[IP] more on Like a Swerving Commuter, a Selfish RouterSlows Traffic -- Is this another case of PR science?

[Dave Farber <dave@farber.net>]

I will buy this as feasible


------ Forwarded Message
From: Tim Palmer <tap8@bway.net>
Organization: Tim Palmer Consulting
Reply-To: tpalmer@palmerpatent.com
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2003 13:32:34 -0400
To: dave@farber.net
Subject: RE: [IP] Like a Swerving Commuter, a Selfish RouterSlows Traffic --
Is this another case of PR science?

I think your assumption that Cornell called the press office is a little
suspect.  I can't speak for Dr. Roughgarden, but I had Eva Tardos as a
professor and find it highly unlikely that she would call a reporter to
discuss scientific work.  My guess (not guaranteed) is that this was a
technology writer fishing for a story, got pointed to an "influential"
paper by a source or saw it in a technical journal (it was published
JACM in 2002, and first presented in 2000) and turned it into a story.
Eva Tardos is a tenured full professor, Dr. Roughgarden is a post-doc
for whom I very much doubt publication in a general interest publication
is his goal.  Remember - scientists that receive much public press
mentioned often have their scientific credentials questions (e.g., Carl
Sagan).

Regards,

Tim

------ End of Forwarded Message

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