of The Enquirer's reporting of John Edwards shows the best of Americans' core values — hard work, fairness and equality for all — even for tabloids."

[Jim_75Sahara]

This RN is not going to listen to the high & mighty F1. (whatever F1 is -- you're mighty mysterious, aren't you?? -- and snide.)

[KFunk]

I prefer the Weekly World News, myself.

[Jim_75Sahara]

Thank you kindly, Kevin. BTW: Alec is bound for OU this fall.