Setting the Record Straight

A nanotech blog called TNT Log continues to attack us by reporting inaccurate versions of our writings.

Most recently, they complained about a blog entry we wrote on Indian president Kalam's call for military nanotechnology development, accusing us of "racing off into a whole nanoTsunami of unconnected technologies of dubious relevance. We particularly enjoyed the comments about making your home secure against nanobots by staying indoors and breathing filtered air."

In fact, the filtered-air comments were not ours. One of our readers posted them in the comment section of our blog -- in response to a different article which had been published four days previously.

A few months ago, TNT Log accused us of "advocating the use of Nanomedicine as a physics reference book" -- which we did not -- and further accused us of reacting to their criticism of us -- which we had not: we reacted to their baseless ridicule of Robert Freitas's work.

In response to that, CRN's Chris Phoenix repeatedly tried to contact Tim Harper (the publisher of TNT Log) and work things out constructively. So far, Harper has been "too busy" to talk -- but not, apparently, too busy to find new ways to twist our words.

We don't mind criticism, even when it's mean-spirited. But statements that are factually incorrect and defamatory are another matter altogether. Since Tim and his writers seem determined to attack us and unwilling to communicate, the best we can do is set the record straight. We hope that repeated public correction of their inaccuracies will inspire them to raise their standards of reporting.

Comments

[Jim Logajan]

I don't agree with some of the views and analysis from CRNano. And I occasionally slip into satire to show my annoyance with their views here or on the Usenet newsgroup sci.nanotech. But I really do respect the efforts of Chris and Mike. They clearly aren't in it for the money - which is not something one can say for Tim Harper and CMP Cientifica.

[Chris Phoenix, CRN]

Jim, I didn't think of you once while writing this post. Satire and sarcasm are not in the same league as misrepresentation.

BTW, I'm working on an answer to you about arms races. For one thing, I'm taking a closer look at my assumption that a race to develop a military nanofactory is more or less equivalent to a race to develop military products.

Chris

[alireza]

navy applications