Regret the Error

Chesty chips

In an interview with Jodie Marsh (I could've been a lawyer, page 12, G2, January 25) we referred to the silicon-enhanced charms of her rival, Jordan. Silicon is a non-metallic element, as in silicon chip. Silicone is the polymer used in breast implants. This has been corrected on five previous occasions: February 29 2000; June 20 2000; May 31 2001; November 10 2004; October 21 2005. Link

Basically, this story shouldn't have been written

Contrary to what we said in our report Bollywood love story: Pakistan lifts ban on Indian films, page 19, January 23, Pakistan has in fact confirmed that the ban remains in place. In the film Sohni Mahiwal, Rani Mukherjee does not play a Pakistani woman who falls in love with an Indian pilot. She plays a human rights lawyer. The hero is a helicopter pilot not a fighter pilot. Link

Readers lash out at punctuation errors on Stanford University plaque

Beware the punctuation police. Last Wednesday the Mercury News published a story about a new plaque at Stanford University. Astute readers noticed that the plaque had two glaring punctuation errors. They promptly barraged the paper with letters, some of which also pointed out that the paper didn't mention the errors in the story. The paper followed up with an article about the errors. The story:

Too many apostrophes, not enough proof readers. That was the opinion of legions of angry Mercury News readers who wrote to demand a correction of Stanford University's bronze plaque outside the Gordon Carriage House, which was featured in an article and photograph published Wednesday.

The plaque explains that "the Stanford's purchased `the farm' from the Gordon's in 1876."   

While historically accurate, the sentence outraged Bay Area punctuation police, who seek to remind Stanford that apostrophes are meant for indicating possession, not pluralization.

"It's hard to believe that not a single person associated with writing the text or ordering, making, or installing the plaque noticed,'' wrote Stephanie Cerra. ``I'd expect better from a project associated with Stanford."

"Quick, somebody, replace the plaque before it becomes the university condoned precedent for all those illiterate merchant vendors' `Tomato's,' `Pea's,' `Bean's,' `Shoe's,' etc. signs that sprout on roadsides and in our markets," wrote Edward Strong . "Where was the Mercury editor to let this appear without comment?"

"The mistake is an embarrassment to the community as well as to the university," according to Marcine Landon . Charle Tilford proposed that "Someone from their English Department should get out there with a grinder!"

Carl Madson offered a possible explanation: "Maybe it's a Cal prank."   

Stanford assures local comma-kazes that "We are keenly aware of the problem at this point."   

Said university spokeswoman Kate Chesley : "The project manager has been asked to remove the plaque and fix the errors," er, not error's.

Pfizer corrects CEO's statement

This AP story is based on a statement from Pfizer, which we have so far been unable to locate.

NEW YORK (AP) - Pfizer Inc. CEO Hank McKinnell was too exuberant when discussing the company's inhaled insulin drug Exubera, saying it was approved by U.S. regulators when it hasn't been.
The world's largest drug company issued a correction of the statement McKinnell made while being interviewed Friday by cable news channel CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
After the interview, McKinnell went back on CNBC to apologize for what he said was "clearly a confusion in our own (Pfizer's) communications."
McKinnell said Pfizer expected the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to make a decision about the drug shortly.
On Thursday, European regulators approved Exubera. Analysts have said that Exubera's sales could reach $1 billion.
On Thursday, Pfizer also received approval from the FDA for Sutent, a drug to combat a rare stomach cancer and advanced kidney cancer. Sutent sales could also reach blockbuster status, according to some analysts. Link

Forbes also have a story up.

 

Share a name, get implicated in a child porn case

New York - In a story ("Renowned Professor Nailed in Kiddie Porn Case") Professor William Cockerham of the University of Alabama was mistakenly identified as the suspect in a federal child pornography case. The suspect, named Professor William Cockerham, never taught at the University of Alabama, but teaches at Frenso Pacific University.

Both professors have the same names, however Professor William Cockerham of Alabama is an internationally renowned educator, while the professor with the same name in Fresno is only known in his own community.

I am sincerely sorry for this error. Professor William Cockerham of the University of Alabama should never have been identified with the William Cockerham of Fresno Pacific University. Link

The story has been corrected but it doesn't include this correction. It should.

Propaganda makes reporting easy

In an article about Chinese censorship of the internet, Backlash as Google shores up great firewall of China, page 3, January 25, we described Falun Gong as a cult. In doing so, we should have made clear that we were giving the Chinese government's official view of the movement. Link

That's judicial divas, thank you very much

An article last Sunday about David B. Lat, the founder of the Web log "Underneath Their Robes," about the federal judiciary, misstated his reference to Supreme Court clerks. He called them "the elect," not "the chosen." The article also misstated his reference to some of President Bush's judicial appointees. He called them "right-wing judicial divas," not "right-wing divas." Link

Testify at a trial, become an accused kidnapper and rapist

Richard Scott, a psychologist testifying in the kidnapping and rape trial of defendant William Thimiogianis, was mistakenly referred to in place of the defendant in a report in Thursday's Metro section. Link

Well, they do have "living" in their name

An article in Wednesday's California section about Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's statement that voters — not lawmakers — should decide whether to adopt an assisted suicide law quoted an official with the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers in a way that suggested that the group supports an assisted suicide law. It does not. Link

Fuzzy numbers #4,613

A TOWERS PERRIN study found that the total compensation of the average chief executive in the U.S. in 2005 was 39 times the compensation of the average worker, while the average CEO of Standard & Poor's 500 companies made 212 times the average worker. Saturday's Hot Topic incorrectly said that the average CEO salary in the U.S. was 475 times the average worker's salary. Link